Copa del Rey

Copa del Rey
Founded 1902
Region  Spain
Number of teams 83
Current champions Real Madrid (18th title)
Most successful club Barcelona (25 titles)
Television broadcasters Canal+ Liga, GolT, laSexta, FORTA, Canal+, MARCA TV, RTVE (only the Final)
2011–12 Copa del Rey

The Copa del Rey (English: The King's Cup) is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol (Championship of Spain – His Majesty the King's Football Cup).

The competition was founded in 1902. FC Barcelona have won the cup on the most occasions, with 25 wins.

Contents

History

The competition was first played in 1902 after Carlos Padrós, later president of Madrid FC, suggested a football competition to celebrate the coronation of King Alfonso XIII. Three other teams joined Real Madrid CF for the first competition: FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, and Athletic Bilbao. The competition featured the first recorded game between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, with the former emerging 3-1 winners. Club Bizcaya eventually defeated FC Barcelona in the final.

It has been Spain's football “National Championship″ since 1903,[1] before the foundation of the “Campeonato de Liga″—League Championship—in 1928.

It was initially known as the Copa del Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Madrid City Council's Cup). Between 1905 and 1932, it was known as the Copa de Su Majestad El Rey Alfonso XIII (His Majesty King Alfonso XIII's Cup). During the Second Spanish Republic it was known as the Copa del Presidente de la República (President of the Republic Cup) or Copa de España (Spanish Cup) and during the years of the Francisco Franco's dictatorship it was known as the Copa de Su Excelencia El Generalísimo or Copa del Generalísimo ((His Excellency) The Supreme General's Cup).[1] Teams from upper and lower divisions play against each other but the number of clubs allowed to participate is restricted.

The 1902 competition was won by Club Bizcaya, a team made up of players from Athletic Club and Bilbao FC. The 1902 cup is on display in the Athletic museum,[2] and the club includes the victory in its honours list.

Athletic Bilbao were declared winners in 1904 after their opponents Club Español de Madrid failed to show up. In both 1910 and 1913, there was a split among the clubs and two rival associations, the Unión Española de Clubs de Fútbol and the Federación Española de Fútbol, organised rival competitions, the Copa UECF and the Copa FEF. In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War clubs in the Republican area of Spain entered the Copa de la España Libre, with Levante FC beating their city rivals Valencia CF 1–0 in the final. Although in 2007 the Congress of Deputies urged Royal Spanish Football Federation to recognise it as a Copa del Rey win for Levante FC,[3] the governing body of Spanish football has not made a decision yet.[4]

Because of the dispute regarding the 1902 competition the statistics regarding the leading winners are also disputed. FC Barcelona have won the Copa 25 times; Athletic Bilbao are just behind, with either 24 or 23 titles, depending on the source. Throughout the history of the competition there have been 12 actual trophies. Trophies have been permanently awarded to clubs for winning the competition either three times in a row or on five separate occasions and for other special reasons.
Thus, four trophies have been permanently awarded to FC Barcelona, three to Athletic Bilbao and one to Real Madrid CF. Athletic Bilbao kept the first trophy as inaugural winners, Sevilla FC were awarded the Trofeo del Generalísimo in 1939 and Atlético Madrid, winners the previous year, were awarded the 11th trophy following the death of Francisco Franco. In December 2010 the cup was given to Sevilla, the 2010 winners, to keep in honour of Spain's World Cup win.[5]

Before the formation of La Liga in 1929, the competition was effectively a national championship. Teams qualified to enter via their regional leagues. Over the years, various formats, including group stages have been used. Unlike the English FA Cup, entry is limited. Only teams from the Primera Division, Segunda A, about twenty-three teams from the Segunda B and the Tercera Division champions (or runners-up if the champion is a reserve team) are invited to enter. The early rounds are one-off games with teams from the lower divisions given home advantage. The round of 32, the round of 16, the quarter finals and semi-finals are played over two legs. The final is a one-off game played at a neutral venue. The winners qualify for both the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Europa League the following season.

Trophy

On December 22, 2010 at an extraordinary general meeting of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Sevilla FC requested permission from the federation to keep the trophy they had won in the 2009-10 final - to commemorate the victory of the Spain national football team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There had been a precedent for this - Real Madrid were allowed to keep the first Copa de la República (1936), Sevilla, the first Copa del Generalísimo (1939) and, Atlético Madrid, the last Copa del Generalísimo (1976).

