If Manchester United Win the Europa League and Real Betis Win the Conference League, Antony Might Become the First Player to Win Two European Trophies in the Same Season 🤯🏆🇧🇷
European football is no stranger to wild storylines, but the 2024–25 season could produce one of the most unique and unlikely tales in the sport’s history. Brazilian winger Antony Matheus dos Santos, commonly known as Antony, could find himself etched into the history books for an extraordinary reason—winning two different UEFA club competitions in the same season.
That’s right: if Manchester United lift the UEFA Europa League and Real Betis clinch the UEFA Europa Conference League title, Antony could become the first player ever to be eligible for medals in both tournaments in a single campaign. It’s a rare convergence of transfers, UEFA regulations, and knockout football fortune that might make this one of the most curious individual achievements of the modern era.
How Is This Even Possible?
To understand how this might unfold, we need to break down the timeline of events and how UEFA’s eligibility rules work.
Antony started the 2024–25 season registered with Manchester United, where he made appearances in their Europa League group-stage campaign. However, in the January transfer window, United—looking to freshen up their squad and under pressure from inconsistent form—loaned the Brazilian winger to Real Betis. The La Liga club, themselves in the thick of a European push, saw Antony as a key reinforcement for the knockout rounds of the Conference League.
Under UEFA rules, a player can represent two different clubs in UEFA competitions in the same season, provided they are properly registered and haven’t already played in the same competition for another club in that season. Since the Europa League and the Conference League are technically different competitions, Antony is eligible to appear—and win—in both.
A Rare Loophole in Modern Football
The idea of a player winning two European trophies in one season seems far-fetched, but the 2021 UEFA rule changes around player registration for European competitions made it theoretically possible. Prior to 2018, players who had featured in a UEFA competition for one club were cup-tied and ineligible to represent another side in Europe that season. This changed to allow more flexibility, especially with the introduction of the Conference League.
Antony’s situation is a perfect storm. He played for United in the Europa League, then moved to Betis and was registered in time to play for them in the Conference League. If both clubs go on to win their respective competitions, Antony will have contributed to two different European title runs in the same season.
Antony’s Role in Both Campaigns
At Manchester United, Antony played in several group-stage matches, providing width and flair even if his output was occasionally inconsistent. Still, his contributions helped United qualify for the knockout rounds, giving them the foundation they needed to progress deeper into the tournament.
Since joining Real Betis, Antony has rejuvenated his form. Playing under Manuel Pellegrini in a more fluid attacking setup, he has thrived in the Conference League, chipping in with goals and assists in the knockout stages. Betis fans have welcomed him enthusiastically, and his impact has been pivotal in getting them to the final.
Should Betis win the final and United follow suit in the Europa League, Antony will have played meaningful roles in both triumphs. That’s more than enough to be awarded winners’ medals from both sides, assuming club policies and UEFA eligibility criteria are met.
Has Anything Like This Happened Before?
There have been a few strange cases in UEFA competition history, but nothing quite like this.
In 1997, Brazilian midfielder Paulo Sousa won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund, having also won it the previous year with Juventus. But that was across two separate seasons.
In the 2018–19 season, Philippe Coutinho played for both Barcelona (in the Champions League) and Bayern Munich (in the following season), but again, not in the same campaign.
Jorginho and Mateo Kovačić both won the Champions League with Chelsea and the UEFA Super Cup and Nations League with Italy and Croatia, respectively, in 2021—but those were club-and-country combinations.
Antony’s case would be the first time a player might win two UEFA club competitions in the same season with two different clubs.
The Implications for UEFA and Player Registrations
If this scenario plays out, UEFA may come under pressure to re-examine its player registration rules. Some critics argue that allowing a player to influence two separate European title runs in a single season dilutes the sense of competition integrity, while others see it as a natural outcome of the modern transfer market and expanded UEFA tournaments.
For players, this opens up intriguing possibilities. Squad players who move mid-season to smaller clubs could become crucial assets in Conference or Europa League campaigns. It also introduces an extra layer of narrative drama to both competitions.
What It Means for Antony
For the Brazilian winger, this could be a defining moment in a career that has had its ups and downs. Since joining Manchester United from Ajax in 2022, Antony has shown flashes of brilliance but has also faced criticism for inconsistency and a lack of end product. A double-European medal season would not only cement his place in football trivia books but might also rejuvenate his confidence and value.
It would also be a symbolic reminder of the unpredictable paths footballers tread. A January loan move—usually seen as a chance to get minutes or help a club in need—could instead lead to one of the most unique achievements in the sport.
The Final Step
Of course, this all remains hypothetical unless both Manchester United and Real Betis finish the job. Both clubs have looked strong in the knockout stages and are among the favorites to win their respective competitions. But anything can happen in one-off finals.
Still, the possibility alone is enough to make fans, analysts, and trivia lovers take notice. Should it happen, you can expect Antony’s name to be a quiz question for decades to come.
Final Thoughts
Football is full of improbable stories. From Leicester City’s Premier League title to Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph, the sport thrives on the unexpected. Antony winning two UEFA club competitions with two different teams in the same season would rank right up there with the most surreal milestones of the game.
It’s a testament to how much the game has evolved—and a reminder that in football, the strange and spectacular are never too far apart.
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Woul
d you like a visual timeline of Antony’s season to accompany this piece?
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