A self-confessed football nut provides a unique, discerning perspective on what’s going on in the beautiful game.

On 30th July 2009, Fulham began their epic UEFA Europa League journey with a qualifying match against Lithuanian side FK Vetra.

If you had put money on them reaching the final back then, you’d be a very rich person now, but not as wealthy as Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Along the way, the Cottagers have brushed past the likes of Roma, holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, German champions Wolfsburg and finally, Hamburg in the semi-final – also the host city of Fulham’s first major final since the 1975 FA Cup clincher.

Even James Cameron would have a tough time coming up with a movie script to top that.

Manager Roy Hodgson has been phenomenal in moulding a mix of rejects and bit-part players into a formidable outfit. He deservedly picked up the Manager of the Year award, but he might as well be given the Magician of the Year title too.

It frankly is remarkable that a team with Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky and Stephen Kelly find themselves one step away from lifting a major European trophy. Zamora must have thought a few years ago that the closest he would get to silverware would be in his kitchen.

Now, all that stands in their way of making history is Atletico Madrid, whose own manager Quique Sanchez Flores has worked wonders of his own, though not of Hodgson-esque proportions.

Appointed in October with the club battling relegation, he stands on the brink of leading Madrid’s forgotten team to an unlikely double. They play Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final next week.

The Spaniards are led by the fearsome threesome of Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan. However, it’s not been a straightforward journey on their road to the final.

They were knocked out of the Champions League without winning a single group match. In the Europa League, three of their four encounters were settled on away goals, including Forlan’s heartbreaking strike in the semi-final at Anfield to cap off Liverpool’s miserable campaign.

Atletico and Fulham will both be looking to make the most of their time in the limelight. They have been overshadowed in the past by their more successful neighbours.

Any team would suffer having to share the support and resources of a city with Real Madrid or Chelsea.

And so we have a mouthwatering prospect on our hands. A true matchup of opposing styles.

Fulham’s workman-like efficiency and camaraderie going up against the free flowing attack of Aguero and friends.

Fulham find it hard to score, with even Burnley having a superior goal tally in the Premier League.

Atletico can’t defend, having the second worst defensive record outside of the bottom three in the Spanish La Liga.

Something has to give in the first ever Europa League final.

The prowess of Rooney or the trickery of Messi may not be on display at the HSH Nordbank Arena.

What you will see are two managers leading their transformed sides for a shot at European football history. In Hodgson and Flores, you could not have found two better candidates for over-achievers of the season.

Now, it’s time for one of them to make their club’s season truly special.