UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Lore & Background

The first tournament was held in 1960–61, but it was organised by the Mitropa Cup's Organising Committee and not recognised by UEFA until 1963. The inaugural CWC was contested by just 10 clubs, with Fiorentina winning the two-legged final against Rangers. The tournament ran for 39 seasons, with the final edition in 1998–99. No club ever managed to retain the trophy, although eight times a winning side followed up with a losing appearance in the following season's final.

Reader's Guide

Entry was restricted to one club per UEFA member association, except that the current Cup Winners' Cup holders could enter alongside their nation's new domestic cup winners. If a domestic cup holder also won the Cup Winners' Cup in the same season, the domestic cup runner-up took that association's berth. If a club completed a domestic league and cup double, it entered the European Cup/Champions League and its place in the Cup Winners' Cup was taken by the domestic cup runners-up.

Did You Know?

• The first tournament in 1960–61 was a semi-official pilot tournament not initially recognised by UEFA.
• From 1972 onwards, the winner played the European Cup winner in the European Super Cup.
• In 1998–99, Heerenveen entered the Cup Winners' Cup despite only reaching the semi-final of the previous KNVB Cup, because both finalists qualified for the Champions League.
• The trophy was not assigned to any club; clubs could have replicas made.