UEFA has published the latest European coefficient ranking list for national associations and their clubs.

The UEFA Coefficient List (see attached), which is based on performances over the last five seasons, determines the number of places that each national association will have in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League and which teams will go into the qualifying rounds and at what stage.

As the format of the next UEFA Cup has not been decided yet, the access list for this competition will only be known after a decision on the future of this competition is taken by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting of 12-13 December 2002.

There are no changes to the classification of the associations ranked one to five in the list with Spain still in the lead followed by Italy and England, all of which will have four representatives in next year’s UEFA Champions League (two of whom must play qualifying matches).

The significant change among the leading positions is that Greece, like Germany and France, will be entitled to enter three clubs in the competition, with two automatic entries in the Group Stage. This move impacts on The Netherlands, who will only be allowed two participants in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Another important move is that Portugal have risen to ninth place and the champions of the current SuperLiga will gain automatic access to the Group Stage of the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League at the expense of Russia, who have dropped to tenth place. The Russians currently have no automatic qualifier but their fate will ultimately be decided once the identity of the title-holder is known. If the winner of this season’s final in Manchester is already qualified for the Group Stage of the 2003/04 campaign, it will re-open the door for the Russian champion.

The most spectacular rise in the UEFA Coefficient List corresponds to the Israeli national association, who have jumped eight places.

For further information please contact:

Uefa
T: +41 22 994 45 59
F: +41 22 994 37 37
W: www.uefa.com