1925–26 Swiss Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Switzerland |
| Teams | 75 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Grasshopper Club |
| Runners-up | Bern |
The 1925–26 Swiss Cup was the initial edition of Switzerland's football cup tournament, organised by the Swiss Football Association and has been organised by them annually since then.
Overview
[edit]Preamble
[edit]Within Switzerland, men's football began to diversify geographically and socially early on. After the turn of the century, clubs also emerged in rural regions. In 1902, 26 clubs belonged to the national association; by 1914, there were already 115 clubs with around 15,000 members. Football also spread from commercial and academic circles to broader male sections of the population and, from around 1900, also to the working class. The 1920s not only saw a rapid rise in the popularity of top-level football, but also a decade of rapid growth in grassroots football. In the interwar period, young men were gripped by a "football fever" that was repeatedly lamented in educational circles. In the first post-war season, the football section of the Swiss Football and Athletics Federation (SFAV) had 126 clubs with 20,696 members. By the 1930/31 season, this number had risen to 328 clubs with 66,966 members. After the end of the first world war, especially during the early 1920's, many new football clubs were formed. By around 1925 at the latest, every larger Swiss town seems to have had a football pitch and its own club. Top level organised football also experienced a boom. Not only were small clubs being formed, the larger already existing clubs were expanding and growing too. Between 1922 and 1930, twelve new football stadiums were built, each with a capacity of over 10,000 spectators. Semi-professional and fully professional football players began to emerge and transfer fees started to become a reality. Roughly speaking, the Swiss football movement had tripled in size in about a decade.[1]
The period between the two World Wars is considered the heyday of Swiss football, the golden age. During this time, the Swiss national team won the silver medal at the 1924 Olympic football tournament in Paris and twice reached the quarterfinals of a World Cup. They reached the quarterfinals 1934 in Italy and 1938 in France. Particularly noteworthy was the 4–2 victory against the Greater German selection at the 1938 World Cup, which was considered by many to be part of the "spiritual defence of the country" against Hitler's aggressive policies. Switzerland also developed one of the first professional leagues in Europe, which contributed to the professionalisation of the sport. The clubs were modern and innovative, which put Swiss football on the European stage. During this period, many talented players came to the fore, including Xam Abegglen and Trello Abegglen and Severino Minelli. The golden age of Swiss football was an era of growth, success, and innovation. The combination of sporting success and the development of professional structures laid the foundation for the future development of football in Switzerland and made the country one of the most innovative in European football.[1]
However, at this time, the Swiss league system was beginning to suffer a crisis and this would expand further during the following years. The structure of the Swiss championships provided for a Serie A with 27 teams (3 groups of 9 clubs), a Promotion Series of 54 teams (6 groups of 8 teams) and, subsequently, the regional Serie B, C and D. There were disagreements between smaller and larger clubs. For example, the smaller clubs wanted direct promotion without going through play-offs, while the larger clubs, with some professional and semi-professional players, were insisting on separating the championship from the lower leagues, in a system similar to that which had already been implemented in Italy in 1922. However, this wish was overturned and the hoped-for spectator increase failed to materialise. As time progressed, the professionalism came under criticism from various (sports) political camps. This, not least, due to financial problems within some of the clubs. The Swiss Football and Athletics Federation (SFAV), as the Swiss Football Association used to call itself, later issued a complete ban on professional players in 1941.[2]
In the meantime, to try and relieve these uprising confrontations and the resulting awkward situation, upon the initiative of Eugen Landolt (the then President of FC Baden) the competition called Swiss Cup was organized for the season 1925–26 by the SFAV. The introduction of the tournament was approved in principle at the delegate meeting of the SFAV on 27/28 July 1924, despite opposition from the larger, top-tier clubs. The final implementation and corresponding regulations were approved a year later, on 27/28 June 1925. Seventy-five clubs participated in the first edition and the first eleven preliminary round matches were played in September 1925. The Lausanne banker Aurèle-Gilbert Sandoz (1884-1952) donated the "Sandoz Trophy," the 6.86-kilogram, 49-cm-high silver cup for the cup winner, which is still in use today.[3]
Format
[edit]This season's cup competition began with a preliminary round, which was held in advance of the main competition. This qualifying round was played on the first Sunday in September 1925, thus at the same day as the domestic league seasons began. The first principal round was played on the first Sunday in October. The competition was to be completed on Sunday 11 April 1926 with the final, which this year took place at the Letzigrund in Zürich.