A new trophy was made by Madrid jeweller Federico Alegre. The trophy, made of silver, weighs 15 kg (33 lb) and is 75 cm (30 in) tall. On April 21, 2011, Real Madrid became the first recipients of the trophy. During the post-game celebrations, the trophy was accidentally dropped at Plaza de Cibeles by the Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos from the top of a double-decker bus, which then ran over it. 10 pieces were found by civil servicemen when they recovered it from the ground. The club received a copy which is displayed at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[6][7]

Winners and runners-up

Club Wins Last final won Runners-up Last final lost
FC Barcelona
25
2009
10
2011
Athletic Bilbao
23
1984
12
2009
Real Madrid
18
2011
19
2004
Atlético Madrid
9
1996
9
2010
Valencia
7
2008
9
1995
Real Zaragoza
6
2004
5
2006
Sevilla
5
2010
2
1962
RCD Espanyol
4
2006
5
1957
Real Unión
3
1927
1
1922
Real Betis
2
2005
2
1997
Deportivo La Coruña
2
2002
0
Real Sociedad
1
1987
4
1988
Arenas Club
1
1919
3
1927
RCD Mallorca
1
2003
2
1998
Club Bizcaya
1
1902
1
1907
Racing de Irún
1
1913
0
Club Ciclista
1
1909
0
Celta de Vigo
0
3
2001
Getafe CF
0
2
2008
Real Valladolid
0
2
1989
Sporting de Gijón
0
2
1982
Club Español de Madrid
0
2
1910
CA Osasuna
0
1
2005
Recreativo de Huelva
0
1
2003
Real Madrid Castilla
0
1
1980
UD Las Palmas
0
1
1978
CD Castellón
0
1
1973
Elche CF
0
1
1969
Granada CF
0
1
1959
Racing de Ferrol
0
1
1939
CE Sabadell FC
0
1
1935
CE Europa
0
1
1923
FC España
0
1
1914
Gimnástica Madrid
0
1
1912
Real Vigo Sporting
0
1
1908

Real Madrid's reserve team. Reserve teams were banned for this competition for first time in the 1990–91 edition.

