Saarland Cup
 |
|
| Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Region | Saarland, Germany |
| Qualifier for | DFB-Pokal |
| Current champions | FC Homburg (2015–16) |
| Most successful club(s) | 1. FC Saarbrücken (9 titles) |
The Saarland Cup (German: Saarlandpokal) is one of the 21 regional cup competitions of German football. The winner of the competition gains entry to the first round of the German Cup. It is limited to clubs from Saarland, however, teams from the Fußball-Bundesliga and 2nd Fußball-Bundesliga are not permitted to compete.
A number of clubs from regions of Rhineland-Palatinate who border the Saarland also compete in the Cup, best known of these being the SV Hasborn who has won the cup twice.
The Cup was established in 1974. The Saarland Cup is played annually. Previous to the Saarpokal, a South West German Cup, not to be confused with the South West Cup, was played from 1964 to 1974. It was also a qualifying competition for the German Cup but included clubs from both the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The winner of the Saarland Cup qualified for the first round of the German Cup.
Since the establishment of the 3rd Liga in 2008, reserve teams can not take part in the German Cup anymore, but are permitted to play in the regional competitions.
Clubs from fully professional leagues are not permitted to enter the competition, meaning, no teams from the Fußball-Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga can compete.
All clubs from the Saarland playing in the 3. Liga (III), Regionalliga West (IV), Oberliga Südwest (V), Verbandsliga Saarland (VI) and the two Landesligas (VII) gain direct entry to the first round. All clubs below that level play two preliminary rounds in four regional groups. The lower classed team always receives home advantage, except in the final, which is played on neutral ground.
...
Wikipedia