This article will help you find out about the format and history of UEFA’s second tier club competition.
The UEFA Europa League was called the UEFA Cup before changing its name in 2009/10. It is the second tier European club competition that involves qualifying clubs competing in a play-off taking place before a group stage, which starts in September.
There are 12 groups of four teams, with each team competing with everyone else in that group on a home and away basis. The top two clubs in each group and the eight third-placed teams who depart from the UEFA Champions League group stage, move forward to the round of 32.
As in the Champions League, all of the knockout stages apart from the final are completed over two legs. Since the league changed its name, there have been two Premier League winners, with Chelsea won the trophy twice, in 2012/13 and 2018/19, and Manchester United won one by beating Ajax 2-0 in the 2016/17 final.
In the first Europa League tournament in 2009/10, Fulham had a memorable time making their way to the final – including a 5-4 comeback aggregate defeating Juventus in the round of 16, but they could not get their hands on the champion trophy as they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid after extra time.
Reward for winning the Europa League is a secure place being in the Champions League group stages the next season. There are several ways for an English club to be qualified for the Europa League. Club finishes fifth-placed in the Premier League get a place in the group stages, as does champion in the FA Cup. Club wins the League Cup get a Europa League third-qualifying round spot.
If the winners of the FA Cup and League Cup end up in the top four then their places are taken by the next highest club placed finishers in the Premier League table who have not already qualified for Europa League.