International flavour to Gamper

International flavour to Gamper

64 teams from 22 different countries equips have taken part in the Joan Gamper Trophy, with Germany providing most opponents - eight different teams Club León FC will be the first ever Mexican team to take part

Club León FC will be the first ever Mexican team to play in the Joan Gamper Trophy when they face Barça on Monday night. In the nearly 50 years since its inauguration in 1966, the Gamper has hosted 64 teams from  22 different countries at its 47 editions.

From 1966 to 1996 the tournament was played amongst four teams, although since then the Trophy has been fought for in a single game between the hosts and an invited team. Germany has provided the most teams at the tournament,  with 8 teams playing in 18 different editions - Bayern Munich  and Cologne having visited five times each Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach twice and Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburg once each. Only Mönchengladbach, in 1972, and Cologne, in 1978 and 1981 have actually won the trophy. Behind Germany is Italy, who have provided 11 teams for the tournament.

South American participation

Other European countries, such as England and Spain have provided opponents (five each) as have France(four), Holland, Belgium, USSR and  Czechoslovakia (three each), Portugal and Hungary (2) and Switzerland, Rumania, Austria, Croatia Scotland, Bulgaria and Sweden (1 each).

There have also been plenty of South American sides at the Tournament, with Argentina providing five opponents for 11 editions. Boca Juniors have appeared on five occasions, most recently in 2008, when Barça won 2-1. Brazil have provide five teams for 10 separate editions, with Santos’ visit last season the most recent example.

PSV Eindhoven most appearances

Dutch side PSV Eindhoven are the team who have made most appearances in the competition, providing opposition on six occasions – in 1980, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994 and 2000, although they have never won the Trophy. Cologne, Anderlecht,  Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors have all appeared five times.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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