UEFA Cup Odds and Sods

The UEFA Cup has seen some incredible comebacks. In the second round of the 1984/1985 UEFA Cup Queens Park Rangers took on Partizan Beograd. In the first leg of the competition Rangers thumped Partizan 6-2, all but burying their chances of progress to the third round. Partizan were not to be outdone and struck back in the second leg beating Rangers 4-0, and winning the tie on the away goals rule.

Spain boasts the most successful UEFA Cup clubs. In the tournament’s 49 year history Spanish clubs have won the competition 11 times, and produced seven runners up – adding up to a total of UEFA Cup 18 finals appearances. Italy have achieved the same number of finals appearances with one less title.

German teams had a dramatic impact on the 1979/1980 UEFA Cup season. Five German teams qualified for the competition, and all five then made it through to the quarterfinals. Each of these quarterfinals was then won by a German team, resulting in both the semi-finals and final being all-German affairs.

Italy claims the honours for dominating the UEFA Cup for the longest unbroken stretch. The Italians have twice retained the UEFA Cup amongst their clubs for a three year period: 1989-1991 and 1993-1995. During these two periods Inter Milan, Juventus, Parma and Napoli all lifted the cup.

The UEFA Cup Odds and Sods award for least successful finalist in UEFA Cup history is shared between Birmingham City, Espanyol, Borussia Dortmund and Marseille – all four teams have endured two unsuccessful UEFA Cup final appearances.

Swedish club IFK Göteborg were the first team to complete a UEFA Cup ‘treble’ when they won the UEFA Cup in 1982. This victory came on top of Swedish league and cup titles the same year. Since then only three other clubs have managed to repeat this accomplishment. Winning the UEFA Cup on top of a domestic league title is relatively more common and has been achieved by 12 clubs.

No team has won the UEFA cup three times in succession. Three Spanish clubs have won the trophy two seasons in succession, namely Real Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla FC. Sevilla had an excellent opportunity to make it three in a row in 2008, however their form carried into domestic competition and saw them instead qualify for the 2007/2008 Champions League.

If you enjoyed this UEFA Cup Odds and Sods page check out the UEFA Cup Records page for statistics and records from this prestigious competition.