TIM Trophy

About TIM Trophy

TIM Trophy History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The TIM Trophy was an Italian pre-season football tournament founded in 2001, mainly featuring prominent clubs Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. Its gameplay rules deviated from the IFAB/FIFA laws of football, resulting in the tournament not being recognized by official governing bodies. Despite this, the event ran for 16 consecutive years before going defunct following the 2016 campaign.

The tournament followed a single round-robin format, where each team faced every other side once. The first match-up was decided by the organizer, with the third team playing against the loser of this opening game, followed by a match against the winner to conclude the competition. Each game lasted only 45 minutes, with the winner earning three points and the loser none. In the event of a draw, a penalty shootout determined the outcome, awarding the winner two points and the loser one.

For the first 12 years, only Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan competed. This changed in 2013 when Inter declined to participate, allowing Sassuolo to take its place. Juventus followed suit in the 2015 edition, as Inter returned. In 2016, Inter dropped out again, paving the way for Celta Vigo to join Sassuolo and AC Milan, making Celta the first non-Italian team to compete.

Juventus, despite being the most renowned club in Italy, holds the joint-worst record in this competition alongside Celta Vigo and Sassuolo, winning it only once in 2009. Inter Milan, however, was the tournament's most successful club, claiming eight titles in 13 appearances, including three consecutive wins on two occasions (2002-2004 and 2010-2012). The Rossoneri secured the trophy five times, with back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015.