The preliminary round was held for the lower league teams that were not qualified for the main competition. Reserve teams were not admitted to the competition. The 27 clubs from this season's top-tier, the 1925–26 Serie A, joined the cup competition in the first principal round, which was played on Sunday 4 October 1925.
The matches were played in a knockout format. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. In the event of a draw at the end of extra time, if agreed between the clubs, a second extra time was played, third extra time was not allowed. If the score was still level at the final whistle, a replay was foreseen and this was played on the visiting team's pitch. If no replay was agreed or if the replay ended in a draw after extra time, a toss of a coin would establish which team was qualified for the next round.[4]
Preliminary round
[edit]The lower league teams that had not qualified for the main competition competed here in a knockout qualification round. Reserve teams were not admitted to the competition. The aim of this preliminary stage was to reduce the number of lower league teams to 37 before the first round was played. The winners of the qualification were to join the clubs from the top-tier that were automatically qualified. The draw in the qualifing stage, and also in the early rounds of the main competition, respected local regionalities. The qualification round was played in advance of the lower leagues regional season, early in September.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 September 1925 | ||
| Stade Nyonnais | 7–2 | Racing-Club Lausanne |
| Signal Lausanne | 2–0 | Concordia Yverdon |
| FC Viktoria Bern[5][6] | 0–5 | FC Forward Morges |
| Delémont | 3–0 | CA Amical Genève |
| FC Madretsch (Biel) | 0–2 | FC Le Locle |
| Chiasso | 2–3 | Frauenfeld |
| FC Oberwinterthur (Tössfeld) | 6–1 | FC Langenthal |
| FC Horgen | 2–0 | SV Höngg |
| FC Oerlikon (ZH) | 2–1 | FC Neumünster Zürich |
| Kickers Luzern | 5–0 | Wohlen |
| Ballspielklub Zürich | 0–1 FF Awd 3–0 * |
Bellinzona |
- Note to match Ballspielklub–Bellinzona: The score was anulled and was awarded as a 3–0 victory for Ballspielklub Zürich, because a player of Bellinzona was not qualified.
First principal round
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 October 1925 | ||
| Monthey | 0–7 | Cantonal Neuchâtel |
| Etoile Carouge | 0–1 | Young Boys |
| SV Helvetia Basel | 3–4 | Black Stars |
| Grasshopper Club | 4–2 | Vereinigten FC Winterthur-Veltheim |
| Basel | 8–1 | FC Horgen |
| FC Oerlikon (ZH) | 1–4 | Aarau |
| Montreux-Sports | 2–4 | Bern |
| Stade Nyonnais | 5–3 | Central Fribourg |
| FC Orbe | 0–7 | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| SG Biberist-Derendingen | 6–3 | Cercle des Sports Bienne |
| Servette | 7–0 | FC Saint-Jean (GE) |
| Lausanne-Sport | 9–1 | Fribourg |
| Zähringia Bern | 1–3 | Signal Lausanne |
| Vevey Sports | 0–2 | FC Forward Morges |
| Solothurn | 3–1 | Grenchen |
| Étoile-Sporting | 6–1 | Minerva Bern |
| Delémont | 0–7 | FC Le Locle |
| Biel-Bienne | 3–0 | Urania Genève Sport |
| FC Diana Zürich | 1–6 | Blue Stars |
| Sparta Schaffhausen | 2–1 | Young Fellows |
| FC Romanshorn | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Zürich |
| SC Veltheim | 6–1 | Ballspielklub Zürich |
| FC Olten | 0–1 | Old Boys |
| FC Töss (Winterthur) | 1–3 | St. Gallen |
| Baden | 0–3 | Luzern |
| Concordia Basel | 17–1 | Kreuzlingen-Emmishofen |
| Kickers Luzern | 2–0 | SC Zug |
| Nordstern | 17–1 | Frauenfeld |
| FC Liestal | 3–1 | FC Oberwinterthur (Tössfeld) |
| Lugano | 10–3 | Arbon |
| Brühl | 5–0 | Sirius Zürich |
| FC Breite (Basel) | 4–3 | FC Buchs (AG) |
- Replay
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 October 1925 | ||
| Zürich | 7–2 | FC Romanshorn |
Matches
[edit]| FC Oerlikon (ZH)[7] | 1–4 | Aarau |
|---|---|---|
 |
FCA summary | |
- Oerlikon played the 1925/26 season in the Serie Promotion (second-tier), Aarau in the Serie A (top-tier).
