UEFA Europa League in Images

The UEFA Europa League consistently provides relevant visual opportunities — from historic retrospectives to current matchdays. For blog articles, news formats, and social media channels, properly licensed UEFA Europa League images are the foundation of credibility and reach.

IMAGO supports this with clearly defined licensing models (RM, RF Classic, RF Premium), visible release information, and flexible access via the webshop, credit packages, or sales consultation. The result is legally compliant publications with strong visuals — from archival classics to up‑to‑the‑minute photo series.

IMAGO / SOPA Images, UEFA Europa League AS Roma Vs Eintracht Frankfurt in Rome, Italy - 30th Jan 2025 (L-R) Manu Kone of Roma, MoDahoud of Eintracht Frankfurt and Bryan Cristante of Roma seen in action, Copyright: Marco Iacobucci SOPA Images

History and Highlights of the UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League has, for decades, delivered the images that tell European football stories: full stadiums, tactical battles, trophy celebrations, and fan culture. For blogs, newsrooms, and social media teams, reliable photography is the basis for credible reporting and effective reach. IMAGO works with partner photographers, agencies, and archives worldwide and provides licensable content for media, brands, agencies, content creators, NGOs, and educational institutions. This article offers a concise overview of the competition, historic highlights, and the legally compliant use of UEFA Europa League images — including practical guidance for editorial projects. Sections are clearly structured and brief, which makes it easy for clients to find and use the content they need.

Competition Overview: From the UEFA Cup to the Europa League

The Europa League traces back to the UEFA Cup (launched in 1971). With the rebranding in 2009 and several format adjustments over the years, the competition has strengthened its character as a broad European stage: traditional clubs meet rising teams, and each season brings new stories. For editors, this means a continuous visual narrative — from qualifying rounds through the knockout phase to the final.

Historic Highlights: Matches, Records, Moments

The Europa League (and previously the UEFA Cup) has produced defining chapters. Here is a selection frequently requested for anniversaries, throwbacks, and social formats:

• Borussia Mönchengladbach (1975, 1979): The Foals shaped the 1970s and still provide iconic archive imagery.

• Liverpool FC (1973, 1976, 2001): Tradition, comebacks, and European pedigree — a perennial storytelling favorite.

• Real Madrid (1985, 1986): Back‑to‑back titles as a photographic time capsule of the 1980s.

• Napoli (1989): The Maradona era — classics of European football photography.

• Inter & Juventus (1990s): Multiple titles, star players, and coaching schools, richly covered in the archive.

• Schalke 04 (1997): The “Eurofighters” as a German touchstone with strong reader appeal.

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1988): A dramatic triumph, often requested for retrospectives.

• Sevilla FC (multiple since 2006): Record winners and synonymous with “Europa League nights.”

• Atlético de Madrid (2010s): Titles and coaching figures — strong material for tactics and coaching features.

• Eintracht Frankfurt (1980, 2022): Stadium imagery with intense fan culture.

IMAGO / Team 2, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann (2nd from right), Ingo Anderbrügge (left) and Marco van Hoogdalem (right, all Schalke) celebrate the trophy Soccer EC 3 Men UEFA Cup 1996 1997, 2nd final, Milan - FC Schalke 04

The Trophy: An Icon Without Handles

The Europa League trophy, known for its handle‑less design, weighs around 15 kilograms. Popular image series include set‑up and staging of the ceremony, close‑ups of engravings, and captains at the moment of triumph. For social media, details (textures, confetti, medals) work well, as do wide shots capturing choreography and pyrotechnics (where permitted).

IMAGO / Pacific Press Agency | Fußball, Europa League Finale in Baku, Impressions Baku ready to UEFA Europe League 2019 The UEFA Europe League trophy in Baku Boulevard. Credit: Aziz Karimov

Image Needs for Blogs, News & Social: What Works Reliably

• Following match flow: Match action (duels, finishes), goal celebrations, and goalkeeper moments are core visuals for reports and recaps.

• Context & culture: Fan marches, banners, choreographies, cityscapes around venues provide context for longreads and reels.

• Coaching & tactics: Coaches, gestures, tactics boards, analysts — ideal for pieces on strategy and personnel.

• Formats & crops: For 9:16 stories/reels, use vertical crops, close‑ups, and sequential carousels; for websites, landscape formats and photo galleries are effective.

• Accessibility: Alt text and precise captions improve usability and discoverability.

Rights & Licensing: How to Use The Images Correctly

Principle: A license grants usage rights, not ownership; copyright remains with the creator (photographer/agency).

Webshop IMAGO licensing categories:

• Rights Managed (RM): One‑time, clearly defined use (duration, territory, medium). Suitable for editorial use with a precise purpose.

• Royalty Free Classic (RF): Reuse without per‑use reporting, for editorial and — depending on the subject — commercial use.

• Royalty Free Premium (RF Premium): Flexible, high‑quality use with options for print, advertising, packaging, and merchandising.

Editorial vs. commercial:

• Editorial (journalism, information): Use in news, blogs, social posts with a reporting character.

• Commercial (advertising, sponsorship, marketing): Requires the corresponding license and — where identifiable people or private property appear — model/property releases.

Access & Purchase: Webshop, Packages, Sales Manager

• Webshop — single purchase: Fast direct purchase of individual images; guest checkout or account; RM, RF Classic, RF Premium selectable by intended use.

• Webshop — credit packages: Credits (valid for 365 days) for recurring needs; budget planning for newsrooms and content creators.

• Sales Manager — consultation: Custom agreements, volume licenses, and research support for media organizations, agencies, and companies.

Workflow & Archive: Partner Network, Curation, Availability

IMAGO coordinates an international partner network and offers current and archival content — from black‑and‑white photography of earlier decades to today’s match series. Material is editorially curated and keyworded so searches (e.g., club, player, season, location, motif type) return precise results. For planning and live coverage, thematic collections (fans, coaches, architecture, final, trophy) are available.

IMAGO / Flash Press Agency, UEFA Europa League Football Match - 2024 25 Roma vs Eintracht Frankfurt 30 01 2025 Rome, Stadio Olimpico

Best Practices for Editorial and Social Teams

• Plan around key dates: Anniversaries, second legs, records, debuts work well for series and background features.

• Vary perspectives: Combine action, context, and detail to build a complete narrative arc.

• Optimize metadata: Clear captions, alt text, and keywords strengthen SEO and discoverability.

• Check releases & license scope: Before advertising/sponsorship use, verify release status and license type.

• Think in formats: 16:9 for article headers, 1:1/4:5 for feeds, 9:16 for stories/reels — plan cropping options early.