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Uefa Cup to become 'Europa League'

Rebrand for Uefa Cup
By Chris,
September 27 2008
Uefa have announced an ambitious rebrand of the Uefa Cup competition. The tournament, arguably the only major club cup which Manchester United have not won, will be renamed the 'Europa League' from next season. It will be expanded with 48 teams in an initial group stage - with eight eliminated Champions League teams entering later on.


Uefa have announced that their "second" tournament will be rebranded for the 2009/2010 season.

After four qualification rounds, the competition will boast a revamped group stage where twelve groups of four will battle it out in a double round robin. Top-ranking associations, including the English F.A, will send four participants to the competition but Cup runners-up will no longer be eligible for participation.

The eight clubs that finish third in the Champions League group stages will join 24 round-robin qualifiers in the Europa League's knock-out stages.

"I am convinced the new format will give the Uefa Europa League a successful new impetus," said Uefa president Michel Platini.

"These changes will improve this historic competition, which is very important for Uefa and for European football as it gives more fans, players and clubs the thrill of European club football."

The English F.A has not announced how teams will qualify yet - but it will almost certainly be.

  • F.A Cup Winners
  • League Cup Winners
  • Premier League - 5th placed finish, 6th placed finish.
  • If Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League - then Europa League spot will go to next highest finishing Premier League club.

The tournament has had many guises over the years and was the format was last altered in 2004. However, the introduction of lopsided, single round robin has done little to enhance the competition's status.

The Uefa Cup's expansion also spells the death of the much maligned Intertoto Cup. There will instead be four qualification rounds before the Europa League's group stage - with every qualifying team having to participate in at least one, two-legged qualifying match.

United have competed in the Uefa Cup on seven occasions - most recently in 1995 when Sir Alex Ferguson's men suffered a shock away-goals exit to Rotor Volgograd. If you exclude the World Club Championship, which United will again take part in this December, it is the only "major" tournament which the club has yet to win.

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Uefa Cup to become 'Europa League'
Posted by: manutdweb.com (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2008 01:26

Uefa Cup to become 'Europa League'

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