2013 UEFA Europa League Winner

Lore & Background

The final at the Amsterdam Arena was a claustrophobic battle of attrition against Benfica that seemed destined to be decided by penalties. After a goalless first half and a stalemate through ninety minutes, the match appeared frozen until Branislav Ivanović's last-gasp header in stoppage time shattered the deadlock, forcing extra time. It was there, amidst the exhaustion, that Eden Hazard delivered the decisive blow with a composed finish to seal a 2-1 victory. Beyond the silverware, this win cemented Chelsea as the first English club to simultaneously hold all three major UEFA trophies: the European Cup/Champions League, the Cup Winners' Cup, and the Europa League.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Amsterdam Arena was thick with nervous static as extra time ticked agonizingly toward its conclusion. The score remained deadlocked, tension coiling tight in the chests of thousands of travelling Blues fans who had witnessed a season on the brink. Then, the ball found Eden Hazard near the edge of the box. With a defender closing in, he took a sharp touch, shifted his weight, and unleashed a low drive that nestled perfectly into the bottom corner. The roar that erupted wasn't just for a goal; it was the sound of history being rewritten. Moments later, as the final whistle confirmed the 2-1 win, Roberto Di Matteo collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face, while Ivanović celebrated the dramatic equalizer that had made this impossible dream a reality.

Reader's Guide

The 2013 UEFA Europa League victory is a defining record in Chelsea FC's history, representing a miraculous recovery from a season on the brink of failure. Under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, the team navigated a grueling European campaign to reach the final in Amsterdam against Portuguese giants Benfica. The match itself was a test of endurance and nerve. After a goalless 90 minutes, the deadlock was broken by Oscar for Chelsea, only for Benfica's Lamar to equalize late in extra time. The climax arrived in the dying seconds of extra time when defender Branislav Ivanović scored a header from a corner to level the match, setting up Eden Hazard to score the winner with just minutes remaining. This achievement holds immense significance as it completed Chelsea's European trophy collection. It made them the first and only club to win the Champions League (2012) and the Europa League in the same calendar year. Furthermore, it demonstrated the squad's ability to perform under extreme pressure, turning a potential season of disappointment into one of legendary status.

Did You Know?

• Chelsea became the first and only team in history to win both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League within the same calendar year (2012–2013).
• Branislav Ivanović scored his very first goal for Chelsea in a major final, netting a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Benfica that forced extra time.
• This victory was Roberto Di Matteo's only trophy as an interim manager before his permanent appointment later that summer; it remains the defining achievement of his tenure.
• The triumph ensured Chelsea held all three major European trophies they had ever won: the Cup Winners' Cup, the Champions League, and the Europa League.