League first qualifying round, where they were drawn to face Rosenborg. In naming Charlie Allen to the final 25-man squad for this match, the Blues set a new record for the youngest UK player named to a final squad for a match in the Champions League. The Norwegian champions had eliminated the Blues from the competition back in the 2010–11 season, and again they proved to be too strong. A 6–0 aggregate defeat saw the Blues drop down into the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round Champions Path, where they faced Faroese champions HB Tórshavn – the fifth occasion since 2012 that they had faced Faroese opposition in Europe. A 3–2 win on aggregate secured a place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League for the first time, and the third stage of any European competition since a 5–2 aggregate win over Vålerenga in November 1966. In the next round of the Europa League Linfield faced Montenegro champions Sutjeska. A 2–1 win in the away leg was followed up with a 3–2 win in the second leg at Windsor Park, with the Blues winning 5–3 on aggregate to become the first Irish League side to reach the play-off round of the Europa League. It was only the second time that the club had won both legs of a European tie – the first being in 2013 against ÍF. Additionally, it was only the second time that the club had ever progressed through back-to-back rounds in Europe, again the first time since November 1966. In the play-off round, Linfield were drawn to face Azerbaijan champions Qarabağ, with the winners qualifying for the Europa League group stage. Summary Matches (1959–1999) Matches (2000–) Key: PR – Preliminary round; QR – Qualifying round; 1/2/3QR – First/Second/Third qualifying round; POR – Play-off round; 1R/2R – First/Second round; QF – Quarter-final; SF – Semi-final; F – Final; Notes UEFA club ranking Current ranking As of the 2022 UEFA Club Rankings. Ranking since 2018 Current squad Out on loan Retired numbers Numbers retired in June 2011. 11 – In honour of Noel Bailie MBE (1986–2011) 13 – Unlucky number Player of the Year Linfield's Player of the Year award is voted for by the club's supporters. 2008–09: Paul Munster 2009–10: Jamie Mulgrew 2010–11: Michael Gault 2011–12: Albert Watson 2012–13: Billy Joe Burns 2013–14: Andrew Waterworth 2014–15: Aaron Burns 2015–16: Jimmy Callacher 2016–17: Roy Carroll 2017–18: