The UEFA Europa League has crowned 55 champions across its first 55 seasons, beginning with Tottenham Hotspur in 1971/72 and continuing through Aston Villa in 2025/26. The competition was known as the UEFA Cup until it was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League for the 2009/10 season.
Sevilla are the most successful club in the competition’s history with seven titles. Spain lead the national ranking with 14 victories, while England moved to 11 after Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the 2026 final.
UEFA Europa League Winners by Year
The table below lists every UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League champion from the inaugural 1971/72 season through 2025/26. The “final year” column shows the calendar year in which that season’s trophy was decided.
| Season | Final year | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971/72 | 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | England |
| 1972/73 | 1973 | Liverpool | England |
| 1973/74 | 1974 | Feyenoord | Netherlands |
| 1974/75 | 1975 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Germany |
| 1975/76 | 1976 | Liverpool | England |
| 1976/77 | 1977 | Juventus | Italy |
| 1977/78 | 1978 | PSV Eindhoven | Netherlands |
| 1978/79 | 1979 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Germany |
| 1979/80 | 1980 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Germany |
| 1980/81 | 1981 | Ipswich Town | England |
| 1981/82 | 1982 | IFK Göteborg | Sweden |
| 1982/83 | 1983 | Anderlecht | Belgium |
| 1983/84 | 1984 | Tottenham Hotspur | England |
| 1984/85 | 1985 | Real Madrid | Spain |
| 1985/86 | 1986 | Real Madrid | Spain |
| 1986/87 | 1987 | IFK Göteborg | Sweden |
| 1987/88 | 1988 | Bayer Leverkusen | Germany |
| 1988/89 | 1989 | Napoli | Italy |
| 1989/90 | 1990 | Juventus | Italy |
| 1990/91 | 1991 | Inter | Italy |
| 1991/92 | 1992 | Ajax | Netherlands |
| 1992/93 | 1993 | Juventus | Italy |
| 1993/94 | 1994 | Inter | Italy |
| 1994/95 | 1995 | Parma | Italy |
| 1995/96 | 1996 | Bayern Munich | Germany |
| 1996/97 | 1997 | Schalke 04 | Germany |
| 1997/98 | 1998 | Inter | Italy |
| 1998/99 | 1999 | Parma | Italy |
| 1999/00 | 2000 | Galatasaray | Türkiye |
| 2000/01 | 2001 | Liverpool | England |
| 2001/02 | 2002 | Feyenoord | Netherlands |
| 2002/03 | 2003 | Porto | Portugal |
| 2003/04 | 2004 | Valencia | Spain |
| 2004/05 | 2005 | CSKA Moscow | Russia |
| 2005/06 | 2006 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2006/07 | 2007 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2007/08 | 2008 | Zenit St Petersburg | Russia |
| 2008/09 | 2009 | Shakhtar Donetsk | Ukraine |
| 2009/10 | 2010 | Atlético de Madrid | Spain |
| 2010/11 | 2011 | Porto | Portugal |
| 2011/12 | 2012 | Atlético de Madrid | Spain |
| 2012/13 | 2013 | Chelsea | England |
| 2013/14 | 2014 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2014/15 | 2015 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2015/16 | 2016 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2016/17 | 2017 | Manchester United | England |
| 2017/18 | 2018 | Atlético de Madrid | Spain |
| 2018/19 | 2019 | Chelsea | England |
| 2019/20 | 2020 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2020/21 | 2021 | Villarreal | Spain |
| 2021/22 | 2022 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Germany |
| 2022/23 | 2023 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2023/24 | 2024 | Atalanta | Italy |
| 2024/25 | 2025 | Tottenham Hotspur | England |
| 2025/26 | 2026 | Aston Villa | England |
UEFA’s official Europa League history archive tracks the competition season by season, while its current roll of honour confirms 31 different winning clubs from 11 nations.
Latest Europa League Winner: Aston Villa in 2026
Aston Villa are the latest UEFA Europa League winners. The English club defeated Freiburg 3-0 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul on May 20, 2026, winning the 2025/26 competition.
The triumph was Villa’s first UEFA Cup or Europa League title and their first major continental trophy since the 1981/82 European Cup. It also gave manager Unai Emery a record fifth title in this competition after three wins with Sevilla and one with Villarreal.
UEFA’s 2025/26 winners profile records Villa’s 3-0 final victory over Freiburg and their path through the knockout rounds.
Most UEFA Cup and Europa League Titles by Club
| Club | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Sevilla | 7 | 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023 |
| Inter | 3 | 1991, 1994, 1998 |
| Liverpool | 3 | 1973, 1976, 2001 |
| Juventus | 3 | 1977, 1990, 1993 |
| Atlético de Madrid | 3 | 2010, 2012, 2018 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 1972, 1984, 2025 |
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | 2 | 1975, 1979 |
| Feyenoord | 2 | 1974, 2002 |
| IFK Göteborg | 2 | 1982, 1987 |
| Real Madrid | 2 | 1985, 1986 |
| Parma | 2 | 1995, 1999 |
| Porto | 2 | 2003, 2011 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 2013, 2019 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2 | 1980, 2022 |
The other one-time winners are PSV Eindhoven, Ipswich Town, Anderlecht, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Schalke 04, Galatasaray, Valencia, CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester United, Villarreal, Atalanta and Aston Villa.
Sevilla’s seven championships are the competition record. Their most remarkable run came from 2013/14 through 2015/16, when they became the only club to win the UEFA Cup or Europa League in three consecutive seasons.
