Founded | 1903 |
---|---|
Region | Spain |
Number of teams | 83 |
Domestic cup(s) | Supercopa de España |
International cup(s) | UEFA Europa League |
Current champions | Barcelona (29th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Barcelona (29 titles) |
Television broadcasters | List of broadcasters |
Website | rfef.es |
2016–17 Copa del Rey |
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.
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.