Copa Estímulo

Copa Estímulo
Organising bodyAFA
Founded1920
Abolished1926; 98 years ago (1926) [n 1]
RegionArgentina
Number of teams12 (1926)
Last championsBoca Juniors (1926)

The Copa Estímulo was an official Argentine football cup competition organized by the Argentine Football Association and first held in 1920. The tournament was contested twice between 1920 and 1926.[3]

Although some versions state the cup had a third edition in 1929, it was indeed played under the 1929 Primera División season format (being Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) the winner). The Association only officialized the 1920 and 1926 Copa Estímulo editions,[1] considering the 1929 championship as a Primera División title.[2]

History

In 1920, the Argentina national team travelled to Chile to play the South American Championship held in that country therefore the Association interrupted the Primera División championship while the international competition was being played. With the purpose of keeping local teams active, the association created a new tournament to be played during the recess, named "Copa Estímulo". Ten teams took part of the competition, divided into two groups where teams played each other in a round-robin tournament. Before finishing the first stage, the cup was abandoned and never went back.[4] Huracán (leading the group "Norte") was declared winner due to Banfield (first in the other zone) disaffiliated from the Football Association.[3]

For the third edition, the trophy would be awarded by the 1929 Primera División champion. Unlike the previous season, the 35 teams participating were split into two groups in a round-robin tournament format. Teams finishing first of each zone at the end of the season played a final match, therefore Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata won the tournament after defeating Boca Juniors by 2–1.[5][6][7]

Champions

Ed. Year Champion Score Runner-up Venue City
1
 1920 Huracán
– [n 2]
 Palermo
– [n 2]
2
 1926 Boca Juniors
3–1
 Sportivo Balcarce San Lorenzo Stadium Buenos Aires
Notes
  1. ^ Although many football historians state that there was a third edition of the Cup in 1929, the Association considered it as a Primera División championship instead of a national cup.[1][2]
  2. ^ a b Won on points, Huracán placed 1st with 8 points in 5 games.

References

  1. ^ a b "Campeones de Copas Nacionales" at AFA website
  2. ^ a b "Campeones de la Primera División 1891-1934" on AFA website
  3. ^ a b Copa Estímulo [Stimulus Cup] on RSSSF
  4. ^ ""Argentina: Copa Estimulo 1ra. División Asociación Argentina 1920"". Archived from the original on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  5. ^ Argentina 1929 Archived May 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine on RSSSF
  6. ^ "Argentina: 1ra. División Asociación Amateurs Argentina 1929" by José Carluccio on Historia y Fútbol website
  7. ^ ""Gimnasia campeón 1929" on GELP official website". Archived from the original on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-11-01.