1996–97 UEFA Cup — 26th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA
The 1996–97 UEFA Cup was the last edition to use a two-legged final format, won by Schalke 04 on penalties against Internazionale.
Key Facts
- Season number
- 26th edition of the UEFA Cup
- Winner
- Schalke 04 (Germany)
- Final result
- 1–1 on aggregate, Schalke won on penalties
- Runner-up
- Internazionale (Italy)
- Defending champion eliminated
- Bayern Munich, beaten by Valencia in round 1
- Last two-legged final
- Single-venue finals introduced from 1998 onwards
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA's secondary club competition, the UEFA Cup, entered its 26th season in 1996–97. Defending champions Bayern Munich entered as favourites but were knocked out in the first round by Valencia, opening the competition to new contenders from across Europe.
German club Schalke 04 reached the final against Italian side Internazionale. The two-legged final finished 1–1 on aggregate, and Schalke 04 won the trophy by defeating Internazionale on a penalty shootout, claiming the club's first major European honour.
Schalke 04's victory marked a landmark moment in the competition's history, as this was the final edition to use a home-and-away two-legged final format. From 1998, UEFA moved to a single-match final held at a neutral venue, fundamentally changing how the tournament's climax was staged.