2008–09 UEFA Cup — 38th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA
The 2008–09 UEFA Cup was the final edition under that name, with Shakhtar Donetsk claiming the title before the competition became the UEFA Europa League.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 38th season of the UEFA Cup
- Final date
- 20 May 2009
- Final result
- Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 Werder Bremen (AET)
- Final venue
- Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul
- Last UEFA Cup season
- Replaced by UEFA Europa League from 2009
- Defending champions exit
- Zenit St. Petersburg eliminated by Udinese (Round of 16)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA organised the 38th edition of its secondary club competition, the UEFA Cup, as part of the regular European football calendar. Zenit Saint Petersburg entered as defending champions, and clubs across Europe competed through qualifying rounds and group stages to reach the knockout phase.
The tournament culminated in a final at Istanbul's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on 20 May 2009, where Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Germany's Werder Bremen 2–1 after extra time, securing the Ukrainian club's first-ever European trophy.
Shakhtar Donetsk's victory marked a milestone for Ukrainian club football. The 2008–09 edition was also the last to carry the UEFA Cup name; from 2009–10 onwards, UEFA restructured and rebranded the competition as the UEFA Europa League.