Timeline of association football

This page indexes the individual year in association football pages. Each year is annotated with one or more significant events as a reference point.

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Pre 1870s - 1870s - 1880s - 1890s - 1900s - 1910s - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000s - 2010s

Pre 1870s

* Prehistory of football — "tsu chu" (蹴鞠 or 蹴踘) begins to be played in China sometime in the 3rd century BC; Richard Mulcaster "the greatest sixteenth Century advocate of football" [ [http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/history8_18_3.asp Richard Mulcaster ] ] gives the earliest evidence of organized team "footeball", player positions, referees and coaches. Mulcaster confirms that his was a game close to modern football by differentiating it from games involving other parts of the body, namely "the hand ball" and "the armeball" [http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~wbarker/positions-txt.html ] ; the first known official match, Calcio Fiorentino, is played in Florence in January 1739; the 1835 "Highway Act" in England bans playing of football in public streets.
* 1840s in football — Official referees appear for the first time in a football match, at a match held in Cheltenham in 1849, two in field and one in tribune; The Cambridge Rules are created in 1848.
* 1850s in football — Sheffield F.C., the first football club in the world, is founded in 1857; the Sheffield Rules are also created.
* 1860s in football — The Football Association is founded in 1863, and it ratifies the original 14 rules of the game; the first ever football tournament, the Youdan Cup, is played by twelve Sheffield clubs in 1867; the Cromwell Cup, the second oldest football tournament in the world, takes place in 1868 with Sheffield Rules; Goal kicks are introduced in 1869.

1870s

* 1870 in football — First "goalkeepers", and passage from "dribbling game" to "passing game" is seen in club matches in Sheffield and London; the first unofficial international match, between England and Scotland, finishes in a 0-0 draw at the Kennington Oval in London.
*1871 in football — Charles William Alcock creates the Football Association Challenge Cup, the oldest cup tournament alive.
*1872 in football — Scotland and England draw 0–0 in the first ever international football match, played at the West of Scotland Cricket Club; Wanderers beat Royal Engineers in the first FA Cup final; kick corner and ball fixture is introduced by The Football Association; the first Welsh football club, Wrexham A.F.C., is founded.
*1873 in football — The Scottish Football Association was founded. The offside law is changed so that an offside position is determined when the ball is played by a team-mate, rather than when it is received.
*1874 in football — The FA authorizes referees to send players off for certain offences, and makes a rule requiring teams to change ends at halftime. The first shin pads are introduced.
*1875 in football — The crossbar is introduced, replacing tape as the means of marking the top of the goal.
*1876 in football —
*1877 in football — The length of a match is set at 90 minutes.
*1878 in football — Referees begin to use whistles.
*1879 in football — Kjøbenhavns Boldklub introduces itself as the first sports club in continental Europe.

1880s

*1880 in football —
*1881 in football —
*1882 in football — Queens Park Rangers FC is founded
*1883 in football —
*1884 in football —
*1885 in football — The Football Association legalises professionalism. The first non-European international was contested on the 28 November 1885, at Newark, New Jersey, between the USA and Canada, the Canadians winning 1-0. Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36-0 in the Scottish Cup, a record which stands to this day.
*1886 in football — The FAs of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland form the International FA Board; The Football Association introduces a 'cross tape' between goalposts as a precedent to the 'crossbar'.
*1887 in football —
*1888 in football — The Football League, the first national football league competition, is founded in England.
*1889 in football — The Royal Netherlands Football Association and Danish Football Association are founded. The Football Alliance is formed as a rival to the The Football League.

1890s

*1890 in football — The Scottish Football League is formed.
*1891 in football — The penalty kick is introduced. Assistant referees are first introduced as linesmen.
*1892 in football — The Football League introduces a second division. Liverpool F.C. are founded.
*1893 in football — Argentine Football Association is founded.
*1894 in football —
*1895 in football — The Belgian Football Association is founded.
*1896 in football — Italy's first national championship is organised by the Italian Federation of Gymnastics.
*1897 in football — The Football League introduces automatic promotion and relegation between its two divisions. Italian giants Juventus F.C. was founded as "Sport Club Juventus".
*1898 in football — The Italian Football Federation is formed.
*1899 in football — Club Nacional de Football, FC Barcelona and AC Milan were founded.

