Copa del Rey

For other uses, see Copa del Rey (disambiguation).
Copa del Rey
Founded 1903
Region Spain
Number of teams 83
Current champions Real Madrid (19th title)
Most successful club(s) Barcelona (26 titles)
Television broadcasters Canal+ 1, C+ Liga, GolT (pay TV)
Atresmedia and La 1 (only the Final) (free TV)
ESPN South and DirecTV Sports (South America)
SKY Mexico (Mexico, Central America & Caribbean)
ESPN, Sports+ and SporTV (Brazil)
beIN Sports (United States)
Website http://www.RFEF.es
2014–15 Copa del Rey

The Copa del Rey (English: 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 (Championship of Spain – His Majesty the King's Cup). Like the Emperor's Cup in Japan the tournament is one of the most well-known football competitions bearing the name of a monarch.

The competition was founded in 1903, thus making it the oldest Spanish football competition. Typically, the winner of Copa del Rey goes to the UEFA Europa League; but if the winner also qualifies for UEFA Champions League, then the losing finalist goes into the Europa League.

The current holders are Real Madrid, who won their 19th Copa del Rey against FC Barcelona at the 2014 Copa del Rey Final held at the Mestalla.

Barcelona has won the cup on the most occasions, with 26 wins.

History

In 1902, a competition under the name Copa de la Coronación, was played after Carlos Padrós, later president of Real Madrid, suggested a football tournament to celebrate the coronation of King Alfonso XIII. Four other teams joined Madrid FC for the competition: FC Barcelona, Club Español de Foot-Ball, New Foot-Ball de Madrid and Club Bizcaya (a team made up of players from Athletic Club and Bilbao FC) which eventually defeated Barcelona in the final. That cup is on display in the Athletic Bilbao museum and the club includes the victory in its honours list. Nevertheless, it is considered only the forerunner of the Copa del Rey and the Royal Spanish Football Federation officially don't recognize it.[1][2]

Copa del Rey was Spain's football National Championship from 1903[3] until 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 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).[3] Teams from upper and lower divisions play against each other but the number of clubs allowed to participate is restricted.

Athletic Bilbao were declared winners in 1904 after their opponents 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,[4] the governing body of Spanish football has not made a decision yet.)[5]

Because of the dispute regarding the 1902 competition, the statistics regarding the leading winners are also disputed. Barcelona have won the Copa 26 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 Barcelona, three to Bilbao and one to Real Madrid. 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.[6]

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 División, Segunda A, about 23 teams from the Segunda B and the Tercera División 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

22 December 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 2010 final to commemorate the victory of the Spanish national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. There had been a precedent for this; Real Madrid were allowed to keep the last 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 21 April 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. Ten pieces were found by civil servicemen when they recovered it from the ground. The club received a copy which is displayed at Santiago Bernabéu.[7][8]

Winners and runners-up

Club Wins Last final won Runners-up Last final lost
Barcelona
26
 2012
10
 2014
Athletic Bilbao
23
 1984
13
 2012
Real Madrid
19
 2014
20
 2013
Atlético Madrid
10
 2013
9
 2010
Valencia
7
 2008
9
 1995
Zaragoza
6
 2004
5
 2006
Sevilla
5
 2010
2
 1962
Espanyol
4
 2006
5
 1957
Real Unión‡
4
 1927
1
 1922
Betis
2
 2005
2
 1997
Deportivo La Coruña
2
 2002
0
Real Sociedad
2
 1987
5
 1988
Arenas
1
 1919
3
 1927
Mallorca
1
 2003
2
 1998
Celta de Vigo
0
3
 2001
Getafe
0
2
 2008
Valladolid
0
2
 1989
Sporting de Gijón
0
2
 1982
Español de Madrid
0
2
 1910
Osasuna
0
1
 2005
Recreativo
0
1
 2003
Castilla CF‡‡
0
1
 1980
Las Palmas
0
1
 1978
Castellón
0
1
 1973
Elche
0
1
 1969
Granada
0
1
 1959
Racing de Ferrol
0
1
 1939
Sabadell
0
1
 1935
Europa
0
1
 1923
Espanya
0
1
 1914
Gimnástica
0
1
 1912
Real Vigo Sporting
0
1
 1908
Club Bizcaya
0
1
 1907

‡ The first place in the 1913 edition was got by Racing de Irún.

