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Europa League qualifying: biggest, most and best

With the play-offs for the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League group stage under way, UEFA.com picks out the competition's pre-season high-achievers.

Stefan Ishizaki in action for Elfsborg in 2012
Stefan Ishizaki in action for Elfsborg in 2012 ©Getty Images

Most appearances in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League qualifying*
47: Stefan Ishizaki (AIK, Elfsborg, Vålerenga)
44: Johan Larsson (Elfsborg, Brøndby)
41: Rashad A Sadygov (Neftçi, Qarabağ, Gabala)
39: Vincent Laban (Anorthosis, Astra, AEK Larnaca)
37: Rashad F Sadygov (Neftçi, Kayserispor, Qarabağ)

Most goals in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League qualifying*
15: Omar Er Rafik (Differdange)
13= Teemu Pukki (HJK Helsinki, Brøndby)
13= Robbie Winters (Dundee United, Aberdeen, Brann) 

Most games played by a team in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League qualifying*
66: Hajduk Split (CRO)
64: Dinamo Minsk (BLR)

By round

Gary Hamilton pictured in 2014
Gary Hamilton pictured in 2014©Sportsfile

First qualifying round
Most appearances (player): 18 – Gary Hamilton (Portadown, Glentoran, Glenavon)
Most goals: 11 – Robbie Winters (Dundee United, Aberdeen, Brann)
Most games (club): 22 – Birkirkara (MLT)
Biggest win: Principat (AND) 0-11 Viking (NOR) (26/08/99, second leg)
Biggest aggregate win: Viking 18-0 Principat (1999/00)
Most successful campaign by a team starting out in the first qualifying round in 2016/17: Gabala (reached group stage) 

Second qualifying round
Most appearances (player): 16 – Stefan Ishizaki (AIK, Elfsborg, Vålerenga)
Most goals: 9 – Steffen Hofmann (Rapid Wien)
Most games (club): 22 – Omonia (CYP)
Biggest win: Floriana (MLT) 0-8 AEK Larnaca (CYP) (14/07/11, first leg), Xäzär Länkäran 0-8 Maccabi Haifa (25/07/13, second leg)
Biggest aggregate win: Baskimi 0-11 Maccabi Petach-Tikva (2005/06)
Most successful campaign by a team starting out in the second qualifying round in 2016/17: Genk (reached quarter-finals)

Johan Larsson with Elfsborg in 2012
Johan Larsson with Elfsborg in 2012©Getty Images

Third qualifying round
Most appearances (player): 13 – Stefan Ishizaki (AIK, Elfsborg, Vålerenga), Johan Larsson (Elfsborg, Brøndby)
Most goals: 7 – Leony Kweuke (Sparta Praha)
Most games (team): 18 – Hajduk Split (CRO)
Biggest win: Crvena zvezda 7-0 Ventspils (04/08/11, second leg)
Biggest aggregate win: Maccabi Netanya 1-10 Galatasaray (2009/10)
Most successful campaign by a team starting out in the third qualifying round in 2016/17: Gent, Krasnodar (both reached round of 16)

Play-offs
Most appearances (player): 11= Bořek Dočkal (Liberec, Rosenborg, Sparta Praha), Steffen Hofmann (Rapid Wien)
Most goals: 10 – Marcus Berg (IFK Göteborg, Hamburg, PSV, Panathinaikos)
Most games (team): 16 – PAOK (GRE)
Biggest win: PSV (NED)  9-0 Zeta (MNE) (30/08/12, second leg)
Biggest aggregate win: PSV (NED) 14-0 Zeta (MNE) (2012/13)
Most successful campaign by a team starting out in the play-offs in 2016/17: Anderlecht (reached quarter-finals – transferred from UCL third qualifying round)

*includes all qualifying phases: preliminary, intermediary and qualifying rounds, plus first, second and third qualifying rounds and play-offs

Stats last updated 19/08/17