The latest Football News on the UEFA Cup

The UEFA Cup was first held in 1958, with Barcelona beating a London Football Association XI 8-2 on aggregate over two legs.

Check out our list of previous UEFA Cup Winners.
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Please see below all the latest news on the UEFA Cup.

Wolfsburg pounce for Okubo
They may be among the Bundesliga's top scorers but VfL Wolfsburg have further boosted their striking reserves by signing Japanese international Yoshito Okubo from Vissel Kobe for a transfer worth in the region of €2m.

Gourcuff bouncing back with Bordeaux
France international midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has been a revelation at FC Girondins de Bordeaux this term, catching the eye during his team's UEFA Champions League campaign following a disappointing spell with AC Milan.

Stuttgart open door for Pardo's return home
VfB Stuttgart have announced the departure of the experienced Mexican international Pável Pardo with immediate effect after the 32-year-old was offered the chance of returning to his homeland by former side CF América.

NEC tie down young striking duo
UEFA Cup contenders NEC Nijmegen have extended the contracts of forward pair Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Joël Tshibamba with both players signing deals that will keep them at the club until the summer of 2012.

City in line to bring Bridge to Manchester
UEFA Cup Round of 32 contenders Manchester City FC have agreed a fee for Chelsea FC left-back Wayne Bridge with manager Mark Hughes saying: "We need to speak to the boy and try to agree personal terms."

Standard bring Benteke back from Genk
R. Standard de Liège have signed Congolese-born Christian Benteke for an undisclosed fee, with the 18-year-old Belgian Under-19 international striker's contract at KRC Genk having been due to expire in the summer.

Stuttgart secure promise of Gebhart
VfB Stuttgart have clinched the race to sign TSV 1860 München midfield player Timo Gebhart, a star of the Germany team that won last summer's UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in the Czech Republic.

Metalist's Jajá is pride of Ukraine
FC Metalist Kharkiv striker Jajá has been voted Ukrainian Footballer of the Year for 2008, finishing ahead of Artem Milevskiy and Serhiy Kravchenko in a poll of the country's top-flight players and head coaches.

Standard snap up Genk youngster Bolat
Belgian titleholders R. Standard de Liège have signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Sinan Bolat from Eerste Klasse rivals KRC Genk to provide competition for Rorys Aragon Espinoza and Jérémy Devriendt.

Bremen offer Ikeng a brighter future
Werder Bremen have acquired the services of former German youth international midfield player José-Alex Ikeng on a short-term contract after the 20-year-old parted company with VfB Stuttgart earlier this month.

Advocaat enjoys an all-time high
Dick Advocaat reflected on "good times for Russian football" after his FC Zenit St. Petersburg side ensured the UEFA Cup went to eastern Europe for the second time in four years following their final win over Rangers FC.

Future bright for Europa League
One of Europe's most historic club competitions is being given a total makeover in 2009 with the UEFA Cup, which was launched in the 1971/72 season, becoming the UEFA Europa League from the start of 2009/10.

Skibbe sets goals for in-form Galatasaray
Galatasaray AŞ go into the Turkish Super League winter break on a high after their convincing 4-2 Istanbul derby win against Beşiktaş JK and coach Michael Skibbe is relishing competing for trophies on three different fronts.

Beckham begins Milan love affair
David Beckham said he is already falling in love with UEFA Cup contenders AC Milan as he was officially unveiled after joining the Rossoneri on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy, praising "the history and the culture of the club".

German tests loom for Zenit and Milan
Holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg will mark their return to the UEFA Cup by taking on VfB Stuttgart following the Round of 32 draw in Nyon, with AC Milan set to meet Werder Bremen in the next phase of the competition.

UEFA Cup coaches reflect on mixed fortunes
"This is not the worst possible outcome," said Thomas Schaaf after his Werder Bremen side drew seven-times European champions AC Milan in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 as uefa.com reviews all the reaction from the draw.

Ebullient Been gets new NEC terms
Mario Been has been handed a two-year extension to his contract at NEC Nijmegen, with the 45-year-old coach having led the Dutch side to the UEFA Cup Round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Udinese Calcio on Thursday night.

UEFA Cup hopefuls set to learn their fate
The draw for the UEFA Cup Round of 32 will take place in Nyon today from 13.00CET and will be followed by the draw for the Round of 16 after the final round of matches in the group stage was concluded on Thursday.

Twente made to feel the PSG force
Paris Saint-Germain FC 4-0 FC Twente Paul Le Guen's side pulled off a splendid UEFA Cup recovery, with Péguy Luyindula's strike four minutes from time propelling PSG into the last 32.

Olympiacos hit top gear to sink Hertha
Olympiacos CFP 4-0 Hertha BSC Berlin Second-half goals from Dudu, Luciano Galletti, Vassilis Torosidis and Diogo Luis Santo ended Hertha's adventure with the Piraeus side moving on.