From Spurs to Bologna – a tale of football clubs that dusted off decades of drought to feel the silver shine once more
In a final that didn't excite but raised eyebrows, Tottenham Hotspur ended a 16-year drought. A scrappy Brennan Johnson goal and strong defending earned a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao. This victory gave Spurs their first trophy since 2008 and a place in next season's Champions League — an unexpected bonus for a side that's battled relegation.
It wasn't champagne football. It was gritty, nerve-racking, and un-Spurs-like — that's what made it special. Trophies aren't always about playing pretty; they're about hanging on and getting over the line. Just ask these five clubs, who clawed their way out of the shadows, to bring home silver after what felt like lifetimes.
Crystal Palace, a club more accustomed to mid-table mediocrity than major silverware, stunned the world by toppling Manchester City in the 2024/25 FA Cup final. A 1-0 victory — sealed by local lad Eberechi Eze — marked their first major trophy in 119 years. Let that sink in.
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Oliver Glasner's Eagles were disciplined, dogged, and daring. They stood toe-to-toe with City's giants and didn't blink. Between the sticks, Dean Henderson saved everything but the Queen's crown. For a club that had only flirted with glory before, this was a love story in full bloom.
Back in February, black-and-white flags waved proudly as Newcastle United ended a seven-decade dry spell. The 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup 2025 final was more than just a trophy—it represented an emotional release for a fan base that had endured years of heartbreak.
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Dan Burn, the local lad, and Alexander Isak made the headlines, but the true star was belief. Eddie Howe transformed a sidelong accustomed to faltering at Wembley into a fearless finisher. This marked their first domestic silverware since 1955. Talk about overdue.
Remember June 2023? West Ham fans certainly do. That's when Jarrod Bowen's late winner secured a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. It ended a 43-year wait and gave the Hammers their first major European trophy since the 1960s.
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David Moyes had his doubters, but that night in Prague changed everything. West Ham's journey was pure drama, from group stage battles in Denmark and Cyprus to celebrating on a London victory bus. A proper fairytale ending.
For Bologna, 2025 heralded the return of the glory of 1974. A 1-0 victory over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final marked the end of a 51-year trophy drought. Dan Ndoye's goal proved sufficient, but Vincenzo Italiano's tactical acumen truly captured attention.
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Having not participated in a major final for over five decades, they managed to hold off one of Italy's giants with remarkable composure. Bologna reminded us all — football never forgets. It merely takes time.
Let's rewind to 2013 when Wigan Athletic achieved the unthinkable. They shocked Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final, thanks to Ben Watson's stoppage-time header. It marked their first major trophy since its birth in 1932 — and what a way to win it.
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Wigan were relegated just days later, but that cup triumph remains one of the most romantic football tales in English history. For a club that had been in the third tier only a few years earlier, lifting the FA Cup was more than a trophy — it was a dream stitched in blue and white.
