UEFA Europa League

[Shaggy]

The UEFA Cup is to be renamed UEFA Europa League from next season...

[wiw]

Have they really got nothing better to do..that just sounds gay

[Joe King]

The UEFA Cup is to be renamed UEFA Europa League from next season...

No doubt people will still call it the UEFA Cup.

[Meols Kopite]

I call it the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

[dww]

Uefa Cup to become Europa League from next season
• Rebranded competition will begin in 2009-10 season
• Change will reflect new bumper 48-team group stage
* Friday September 26 2008 11:54 BST [Guardian]

The Uefa Cup is to be known as the Uefa Europa League from next season. The new name is to reflect the new format of the competition which will see a 48-team group stage, featuring full home and away fixtures. The competition will also have centralised marketing of broadcast rights, a presenting sponsor, an official matchball, and a new logo in attempt to bring it more in-line with the Champions League.

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

An official Uefa statement said: "The new name and logo will help underline the tournament's special character and unique sporting appeal. The fresh format will encourage teams from emerging countries or lesser-known sides to challenge the old order, and the new identity will seek to reflect that."

The competition began as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1955 with the first final being played between a London XI and a side made up of players playing for Barcelona and Espanyol. The Catalan side emerged as 8-2 winners after a two-legged final.

It became the Uefa Cup in 1971, and ran alongside the Cup-Winners' Cup until 1999 when the Cup Winner's Cup was abolished and the two were merged. In recent years, the competition has largely played second fiddle to the Champions League, and both clubs and supporters have been highly critical of the current format, which sees the eliminated third-placed team in each of the eight Champions League groups join the competition at the last-32 stage.

Dublin could be one of the first cities to host the Europa League final after reports suggested that Lansdowne Road, which is currently being redeveloped, could be awarded the 2011 final. The same reports claimed that Wembley could be awarded the Champions League final in the same year.

[Kenneth]

It will only be a top competition when/if the European super league finnaly gets off the ground.

[zimbo]

Uefa Cup to become Europa League from next season
• Rebranded competition will begin in 2009-10 season
• Change will reflect new bumper 48-team group stage
* Friday September 26 2008 11:54 BST [Guardian]

The Uefa Cup is to be known as the Uefa Europa League from next season. The new name is to reflect the new format of the competition which will see a 48-team group stage, featuring full home and away fixtures. The competition will also have centralised marketing of broadcast rights, a presenting sponsor, an official matchball, and a new logo in attempt to bring it more in-line with the Champions League.

Whoopee.

[Rich]

Garbage

[Slim]

UEFA are such a joke. I see they handed out a pathetic fine to Croatia for their fans racism. They were obviously too busy with this **** idea.

[Leyton388]

QUOTE=ShaggyAlonso;1167188]The UEFA Cup is to be renamed UEFA Europa League from next season...[/QUOTE]

I believe the phrase "can't polish a turd" comes to mind