UEFA Super Cup

"European Super Cup" redirects here. For other uses, see European Super Cup (disambiguation).
UEFA Super Cup
Founded 1972
(recognised by UEFA since 1973)
Region Europe (UEFA)
Number of teams 2
Current champions Spain Real Madrid (2nd title)
Most successful club(s) Italy Milan (5 titles)
Website Official website
2015 UEFA Super Cup

The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football match organized by UEFA and contested by the reigning champions of the two main European club competitions, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. It takes place at the start of the domestic season, in mid-August, normally on a Tuesday.

From 1972 to 1999, the UEFA Super Cup was contested between the winners of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League and the winners of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. After the discontinuation of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, it has been contested by the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the winners of the UEFA Cup, which was renamed the UEFA Europa League in 2009.

The current holders are Spanish club Real Madrid, who won 2–0 against Sevilla in 2014. The most successful team in the competition is Italian side Milan, who have won the trophy five times.

History

The European Super Cup was created in 1971 by Anton Witkamp, a reporter and later sports editor of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. The idea came to him in a time when Dutch total football was Europe's finest and Dutch football clubs were living their golden era (especially Ajax). Witkamp was looking for something new to definitely decide which was the best team in Europe and also to further test Ajax's legendary team, led by their star player Johan Cruyff. It was then proposed that the winner of the European Cup would face the winner of the Cup Winners' Cup.

Older logo
Former logo used until 2012.

All was set for a new competition to be born. However, when Witkamp tried to get an official endorsement to his competition, the UEFA president turned it down.

The 1972 final between Dutch team Ajax and Scotland's Rangers is considered unofficial by UEFA,[1] as Rangers were banned from European competition due to the behaviour of their fans during the 1972 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final. As a result, UEFA refused to endorse the competition until the following season.[2] It was played in two legs and was financially supported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Ajax defeated Rangers 6–3 on aggregate and won the first (albeit unofficial) European Super Cup.

The 1973 final, in which Ajax defeated Milan 6–1 on aggregate, was the first Super Cup officially recognised and supported by UEFA.

Although the two-legged format was kept until 1997, the Super Cup was decided in one single match because of schedule issues or political problems in 1984, 1986, and 1991. In 1974, 1981 and 1985, the Super Cup was not played at all.

In the 1992–1993 season, the European Cup was renamed the UEFA Champions League and the winners of this competition would face the winners of the European Cup Winners' Cup in the UEFA Super Cup.

In the 1994–1995 season, the European Cup Winners' Cup was renamed the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

After the 1998–1999 season, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was discontinued by UEFA. The 1999 UEFA Super Cup was the last Super Cup contested by the winners of the Cup Winners' Cup. Lazio, winners of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, defeated Manchester United, winners of the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, 1–0.

Since then, the UEFA Super Cup was contested between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the winners of the UEFA Cup. The 2000 UEFA Super Cup was the first Super Cup contested by the winners of the UEFA Cup. Galatasaray, winners of the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup, defeated Real Madrid, winners of the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League, 2–1.

In the 2009–10 season, the UEFA Cup was renamed the UEFA Europa League and the winners of this competition would face the winners of the UEFA Champions League in the UEFA Super Cup.

To date, Chelsea is the only club to contest the Super Cup as holders of all three UEFA club honours, having entered as holders of the Cup Winners' Cup (1998), the Champions League (2012) and Europa League (2013).

After 15 consecutive Super Cups being played at Stade Louis II in Monaco between 1998 and 2012, from 2013 onwards, the Super Cup is now played at various stadiums (similar to the finals of the Champions League and the Europa League), starting with the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, which was played at Eden Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic.[3]

Starting in 2014, the date of the UEFA Super Cup was moved from Friday in late August, to Tuesday in mid-August, following the removal of the August international friendly date in the new FIFA International Match Calendar.[4]

Venue

The competition was originally played over two legs, one at each participating club's stadium, except in exceptional circumstances; for instance in 1991 when Red Star Belgrade were not permitted to play the leg in their native Yugoslavia due to the war which was taking place at the time, so instead Manchester United's home leg was only played. Since 1998, the Super Cup was played as a single match at a neutral venue.[5] Between 1998 and 2012, the Super Cup was played at the Stade Louis II in Monaco. From 2013 onwards, various stadiums will be used.