- Basel played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier), Horgen in the Serie Promotion (second-tier),
| Servette | 7–0 | FC Saint-Jean (GE) |
|---|---|---|
| 3x Passello 1x Matringe 1x Pichler 2x Lüthy |
Servette summary |
- Servette played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier), Saint-Jean in the Serie Promotion (second-tier),
| FC Romanshorn | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Zürich |
|---|---|---|
| Hugentobler 10' (1:0) Hugentobler 46' (2:0) |
FCZ summary | 30' (pen 1:1) 40' (1:1) |
- Romanshorn played the 1925/26 season in the Serie Promotion (second-tier), Zürich in the Serie A (top-tier)
| Zürich | 7–2 | FC Romanshorn |
|---|---|---|
| Schenker 5' (1:0) Mantel 7' (2:0)Hintermann Hintermann Hintermann Mantel (6:2)Schenker (7:2) |
FCZ summary | (2:1) Grossmann 20' (2:2) Hugentobler |
Round 2
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November 1925 | ||
| Servette | 5–2 | Lausanne-Sport |
| Cantonal Neuchâtel | 1–5 | Young Boys |
| Solothurn | 0–1 | Étoile-Sporting |
| FC Le Locle | 0–1 | Biel-Bienne |
| Black Stars | 0–4 | Grasshopper Club |
| Brühl | 6–0 | FC Breite (Basel) |
| Kickers Luzern | 0–3 | Nordstern |
| Old Boys | 4–6 | St. Gallen |
| FC Liestal | 1–6 | Lugano |
| Bern | 2–1 | Stade Nyonnais |
| Signal Lausanne | 2–0 | FC Forward Morges |
| Luzern | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Concordia Basel |
| Zürich | 8–1 | SC Veltheim (Winterthur) |
| Basel | 1–1 * | Aarau (t) |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds | 2–1 | SG Biberist-Derendingen |
| Blue Stars | 3–2 | Sparta Schaffhausen |
- Note (t): Match Basel–Aarau no replay was agreed between the two teams. Aarau qualified on toss of a coin.
Matches
[edit]| Servette | 5–2 | Lausanne-Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Jan Zila (1:0) 3x Passello 1x Bailly |
Servette summary | |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Zürich | 8–1 | SC Veltheim (Winterthur)[9] |
|---|---|---|
| Schenker (1:0) Hintermann 30' (2:0)Schenker (3:0)Pfändler 48' (4:0)Schenker (5:0)Wydler (6:0)Pfändler (7:0)Schenker (8:1) |
FCZ summary | (7:1) Paul Lätsch |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Basel | 1–1 | Aarau |
|---|---|---|
| Hürzeler (1:0) |
FCB summary | (1:1) Hürzeler |
After 82 minutes, with the score at 1–1, the game was interrupted due to the falling darkness. The Aarau captain Imhof demanded the game to be abandoned, due to shortsightedness of some players. Basel also requested that the game be abandoned. The referee does not accept the suggestion and after several minutes of discussion, the game continued until the end. Due to the darkness, extra time could not be played and the game should have been replayed. The two clubs could not agree to a date. The FCA was ultimately qualified on toss of a coin.
