The 10 most successful clubs in Europa League history by points

The Europa League season is about to kick off and some of the continent's biggest clubs will feature. But which sides have been the most successful in the competition's 13-year history?

While the Europa League isn't considered the most prestigious tournament on English shores, plenty of the continent's biggest clubs have enjoyed success in the competition since 2009.

Spanish clubs have dominated the Europa League, winning eight of the past 13 finals, while Chelsea and Manchester United have bought the trophy to England - but nobody from the Premier League features in our list of the competition's most successful clubs.

With the 2022-23 campaign getting underway, we've had a look at which 10 clubs have been the most prolific over the past 13 years.

10. Napoli

Having just thrashed Liverpool, Napoli fans will be dreaming of more glorious Champions League nights at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

But, with Ajax also in their group, the Serie A side remain at risk of dropping into the Europa League after Christmas. Happily, Napoli have won almost half of their matches (30 out of 66) in the competition and reached the semi-finals in 2015.

9. Benfica

Another club that feels like a Champions League staple, Benfica have made the most of their rare forays into Europe's secondary tournament. 

The Portuguese giants were beaten finalists in both 2013 and 2014, while they also reached the semi-finals in 2011. With PSG and Juventus in their Champions League group, perhaps Benfica will have one eye on another Europa League run in 2023...

8. Dynamo Kyiv

The only Eastern European side to feature on this list, Dynamo Kyiv have won 27 of their 70 matches in the Europa League to date.

Having lost their Champions League play-off against Benfica, the Ukrainian side will participate in this year's competition; Rennes, Fenerbache and AEK Larnaca are their opponents in Group B.

7. Sporting Lisbon

Often the odd one out of Portugal's Big Three, Sporting have featured in 10 iterations of the Europa League since 2009. 

Based in Portugal's capital, Sporting have won 32 and drawn 15 of their 70 matches in the competition but haven't been past the quarter-finals since 2018. 

6. Braga

Braga have significantly overachieved in the past decade, becoming European regulars in their sensational stadium with a pair of cliffs behind each goal.

They reached the 2011 Europa League final, losing 1-0 to Andre Villas-Boas' Porto in Dublin and were eliminated by Rangers in the quarter-finals of last year's tournament.

Still, a record of 32 wins and 16 draws from 71 Europa League matches is mightily impressive and no team on the continent considers Braga an easy touch. 

5. PSV Eindhoven

After losing in their Champions League play-off to Rangers, PSV will be hoping to enjoy a deep run in this season's Europa League. 

The Dutch side will face Arsenal, Zurich and Bodo/Glimt in their group and will surely fancy their chances of progression given their strong record in the competition. 

With 33 wins and 17 draws from their 70 matches in the Europa League, many will fancy Ruud van Nistelrooy's side to upset some of Europe's biggest names this season. 

4. Lazio

Everything about Lazio screams Europa League staple; from their good, but not world-class, squad to Maurizio Sarri puffing on cigs as his players thrash some hapless Scandinavian visitors to the Stadio Olimpico.

Having only played once in the Champions League since 2009, the Rome-based club have enjoyed Europe's secondary competition with 32 wins and 22 draws from their 78 matches. 

But, despite their success, Lazio have never progressed beyond the Europa League quarter-finals. Their opponents in this year's group stage are Feyenoord, Midtijyland and Strum Graz.

3. RB Salzburg

Salzburg, with the help of Red Bull, have become one of Europe's most exciting clubs over the past decade with the likes of Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Dominik Szoboszlai, Patson Daka and Dayot Upamecano turning out for the Austrians.

While Salzburg are in Chelsea's Champions League group this year, their Europa League record has been excellent - 39 wins and 13 draws from 71 matches - meaning that, should they drop into the competition after Christmas, they'd be one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Budapest in May. 

2. Sevilla

Yes, we were surprised Sevilla didn't top this list either.

No club has defined the revamped Europa League more than the Andalusians; Sevilla lifted the trophy for three years running between 2014 and 2016 and won it in 2020 too. 

And, unsurprisingly, they've got an excellent overall record of 44 wins and 14 draws from their 73 Europa League matches.

1. Villarreal

Unai Emery has been, by far, the most successful manager in Europa League history and his current side Villarreal are statistically the most successful in the competition's short history.

Their 2021 final victory over Manchester United was the first major trophy in the La Liga's side history and nobody has played more than Europa League matches than Villarreal's 88. 

With 49 wins and just 19 defeats, Villarreal have relished their participation in this competition. Sadly for them, although perhaps not for everybody else, they'll be playing Conference League football this year.