The Europa League, or the UEFA Cup as it was known before 2009 when it was rebranded, is the second biggest European competition in club football.
Some clubs have thrived in the competition, winning it on numerous occasions. However, which clubs have been the most successful in its history?
Sevilla (7-time winners in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2023)
Some clubs become synonymous with winning certain competitions, and that’s the situation with the Andalusian outfit and the Europa League.
The Spanish side claimed their first title when it was still the UEFA Cup in 2006 when they hammered English club Middlesbrough 4-0 in the competition’s final.
Sevilla’s most recent triumph in the competition came in 2023 with a 4-1 penalty kick win over Roma following a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time.
The Andalusians are also the only team in the competition’s history to ever win the trophy in three straight seasons from 2014 until 2016 under Unai Emery.
Inter Milan (3-time winners in 1991, 1994 and 1998)
The Nerazzurri are one of four teams to have won the Europa League on three occasions, trailing Sevilla massively in their trophy haul in the competition.
The men from Milan first lifted the trophy in 1991, when they defeated compatriots Roma 2-1 on aggregate to claim their maiden UEFA Cup title.
Inter’s most recent UEFA Cup title was in 1998, when they once again defeated compatriots, this time Lazio, 3-0 in the Parc des Princes in Paris to lift the trophy.
The Italian outfit has also finished as runners-up in the competition in 1997 and 2020, the latter of which was their only appearance in the competition in its current guise.
Liverpool (3-time winners in 1973, 1976, and 2001)
The men from Merseyside have become heavily associated with the Champions League, having lifted it six times in their history.
They may have won the Europa League on more occasions had it not been for their close to ever presence in European football’s elite competition in recent decades.
The first piece of major European silverware the men from Merseyside won was the UEFA Cup in 1973, as they defeated German side Monchengladbach 3-2 in a two-legged final.
The Red’s most recent triumph in the competition came in 2001 when they recorded an extraordinary 5-4 extra-time golden goal win over Alaves in Dortmund.
Liverpool’s last appearance in the Europa League final came in 2016 when they were beaten 3-1 by Sevilla in Basel.
Atletico Madrid (3-time winners in 2010, 2012 and 2018)
All three of Los Colchoneros’ titles in the competition have come in the Europa League era. The first Europa League title came in 2010. Atletico needed extra time and two Diego Forlan goals to see off Premier League Fulham 2-1 in the final hosted in Hamburg.
Their second Europa League triumph was in 2012, as they beat compatriots Athletic Club 3-0 in Bucharest to claim the title. The hero of the final was prolific Colombian forward Radamel Falcao, who grabbed a brace.
Like many clubs on our list, Atletico has spent a lot of time in the Champions League in recent decades.
However, their latest triumph in the Europa League came in 2018, when they hammered Marseille 3-0 at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, with French international Antoine Griezmann scoring a brace.
Juventus (3-time winners in 1977, 1990 and 1993)
The Italian giants have won the UEFA Cup/Europa League three times in their history, all three titles coming before the competition’s rebranding in 2009.
The Bianconeri’s maiden UEFA Cup title came in 1977 when they drew 2-2 over two legs with Athletic Club. However, they claimed the trophy courtesy of an away goal at San Mames.
Their next title in the competition came in 1990 when the team from Turin won a two-legged final against compatriots Fiorentina 3-1 on aggregate. A first-leg 3-1 win on home soil was enough to clinch victory, as the second leg in Florence produced a 0-0 draw.
The final was historic as it was the first time that two teams from Italy had contested a UEFA competition final.
The last time the Bianconeri claimed the title was in 1993, when they recorded a 6-1 aggregate win over Dortmund in the two-legged final. Dino Baggio and Roberto Baggio both bagged two goals each over the two legs.
Juventus also reached the 1995 final. However, this time, they suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat against compatriots Parma in the final. Ironically, Dino Baggio was back to haunt his former team, as the midfielder scored both of Parma’s goals in the two-legged final.
Which of the teams mentioned in our article is your favourite UEFA Cup/Europa League winner?