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FC Utrecht in European football

FC Utrecht in European football
ClubFC Utrecht
Seasons played16
First entry1980–81 UEFA Cup
Latest entry2025–26 UEFA Europa League

FC Utrecht in European football refers to the participation of FC Utrecht, a football club from the Netherlands, in UEFA competitions. Since making their debut in 1980, FC Utrecht have appeared in several editions of the UEFA Cup and later the Europa League, with occasional entries in the Cup Winners’ Cup and Intertoto Cup. The club’s most notable achievements include reaching the UEFA Cup group stage in 2004–05 and again in the Europa League in 2010–11, where they faced major clubs such as SSC Napoli, Liverpool F.C., and FCSB. Although often eliminated in the early rounds, FC Utrecht have recorded memorable victories over opponents including Celtic F.C., Grazer AK, and MŠK Žilina.

History

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1980s

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FC Utrecht made its European debut in 1980. After defeating FC Argeș Pitești in their first tie, they were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt. Later in the decade they lost to Hamburger SV, FC Porto, and FC Dynamo Kyiv. Their best results came with victories over LASK before falling to Hellas Verona FC.

1990s

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European appearances were rare in the 1990s. Utrecht eliminated SK Sturm Graz in the first round but were knocked out by Real Madrid CF in the next stage. The rest of the decade saw no continental football for the club.

2000s

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The early 2000s brought renewed activity in Europe. FC Utrecht overcame Grazer AK but lost to parma, and were later beaten by Legia Warsaw. Their strongest run came in 2004, when they comfortably defeated MŠK Žilina and then entered the group stage. There they faced Real Zaragoza, FC Dnipro, Club Brugge KV, and FK Austria Wien, but did not progress further. An Intertoto Cup appearance in 2007 ended with elimination against Hammarby Fotboll on away goals.

2010s

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The highlight of the decade came in 2010, when FC Utrecht advanced past KF Tirana, FC Luzern, and Celtic F.C. to qualify for the Europa League group stage. There they played SSC Napoli, Liverpool F.C., and FCSB, earning respectable results but finishing bottom of the group. Later campaigns ended earlier, including a surprise defeat to FC Differdange 03 in 2013, a narrow elimination against Lech Poznań, a play-off defeat to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, and an exit against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar.

2020s

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In the mid-2020s FC Utrecht returned to European competition. They overcame FC Sheriff Tiraspol and Servette FC to reach the play-off round.

Overall record

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As of 21 August 2025
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD W%
Cup Winners' Cup 2 1 0 1 3 5 −2 050.00
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 59 21 17 21 83 76 +7 035.59
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 0 2 0 1 1 +0 000.00
Total 63 22 19 22 87 82 +5 034.92

Source: UEFA.com
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal Difference; W% = Win percentage. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.

Top scorers

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As of 21 August 2025
Rank Goals Player Date of last goal Competition
1 9 Netherlands Ricky van Wolfswinkel 2 December 2010 2010–11 UEFA Europa League
2 5 Netherlands Stefaan Tanghe 16 September 2004 2004–05 UEFA Cup
Denmark Victor Jensen 21 August 2025 2025–26 UEFA Europa League
4 4 Netherlands Hans van de Haar 16 September 2004 2004–05 UEFA Cup
Zambia Jacob Mulenga 25 July 2013 2013–14 UEFA Europa League
Netherlands Willy Carbo 30 September 1981 1981–82 UEFA Cup
7 3 Netherlands Dirk Kuyt 3 October 2002 2002–03 UEFA Cup
Belgium Dries Mertens 4 November 2010 2010–11 UEFA Europa League
Netherlands Ton de Kruijk 2 October 1985 1985–86 European Cup Winners' Cup
Poland Włodzimierz Smolarek 23 October 1991 1991–92 UEFA Cup

