Mitropa Cup

The Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale or Central European Cup, was one of the first international major European football cups for club sides. It was conducted among the successor states of the former Austria-Hungary. After World War II in 1951 a replacement tournament named Zentropa Cup was held, but just for one season, the Mitropa Cup name was revived, and again in 1958 the name of the tournament changed to Danube Cup but only for one season. The tournament was discontinued after 1992.

Mitropa Cup
The trophy awarded to champions
Organising body
Founded1927
Abolished1992 (1992)
RegionCentral Europe
Number of teams4 (1992)
Related competitionsLatin Cup
Balkans Cup
Last champions Borac Banja Luka (1992)
Most successful club(s) Vasas
(6 titles)

The most successful club is Vasas with six titles.

History

Nations which participated in the Mitropa Cup (1927–1940)

A first "International" competition for football clubs was founded in 1897 in Vienna. The Challenge Cup was invented by John Gramlick Sr., a co-founder of the Vienna Cricket and Football-Club. In this cup competition all clubs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that normally would not meet could take part, though actually almost only clubs from the Empire's three major cities Vienna, Budapest and Prague participated. The Challenge Cup was carried out until the year 1911 and is today seen as the predecessor to the Mitropa Cup and consequently the European Cup and Champions League. The last winner of the cup was Wiener Sport-Club, one of the oldest and most traditional football clubs of Austria where the cup still remains.

The idea of a European cup competition was shaped after World War I which brought the defeat and collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The centre of this idea were the Central European countries that, at this time, were still leading in continental football. In the early 1920s they introduced professional leagues, the first continental countries to do so. Austria started in 1924, followed by Hungary in 1925 and Czechoslovakia in 1926. In order to strengthen the dominance of these countries in European football and to financially support the professional clubs, the introduction of the Mitropa Cup was decided at a meeting in Venice on 17 July, following the initiative of the head of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB), Hugo Meisl.[1][2][3] Moreover, the creation of a European Cup for national teams - that unlike the Challenge Cup and the Mitropa Cup would not be annual - was also part of the agreement. The first matches were played on 14 August 1927. The competition was between the top professional teams of Central Europe.

The president and the captain of Bologna, Renato Dall'Ara (left) and Mirko Pavinato (right), with the trophy of the 1961 season.

Initially two teams each from Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia entered, competing in a knock-out competition. The countries involved could either send their respective league winners and runners-up, or league winners and cup winners to take part. The first winners were the Czech side, AC Sparta Prague. In 1929 Italian teams replaced the Yugoslavian ones. The competition was expanded to four teams from each of the competing countries in 1934. Other countries were invited to participate - Switzerland in 1936, and Romania, Switzerland and Yugoslavia in 1937. Austria was withdrawn from the competition following the Anschluss in 1938. In 1939, prior to the start of WW II, the cup involved only eight teams (two each from Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Italy and one each from Romania and Yugoslavia). The level of the competing nations is clearly shown by Italy's two World Cup titles (1934 & 1938), Czechoslovakia's (1934) and Hungary's (1938) World Cup final, and Austria's (1934) and Yugoslavia's (1930) semi-finals. Out of the eleven different teams competing in the first three World Cups, five were part of the Mitropa Cup.

A tournament was started in 1940, but abandoned before the final match due to World War II. Again, only eight teams competed, three each from Hungary and Yugoslavia and two from Romania. Hungarian Ferencváros and Romanian Rapid (which had won on lots after three draws) qualified for the final, but did not meet because the northern part of Transylvania (lost shortly after World War I) was ceded to Hungary from Romania.

