The UEFA Intertoto Cup—once dismissed as a “summer slog” or “the ghost of Europe”—provided a curious and often overlooked chapter in the history of Italian football.
For many Serie A and B clubs, it was both a burden and a blessing: a chance to keep fit over the summer and, more importantly, a backdoor route into the UEFA Cup.
For Italian teams just outside the elite, the Intertoto Cup was an opportunity to dream a little bigger.
What Was the Intertoto Cup?
Originally created in the 1960s and taken over by UEFA in 1995, the Intertoto Cup became a summer competition for clubs who hadn’t qualified for the UEFA Cup through domestic league placements. The reward? A spot in the UEFA Cup’s qualifying rounds.
It ran until 2008, with up to 11 teams being named “winners” in the final years depending on how far they progressed after qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Italian clubs and the Intertoto Cup
Several Italian sides entered the competition, either as summer pre-season prep or a genuine shot at Europe. Here’s a closer look at the key Italian participants:
Bologna (1998) – A Cinderella Story
- Achievement: One of the most successful Italian stories in the Intertoto.
- Under Renzo Ulivieri, Bologna qualified for the UEFA Cup through the Intertoto and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1998–99, falling to Marseille.
- Led by the prolific Beppe Signori, the club captured the imagination of Italian fans with their surprise European run.
Perugia (2002 & 2003)
- Perugia became a regular Intertoto participant under eccentric president Luciano Gaucci.
- In 2003, they successfully qualified for the UEFA Cup through the Intertoto and went on to beat Wolfsburg and Dundee before being knocked out by PSV.
- Fabrizio Miccoli and Zé Maria were among the notable players.
Udinese (2000)
- Under Luciano Spalletti, Udinese used the Intertoto to gain experience in Europe and made a name for themselves with their stylish attacking football.
- Although they didn’t progress far, the foundation laid in those seasons would later see Udinese rise in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League.
Sampdoria, Brescia & Torino
- These teams occasionally participated but used it more as pre-season warm-up than serious continental ambitions.
- Clubs like Brescia, with Roberto Baggio, brought star power but not necessarily deep runs.
Notable Italian players who featured
- Beppe Signori (Bologna) – Key figure in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup run.
- Fabrizio Miccoli (Perugia) – A standout in the 2003 Intertoto campaign.
- Zé Maria, Fabio Grosso, and David Di Michele all had Intertoto Cup experience before earning Italy caps or major transfers.
- Samir Handanović made early appearances with Udinese, later becoming one of Serie A’s top goalkeepers.
Why did it end?
UEFA scrapped the Intertoto Cup in 2008 for several reasons:
- Fixture Congestion: Playing in July clashed with pre-season and risked injuries for squads not built for long campaigns.
- Lack of Prestige: It remained a “lesser” tournament, often ignored by fans and media.
- UEFA Cup Restructuring: The expansion of the Europa League meant more automatic spots, removing the need for a secondary qualifier.
What it meant for Italian clubs
For Italian sides outside the traditional powerhouses, the Intertoto Cup was a stepping stone. It gave players and clubs:
- European experience
- Market visibility
- Tactical development
While clubs like Inter Milan or Milan would never grace the Intertoto stage but Juventus were winners in 1999. A young Thierry Henry (as pictured) played in the semi-final and Serie A legend Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the first-leg of the final. Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was in goal for the Old Lady.
For Bologna, Perugia, and Udinese, it provided some of their most exciting modern European moments.
Legacy
The Intertoto Cup might be gone, but in Italy it left behind:
- Legendary summer nights at half-full stadiums.
- Cult heroes like Signori and Miccoli leading Cinderella runs.
- A reminder that Europe wasn’t just for the rich — for a while, it was for the bold.