Europa League Titles by Country
| Country | Titles | Winning clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 14 | Sevilla, Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, Valencia, Villarreal |
| England | 11 | Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Ipswich Town, Manchester United, Aston Villa |
| Italy | 10 | Inter, Juventus, Parma, Napoli, Atalanta |
| Germany | 7 | Borussia Mönchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Schalke 04 |
| Netherlands | 4 | Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax |
| Portugal | 2 | Porto |
| Russia | 2 | CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg |
| Sweden | 2 | IFK Göteborg |
| Belgium | 1 | Anderlecht |
| Türkiye | 1 | Galatasaray |
| Ukraine | 1 | Shakhtar Donetsk |
Spain’s 14 titles remain the national record. UEFA’s roll of honour lists England second with 11 and Italy third with 10 through the 2025/26 season.
From the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League
The tournament began in 1971/72 as the UEFA Cup, succeeding the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Tottenham Hotspur defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers over two legs to become the first UEFA Cup winners in 1972.
UEFA approved a major rebrand in 2008, and the competition officially became the UEFA Europa League from the 2009/10 season. The first champions under the Europa League name were Atlético de Madrid, who beat Fulham 2-1 after extra time in Hamburg in 2010.
UEFA’s announcement on the UEFA Cup becoming the Europa League confirmed that the new identity would begin with the 2009/10 campaign.
Who Won the First UEFA Cup?
Tottenham Hotspur won the first UEFA Cup in 1971/72. They beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate in an all-English final, winning the first leg 2-1 away before drawing 1-1 at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham later won again in 1984 and 2025, giving the club three titles in total.
Who Won the First UEFA Europa League?
Atlético de Madrid became the first winner after the competition was renamed UEFA Europa League. They defeated Fulham 2-1 after extra time in the 2010 final, with Diego Forlán scoring the decisive goal in the 116th minute.
Atlético went on to win again in 2012 and 2018, making them one of six clubs with three titles.
Why Sevilla Dominate the Europa League Record Book
Sevilla have built the competition’s most successful record despite not winning their first title until 2006. They retained the trophy in 2007, then produced a historic three-season winning streak in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Further victories in 2020 and 2023 took Sevilla to seven titles from seven finals. No other club has won more than three.
Their success also helped Spain establish the national record. Spanish clubs have won the competition 14 times, with Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, Valencia and Villarreal adding seven titles around Sevilla’s seven.
Unai Emery’s Europa League Record
Unai Emery is the most successful coach in UEFA Cup or Europa League history with five titles. He won three consecutive trophies with Sevilla in 2014, 2015 and 2016, led Villarreal to the 2021 title, and then guided Aston Villa to victory in 2026.
UEFA’s record review of Emery’s five Europa League wins confirms that no other coach has matched that total.
How the Europa League Final Format Changed
For most of the UEFA Cup era, the final was played over two legs, with each finalist hosting one match. UEFA moved to a one-off final at a neutral venue from the 1997/98 season onward.
Inter won the first one-match UEFA Cup final in 1998, defeating Lazio 3-0 in Paris. The neutral-site format has continued through the Europa League era.
Penalty shootouts and extra time have produced several memorable finals. Villarreal beat Manchester United 11-10 on penalties in 2021, while Sevilla have won shootouts in multiple finals, including 2007, 2014 and 2023.
What Does the Europa League Winner Get?
The Europa League champion lifts UEFA’s 15-kilogram trophy, the heaviest piece of UEFA silverware. The winner also earns a place in the following season’s UEFA Champions League league phase if it has not already qualified through its domestic competition.
The champion also earns the right to face the UEFA Champions League winner in the UEFA Super Cup. For a complete history of Europe’s top club competition, see our UEFA Champions League winners list.
Europa League Records at a Glance
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Most titles by a club | Sevilla — 7 |
| Most titles by a country | Spain — 14 |
| Most titles by a coach | Unai Emery — 5 |
| Most consecutive titles | Sevilla — 3 (2014, 2015, 2016) |
| First UEFA Cup winner | Tottenham Hotspur — 1972 |
| First UEFA Europa League winner | Atlético de Madrid — 2010 |
| Latest winner | Aston Villa — 2026 |
| Different champion clubs | 31 |
| Countries with a winning club | 11 |
FAQs
Who won the UEFA Europa League in 2026?
Aston Villa won the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League. They defeated Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul on May 20, 2026.
Which club has won the most Europa League titles?
Sevilla hold the record with seven UEFA Cup and Europa League titles, won in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2023.
How many times have Tottenham won the Europa League or UEFA Cup?
Tottenham Hotspur have won the competition three times: 1972, 1984 and 2025.
How many Europa League titles have Liverpool won?
Liverpool have won three UEFA Cup titles: 1973, 1976 and 2001.
How many Europa League titles have Chelsea won?
Chelsea have won the competition twice, in 2013 and 2019.
When did the UEFA Cup become the Europa League?
The UEFA Cup was renamed the UEFA Europa League beginning with the 2009/10 season.
Who won the first Europa League after the rebrand?
Atlético de Madrid won the inaugural Europa League-branded season in 2009/10, beating Fulham 2-1 after extra time in the final.
Which country has won the most Europa League titles?
Spain lead the all-time national table with 14 UEFA Cup and Europa League titles through 2026.
Has Real Madrid won the Europa League?
Yes. Real Madrid won the UEFA Cup in consecutive seasons, 1984/85 and 1985/86.
Has Barcelona ever won the Europa League?
No. FC Barcelona have never won the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League.
Do Europa League winners qualify for the Champions League?
Yes. Under the current UEFA system, the Europa League winner receives a place in the following season’s Champions League league phase if it has not already qualified through its domestic competition.