Finals

Season Location Champion Runner-up Score
2011 Mestalla, Valencia Real Madrid FC Barcelona 1–0 (aet)
2010 Camp Nou, Barcelona Sevilla FC Atlético Madrid 2–0
2009 Mestalla, Valencia FC Barcelona Athletic Bilbao 4–1
2008 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Valencia CF Getafe CF 3–1
2007 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Sevilla FC Getafe CF 1–0
2006 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid RCD Espanyol Real Zaragoza 4–1
2005 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Betis Osasuna 2–1 (aet)
2004 Lluís Companys, Barcelona Real Zaragoza Real Madrid 3–2 (aet)
2003 Martínez Valero, Elche RCD Mallorca Recreativo de Huelva 3–0
2002 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Deportivo La Coruña Real Madrid 2–1
2001 La Cartuja, Sevilla Real Zaragoza Celta Vigo 3–1
2000 Mestalla, Valencia RCD Espanyol Atlético Madrid 2–1
1999 La Cartuja, Sevilla Valencia CF Atlético Madrid 3–0
1998 Mestalla, Valencia FC Barcelona RCD Mallorca 1–1 (penalties, 5–4)
1997 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid FC Barcelona Real Betis 3–2 (aet)
1996 La Romareda, Zaragoza Atlético Madrid FC Barcelona 1–0 (aet)
1995 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Deportivo La Coruña Valencia CF 2–1
1994 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Zaragoza Celta Vigo 0–0 (penalties, 5–4)
1993 Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia Real Madrid Real Zaragoza 2–0
1992 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Real Madrid 2–0
1991 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid RCD Mallorca 1–0
1990 Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia FC Barcelona Real Madrid 2–0
1989 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Madrid Real Valladolid 1–0
1988 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid FC Barcelona Real Sociedad 1–0
1987 La Romareda, Zaragoza Real Sociedad Atlético Madrid 2–2 (penalties, 4–2)
1986 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Zaragoza FC Barcelona 1–0
1985 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Athletic Bilbao 2–1
1984 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Athletic Bilbao FC Barcelona 1–0
1983 La Romareda, Zaragoza FC Barcelona Real Madrid 2–1
1982 José Zorrilla, Valladolid Real Madrid Sporting de Gijón 2–1
1981 Vicente Calderón, Madrid FC Barcelona Sporting de Gijón 3–1
1980 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Real Madrid Castilla CF 6–1
1979 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Valencia CF Real Madrid 2–0
1978 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid FC Barcelona UD Las Palmas 3–1
1977 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Betis Athletic Bilbao 2–2 (penalties, 8–7)
1976 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Real Zaragoza 1–0
1975 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Madrid Atlético Madrid 0–0 (penalties, 4–3)
1974 Vicente Calderón, Madrid Real Madrid FC Barcelona 4–0
1973 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Bilbao CD Castellón 2–0
1972 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Valencia CF 2–1
1971 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid CF Barcelona Valencia CF 4–3
1970 Camp Nou, Barcelona Real Madrid Valencia CF 3–1
1969 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Elche CF 1–0
1968 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid CF Barcelona Real Madrid 1–0
1967 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Valencia CF Atlético Bilbao 2–1
1966 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Real Zaragoza Atlético Bilbao 2–0
1965 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Real Zaragoza 1–0
1964 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Real Zaragoza Atlético Madrid 2–1
1963 Camp Nou, Barcelona CF Barcelona Real Zaragoza 3–1
1962 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Real Madrid Sevilla CF 2–1
1961 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Real Madrid 3–2
1960 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Madrid Real Madrid 3–1
1959 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid CF Barcelona Granada CF 4–1
1958 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Real Madrid 2–0
1957 Montjuïc, Barcelona CF Barcelona RCD Español 1–0
1956 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Atlético Madrid 2–1
1955 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Sevilla CF 1–0
1954 Chamartín, Madrid Valencia CF CF Barcelona 3–0
1953 Chamartín, Madrid CF Barcelona Atlético Bilbao 2–1
1952 Chamartín, Madrid CF Barcelona Valencia CF 4–2
1951 Chamartín, Madrid CF Barcelona Real Sociedad 3–0
1950 Chamartín, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Real Valladolid 4–1
1949 Chamartín, Madrid Valencia CF Atlético Bilbao 1–0
1948 Chamartín, Madrid Sevilla CF Celta Vigo 4–1
1947 Riazor, A Coruña Real Madrid RCD Español 2–0
1946 Montjuïc, Barcelona Real Madrid Valencia CF 3–1
1945 Montjuïc, Barcelona Atlético Bilbao Valencia CF 3–2
1944 Montjuïc, Barcelona Atlético Bilbao Valencia CF 2–0
1943 Chamartín, Madrid Atlético Bilbao Real Madrid 1–0
1942 Chamartín, Madrid CF Barcelona Atlético Bilbao 4–3
1941 Chamartín, Madrid Valencia CF RCD Español 3–1
1940 Chamartín, Madrid RCD Español Real Madrid 3–2
1939 Montjuïc, Barcelona Sevilla FC Racing Ferrol 6–2
1936 Mestalla, Valencia Madrid FC CF Barcelona 2–1
1935 Chamartín, Madrid Sevilla FC CE Sabadell FC 3–0
1934 Montjuïc, Barcelona Madrid FC Valencia CF 2–1
1933 Montjuïc, Barcelona Athletic Bilbao Madrid FC 2–1
1932 Chamartín, Madrid Athletic Bilbao FC Barcelona 1–0
1931 Chamartín, Madrid Athletic Bilbao Real Betis 3–1
1930 Montjuïc, Barcelona Athletic Bilbao Madrid CF 3–2
1929 Mestalla, Valencia RCD Español Real Madrid 2–1
1928 El Sardinero, Santander FC Barcelona Real Sociedad 3–1
1927 Torreo, Zaragoza Real Unión Arenas Club de Getxo 1–0
1926 Mestalla, Valencia FC Barcelona Atlético Madrid 3–2
1925 Reina Victoria, Sevilla FC Barcelona Arenas Club de Getxo 2–0
1924 Atotxa, San Sebastián Real Unión Real Madrid 1–0
1923 Les Corts, Barcelona Athletic Bilbao CE Europa 1–0
1922 Coia, Vigo FC Barcelona Real Unión 5–1
1921 San Mamés, Bilbao Athletic Bilbao Atlético Madrid 4–1
1920 El Molinón, Gijón FC Barcelona Athletic Bilbao 2–0
1919 Martínez Campos, Madrid Arenas Club de Getxo FC Barcelona 5–2
1918 O'Donnell, Madrid Real Unión Madrid FC 2–0
1917 La Industria, Barcelona Madrid FC Arenas Club de Getxo 2–1
1916 La Industria, Barcelona Athletic Bilbao Madrid FC 4–0
1915 Amute, Irún Athletic Bilbao RCD Español 5–0
1914 Amute, Irún Athletic Bilbao FC España de Barcelona 2–1
1913 La Industria, Barcelona FC Barcelona Real Sociedad 2–1
1913 O'Donnell, Madrid Racing de Irún Athletic Bilbao 1–0
1912 La Industria, Barcelona FC Barcelona Gimnástica de Madrid 2–0
1911 Jolaseta, Bilbao Athletic Bilbao CD Español 3–1
1910 Tiro de Pichón, Madrid FC Barcelona Club Español de Madrid No final
1910 Ondarreta, San Sebastián Athletic Bilbao Vasconia No final
1909 O'Donnell, Madrid Club Ciclista Club Español de Madrid 3–1
1908 O'Donnell, Madrid Madrid FC Real Vigo Sporting 2–1
1907 Hipódromo, Madrid Madrid FC Bizcaya 1–0
1906 Hipódromo, Madrid Madrid FC Athletic Bilbao No final
1905 Tiro de Pichón, Madrid Madrid FC San Sebastián No final
1904 Tiro de Pichón, Madrid Athletic Bilbao No final
1903 Hipódromo, Madrid Athletic Bilbao Real Madrid 3–2
1902[8] Hipódromo, Madrid Bizcaya FC Barcelona 2–1

Etymology

Real Madrid CF were originally known as Madrid FC and did not add the Real until 1920. During the Spanish Second Republic the club dropped Real from their name. In 1941, a decree issued by General Franco banned the use of non-Spanish language names. FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC became CF Barcelona and Sevilla CF and Athletic Bilbao had to change the spelling of their prefix to Atlético. RCD Espanyol were known as RCD Español until 1995.

References