On Wednesday evening in Poland, Chelsea have the chance to become the first club to win all four of the major UEFA club competitions that have existed.
Those four competitions are: The European Cup/Champions League (which started in 1955-56 and was rebranded with the latter name in 1992-93), the UEFA Cup/Europa League (formed in 1971-72 and revamped in 2009-10), the Cup Winners’ Cup (contested from 1960-61 to 1998-99) and the Conference League (introduced in 2021-22).
Chelsea’s first triumph in any of these competitions was the 1971 Cup Winners’ Cup, when Dave Sexton’s side beat Real Madrid in the final after a replay. They won the European Cup/Champions League for the first time in 2012 under Roberto Di Matteo by defeating Bayern Munich on penalties. They then picked up a maiden UEFA Cup/Europa League title in 2013 (pictured top) under Rafa Benitez, beating Benfica.
So, victory over Spanish side Real Betis in the Conference League final this week would make it four different major UEFA trophies in the club’s cabinet — a unique feat.
Now, of course, the Conference League is UEFA’s tertiary competition and Chelsea, like other top clubs, would rather be in the European Cup/Champions League (and the next-best UEFA Cup/Europa League).
Nonetheless, they will never have a better chance to make history and become the first side to win all four.
