How English teams have performed in UEFA Competitions over the years

English teams are currently dominating European football with their impressive display at UEFA Competitions. In the 2024/25 season alone, they top the charts in coefficients won across UEFA’s competitions. This includes having top seats at the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

The new League phase format of UEFA competitions favors the English teams. In the Champions League alone, they make up the top three teams in the standings (1st to 3rd: Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man City) having not lost a single game with an impressive goal difference.

Aston Villa’s first appearance in the competition after decades of exclusion couldn’t get any better. Unai Emery’s side has claimed maximum points from three straight wins off formidable opponents with no goals conceded. They remain the only club to have a 100% start to the Champions League alongside Liverpool in second place. Manchester City seats third with 7 points (two wins and a draw) and an impressive hall of goals. Arsenal in ninth place may have scored less, but still equal in points with Man City and two away from the top spot.

In the Europa League, Tottenham share the top spot with Italy’s Lazio after three games. Underperforming Manchester United has also claimed three points with three draws adding to the superb coefficients English teams have claimed in the early stages of the European campaign. Chelsea, on the other hand, leads the UEFA Conference League standings with two massive wins. They are the only English team in the competition this season following Manchester United’s FA Cup victory in the 2023/24 campaign, which trajected their sixth-place finish in the last campaign to a place in the Conference League.

English clubs have created some of European football’s finest moments, lifting major trophies across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. From the historic victories of Manchester United and Liverpool to underdog triumphs by Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, these achievements have cemented England’s mark as one of the footballing powerhouses in Europe.

European trophies hold a unique prestige. There’s no doubt that Spain and Italy have enjoyed greater success in European competitions over the years, but England has been a dominant force in Europe for decades. Victories spanning from Manchester United’s legendary Busby Babes in 1968 to David Moyes’ unforgettable West Ham in 2023. Since the first European Cup final in 1955/56, English teams, players, and managers have left an indelible impact on European competitions, in the Champions League alone, England ranks second for the most nations, with Champions League victors and 70 players, just below Spain (79) and Italy (72). 

The recent Ballon d’Or winner has emerged from the Premier League after sixteen years (2008: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo), showing the depth of competition English teams have brought to the game in recent years. With a new season of these tournaments underway, here’s a look back at every English success on the European stage.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The English sides have produced more Champions League finalists than any other country in Europe. They have made a total of 14 final wins and lost 11 of these finals. Liverpool is the most successful English team in the tournament with six final victories in the last half century. Over the past 15 years teams from the Premier League have filled 11 of the 30 available spots, compared to 10 for Spain.

Manchester United claimed England’s first Champions League (then the European Cup) with a 4-1 win over Benfica in 1968. Liverpool soon became the dominant English side, winning their first of six titles in 1977 by beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1. They defended their crown a year later, edging out Club Brugge 1-0. Nottingham Forest won back-to-back titles in 1979 and 1980, followed by Liverpool’s third title against Real Madrid in 1981 and Aston Villa’s surprise victory over Bayern Munich in 1982. Liverpool added a fourth in 1984, beating Roma on penalties.

It wasn’t until 1999 that an English club would lift the trophy again when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United famously came from behind to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1. Liverpool’s stunning comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw, became an iconic moment in English football history. 

The 2008 all-English final saw Manchester United beat Chelsea in a penalty shootout in Moscow. It is a game that will forever be treasured in footballing history. Chelsea eventually secured their first title in 2012, defeating Bayern Munich on penalties to become the first London-based club to become champions of Europe. Liverpool added a sixth title in 2019 with a 2-0 win over Tottenham in another all-English final. Chelsea secured their second victory in the Champions League in 2021 by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the third all-English final of the competition and third in a decade. Manchester City finally earned the crown for the first time in 2023 by defeating Inter Milan 1-0.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Tottenham Hotspur won the first-ever Europa League in 1972 and backed it up by beating Wolves in the UEFA Cup later that year. Liverpool followed up a year later, defeating Borussia Monchengladbach, and claiming another Europa title in 1976 by defeating Club Brugge.

Ipswich Town beat AZ Alkmaar in 1981 to claim their first European title. Tottenham won again in 1984, narrowly defeating Anderlecht on penalties.

After a long wait, Liverpool lifted the trophy in 2001 by beating Deportivo Alaves 5-4 in a thrilling final. Chelsea claimed their first Europa League title in 2013 (a year after their UCL success) by beating Benfica 2-1, and Manchester United followed suit in 2017, beating Dutch champions Ajax 2-0. Chelsea’s second Europa League title came in 2019 in an all-English showdown with Arsenal that ended 4-1.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

The UEFA Conference Cup debuted in 2021/22. West Ham United defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague to claim England’s first Conference Cup victory. Roma and Olympiacos are the only other teams to have won the competition. With Chelsea’s strong dominance early in the competition, they stand a chance to be the first team in Europe to win the three UEFA competitions.

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS BACK IN NOVEMBER!

The World’s most anticipated tournament returns in November with a number of exhilarating games across Europe. The chase for glory continues as teams enter Gameweek 4 with clearer expectations of what they need to become victorious in the 2024/25 Champions League tournament. 

English teams have done so well in the last decade than they have done in the history of the competition. The next Matchday and the four ahead will test each team’s mantle as we gear up for the best 8 and 24 teams fighting for a spot at the knockout stages. The fixtures for Gameweek 4 on the first week of November include the following;

Tuesday, 5th November

PSV vs Girona, kick-off at 17:45

Slovan Bratislava vs Dinamo Zagreb, kick-off at 17:45

Bologna vs Monaco, kick-off at 20:00

Borussia Dortmund vs Sturm Graz, kick-off at 20:00

Celtic vs RB Leipzig, kick-off at 20:00

Lille vs Juventus, kick-off at 20:00

Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen, kick-off at 20:00

Real Madrid vs AC Milan, kick-off at 20:00

Sporting CP vs Manchester City, kick-off at 20:00

Wednesday, 6th November

Club Brugge vs Aston Villa, kick-off at 17:45

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Young Boys, kick-off at 17:45

Bayern Munich vs Benfica, kick-off at 20:00

Feyenoord vs Red Bull Salzburg, kick-off at 20:00

Inter Milan vs Arsenal, kick-off at 20:00

PSG vs Atlético Madrid, kick-off at 20:00

Red Star Belgrade vs Barcelona, kick-off at 20:00

Sparta Prague vs Brest, kick-off at 20:00

Stuttgart vs Atalanta, kick-off at 20:00

GET AVAILABLE TICKETS TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAMES!

When it comes to securing your coveted Champions League Tickets, find the best deals at secondary ticket marketplaces. Tickets from traditional sites are usually scarce due to high demand and may not provide the best spots or experiences. Explore fan-friendly options that grant you access to the games and immerse you in the electrifying atmosphere of the Champions League.

The UEFA Champions League is the biggest stage of European football where Champions are made! As the 2023/2024 season unfolds, we savor every moment, goal, and roar from the stands. Secure your tickets, support your team, and join us on this thrilling journey through the heart of football.