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 Football Cup), and is also known as La Copa.
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; unless they qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona are currently the cup holders, who won their 29th Copa del Rey against Deportivo Alavés at the 2017 Copa del Rey Final held at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.
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 doesn't recognize it.
Copa del Rey was Spain's football National Championship from 1903 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).
Because of the dispute regarding the 1902 competition, the statistics regarding the leading winners are also disputed. Barcelona have won the Copa 29 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 victory.
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.
List of finals
Season |
Location |
Winner |
Runner-up |
Score |
1903 |
Hipódromo, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Real Madrid |
3–2 |
1904 |
Tiro del Pichón, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
--- |
No Final |
1905 |
Tiro del Pichón, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
1–0 |
1906 |
Hipódromo, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
4–1 |
1907 |
Hipódromo, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Bizcaya |
1–0 |
1908 |
O'Donnell, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Real Vigo Sporting |
2–1 |
1909 |
O'Donnell, Madrid |
Real Sociedad |
Español de Madrid |
3–1 |
1910 FEF |
Tiro del Pichón, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Español de Madrid |
3–2 |
1910 UECF |
Ondarreta, San Sebastián |
Athletic Bilbao |
Real Sociedad |
1–0 |
1911 |
Josaleta, Getxo |
Athletic Bilbao |
RCD Espanyol |
3–1 |
1912 |
La Industria, Barcelona |
Barcelona |
Gimnástica |
2–0 |
1913 FEF |
O'Donnell, Madrid |
Racing de Irún‡ |
Athletic Bilbao |
1–0 |
1913 UECF |
La Industria, Barcelona |
Barcelona |
Real Sociedad |
2–1 |
1914 |
Costorbe, Irún |
Athletic Bilbao |
Espanya |
2–1 |
1915 |
Amute, Irún |
Athletic Bilbao |
RCD Español |
5–0 |
1916 |
La Industria, Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
Madrid FC |
4–0 |
1917 |
La Industria, Barcelona |
Madrid FC |
Arenas |
2–1 |
1918 |
O'Donnell, Madrid |
Real Unión |
Madrid FC |
2–0 |
1919 |
Martínez Campos, Madrid |
Arenas |
Barcelona |
5–2 |
1920 |
El Molinón, Gijón |
Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
2–0 |
1921 |
San Mamés, Bilbao |
Athletic Bilbao |
Atlético Madrid |
4–1 |
1922 |
Coia, Vigo |
Barcelona |
Real Unión |
5–1 |
1923 |
Les Corts, Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
Europa |
1–0 |
1924 |
Atotxa, San Sebastián |
Real Unión |
Real Madrid |
1–0 |
1925 |
Reina Victoria, Sevilla |
Barcelona |
Arenas |
2–0 |
1926 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Barcelona |
Atlético Madrid |
3–2 |
1927 |
Torrero, Zaragoza |
Real Unión |
Arenas |
1–0 |
1928 |
El Sardinero, Santander |
Barcelona |
Real Sociedad |
3–1 |
1928–29 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
RCD Espanyol |
Real Madrid |
2–1 |
1930 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
Real Madrid |
3–2 |
1931 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Betis |
3–1 |
1932 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Barcelona |
1–0 |
1933 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
Real Madrid |
2–1 |
1934 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Madrid |
Valencia |
2–1 |
1935 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Sevilla |
Sabadell |
3–0 |
1936 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Madrid |
Barcelona |
2–1 |
1936–1939 |
Not played due to Spanish Civil War.
