Referee Slavko Vincic was at the helm for Uefa Europa League Final between Eintracht Frankfurt and the Rangers. Eintracht Frankfurt was Slovenia’s first ever appointment for a major European club competitions showpiece match. Eintracht Frankfurt was unbeaten in Europa League heading into the Europa League final, and they were the third German team Rangers had faced in the year’s competition. Rangers have played more matches than any other side in the competition this season, 14 to Eintracht Frankfurts 12, and the Germans were yet to lose a Europa League match.
Rangers had the potential to enter the Champions League group stages after winning their first Scottish Premiership championship in a decade. Still, they fell at the first hurdle following a humiliating departure to Malmo in the third qualifying round. They were promoted to the Europa League qualifying round and met Armenian club Alashkert in the play-off round. Rangers reached their fifth European Final, at least two more than any other Scottish team. It was nerve-wracking, but the Rangers were making their second European final in 14 years. Rangers went on to the Manchester Final, which Rangers lost to Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0.
The win means Eintracht Frankfurt’s return to the Champions League for the first time since 1960, when Frankfurt reached the final and lost to Real Madrid in their lone appearance in Europe’s top club competition. Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League, beating Rangers 5-2 in penalties, to win their first European trophy in 42 years. Kevin Trapp saved a penalty by Aaron Ramsey late in Ranger’s innings, and Eintracht Frankfurt scored all five of their penalties to secure UEFA Europa League football for 2021/22.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Rangers knocked out two German clubs in the Europa League last season, having previously triumphed 6-4 over Borussia Dortmund. Rangers right-back James Tavernier became UEFA Europa League top scorer for 2021/22, helping their run to the final. Rarely does a defender make the list of the competition’s highest goal scorers. The sole exception is English international and Rangers full-back James Tavernier. In the Scottish Championship, the right-back has a great goal-scoring record. He scored nine goals in 35 games. As captain of this team, he was essential in leading Rangers to the Europa League finals in 2021/22.
Steven Gerrard departed Ibrox for Aston Villa middle through the 2021-22 campaign and was followed on 11 November 2021 by former Rangers player Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He guided Rangers to their first European final in fourteen years, defeating Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga, and RB Leipzig en route to the 2022 UEFA Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt. He also led the team to its first Scottish Cup final in six years, which they won against Hearts.
