Intercontinental Cup (football)

The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or (after 1980) Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores. The cup trophy bears the words "Coupe Européenne-Sudamericaine" ("European-South American Cup") at the top, which involve the ball. At the base of the trophy, there is a drawing of two maps, one from Europe, another from South America.

From its formation in 1960 to 1979, the competition was contested over a two legged tie, with a playoff if necessary until 1968, and penalty kicks later. From 1980 until 2004, the competition was contested over a single match held in Japan and organized by Toyota, which offered a secondary trophy, the Toyota Cup. The competition was considered until the creation of its successor, the FIFA Club World Cup,^[1] the most important tournament at international level in which any club could participate,^[2] for that reason all the winner teams were recognised as world club champions.^[3][4][5]

The last winner of the cup was Portuguese side Porto, defeating Colombian side Once Caldas in a penalty shootout in 2004.

History

The inauguration of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1955 and the Copa Libertadores in 1960 made the European/South American Cup viable. Spanish side Real Madrid became the first club to win the cup in 1960, defeating Peñarol of Uruguay.

The viability of the competition came under fire until Toyota assumed the role of sponsor for the 1980 tournament; for the remainder of the competition's history, no club declined playing in the Intercontinental Cup, and the competition always took the form of a single match held on neutral ground, in Toyota's home country Japan. The sponsor created a new trophy, the Toyota Cup, which was coupled with the original one: if the Intercontinental Cup was give to winners' captain, the Toyota Cup was given to the vice-captain.^[6]

This cup was played for the last time in 2004 and replaced by the FIFA Club World Cup.^[1]

Cup format

From 1960 to 1979, the Intercontinental Cup was played in two legs. Between 1960 and 1968, the cup was decided on points only, the same format used by CONMEBOL to determine the winner of the Copa Libertadores final through 1987. Because of this format, a third match was needed when both teams were equal on points. Commonly this match was host by the continent where the last game of the series was played. From 1969 through 1979, the competition adopted the European standard method of aggregate score, with away goals.

Starting in 1980, the final became a single match. Up until 2000, the matches were held at Tokyo's National Stadium. Finals since 2002 were held at the Yokohama International Stadium, also the venue of the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.

Finals

Key

Two-legged finals

Single match finals

Notes

• ^a Juventus won 4–2 in a penalty shootout
• ^b Nacional won 7–6 in a penalty shootout
• ^c European champions Marseille were suspended due to a match fixing and bribery scandal
• ^d Ajax won 4–3 in a penalty shootout
• ^e Boca Juniors won 3–1 in a penalty shootout
• ^f Porto won 8–7 in a penalty shootout

Statistics

By club

By country

By continent

Coaches

Carlos Bianchi won three editions as coach: one with Vélez Sársfield in 1994, and 2 with Boca Juniors in 2000 and 2003.

Luis Cubilla and Juan Mujica, 2 Uruguayans won cups both as players and coaches:

• Luis Cubilla (played for Peñarol in 1961 and for Nacional in 1971; then coached Olimpia in 1979)
• Juan Mujica (played for Nacional in 1971; and coached it in 1980)

Players

• Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini played 5 times in the competition, all with Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2003).
• Estudiantes (1968, 1969 and 1970) and Independiente (1972, 1973 and 1974) played 3 in consecutive years. Of these teams a few players played the three years, including Carlos Salvador Bilardo and Juan Ramón Verón.

Man of the Match

Since 1980

See also

• FIFA Club World Cup
• Copa Rio (International Tournament)
• Copa Libertadores
• UEFA Champions League
• List of world club champions
• International club competition records

References

External links

• Official Competition website
• UEFA website
• International Clubs Cup - The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
• Match report from La Nacion