UEFA Intertoto Cup Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The UEFA Intertoto Cup is a summer football competition for European clubs that have not qualified for one of the main UEFA competitions (the Champions League and the UEFA Cup).
The Intertoto Cup replaced the International Football Cup (IFC), which was a competition organised by the football pools companies of central Europe to provide matches for their coupons during the summer months. In 1995 it was taken over by UEFA and opened up to clubs from across Europe. The cup does not have a single winner; instead there are three "finals", the winners of each of which are given entry to the following season's UEFA Cup. This makes the competition attractive to many clubs who see it as their only chance of qualifying for Europe.
Some countries do not take up their full allocation of Intertoto Cup places every year, as for many clubs the competition conflicts with their planned summer break or pre-season friendies. It is particularly unpopular in England, where it is sometimes referred to by derogatory names such as the "Intertwobob Cup" or "Intertinpot Cup".
| Year | Winners |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Bordeaux, Karlsruhe, Strasbourg, Wacker |
| 1996 | Karlsruhe, Guingamp, Silkeborg |
| 1997 | Auxerre, Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais |
| 1998 | Bologna, Valencia, Werder Bremen |
| 1999 | Juventus, Montpéllier, West Ham United |
| 2000 | Celta Vigo, VfB Stuttgart, Udinese |
| 2001 | Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain, Troyes |
| 2002 | Fulham, Málaga, VfB Stuttgart |
| 2003 | Perugia, FC Schalke 04, Villarreal |
| 2004 | Lille, FC Schalke 04, Villarreal |