NEIL COTTON examines the knock-out competitions that football discarded

Jaap Stam and Romario clash in the Intercontinental Cup in 1999

Wise and Vialli celebrate with the Cup Winners Cup

CUP football boasts a long and illustrious history – longer even than league football – with that doyenne of knockout tournaments, the FA Cup, dating back to 1871, playing no small role in facilitating the spread of the modern game.
In turn many competitions sought to replicate that successful format and a whole range of cup tournaments have come and gone over the years. At their best s...