‡‡ 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
1903Hipódromo, MadridAthletic BilbaoMadrid FC3–2
1904Tiro de Pichón, MadridAthletic Bilbao---No final
1905Tiro de Pichón, MadridMadrid FCAthletic BilbaoNo final
1906Hipódromo, MadridMadrid FCAthletic BilbaoNo final
1907Hipódromo, MadridMadrid FCBizcaya1–0
1908O'Donnell, MadridMadrid FCReal Vigo Sporting2–1
1909O'Donnell, MadridReal SociedadEspañol de Madrid3–1
1910Ondarreta, San SebastiánAthletic BilbaoVasconiaNo final
1910Tiro de Pichón, MadridBarcelonaEspañol de MadridNo final
1911Jolaseta, BilbaoAthletic BilbaoRCD Espanyol3–1
1912La Industria, BarcelonaBarcelonaGimnástica2–0
1913O'Donnell, MadridRacing de Irún‡Athletic Bilbao1–0
1913La Industria, BarcelonaBarcelonaReal Sociedad2–1
1914Amute, IrúnAthletic BilbaoEspanya2–1
1915Amute, IrúnAthletic BilbaoRCD Español5–0
1916La Industria, BarcelonaAthletic BilbaoMadrid FC4–0
1917La Industria, BarcelonaMadrid FCArenas2–1
1918O'Donnell, MadridReal UniónMadrid FC2–0
1919Martínez Campos, MadridArenasBarcelona5–2
1920El Molinón, GijónBarcelonaAthletic Bilbao2–0
1921San Mamés, BilbaoAthletic BilbaoAtlético Madrid4–1
1922Coia, VigoBarcelonaReal Unión5–1
1923Les Corts, BarcelonaAthletic BilbaoEuropa1–0
1924Atotxa, San SebastiánReal UniónReal Madrid1–0
1925Reina Victoria, SevillaBarcelonaArenas2–0
1926Mestalla, ValenciaBarcelonaAtlético Madrid3–2
1927Torrero, ZaragozaReal UniónArenas1–0
1928El Sardinero, SantanderBarcelonaReal Sociedad3–1
1929Mestalla, Valencia RCD EspañolReal Madrid2–1
1930Montjuïc, BarcelonaAthletic BilbaoReal Madrid3–2
1931Chamartín, MadridAthletic BilbaoBetis3–1
1932Chamartín, MadridAthletic BilbaoBarcelona1–0
1933Montjuïc, BarcelonaAthletic BilbaoMadrid2–1
1934Montjuïc, BarcelonaMadridValencia2–1
1935Chamartín, MadridSevillaSabadell3–0
1936Mestalla, ValenciaMadridBarcelona2–1
1939Montjuïc, BarcelonaSevillaRacing de Ferrol6–2
1940Campo de Vallecas, MadridRCD EspañolReal Madrid3–2
1941Chamartín, MadridValenciaRCD Español3–1
1942Chamartín, MadridBarcelonaAtlético Bilbao4–3
1943Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid, MadridAtlético BilbaoReal Madrid1–0
1944Montjuïc, BarcelonaAtlético BilbaoValencia2–0
1945Montjuïc, BarcelonaAtlético BilbaoValencia3–2
1946Montjuïc, BarcelonaReal MadridValencia3–1
1947Riazor, A CoruñaReal MadridRCD Español2–0
1948Chamartín, MadridSevillaCelta de Vigo4–1
1949Chamartín, MadridValenciaAtlético Bilbao1–0
1950Chamartín, MadridAtlético BilbaoValladolid4–1
1951Chamartín, MadridBarcelonaReal Sociedad3–0
1952Chamartín, MadridBarcelonaValencia4–2
1953Chamartín, MadridBarcelonaAtlético Bilbao2–1
1954Chamartín, MadridValenciaBarcelona3–0
1955Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético BilbaoSevilla1–0
1956Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético BilbaoAtlético Madrid2–1
1957Montjuïc, BarcelonaBarcelonaRCD Español1–0
1958Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético BilbaoReal Madrid2–0
1959Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaGranada4–1
1960Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridReal Madrid3–1
1961Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridReal Madrid3–2
1962Santiago Bernabéu, MadridReal MadridSevilla2–1
1963Camp Nou, BarcelonaBarcelonaZaragoza3–1
1964Santiago Bernabéu, MadridZaragozaAtlético Madrid2–1
1965Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridZaragoza1–0
1966Santiago Bernabéu, MadridZaragozaAtlético Bilbao2–0
1967Santiago Bernabéu, MadridValenciaAtlético Bilbao2–1
1968Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaReal Madrid1–0
1969Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético BilbaoElche1–0
1970Camp Nou, BarcelonaReal MadridValencia3–1
1971Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaValencia4–3
1972Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridValencia2–1
1973Vicente Calderón, MadridAtlético BilbaoCastellón2–0
1974Vicente Calderón, MadridReal MadridBarcelona4–0
