Premier League Asia Trophy Explained

Premier League Asia Trophy
Founded:2003
Abolished:2019
Number Of Teams:4
Region:AFC (Asia)
Current Champions:Wolverhampton Wanderers (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Chelsea (2 titles)

The Premier League Asia Trophy (formerly the FA Premier League Asia Cup[1]) is a biennial pre-season association football friendly tournament in Asia. The two-day competition was inaugurated in 2003 and is one of two Premier League-affiliated competitions to be hosted outside England, alongside the Premier League Summer Series in the US.[2] [3] It has taken place every other summer since then in order to avoid conflicting with the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.[4] For sponsorship purposes, it was referred to as the Barclays Asia Trophy from 2007 until 2015,[5] after which the Premier League discontinued title sponsorship.[6]

The competition features three clubs that are members of the Premier League, as well as a local team from the host country. It employs a knockout system in which the winners of the first matches advance to the final, while the losing teams take part in a third place playoff.[3] [7] The tournament format was partly modified for the 2017 edition, with no local team participating after the withdrawal of Shanghai SIPG.[8] A fourth Premier League club – Crystal Palace – agreed to take their place having avoided relegation and played alongside Liverpool, Leicester City, and West Bromwich Albion.[8] This marked the first time the tournament featured teams solely from the Premier League.[9] [10]

Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in 2003, and finished victorious again in 2011. Seven other sides have won the Premier League Asia Trophy: Bolton Wanderers in 2005, Portsmouth in 2007, Tottenham Hotspur in 2009, Manchester City in 2013, Arsenal in 2015, Liverpool in 2017, and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2019. Manchester City is the most regular participant, having contested the tournament on three occasions. Thailand's under-23 national team are the only local Asian side to advance to the final of the contest. Hong Kong has hosted the tournament four times, more than any other city.

History

The FA Premier League Asia Cup, as it was originally known, was first organised in March 2003 by ESPN STAR Sports and formally announced by the league's chairman, Dave Richards.[11] It was established as a result of "the increasing popularity of the Premier League in the continent".[4] Asia and Oceania accounted for the league's largest audience during the 2013–14 season with 339.5 million viewers. Moreover, China (52%), India (49%), and Thailand (47%) had "the largest broadcast penetration" among international markets after Nigeria.[12] With the contest scheduled to take place three weeks before the start of the league season, it is intended to serve as the last warm-up event for participating teams before they embark on competitive football.[11]

The inaugural tournament took place between 24 July and 27 July 2003,[13] with Chelsea, Newcastle, Birmingham City, and Malaysia taking part.[14] The final saw 47,500 people filling the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.[15] Chelsea won the first tournament, edging Newcastle 5–4 in a penalty shootout that went to sudden death after a goalless draw at full time.[15] Two years later Bolton Wanderers made an appearance alongside Everton, Manchester City, and the Thai under-23 national team, and defeated the local side 1–0 in the final, courtesy of a late penalty by El Hadji Diouf.

The 2007 edition was held in Hong Kong, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the city's transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to China.[16] It was the first event to feature Barclays as the title sponsor.[5] [17] The title match was an upset in which Portsmouth held Liverpool to a goalless draw, before their goalkeeper David James saved two spot kicks in the ensuing penalty shootout that ended 4–2 in Portsmouth's favour.[18] Despite the fact that the Premier League Asia Trophy was sold out for the first time in its history,[19] the right to host the 2009 competition was awarded to Beijing.[20] The attendance for that contest, however, was underwhelming, with only 10,000 people present for the final at the 66,000-capacity Workers' Stadium,[21] where Tottenham Hotspur beat Hull City 3–0 thanks to a brace from Robbie Keane.

The next two tournaments saw the Premier League Asia Trophy return to Hong Kong. In 2011, Chelsea participated in the competition a second time,[22] and regained the trophy by triumphing 2–0 against Aston Villa before a capacity crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium. Manchester City won the 2013 event, which was overshadowed by heavy rain causing the semifinal matches to be abbreviated to 80 minutes and leading to the degradation of the stadium's playing surface.[23] [24] The quality of the pitch was universally lambasted,[25] especially after several players were consequently injured while playing on it.[24] [26]

The 2015 edition was hosted by Singapore to honour the city-state's 50th anniversary of independence from Malaysia.[27] [28] Arsenal claimed their first Premier League Asia Trophy, routing the host country's Select XI side 4–0 behind a Chuba Akpom hat-trick,[29] before defeating Everton 3–1 in the final. The event saw tournament attendance records broken for most people at a single match day (52,107) and the largest cumulative attendance across the two days (just short of 82,000).[30] [31]

