he UEFA Europa League (previously called the UEFA Cup) is the second most important European competition for eligible football clubs, after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams is organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues and cup competitions.
Previously called the UEFA Cup, the competition as of June 2009 for the 2009-10 football season is now the Europa League.[2][3], following a change in format. For UEFA footballing records purposes, the Europa League and UEFA Cup are considered the same competition, with the change of name being simply a rebranding.
The competition began in 1971 and replaced the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. But, for UEFA footballing records purposes, the Inter-Cities Fair Cup is not recognised as the direct predecessor of the UEFA Cup[4]. In 1999, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was abolished and merged with the UEFA Cup.[5] For the 2005/6 competition a group stage was added prior to the knock out stage. The 2009 rebranding will see a merge of the UEFA Intertoto Cup producing an enlarged competition format, with an expanded group stage and changed qualifying criteria.
Shakhtar Donetsk are the current champions of the competition, having beaten Werder Bremen in the 2009 final on 20 May 2009, the last time the competition was known as the UEFA Cup.
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