LOI Clubs in the European Cup/Champions League

15 League of Ireland clubs have played in the European Cup or Champions League dating back to Shamrock Rovers playing Manchester United in 1957.

The winners of the League didn’t enter the CL between 1994/95 and 1996/97 as UEFA only admitted the top 24 nations.  Instead Shamrock Rovers (94/95), Dundalk (95/96) and St Patrick’s Athletic (96/97) entered the UEFA Cup.

Here’s the full record of LOI clubs in the European cup though

LOI clubs in the European Cup

• No surprise to see Shamrock Rovers with the most participations.  Their win over Flora Tallinn in 2011 was their first ever win the competition though.
• Cork City (twice) and Drogheda United have won through at least one round each time they have participated.
• Shelbourne have won through most rounds.  Their 6-2 agg win over Glentoran in 2005 is the record win by a LOI side
• The record loss ia 14-0 by Dundalk to Liverpool in 1982/83.
• No team has beaten the Irish champions and gone on to win the trophy.  Benfica beat Derry in 1989/90 but lost final to AC Milan 1-0. 
• The only reigning European champions to face Irish oppostion are 1968 winners Manchester United who played Waterford.
• Celtic are the most faced opponent with the Scottish giants beating LOI teams 4 times (Waterford, Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic).
• LOI teams have been drawn to play Cyprus’ Omonia Nicosia 4 times but Cork Hibs received a walkover in 1974/75. Bohemians beat Omonia in 1978 but Omonia beat Waterford (1972) and Shamrock Rovers (1987)
• The furthest a LOI side has gone in the tournament is when Dundalk reached the last 16 in 1979/80 where they narrowly lost 3-2 on agg to Celtic.

Here’s the split between European Cup and Champions League ties.  Far better record in the CL but that’s mainly down to playing in qualifying rounds and therefore avoiding the European big guns.

European Cup v Champions League

The full list of ties won by LOI teams in the European Cup/Champions League is;

Wins by LOI team in European Cup

 

As ever, any questions,. ask away