Gian Piero Gasperini proud to end Italy’s 25-year Europa League ‘curse’

Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League, Ademola Lookman

Winning the Europa League also secured a first piece of silverware for the 66-year-old. (AFP via Getty Images)

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is proud of bringing the Europa League trophy to Italy after 25 “cursed” years, the coach said after his side’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Wednesday’s final.

Ademola Lookman’s stunning hat-trick helped Atalanta secure a second major trophy in their 117-year history at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

They became the first Italian club to win the competition since Parma in 1999, when it was known as the Uefa Cup.

“Hugely proud for all of Italy, because it was a cursed trophy, even if it was only Inter and Roma who made the final over the last 25 years and lost,” Gasperini told reporters.

“Having won it with Atalanta is perhaps one of those footballing fairytales that very rarely happen and it does show there’s still room for meritocracy in football.

“There’s still room for ideas, and it doesn’t only come down to numbers and the super league (clubs).”

The club, founded in 1907, has a long and rich history intertwined with the northern Italian city of Bergamo. In 2020, Bergamo became an epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The severity of the outbreak reported a death rate five times higher than in previous years and wreaked havoc on its economy.

Asked what it means to the people of Bergamo after the challenges of the pandemic, he said: “It’s hard to erase certain scares even if a number of years have since passed by. They were very painful moments.

“The people of Bergamo were always ready to react even when it got tough. Of course, we won’t be able to do away with all of that pain, but I think we have managed to put a smile on the faces of the people of Bergamo.”

OTHER NEWS

33 minutes ago

Search for missing boater near Oak Street Beach shifts to recovery

35 minutes ago

Horror as high flying fire lieutenant, 46, shoots dead his financial advisor wife, 34, and himself in grisly murder-suicide

35 minutes ago

Bikini-clad Olivia Dunne is joined by Xandra Pohl for lavish Hamptons getaway... just days after Miami DJ sparked romance rumors with NFL star

36 minutes ago

Homes in at least 16 counties affected by defective concrete as concerns raised over EU safety standard

36 minutes ago

Rory McIIroy must hunt down dominant Bryson DeChambeau in US Open to end major drought

36 minutes ago

Commanders Lose Kicker Target To Lions

36 minutes ago

Biden creates path for hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants to gain legal status

36 minutes ago

A bank doled out $19 million to two executives just to keep them from walking away—but there are strings attached

36 minutes ago

Vikram Rathour quashes 'disciplinary issues' rumours, reveals reason for Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan's release from T20 WC

36 minutes ago

NBA Finals 2024: Takeaways from a stunning Mavericks blowout

36 minutes ago

Sunak was 'briefed' after Russian submarine detected near UK coast

36 minutes ago

British tennis ace Tim Henman backs £200 million Wimbledon expansion

36 minutes ago

How this tiny town was saved by America's newest state park

36 minutes ago

Missouri abortion ban wasn't about lawmakers imposing religious beliefs, judge says

36 minutes ago

Copa América: Ronaldinho's Brazil criticism part of ad campaign

36 minutes ago

Suns' King cleared of serious knee injury after scare

36 minutes ago

Katie Ledecky qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a predictably dominant 400 freestyle win at U.S. trials

36 minutes ago

Why Kanopy Should Be Your New Favorite Streaming Service

41 minutes ago

AFL legend Brendan Fevola returns to the field - and you'll never guess how many goals he scored

42 minutes ago

Video: England are ready to ROAR: Gareth Southgate tells Three Lions stars to seize the day - as captain Harry Kane targets Golden Boot

42 minutes ago

The US town being sued for racism by its white people... because it's paying its black residents $25,000 each for the legacy of slavery

42 minutes ago

Popular tourist hotspot goes to war with Airbnb guests over booming music, fireworks at 1am and wild hot tub parties

43 minutes ago

Scottie Scheffler considering notable change to help majors performance

43 minutes ago

Jeff Bezos's Wild Dream of a Trillion People Living Throughout the Solar System on Gigantic Space Stations

43 minutes ago

Raphinha hits back at Mbappe in Euro 2024 vs World Cup debate

43 minutes ago

US waiting for Israel to conclude Rafah op. to continue hostage negotiations

43 minutes ago

World leaders to gather in Swiss resort in attempt to forge Ukraine peace plan

43 minutes ago

Maika Monroe Teases ‘It Follows’ Sequel Script Is “Bigger And Darker And More F***ed Up”

43 minutes ago

In photos: 2024 Queen City Pride Parade larger than ever

43 minutes ago

Gretchen Walsh sets a world record and Katie Ledecky secures her 4th trip to Olympics at U.S. trials

43 minutes ago

Temperatures expected to soar in the South over sizzling Father's Day weekend

43 minutes ago

0616 Today in History

43 minutes ago

Jordynne Grace’s open challenge in TNA was answered by the obvious choice from NXT

43 minutes ago

Hertz is giving drivers thousands off slightly used electric vehicles — here's how to get your hands on one

43 minutes ago

Man sparks discontent after sharing disheartening before-and-after images of tortoise habitat destruction: 'This is heartbreaking'

43 minutes ago

Silva vs. Sonnen Results: Live updates of the main event and undercard

43 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy sends warning to Bryson DeChambeau ahead of final day US Open battle

43 minutes ago

Penny Wong warns dropping 2030 climate targets would increase energy bills and abandon Pacific nations

43 minutes ago

Nuclear a ‘long term’ and ‘reliable solution’ to Australia’s energy needs

46 minutes ago

Florida shark attacks caused by heat, not scary orcas, experts say