Crystal Palace have lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy after a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, securing their first-ever European title thanks to a second-half strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The win in Leipzig marks a remarkable two-year period for the Eagles under manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian had earlier guided the club to their first major domestic silverware by defeating Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final, and has now added European success to his achievements.
During the same spell, Palace also claimed the Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, further highlighting their rise under Glasner’s leadership.
However, reports suggest Glasner is set to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, amid frustrations over transfer dealings during the campaign.
Palace were originally set to compete in the Europa League but were later moved to the Conference League due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules involving former co-owner John Textor, who held stakes in both Palace and Lyon.
Despite that setback, the club will now qualify for the Europa League in the 2026/27 season as Conference League champions.
Their European run saw them finish outside the top eight in the league phase, forcing them into a knockout play-off before progressing through tough opponents including Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina, and Shakhtar Donetsk on their way to the final.
Ismaila Sarr has been standout performer in the competition, finishing as top scorer with nine goals in 13 appearances, while Daichi Kamada has contributed four assists, making him one of the leading creators in the tournament.
