Champions League

Premier League to retain four Champions League places until end of 2017-18

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 22 March 2016

UEFA confirms that the Premier League will retain its four Champions League spots until at least the end of the 2017-18 season, holding off competition from Italy.

UEFA has confirmed that the Premier League will continue to boast four Champions League places until at least the end of the 2017-18 season.

The struggles of English sides in European competition in recent seasons had put their fourth Champions League spot under threat from Italy's Serie A.

However, with Manchester City and Liverpool making it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Europa League respectively this season, and Roma, Juventus and Lazio all crashing out of European competition, England will retain the fourth spot.

UEFA's coefficient system is decided a year in advance but, due to the five-year cycle, whichever country out of England and Italy enjoyed a better season in Europe this year would have four places for the 2017-18 campaign.

La Liga in Spain and the German Bundesliga are the two leagues with the highest coefficients in Europe and so also retain a quartet of places for the continent's premier club competition.