Tottenham Hotspur’s European honours do not get the same limelight as the two most successful clubs in English football history, Manchester United and Liverpool. However, they have produced some unmatched records in UEFA competition history. Since winning their first European honour in 1963, during their peak years, to their modern-day push to regain glory, Spurs have created some iconic moments hard to ignore. Spurs have managed to enter the showpiece of a UEFA competition six times, winning four, including the UEFA Cup thrice.
Here are all the European finals Tottenham Hotspur has played in their history:
5-1 win vs Atletico Madrid (1963 Cup Winners' Cup)
Tottenham achieved their first continental success in the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, becoming the first English club to win a major European trophy, ahead of Manchester United and Liverpool. Spurs were managed by a figure adored in club history, Bill Nicholson, who won eight major trophies, including this record-breaking European honour. The team boasted the likes of Jimmy Greaves, one of England’s greats, who helped in the scoring spree in the competition as the Lilywhites defeated Rangers 8-4, Slovan Bratislava 6-2 and OFK Beograd 5-2 to reach the final facing Spain’s Atletico Madrid at Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam. The second-highest goalscorer in Tottenham’s history made sure the attacking impetus remained at the showpiece, scoring the opener inside 16 minutes before John White made it 2-0 before half-time. Even though Atletico pulled one back from the spot right after the restart, Nicholson’s men were untroubled as Terry Dyson restored the two-goal lead before he and Greaves completed their brace to blow away their opposition 5-1. It was not just a win but a sheer display of calculated football that Nicholson built his legacy around with the club.
3-2 win vs Wolves (1972 UEFA Cup)
After winning several other domestic trophies in the undisputed golden era for Tottenham, they were back in the European final stage since their debut success eight years ago, with Nicholson on the hot seat again. Spurs faced Wolverhampton Wanderers, or Wolves, in an all-English final in the inaugural edition of the UEFA Cup, the first time it has happened in the UEFA competition's history, having overcome Keflavík, Nantes, Rapid București, UTA Arad and most significantly AC Milan’s challenge to reach the stage. The final was played over two legs, Molineux hosting the first with the second at White Hart Lane. Greaves and many stars of the 1960s dominating era have left at this point, but their wonder manager was still around to bail them out in a much stiffer challenge this time. Martin Chivers inspired Spurs with his brace in a 2-1 away victory against Wolves in the first leg. His late winner was a spectacle as it was hit from 25 yards out. That result helped with the 1-1 draw back at home, with Alan Mullery scoring the eventual aggregate winner, giving another wholesome moment for the fans to cheer. Tottenham won another European final, being the first-ever UEFA Cup winners, but it was in their backyard, making the occasion even more special.
4-2 loss vs Feyenoord (1974 UEFA Cup)
Tottenham's strong performance in European competition continued when they reached another UEFA Cup final only two years later. However, this time it wasn’t another happy ending they were expecting. Spurs had another incredible run leading up to the final, thrashing the Swiss club Grasshoppers 9-2, Aberdeen 5-2, Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Köln 5-1 and Lokomotive Leipzig 4-1 over two legs. They were favourites again for the silverware because of their past success and facing a Feyenoord team that needed the away goal rule and extra-time drama to get into the final. But the Rotterdam club was here to prove a statement, as their journey in the competition was packed with grit and determination. Spurs were frustrated as they had to surrender the lead twice to draw 2-2 at home, with the killer blow coming in the Netherlands in the second leg. Feyenoord registered a shock 2-0 win in front of their fans, condemning Spurs to their first European final loss. The second leg in Rotterdam was marred by violence and hooliganism from rioting away supporters. The loss was even more heartbreaking as it was the last major final under their legendary coach, Bill Nicholson, who stepped down from his role in the following campaign.
4-2 penalty win after 2-2 draw vs Anderlecht (1984 UEFA Cup)
Tottenham got a chance of redemption when they again reached the UEFA Cup final a decade later, a third in their history, with a completely new side. Under Keith Burkinshaw, managing another successful period in the club’s history, produced a dazzling display in the competition. After beating the Irish club Drogheda United 14-0, Spurs took the sweetest of revenge against Feyenoord by beating them 4-2 away and then 2-0 at home to progress 6-2 on aggregate. German giants Bayern München, Austria’s most successful club, Austria Wien and Hajduk Split all fell victim to Tottenham as they made their place in the final. Their opponents, Anderlecht of Belgium, entered the showpiece in a shady way, as investigations revealed later in 1997 that the club officials bribed referees to give favourable decisions in the semifinal tie against Nottingham Forest. The final was highly competitive, with Paul Miller scoring in the 57th minute and Morten Olsen equalising in the 85th minute during the first leg in Brussels, leaving everything to play for in the second leg in London. To Spurs’s dismay, they went down on the hour mark with Alex Czerniatynski stunning White Hart Lane with nightmares of another European final defeat ringing around. However, the home side maintained their composure of not falling behind further and eventually got the tie-saving goal scored by Paul Roberts to force penalties. The shootout was no less dramatic as it came down to Arnór Guðjohnsen to miss from the spot for Spurs to win 4-3 on penalties and seal their second UEFA Cup silverware.
2-0 loss vs Liverpool (2019 Champions League final)
The 1984 success was the third and the final European success for Tottenham, as it took them 35 years to enter a continental final again. It was their first in the modern era and on the top-tier platform known as the Champions League. Spurs were dreaming about a renaissance under coach Mauricio Pochettino, who turned the team into title challengers again, but their trophy cabinet remained empty. The Lilywhites endured a special campaign in the 2018-19 season, finishing ahead of Inter to qualify for the knockouts, where they squashed Borussia Dortmund, stunned Manchester City in a high-scoring drama and made a thrilling comeback from 3-0 down on aggregate against Ajax to progress to the final on away goals courtesy of an unforgettable hattrick by Lucas Moura. However, Spurs faced a totally different challenge in the form of Liverpool, who were defeated 2-0 in the most straightforward and boring final ever played in Champions League history. It was another major failure for Tottenham to end their trophy drought.
1-0 win vs Manchester United (2025 Europa League final)
However, even disappointments have limits, as Tottenham proved in their return to the European final stage five years later. It was the Europa League they were seeking again after winning the competition twice before, when it was known as the UEFA Cup, with a manager who has always brought trophies to his past jobs, especially in his second season in charge. Spurs were also facing an English side in Manchester United in the continental competition showpiece again, with both teams’ calamitous domestic season forcing them to fight for Europa League success to return to Champions League football. At the end, Tottenham showed extra hunger to win the silverware, with Brennan Johnson giving the lead just before half-time, for the sheer jubilation of fans gathered at San Mames that did not stop throughout the evening. Postecoglou’s men showed perfect game management to shut shop in the second half, completely different to the Ange-ball, with their goal being the only shot on target in the final. After a heart-stopping goal-line clearance from Van de Ven and goalkeeper Vicario’s late important saves, Spurs knew their destiny was sealed. The team has finally got hold of a trophy after 17 painful years and ending their dire wait for European glory after 41 years.
