1902: Bizcaya Wins Copa del Rey
In 1902, a team called Bizcaya, composed of players from Athletic Bilbao and Bilbao FC, won the Copa del Rey. This win's official recognition by the RFEF is disputed.
1902: Copa de la Coronación
The Copa de la Coronación, a precursor to the Copa del Rey, was played in 1902 to celebrate King Alfonso XIII's coronation. Athletic Bilbao's predecessor, Club Bizcaya, won but it's not officially recognized by the RFEF.
1902: Dispute Over 1902 Competition
The status of the 1902 Copa de la Coronación creates a dispute over the historical winners of the Copa del Rey. While Athletic Club claims it as a victory, the RFEF does not officially recognize the tournament, affecting their overall count. This discrepancy impacts the ranking of the most successful clubs in the competition's history.
1903: First Official Copa del Rey
Athletic Bilbao, led by Juan de Astorquia, won the first official Copa del Rey in 1903, which was initially called Copa del Ayuntamiento de Madrid.
1903: Early Organization by Madrid FC
Between 1903 and 1909, the Copa del Rey was organized by Madrid FC or the Madrid Federation.
1903: Athletic Bilbao Formation
In 1903, Athletic Bilbao was formed through the merger of Athletic Bilbao and Bilbao FC.
1903: Copa del Rey Founded
The Copa del Rey was founded in 1903, marking the beginning of Spain's oldest national football competition.
1904: Athletic Bilbao Wins by Default
Athletic Bilbao were declared winners of the 1904 Copa del Rey after Español de Madrid failed to appear for the final.
1905: Name Change to Copa de Su Majestad El Rey Alfonso XIII
The Copa del Rey was renamed Copa de Su Majestad El Rey Alfonso XIII in 1905.
1909: FECF Takes Over
In 1909, the organization of the Copa del Rey was taken over by the FECF (Federación Española de Clubs de Football).
1910: Split Competitions
In 1910 and 1913, two separate Copa del Rey competitions were held due to a split between the FECF and the UECF.
1913: Split Competitions (continued)
In 1910 and 1913, two separate Copa del Rey competitions were held due to a split between the FECF and the UECF.
1928: La Liga Founded
With the foundation of La Liga (Campeonato de Liga) in 1928, the Copa del Rey transitioned from being the de facto national championship to a separate knockout competition.
1929: Copa del Rey After La Liga Formation
Following La Liga's creation in 1929, the Copa del Rey evolved. Teams qualified through regional leagues and various formats were used, including group stages.
1932: Copa del Presidente de la República
In 1932, the Copa del Rey was renamed to Copa del Presidente de la República due to the abolishment of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic.
1932: Name Change to Copa del Presidente de la República
The Copa del Rey became known as Copa del Presidente de la República in 1932 with the advent of the Second Spanish Republic.
1936: Real Madrid Awarded Trophy
Real Madrid was permanently awarded the Copa de la República trophy in 1936.
1937: Copa de la España Libre
During the Spanish Civil War in 1937, the Copa de la España Libre was held in the Republican area, with Levante FC winning.
1939: Copa del Generalísimo
Following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, the cup was renamed to Copa del Generalísimo under Francisco Franco's regime.
1939: Sevilla Awarded Trophy
Sevilla was awarded the Trofeo del Generalísimo after winning its first edition in 1939.
1976: Atlético Madrid Awarded Trophy
Atlético Madrid received the 11th Copa del Rey trophy in 1976, following Franco's death.
1990: Reserve Teams Excluded
Reserve teams of professional clubs were no longer allowed to participate in the Copa del Rey after 1990.
1990: Reserve Teams Banned
Starting in the 1990-91 season, reserve teams were no longer allowed to compete in the Copa del Rey.
2007: Request for Recognition
In 2007, the Congress of Deputies urged the RFEF to recognize Levante FC's 1937 Copa de la España Libre win as a Copa del Rey title.
December 2010: Sevilla Requests to Keep Trophy, New Trophy Created
In December 2010, Sevilla asked to retain the 2010 Copa del Rey trophy, and a new one was made by Federico Alegre.
April 2011: Real Madrid Wins and Damages New Trophy
In April 2011, Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey but Sergio Ramos dropped and damaged the trophy during the celebration.
2014: Change in Europa League Qualification
Until 2014, the Copa del Rey runners-up were granted a spot in the UEFA Europa League if the winners had already qualified through their league position. After 2014, this spot was given to the highest-placed team in the league that hadn't already qualified for European competition.
2019: Supercopa de España Qualification Changes
Beginning with the 2019-20 Supercopa de España, both the Copa del Rey winners and runners-up qualify, expanding the competition to four teams.
2019: Format Changes
Changes to the competition's format in the 2019-20 season expanded the number of participating teams to 125, including those from lower divisions.
2019: Copa del Rey Final Broadcasting Rights Included
From the 2019-20 season onward, the Copa del Rey final match was included in the tournament's broadcasting rights package. Prior to this, broadcasting rights for the final were handled separately in some countries due to regulations.
2019: Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España Formats Reformed
In 2019, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España underwent format changes under Luis Rubiales's presidency to boost competitiveness. The Copa del Rey final was also given a fixed venue at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville.
2019: Format Overhaul
In 2019-2020, the Copa del Rey format changed to single-leg ties, with semi-finals being the exception, reverting back to a two-legged fixture. The final became a one-off game in Seville and involved two-legged matches.
March 2023: Copa de la España Libre Officially Recognized
In March 2023, the RFEF officially recognized the 1937 Copa de la España Libre tournament won by Levante FC, though not as a Copa del Rey title.
April 2024: Official Winners List Updated
In April 2024, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) updated the official winners list for the Copa del Rey.
2024: Athletic Bilbao Wins
Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Rey in 2024, defeating Mallorca in the final at the Estadio de La Cartuja.