Image source, Getty Images

Some might say a year later than planned, but Palace are in the Europa League next season, along with Bournemouth and Sunderland, who will represent the Premier League in the 2026-27 competition.

Chairman Steve Parish said after they'd won the trophy that being in Europe and travelling around is so good, so who could Palace potentially be paying a visit to next season? Here are some of the teams who have qualified for next season's tournament so far:

• AC Milan (ITA)
• Juventus (ITA)
• Real Sociedad (ESP)
• Celta Vigo (ESP)
• Hoffenheim (GER)
• Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
• Marseille (FRA)
• Rennes (FRA)
• AZ Alkmaar (NED)
• Torreense (POR)

And some teams who will start in the qualifying rounds, who may meet Palace if they get through to the competition proper:

• RB Salzburg (AUT)
• Rangers (SCO)
• FC Twente (NED)
• Benfica (POR)
• Anderlecht (BEL)
• Besiktas (TUR)
• PAOK (GRE)
• Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Alistair Bruce-Ball
On BBC Radio 5 Live

Some people look down their noses at the Conference League. It has only been around for five seasons, and English teams are often seen as overwhelming favourites because of the resources they possess.

But it is still one of Uefa's major European trophies, and Crystal Palace have become only the 12th English club to win one. That is a pretty special achievement.

Are Crystal Palace fans now happy they got demoted to the Conference League?

Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

The Eagles qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup last season but were punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

American businessman John Textor owned a 43% stake in the club until he sold it in June. He is also the majority owner of Lyon, who played in this season's Europa League and qualified for next season's Champions League.

The win means Palace, assuming no issues arise, will play Europa League football next season.

Will English teams always dominate the Conference League? That’s three in a row, with Aston Villa also winning the Europa League.

Now that no teams drop down after the league phase, does this help the Premier League sides?

Previously, you'd often find strong teams failing to qualify for the knockout stages of both the Champions League and Europa League.

Paul Robinson
Former Premier League goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at Leipzig Stadium

Crystal Palace were the better side. We always talk about the Premier League and it being the strongest league [in the world]. Two English teams have European competitions already and we have another one to come on Saturday. You see the dominance of the Premier League.

Palace came into this game as favourites but in the first half it was edgy and they looked nervy. It's almost like Glasner said at half time, "You are better than them, believe in yourselves, and impose yourself", and that is exactly what they did and their goal was never troubled.

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Glasner's Palace become the third English club to win the tournament in its short, five-year history. Jose Mourinho guided Roma to the inaugural title, while Chelsea and recently-relegated West Ham have also lifted the trophy.

2022: Roma

2023: West Ham United

2024: Olympiacos

2025: Chelsea

2026: Crystal Palace

Can Palace's rivals Brighton - who have qualified for next season's competition - make it four winners in six?

Crystal Palace co-owner Steve Parish speaking to TNT Sports: "Even to be in Europe, it's so good, travelling around. Then to come and win it is just incredible. All the ups and downs this season we've had, it's just brilliant to get to this point. Getting to the Europa League where we deserve in the end, it just shows you, sometimes, the good guys win.

"To win an FA Cup, a Community Shield, a European title at the first time asking - an incredible achievement. It means everything. When I bought the club, I wasn't sure we'd ever play in Europe, let alone win a trophy. It's all of our dreams come true. Now we've had a taste of it, we want to keep it going.

"We have gone up a level, we have to try and stay there. It's not easy. Everybody wants to win. We have our work cut out in the summer, but right now we'll take a week and enjoy it."

Image source, Getty Images

Qualification

Play-offs, first leg: Crystal Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad

Play-offs, second leg: Crystal Palace 0-0 Fredrikstad

League phase

Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace 0-1 AEK Larnaca

Crystal Palace 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

Strasbourg 2-1 Crystal Palace

Shelbourne 0-3 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace 2-2 KuPS Kuopio

Knockouts

Play-offs, first leg: Zrinjski Mostar 1-1 Crystal Palace

Play-offs, second leg: Crystal Palace 2-0 Zrinjski Mostar

Last 16, first leg: Crystal Palace 0-0 AEK Larnaca

Last 16, second leg: AEK Larnaca 1-2 Crystal Palace (AET)

Quarter-finals, first leg: Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina

Quarter-finals, second leg: Fiorentina 2-1 Crystal Palace

Semi-finals, first leg: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace

Semi-finals, second leg: Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Final: Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano

Chris McKenna
BBC Sport

Jean-Philippe Mateta fired Crystal Palace to their first European trophy as the Eagles edged out Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.

The France striker turned home a close-range winner on the rebound from an Adam Wharton strike early in the second half in Leipzig.

Both teams were competing in their first European final and so the cagey start to proceedings at Red Bull Arena - the home of RB Leipzig - was perhaps unsurprising.

Alemao turned a half-decent opportunity wide before Unai Lopez placed an effort past the post in the Spanish side's best opportunities of the first half.

But the clearest chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Palace just before the break, when Tyrick Mitchell headed wide after Wharton had found him with a superb ball into the box.

Palace took the lead just six minutes into the second half when Wharton's strike was palmed into Mateta's path by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla and the forward diverted it into the net.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace lifted their first European trophy on Wednesday in Oliver Glasner's last game for the club.

Dreams do come true.

Stay tuned for reaction from the Conference League final at Red Bull Arena - the home of RB Leipzig.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images