| Inverness Caledonian Thistle in European football | |
| Club: | Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. |
| Seasons Played: | 1 |
| Most Capped Player: | 13 Players (2) |
| First Entry: | 2015–16 UEFA Europa League |
| Last Entry: | 2015–16 UEFA Europa League |
| Continent: | europe |
| Uefa Cup: | 0 (Best: Second Qualifying Round |
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. played their first official match in European competition on 16 July 2015.[1] This made the club the first (and as of 2024, only) club from the Highlands to represent the area in European football.[2]
Inverness' best run in European competition was their debut against Astra Giurgiu of Romania where they narrowly lost 1–0 on aggregate thanks to a Constantin Budescu free kick in Inverness,[3] denying an all British tie in the following round against English Premier League side, West Ham United.[4] [5]
Inverness first qualified for Europe with a 3rd-placed finish, and a Scottish Cup title in the 2014–15 season following a 1–0 away victory over Dundee in the League, with the Scottish Cup title moving them forward a round. However, they narrowly missed out on an earlier European debut in the 2012–13 season, after a crushing 1–0 defeat against rivals, Ross County on the final day of the season forced Inverness out of the top 3, and missing European qualification by 2 points.[6]
Inverness again nearly qualified for Europe, in 2023 via the Scottish Cup, where they lost the final 3–1 to Celtic. Had they won, they would've entered the Europa League Play-Off and would have been guaranteed Group Stage football in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
On 22 June 2015, Inverness were drawn against Romanian Liga I side, Astra Giurgiu in the Second Qualifying Round of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, their maiden season in UEFA competition. On 16 July, in front of a near sell-out crowd, Inverness lost 1–0 courtesy of a Constantin Budescu free kick slipping through the gloves of debutant goalkeeper, Owain Fôn Williams, who had only arrived from League Two side, Tranmere Rovers that morning. On 22 July, Inverness were held to a 0–0 draw in Giurgiu, with Ryan Christie nearly levelling the aggregate just before half time, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to progress to the next round where Premier League side, West Ham United would have been the opponent in what would be their final season at the Boleyn Ground.
Note: Inverness scores are listed first.