Greek Football Cup

infobox football tournament
current = Greek Cup 2008-09

founded = 1931
number of teams = 69
region = GRE
current champions = Olympiacos
website = [http://www.epo.gr/vodafon/articles.asp?m_1=3&e_article_cat_id=4 Greek Cup] The Greek Football Cup ( _el. Κύπελλο Ελλάδος), commonly known as the "Greek Cup", is a knockout cup competition in Greek football, run by the Hellenic Football Federation.

The Greek Cup began in 1931-32. Because it involves clubs of all standards playing against each other there is the possibility for "giant-killers" from the lower divisions to eliminate top clubs from the tournament, though lower division teams rarely reach the final.

The holders of the Greek Cup are Olympiacos, who beat Aris 2–0 in the 2008 final on 17 May 2008.

Format

In the Greek Cup, only teams from the three professional divisions, Super League, Beta and Gamma Ethniki, are allowed to participate.The current format was established in the 2005-06 season.

The teams progress from First to Fifth Round through single matches. However, in the Fifth Round matches can be replayed, should they end in a draw. Then, the replay is carried out in the home of the first-leg away team. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are carried out in a two-legged format, with the winner decided on the aggregate and away goals rule. The final is decided in a single match.

History

The Greek Cup began in 1931. In its early years, the attendance was optional. The matches were defined between the football associations, without a draw. Later on, and for a lot of years, the draw and double matches were held up to final. In the 90s, the qualifying matches were played in groups. The winners of the groups played against each other up to final in double matches.

Until 1964, if the final score was draw (including the extra time), the two finalists replayed, while penalties didn't exist. That year, in the semi-final match between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos (final score: 1-1), fans of both teams stormed the pitch, damaged the ground and virtually interrupted the game, believing that it was fixed to end in a draw, in order to be replayed. The next year (1965) a new rule was applied, to determine that, if the game was undecided even after extra time, the winner would be determined by draw.

That rule was abolished in 1970, when the penalty shootout was applied. Up until 1971, teams from all over the country, professional and amateur, had been taking part. Each team first played against clubs from its own associationand the winners continued in a panhellenic competition. Since 1972, only teams from the three professional divisions are allowed entry.

Greek Cup winners and finalists

:"For the full results of all Greek Cup finals, see Greek Cup Final"

External links

* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/grkcuphist.html RSSSF]