Glasgow’s Candlerigg’s market was the venue for one of football’s most awaited days this month as the UEFA Cup was being handed over by representatives of last year’s winners Sevilla FC as the final will this year be played at the nationalstadium-Hampden Park.

 

The eyes of the world, former European winners and media attention were focused on Glasgow on that day as not only was the Cup being handed over but the draws for the quarter finals and the semi-finals were also taking place. The event which was being beamed live and had legendary presenter Jim Rosental in attendance, as the watching public waited with anticipation for news of just who could be getting that step nearer to playing in the Hampden final on May 16th.

 

The cup was handed over by Sevilla’s Enzo Maresca a scorer of two goals in last year’s final against Middlesbrough in their 4-0 win over the English side. He hinted that although he has brought the cup back to Scotland it may only be on loan as the holders have more than an eye on retaining the trophy. New Scotland Manager Alex McLeish and his former defensive partner in crime from his Aberdeen days, Willie Miller were there also. The Dons conquered Europe in 1983 when they won the Winners Cup by defeating Real Madrid 2-1 and they also won the Super Cup the very same year by beating European Cup winners 2-0 at Pittodrie to become the best team in Europe. Former Celtic and Dortmund midfielder, Paul Lambert who also won the European Cup by beating the Italian side Juventus 3-1 was also in attendance. The draw itself was made by former Lisbon Lion Billy McNeill and he was joined by out going SFA chief executive David Taylor who will take up his new post with UEFA in the next few weeks.

 

The draw for the quarter finals was as follows

AZ Alkmaar v Werder

Bremen Bayer Leverkusen v Osasuna

Sevilla v Tottenham Hotspur

Espanyol v Benfica

 

The semi-final draw was also made and it was Winners of

AZ Alkmaar v Werder Bremen v winners of Espanyol v Benfica

Winners of Sevilla v Tottenham v winners of Bayer Leverkusen v Osasuna

 

These will all be fantastic matches for fans of all teams left in the competition to look forward to but sadly no Scottish club will be at Hampden after Rangers were knocked out by Osasuna and unfortunately there was crowd trouble at the match which is subject to a UEFA enquiry so we will have more on that story in next month’s Oracle as well as a build up to the final itself.

 

The competition has three former winners in the competition and they will be hoping to add this year’s UEFA cup to their former triumphs.

• Bayer Leverkusen won it in 1988

• Tottenham Hotspur won it in 1972 and 1984

• Sevilla won it in 2006.

 

Just who will be victorious at Hampden and lift the 15 kilos of silverware high in the Hampden skies? This will not only be of interest to many millions of football fans around the wo but the focus will be on the city as it again hosts a European final just as it has done many occasions before.

 

• 1960: Real Madrid v Eintract Frankfurt 7-3 in what many consider to be the great match ever to be

  played there in front of 127,261 fans.(European Cup Final)

• 1962 Atletico Madrid v Fiorentina 1-1 (Atletico won trophy after 3-0 win in Stuttgart (Cup Winners

  Cup)

• 1966 Borussia Dortmund v Liverpool 2-1- (Cup Winners Cup)

• 1976 Bayern Munich v St.Etienne 1-0 (European Cup.)

• 2002 Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen 2-1(Champions League) wonder goal fro Zidane to win the

   trophy for Madrid.

 

Receiving the trophy of behalf of the city was the Lord Provost Liz Cameron and s could not hide her excitement as she lifted the trophy and gave it a gentle kiss for go measure. “We are delighted to welcome the UEFA Cup Final to Glasgow. This will be a great sporting occasion in a great sporting city”. I am sure we all echo her sentiments as we look forward to the final itself. For those you cannot wait to see the trophy on May 16th, the cup will be on view at the following places.

 

• Glasgow Airport- Saturday 17th - Sunday 25th March

• Buchanan Bus Station-Monday 26th March–Sunday 1st April

• Queen Street Station- Monday 2nd- Sunday-8th April

• Glasgow Central Station- Monday 9th –Sunday 15th April

• Scottish Football Museum, Hampden- Monday 16th-Sunday 29th April

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum- Monday 30th April-Tuesday 15th May

 

Roll on May 16th and thanks to UEFA for choosing Glasgow as the venue for this year UEFA Cup Final, you will not be disappointed.