Ademola Lookman, Atalanta's Hat-trick Hero in Europa League Final, Eyes More Triumphs

Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian winger for Atalanta, etched his name in the club's folklore with a phenomenal hat-trick in the Europa League final. It's been an impressive journey for Lookman, London-born and originally an England Under-21 winger, who switched his international allegiance to Nigeria. His amazing performance led Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen, ending the German team's 361-day unbeaten run. This iconic feat makes him one of the only six footballers to score a hat-trick in a European final and the first to do so since Jupp Heynckes for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup.

Lookman credited his successful transition to his current attacking role to Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta’s manager, who has transformed the player from being a potential asset to a prolific goal scorer. Over the last two years, Lookman has netted 15 goals per season with Atalanta, a feat he believes marks the beginning of many more successful nights.

Euphoric after the win, Lookman dubbed it as one of the best nights of his life and voiced his appreciation for the tremendous support he has received from the fans and the coach throughout his journey. He gave special mention to the city of Bergamo for offering him a sense of calmness which has further contributed to his focus on achieving great strides in his career.

It's also a significant win for Atalanta, marking their second trophy in the club’s 116-year history and their first win in the Europa League since 1999. This victory is also a tribute to Gian Piero Gasperini, who led the team to this achievement while maintaining a financially sustainable model, reflecting the cornerstone of meritocracy in football and offering hope to teams with modest budgets. The club now looks forward to capitalizing on this winning momentum in the next season.