Opponents by country

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As of 21 August 2025
Rank Country Matches Won Draw Lost Goals for Goals against Opponents
1 Austria Austria 7 4 2 1 13 6 Austria Wien (1), Grazer AK (2), LASK (2), Sturm Graz (2)
2 Italy Italy 6 0 4 2 6 9 Hellas Verona (2), Parma (2), Napoli (2)
3 Germany Germany 4 2 0 2 7 10 Eintracht Frankfurt (2), Hamburger SV (2)
Poland Poland 4 0 2 2 4 9 Lech Poznań (2), Legia Warsaw (2)
Romania Romania 4 1 2 1 4 4 Argeș Pitești (2), Steaua București (2)
Sweden Sweden 4 1 2 1 5 4 Djurgården IF (2), Hammarby IF (2)
Switzerland Switzerland 4 4 0 0 9 3 Luzern (2), Servette (2)
8 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 4 3 Zrinjski Mostar (3)
Spain Spain 3 0 0 3 1 6 Real Madrid (2), Zaragoza (1)
Ukraine Ukraine 3 1 0 2 4 7 Dnipro (1), Dynamo Kyiv (2)
11 Albania Albania 2 1 1 0 5 1 Tirana (2)
England England 2 0 2 0 0 0 Liverpool (2)
France France 2 0 1 1 0 4 Auxerre (2)
Luxembourg Luxembourg 2 0 1 1 4 5 Differdange 03 (2)
Malta Malta 2 1 1 0 3 1 Valletta (2)
Moldova Moldova 2 2 0 0 7 2 Sheriff Tiraspol (2)
Portugal Portugal 2 0 0 2 0 3 Porto (2)
Russia Russia 2 1 0 1 1 2 Zenit Saint Petersburg (2)
Scotland Scotland 2 1 0 1 4 2 Celtic (2)
Slovakia Slovakia 2 2 0 0 6 0 Žilina (2)
21 Belgium Belgium 1 0 0 1 0 1 Club Brugge (1)

Most frequent opponents

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As of 21 August 2025
Rank Club Country Pld W D L GF GA
1 HŠK Zrinjski Mostar  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 4 3


European match history

[edit]
As of 21 August 2025
Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1980–81 UEFA Cup First round Romania Argeș Pitești 2–0[1] 0–0[2] 2–0
Second round Germany Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1[3] 1–3[4] 3–4
1981–82 UEFA Cup First round Germany Hamburger SV 3–6[5] 1–0[6] 4–6
1982–83 UEFA Cup First round Portugal Porto 0–1[7] 0–2[8] 0–3
1985–86 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv[note 1] 2–1[9] 1–4[10] 3–5
1987–88 UEFA Cup First round Austria LASK 2–0[11] 0–0[12] 2–0
Second round Italy Hellas Verona 1–1[13] 1–2[14] 2–3
1991–92 UEFA Cup First round Austria Sturm Graz 3–1[15] 1–0[16] 4–1
Second round Spain Real Madrid 1–3[17] 0–1[18] 1–4
2001–02 UEFA Cup First round Austria Grazer AK 3–0[19] 3–3[20] 6–3
Second round Italy Parma 1–3[21] 0–0[22] 1–3
2002–03 UEFA Cup First round Poland Legia Warsaw 1–3[23] 1–4[24] 2–7
2003–04 UEFA Cup First round Slovakia Žilina 2–0[25] 4–0[26] 6–0
Second round France Auxerre 0–0[27] 0–4[28] 0–4
2004–05 UEFA Cup First round Sweden Djurgården IF 4–0[29] 0–3[30] 4–3
Group stage Spain Zaragoza — 0–2[31] 5th
Ukraine Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1–2[32] —
Belgium Club Brugge — 0–1[33]
Austria Austria Wien 1–2[34] —
2007 Intertoto Cup Third round Sweden Hammarby IF 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2010–11 Europa League Second qualifying round Albania Tirana 4–0[35] 1–1[36] 5–1
Third qualifying round Switzerland Luzern 1–0[37] 3–1[38] 4–1
Play-off round Scotland Celtic 4–0[39] 0–2[40] 4–2
Group stage Italy Napoli 3–3[41] 0–0[42] 4th
England Liverpool 0–0[43] 0–0[44]
Romania Steaua București 1–1[45] 1–3[46]
2013–14 Europa League Second qualifying round Luxembourg Differdange 03 3–3[47] 1–2[48] 4–5
2017–18 Europa League Second qualifying round Malta Valletta 3–1[49] 0–0[50] 3–1
Third qualifying round Poland Lech Poznań 0–0[51] 2–2[52] 2–2 (a)
Play-off round Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg 1–0[53] 0–2 (a.e.t.)[54] 1–2
2019–20 Europa League Second qualifying round Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar 1–1[55] 1–2 (a.e.t.)[56] 2–3
2025–26 Europa League Second qualifying round Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol 4–1[57] 3–1[58] 7–2
Third qualifying round Switzerland Servette 2–1[59] 3–1[60] 5–2
Play-off round Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar 2–0[61]
UEFA club coefficient: 1,500 (126th) (as per 2022–23 season)[62]

