2004–05 UEFA Cup — 34th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA
CSKA Moscow's 2005 UEFA Cup victory was the first European trophy won by a Russian football club.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 34th UEFA Cup
- Winner
- CSKA Moscow
- Runner-up
- Sporting CP
- Final venue
- Sporting CP's home stadium, Lisbon
- Defending champion
- Valencia
- Group stage format
- 8 groups of 5 teams, single round-robin
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the abolition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1999, UEFA restructured its secondary club competition. For 2004–05, an extra qualifying round and a group phase were introduced after the first round, with eight groups of five teams playing a single round-robin, and the top three from each group advancing alongside eight third-placed Champions League teams.
The 2004–05 UEFA Cup was contested across Europe, culminating in a final held at Sporting CP's home stadium in Lisbon. CSKA Moscow came from behind to defeat Sporting CP, with the match refereed by Graham Poll. Defending champions Valencia were eliminated earlier by Steaua București in the Round of 32.
CSKA Moscow's victory became the first time a Russian club had won any UEFA European competition, marking a significant milestone for Russian football on the continental stage. The restructured format, incorporating a group phase and closer integration with the Champions League, shaped how the tournament operated in subsequent seasons.