2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester

After Glasgow took on a Spanish flavour when Sevilla played Espanyol, can Blackburn, Bolton or Everton make it just down the road for an all-English football final?

Last May, Glasgow in Scotland took on a decidedly Spanish flavour. It’s not a city that would readily be associated with tapas, paella and flamenco, but that’s what hosting a major European football final can do.

UEFA Cup Final in Glasgow

Last year’s UEFA Cup final was held in Scotland’s biggest city, and the two finalists were Sevilla and Espanyol from Spain. The fans arrived in their thousands for the big game, and Glasgow played the consummate host, reaping in the tourism benefits.

2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester

In 2008, it will be Manchester, England that hosts the final, and a similar foreign invasion is a distinct possibility. The final will be played in the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14th 2008.

Possible finalists

At this early stage, it is impossible to guess which countries will provide the finalists. If England, then Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Everton won’t have far to travel, while Tottenham Hotspur and their fans would have to come up from London. Other big guns in the competition include Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Palermo from Italy and Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid, Real Zaragoza and Villareal.