Premier League clubs in Europe: Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa in Champions League last 16; Man City out
Here is a record of all 20 Premier League clubs’ records in the three major European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League).
There are obviously a few ground rules to go over…
Losing in the qualifying rounds does not count here. For example, before this season, Aston Villa last played in the Europa League in the 2010/11 season, but were knocked out in the play-off round. That would not count as their last entry into the competition. Also: the second round of the old UEFA Cup is better than the group stage in the Europa League. Mainly because this means a club got over the first hurdle after qualifying.
Arsenal (Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (2005/06)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries: 23
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (1999/00, 2018/19)
Latest entry – 2022/23 (round of 16)
No. of entries: 11
Super Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (1994)
Latest entry – 1994 (runners-up)
No. of entries – 1
Europa Conference League
N/A
Arsenal have never won the biggest prize in club football and that wait was extended by a quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich in 2023/24. They are pretty rubbish in Europe, which is something rival fans won’t let them forget. Their only European titles came last century when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969/70 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993/94.
OPINION: Arsenal return to Champions League with unwanted status of biggest failures
Aston Villa (European Cup, European Super Cup, Intertoto Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (1981/82)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 3
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Quarter-finals (1977/78, 1997/98)
Latest entry – 2008/09 (round of 32)
No. of entries – 11
Europa Conference League
Best finish – Semi-finals (2023/24)
Latest entry – 2023/24 (semi-finals)
No. of entries – 1
Super Cup
Best finish – Winners (1982)
Latest entry – 1994 (runners-up)
No. of entries – 1
Aston Villa are one of five English sides to have won the European Cup or Champions League. They did so in 1982, losing in the quarter-finals the following season – their last time in the competition before 2024/25. In 23/24, Villa played in Europe for the first time since 2008.
Bournemouth
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
N/A
Europa Conference League
N/A
Can I just shock you? Little ol’ Bournemouth have never played in Europe. Not for long though…
Brentford
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
N/A
Europa Conference League
N/A
Like Bournemouth, Brentford have never played in Europe.
Brighton
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Last 16 (2023/24)
Latest entry – 2023/24
No. of entries – 1
Europa Conference League
N/A
Brighton enjoyed their first European adventure under Roberto De Zerbi in 23/24.
Chelsea (Champions League x2, Europa League x2, Super Cup x2, Cup Winners’ Cup x2, Club World Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (2011/12, 2020/21)
Latest entry – 2022/23 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 19
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Winners (2012/13, 2018/19)
Latest entry – 2018/19 (winners)
No. of entries – 5
Europa Conference League
Best finish – League phase (2024/25)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 1
Super Cup
Best finish – Winners (1998, 2021)
Latest entry – 2021 (winners)
No. of entries – 5
Club World Cup
Best finish – Winners (2021)
Latest entry – 2021 (winners)
No. of entries – 2
Chelsea sensationally reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in five out of their six appearances in the competition in the 2000s but didn’t get their hands on the trophy until 2012 when they beat Bayern Munich on penalties at the Allianz Arena.
They won the Europa League the following season and then again in 2019 before claiming their second Champions League in 2021, beating Premier League rivals Manchester City 1-0 courtesy of a Kai Havertz goal. After no Europe last season, the Blues will compete in the Conference League for the first time.
They are favourites to win the competition, which would make them the first side to win the three major Euro tournaments.
Crystal Palace
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
N/A
Europa Conference League
N/A
Crystal Palace competed in the Intertoto Cup in the 98/99 season, reaching the third round, losing 4-0 on aggregate to Samsunspor, who finished 13th in the Turkish Super Lig last term. How did they get into the Intertoto Cup a season after finishing rock bottom of the Premier League? Because they were the only English team to apply. Brilliant.
Everton (Cup Winners’ Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Quarter-finals (1970/71)
Latest entry – 1970/71 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 1
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Round of 16 (2014/15)
Latest entry – 2017/18 (group stage)
No. of entries – 9
Europa Conference League
N/A
In Everton’s first time qualifying for the European Cup (1963/64) they were given an awful draw, landing eventual winners Inter Milan in the preliminary round. They only lost 1-0 on aggregate, a few months on from winning the First Division. Something tells me we won’t be seeing the Toffees playing in Europe again any time soon.
Fulham (Intertoto Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (2009/10)
Latest entry – 2011/12 (group stage)
No. of entries – 3
Europa Conference League
N/A
Fulham were one of three clubs crowned winners of the Intertoto Cup in 2002. Yep…three winners.
Who can forget the Cottagers’ side in 2010 that defied the odds to reach the final of the Europa League, losing out thanks to a double from Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan in extra-time. Absolutely gut-wrenching.
On this day in 2010, Diego Forlán led Atlético Madrid to Europa League glory against Fulham.
2010 was quite the year for Forlán.pic.twitter.com/G4p24Xolbf
— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) May 12, 2023
Ipswich Town (UEFA Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – First round (1962/63)
Latest entry – 1962/63 (first round)
No. of entries – 1
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Winners (1980/81)
Latest entry – 2002/03 (second round)
No. of entries – 10
Europa Conference League
N/A
Ipswich used to be quite the force, lifting the UEFA Cup in 1981 after beating AZ ’67 5-4 on aggregate, winning the first leg 3-0 with Alan Brazil and Terry Butcher among those in the starting XI. They are miles off repeating the glory days but Kieran McKenna has got them an awful lot closer during his time at Portman Road.
