£3 Million Europa Windfall For Fulham

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/fulham/7323312/Shakhtar-Donetsk-v-Fulham-Europa-League-success-brings-cash-bonanza.html

Shakhtar Donetsk v Fulham: Europa League success brings cash bonanza


Fulham are contemplating the unexpected benefits from a prolonged run in the Europa League following their magnificent 3-2 aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

By John Ley

Published: 10:33AM GMT 26 Feb 2010


Roy Hodgson's team sent the Uefa Cup holders out of the re-branded competition and now have a fascinating two-legged clash with Juventus, the two-time Champions League winners.

The Europa League is more profitable than the old Uefa Cup - by reaching the final 16 Fulham have guaranteed around £3 million, and that could rise to £4m by the time they have played against David Trezeguet, Alessandro del Piero and company.


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Sport on television And if Fulham can progress to the quarter-finals or even beyond the financial incentives are even greater.

Fulham owed an historic passage into the final 16 to Brede Hangeland's first-half goal. Though Shakhtar equalised, Fulham went through on aggregate.

Hangeland said: "It feels fantastic. It's a really, really great achievement for this club and I'm proud to be a part of it.

"It proves how far we've come as a team since Roy Hodgson became manager. We've beaten one of the top teams in Europe and we've achieved that by trusting in the way we play and working hard.

"It's certainly great to be a part of nights like this. Who would have thought this would be possible with this club a while back?

"But it just proves that with hard work and a group of players and coaching staff pulling in the same direction, you can achieve things like this."

Last-16 draw

Juventus v Fulham
Atlético Madrid v Sporting Lisbon
Valencia v W Bremen
Hamburg v Anderlecht
Benfica v Marseille
Lille v Liverpool
Panathinaikos v Standard Liege
Rubin Kazan v Wolfsburg
Two-leg ties to be played March 11 & 18