INTER-CONTINENTAL CLUB CUP

The Intercontinental Club Cup came into "being" in 1960, the brainchild of UEFA General Secretary, Henri Delaunay. This was to be a two-legged contest between the European Cup (as it was) winners and winners of the South American, Copa Libertadores. The ICC was a game of some status and excitement, contested annually until 2004. It is known from 1980 as the Toyota Cup for sponsorship reasons, of course....

In 1960, the first leg between Penarol and Real Madrid, resulted in a draw in Montevideo. Ferenc Puskas (Hungarian) and the Spaniard, Alfredo di Stefano, both of Madrid, shared three goals in the first 8 minutes of the return and their team won 5-0, to win the prize. In 1962, Pele of Santos, Brazil, scored 5 goals out of 8 for his club over two legs against Portugal's Benfica.

In 1963, the tournament final lost some favour as Santos and Milan had players sent off. Milan's goalkeeper, Balzarini needed stitches in his head and hand. Six players were sent off in 1967's bad tempered play-off between Racing Club and Celtic. In 1968, Manchester United had two players dismissed in two ties against Estudiantes. Estudiantes then excelled in the 1969 season by beating Milan, although there was a maelstrom of kicking and gouging. Three members of their team were jailed for the evening by an embarrassed Argentinian President. In 1970, Feyenoord's Joop van Daele had his  spectacles whipped off his nose by Estudiantes defender Oscar Malbernat, who passed them on to his team mate Pachame, who duly stamped on them!!

This relentless "antifutbol" convinced 1971 European Champions, Ajax, to withdraw from the tournament when they had the chance to compete. Nacional of Uruguay, undersome pressure for a lack of success at the "higher stage" and in the need of money, begged UEFA to persuade the Dutch club to compete but they refused. European Cup Runners-up from Greece, Panathinaikos took their place!

Ajax played the following year when Johan Cruyff had his ankle damaged by rough Independiente play so the Dutch decided enough was enough. For the next few seasons the European Champions, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest declined "the invitation". Below Ajax 1972.........

From 1980, its format was changed to a single match traditionally held in Tokyo, Japan, due to its new sponsorship. 

The Intercontinental Cup was discontinued in 2004 in favour of the FIFA Club World Cup, which includes the champion clubs from all of the FIFA member confederations. The final Final, was won by 2004 European champions, Porto of Portugal, who beat Colombian side, Once Caldos by 8–7 in a penalty shoot out, after the match finished 0–0. A fitting finale!!

Honours: Liverpool 1981 and 1984 both Finals as Runners Up: Nottingham Forest one Final in 1980 as RU, Aston Villa one Runners Up 1982, Manchester United one Win in 1999, one RU 1968.