List of venues since 1998

Trophy

The UEFA Super Cup trophy is retained by UEFA at all times. A full-size replica trophy is awarded to the winning club. Thirty gold medals are presented to the winning club and thirty silver medals to the runners-up.[9]

The UEFA Super Cup trophy has undergone several changes in its history. The first trophy that was presented to Ajax in 1973 and 1974 was extremely large; in fact, it was bigger than the European Cup. This was replaced by a plaque with a gold UEFA Emblem. The next trophy was the smallest and lightest of all the European club trophies, weighing 5 kg and measuring 42.5 cm in height (the UEFA Champions League trophy weighs 8 kg and the UEFA Europa League trophy 15 kg). The new model weighs 12.2 kg and measures 58 cm in height.[10]

A team which wins 3 times in a row or 5 in total, receives an original copy of the trophy and a special mark of recognition. Only Milan has achieved this honour so far, winning the trophy a total of 5 times, always taking part as Champions League Winner.[11]

Rules

Currently, the rules of the UEFA Super Cup are the same as any other UEFA club competition. It is a single match final, contested in a neutral venue. The match consists of two periods of 45 minutes each, known as halves. If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, two additional 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If there is no winner at the end of the second period of extra time, a penalty shoot-out determines the winner. Each team names 18 players, 11 of which start the match. Of the 7 remaining players, a total of 3 may be substituted throughout the match. Each team may wear its first choice kit; if these clash, however, the previous year's Europa League winning team must wear an alternative colour. If a club refuses to play or is ineligible to play then they are replaced by the second finalist from the competition through which they qualified. If the field is unfit for play due to bad weather, the match must be played the next day.[9]

Sponsorship

UEFA Super Cup's sponsors are the same as the sponsors for the UEFA Champions League. The tournament's current main sponsors are:

Adidas is a secondary sponsor and supplies the official match ball and referee uniform, as they do for all other UEFA competitions. Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is also a secondary sponsor as the official Super Cup video game.

Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising, even if such sponsors conflict with those of the Europa League; however, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey (plus that of the manufacturer). Exceptions are made for non-profit organisations, which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor, or on the back, either below the squad number or between the player name and the collar.

Media Coverage

This is list of broadcasters rights from UEFA Super Cup:

Américas

Pay TV (Cable, Satellite and IPTV)

Free TV

Prize money

As of 2012, UEFA awards €2.2 million to the runners-up and €3 million to the winners of the Super Cup.[12]

Tickets

60% of the AS Monaco stadium capacity is reserved for the visiting clubs. Seats are also reserved for VIP guests. The remaining seats are sold by UEFA through an online auction. There are an unlimited number of applications for tickets given out. The 5 euro administration fee is deducted from each applicant and there is no limit to the number of applications each individual can make.[13]

Records and statistics

Winners

Club Winners Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Italy Milan521989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 20071973, 1993
Spain Barcelona441992, 1997, 2009, 20111979, 1982, 1989, 2006
England Liverpool321977, 2001, 20051978, 1984
Spain Real Madrid222002, 20141998, 2000
Netherlands Ajax2[A]11973, 19951987
Belgium Anderlecht201976, 1978–
Italy Juventus201984, 1996–
Spain Valencia201980, 2004–
Spain Atlético Madrid202010, 2012–
Germany Bayern Munich1320131975, 1976, 2001
Portugal Porto1319872003, 2004, 2011
England Manchester United1219911999, 2008
England Chelsea1219982012, 2013
Spain Sevilla1220062007, 2014
Soviet Union Dynamo Kyiv1119751986
England Nottingham Forest1119791980
England Aston Villa101982–
Scotland Aberdeen101983–
Romania Steaua București101986–
Belgium Mechelen101988–
Italy Parma101993–
Italy Lazio101999–
Turkey Galatasaray102000–
Russia Zenit St. Petersburg102008–
Germany Hamburg02–1977,1983
Netherlands PSV Eindhoven01–1988
Italy Sampdoria01–1990
Serbia Crvena Zvezda01–1991
Germany Werder Bremen01–1992
England Arsenal01–1994
Spain Real Zaragoza01–1995
France Paris Saint-Germain01–1996
Germany Borussia Dortmund01–1997
Netherlands Feyenoord01–2002
Russia CSKA Moscow01–2005
Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk01–2009
Italy Internazionale01–2010

Notes

    See also

    References

    General
    Specific
    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "UEFA Super Cup - History". UEFA. 2005-07-13. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
    2. ↑ "Dynamo bring happy memories". BBC Sport. 2001-10-16. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
    3. ↑ Prague celebrates 2013 Super Cup honour
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "UEFA EURO 2020, UEFA Super Cup decisions". UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 30 June 2012.
    5. ↑ "UEFA Super Cup: Competition format". UEFA. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
    6. ↑ "Wembley, Amsterdam ArenA, Prague get 2013 finals". UEFA.org. 16 June 2011.
    7. ↑ "Georgia’s Dinamo Arena embraces UEFA Super Cup 2015". Agenda.ge. 5 March 2014.
    8. ↑ "Milan to host 2016 UEFA Champions League final". UEFA.org. 18 September 2014.
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Regulations of the UEFA Super Cup" (PDF). UEFA. March 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
    10. ↑ "The trophy". UEFA. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
    11. ↑ "Regulations of the UEFA Super Cup 2009, Page 3, III Trophies and Medals, Article 4, Trophy" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
    12. ↑ "UEFA Champions League revenue distribution". uefa.com. UEFA. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
    13. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Competitions/SuperCup_/83/96/59/839659_DOWNLOAD.pdf

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to UEFA Super Cup.