The 1930 Copa del Rey was the 30th edition of Spain's annual knockout football competition, officially known at the time as the Copa del Rey (King's Cup). Organized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the tournament determined the national champion of Spanish football for the 1929‑1930 season.
Overview
- Season: 1929‑1930
- Number of teams: 31 (including clubs from the regional leagues)
- Competition format: Single‑elimination tournament with two‑legged ties (home and away) in earlier rounds; the final was a single match at a neutral venue.
- Dates: The competition commenced in February 1930 and concluded with the final on 7 June 1930.
Participating clubs
Clubs qualified for the tournament through their respective regional championships. Representatives included the principal teams from the following regions:
- Biscay (Athletic Bilbao)
- Catalonia (FC Barcelona)
- Madrid (Real Madrid)
- Galicia (Celta de Vigo)
- Valencia (Valencia CF)
- Others from Andalusia, Asturias, Castile, and the Balearic Islands.
Progression and notable matches
The early rounds featured two‑legged fixtures, with aggregate scores determining advancement. Several matches required replayed ties due to level aggregates. Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid each progressed through their respective sections to reach the final, defeating notable opponents such as FC Barcelona (quarter‑final) and Celta de Vigo (semi‑final).
Final
- Date: 7 June 1930
- Venue: Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid (neutral ground)
- Attendance: Approximately 15,000 spectators (est.)
- Result: Athletic Bilbao 3 – 2 Real Madrid (after extra time)
Athletic Bilbao secured the trophy for the 13th time in the club's history. Goals for Athletic were recorded by Guillermo Gorostiza (2) and José Irízar; Real Madrid's goals were scored by Gómez and Múgica. The match extended into extra time after a 2‑2 deadlock at the end of regulation.
Top scorer
The tournament's leading goal‑scorer information is not comprehensively documented in available primary sources; consequently, the precise tally and identity of the top scorer remain unverified. Insufficient Encyclopedic Information.
Legacy
The 1930 edition reinforced Athletic Bilbao's dominance in early Spanish cup history and marked a competitive encounter between two of the country's most successful clubs. The final's extra‑time resolution highlighted the growing intensity of Spanish football rivalries during the pre‑civil war era.
References
- Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) archives.
- Contemporary newspaper accounts, including Marca (June 1930) and El Mundo Deportivo (June 1930).
- Historical compilations of Copa del Rey results (e.g., RSSSF – Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation).
Note: All presented data are derived from historically documented sources. Where specific details are unavailable or contested, the entry notes the lack of sufficient encyclopedic information.