1900s

*1900 in football — RCD Espanyol de Barcelona was founded
*1901 in football —
*1902 in football — 26 people die and over 500 are injured when a section of the terracing collapses after a Scotland-England British Home Championship match at Ibrox Park; five Spanish clubs compete for the first "Copa del Rey"; the first Brazilan football league, the "Campeonato Paulista" is won by São Paulo Athletic Club". Real Madrid, the "FIFA 20th Century club", was founded.
*1903 in football —
*1904 in football — FIFA is founded in Paris on 21 May.
*1905 in football — Chelsea FC is founded
*1906 in football —
*1907 in football —
*1908 in football — FC Internazionale was founded, Feyenoord Rotterdam was founded.
*1909 in football —

1910s

*1910 in football —
*1911 in football —
*1912 in football — Goalkeepers banned from handling the ball outside their own penalty area.
*1913 in football — Opposing players forced to stand at least ten yards away from a free kick.
*1914 in football — Glentoran from Belfast win first ever European competition, the Vienna Cup
*1915 in football —
*1916 in football — Uruguay win the first Copa América, held in Argentina.
*1917 in football —
*1918 in football —
*1919 in football — Leeds United are founded.

1920s

*1920 in football —
*1921 in football —
*1922 in football —
*1923 in football — Bolton Wanderers defeat West Ham United in the first English FA Cup final played at Wembley Stadium, remembered as the White Horse Final because of the mounted police that kept spectators from encroaching onto the pitch.
*1924 in football — Players allowed to score directly from a corner kick. Uruguay wins the Gold Medal.
*1925 in football — The offside rule is changed: a player is now onside if a minimum of two (instead of three) opposing players are between him and the goal line.
*1926 in football — Huddersfield Town become the first team to win the Football League in three consecutive seasons.
*1927 in football —
*1928 in football — The Spanish Football League "La Liga" is formed. Its ten clubs include Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao. Uruguay wins the Gold Medal for the second time in a row.
*1929 in football — Italian Football League "Lega Calcio Serie A" is formed.

1930s

*1930 in football — Thirteen teams enter the first World Cup, held in Uruguay. The hosts beat Argentina 4–2 in the final.
*1931 in football —
*1932 in football —
*1933 in football —
*1934 in football — Hosts Italy become the second World Cup winners, beating Czechoslovakia 2–1 in the final.
*1935 in football —
*1936 in football —
*1937 in football — The largest football crowd was recorded, 149,415 people turned up at Hampden Park, Glasgow to see Scotland play England [ [http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/about_hampden/history_page1.htm Hampden, Scotland's National Stadium, About Hampden ] ]
*1938 in football — Italy retain the 1938 World Cup in France, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final. Argentina and Uruguay boycott the tournament as it is held in Europe for the second successive time.
*1939 in football — Shirt numbering is made compulsory.

1940s

*1940 in football —
*1941 in football —
*1942 in football —
*1943 in football —
*1944 in football —
*1945 in football —
*1946 in football —
*1947 in football —
*1948 in football —
*1949 in football — The Superga air disaster kills 31 people, including 18 Torino players.

