Uefa Cup to be called Uefa Europa League next season

The Uefa Cup is to be renamed the Uefa Europa League from next season, with the competition set to be extended.

The new-look league will have 48 clubs in 12 groups of four, with teams playing each other home and away as opposed to just once as it stands now.

The top two in each group then join the eight third-placed Champions League clubs in a 32-club knock-out stage.

However, under the new format beaten cup finalists will no longer qualify for the competition.

Millwall and West Ham have both qualified as beaten FA Cup runners-up in recent years, but Uefa say this will no longer be the case, even if the winners have already qualified for the Champions League.

The competition will also have its TV rights sold centrally, in the same way as the Champions League, which should increase income to clubs.

"I am convinced the new format will give the Uefa Europa League a successful new impetus," said Uefa president Michel Platini.

"These changes will improve this historic competition, which is very important for Uefa and for European football as it gives more fans, players and clubs the thrill of European club football."

A statement on the Uefa website adds: "The new name and logo will help underline the tournament's special character and unique sporting appeal.

"Uefa's ambition in making these changes is to rejuvenate the competition in the light of the new European football landscape, which has shifted significantly with the continued success of the Champions League, so that the Uefa Europa League can establish itself as a major competition."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7637600.stm

Well at least the group stage won't be a total shambles.

Going to be interesting to see where they fit in the pre qualifying stage that currently comes after the international break, 80 into 48 doesn't go.

Much better...the current format of one knockout round, then a group stage featuring 5 teams that don't play each other home and away, then another knockout stage, is stupid.

Platini's UEFA has got something right at last.

Don't see why the name had to be changed though, sounds like the fake name you would see on a computer game.

Isn't there already an..

http://europeanboard.ephpbb.com/european-cups-f5/uefa-cup-gets-upgraded-t17156.htm

I still dont like the fact that the 8 3rd place teams from the CL group stages go into this competition.

Wasn't that always the case? 3rd team goes into the UEFA cup.

TM wrote:Wasn't that always the case? 3rd team goes into the UEFA cup.

I know thats why i put i STILL dont like the fact...

TM wrote:Wasn't that always the case? 3rd team goes into the UEFA cup.

Nope, in the old days (when everything was better) the champions league consisted of champions (imagine that ! ) and it was knockout all the way.....and when you were out, you were out completely

By the Lord Harry, it was still a proper game back then played by men, not them crying boys they have nowadays

I'm sure that (maybe the first season they introduced the groups?) once the fourth place went into the UEFA Cup and the third place went out... so it was better to finish last...

The new 4 club groups make sense, the current 5 club groups playing half a competition is a joke.

Apart from that there's little change, they just made the current 1st KO-round part of the qualification.

It does need revamping, good stuff apart from the shitty new name.

Hate the name.

It looks like its Champs league lite