The Europa league coefficient is used in European soccer for ranking and seeding in the club and international competitions. There are three different coefficients used to rank nationalities, clubs and national leagues that are calculated by UEFA, the governing body for European leagues and competitions. The coefficient determines how many teams from a national european league can participate in the Europa League and the Champions League. This is done by calculating the coefficient and then ranking each league according to the results. It is important to note that the coefficient determines from the number of teams competing not in the next season, but for the one after that. Which teams will participate in that season is determined in the next season’s European league and cup competition.

The league coefficients are based on the results the teams from a nation achieve during the last five seasons in the Europa League or the Champions League. Each club is awarded with two points for a win in these competitions, one for a draw, and, of course, none for a loss. If a game goes into extra time, and it finishes there, the outcome determines the number of Europa league points awarded. But if the game goes into a penalty shootout, the only Europa league points that are awarded are bonus points. All the points in a season awarded to teams from each European league are summed together and divided by the number of teams from that nation that are participating in the Europa League or Champions League. The number obtained is then rounded down to three decimal places. Then to get the Europa league coefficient you have to add the coefficient from the other four seasons (as mentioned, five seasons in total).

The Europa league coefficient points awarded in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League or Champions League are split in half, because these games to not have the same weight as the real tournament has. Bonus points are gained by qualifying for the Champions League group phase, the second round or reaching the quarter, semi and final round of the Champions League or Europa League.

The European league coefficients were first introduced in 1979 to see how many teams from each country will take part in the UEFA Cup that was established in 1971 replacing the Inter-cities Fairs Cup. The participation in this cup was limited to certain clubs and for those who were invited so there was no need for the European league coefficients. During the history of calculating these coefficients only four European leagues have succeeded in being the number one: La Liga (Spain, also the European league that has the most years as the top league), Serie A (Italy), Premier League (England, or as it was once called the First Division) and the Bundesliga (Germany).

The club coefficient is determined similarly as the league coefficient, except it is determined for a single club from any European league. It is calculated based on the results of the European league club in European competitions in the last five seasons plus 20% of the league coefficient. The points earned by a club in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League or the Champions League are not counted.