The 2017 event featured Liverpool, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace.[8] Due to the success of the Asia Trophy, the Premier League has considered establishing similar competitions in other continents to broaden their global presence. Richard Scudamore, the league's executive chairman, envisions Africa and the United States to be likely locations for such tournaments.[32] [33]

Tournaments

Team
Name of the team and number of times they had finished in the position at that point (if more than one)
Denotes the local team from the host country
Winner!style="width:160px;"
Runner-upThirdFourthVenueRef(s)
12003ChelseaNewcastle UnitedBirmingham CityMalaysiaBukit Jalil National Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)[34] [35]
22005Bolton WanderersThailand U23Manchester CityEvertonRajamangala Stadium (Bangkok, Thailand)[36]
32007PortsmouthLiverpoolFulhamSouth ChinaHong Kong Stadium
(Hong Kong)		[37] [38]
42009Tottenham HotspurHull CityWest Ham UnitedBeijing GuoanWorkers' Stadium
(Beijing, China)		[39] [40]
52011Aston VillaBlackburn RoversKitcheeHong Kong Stadium
(Hong Kong)		[41]
62013Manchester CitySunderlandTottenham HotspurHong Kong Stadium
(Hong Kong)		[42] [43]
72015ArsenalEvertonStoke CitySingapore Select XINational Stadium (Singapore)[44]
82017LiverpoolLeicester CityCrystal PalaceWest Bromwich AlbionHong Kong Stadium
(Hong Kong)		[45]
92019Wolverhampton WanderersManchester CityNewcastle UnitedWest Ham UnitedHongkou Football Stadium
(Shanghai, China)
Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre
(Nanjing, China)

Performance by team

Premier League Asia Trophy performances by team
TeamWinnerRunner-upThirdFourthTotal
Chelsea22
Manchester City1113
Liverpool112
Tottenham Hotspur112
Bolton Wanderers11
Portsmouth11
Arsenal11
Wolverhampton Wanderers11
Newcastle United112
Everton112
Thailand U2311
Hull City11
Aston Villa11
Sunderland11
Leicester City11
West Ham United112
Birmingham City11
Fulham11
Blackburn Rovers11
Stoke City11
Crystal Palace11
South China22
Malaysia11
Beijing Guoan11
Kitchee11
Singapore Select XI11
West Bromwich Albion11

