Centenary Trophy
The Centenary Trophy (Catalan: Trofeu centenari, Basque: Mendeurrena Trofeoa, Spanish: Trofeo del centenario) was an association football friendly tournament organised in Spain by the Catalan Football Federation in which the Catalonia national team played against Basque Country national team. It was created in 2014 and was played in December of that year, and in December 2015.
 Supporters' view from within San Mamés Stadium of the men's match between Basque Country and Catalonia, December 2014 | |
| Organising body | Catalan Football Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | December 2014 |
| Region | International |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Most successful club(s) | Men's Basque Country (1 title)Women's Basque Country (1 title) |
History
Since the 1990s, both the Basque Country and Catalonia international teams (which hold unofficial status) typically organised a friendly match each year, often during Spanish football's short break around Christmas. In December 2014, Catalonia travelled to Biscay to play against the Basque Country, arranging both men's and women's fixtures to commemorate the first meetings between the men's teams 100 years earlier in January 1915 (although this was not advertised as the first in a 'double-header' at that time).[1] It was the 12th match overall between them, in contrast to the women's teams who had never played each other before.
Both 2014 matches ended in 1–1 draws.[2] Repeats were scheduled for the following year, this time in Barcelona, now billed as the return leg of a Centenary Trophy between the sides. Cups were commissioned for the champions, and it was confirmed that penalties would decide the winner if necessary.[3] The Basque teams emerged as narrow victors in both genders: 1–0 in the men's match[4] and 4–3 on penalties in the women's match following another 1–1 draw.[5]
Results
Men's
| 28 December 2014 First leg | Basque Country | 1–1 |  Catalonia | Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain |
| 20:30 | Aduriz  3' |
Report | S. García 44' |
Stadium: San Mamés Stadium Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Iñaki Vicandi Garrido (Spain) |
| 26 December 2015 Second leg | Catalonia | 0–1 | Basque Country | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| 20:30 | Report | Aduriz 40' |
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 51,224 Referee: Xavier Estrada Fernández (Spain) |
Women's
| 27 December 2014 First leg | Basque Country | 1–1 | Catalonia | Barakaldo, Basque Country, Spain |
| 18:30 | Díaz Cirauqui 18' |
Report | Olga García 6' |
Stadium: Campo de Lasesarre Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Carlos Arriola (Spain) |
See also
References
- "Euskadi-Catalunya, al nou San Mamés" [Basque Country-Catalonia, at the new San Mamés] (in Catalan). Catalan Football Federation. 20 October 2014.
- "Empat a San Mamés" [Even at San Mamés] (in Catalan). Catalan Football Federation. 28 December 2014.
- "La Copa del Catalunya-Euskadi" [The Catalonia-Basque trophy] (in Catalan). Catalan Football Federation. 24 December 2015.
- "Euskadi s'enduu el Centenari" [Basque takes the Centenary] (in Catalan). Catalan Football Federation. 26 December 2015.
- "Euskadi guanya a la festa del futbol feminí" [Basque wins the women's football festival] (in Catalan). Catalan Football Federation. 26 December 2015.
External links
- Catalan Football Federation's official website (in Catalan)
- Basque Football Federation's official website (in Basque)