Record by club

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As of 21 August 2025
Club Country Matches Season(s) W D L
Albania
Tirana  Albania 2 2010–11 1 1
Austria
LASK  Austria 2 1987–88 1 1
Sturm Graz  Austria 2 1991–92 2
Grazer AK  Austria 2 2001–02 1 1
Austria Wien  Austria 1 2004–05 1
Belgium
Club Brugge  Belgium 1 2004–05 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zrinjski Mostar  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 2019–20, 2025–26 1 1 1
England
Liverpool  England 2 2010–11 2
France
Auxerre  France 2 2003–04 1 1
Germany
Eintracht Frankfurt  Germany 2 1980–81 1 1
Hamburger SV  Germany 2 1981–82 1 1
Italy
Hellas Verona  Italy 2 1987–88 1 1
Parma  Italy 2 2001–02 1 1
Napoli  Italy 2 2010–11 2
Luxembourg
Differdange 03  Luxembourg 2 2013–14 1 1
Malta
Valletta  Malta 2 2017–18 1 1
Moldova
Sheriff Tiraspol  Moldova 2 2025–26 2
Poland
Legia Warsaw  Poland 2 2002–03 2
Lech Poznań  Poland 2 2017–18 2
Portugal
Porto  Portugal 2 1982–83 2
Romania
Argeș Pitești  Romania 2 1980–81 1 1
Steaua București  Romania 2 2010–11 1 1
Russia
Zenit Saint Petersburg  Russia 2 2017–18 1 1
Scotland
Celtic  Scotland 2 2010–11 1 1
Slovakia
Žilina  Slovakia 2 2003–04 2
Spain
Real Madrid  Spain 2 1991–92 2
Zaragoza  Spain 1 2004–05 1
Sweden
Djurgården IF  Sweden 2 2004–05 1 0 1
Hammarby IF  Sweden 2 2007–08 0 2 0
Switzerland
Luzern  Switzerland 2 2010–11 2 0 0
Servette  Switzerland 2 2025–26 2 0 0
Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv[note 2]  Ukraine 2 1985–86 1 0 1
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk  Ukraine 1 2004–05 0 0 1

Notes

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  1. ^ Former team of Soviet Union.
  2. ^ Former team of Soviet Union

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Utrecht vs. Argeș Pitești". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Argeș Pitești vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Utrecht vs. Eintracht Frankfurt". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Utrecht vs. Hamburg". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Hamburg vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Utrecht vs. Porto". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Porto vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Utrecht vs. Dynamo Kyiv". UEFA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 9 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "Dynamo Kyiv vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 9 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "Utrecht vs. LASK". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  12. ^ "LASK vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Utrecht vs. Hellas Verona". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Hellas Verona vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Utrecht vs. Sturm Graz". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Sturm Graz vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Utrecht vs. Real Madrid". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Real Madrid vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Utrecht vs. GAK". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  20. ^ "GAK vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Utrecht vs. Parma". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Parma vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Utrecht vs. Legia Warsaw". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Legia Warsaw vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Utrecht vs. Žilina". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Žilina vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Utrecht vs. Auxerre". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Auxerre vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Utrecht vs. Djurgårdens". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Djurgårdens vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Real Zaragoza vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Utrecht vs. Dnipro". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Club Brugge vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  34. ^ "Utrecht vs. Austria Wien". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  35. ^ "Utrecht vs. KF Tirana". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  36. ^ "KF Tirana vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Utrecht vs. Luzern". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  38. ^ "Luzern vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Utrecht vs. Celtic". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  40. ^ "Celtic vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  41. ^ "Utrecht vs. Napoli". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  42. ^ "Napoli vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Utrecht vs. Liverpool". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  44. ^ "Liverpool vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  45. ^ "Utrecht vs. Steaua București". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  46. ^ "Steaua București vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  47. ^ "Utrecht vs. Differdange 03". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  48. ^ "Differdange 03 vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  49. ^ "Utrecht vs. Valletta". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  50. ^ "Valletta vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  51. ^ "Utrecht vs. Lech Poznań". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  52. ^ "Lech Poznań vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  53. ^ "Utrecht vs. Zenit Saint Petersburg". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  54. ^ "Zenit Saint Petersburg vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  55. ^ "Utrecht vs. Zrinjski Mostar". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  56. ^ "Zrinjski Mostar vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  57. ^ "Utrecht vs. Sheriff Tiraspol". UEFA. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  58. ^ "Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  59. ^ "Utrecht vs. Servette". UEFA. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  60. ^ "Servette vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  61. ^ "Zrinjski Mostar vs. Utrecht". UEFA. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  62. ^ "UEFA club coefficients". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2023.