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Can Barclays Asia Trophy be springboard for Everton. 26 June 2015. 2 May 2017. Adam. Jones. Liverpool Echo. https://web.archive.org/web/20170502141512/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/can-barclays-asia-trophy-springboard-9534926. 2 May 2017.
  2. News: Everton To Play Asia Trophy In Singapore. 11 March 2015. 1 May 2017. Everton Football Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909202747/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/03/10/everton-to-play-asia-trophy-in-singapore. 9 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Barclays Asia Trophy 2013 – Guide to The Tournament. 1 May 2017. TottenhamHotspur.com. Premier League. https://web.archive.org/web/20170617120512/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/uploadedFiles/Shared_Assets/Documents/BATguide2.pdf. 17 June 2017.
  4. News: What Is The Asia Trophy?. 14 July 2015. 1 May 2017. Phil. Thomas. Everton Football Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234455/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/07/14/what-is-the-asia-trophy. 4 March 2016.
  5. News: Barclays Asia Trophy kicks off in Singapore. 15 July 2015. 5 May 2017. Barclays. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505074751/https://www.home.barclays/news/2015/07/asia-trophy.html. 5 May 2017. This is the fifth time that Barclays has sponsored the event, after tournaments in Hong Kong in 2007, Beijing in 2009 and Hong Kong again in 2011 and 2013, when Manchester City lifted the trophy..
  6. News: Premier League new logo unveiled for sponsor-free 2016/17 season. 9 February 2016. 20 July 2017. Mark. Critchley. The Independent. London. 25 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625182751/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-unveils-new-logo-for-sponsor-free-201617-season-a6862496.html. live.
  7. News: Arsenal set for Barclays Asia Trophy. Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 11 March 2015. 5 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505075036/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150310/arsenal-set-for-barclays-asia-trophy. 5 May 2017.
  8. News: Liverpool to face Leicester, Crystal Palace and West Brom in summer Premier League Asia Trophy. 22 May 2017. 27 May 2017. John. Percy. The Telegraph. London. 23 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180823141902/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/22/liverpool-faceleicester-crystal-palace-west-brom-summer-premier/. live.
  9. News: Leicester, Liverpool to feature in Asia Trophy in Hong Kong. 25 May 2017. 27 May 2017. Michael. Church. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20170527203649/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-asiatrophy-idUKKBN18L1IC. 27 May 2017.
  10. Web site: Premier League Asia Trophy coming to Hong Kong. 25 May 2017. 27 May 2017. Premier League. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525124425/https://www.premierleague.com/news/402247. 25 May 2017.
  11. News: ESPN Star Sports Organises New F.A Premier League Asia Cup. 3 March 2003. 3 May 2017. Sportcal.com. SPORTCAL Global Communications. https://web.archive.org/web/20170502171633/http://www.sportcal.com/News/PressReleases/26825?sportID=256&size=100. 2 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Barclays Asia Trophy vital for EPL growth in Asia, says Scudamore. 16 July 2015. 3 May 2017. Abilash. Nalapat. ESPN Internet Ventures. ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20220607024020/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/story/2523212/asia-trophy-vital-for-premier-league-scudamore. 7 June 2022. dead. dmy-all.
  13. News: Newcastle defeat Birmingham. BBC Sport. BBC. 24 July 2003. 2 May 2017. They will now play in the final of the competition against either Chelsea o[r] Malaysia on Sunday while Birmingham will play in a third-place play off on Saturday.. 17 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160317005546/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3090283.stm. live.
  14. News: Duff completes Chelsea move. BBC Sport. BBC. 21 July 2003. 2 May 2017. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153203/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3081647.stm. live.
  15. News: Chelsea wins Asia Cup in penalty shoot-out. 28 July 2003. 2 May 2017. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20161027043831/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-07-28/chelsea-wins-asia-cup-in-penalty-shoot-out/1455830. 27 October 2016.
  16. News: Football: The Best summer attractions. 27 July 2007. 2 May 2017. Silvio. Vella. The Malta Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20170502133340/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2007-07-27/sports-others/Football-The-Best-summer-attractions-176999. 2 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  17. News: Barclays Asia Trophy returns to Hong Kong. 17 January 2013. 3 May 2017. Barclays. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503091546/https://www.home.barclays/news/2013/01/barclays-asia-trophy-returns-to-hong-kong.html. 3 May 2017. This is the sixth Asia Trophy, with the others having previously been held in Kuala Lumpur (2003), Bangkok (2005), Hong Kong (2007 and 2011) and Beijing (2009). Barclays is the title sponsor of the Asia Trophy for the fourth time.. dead. dmy-all.
  18. News: Portsmouth 0–0 Liverpool (4–2 on penalties). 9 August 2007. 3 May 2017. RTÉ.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004826/https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0727/220827-portsmouth/. live.
  19. News: Liverpool keen to make HK return. 15 September 2009. 3 May 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129053915/http://www.scmp.com/article/692517/liverpool-keen-make-hk-return. live.
  20. News: Beijing gets nod ahead of HK for Asia Trophy. 21 January 2009. 3 May 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129030816/http://www.scmp.com/article/667731/beijing-gets-nod-ahead-hk-asia-trophy. live.
  21. News: Fans can't help falling in love with EPL giants. 31 July 2011. 3 May 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129050859/http://www.scmp.com/article/974953/fans-cant-help-falling-love-epl-giants. live.
  22. News: Chelsea lead field for 2011 Asia Trophy in Hong Kong. 19 October 2010. 3 May 2017. Ossian. Shine. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503094123/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-trophy-idUKTRE69I0QS20101019. 3 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  23. News: Arsenal, Everton and Stoke City to play in Asia trophy. 11 March 2015. 4 May 2017. Julian. Linden. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503175549/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-trophy-idUKKBN0M706L20150311. 3 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  24. News: English Premier League clubs could be set to return to Hong Kong next summer – despite farcical scenes on 'killer pitch' last time. 25 November 2016. James. Porteous. 4 May 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 24 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524183927/https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2049165/english-premier-league-clubs-set-return-hong-kong-next-summer-despite. live.
