Successful the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A is a dream of many younger gamers once they develop up, however some try to go additional within the hope that they will even conquer the recreation on the European stage.
Through the years, quite a lot of gamers have performed simply that within the UEFA Europa League – selecting up a number of profitable medals to cement their place within the historical past books.
These with the insatiable behavior of profitable the competitors are the topic of the most recent UEFA Europa League Breakfast Present, offered by the official match companion Kia. This week’s version featured broadcaster Jules Breach, who helped choose the highest 5 gamers who’re and can without end be related to profitable the UEFA Europa League.
Fernando Torres’ final match in Europe was the Europa League closing 2018 | Ian MacNicol / Getty Photographs
The competitors wins: 2 (Chelsea, Atletico Madrid)
Fernando Torres scored the opening purpose within the Europa League closing in 2013 for Chelsea in opposition to Benfica, with a profitable time from Branislav Ivanovic that lastly sealed the glory for the Blues.
Torres later returned to the boys’ membership Atletico Madrid in 2016 and that was the place he gained the Europa League for the second time in 2017/18. Though not an everyday begin, he performed 12 occasions within the competitors that season and got here off the bench when Atleti beat Marseille within the closing.
That closing additionally turned out to be his final look in European soccer.
Radamel Falcao gained Europa League with Porto & Atletico Madrid | Denis Doyle / Getty Photographs
The competitors wins: 2 (Porto, Atletico Madrid)
Radamel Falcao loved the distinction of profitable the Europa League throughout back-to-back seasons within the early 2010s and was almost unplayable at that stage of his profession.
The Colombian striker scored an unimaginable 17 targets within the Europa League for Porto 2010/11, together with the winner within the closing in opposition to Braga. He then got here to Atletico Madrid for an estimated 40 million euros that summer season and extremely gained the competitors once more along with his new membership.
Not solely was Falcao a back-to-back winner, he was a back-to-back prime scorer – netting 29 targets within the competitors in only the 2 seasons.
Jesus Navas has gained three UEFA Cup / Europa League titles over two spells with Sevilla | Pool / Getty Photographs
The competitors wins: 3 (Sevilla x3)
Jesus Navas will retire in a Sevilla legend when he places on his boots after profitable the UEFA Cup / Europa League throughout each of his spells along with his boys’ membership.
Navas was simply 20 when he gained the trophy for the primary time, with Sevilla beating Middlesbrough within the 2006 closing. The membership gained it once more 12 months later by defeating Espanyol in a penalty shootout throughout a Spanish closing.
His third title got here in 2020 after rejoining Sevilla from Manchester Metropolis and marked a profitable transition from flying winger to dependable full-back.
Dino Baggio gained the UEFA Cup thrice within the Nineteen Nineties Gary M. Prior / Getty Photographs
The competitors wins: 3 (Juventus, Parma x2)
Former Italian midfielder Dino Baggio has gained the UEFA Cup thrice within the Nineteen Nineties, beginning with Juventus within the 1992/93 season when he crossed the two-legged closing thrice in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.
Baggio joined Parma in 1994, turned a part of a well-known cult staff and scored 5 occasions on his approach to UEFA Cup glory in his first season – he was the staff’s prime scorer together with Gianfranco Zola.
He ended a hat-trick for UEFA Cup wins in 1999 when a second cult Parma facet beat Marseille 3-0 within the closing in Moscow.
Jose Antonio Reyes gained 5 occasions in Europa League | Martin Rose / Getty Photographs
The competitors wins: 5 (Atletico Madrid x2, Sevilla x3)
Former Sevilla and Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro has gained 4 Europa League titles throughout his profession, however the competitors file belongs to the late Jose Antonio Reyes with 5.
Reyes started his profession on the boys’ membership Sevilla however had left to be part of Arsenal earlier than the membership’s mid-2000s dominated the UEFA Cup. He went on to win his first title with Atletico in 2010 and claimed a second in 2012, though he had left midway via the season to rejoin Sevilla.
He began each the Europa League closing in 2014 and 2015 for Sevilla – captain of the latter – in victories over Benfica and Dnipro respectively, however sickness excludes him from the closing in 2016 – appearances earlier within the competitors gave him a fifth medal.
The Spaniard died tragically in 2019 at simply 35 years previous, however will at all times be remembered for his achievements in soccer – particularly within the UEFA Europa League.