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
Round 3
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 December 1925 | ||
| Zürich | 2–3 | Grasshopper Club |
| Signal Lausanne | 0–2 | Servette |
| Biel-Bienne | 2–0 | Etoile Carouge |
| Blue Stars | 3–2 | Aarau |
| Lugano | 2–1 | Nordstern |
| 13 December 1925 | ||
| St. Gallen | 2–4 | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| 20 December 1925 | ||
| Brühl | 8–1 | Concordia Basel |
| 3 January 1926 | ||
| Young Boys | 1–3 | Bern |
Matches
[edit]| Zürich | 2–3 | Grasshopper Club |
|---|---|---|
| Eggler (1:1) Schenker 50' (2:1) |
FCZ summary | 20' (0:1) Hofmann 58' (2:2) M. Weiler 60' (og 2:3) Güttinger |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Signal Lausanne | 0–2 | Servette |
|---|---|---|
| Servette summary | 4' (0:1) Lüthy 23' (0:2) Zila |
- Signal Lausanne played the 1925/26 season in Serie Promotion (second-tier) Servette in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Blue Stars | 3–2 | Aarau |
|---|---|---|
| Tisi Wettstein Springer |
FCA summary | Hürzeler Treier |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
Quarter-finals
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 February 1926 | ||
| Lugano | 9–1 | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Biel-Bienne | 2–6 | Grasshopper Club |
| Brühl | 2–3 | Servette |
| Bern | 2–0 | Blue Stars |
Matches
[edit]| Lugano | 9–1 | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
|---|---|---|
| Beretta 3' (1:0) Beretta 5' (2:0)Fink (3:0)4x Poretti Sturzenegger 75' (8:0)Sturzenegger 86' (891) |
RSSSF summary | 77' (8:1) Daepp |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Biel-Bienne | 2–6 | Grasshopper Club |
|---|---|---|
| Buffat 44' Strasser I |
RSSSF summary | Frankenfeldt Neuenschwander Honegger M. Weiler Max Abegglen Max Abegglen |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
| Bern | 2–0 | Blue Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Motta Motta |
RSSSF summary |
- Both teams played the 1925/26 season in the Serie A (top-tier).
Semi-finals
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 March 1926 | ||
| Servette | 0–1 | Bern |
| Grasshopper Club | 6–0 | Lugano |
Matches
[edit]| Servette | 0–1 | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Servette summary | 75' (0:1) Stämpfli |
| Grasshopper Club | 6–0 | Lugano |
|---|---|---|
| Frankenfeldt 25' (pen.) Frankenfeldt 41' (pen.)Max Abegglen 42' (3:0)Max Abegglen 60' (4:0)M. Weiler 76' (5:0)Honegger 79' (6:0) |
RSSSF summary |
Final
[edit]The final was held during mid April 1926. The location for the final was decided by a toss of a coin betweem the two finalists. Grasshopper Club won this draw and so the final was held in Zürich, however not in their own home stadium, but in the Letzigrund.
Summary
[edit]| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 April 1926 | ||
| Grasshopper Club | 2–1 | Bern |
Telegram
[edit]| Grasshopper Club | 2–1 | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Honegger 17' (1:0) Max Abegglen 72' (2:0) |
Fussball-Schweiz summary | 83' (2:1) Küng |
The SFAV President Jakob Schlegel presented the "Sandoz Trophy" to the first Swiss Cup tournament winner in history, the Grasshopper Club.[4]
Further in Swiss football
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Brändle, Fabian; Koller, Christian (2018). "Die goldene Zeit des Schweizer Fussballs 1918–1939" [The golden times in Swiss football 1918–1939] (in Swiss High German). Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS). Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Koller, Christian; Meier, Marianne (16 June 2025). "Fussball Schweiz" [Football Switzerland] (in Swiss High German). Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ^ (red) Schweizerischer Fussballverband (SFV) (2024). "Geschichte" [History] (in Swiss High German). SFV. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ a b Garin, Erik; Kungler, Peter (2024). "Switzerland 1925/26". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ (red) Fussballverband Bern/Jura (2024). "FC Weissenstein" (in German). Fussballverband Bern/Jura. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Lüpold, Adrian (22 May 2019). "Das kam bei der Fraktion von Viktoria nicht gut an" [This did not go down well with the Viktoria faction] (in Swiss High German). Bernerzeitung. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ (red) Fussballverband Region Zürich (2024). "FC Oerlikon/Polizei ZH" (in German). Fussballverband Region Zürich. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ (red) Fussballverband Region Zürich (2024). "FC Horgen" (in German). fvrz.ch / Fussballverband Region Zürich. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ (red) Fussballverband Region Zürich (2024). "SC Veltheim" (in German). fvrz.ch - Fussballverband Region Zürich. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
Sources
[edit]| Preceded by Och Cup |
Swiss Cup seasons |
Succeeded by 1926–27 |