The UEFA Cup (also known as European Cup 3, CE3 or C3) is a football competition for European club teams, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It is the second most important international competition for European football clubs, after the UEFA Champions League. Clubs qualify for the UEFA Cup based on their performance in national leagues and cup competitions.
It began in 1971 and replaced the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In 1999 the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was abolished and merged with the UEFA Cup. While the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup is considered a pre-cursor to the UEFA Cup for records purposes, this does not apply to the Cup Winners' Cup.
Sevilla FC are the current holders of the UEFA Cup having won the competition for the second year in a row with their latest triumph occurring in Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, on 16 May 2007. They beat fellow Spaniards RCD Espanyol on penalties.
