A final that writes history: Some have never won the trophy, others have been waiting for 44 years

… first of all for a German club that has not won a single trophy in its 121-long history, the English have been waiting for a second European Cup for 44 years, and Birmingham club coach Unai Emery has a chance to win as much as a fifth trophy in the competition with a third different club.

For the German club, this will be the second final of a competition in history, previously they played only one final of the German Cup in the 2021/22 season.

It’s showtime

@_GonzaRodriguez #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/IfKVGr1sYs

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 20, 2026

Julian Schuster’s chosen ones are certainly the most pleasant surprise of the Europa League this season, and on the way to the final in the knockout phase they eliminated Genk, Celta and Braga.

Aston Villa won the only European cup in 1982, when they celebrated in the then Champions Cup and became European champions. The Birmingham club’s rivals at that time were also the Germans, they beat Bayern in Rotterdam with a score of 1:0.

Spanish specialist Emery won a total of four Europa League cups, three with Sevilla (2014, 2015 and 2016) and one with Villarreal (2021), and now he has a chance to reach the fifth cup.

Aston Villa has already secured a place in the Champions League through the Premier League, so in case of its triumph tonight, the sixth-placed club from England would also get a place in the European elite.

The match at the Besiktas stadium starts at 21:00, and the referee will be the French referee François Letexier.

(Vijesti.ba)