🏆 Year of the underdogs: Son, Bologna break curses, win trophies | OneFootball

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"This year Crystal Palace won the FA Cup, Harry Kane the Bundesliga, and Bologna the Coppa Italia... I had a feeling it would be our turn too." The extraordinary nature of the season coming to an end can be easily summed up in the words of James Maddison after the Europa League triumph.

It was the year of surprises, of Davids beating Goliaths and writing unforgettable pages of football. It was the year in which many clubs rediscovered the taste of victory, but also that of first times.

From the Spurs to Crystal Palace, passing through Bologna and the personal feats of former teammates Kane and Son. Nothing like this had ever been seen, but the surprises might not be over yet.

🏆 Son and Kane bound by destiny

Tottenham is just the latest club this season to break a seemingly endless wait. The Spurs returned to winning a trophy 17 years after the last time, but in total it's 41 if you consider the European field. It's an extraordinary success, giving Heung-Min Son his first career trophy at 32. It seems like a twist of fate.

10 seasons after his arrival at Tottenham, the South Korean captain finally made it, and like him, Kane also lifted a cup. The Bundesliga won with Bayern gave the English striker a first, as he watched his former teammates triumph in Bilbao from home. But not only Tottenham, there were many feats, all deserving special mention.

🦅 Bologna and "birds": it's the year of surprises

The Go Ahead Eagles defeated AZ Alkmaar on penalties in the Dutch Cup final and triumphed 92 years after the last time. Crystal Palace won the first trophy in its history by defeating City in the FA Cup, and Newcastle returned to success 70 years after the last time with the Carabao Cup victory.

Last, but even more important - at least for us Italians - the success of Bologna in the Coppa Italia: Ndoye's goal at the Olimpico defeated Milan and gave the Felsinei a cup that had been missing for 51 years. Indescribable emotions that only football can provide.

👀 Betis for history, and in the Champions...

Is it over? Not at all. The Conference and Champions League finals can still give us some emotions, and we can't wait. If Real Betis were to beat Chelsea, they would win their first European trophy in 118 years of history.

The same goes for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter: the Nerazzurri have been missing the big-eared cup for 15 years, while the Parisians have never put it in their trophy cabinet. The stakes are incredibly high.

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