Copa Libertadores (trophy)
Encyclopedia
The Copa Libertadores trophy, or simply the Copa or Libertadores, is a trophy
awarded annually by CONMEBOL
to the football club that wins the Copa Libertadores. The concept of having a standard Cup awarded to the winner was thought of by Teófilo Salinas, a boardmember of CONMEBOL, and it was his initiative that led to the creation of one of the most prized awards of the world. The original trophy was created in 1959 by Alberto de Gasperi, an Italian immigrant, who owned an artisan shop in Lima
, Peru
; the prestigious memento was forged in the Camusso Jewelry workshop, located on Colonial Avenue of the same forementioned city.
As well as winning the right to keep the trophy until the start of the next tournament, the winner gets to have a metal badge of gold or silver placed on the wooden pedestal of the trophy. The badge has the name of the winner and the year of the triumph. At the top of the cup, there is a football player getting ready to kick a ball. The top half of the globe beneath him carries the coat of arms of every CONMEBOL nation. The middle bar has "Copa Libertadores" inscripted on it. The non-wooden part of the laurel is made of sterling silver
, with the exception of the football player at the top (it is made of bronze
with a silver
coating).
The original trophy carried room for a mere 18 badges (perhaps as a sign of the little faith its organizers had on the duration of the tournament). The badges would be placed at the top base of the pedestal one underneath another and span six columns. However, 18 editions later the pedestal was filled to capacity and a new pedestal that carried room for 24 badges was installed. The old badges were installed on the new pedestal and the Cup carried room for six more editions. After six years the pedestal was full and a new stand was installed. This new pedestal had room for 28 badges and it was designed to have seven columns of four. A quick solution practiced after the 28 slots were occupied was to put their badges on the bottom edge of the pedestal. The first team to do this was Atlético Nacional
.
In 1994, the space at the bottom of the pedestal would have run out. Many people still questioned where did the badges from 1995 to 2003 placed as the trophy did not go through any physical changes since. In 2009, the trophy went through a major renovation as the badges were organized to have nine horizontal columns with vertical rows. The first team to received the current trophy was Estudiantes
. The trophy is scheduled to be filled by the 2024 edition.
after three wins, 1968, 1969 and 1970. They have since won it once more times, in 2009. Independiente
after three wins, 1972, 1973 and 1974
. They have since won it two more times, in 1975 and 1984.
to the eventual Copa Libertadores champions in the trophy ceremony. A golden salver
was introduced in 1998 by Toyota since the competition was primarily sponsored by Toyota Motor Corporation
from 1998 to 2008; thus, the competition was known as the Copa Toyota Libertadores. The golden salver
contained the competition logo in the middle, "CAMPEON X" at the top (the X representing the edition won) and the logo of Toyota and the word "TOYOTA" at the bottom. Since Toyota stopped being the primary sponsor of the Copa Libertadores, no salver has been awarded to the champions.
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
awarded annually by CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
to the football club that wins the Copa Libertadores. The concept of having a standard Cup awarded to the winner was thought of by Teófilo Salinas, a boardmember of CONMEBOL, and it was his initiative that led to the creation of one of the most prized awards of the world. The original trophy was created in 1959 by Alberto de Gasperi, an Italian immigrant, who owned an artisan shop in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
; the prestigious memento was forged in the Camusso Jewelry workshop, located on Colonial Avenue of the same forementioned city.
Trophy
Copa Libertadores winners keep the real trophy in their possession. It remains so until the draw and seeding of the next Copa Libertadores begins. Before the proceedings happen, the club president of the defending champion will return the trophy to the president of CONMEBOL and a replica trophy is awarded to the winning club. Winning clubs are also permitted to make exact replicas of their own. A club gets to keep the trophy indefinitely if they win three tournaments in a row.As well as winning the right to keep the trophy until the start of the next tournament, the winner gets to have a metal badge of gold or silver placed on the wooden pedestal of the trophy. The badge has the name of the winner and the year of the triumph. At the top of the cup, there is a football player getting ready to kick a ball. The top half of the globe beneath him carries the coat of arms of every CONMEBOL nation. The middle bar has "Copa Libertadores" inscripted on it. The non-wooden part of the laurel is made of sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
, with the exception of the football player at the top (it is made of bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
with a silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
coating).
The original trophy carried room for a mere 18 badges (perhaps as a sign of the little faith its organizers had on the duration of the tournament). The badges would be placed at the top base of the pedestal one underneath another and span six columns. However, 18 editions later the pedestal was filled to capacity and a new pedestal that carried room for 24 badges was installed. The old badges were installed on the new pedestal and the Cup carried room for six more editions. After six years the pedestal was full and a new stand was installed. This new pedestal had room for 28 badges and it was designed to have seven columns of four. A quick solution practiced after the 28 slots were occupied was to put their badges on the bottom edge of the pedestal. The first team to do this was Atlético Nacional
Atlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
.
In 1994, the space at the bottom of the pedestal would have run out. Many people still questioned where did the badges from 1995 to 2003 placed as the trophy did not go through any physical changes since. In 2009, the trophy went through a major renovation as the badges were organized to have nine horizontal columns with vertical rows. The first team to received the current trophy was Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
. The trophy is scheduled to be filled by the 2024 edition.
Clubs awarded the trophy permanently
Two clubs have kept the actual trophy: EstudiantesEstudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
after three wins, 1968, 1969 and 1970. They have since won it once more times, in 2009. Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
after three wins, 1972, 1973 and 1974
1974 Copa Libertadores
The Copa Libertadores 1974 was the 15th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's annual international club tournament. Independiente won the competition.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Group 3 :- Group 4 :- Group 5 :- Group 1 :- Group 2 :...
. They have since won it two more times, in 1975 and 1984.
Badges
The metal badge was implemented on the Cup in order to conovorate the past winners of the title. The former badges carried the year at the top and the club name and nation of the winners side by side i.e. 1960, Peñarol, (URU). The rebranded badges (since 2009) now carries the year of the triumph, the full name of the winning club, the city that the club provenes from and the nation. To the left of that information is the club logo.Salver
A separate "award" was given by Toyota Motor CorporationToyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
to the eventual Copa Libertadores champions in the trophy ceremony. A golden salver
Salver
A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant...
was introduced in 1998 by Toyota since the competition was primarily sponsored by Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
from 1998 to 2008; thus, the competition was known as the Copa Toyota Libertadores. The golden salver
Salver
A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant...
contained the competition logo in the middle, "CAMPEON X" at the top (the X representing the edition won) and the logo of Toyota and the word "TOYOTA" at the bottom. Since Toyota stopped being the primary sponsor of the Copa Libertadores, no salver has been awarded to the champions.
External links
- Conmebol.com Official Site of the Copa Santander Libertadores.
- Fútbol Santander Official Sponsor of the Copa Santander Libertadores.