1950s

*1950 in football — Uruguay win the 1950 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, when they beat the hosts 2-1 in the final group match of the tournament, also known as the "Maracanazo". Earlier in the same tournament, one of the biggest upsets in football history occurs, when the USA shocks England 1–0.
*1951 in football —
*1952 in football — Hungary's revolutionary tactics help the Golden Team to win the football at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
*1953 in football — England lose a home match for the first time, 6–3 to Hungary.
*1954 in football — UEFA is founded in Basel, Switzerland; West Germany win the 1954 FIFA World Cup, coming back from 0-2 to win the final game 3-2 against Hungary, a match known as "The Miracle of Bern"; Asian Football Confederation is founded. The Mighty Magyars go to Molineux Stadium and get beaten 3-2 after leading 2-0 at half time. This game was to set a foundation for the European Cup.
*1955 in football —
*1956 in football — Real Madrid beat Stade de Reims-Champagne 4–3 in the first European Cup final; Stanley Matthews wins the first European Footballer of the Year award; first RAI TV's transmission match football Serie A in Italy from Fiorentina and SSC Napoli
*1957 in football — CAF is founded; only three teams enter the first African Cup of Nations, won by Egypt; in England the Busby Babes of Manchester United retain the Football League Championship.
*1958 in football — 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, are killed in the Munich air disaster; Pelé and Garrincha star as Brazil win their first World Cup in Sweden, beating the hosts 5–2 in the final of the 1958 tournament.
*1959 in football — Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. win their third league title in 6 years.

1960s

*1960 in football — Real Madrid win their fifth consecutive European Cup.
*1961 in football — CONCACAF is founded; Benfica become the second team to win the European Cup, beating FC Barcelona 3–2 in the final. ACF Fiorentina wons the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, first international title for an Italian team.
*1962 in football — Brazil retain the 1962 World Cup, beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final.
*1963 in football — The West German national league "Bundesliga" is formed; Lev Yashin becomes the first goalkeeper to win European Footballer of the Year.
*1964 in football —
*1965 in football —
*1966 in football — England win the 1966 World Cup as hosts, beating West Germany 4–2 in the final as Geoff Hurst becomes the first player to score a hat trick in the final.
*1967 in football — Celtic become the first British club to win the European Cup, beating Internazionale 2–1 in the final.Florian Albert became the first Hungarian player who win the European Golden Boot
*1968 in football — Manchester United win the European Cup ten years after the Munich air disaster killed eight of their players; Eusébio wins the inaugural Golden Boot award as the continent's top club scorer.
*1969 in football — 2000 die when El Salvador and Honduras declare war on each other following a World Cup qualifying match.

1970s

*1970 in football — Brazil win their third World Cup, beating Italy 4–1 in the 1970 World Cup final as their captain Pelé becomes the first player to win three World Cup medals.
*1971 in football — 66 die in the second Ibrox disaster, The Brazilian National Championship First Season.
*1972 in football — Rangers win the European Cup Winners' Cup
*1973 in football — Ajax win the European Cup for the third consecutive season; Sunderland shock Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup final.
*1974 in football — Hosts West Germany win the 1974 World Cup, beating the Netherlands 2–1 in the final; Manchester United are relegated only six years after winning the European Cup
*1975 in football —
*1976 in football — Bayern Munich win the European Cup for the third consecutive season.
*1977 in football — Juventus become the first Italian club to win the UEFA Cup.
*1978 in football — Hosts Argentina win the 1978 World Cup, beating the Netherlands 3–1 in the final; Johann Cruyff refuses to play in the tournament.
*1979 in football — Nottingham Forest lift their first European Cup in Munich, defeating Malmö 1-0 in the final.