  25. News: Will Asia Trophy be back? Pitch woes put Hong Kong host at risk of losing out. 29 July 2013. Kin-wa. Chan. James. Porteous. 4 May 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 1 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801092628/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1292748/will-asia-trophy-be-back-pitch-woes-put-hong-kong-host-risk-losing. live.
  26. News: Manchester United cancel training session amid safety fears. 27 July 2013. 4 May 2017. Liam. Twomey. Goal.com. Perform Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503181424/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/5406/pre-season/2013/07/27/4146783/manchester-united-cancel-training-session-amid-safety-fears. 3 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  27. News: Arsenal, Everton and Stoke to play in Asia Trophy. 11 March 2015. 4 May 2017. Dejan. Kalinic. Goal.com. Perform Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503185321/http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/english-football/2015/03/11/9712072/arsenal-everton-and-stoke-to-play-in-asia-trophy. 3 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  28. EPL big boys coming to Singapore, but at what cost?. 16 March 2015. 4 May 2017. Neil. Humphreys. FourFourTwo. Haymarket Media Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20160101174635/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/epl-big-boys-coming-singapore-what-cost. 1 January 2016.
  29. Web site: Akpom hat trick powers lethargic Arsenal to Barclays Asia Trophy final. 15 July 2015. 4 May 2017. Jason. Dasey. ESPN Internet Ventures. ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503192543/http://www.espnfc.com/club/arsenal/359/blog/post/2523210/akpoms-stars-as-arsenal-reach-barclays-asia-trophy-final. 3 May 2017.
  30. News: Barclays Asia Trophy 2015 hailed as 'best ever'. 20 July 2015. 1 May 2017. Barclays. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501124035/https://www.home.barclays/news/2015/07/asia-trophy-roundup.html. 1 May 2017.
  31. News: Football: Premier League chief open to holding Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore again. 19 July 2015. Siang Yee. Chua. 4 May 2017. The Straits Times. Singapore. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503212804/http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-premier-league-chief-open-to-holding-barclays-asia-trophy-in-singapore-again. 3 May 2017.
  32. News: Africa may host Premier League Trophy. BBC Sport. BBC. 21 March 2016. 2 May 2017. 25 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325193023/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35862560. live.
  33. News: English Premier League exploring global expansion. 7 October 2014. 2 May 2017. The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Associated Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20170502140135/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/english-premier-league-exploring-global-expansion/article20964912/. 2 May 2017.
  34. News: Chelsea lift Asia Cup. BBC Sport. BBC. 27 July 2003. 30 April 2017. 23 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423100740/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3099541.stm. live.
  35. News: John brace earns Blues win. BBC Sport. BBC. 26 July 2003. 30 April 2017. 23 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423101613/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/3099205.stm. live.
  36. News: Bolton top Thailand, Man City edge Everton in Asia friendlies. 24 July 2005. 30 April 2017. Agence France-Presse. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429191751/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-07-24/bolton-top-thailand-man-city-edge-everton-in-asia/2066082. 29 April 2017.
  37. News: Portsmouth stun Liverpool on penalties. 28 July 2007. 30 April 2017. Agence France-Presse. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20170312032117/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-28/portsmouth-stun-liverpool-on-penalties/2515502. 12 March 2017.
  38. News: Fulham brush aside South China. 28 July 2007. 30 April 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 25 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625021813/http://www.scmp.com/article/602056/fulham-brush-aside-south-china. live.
  39. News: Robbie Keane strikes twice as Spurs beat Hull to win Asia Trophy. 31 July 2009. 30 April 2017. The Guardian. London. 25 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625050309/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/31/robbie-keane-tottenham-asia-trophy-hull. live.
  40. News: Keane brace helps Spurs win Asia Trophy. 31 July 2009. 30 April 2017. Irish Examiner. Cork. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429195423/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/keane-brace-helps-spurs-win-asia-trophy-420845.html. 29 April 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  41. News: Chelsea crowned Barclays Asia Trophy champions. 1 August 2011. 1 May 2017. Barclays. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501070715/https://www.home.barclays/news/2011/08/chelsea-crowned-barclays-asia-trophy-champions.html. 1 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  42. News: Manchester City rue 1–0 Barclay's Asia victory after Matija Nastajic is injured. 28 July 2013. James. Porteous. 30 April 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 12 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312212033/http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1292292/manchester-city-rue-1-0-barclays-asia-victory-after-matija-nastajic. live.
  43. Web site: Defoe nets hat-trick in Spurs' demolition of South China. 27 July 2013. 30 April 2017. ESPN Internet Ventures. ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20170502183319/http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/225233.html. 2 May 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  44. News: Theo Walcott sets Arsenal on way to win over Everton in Asia Trophy final. 18 July 2015. Press Association. 30 April 2017. The Guardian. London. 25 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625075209/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/18/arsenal-everton-asia-trophy-final-match-report. live.
  45. News: Liverpool win Premier League Asia Trophy. 22 July 2017. Paul. Ryding. 22 July 2017. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 8 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190308133603/https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2103739/liverpool-win-premier-league-asia-trophy. live.

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