Leicester City
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Quarter-finals (2016/17)
Latest entry – 2016/17 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 1
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Round of 32 (2020/21)
Latest entry – 2021/22 (group stage)
No. of entries – 4
Europa Conference League
Best finish – Semi-finals (2021/22)
Latest entry – 2021/22 (semi-finals)
No. of entries – 1
Leicester’s greatest European achievement is reaching the quarter-final of the Champions League in 2017. We thought they had a great chance in the Europa Conference League but were beaten by eventual winners AS Roma in the semis in 2022.
Liverpool (Champions League/European Cup x6, UEFA Cup x3, Super Cup x4, Club World Cup x1)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05, 2018/19)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 28
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Winners (1972/73, 1975/76, 2000/01)
Latest entry – 2023/24 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 15
Europa Conference League
N/A
Super Cup
Best finish – Winners (1977, 2001, 2005, 2019)
Latest entry – 2019 (winners)
No. of entries – 6
Club World Cup
Best finish – Winners (2019)
Latest entry – 2019 (winners)
No. of entries – 2
Liverpool have been quite good in Europe. Their first European campaign was in the European Cup in 64/65. Their first European trophy came eight seasons later when they claimed the UEFA Cup. The Reds were at their best in the ’70s and ’80s when they had club legends like Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness. They do not belong in the Europa League and are back in the big time for Arne Slot’s first season as head coach, winning the first-ever league phase at a canter.
Manchester City (Champions League, Cup Winners’ Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (2022/23)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (play-off round)
No. of entries – 15
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Quarter-finals (1978/79, 2008/09)
Latest entry – 2011/12 (last 16)
No. of entries – 8
Europa Conference League
N/A
City first competed in the European Cup in 68/69 and made their Champions League debut 43 years later. They beat Inter in the Champions League final two seasons ago to be crowned European champions for the first time.
They have been pants this season and are out of the Champions League already.
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Manchester United (Champions League/European Cup x3, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Club World Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (1967/68, 1998/99, 2007/08)
Latest entry – 2023/24 (group stage)
No. of entries – 31
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Winners (2016/17)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 13
Europa Conference League
N/A
Super Cup/European Super Cup
Best finish – Winners (1991)
Latest entry – 2017 (runners-up)
No. of entries – 4
Their showing in the Champions League last season was nothing short of abysmal. They are in the Europa League in 24/25 after miraculously beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final last year.
Newcastle United (Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Intertoto Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Second group stage (2002/03)
Latest entry – 2023/24 (group stage)
No. of entries – 3
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Semi-finals (2003/04)
Latest entry – 2012/13 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 8
Europa Conference League
N/A
Newcastle could not get out of their group in their first year back in the Champions League for two decades, when they were knocked out in the third qualifying round. Thought they had sealed a Conference League spot before Man Utd won the FA Cup. Typical.
Nottingham Forest
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Winners (1978/79, 1979/80)
Latest entry – 1980/81 (first round)
No. of entries – 3
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Semi-finals (1983/84)
Latest entry – 1995/96 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 3
Europa Conference League
N/A
Super Cup/European Super Cup
Best finish – Winners (1979)
Latest entry – 1980 (runners-up)
No. of entries – 2
“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that.”
Southampton
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Second round (1981/82)
Latest entry – 2016/17 (group stage)
No. of entries – 6
Europa Conference League
N/A
Southampton have won six of their 22 matches in the Europa League/UEFA Cup and are a long way off returning to Europe.
Tottenham (UEFA Cup x2, Cup Winners’ Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (2018/19)
Latest entry – 2022/23 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 7
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Winners (1971/72, 1983/84)
Latest entry – 2024/25 (round of 16)
No. of entries – 17
Europa Conference League
Best finish – Group stage (2021/22)
Latest entry – 2021/22 (group stage)
No. of entries – 1
Arsenal can have their St. Totteringham’s Day. It won’t make their European record any better than Spurs’.
West Ham (Europa Conference League, Cup Winners’ Cup, Intertoto Cup)
Champions League/European Cup
N/A
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Semi-finals (2021/22)
Latest entry – 2023/24 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 4
Europa Conference League
Best finish – Winners (2022/23)
Latest entry – 2022/23 (winners)
No. of entries – 1
West Ham are massive. Not massive enough to have ever played in the biggest club competition. They did famously win the 2023 Europa Conference League, though.
Wolves
Champions League/European Cup
Best finish – Quarter-finals (1959/60)
Latest entry – 1959/60 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 2
Europa League/UEFA Cup
Best finish – Runners-up (1971/72)
Latest entry – 2019/20 (quarter-finals)
No. of entries – 5
Europa Conference League
N/A
Wolves’ first two continental campaigns came in the European Cup. They reached the UEFA Cup final in 1972, losing to Tottenham. They were in the Europa League not so long ago and had a good chance of winning the whole thing if it wasn’t for eventual winners Sevilla, who were obviously managed by former Molineux boss Julen Lopetegui.
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