THE EUROPA LEAGUE 2019/20

No sooner have we got one "event" out of the way when another starts up. It's the Europa League season. To explain how the League works would take far to long and I need to get off this keyboard!
For more info try: https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-europa-league-and-liechtenstein.html

First played for in 1971-2 as the European Cup Winners Cup, it was Tottenham who beat Wolves in the two-legged final, both ties played in England of course, in May 1972.

Spurs got to the final in 1973-4 losing to Feyenoord, but winning it for the second time in 1983-4, beating holders, Anderlecht.
One match finals were started in 1998.

Liverpool have won the trophy in 1973, 1976 and 2001, R-u 2016.
Chelsea winners 2013 and 2019.
Manchester Utd winners 2017.
Ipswich were winners in 1981.
Arsenal were runners up in 2000 and 2019.
Dundee Utd R-up in 1987.
Celtic 2003 R-up in,
Middlesbrough R-up 2006,
Rangers R-up in 2008,
Fulham R-up 2010.

Spanish teams have won the trophy 11 times and runners up 5 times = 16. Sevilla winning 5 times.
Present holders are Atletico Madrid beating Fulham 2-1 in extra time.

English teams have won 9 + runners up 7 = 16
Scotland 3 runners up.

The trophy was rebranded by UEFA  in 2009-10 and known as the Europa League which leads on to the UEFA Super Cup and the Champion s League as the major prize. 8.5 million Euros is also prize.

British teams in the competitions-CAN YOU SORT THE COUNTRY OF SOURCE?:
Aberdeen, St Patricks Athletic, Connahs Quay, Cliftonville, Crusaders, Cork City, Ballymena Utd, Kilmarnock, Shamrock Rovers, Rangers, Barry Town, Cardiff Metropolitan University!! and
Arsenal, Man U and Wolves with a few more likely to join later once they fail at the higher competitions!
RESULTS THUS FAR:
The Uni lads have gone out on away goals losing to Niedercorn of Luxembourg; back to the books chaps.

Cliftonville have beaten Barry Town 4-0 on aggregate.
Ballymena win 2-0 over NSI Runavik of the Faroes. (nice away game)
Rangers, having been alongside Oxford United as a pre-season are away in Gibraltar today (9th July) (keep it on the island-well peninsular!) and there's more to come on the 18th July for the second leg.