From UEFA Cup origins to the modern competition
Explore the rich history of the UEFA Europa League, from its origins as the UEFA Cup in 1971 to the modern competition we know today.
The competition began in 1971 as the UEFA Cup, replacing the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was Europe's second-tier club competition, behind the European Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur won the first UEFA Cup final in 1972, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate.
In 2009, the UEFA Cup was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League with a new format and branding. The change aimed to give the competition a stronger identity.
The new format introduced a group stage similar to the Champions League, replacing the previous knockout-only format.
The Europa League has produced legendary finals, including Liverpool's 2001 treble-winning season, Sevilla's dominance, and dramatic penalty shootouts.
The 2020 final saw Sevilla defeat Inter Milan 3-2 in a thrilling match during the COVID-19 affected season.