1975Vicente Calderón, MadridReal MadridAtlético Madrid0–0 (penalties, 4–3)
1976Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridZaragoza1–0
1977Vicente Calderón, MadridBetisAthletic Bilbao2–2 (penalties, 8–7)
1978Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaLas Palmas3–1
1979Vicente Calderón, MadridValenciaReal Madrid2–0
1980Santiago Bernabéu, MadridReal MadridCastilla‡‡6–1
1981Vicente Calderón, MadridBarcelonaSporting de Gijón3–1
1982José Zorrilla, ValladolidReal MadridSporting de Gijón2–1
1983La Romareda, ZaragozaBarcelonaReal Madrid2–1
1984Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAthletic BilbaoBarcelona1–0
1985Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridAthletic Bilbao2–1
1986Vicente Calderón, MadridZaragozaBarcelona1–0
1987La Romareda, ZaragozaReal SociedadAtlético Madrid2–2 (penalties, 4–2)
1988Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaReal Sociedad1–0
1989Vicente Calderón, MadridReal MadridValladolid1–0
1990Luis Casanova, ValenciaBarcelonaReal Madrid2–0
1991Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridMallorca1–0
1992Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridReal Madrid2–0
1993Luis Casanova, ValenciaReal MadridZaragoza2–0
1994Vicente Calderón, MadridZaragozaCelta de Vigo0–0 (penalties, 5–4)
1995Santiago Bernabéu, MadridDeportivo La CoruñaValencia2–1
1996La Romareda, ZaragozaAtlético MadridBarcelona1–0 (aet)
1997Santiago Bernabéu, MadridBarcelonaBetis3–2 (aet)
1998Mestalla, ValenciaBarcelonaMallorca1–1 (penalties, 5–4)
1999La Cartuja, SevilleValenciaAtlético Madrid3–0
2000Mestalla, ValenciaEspanyolAtlético Madrid2–1
2001La Cartuja, SevilleZaragozaCelta de Vigo3–1
2002Santiago Bernabéu, MadridDeportivo La CoruñaReal Madrid2–1
2003Martínez Valero, ElcheMallorcaRecreativo3–0
2004Lluís Companys, BarcelonaZaragozaReal Madrid3–2 (aet)
2005Vicente Calderón, MadridBetisOsasuna2–1 (aet)
2006Santiago Bernabéu, MadridEspanyolZaragoza4–1
2007Santiago Bernabéu, MadridSevillaGetafe1–0
2008Vicente Calderón, MadridValenciaGetafe3–1
2009Mestalla, ValenciaBarcelonaAthletic Bilbao4–1
2010Camp Nou, BarcelonaSevillaAtlético Madrid2–0
2011Mestalla, ValenciaReal MadridBarcelona1–0 (aet)
2012Vicente Calderón, MadridBarcelonaAthletic Bilbao 3–0
2013Santiago Bernabéu, MadridAtlético MadridReal Madrid2–1 (aet)
2014Mestalla, ValenciaReal MadridBarcelona2–1
2015Camp Nou, Barcelona

‡ The title in the 1913 edition was conferred on Real Unión.

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

Club name changes

Real Madrid were originally known as Madrid FC and did not add the Real until 1920. During the Second Spanish Republic, the club dropped Real from their name. In 1941, a decree issued by Francisco 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. (These changes were reverted after Franco's death). RCD Espanyol were known as RCD Español until 1995.

Other Copas del Rey

(Includes Copa de la Reina trophies, for women's tournaments.)

References

  1. ↑ "Spain – Cup 1902". www.rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-01.
  2. ↑ "La FEF no reconocerá al Barça la Liga del año 1937". As.com (in Spanish). 25 May 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Palmarés". Diario Marca. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  4. ↑ "El Levante, a un paso de la Copa... de 1937". El Pais.
  5. ↑ "Trophy Villar Cup delay Levante". www.levante-emv.com (News Sports). Retrieved 4 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "El Sevilla se queda en propiedad con la Copa del Rey gracias a España". MARCA.COM. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "La Copa 'suplente' ya está en la sala de trofeos del Bernabéu". MARCA.COM. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Tremlett, Giles (21 April 2011). "Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos drops Spanish cup under a bus". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 26 April 2011.

External links