FENIX Trophy explained

Fenix Trophy
Number Of Teams:Varied
Region:Europe
Current Champions: F.C. United of Manchester (2nd title)
Most Successful Club: F.C. United of Manchester (2 titles)
Current:2023–24 Fenix Trophy

The Fenix Trophy is an annual football competition for semi-professional and amateur European football clubs. The competition is officially recognized by UEFA.[1] [2] [3]

First contested in the 2021–22 season, the word FENIX is an acronym and stands for Friendly, European, Non-professional, Innovative, and Xenial (From the ancient Greek xenos, the word examined for an attitude of resistance to strangers, with maintaining mutual respect for cultural differences).

History

Season! scope="col" style="width:210px"
Winner
2021–22 F.C. United of Manchester
2022–23
2023–24 F.C. United of Manchester 

The Fenix Trophy was originally envisioned by Alessandro Aleotti, chairman of Italian club Brera Calcio.[4] The competition was first contested during the 2021–22 season, with the first match taking place on 21 September 2021, between German club HFC Falke and Czech club Prague Raptors.[5] The first final took place on 11 June 2022, between Prague Raptors and F.C. United of Manchester, with F.C. United of Manchester being crowned the inaugural champions.[6]

While the competition's eligibility criteria allows all clubs to compete on a similar level, the diversity of club history quickly became apparent, with many clubs founded in recent years, others have a long history that includes professional football. Examples from the competition's early history include Beveren,[7] a Belgian club notable for having played professional European football, most recently in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, and Venus București, winners of the Romanian Liga I on seven occasions.

The number of teams was increased to nine for the 2022–23 season, with Danish club BK Skjold winning the competition. For the 2023–24 season the number of teams was again increased to twelve, with F.C. United of Manchester winning their second title.[8]

Format

Qualification

Semi-professional and amateur teams from across Europe are invited to play in the competition based on exceptional social, historical and cultural significance.[9]

Tournament

The first tournament consisted of two groups of four teams, with the two group winners qualifying for the final.[10] With the addition of a ninth team for the 2022–23 season, the tournament consisted of three groups of three teams, with the winners of each group and the highest ranked second-placed team advancing to the knockout stage. The 2023–24 tournament consisted of twelve teams split into four groups of three, with the four group winners qualifying for the knockout stage.[11]

List of finals

Key
Match was won during extra time
Match was won on a penalty shoot-out
List of Fenix Trophy finals
scope=colSeasonscope=colCountryscope=colWinnersscope=colScorescope=colRunners-upscope=colCountryscope=colVenuescope=colAttendance
2021–22FC United of Manchester2–0Prague RaptorsStadio Romeo Neri, Rimini, Italy
2022–23BK Skjold3–0Prague RaptorsSan Siro, Milan, Italy
2023–24FC United of Manchester4–0Prague RaptorsStadio Tre Stelle, Desenzano del Garda, Italy

Records and statistics

Performances by club

Performance in the Fenix Trophy by club
scope=colClubscope=colWinnersscope=colRunners-upscope=col class="unsortable"Years wonscope=col class="unsortable"Years runner-up
scope=row F.C. United of Manchester202022, 2024
scope=row BK Skjold102023
scope=row Prague Raptors032022, 2023, 2024

Participation by club

!Nation!No.!Clubs!Seasons
England (3) 3 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
1 2023–24
1 2023–24
Italy (2) 2 2021–22, 2022–23
1 2021–22
Poland (2) 1 2021–22
2 2022–23, 2023–24
Czech Republic (1) 3 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
Netherlands (1) 2 2021–22, 2022–23
Spain (1) 2 2021–22, 2022–23
Belgium (1) 2 2022–23, 2023–24
Denmark (1) 2 2022–23, 2023–24
Wales (1) 2 2023–24, 2024-25
Germany (1) 1 2021–22
Serbia (1) 1 2022–23
Finland (1) 1 2023–24
France (1) 1 2023–24
Norway (1) 1 2023–24
Romania (1) 1 2023–24

Notes and References

  1. News: Fenix Trophy: el placer de jugar y la amistad por encima de todo. 19 November 2022. El Salto. 14 June 2024.
  2. News: La fiesta europea del fútbol de barrio. 12 June 2022 . Levante EMV. 14 June 2024.
  3. Web site: DWS doet mee aan de Fenix Trophy, het Europees toernooi dat ageert tegen commercie rond voetbal. parool.nl (Archived). 2023-09-12. 2022-11-30. https://archive.today/20221130100504/https://www.parool.nl/sport/dws-doet-mee-aan-de-fenix-trophy-het-europees-toernooi-dat-ageert-tegen-commercie-rond-voetbal~be955838/. bot: unknown.
  4. News: Fenix Trophy: A new shot at European glory for semi-professional and amateur clubs. 8 November 2022. BBC Sport. 8 June 2024.
  5. News: FENIX Trophy: The alternative European Super League. 23 September 2021. DW News. 8 June 2024.
  6. News: FC United of Manchester's road to European glory. 9 December 2022 . Mancunian Matters. 8 June 2024.
  7. News: Eersteprovincialer KSK Beveren trekt Europa in: "Onze spelers hebben hiervoor wel vakantie moeten nemen" . 15 November 2022. Het Nieuwsblad . 8 June 2024.
  8. News: FC United of Manchester claim European trophy with 4-0 win . 12 May 2024. ESPN . 8 June 2024.
  9. Web site: Brera Holdings’ FENIX Trophy Tournament Enters Final Stage. 7 June 2023. GlobalNewswire . 10 June 2024.
  10. Web site: Tournament 21/22. Fenix. 10 June 2024.
  11. Web site: Tournament 23/24. Fenix. 8 June 2024.