Crystal Palace star becomes first player to win two European trophies in one season

Evann Guessand has made a unique piece of history following Crystal Palace’s Conference League triumph.

The Ivory Coast international has become the first player to win two different European trophies within the same season after Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Wednesday night.

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Guessand moved from Aston Villa to Crystal Palace in January, with the deal reportedly including an option to make it permanent.

He has played a key role in Palace’s run to the Conference League final having made five appearances and scored one goal. However, Guessand came on late in the second half of the 1-0 win in Leipzig.

Guessand was also influential for Villa earlier in the season by playing seven of their league phase matches in the Europa League.

The 24-year-old netted two goals for his parent club, and is now European royalty.

How Guessand has won two European trophies

Villa did their bit in last week’s Europa League final, breezing past Freiburg with a 3-0 win in Istanbul.

Palace then got the job done against their Spanish opponents, meaning Guessand will collect winners’ medals with each.

UEFA issue 50 gold medals to the winning teams of both the Europa League and Conference League.

This is different to the Premier League, where 40 medals are on offer and players must make five appearances to qualify for one.

Given that Guessand has played and scored for both Villa and Palace, he is more than likely to get his hands on a medal with each, becoming the first ever player to win two different European competitions within a single campaign.

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How did Palace book their Conference League final spot?

Whilst Palace may still feel aggrieved at being thrown out of this season’s Europa League, it all ended happily ever after for them.

The south Londoners were comfortable 5-2 winners on aggregate in their semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ismaila Sarr scored in the opening minute of the first leg and netted again in the second at Selhurst Park.

Their manager Oliver Glasner, who is leaving at the end of the season, already had experience of winning in Europe.

He was victorious in the 2021/22 Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt as they beat Rangers 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

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How did Villa book their Europa League final spot?

The Premier League were guaranteed to have at least one club in the final as Villa were drawn with Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals.

Forest won the first leg with a late Chris Wood penalty, but collapsed in the second and went out with a whimper.

John McGinn netted two goals after Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia also netted as Villa smashed their opponents 4-0 at home.

Head coach Unai Emery will be on the touchline for his sixth Europa League final.

Emery won three titles with Sevilla and another at Villarreal, and only missed out on the trophy at Arsenal.

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