Champions

Finals

Season Country Champions Result Runners-up Country
1927  CzechoslovakiaSparta Prague6–2Rapid Wien Austria
1–2
1928 HungaryFerencváros7–1Rapid Wien Austria
3–5
1929 HungaryÚjpest5–1Slavia Prague Czechoslovakia
2–2
1930 AustriaRapid Wien2–0Sparta Prague Czechoslovakia
2–3
1931 AustriaFirst Vienna3–2Wiener AC Austria
2–1
1932 ItalyBolognaN/A
None [note 1]
1933 AustriaAustria Wien1–2Ambrosiana-Inter Italy
3–1
1934 ItalyBologna2–3Admira Wien Austria
5–1
1935 CzechoslovakiaSparta Prague1–2Ferencváros Hungary
3–0
1936 AustriaAustria Wien0–0Sparta Prague Czechoslovakia
1–0
1937 HungaryFerencváros4–2Lazio Italy
5–4
1938 CzechoslovakiaSlavia Prague2–2Ferencváros Hungary
2–0
1939 HungaryÚjpest4–1Ferencváros Hungary
2–2
1940
None [note 2]
N/ARapid București
Ferencváros
 Romania
 Hungary
1941–50
Not held
1951 AustriaRapid Wien3–2Admira Wien Austria
1952–54
Not held
1955 HungaryVörös Lobogó6–0ÚDA Prague Czechoslovakia
2–1
1956 HungaryVasas3–3Rapid Wien Austria
1–1
9–2
1957 HungaryVasas4–0Vojvodina Yugoslavia
1–2
1958 YugoslaviaRed Star Belgrade4–1Rudá Hvězda Brno Czechoslovakia
3–2
1959 HungaryHonvéd4–3MTK Hungary
2–2
1960
 Hungary [note 3]
1961 ItalyBologna2–2Slovan Nitra Czechoslovakia
3–0
1962 HungaryVasas5–1Bologna Italy
1–2
1963 HungaryMTK Budapest2–1Vasas Hungary
1–1
1964 CzechoslovakiaSparta Prague0–0Slovan Bratislava Czechoslovakia
2–0
1965 HungaryVasas1–0Fiorentina Italy
1966 ItalyFiorentina1–0Jednota Trenčín Czechoslovakia
1966–67 CzechoslovakiaSpartak Trnava2–3Újpesti Dózsa Hungary
3–1
1967–68 YugoslaviaRed Star Belgrade0–1Spartak Trnava Czechoslovakia
4–1
1968–69 CzechoslovakiaInter Bratislava4–1Sklo Union Teplice Czechoslovakia
0–0
1969–70 HungaryVasas1–2Inter Bratislava Czechoslovakia
4–1
1970–71 YugoslaviaČelik Zenica3–1Austria Salzburg Austria
1971–72 YugoslaviaČelik Zenica0–0Fiorentina Italy
1–0
1972–73 HungaryTatabányai Bányász2–1Čelik Zenica Yugoslavia
2–1
1973–74 HungaryTatabányai Bányász3–2ZVL Zilina Czechoslovakia
2–0
1974–75 AustriaWacker Innsbruck3–1Honvéd Hungary
2–1
1975–76 AustriaWacker Innsbruck3–1Velež Mostar Yugoslavia
3–1
1976–77 YugoslaviaVojvodinaRRVasas Hungary
1977–78 YugoslaviaPartizan1–0Honvéd Hungary
1978–79
Not played
1979–80 ItalyUdineseRRČelik Zenica Yugoslavia
1980–81 CzechoslovakiaTatran PrešovRRCsepel SC Hungary
1981–82 ItalyMilanRRTJ Vítkovice Czechoslovakia
1982–83 HungaryVasasRRZVL Zilina Czechoslovakia
1983–84 AustriaSC EisenstadtRRPrishtina Yugoslavia
1984–85 YugoslaviaIskra BugojnoRRAtalanta Italy
1985–86 ItalyPisa2–0Debrecen Hungary
1986–87 ItalyAscoli1–0Bohemians Prague Czechoslovakia
1987–88 ItalyPisa3–0Váci Izzó Hungary
1988–89 CzechoslovakiaBaník Ostrava2–1Bologna Italy
2–1
1990 ItalyBari1–0Genoa Italy
1991 ItalyTorino2–1
(a.e.t)
Pisa Italy
1992 YugoslaviaBorac Banja Luka1–1 (a.e.t)
5–3 (p)
BVSC Hungary
Notes
  1. The final was scratched and Bologna were awarded the cup after Slavia Prague and Juventus were both ejected from the competition.
  2. The final between Rapid București and Ferencváros was scheduled to take place in July 1940. However, due to the events of World War II, it was cancelled.
  3. It was contested as a competition between countries and there was no elimination. The five competing countries each sent six teams each to the competition and their aggregate results counted toward their country's tally.

Performances

Note: The 1960 edition is not included in the list because it was won by a nation rather than club.

