Copa Suecia
Encyclopedia
The Copa Suecia was a football tournament held once from 1958 to 1960 by the Argentine Football Association
(AFA). It was competed by clubs in the Primera División Argentina
. Atlanta
won the tournament in the final held in 1960. It is one of the only three official tournaments, other than the league competition, that are officially recognized by AFA, the other two being the Copa Argentina of 1969 (won by Boca Juniors
) and the Centennial Cup
of 1993 (won by Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
).
was held in faraway Sweden
in 1958, the Argentine league competition was interrupted after the third round and it was not re-started until three months later. As a result, AFA
organized a cup competition in order to keep the teams in readiness and also let the clubs receive some economic benefits throughout the prolonged intermission The Swedish Embassy in Argentina donated the trophy and hence the name of the tournament
. The top team from each group would contest a single-legged final.
If two teams had the same number of points in a group, a single-legged play-off would be competed to determine the qualification.
4:1. Eventually it was the top team of its group, having the same number of points with Rosario Central
. A play-off was contested and Atlanta won by 1:0.
Racing Club
was the qualified team in the Group A and they played the final in 1960. Atlanta won the match 3:1 and was crowned the champion. It remains the only official top flight tournament title in Atlanta's history. Moreover, it was the first time that one of the so-called "little teams" of Argentina won an official cup in the professional era, aside from the "Big Five" (River Plate, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Independiente, and Racing Club).
in World Cup 1958. Last but not least, once the Primera División was resumed, there was a lack of available match dates and the scheduling of the remaining part of the tournament became very difficult. As a result, the tournament became a prolongated competition, with some matches played in 1959 and the final was held in 1960, two years and nine days after the commencement. Nevertheless, the AFA lists Atlanta as an official First Division Champion for the year 1958.
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
(AFA). It was competed by clubs in the Primera División Argentina
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
. Atlanta
Club Atlético Atlanta
Club Atlético Atlanta is an Argentine sports club from Buenos Aires. Nicknamed Los Bohemios , its football team won the 2010/11 Primera B Metropolitana championship and promoted to the Primera B Nacional for the 2011/12 season.-History:The club was founded on October the 12th, 1904 in Buenos...
won the tournament in the final held in 1960. It is one of the only three official tournaments, other than the league competition, that are officially recognized by AFA, the other two being the Copa Argentina of 1969 (won by Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
) and the Centennial Cup
Copa Centenario de la AFA
The Copa Centenario was an official tournament among Argentina's First Division Football clubs, organized by AFA in 1993/1994 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary...
of 1993 (won by Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...
).
History
Given that the World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
was held in faraway Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1958, the Argentine league competition was interrupted after the third round and it was not re-started until three months later. As a result, AFA
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
organized a cup competition in order to keep the teams in readiness and also let the clubs receive some economic benefits throughout the prolonged intermission The Swedish Embassy in Argentina donated the trophy and hence the name of the tournament
Format
The 16 teams of the Primera División were divided into two groups (A and B), and each group played a round-robinRound-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
. The top team from each group would contest a single-legged final.
If two teams had the same number of points in a group, a single-legged play-off would be competed to determine the qualification.
Results
Atlanta started very well in this year by three consecutive wins in the league. It also made a strong debut in the Group B of the Copa Suecia by defeating River PlateClub Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
4:1. Eventually it was the top team of its group, having the same number of points with Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
. A play-off was contested and Atlanta won by 1:0.
Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
was the qualified team in the Group A and they played the final in 1960. Atlanta won the match 3:1 and was crowned the champion. It remains the only official top flight tournament title in Atlanta's history. Moreover, it was the first time that one of the so-called "little teams" of Argentina won an official cup in the professional era, aside from the "Big Five" (River Plate, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Independiente, and Racing Club).
Popularity
Initially, the tournament drew strong crowds. However, public interest declined soon due to various factors. The competition was harmed by the lack of commitment of some of the competing clubs that presented too many substitutes. Moreover, interest was lost due to the dismal performance of the Argentina national football teamArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in World Cup 1958. Last but not least, once the Primera División was resumed, there was a lack of available match dates and the scheduling of the remaining part of the tournament became very difficult. As a result, the tournament became a prolongated competition, with some matches played in 1959 and the final was held in 1960, two years and nine days after the commencement. Nevertheless, the AFA lists Atlanta as an official First Division Champion for the year 1958.