Walking through the Chelsea Museum at Stamford Bridge, I often find myself stopping to admire various memorabilia—like the iconic shirt with Drogba’s name on the back, Petr Čech's rugby cap, or José Mourinho’s infamous grey trench coat, which he wore when leading Chelsea to Premier League glory. Then, a bright corner of the museum catches my eye. As I approach, I notice other visitors taking turns to stand between two large, shiny trophies. One is a replica of the European Cup, and the other, the Europa League (formerly known as the UEFA Cup). These trophies are displayed on separate tables, and the setup allows people to have their photo taken with them, with Stamford Bridge as the background, replacing the greenscreen backdrop.
At first, it may seem like a simple photo opportunity, evoking memories of Chelsea’s dramatic Champions League victory against Bayern Munich or their Europa League triumph under Rafa Benítez in Amsterdam. But here's a lesser-known fact: Chelsea were actually champions of both tournaments at the same time—a unique achievement that no other club has ever matched. So, how did this happen?
Chelsea’s Dramatic Champions League Victory (2012)
Chelsea's unforgettable 2011-12 Champions League campaign set the stage for one of the club’s greatest triumphs. Under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea defied expectations with a stunning knockout run, culminating in a final showdown with Bayern Munich at their home stadium in Munich. In a thrilling match that ended in a penalty shootout, Didier Drogba's 88th-minute equalizer and his subsequent winning penalty secured Chelsea’s first-ever Champions League title.
The Road to Europa League Glory (2013)
After their Champions League success, Chelsea faced disappointment in the 2012-13 season, failing to advance from their group stage. As a result, they were relegated to the Europa League. Under Rafa Benítez, however, Chelsea bounced back and made an impressive run to the final. On May 15, 2013, they faced Benfica in the final in Amsterdam. Branislav Ivanović's dramatic late header sealed a 2-1 victory, earning Chelsea their first-ever Europa League title.
Chelsea’s Unprecedented Double Triumph
Here’s where history was made. Because the 2012-13 Champions League final had not yet been played, Chelsea were still the reigning Champions League champions when they lifted the Europa League trophy. For a brief ten days, from May 15 until Bayern Munich won the 2013 Champions League final, Chelsea were officially the champions of both European competitions simultaneously—an extraordinary feat that no other club has achieved.
Legacy of the Double Triumph
This historic achievement cemented Chelsea's legacy as one of Europe's most elite clubs. Their ability to bounce back from early Champions League disappointment and secure more continental silverware exemplifies their resilience and winning mentality. Chelsea remains the only club in history to hold both the Champions League and Europa League titles at the same time.
To learn more about Chelsea’s historic double triumph, visit the Chelsea Museum at Stamford Bridge, where both trophies are proudly on display.
For more on legendary stadiums and historic football finals, check out our article on the Santiago Bernabéu hosting two unique finals.