By club

Club Winners Runner-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Vasas
6
2
1956, 1957, 1962, 1965, 1970, 19831963, 1977
Bologna
3
2
1932, 1934, 19611962, 1989
Sparta Prague
3
2
1927, 1935, 19641930, 1936
Ferencváros
2
4
1928, 19371935, 1938, 1939, 1940
Rapid Wien
2
3
1930, 19511927, 1928, 1956
Čelik Zenica
2
2
1971, 19721973, 1980
MTK Budapest
2
1
1955, 19631959
Újpest
2
1
1929, 19391967
Pisa
2
1
1986, 19881991
Red Star Belgrade
2
1958, 1968
Austria Wien
2
1933, 1936
Wacker Innsbruck
2
1975, 1976
Tatabányai Bányász
2
1973, 1974
Budapest Honvéd
1
2
19591975, 1978
Fiorentina
1
2
19661965, 1972
Spartak Trnava
1
2
19671958, 1968
Inter Bratislava
1
1
19691970
Slavia Prague
1
1
19381929
Vojvodina
1
1
19771957
Borac Banja Luka
1
1992
Iskra Bugojno
1
1985
Partizan
1
1978
Milan
1
1982
Torino
1
1991
Udinese
1
1980
Ascoli
1
1987
Bari
1
1990
SC Eisenstadt
1
1984
First Vienna
1
1931
Baník Ostrava
1
1989
Tatran Prešov
1
1981
ZVL Zilina
2
1974, 1983
SK Admira Wien
2
1934, 1951
Wiener AC
1
1931
Austria Salzburg
1
1971
Ambrosiana Inter
1
1933
Lazio
1
1937
Atalanta
1
1985
Genoa
1
1990
ÚDA Prague
1
1955
Slovan Nitra
1
1961
Slovan Bratislava
1
1964
Jednota Trenčín
1
1966
Sklo Union Teplice
1
1969
TJ Vítkovice
1
1982
Bohemians Prague
1
1987
Velež Mostar
1
1976
Prishtina
1
1984
Csepel SC
1
1981
Debreceni MVSC
1
1986
Váci Izzó
1
1988
BVSC
1
1992
Rapid București
1
1940

Titles by country

Country Titles
 Hungary16
 Italy11
 Czechoslovakia8
 Austria7
 Yugoslavia

Top scorers (1927–1940)

By year

[4]

Year Player Goals Played Average
1927 Josef Silný560.83
1928 Jozsef Takács II1061.66
1929 István Avar1071.42
1930 Giuseppe Meazza761.16
1931 Heinrich Hiltl771.00
1932 Renato Cesarini541.25
1933 Raimundo Orsi541.25
František Kloz41.25
Giuseppe Meazza60.83
Matthias Sindelar60.83
1934 Carlo Reguzzoni1081.28
1935 György Sárosi981.12
1936 Giuseppe Meazza (3)1061.66
1937 György Sárosi1291.33
1938 Josef Bican1081.25
1939 Gyula Zsengellér961.50
1940 György Sárosi (3)623.00

All-time top scorers (1927–1940)

[5]

Rank Player Goals Played Average
1 György Sárosi50421.19
2 Giuseppe Meazza29271.07
3 Gyula Zsengellér24191.26
4 Matthias Sindelar24310.77
5 István Avar19240.79

Top scorers (1951–1992)

By season

Season Player Club Goals
1951 Erich Probst Rapid Wien 5
1955 János Molnár Vörös Lobogó 9
Nándor Hidegkuti Vörös Lobogó 9
1956 Lajos Csordás Vasas 8
1957 Johann Riegler Rapid Wien 5
Dezső Bundzsák Vasas 5
1959 Lajos Tichy Budapest Honvéd 9
1960 Sulejman Rebac Velez Mostar 4
1961 Milan Dolinský Red Star Bratislava 7
Viliam Hrnčár Slovan Nitra 7
1962 Harald Nielsen Bologna 11
1963 Ferenc Machos Vasas 7
1964 Václav Mašek Sparta Prague 7
1965 Lajos Puskás Vasas 3
1966 Friedrich Rafreider Wiener Sport-Club 5
1966–67 Antal Dunai Újpest 9
1967–68 Vojin Lazarević Red Star Belgrade 5
1968–69 Pavel Stratil Sklo Union Teplice 7
1969–70 János Farkas Vasas 6
1970–71 Aloise Renich Čelik Zenica 5
1971–72 Luciano Chiarugi Fiorentina 5
1972–73 Aloise Renich (2) Čelik Zenica 4
1973–74 Mihai Kyomyuves FC Tatabánya 6
1974–75 Jaroslav Melichar Sklo Union Teplice 3
1975–76 Kurt Welzl FC Wacker Innsbruck 6
1976–77 István Kovács Vasas 4
1977–78 Momčilo Vukotić Partizan 3
1979–80 Nerio Ulivieri Udinese 4
1980–81 Laszlo Lasagne Csepel SC 3
1981–82 Jiří Šourek Vítkovice 3

Mitropa Super Cup Final

Additionally, a "Mitropa Super Cup" was contested in 1989 between the winners of 1988 and 1989.[1]

Year Champion Result Runner-up
1989 Baník Ostrava3–0 Pisa
1–3
(a.e.t.)

Notes

    See also

    References

    1. Karel Stokkermans (2 September 2015). "Mitropa Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
    2. Mitropa Cup History - Ref: IFFHS.de (in German)
    3. Mitropa Cup History - Ref: Radio.cz
    4. "ARFTS - Mitropa Cup 1927-1940 Statistics". Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
    5. "ARFTS - Mitropa Cup 1927-1940 Statistics". Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
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