The Unlikely Triumph: Teams from One Country Winning Both the Champions League and Europa League in a Year

The likelihood of two different teams from the same country winning both the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League in the same year is certainly rare, yet it has happened thirteen times across five decades. This remarkable feat has been achieved most frequently by Spanish and Italian teams, with the top Spanish league, La Liga, boasting the most occurrences in this unique event.

Historical Context and Achievements

The UEFA Cup (now known as the Europa League) was established in 1971, and since then, this extraordinary achievement has occurred 13 times. Some key instances include:

1974-75 - West Germany: Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach 1980-81 - England: Liverpool and Ipswich Town 1983-84 - England: Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur 1988-89 - Italy: AC Milan and Napoli 1989-90 - Italy: AC Milan and Juventus 1993-94 - Italy: AC Milan and Inter Milan 1996-97 - Germany: Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 2005-06 - Spain: Barcelona and Sevilla 2013-14 - Spain: Real Madrid and Sevilla 2014-15 - Spain: Barcelona and Sevilla 2015-16 - Spain: Real Madrid and Sevilla 2017-18 - Spain: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid 2018-19 - England: Liverpool and Chelsea

This success rate translates to approximately one in every four years, making it a noteworthy event in football history.

National Achievements and Underachievers

While Spain leads the pack with five such occurrences, other countries like Italy, Germany, and England also see repeated success. However, compared to Spain, these nations have achieved this feat significantly less often. For instance:

Italy (3 occurrences): Italy has seen notable success with AC Milan achieving the feat three times. England (3 occurrences): While England shares Italy's success rate, it is still significantly lower than Spain. Germany (2 occurrences): Slightly behind England, Germany has had two instances of winning both tournaments in the same year. Other Nations (1 or fewer occurrences): Countries like France, Portugal, and the Netherlands have typically fallen short of this achievement.

Case Studies of Success and Underachievement

Spain (5 occurrences): Consistently dominant, with La Liga teams accounting for five of the thirteen successful years. This success can be attributed to the high level of competition and talent within the league.

Germany and England (3 occurrences each): While both these leagues have secured this achievement three times, the intervals between occurrences vary. Germany's Borussia Dortmund had back-to-back achievements in 2017-18 and 2014-15, while England's Liverpool and Chelsea in 2018-19 were successful in the same year.

France (1 occurrence): France, however, has seen limited success, with only one European Cup to their name. Despite PSG and French teams' prowess in other competitions, this particular double achievement remains elusive. The “that has a massive asterisk against it” statement pertains to the unique circumstances surrounding which, despite their dominance, they have not managed this feat.

Sampdoria's Unique Success

The most unique instance of this success was in 1989-90 when Sampdoria won the Cup Winners' Cup. This is the only time a single country has provided all three winners of the big three European tournaments, namely the Champions League, Europa League, and Cup Winners' Cup, in the same year.

Conclusion

The occurrence of two teams from one country winning both the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League in the same year is a rare and remarkable achievement in the world of football. While Spain leads the way with five such occurrences, other successful nations include Italy and Germany. France, Portugal, and the Netherlands have yet to achieve this feat, indicating varying degrees of success and underachievement among European nations.