Intertoto Cup 1966-67
Encyclopedia
The 1966–67 Intertoto Cup
was won by Eintracht Frankfurt
in the final against Inter Bratislava
, the last ever final of the tournament in the traditional '1 cup, 1 winner' sense. This was also last season that knock-out rounds were contested, until UEFA took over the competition in 1995 - and the last ever occasion that an out-right winner was declared. Although the competition had returned to the old 32 clubs / eight groups format the year before, this was altered with the tournament expanding to 40 clubs / ten groups.
This was Bratislava's third final in five seasons (the previous two, which they won, under their old name Slovnaft).
The Chaux-de-Fonds v Feyenoord match was abandoned due to fog (the score at the time was 1–2). Since neither side could qualify, the match was not replayed nor the score allowed to stand.
The Vicenza v Feyenoord match has also been reported as 2–0, but was officially recorded as 2–1.
The Hansa Rostock v Olimpija match has also been reported as 3–1, but was officially recorded as 3–0.
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The second reason was the insistence of UEFA
that any clubs taking part in the European Cup
or UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
could not continue games in other European competitions after the end of the summer break. This meant that clubs who had progressed from the Intertoto Group Stage, but were also competing in one of the UEFA competitions, had to be given byes through the Intertoto knock-out rounds (until they were eliminated from the UEFA competition), or withdrawn entirely. This made the knock-out rounds complicated, difficult to schedule, and weakened their significance.
The third reason was the lack of value attributed to the knock-out rounds. While reaching the final was seen as an achievement worthy of praise, the main purpose of the tournament, for most clubs who entered, was to provide football during the otherwise empty summer break. The financial benefits of participating in the pools competitions was also important. Having to arrange and play home-and-away knock-out matches during the new season was seen as difficult, expensive, and relatively pointless if the club in question was eliminated before reaching the Final or Semi-finals.
As a result, the knock-out rounds were abandoned, and for the next three decades there were no winners of the cup. The Group Stage continued much as before, with prize money still awarded according to a club's final group placing.
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
was won by Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
in the final against Inter Bratislava
FK Inter Bratislava
FK Inter Bratislava is a Slovak football club, playing in the city of Bratislava.FK Inter Bratislava merged with FK Senica on June 18, 2009. Players of Inter Bratislava had to move to other clubs. In season 2010/2011 has been renewed and will start in 5.league...
, the last ever final of the tournament in the traditional '1 cup, 1 winner' sense. This was also last season that knock-out rounds were contested, until UEFA took over the competition in 1995 - and the last ever occasion that an out-right winner was declared. Although the competition had returned to the old 32 clubs / eight groups format the year before, this was altered with the tournament expanding to 40 clubs / ten groups.
This was Bratislava's third final in five seasons (the previous two, which they won, under their old name Slovnaft).
Group stage
The teams were divided into ten groups of four clubs each - four in 'A' section, and six in 'B' section. Clubs from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland were placed in 'A'; while clubs from Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, Sweden and Yugoslavia were placed in 'B' groups. Club from West Germany were placed in both sections. The ten group winners advanced to the knock-out rounds.Group A1
|}The Chaux-de-Fonds v Feyenoord match was abandoned due to fog (the score at the time was 1–2). Since neither side could qualify, the match was not replayed nor the score allowed to stand.
The Vicenza v Feyenoord match has also been reported as 2–0, but was officially recorded as 2–1.
Group A2
|}Group A3
|}Group A4
|}Group B1
|}The Hansa Rostock v Olimpija match has also been reported as 3–1, but was officially recorded as 3–0.
Group B2
|}Group B3
|}Group B4
|}Group B5
|}Group B6
|}Quarter-finals
- Górnik ZabrzeGórnik ZabrzeGórnik Zabrze is a Polish football club from Zabrze. The club has won numerous championships, and was a dominant force in the 1960s and 1980s. For now Górnik has the most titles in Poland. The club plays in white or dark blue - red kit, and is based at the Ernest Pohl Stadium...
and Vorwärts BerlinFC Viktoria FrankfurtFrankfurter FC Viktoria is a German association football club based in Frankfurt , Brandenburg. The club was originally founded in East Germany as the army club SV Vorwärts der HVA Leipzig in 1951 in the city of Leipzig.- History :One of the characteristics of East German football after World War...
were participating in the European Cup, and were not allowed to continue in the Intertoto Cup after the summer break - they were withdrawn. Ironically, they drew each other in the First Round of the European Cup, so could have been given a bye and rejoined later, as had happened with Malmö FFMalmö FFMalmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
two seasons before. - The remaining clubs were drawn into four ties
|}
Semi-finals
|}Final
|}Abandonment of knock-out rounds
The Group Stage was always played during the summer break, with the knock-out rounds played as clubs could fit them in during the new season. However, this began to cause increasing problems. Firstly, clubs often had difficulty agreeing dates, and the tournament struggled to finish on time - for example, the 1964–65 final wasn't played until early June, over a year after the group games had started; and in 1963–64 and 1965–66 it was concluded in late May.The second reason was the insistence of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
that any clubs taking part in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
or UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
could not continue games in other European competitions after the end of the summer break. This meant that clubs who had progressed from the Intertoto Group Stage, but were also competing in one of the UEFA competitions, had to be given byes through the Intertoto knock-out rounds (until they were eliminated from the UEFA competition), or withdrawn entirely. This made the knock-out rounds complicated, difficult to schedule, and weakened their significance.
The third reason was the lack of value attributed to the knock-out rounds. While reaching the final was seen as an achievement worthy of praise, the main purpose of the tournament, for most clubs who entered, was to provide football during the otherwise empty summer break. The financial benefits of participating in the pools competitions was also important. Having to arrange and play home-and-away knock-out matches during the new season was seen as difficult, expensive, and relatively pointless if the club in question was eliminated before reaching the Final or Semi-finals.
As a result, the knock-out rounds were abandoned, and for the next three decades there were no winners of the cup. The Group Stage continued much as before, with prize money still awarded according to a club's final group placing.
See also
- European Cup 1966–67
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1966–67
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1966–67
External links
- Intertoto Cup 1966–67 by Karel Stokkermans at RSSSF
- http://www.mogiel.net/EC/intertoto-history/1966.php by Pawel Mogielnicki