The Fenix Trophy was an annual football competition for semi-professional and amateur European clubs. The competition was officially recognised by UEFA.
First contested in the 2021–22 season, the word FENIX is an acronym and stands for Friendly, European, Non-professional, Innovative, and Xenial (From the ancient Greek xenos, the word examined for an attitude of resistance to strangers, with maintaining mutual respect for cultural differences).
A spiritual successor, European Grassroots Trophy, was announced for the 2026/27 season.https://www.nieuwsblad.be/sport/sportregio/volgend-seizoen-allicht-opnieuw-europees-voetbal-in-berchem-european-grassroots-trophy-wordt-opvolger-van-fenix-trophy/155061854.html
History The Fenix Trophy was originally envisioned by Alessandro Aleotti, chairman of Italian club Brera Calcio. The competition was first contested during the 2021–22 season, with the first match taking place on 21 September 2021, between German club HFC Falke and Czech club Prague Raptors. The first final took place on 11 June 2022, between Prague Raptors and F.C. United of Manchester, with F.C. United of Manchester being crowned the inaugural champions.
While the competition's eligibility criteria allows all clubs to compete on a similar level, the diversity of club history quickly became apparent, with many clubs founded in recent years, others have a long history that includes professional football. Examples from the competition's early history include Beveren, a Belgian club notable for having played professional European football, most recently in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, and Venus București, winners of the Romanian Liga I on seven occasions.
The number of teams was increased to nine for the 2022–23 season, with Danish club BK Skjold winning the competition. For the 2023–24 season the number of teams was again increased to twelve, with F.C. United of Manchester winning their second title.
Season 2021–22 The final was played on 11 June 2022. Participant teams (8):
HFC Falke (Hamburg) AS Lodigiani (Rome) CD Cuenca-Mestallistes (Valencia) Prague Raptors (Prague) Brera Calcio (Milan) FC United of Manchester (Manchester) AFC DWS (Amsterdam) AKS Zły (Warszawa)
Season 2022–23 The final was played on 5 June 2023. Participant teams (12):
K.S.K. Beveren (Beveren) BK Skjold (Skjold) CD Cuenca-Mestallistes (Valencia) Prague Raptors (Prague) Brera Calcio (Milan) FC United of Manchester (Manchester) Lewes FC (Lewes) Enfield Town FC (London) Vinsky (Paris) AFC DWS (Amsterdam) Kraków Dragoons FC (Kraków) FK Miljakovac (Belgrade)
Season 2024–25 The final was played on 11 May 2025. Participant teams (16):
Kraków Dragoons FC (Kraków) Prague Raptors (Prague) K. Berchem Sport (Antwerp) F.C. United of Manchester (Manchester) Gamle Oslo FK (Oslo) Buchholzer FC (Buchholz) Klub Piłkarski Bór Oborniki Śląskie (Oborniki Śląskie) BK Skjold (Copenhagen) Avro F.C. (Oldham) Gilla FC (Helsinki) Brera Calcio (Milan) Llantwit Major F.C. (Llantwit Major) Caledonian Braves F.C. (Glasgow) FK Miljakovac (Belgrade) Fans United FC (Podgorica) Athletic Sonnenberg (Chemnitz)
Format Qualification Semi-professional and amateur teams from across Europe are invited to play in the competition based on exceptional social, historical and cultural significance.
Tournament The first tournament consisted of two groups of four teams, with the two group winners qualifying for the final. With the addition of a ninth team for the 2022–23 season, the tournament consisted of three groups of three teams, with the winners of each group and the highest ranked second-placed team advancing to the knockout stage. The 2023–24 tournament consisted of twelve teams split into four groups of three, with the four group winners qualifying for the knockout stage. The 2024–25 tournament consisted of 16 teams with the preliminary stage consisting of a knock-out tournament with two-legged home and away ties, over two rounds, in which every club will face its opponents home and away.
List of finals +Key Match was won during extra time* Match was won on a penalty shoot-out
The "Season" column refers to the season the competition was held, and wikilinks to the article about that season. The wikilinks in the "Score" column point to the article about that season's final game.
+List of Fenix Trophy finalsSeasonCountryWinnersScoreRunners-upCountryVenueAttendance2021–22F.C. United of Manchester2–0Prague RaptorsStadio Romeo Neri, Rimini, Italy2022–23BK Skjold3–0Prague RaptorsSan Siro, Milan, Italy2023–24F.C. United of Manchester4–0Prague RaptorsStadio Tre Stelle, Desenzano del Garda, Italy2024–25Caledonian Braves3–1F.C. United of ManchesterStadio Comunale G. De Rossi, Lake Iseo, Italy
Records and statistics Performances by club +Performance in the Fenix Trophy by clubClubWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up F.C. United of Manchester212022, 20242025 BK Skjold102023— Caledonian Braves102025— Prague Raptors03—2022, 2023, 2024
Participation by club +NationNo.ClubsSeasons England (4) 4 F.C. United of Manchester 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–251 Enfield Town 2023–241 Lewes 2023–241 Avro 2024–25 Poland (3) 3 Kraków Dragoons 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–251 Bór Oborniki Śląskie 2024–251 AKS Zły 2021–22 Germany (3) 1 HFC Falke 2021–221 Buchholzer FC 2024–251 Athletic Sonnenberg 2024–25 Italy (2) 3 Brera Calcio 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–251 Lodigiani 2021–22 Belgium (2) 2 Beveren 2022–23, 2023–241 K. Berchem Sport 2024–25 Czech Republic (1) 4 Prague Raptors 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 Denmark (1) 3 BK Skjold 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 Netherlands (1) 2 DWS 2021–22, 2022–23 Spain (1) 2 CD Cuenca-Mestallistes 2021–22, 2022–23 Wales (1) 2 Llantwit Major 2023–24, 2024–25 Norway (1) 2 Gamle Oslo FK 2023–24, 2024–25 Romania (1) 2 Venus București 2023–24, 2024–25 Finland (1) 2 Gilla 2023–24, 2024–25 Serbia (1) 2 FK Miljakovac 2022–23, 2024–25 France (1) 1 Vinsky 2023–24 Montenegro (1) 1 Fans United FC 2024–25 Scotland (1) 1 Caledonian Braves 2024–25
See also UEFA Regions' Cup
References
External links