Topics: José Luis Mendilibar, Jose Mourinho, Gonzalo Montiel, Sevilla, Roma, Europa League Final, UEFA Europa League
The Spanish side won 4-1 on penalties after drawing 1-1 with the Serie A club after extra time, thus extending their dominance in this competition.

Two heavyweights clashed in this season's UEFA Europa League final but there could only be one winner!

In one corner, you had Sevilla, the kings of this competition and a club that had won every European final they participated in. In the other camp was Roma, led by Jose Mourinho, the iconic manager who had never lost a European club tournament final in his illustrious career.

What ensued in the final in Budapest was a testament to this. Only two goals were scored, one being an own goal from Gianluca Mancini, while a total of 13 yellow cards were handed out.

120 minutes of football were played but no winner was decided, meaning the game headed to a penalty shootout. Two talented goalkeepers went head-to-head in Yassine Bounou and Rui Patricio but it was Sevilla's Moroccan shot-stopper who emerged triumphant as the Spanish club got their hands on yet another Europa League trophy.

Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez missed from the spot for the Serie A side while Gonzalo Montiel, just as he did for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France, netted the decisive penalty to win Palanganas the title, setting several records along the way.

The first involves Sevilla's manager José Luis Mendilibar, who is the club's third manager of the season, having only arrived at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium back in March when they were fighting relegation. Not only did the 62-year-old turn the club's fortunes around, guiding them to La Liga safety and securing the UEFA Europa League title – and by extension, qualification for the Champions League – in just a few months, but he has also made history by becoming the first manager to beat Jose Mourinho in a European club tournament final.

Additionally, the 62-year-old became the oldest manager to win the Europa League since the competition, formerly known as the UEFA Cup, rebranded. The Special One also set a record, albeit an unwanted one, as he lost a European final for the first time in his career, having won the previous five he featured in while conceding a goal in only one of those first five outings.

Sevilla, meanwhile, lifted the trophy for a record-extending seventh time in this competition, having never lost a Europa League final. This makes the Spanish side the most successful club in major European finals in the 21st century.

Then there is Gonzalo Montiel, who has enjoyed a season to remember after scoring the winning shootout penalty in the final of a FIFA World Cup and a major European club tournament. No other player has achieved this feat before and the Argentine defender pulled this off in the same season.

As for the 13 yellow cards brandished that were mentioned earlier, this is a Europa League record. Never before have more bookings been dished out in a single game in this competition and with Roma picking up seven of those 13 yellow cards, no team has received more bookings in a Europa League final than Mourinho's club.

And last but not least, while the Premier League is hailed as the best league in the world, La Liga reminded everyone that they are the kings of European football. Since 2001/02 when Real Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final, Spanish teams have made a major European final 26 times. 18 of those 26 finals, be it in the Champions League or Europa League, were against non-Spanish clubs and the Spanish clubs won all of those 18 finals.

The victory over Roma means Sevilla have secured their ticket to the UEFA Champions League for next season. Additionally, by virtue of being the Europa League champions, José Luis Mendilibar's side will head into Pot 1 for the UCL draw alongside the champions of England (Man City), the champions of Spain (Barcelona), the champions of Germany (Bayern Munich), the champions of Italy (Napoli), and the champions of France (PSG).