"Major trophy" or "major honour" is a term used in football (soccer) to indicate a trophy or competition of high status, one which is seen as a significant achievement for top-rank football clubs to win. These are competitions which are open to every team in a country or continent, are typically involve a large number of matches, and are regarded as being contests of importance. Quality of opponents, public and media interest, prize money and the competition's history all play a part in judging whether a competition is "major" or not.
Contents
- Sample list of major trophies
- England
- European competitions
- World competitions
- International football
- See also
- References
In general, the term is used for the national league competition, the national cup competition as well as continental competitions that are seen as being of significance. [2] Some countries also have a league cup or other secondary cup competition; in some places (such as Portugal's Taça da Liga) it may be considered a "major trophy," [3] while in other countries it is not afforded any importance, such as Israel's Toto Cup. [4]
Super cups, contested by the winners of the previous year's league and cup, are not generally considered "major trophies," as they only consist of a single game and many teams treat the games as friendlies. However, some super cups, such as the Supercopa de España, are considered major trophies in their countries. [5]
The significance of a trophy can change over time. For example, the English Football League Cup (the modern EFL Cup) was originally not taken seriously, with many top teams not entering when the competition was created in the 1960s. [6] Up to the 1990s, many teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal fielded youth and reserve players in the competition to give first-team players a rest. [7] [8] When it was sponsored by Worthington, it was nicknamed the "Worthless Cup." [9] However, in the 21st century the competition has increased in importance, [10] in part because the winners receive a lucrative place in European competition for the following season. [11]
Pre-season tournaments such as Emirates Cup, Teresa Herrera Trophy, International Champions Cup and the Amsterdam Tournament are also not considered major trophies; teams compete in them simply to gain money and exposure, and winning them is not considered a serious achievement.