Ufa-bet.net – Event Information
Name: Europa League
Started in: 1971
Number of participants: 48 teams
RegionContinent: Europe
Competition format: Knockout system
Most winners: Sevilla CF (6 titles)
Last winners: Villarreal CF (2020-2021)
All-time top scorer: Henrik Larsson (40 goals)
All-time top assists: Borek Dockal (24 assists)
All-time most appearances: Giuseppe Bergomi (96 appearances)
Season: 2020-2021
Number of participants: 48 teams
Previous matches: 143 matches
Biggest home win: Bayern Leverkusen vs OGC Nice (6-2, 22 October 2020)
Biggest away win: Real Sociedad vs Manchester United (0-4, 19 February 2021)
Biggest score: Villarreal CF vs Sivasspor (5-3, 23 October 2020)
Top scorer: Gerard Moreno – Villareal CF (7 goals)
Top assists:Alfredo Morelos – Rangers FC (5 assists)
Best player: Etienne Capoue – Villarreal CF
Group Phase Division (top 48)
Group AAS Roma, BSC Young Boys, CFR Cluj, PFC CSKA Sofia
B. Arsenal Group, SK Rapid Vienna, Molde FK, Dundalk
C. Bayern Leverkusen Group, SK SKlavia Praha, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, OGC Nice
D. Benfica Group, Standard Liege, Rangers, Lech Poznan
E. PSV Group Eindhoven, PAOK FC, Granada, AC Omonoia
F. Napoli Group, Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, HNK Rijeka
G. S.C Group Braga, Leicester City, AEK Athens, Zorya Luhansk
H. Celitc Group, AC Sparta Praha, AC Milan, Lille
I. Villarreal CF Group, Qarabag FK, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Sivasspor
J. Tottenham Hotspur Group, PFC Ludogorets Razgrad, LASK, Royal Antwerp
K. CSKA Moscow Group, Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord, Wolsberg
L. gent Group, Red Star Belgrade, Hoffenheim, Slovan Liberec
UEFA Europa League or commonly known as the Europa League is the second most prestigious inter-club football competition in Europe. The Europa League has a long history and it all started in 1954.
At that time, Ernst Thommen, a Swiss official expressed his idea to create a football competition between clubs in Europe. He conveyed the idea when attending the 50th anniversary of the Swedish Football Association. He believed that football competitions could enliven big cities in Europe, especially cities that were the venues for international trade and industry exhibitions.
Understandably, during that time period, Europe was trying to recover after World War II. Thus, international trade and industry exhibitions became important for European society to run the economy.
Thommen’s idea was welcomed by many parties, including officials from Italy, Otto Barassi and the Secretary of the English Football Association (The FA), Sir Stanley Ford Rous. The three of them agreed to form an official competition called the International Industries Fairs Inter-Cities Cup or familiarly known as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
The first competition started in 1955 and was attended by 10 teams representing big cities in Europe. Starting from Barcelona XI, London XI, Frankfurt XI, Basel XI, Leipzig XI, Lausanne-Sport, Zagreb XI, Internazionale, Birmingham City, Barcelona XI and Copenhagen XI.
After going through fierce matches in the group stage and knockout phase for three years (1955-1958), Barcleona XI established themselves as the first champions of this competition after crushing London XI 8-2 in the final. In addition, Blaugrana managed to equal Real Madrid’s record which also became the first champions in the 1955 European Cup competition.
Although only 10 teams participated, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup received a lot of praise from the European community. Football is able to unite people and create a more fluid atmosphere, this is in line with the noble goals conveyed by Sir Stanley when attending the first congress of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) held in Vienna in 1955.
“We have our own reasons why this competition can only be participated by football clubs that participate in international trade and industry exhibitions. Because, by holding competitions in big cities, information will spread quickly, both to the east and west. So, with the high enthusiasm of the community, it can increase international cooperation more widely between one country and another,” he said as reported by Insidethegames.