Spain Football Cup

In 1902, Carlos Padros, who later became president of the Real Football Club, suggested that football competitions be timed to the ceremonial coronation of Alfonso XIII . Four more Spanish teams responded to the initiative of the Club of Madrid - Barcelona , Espanyol , the joint team from Biscay and the capital's New Foot Ball club. The winner of the first tournament was Bizkaia. Thus began the story of the Royal Cup.

In 1910, a split took place between Spanish football clubs. Hostility and tension among the clubs led to the formation of two different football associations - the Spanish Football Federation and the Association of Spanish Football Clubs. In 1910 and 1913, each of the associations organized their own cup competitions.

In 1937 , in connection with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War , the republican provinces held their own tournament for the Free Spain Cup ( Spanish: Copa de España Libre ). In the final of this tournament, two Valencia teams met, the Levante football club won 1-0 over Valencia . The result of this tournament was officially recognized by the Royal Football Federation of Spain only in 2007.

In the 2013/2014 season, Real Madrid set a unique achievement: the team reached the finals without losing a single goal.

Over the entire history of the tournament, 13 cups of various designs were made. Six of them went forever to the Barcelona football club , three to the Athletic team from Bilbao , and Real Madrid won two cups. The cups were transferred to these clubs in eternal possession for a series of three consecutive victories in the framework of the Royal Cup, or for five victories in the total amount of participation in the tournament. The first cup of 1902 was presented to the team from Biscay as its first owners. The Sevilla Football Club in 1939 got the first Generalissimo Cup , and after the death of General Franco , the last - the 11th Generalissimo trophy - was handed over to Atlético Madrid.

• 1902 - Coronation Cup (His Majesty King Alfonso XIII Cup)
• 1902-1932 - King's Cup (Copa del Rey)
• 1932-1936 - Prize of the President of the Republic (Trofeo Presidente de la II República)
• 1937 - Free Spain Cup (officially recognized in 2007)
• 1938 - Cup competitions were not held
• 1939-1976 - Cup of the Generalissimo (Copa del Generalísimo);
• since 1977 - King's Cup (Copa del Rey)

Before the formation of the Spanish Football League in 1928 , cup competitions played the role of a national championship. Teams were selected through local or regional football associations. With the improvement of the League itself, a more convenient qualification scheme was developed - through the group stage.

Unlike, for example, the English Football Association Cup , the number of participating teams in a Spanish tournament is limited. The tournament is attended by all the teams of Examples (top division), all teams of Segunda (second division), the best football clubs of Segunda “B” and the champions of Tercera (fourth division).

In the early stages of the competition, teams hold relegation matches with teams from lower divisions who are given the advantage of their field. The 1/32 and 1/16 finals of the competition, the quarter-finals and semifinals are held in 2 matches, at home and away. The final is held from one game in a neutral field.

Initially (up to the 2004/05 season), as part of the qualifying tournament until the 1/8 finals, one match was played on the field of a weaker opponent. 1/8, 1/4 finals and semi-finals were held in 2 stages, the final meeting was held on a neutral field. But starting from the 2005/06 season, the Royal Football Federation has changed the qualification system, which caused a rather great outrage from the lower divisions. From now on, the Segunda “B” teams had to first conduct a series of matches among the clubs of their division, then a series of docking matches with the teams of the Segunda “A”, and only then the winning teams of the Segunda got the opportunity to play with the clubs Examples, and even then only with those who do not participate in any European tournaments. The same football teams that compete in the UEFA Cup or in the Champions League during the Royal Cup have certain privileges and are included in the tournament only in the 1/8 finals.

In the 2006/07 season, the football federation again modified the draw system. This time, the Segunda “B” clubs first had to play a series of qualifying matches among themselves, then meet with the teams of the Segunda “A” and compete with the Example teams in the 1/16 finals, regardless of whether the latter participated in Euro-tournaments.

The holder of the Royal Cup automatically becomes the representative of Spain in the Europa League for the next season (until 1999 the possessing team participated in the Cup Winners Cup , until 2009 - in the UEFA Cup ).

Also, the winner of the tournament automatically participates in the Super Bowl of Spain , where he meets in the decisive match with the winner of the national championship of the same season.

If one team won both the championship and the cup in one year, then it plays with the finalist of the royal cup.

• In 1938, the cup tournament was not held.

• The results of all the games of all the draws, the dates of the games, and the minutes of the final meetings (Spanish)
• The list of champion teams of past years, the archive of the results of the final matches (Spanish)
• The most interesting matches in the history of the tournament (Spanish)
• Recent cup draw - description, statistics. Official site of the Royal Football Federation of Spain (Spanish)
• News, Comments, Match Description 2007 (Spanish)