1996 in association football
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The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1996 throughout the world.
Events
- Copa Libertadores 1996: Won by River Plate after defeating América de Cali on an aggregate score of 2-1.
- Euro 1996: Germany beat the Czech Republic 2-1 with a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff at Wembley Stadium.
- The UEFA Regions' Cup is founded for amateur teams in Europe to have an international tournament.
- February 7 – Logi Ólafsson makes his debut as the manager of Iceland with a 1-7 loss against Slovenia.
- March 3 – Dutch club NEC Nijmegen fires Wim Koevermans and appoints former coach Leen Looyen as his successor.
- April 6 – Major League Soccer kicks off: an overflow crowd of 31,683 packed Spartan Stadium to witness the historic first game. San Jose Clash forward Eric Wynalda scored the league's first goal in a 1-0 victory over D.C. United.
- May 11 – Manchester United wins 1-0 over Liverpool to claim the FA Cup. United becomes the first team to win the English League and Cup Double twice.
- May 16 – PSV Eindhoven claims the Dutch Cup by defeating Sparta Rotterdam in De Kuip: 5-2.
- August 18 – PSV Eindhoven wins the Johan Cruijff Schaal, the annual opening of the new season in the Eredivisie, by a 3-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam.
- August 27 – Manager Alan Ball is fired by Manchester City and succeeded by Steve Coppell.
- November 8 – Phil Neal replaces Manchester City-manager Steve Coppell as caretaker, to be succeeded by Frank Clark on December 29.
- October 9 – Manager Huub Stevens leaves Roda JC. He is replaced by interim-coach Eddy Achterberg, and later by Martin Jol.
- November 26 – Juventus FC wins the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo, Japan by defeating Argentina's River Plate: 1-0. The only goal is scored by Alessandro del Piero in the 81st minute.
Winner club national championships
Asia
Europe
- Croatia – Dinamo Zagreb
- Czech republic – Slavia Prague
- England – Manchester United
- France – AJ Auxerre
- Germany – Borussia Dortmund
- Italy – A.C. Milan
- Netherlands
- Portugal – FC Porto
- Turkey – Fenerbahçe
- FR Yugoslavia – Partizan
North America
South America
Argentina
- Clausura – Vélez Sársfield
- Apertura – River Plate
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Paraguay
International tournaments
- African Cup of Nations in South Africa (January 13 – February 3, 1996)
- UEFA European Football Championship in England (June 8 – 30 1996)
- Baltic Cup in Narva, Estonia (July 7 – 9 1996)
- Olympic Games in Atlanta, United States (July 20 – August 3, 1996)
- Men's Tournament
- Women's Tournament
National team results
Asia
Europe
South America
Birth
- 29 June: Bart Ramselaar, Dutch international footballer
Deaths
January
- January 2 – Karl Rappan (90), Austrian footballer and manager
February
- February 23 – Helmut Schön (80), German footballer and manager
May
- May 11 – Ademir Marques de Menezes, Brazilian striker, top scorer at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. (73)
- May 16 – Danilo Alvim, Brazilian midfielder, runner up at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. (75)
August
- August 2 – Obdulio Varela, Uruguayan midfielder, winner as captain of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, commonly regarded as one of the greatest classic holding midfielders. (78)
September
- September 17 – Teodoro "Lolo" Fernandez (84), Peruvian footballer
October
- October 4 - Silvio Piola, Italian striker, winner of the 1938 FIFA World Cup, scoring 2 goals in the final. Highest goalscorer in Italian first league history. (83)
- October 30 – Roberto Belangero, Brazilian midfielder, runner-up at the 1957 South American Championship. (68)
November
- November 7 – Hans Klodt (82), German international footballer
- November 26 – Guido Gratton (64), Italian footballer