1937 Copa de la España Libre

The Copa de la España Libre 1937 (Free Spain Cup), also referred to as the Copa de la España Libre – Trofeo Presidente de la República 1937, was a football competition played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The competition, played out in June and July 1937, was won by Levante FC.

1937 Copa de la España Libre

Levante FC, champions
Tournament details
Country	Spanish Republic
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	Levante FC (1st title)
Runner-up	Valencia FC
Tournament statistics
Matches played	12
← 1936 1939 →

History

It was originally intended that the top four teams from the Mediterranean League would enter the competition, but FC Barcelona opted instead to tour Mexico and the United States. As a result, Levante FC, who had finished fifth in the league, took their place. The other three teams to enter were Valencia CF, CE Espanyol and Girona FC. The first stage of the competition was played as a mini-league with the top two teams, Levante and Valencia, then qualifying for the final.^[1]

For seventy years Levante unsuccessfully claimed this competition was the equivalent the Copa del Rey.^[2] From 2007, the Congress of Deputies urged the Royal Spanish Football Federation to recognise it;^[3][4][5] on 25 March 2023, the RFEF recognised it,^[6] but not as a Copa del Rey.^[7]

Group Stage Table

Teams	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	Pts
Levante FC	6	3	2	1	18	9	8
Valencia FC	6	2	2	2	12	13	6
CE Espanyol	6	3	0	3	12	16	6
Girona FC	6	0	4	2	11	15	4

Final

Levante	1–0	Valencia
Nieto 78'	Report

18 July 1937

17:00

Sarrià, Barcelona

Levante

Valencia

GK José Valero DF Vicente Olivares DF Ernesto Calpe MF Agustín Santateresa Dolz MF Andrés Calero MF José Rubio FW Puig II FW José García-Nieto FW Vicente Martínez 55' FW Gaspar Rubio FW Fraisón Manager: Puig I

GK Antolín DF Manuel Alepuz DF Juan Ramón 55' MF Inocencio Bertolín MF Carlos Iturraspe MF Arín Maguregui FW Jaime Doménech FW Severiano Goiburu FW José Vilanova FW Amadeo Ibáñez FW José Richart Manager: Andrés Balsa

Copa de la España Libre 1937 Winners
Levante FC 1st Title

References

1. Spain - Copa de España Libre 1937, RSSSF
2. Ball, Phil (2003). Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football
3. www.elpais.com
4. "Villar demora la Copa del Levante". Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
5. La FEF no reconocerá al Barça la Liga del año 37
6. Rodilla, Noel (25 March 2023). "La Federación reconoce la Copa del Levante de 1937 y la del Deportivo de 1912" [The Federation recognizes Levante's 1937 Cup and Deportivo's 1912 Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
7. "TRACK RECORD - The team in white win their 20th Copa trophy. - LIST OF WINNERS OF THE SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP - COPA DE SM EL REY". RFEF.es. Royal Spanish Football Federation. 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.