|
1939 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Sevilla |
Racing de Ferrol |
6–2 |
1940 |
Campo de Vallecas, Madrid |
RCD Español |
Real Madrid |
3–2 |
1941 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Valencia |
RCD Espanyol |
3–1 |
1942 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Atlético Bilbao |
4–3 |
1943 |
Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Real Madrid |
1–0 |
1944 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Atlético Bilbao |
Valencia |
2–0 |
1944–45 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Atlético Bilbao |
Valencia |
3–2 |
1946 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Real Madrid |
Valencia |
3–1 |
1947 |
Riazor, A Coruña |
Real Madrid |
RCD Espanyol |
2–0 |
1947–48 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Sevilla |
Celta de Vigo |
4–1 |
1948–49 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Valencia |
Athletic Bilbao |
1–0 |
1949–50 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Valladolid |
4–1 |
1951 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Real Sociedad |
3–0 |
1952 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Valencia |
4–2 |
1952–53 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Atlético Bilbao |
2–1 |
1954 |
Chamartín, Madrid |
Valencia |
Barcelona |
3–0 |
1955 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Bilbao |
Sevilla |
1–0 |
1956 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Bilbao |
Atlético Madrid |
2–1 |
1957 |
Montjuïc, Barcelona |
Barcelona |
RCD Espanyol |
1–0 |
1958 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Bilbao |
Real Madrid |
2–0 |
1958–59 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Granada |
4–1 |
1959–60 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Real Madrid |
3–1 |
1960–61 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Real Madrid |
3–2 |
1961–62 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Sevilla |
2–1 |
1962–63 |
Camp Nou, Barcelona |
Barcelona |
Zaragoza |
3–1 |
1963–64 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Zaragoza |
Atlético Madrid |
2–1 |
1964–65 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Zaragoza |
1–0 |
1965–66 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Zaragoza |
Atlético Bilbao |
2–0 |
1966–67 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Valencia |
Atlético Bilbao |
2–1 |
1967–68 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Real Madrid |
1–0 |
1969 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Bilbao |
Elche |
1–0 |
1969–70 |
Camp Nou, Barcelona |
Real Madrid |
Valencia |
3–1 |
1970–71 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Valencia |
4–3 |
1971–72 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Valencia |
2–1 |
1972–73 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Atlético Bilbao |
Castellón |
2–0 |
1973–74 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Barcelona |
4–0 |
1974–75 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
0–0 (4–3 pen.) |
1975–76 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Zaragoza |
1–0 |
1976–77 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Betis |
Athletic Bilbao |
2–2 (8–7 pen.) |
1977–78 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Las Palmas |
3–1 |
1978–79 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Valencia |
Real Madrid |
2–0 |
1979–80 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Castilla‡‡ |
6–1 |
1980–81 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Sporting de Gijón |
3–1 |
1981–82 |
José Zorrilla, Valladolid |
Real Madrid |
Sporting de Gijón |
2–1 |
1982–83 |
La Romareda, Zaragoza |
Barcelona |
Real Madrid |
2–1 |
1983–84 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
Barcelona |
1–0 |
1984–85 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao |
2–1 |
1985–86 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Zaragoza |
Barcelona |
1–0 |
1986–87 |
La Romareda, Zaragoza |
Real Sociedad |
Atlético Madrid |
2–2 (4–2 pen.) |
1987–88 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Real Sociedad |
1–0 |
1988–89 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Real Madrid |
Valladolid |
1–0 |
1989–90 |
Luis Casanova, Valencia |
Barcelona |
Real Madrid |
2–0 |
1990–91 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Mallorca |
1–0 |
1991–92 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Real Madrid |
2–0 |
1992–93 |
Luis Casanova, Valencia |
Real Madrid |
Zaragoza |
2–0 |
1993–94 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Zaragoza |
Celta de Vigo |
0–0 (5–4 pen.) |
1994–95 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Deportivo La Coruña |
Valencia |
2–1 |
1995–96 |
La Romareda, Zaragoza |
Atlético Madrid |
Barcelona |
1–0 (a.e.t.) |
1996–97 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Betis |
3–2 (a.e.t.) |
1997–98 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Barcelona |
Mallorca |
1–1 (5–4 pen.) |
1998–99 |
La Cartuja, Seville |
Valencia |
Atlético Madrid |
3–0 |
1999–2000 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
RCD Espanyol |
Atlético Madrid |
2–1 |
2000–01 |
La Cartuja, Seville |
Zaragoza |
Celta de Vigo |
3–1 |
2001–02 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Deportivo La Coruña |
Real Madrid |
2–1 |
2002–03 |
Martínez Valero, Elche |
Mallorca |
Recreativo |
3–0 |
2003–04 |
Lluís Companys, Barcelona |
Zaragoza |
Real Madrid |
3–2 (a.e.t.) |
2004–05 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Betis |
Osasuna |
2–1 (a.e.t.) |
2005–06 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Espanyol |
Zaragoza |
4–1 |
2006–07 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Sevilla |
Getafe |
1–0 |
2007–08 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Valencia |
Getafe |
3–1 |
2008–09 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
4-1 |
2009–10 |
Camp Nou, Barcelona |
Sevilla |
Atlético Madrid |
2–0 |
2010–11 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Real Madrid |
Barcelona |
1–0 (a.e.t.) |
2011–12 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
3–0 |
2012–13 |
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Atlético Madrid |
Real Madrid |
2–1 (a.e.t.) |
2013–14 |
Mestalla, Valencia |
Real Madrid |
Barcelona |
2–1 |
2014–15 |
Camp Nou, Barcelona |
Barcelona |
Athletic Bilbao |
3–1 |
2015–16 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Sevilla |
2–0 (a.e.t.) |
2016–17 |
Vicente Calderón, Madrid |
Barcelona |
Alaves |
3–1 |
See also
In Spanish: Copa del Rey para niños