Challenge Cup (Austria-Hungary)

Challenge Cup
Founded1897
Abolished1911 (1911)
RegionAustro-Hungarian Empire
Last championsWiener Sport-Club (1911)
Most successful club(s)Wiener AC
(3 titles)

The Challenge Cup (German: Challenge-Cup, Hungarian: Challenge Kupa) was an international competition for football clubs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that ran from 1897 to 1911.

History

It was conceived in 1897 in Vienna by John Gramlick, who was one of the founders of Vienna Cricket and Football-Club. The competition was open for all clubs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but practically all the participating teams came from the three major cities Vienna, Budapest and Prague.[1] It was played in a knockout format.[2]

The trophy was to be kept by the first team to win it in three consecutive seasons. In 1903 the rule was changed and the trophy is now in the possession of its last winner Wiener Sport-Club. The Challenge Cup ceased in 1911. Today it is seen as the predecessor to the Austrian Cup (first held in 1918) and the Mitropa Cup, established in 1927.[1]

Champions

List of finals

Season Champion Score Runner-up
1897–98 Vienna Cricket
7–0
Wiener FC 1898
1898–99 First Vienna
4–1
AC Viktoria Wien
1899–1900 First Vienna
2–0
Vienna Cricket
1900–01 Wiener AC
1–0
SK Slavia Prague
1901–02 Vienna Cricket
2–1
Budapesti TC
1902–03 Wiener AC ČAFC Královské
1903–04 Wiener AC
7–0
Vienna Cricket
1904–05 Wiener SC
2–1
Magyar AC
1905–06
(Not held)
1906–07
(Not held)
1907–08
(Not held)
1908–09 Ferencváros
2–1
Wiener Sport-Club
1909–10
Not Held
1910–11 Wiener SC
3–0
Ferencváros

Titles by club

Country Club Titles Winning season
Austria Wiener AC
3
1901, 1903, 1904
Austria Vienna Cricket FC
2
1898, 1902
Austria Wiener Sport-Club
2
1905, 1911
Austria First Vienna FC
2
1899, 1900
Hungary Ferencváros
1
1909

Titles by country

Country Titles
Austria
9
Hungary
1

See also

References