[attach id=257050 size="medium"]Fernando Torres holds the Europa League trophy. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar[/attach]
At the Amsterdam Arena earlier this month, Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 in the Europa League final to become the first English team to win all three UEFA club competitions, in the process earning a place among Europe’s elite clubs.
Chelsea also made history by becoming the first club to hold the Champions League and Europa League concurrently, albeit for a few days as Bayern Munich beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday to become the new kings of European football.
Chelsea became only the fourth team to claim all three major UEFA competitions – the European Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup (now defunct) and Europa League (formerly UEFA Cup).
Only Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich, three of the continent’s most decorated clubs, have previously achieved that feat.
Chelsea’s 2012-13 campaign has taken in 68 matches in 11 different countries and across eight competitions, an energy-sapping schedule that was overseen by two managers.
Interim manager Rafa Benitez deserves credit for the Blues achievements this season.
On May 15 he plotted the downfall of Benfica in Amsterdam after steering the London club safely to third place in the English Premier League and a slot in the Champions League group stage next season.
Yet, the Chelsea supporters never got to like Benitez, who replaced the affable Roberto Di Matteo in November. They did applaud the Spanish coach after their Europa League win but they have long craved the return of Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese is likely to return to Stamford Bridge now that it’s official that he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after three years at the helm.
Benitez, who was named Napoli coach this week, has an impressive CV and his silverware haul includes:
Valencia: La Liga (2001-02, 2003-04); UEFA Cup (2003-04).
Liverpool: FA Cup (2005-06); Community Shield (2006); Champions League (2004-05); Super Cup (2005).
Inter: Italian Super Cup (2010); Club World Cup (2010).
Chelsea: Europa League (2013).
Top nations
Spain: 13 EC; 7 CWC; 13 EL (UEFA Cup) – 33.
England: 12 EC; 8 CWC; 11 EL – 31.
Italy: 12 EC; 7 CWC; 10 EL – 29.
Germany: 6 EC; 4 CWC; 6 EL – 16.
Netherlands: 6 EC; 1 CWC; 4 EL – 11.
Portugal: 4 EC; 1 CWC; 2 EL – 7.