Europa League final to have later May date from 2019

04 April 2017 12:24

The Europa League final will move to the end of the domestic football season calendar from 2019, taking place in the week leading up to the Champions League final.

Currently the Europa League final is held while some country's campaigns are still ongoing, with this season's showpiece taking place in Stockholm on May 24.

From 2019 onwards it will be later in the calender, on May 29.

UEFA confirmed the move following its Congress in Helsinki.

"The general principle to stage the UEFA Europa League final in the same week as the UEFA Champions League final for the whole 2018-21 cycle was approved," a statement read.

"This move was made so that the UEFA Europa League final is played - like the UEFA Champions League - after the end of the domestic season.

"As a consequence, the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League final will be played on Wednesday, 29 May 2019. There will be different venues for the two finals, as is the case at present."

The Friends Arena in Sweden will host this year's final, with Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hoping to get there.

The Red Devils face Anderlecht in the quarter-final later this month.

If they reach the final it would be United's last game of the season but it precedes the FA Cup final on May 27.

Source: PA