Throwback: When Fulham Defeated Juventus and Came Close to European Glory

During the 2009/10 season, the UEFA Cup underwent a significant transformation, rebranding itself as the UEFA Europa League. In its inaugural year, one of the most surprising clubs, relatively unknown in the realm of European competitions, made an impressive mark. Fulham, a modest club from West London, achieved a remarkable comeback against the illustrious Juventus, marking one of the pivotal moments in their European adventure, which ultimately led them to the final.

Pathway to Europe

Fulham secured a seventh-place finish in the 2008/09 Premier League season, marking their highest ever finish, which earned them a spot in the first edition of the UEFA Europa League.

Commencing their European journey, Fulham entered at the third qualifying round, facing Lithuanian club FK Vetra. The first match took place away in Lithuania in July 2009, just weeks ahead of the Premier League’s commencement, with the Cottagers triumphing 3-0.

In the return leg at home, they recorded the same scoreline. Fulham then advanced to the playoff round, where they eliminated Russian club Amkar Perm with a 3-1 victory at home and a 0-1 defeat away, setting the stage for the main tournament draw.

Advancing Towards the Final

Fulham found themselves in Group E alongside Italian side AS Roma, Swiss club FC Basel, and Bulgarian team CSKA Sofia. Finishing second in the group with 11 points (thanks to 3 victories and 2 draws), they advanced to the knockout stage.

In the round of 32, Fulham were matched against Shakhtar Donetsk, the reigning champions from the previous season (under the UEFA Cup name). With a solid 2-1 win at home, coupled with a draw in Ukraine, Fulham notched another impressive victory, but even greater challenges awaited them.

An Unforgettable Triumph

In the round of 16, Fulham faced the formidable Italian giants, Juventus. The first leg was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, where Fulham fell to a 3-1 defeat.

However, the following week on March 18, 2010, in London, things looked grim when David Trezeguet found the back of the net just two minutes into the second match. Yet, Fulham exhibited their indomitable spirit.

Bobby Zamora equalised just seven minutes later with a display of fine centre-forward play. Juventus found themselves in a precarious position in the 26th minute when Fabio Cannavaro was red-carded for a foul on Zoltan Gera.

Gera capitalised on this opportunity, netting a close-range goal, and the first half finished with Fulham ahead 2-1.

Early in the second half, Gera scored again from the penalty spot, bringing the aggregate score to 3-3. As the match neared its conclusion, Clint Dempsey delivered one of the most astonishing goals Craven Cottage has ever witnessed, sealing a remarkable 5-4 aggregate victory for Fulham over Juventus.

Roy Hodgson’s Fulham team etched their name in history with this astonishing comeback, which is arguably the club’s most significant result ever.

Further Victories Followed by Heartbreak

Following this incredible feat, Fulham celebrated consecutive victories in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, triumphing over German opposition in both rounds.

First, they overcame Wolfsburg with a 2-1 win at home and a 1-0 victory away, followed by a solid outing against Hamburger SV, drawing 0-0 in Hamburg and winning 2-1 at home.

This unexpected run saw Fulham reach the final of a major European tournament for the first time. The final was held in Hamburg, a venue from which Fulham had previously denied its home team entry. Alas, the Volksparkstadion had a bitter memory of their earlier elimination of HSV, and Fulham faced harsh repercussions.

In a heartbreaking finish, Fulham lost to Atletico Madrid, conceding the decisive goal from Diego Forlan in the 26th minute of extra time.

Roy Hodgson’s Leadership

The 2009/10 season stands as arguably the pinnacle of Fulham’s achievements. While they exited the FA Cup in the quarter-finals to Tottenham and wrapped up the Premier League in 12th place, the crowning glory was undeniably their journey to the Europa League final. This remarkable feat, which included victories over prestigious teams like defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, and Hamburger SV, secured Roy Hodgson the prestigious Manager of the Year award from the League Managers Association — a recognition he earned by the widest margin in the award’s history.

Prominent among the key players who contributed to this success were legendary Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, alongside the steadfast defence led by Norwegian Brede Hangeland and Northern Irish duo Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird, as well as Paul Konchesky. The experienced Damien Duff and Danny Murphy orchestrated play effectively in midfield, with standout performances from Zoltan Gera. Lastly, striker Bobby Zamora made a significant impact, netting a total of 19 goals throughout the season.