The Challenge Cup (, ) 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.RSSSF: Austria/Habsburg Monarchy - Challenge Cup 1897-1911 It was played in a knockout format.IFFHS: Challenge Cup: Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1897-1911)
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.
Champions List of finals
Season ChampionScoreRunner-up 1897–98 Vienna Cricket Wiener FC 1898 1898–99 First Vienna AC Viktoria Wien 1899–1900 First Vienna Vienna Cricket 1900–01 Wiener AC SK Slavia Prague 1901–02 Vienna Cricket Budapesti TC 1902–03 Wiener AC ČAFC Královské 1903–04 Wiener AC Vienna Cricket 1904–05 Wiener SC Magyar AC 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 Ferencváros Wiener Sport-Club 1909–10 1910–11 Wiener SC Ferencváros
Titles by club CountryClubTitlesWinning season Austria Wiener AC 1900–01, 1902–03, 1903–04 Austria Vienna Cricket FC 1897–98, 1901–02 Austria Wiener Sport-Club 1904–05, 1910–11 Austria First Vienna FC 1898–99, 1899–1900 Hungary Ferencváros 1908–09
Titles by country CountryTitles Austria Hungary
See also Austrian Cup Mitropa Cup Balkans Cup Latin Cup European Railways Cup
References