Super Cup Q&A: Manchester United face Real Madrid in Skopje... but why was it created in the first place? And why did Monaco host it for 14 years?

  • Manchester United take on Real Madrid in the Super Cup in Skopje on Tuesday 
  • It was created by a Dutch newspaper to promote Dutch dominance
  • United have won the Super Cup once in their history, back in 1991
  • Find out all you need to know about the history of the Super Cup 

Manchester United will play in their fourth Super Cup on Tuesday as they take on Champions League winners Real Madrid in Skopje.

The Europa League winners are looking for their second title after beating Red Star Belgrade to lift the cup back in 1991 under Sir Alex Ferguson. 

But how did the Super Cup come into existence? Why is it now a one-legged game when previously it was two legs? And how come it was held in Monaco for 14 years? Sportsmail answers all your questions below. 

Manchester United are in Skopje getting ready for their Super Cup clash against Real Madrid

Manchester United are in Skopje getting ready for their Super Cup clash against Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co will be looking to get one over on the Europa League winners

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co will be looking to get one over on the Europa League winners

 

How did the idea for the Super Cup come about?


It was proposed by Anton Witkamp, then a journalist for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. 

He wanted a platform that would allow Dutch football and the dominant Ajax side (as well as Feyenoord) of the 1970's to show they were the undisputed champions of Europe - so he came up with the idea of pitching the European champions against the winner of the Cup Winners' Cup. The rest is history. 

The Super Cup was set up to show off Dutch dominance, particularly the great Ajax side in the 70's

The Super Cup was set up to show off Dutch dominance, particularly the great Ajax side in the 70's

Ajax won the first two cups, beating Rangers in 1972 and AC Milan in 1973. Here Ajax 'keeper Heinz Stuy saves at the feet of Rangers' Derek Johnstone in the 72 edition

Ajax won the first two cups, beating Rangers in 1972 and AC Milan in 1973. Here Ajax 'keeper Heinz Stuy saves at the feet of Rangers' Derek Johnstone in the 72 edition

SUPER CUP WINNERS

5 times - Barcelona, AC Milan

3 - Liverpool, Real Madrid

2 - Ajax, Anderlecht, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Valencia

1 - Manchester United, Derby, Aston Villa,  Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Parma, Lazio, Dynamo Kiev, Nottingham Forest, Aberdeen, Steaua Bucharest, Mechelen, Zenit St. Petersburg, Galatasaray, Sevilla, Porto

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OK, so when was the first Super Cup played?

Well, there's not exactly a straightforward answer. The first game between the winner of Europe's leading cup competitions, then the European Cup champions against the winners of the Cup Winners' Cup, actually took place in 1972 between Ajax and Rangers.

That game was over two legs, which Ajax won 6-3. However it wasn't officially sanctioned by UEFA because Rangers were still serving a ban over crowd trouble. So the first official game was the 1973 final, where Ajax beat AC Milan 6-1 over two legs, although the game actually took place in January 1974.

The original trophy, lifted by Ajax, was absolutely enormous, but has evolved since then

The original trophy, lifted by Ajax, was absolutely enormous, but has evolved since then

And it has been a hit since then?

Not quite. There was no game for the 1974 season because Bayern Munich and FC Madgeburg couldn't find a date to play, and there was no match in 1981 and 1985 either.

Why was it over two legs?

Even in the 1970's they were still financially savvy - De Telegraaf backed the first game with cold hard cash in the absence of UEFA, so staged it over two legs to maximise returns. 

Lazio were Super Cup winners in 1999, beating Champions League winners Manchester United

Lazio were Super Cup winners in 1999, beating Champions League winners Manchester United

So why isn't it over two legs still?

Another tricky question. It was over two legs until 1998, when it switched to a single game. However there were three occasions - 1984, 1986 and 1991 when it was one leg. In 1984, Liverpool could only find one date to face Juventus, while in 91, the year of Manchester United's only success, it wasn't possible to play the second leg in Yugoslavia because of political trouble there. 

What format does the game take these days?

It follows all the same rules as every other UEFA competition. The winners receive a full-size replica trophy and players get 40 gold medals. The runners-up get 40 silver medals. The winners gets around £2million.

United have one success in their history - winning the now scaled-down cup in 1999

United have one success in their history - winning the now scaled-down cup in 1999

If a team wins three Super Cups in a row or five overall they get a version of the trophy to keep. AC Milan and Barcelona are the only clubs to win it five times. 

Has the trophy changed through the years at all?

Absolutely. The trophy used to be enormous, one of the biggest on offer in football. 

That was replaced by a plaque with a gold UEFA Emblem. The next trophy was the smallest and lightest of all the European club trophies and the current model weighs 12.2 kg and measures 58 cm in height. 

The modern day trophy, here held by Dani Alves in 2015, is much different to previous versions

The modern day trophy, here held by Dani Alves in 2015, is much different to previous versions

Chelsea are the only team to enter the Super Cup by three different methods available

Chelsea are the only team to enter the Super Cup by three different methods available

1998 was also the first year that the game was played in Monaco wasn't it?

It was indeed. The Super Cup made the Stade Louis II its home between 1998 and 2012. At that point UEFA decided to rotate venues and now the game is held all over Europe. 

Since 2012, the game has been held in the Czech Republic, Cardiff, Georgia, Norway, and Estonia. Since 1999 it has been contested between the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) winners and the Champions League holders. 

And this year's game is in Macedonia?

That's correct. The National Arena Philip II in Skopje, a 33,460-capacity stadium. 

Liverpool are third on the list of most prolific winners, having won it on three occasions

Liverpool are third on the list of most prolific winners, having won it on three occasions

Real Madrid have also won the cup three times and have been runners-up twice

Real Madrid have also won the cup three times and have been runners-up twice

So Manchester United have won it once. Who else has won it over the years?

As mentioned, Barcelona and AC Milan have both won the competition five times, with Liverpool behind them having won three. 

Chelsea hold the honour of being the only club to enter the competition from all three UEFA entry points; as Champions League holders in 2012, Europa League winners in 2013 and Cup Winners' Cup in 1998. 

The Blues and Manchester United have won the cup once each, while Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have also flown the flag for England by claiming the title once each, in 1979 and 1982 respectively.