1904 Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey 1904 was the second edition of the Spanish Football Cup competition Copa del Rey. The tournament went down in history for its extraordinary history. The trophy won with Athletic Bilbao a team that had a single game contested at this tournament.
It was planned that a total of three teams from the strongest Spanish regions should participate in the tournament. In one round of selection between Club Español de Madrid and the Madrid- Moderno FC (fusion of Madrid FC and FC Moderno ), the team from the Madrid region should be determined. The newly established Madrid Football Association sent more invitations to Athletic Bilbao in the Basque Country and Club Español de Fútbol from Catalonia. The Catalans rejected, however, because they did not agree with the tournament mode. For this reason, had two more teams from Madrid, Moncloa FC and FC Iberia, will be invited and the plans are amended accordingly.
The contest started on March 13, 1904 and ended on March 30 with the final. Club Español de Madrid was the only team that appeared for the final and was told then by the organizers as the winner. Tournament was organized by the Madrid Football Federation, whose president was the president of Club Español de Madrid at the same time. The other teams appealed against this decision an appeal, so that ultimately Athletic Bilbao won this Spanish Cup. The games were all in Tiro de Pichón in Madrid.
First round
In the first round, Moncloa FC prevailed over Iberia FC by 4-0. In the second game of this round was at 5:5 between Club Español de Madrid and Madrid- Moderno FC no winner has been found. After the end of normal time decided the captains of both teams to play no extension. Club Español wished that game to repeat the next day, but Madrid- Moderno did not agree, because the tournament rules would not allow such an early repeat of the game. Club Español nevertheless performed the next day at the replay, Madrid - Moderno appeared not expected to be. The President of the Football Association of Madrid ( also President of Club Español) then declared the winner Club Español.
Athletic Bilbao moved by a bye into the semifinals.
Semifinal
The semi-final between Club Español de Madrid and Moncloa FC was canceled after a serious injury of Hermúa, a player of Club Español, with the score at 1-0. The President of the Madrid Football Federation put the 30 March as fixed rerun. Again only appeared Club Español on this date and was declared the winner.
Athletic Bilbao moved again by a bye into the final.
Endgame
At the originally scheduled date, March 26, 1904, published neither Athletic Bilbao yet, since the semi-finals took place Club Español de Madrid for the final by scheduling changes until March 27. The President of Club Español and the Madrid Football Federation had changed the date of the final because of the difficulties in the previous rounds and on March 30 - the date of the non- repeating game that took place in the semi-finals - down. As Athletic Bilbao obviously could not learn too soon that had become of the semi-final date of the day of the final, did not appear for the third consecutive year, the opponents of the new Club Español agreed return date. The capital city was declared the winner again. However, protested the other Madrid clubs, because all his games Club Español highly controversial won ( by decisions at the Green Table ) for themselves. This is why Athletic Bilbao decided to declare the winner, as the original forward neither team was started. However, this would logically have been impossible, since the original appointment had taken place before the semifinal, Club Español not yet firmly stood as a finalist. Thus Athletic successfully defended his title for the second time Spanish Cup winners.
- Goal: Alejandro Acha
- Defense: J. Irízar, Pedro Larrañaga
- Midfielders: Manuel Ansoleaga, George Cockram, Alfred Mills
- Storm: Jose Arana, Davies, William Dyer, Gildo, Alejandro de la Sota
- Coach: -