What happened to the Villa de Madrid Trophy?

On August 25, 2003, the last edition of the Villa de Madrid Trophy was held, coinciding with the centenary of Atlético. Thus, it was renamed as the Centennial Trophy-Villa de Madrid and for the occasion Argentina had Boca Juniors as a rival. The triumph was for the colchoneros thanks to a goal from Fernando Torres. As a curiosity, in that game Atlético looked at Colombian defender Luis Amaranto Perea, who ended up signing for the rojiblanco team at the end of that campaign.

Since then there has been no more 'official' edition of this tournament and we say official because on September 4, 2004, a substitute was held called the ‘Hellboy Trophy’. Dates similar to those used to celebrate the Villa de Madrid were used, although for sponsorship reasons the name was changed, in addition to modifying the format of the tournament, becoming a triangular with 45 minute matches. The invited clubs were the Deportivo de La Coruña and AEK of Greek Athens. The winner was Athletic, since all the matches ended with a draw and the colchoneros took the win on penalties in both games.

This week has been the 17th anniversary of the last edition and surely there are many people (especially the younger ones) who do not remember this tournament, who was held for 31 years (with some exceptions). Had his first edition in 1973, with Vicente Calderón as president. In their first year, the rojiblancos They were measured in a home run held on August 21, 22 and 23 against Milan, Benfica and Partizan of Belgrade. The hosts were eliminated in the semifinals against the Yugoslavs 0-1, while the Italians defeated the Portuguese 1-0. In the final, the milanistas beat Partizan 2-1, while in the match for third and fourth place, Atlético beat Lisbon 2-1 with a double from Gárate. The first match served as presentation of Atlético's signings for that season, what were Ayala, Heredia and Panadero Díaz.

Until 1983 this format of semifinals, final and third and fourth place was maintained, appearing in the tournament both Spanish teams (Athletic de Bilbao, Rayo Vallecano, Sporting de Gijón, Valencia, Real Sociedad or Sevilla) and the rest of the world (Brazil, Bulgaria, Belgium, Mexico, Holland, Argentina, Switzerland, etc.) and even in nineteen eighty one, in its ninth edition, the selection of Honduras participated, along with the Argentine Independiente de Avellaneda (winner of the trophy) and the Brazilian Vasco de Gama. Total, In those eleven editions with a final four format, the rojiblancos won the trophy five times (1974, 1975, 1976, 1980 and 1983) and they were finalists twice (1978 and 1982).

In 1984, on the twelfth anniversary of the start of this traditional tournament, a triangle was held that brought together the Dutch PSV Eindhoven, the Portuguese Sporting Lisbon and Atlético. The final victory ended up being for the Central Europeans, as they beat Lisbon 1-0 and drew 1-1 with the colchoneros, who could only add one point in the Iberian duel (1-1). This same format was repeated on two more occasions. In 1989 participated, in addition to the host, Romanian Dinamo Bucharest and English Tottenham. The winners were the rojiblancos, who beat Dinamo 1-0 with a goal from Baltazar and the British also for the same result thanks to a goal from Marina. In 1993 they were invited Rayo Vallecano and the Brazilian Vasco de Gama with the novelty that they were 45 minute matches instead of the usual 90. The victory went to the home team in the penalty shootout (5-3) against the Cariocas, since both had won their respective duels against Rayo (1-0 Vasco de Gama and 2-0 Atlético with goals from Kiko and the Mexican Luis García) and tied in the one that faced them (1-1 with a goal from Caminero).

The rest of the editions were a single match between Atlético and the guest on duty. However, there were two years in which the tournament was not held: 1999 and 2001. The biggest win in the history of the tournament occurred in the year nineteen ninety six and the mattresses defeated the Yugoslav Red Star 5-0, with goals from Simeone (2), Juan Carlos (2) and Fortune. In addition, in this edition there was another outstanding fact and that is that it was the only time the tournament was not played in summer, since the December 15.

El Cholo was also the protagonist in the next edition of Villa de Madrid, which was special for two reasons. The rojiblanco rival was Inter de Milan and one of his star signings for that season was, precisely, Simeone. It was the first visit of the Argentine to the Calderón after his departure. But also, that day he also made his ‘debut’ Paolo Futre, than returned to the club after four years outside the entity. The victory was for the local team 1-0 thanks to a goal from Vieri.

The throphy

The cup that the Villa de Madrid champion receives has changed shape several times throughout the tournament's history. At first, and until the 90s, was a pedestal with legs, in solid silver, on which the bear and the strawberry tree stood, symbol of the city of Madrid. Later, It became a glass with handles and a lid, crowned with the bear and the strawberry tree, varying in height or thickness according to the years. Finally, in the Centennial year and last in which the tournament was held, it was decided to give it the form of open tureen.

Honors

In the list of winners of the tournament stands out above the rest the host, which has been champion 18 times. From there there has only been one other team that has won more than one edition, he Milan, what has been done three times with the trophy (1973, 1977 and 1991). Borussia Dortmund, Chievo Verona, Independiente de Avellaneda, Liverpool, Werder Bremen, PSV Eindhoven, River Plate and Stuttgart have won on one occasion.

By countries, the Spanish clubs have won 18 editions (all Atlético), the Italians four, the Germans three, the Argentines two and the English and Dutch one.