Cups of the Champions

Everyone likes winning and the feeling of lifting the trophy at the end of the season to show you are your league's best team.  But what kind of trophy do you present to the guys at the top of professional football when they have won their league?  From shiny traditional looking trophies to some odd designs to celebrate the champions, we pick out some of the best, and worst, cups and shields awarded in the world club game today.

Scottish Premiership

Simple and effective, no not the state of the game in Scotland, but the trophy awarded to the winners of the SPFL Premiership, which for the last 6 years has been in the possession of Glasgow Celtic.  Shiny and a modern twist on a traditional trophy for league champions, it is the Ronseal of football trophies!

  [caption id="attachment_2235" align="alignleft" width="229"] Currently in the Parkhead trophy cabinet, the Scottish Premiership trophy is a simple, but modern classic![/caption] [caption id="attachment_2237" align="alignleft" width="285"] Probably the most recognizable league trophy in football, the Premier League title has only been won by teams wearing red or blue.[/caption]

                             

FA Premier League

When the Premier League was formed in 1992 taking over from the First Division, a new trophy was needed to signify a new era.  Inspired by the European Cup, but narrower, the Premier League trophy was first won in 1992/93 by Manchester United and has since taken a tour around England via Ewood Park, Highbury, Stamford Bridge, the Etihad Stadium and the King Power Stadium while making several stops at Old Trafford in the last 25 years.  When the Red Devils won in 92/93, the players even got a mini Premier League trophy to keep and use as a Subbuteo trophy when they were bored at home!

Russian Premier League

Sportsmen are famous for damaging trophies, from rugby's Calcutta Cup enjoying a night on the town in Edinburgh, to ice hockey's Stanley Cup being dropped into a swimming pool which led to a dent in the famous trophy.  So why would you risk damage by inviting footballers to celebrate with a trophy made of glass?  This is what the Russian Premier League gives to the winners of their league.  The Russians are famed for their elegant designs in ornamental pieces, but perhaps somebody should have been more cautious when designing this vase-like trophy?

  [caption id="attachment_2229" align="alignleft" width="300"] Andriy Arshavin kisses the Russian Premier League trophy. Be careful you don't drop it Andriy, it's made of glass![/caption] [caption id="attachment_2232" align="alignleft" width="300"] The league winners in the Netherlands receive a silver tray-like effort for winning the Eredivisie! Perfect for the after-season parties![/caption]

                         

Dutch Eredivisie

The winners of the Dutch league tend to come from the usual trio of Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV Eindhoven.  When they do win their league they are presented with a silver shield that commemorates their triumph, while also doubling up as a drinks tray for the celebrations after.

Australian A-League

Neighbours to Australia, New Zealand is where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed, so this must have been the thinking behind making a giant ring for giving to the winners of the Australian A-League!  We still don't know if anyone has tried to shoot a football through the centre?  It certainly looks strong enough to survive any potential damage if a team did try this.

  [caption id="attachment_2236" align="alignleft" width="252"] The winning team members in the Superbowl might get a ring each, but in Australia, the A-League winners get a giant ring-like trophy to share between them![/caption] [caption id="attachment_2230" align="alignleft" width="300"] PSG players celebrate taking the badges of Parisian cars and one off the building after an evening of high-jinx. Only kidding, this is the prize the French title winners get.[/caption]

                               

French Ligue 1

Known for their artistic Gallic flair, the French give the league winners a trophy that would look firmly at home in the Louvre!  Usually it is PSG that take this trophy home while the players get a mini version that looks ideal for being used as a dumbbell so they can work out during the close-season.  It does remind us of a car badge though!

Spanish La Liga

The Primera Liga winners are given a huge goblet-like trophy for winning La Liga in Spain.  It also comes with a wooden base which means it can be used for many years by engraving the names of the league champions with ease.  You'd certainly need to ask for more than "una cerveza" to fill this up!

  [caption id="attachment_2231" align="aligncenter" width="239"] The best teams in the world get a monster of a trophy for becoming champions of Spain. Would take a good number of bottles of champagne to fill this up![/caption]

German Bundesliga

Finally, the glamour piece in our list of trophies.  The winners of the German Bundesliga receive a decorative shield that could sit with ease in an episode of Game Of Thrones as well as in the trophy cabinet of the likes of Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund.  Fabulous detailing on this blingtastic shield includes green jewels as well as all the winners in the history of Germany's top flight.  It does look like it will have to be updated in 20 years or so when space runs out for names.  Will the team with the most wins get to keep it like Brazil did with the Jules Rimet Trophy?

[caption id="attachment_2234" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A masterpiece! The winners of Germany's top league receive a stunning detailed shield that includes green jewels and the names of all the past winners of this great looking trophy![/caption]  

While we can't offer you any of the above trophies for your teams or competitions, at Direct Soccer we have a great selection of football inspired trophies for male and female footballers as well as specific trophies for goalkeepers and medals that are ideal for presenting to teams at football festivals or mini-soccer tournaments.  This week we are also offering up to 70% off all our in-stock trophies.  Not only this, all our trophies come with a free printed label so you can honour the top players in your side or thank each player for their efforts over the past season. For an extra £1.00 per trophy we can engrave a plate with your personalisation request instead.  Order your trophies online now for your annual presentation night!