The King Alexander's Cup (Romanian: Cupa Regelui Alexandru) or Friendship Cup was an international football competition contested by the national teams of Romania and Yugoslavia. The tournament was named after Alexander I, the King of Yugoslavia and was organized to celebrate the wedding of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia with the Princess Maria of Romania, the event being announced by the Romanian newspaper, Ecoul Sportiv on 28 May 1922: "On the occasion of the marriage of His Majesty King Alexander I with Her Royal Highness Princess Maria of Romania, His Majesty was pleased to donate a cup that will bear his name, to encourage the progress of the football-association sport in his country and in the country of his wife. This cup will be a challenge and will go definitely to the country which will win it three times in a row or five times in total."[1] The 1936, 1937 and 1939 editions were called King Carol's Cup, after Carol II of Romania and the last edition was called King Mihai Cup named after Mihai of Romania.[2] Between 1937 and 1938, the regular Friendship Cup played between Romania and Yugoslavia was extended to include Czechoslovakia for an mini tournament called Eduard Benes' Cup named after Edvard Beneš, the president of Czechoslovakia.[3]
| Founded | 1922 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 1940 |
| Region | Europe (UEFA) |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Last champions |  Romania (5th title) |
| Most successful team(s) |  Yugoslavia (6 titles) |
Results edit
1922 edit
| Yugoslavia | 1–2 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
1923 edit
| Romania | 1–2 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
1926 edit
| Yugoslavia | 2–3 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
1927 edit
| Romania | 0–3 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
1928 edit
| Yugoslavia | 3–1 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
1929 edit
| Romania | 2–3 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
1930 edit
| Yugoslavia | 2–1 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
As the King Carol's Cup[11]
1936 edit
| Romania | 3–2 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
1937 edit
| Yugoslavia | 2–1 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
1939 edit
| Romania | 1–0 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
As the King Mihai Cup
1940 edit
| Yugoslavia | 1–2 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
General statistics edit
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Dif |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yugoslavia
|
11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 17 | +3 |
| Romania
|
11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 20 | –3 |
All-time top scorers edit
1937–38 Eduard Benes Cup edit
An extended version of the regular Friendship Cup played between Romania and Yugoslavia.[16]
Results[17] edit
| Romania | 1–1 |  Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|---|
Bodola  63' |
Report | 81' Nejedlý |
| Czechoslovakia | 5–4 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
| Rulc 5' Říha 26'Senecký 43'Nejedlý 48'Sobotka 79' |
Report | Pleše 18', 50' Valjarević 60'Burgr 71' (o.g.) |
| Romania | 0–1 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Matošić 28' |
| Yugoslavia | 1–3 | Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|---|
| Sipos 56' |
Report | Bradáč 19' Bican 41'Senecký 69' |
| Yugoslavia | 1–1 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Petrović 42' |
Report | Bindea 69' |
| Czechoslovakia | 6–2 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Bican 28', 49', 61', 81' Ludl 38'Kopecký 78' |
Report | 25' Barátky 26' Bodola |
Final Table edit
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Czechoslovakia
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 7 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 3 |
| 3 | Romania
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 2 |
| 1937–38 Eduard Benes Cup |
|---|
 Czechoslovakia First title |
Statistics edit
Goalscorers edit
There were 26 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 4.33 goals per match.
5 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal
Jaroslav Burgr (against Yugoslavia)
References edit
- ^ "100 de ani de la primul meci al naţionalei României! Cum s-a implicat Regina Maria în naşterea selecţionatei. Povestea echipamentului inedit al tricolorilor. Foto" [100 years since the first match of the Romanian national team! How did Queen Maria got involved in the birth of the national team. The story of the unusual equipment of the tricolors. Photo] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Friendship Cup (Romania and Yugoslavia)". RSSSF. 2000-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ "Eduard Benes' Cup 1937/38". RSSSF. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Romania vs Yugoslavia international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Romania vs Yugoslavia international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Romania vs Yugoslavia international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Friendship Cup (Romania and Yugoslavia)". RSSSF. 2000-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ "Romania vs Yugoslavia international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Romania vs Yugoslavia international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Yugoslavia vs Romania international football match report". eu-football.info. EU-Football. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Eduard Benes' Cup 1937/38". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Neighbours Cup (Eduard Benes Cup) 1937-1938 results". football.eu. Retrieved 22 May 2022.