Crystal Palace etched their name into European football history on Wednesday night after defeating Rayo Vallecano to win the UEFA Europa Conference League, securing the club’s first-ever major European trophy and completing a remarkable chapter under manager Oliver Glasner.
The victory in Leipzig marks another achievement in what has become the most successful period in Palace’s history. In just over two years at the helm, Glasner transformed the South London club from Premier League strugglers into trophy winners on multiple fronts.
Appointed on February 19, 2024, the Austrian tactician wasted little time in making his mark. On May 17, 2025, he guided Palace to their first major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Less than three months later, on August 10, 2025, the Eagles added another historic achievement, overcoming Liverpool on penalties to claim their first FA Community Shield.
Now, with the Europa Conference League secured in what was his final match in charge, Glasner departs Selhurst Park as one of the most influential figures in the club’s history. His tenure delivered three major honours and established Palace as a force capable of competing on both domestic and European stages.
Crystal Palace became the first club in the Premier League era to win a major European trophy in their debut European campaign. They also joined an exclusive list of English clubs to win a major European competition in their first season on the European stage, following the achievements of West Ham United in the 1964-65 European Cup Winners’ Cup and Newcastle United in the 1968-69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Remarkably, Palace secured European glory despite finishing 15th in the Premier League, making them the second-lowest league finish by a club that has won a major European trophy in the same season. Only Tottenham Hotspur, who won the Europa League while finishing 17th in 2025, recorded a lower domestic placing.
The triumph further underlines the growing dominance of English clubs in European competitions. Since the introduction of the UEFA Europa Conference League in the 2021-22 season, six different English clubs have lifted major European trophies:
West Ham United – UEFA Europa Conference League (2023)
Manchester City – UEFA Champions League (2023)
Tottenham Hotspur – UEFA Europa League (2025)
Chelsea – UEFA Europa Conference League (2025)
Aston Villa – UEFA Europa League (2026)
Crystal Palace – UEFA Europa Conference League (2026)
The latest success also means England will have a record nine clubs competing in UEFA competitions next season, highlighting the competitiveness of the Premier League.
UEFA Champions League
Arsenal
Manchester City
Manchester United
Aston Villa
Liverpool
UEFA Europa League
Bournemouth
Sunderland
Crystal Palace
UEFA Europa Conference League
Brighton & Hove Albion