Inter Club d’Escaldes Become First Andorran Club in European League Phase

What changed

Inter Club d’Escaldes has become the first Andorran club to reach the league phase of a European competition.

The club eliminated Drita on penalties after a 2-2 first-leg draw and a scoreless return match. For 25-year-old Maurizio Pochettino, who joined Inter in August 2025, Thursday’s Conference League match fulfils a childhood ambition to play in Europe.

Why it matters

This is a breakthrough for Andorran club football. Inter were founded in 1991, returned to the top division in 2017 and have won five league titles in the past seven seasons. A club from a small, semi-professional league has now carried its domestic rise onto the European stage.

The route matters too. Manager Felip Ortiz has built Inter around possession-based football, shaped by his years connected with Barcelona. That approach helped the club reach the league phase rather than simply chase a one-off upset.

Ildefons Lima, Andorra’s record international appearance holder, was part of the group that oversaw Inter’s rise and also won titles as a player. His view is the clearest measure of what has changed: reaching the later stages of the Conference League now looks like a realistic ambition for Andorran clubs.

Pochettino’s story gives the achievement its human centre. He grew up watching his father, Mauricio, at Espanyol. Now, with his father watching from the stands, he scored in the decisive shootout that opened Europe’s door.