1980s

*1980 in football — West Germany defeats Belgium 2–1 to take the European Football Championship.
*1981 in football — The Football League begins awarding three points for a win instead of two.
*1982 in football — Italy win their third World Cup title after a wait of 44 years, defeating West Germany 3-1 in the final at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid.
*1983 in football — Aberdeen beat Real Madrid to win their first European Trophy, the European Cup Winners Cup soon followed by defeating Hamburg to win the European Super Cup
*1984 in football — Michel Platini leads Juventus to the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, beating F.C. Porto in the final and the hosts France to the European Football Championship, beating Spain in the final; France also win the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games, beating Brazil in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
*1985 in football — The Bradford fire occurs at Valley Parade taking the lives of 56 people and injuring another 200 during Bradford City's fixture with Lincoln City; The Heysel Stadium disaster takes place in Brussels at the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus F.C., leading to English clubs being banned from European club competition; The "Old Lady" became the first club in the history of European football to have won all three major UEFA competitions after defeating "reds" 1-0 in the European Cup final cite web | url=http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/ClubFootball/index.html | title=List of the official clubs' cups and tournaments recognized by the Union of European Football Associations | work=uefa.com | accessdate=15 December | accessyear=2006.] . Michel Platini wins his third consecutive European Footballer of the Year award; for the first time, an African squad wins a FIFA tournament, the World Championship Under 16, as Nigeria surprisingly defeat favourites West Germany 2-0 in China. Juventus On 8 December Juventus become the first -and only at present- team in the world to have won all international cups and championships after defeating Argentinos Juniors 6-4 (2-2 aet) in the Intercontinental Cup final at National Stadium in Tokyo [cite web | url=http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/index.html#club=31085 | title=FIFA Classic Clubs: Juventus FC | work=fifa.com | accessdate=15 December | accessyear=2006.] .
*1986 in football — The 1986 World Cup finals are played for the second time in Mexico, with Argentina defeating West Germany 3-2 for their second title at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City; the tournament sees the dominance of Argentinian player Diego Maradona, scoring the infamous Hand of God goal, before his "Goal of the Century" solo dribble second goal, both in the quarterfinal against England.
*1987 in football — FC Porto win the European Cup for the first time after defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 in the final at Prater Stadium in Wien; in the second World Championship FIFA Under 16, the Soviet Union defeat Nigeria on penalties.
*1988 in football — The Netherlands, led by captain Ruud Gullit and top goal scorer Marco van Basten, defeat the Soviet Union 2-0 to win the Euro 1988 championship.
*1989 in football — The Hillsborough disaster occurs in Sheffield, England, before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, resulting in the loss of 96 lives.

1990s

*1990 in football — West Germany win the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Rome, Italy, defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in the final; "Waterloo Day" for Austrian football in Euro 92 qualifying at Landskrona, Sweden, where the Faroe Islands defeat Austria 1-0 in the former's first ever international match.
*1991 in football — In the inaugural Women's World Cup, the USA win 2-1 over Norway; after being banned for six years, English clubs are again allowed to participate in competitions sponsored by UEFA; Diego Maradona is banned for 15 months in Italy's Serie A after testing positive for cocaine in a drug test.
*1992 in football — In the final of Euro 92, Denmark surprisingly win 2-0 over Germany; Stadium Furiani disaster takes place in Bastia, Corsica; FA Premier League created as the top flight in English Football. Leeds United were champions of England.
*1993 in football — Olympique de Marseille becomes the first French club to win the European Cup, newly renamed as the UEFA Champions League, defeating AC Milan 1–0 at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Marseille also win Ligue 1, but are stripped of the title due to a corruption scandal; 18 members of the Zambia national team die in a plane crash.
*1994 in football — In the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Brazil win their fourth title, defeating Italy on penalties in the final held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
*1995 in football — The Bosman ruling allows all footballers playing in the European Union and not under contract to freely change clubs, and also abolishes foreign player quotas with respect to EU nationals. wnft|Norway win the second FIFA Women's World Cup; Eric Cantona is suspended for six months by The FA for kicking Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.
*1996 in football — In the Euro 96 final, Germany defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 with a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff; Nigeria become the first African team to win the Olympic Tournament.
*1997 in football — Eric Cantona announces his retirement from football; Helenio Herrera, legendary trainer of Inter in the 1960s dies.
*1998 in football — In the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, France win 3-0 over Brazil at Stade de France to claim their first World Cup.
*1999 in football — Manchester United win the Champions League, FA Cup and Premiership to cap off a historical "Treble"; the USA, the hosting nation, defeat wnft|China in a penalty shootout to win the Women's World Cup in front of the largest crowd ever to witness a women's sporting event.

2000s

*2000 in football — France win their second European Championship title after beating Italy 2-1, with a golden goal in extra time; First FIFA Club World Cup.
*2001 in football — Real Madrid sign playmaker Zinedine Zidane of Juventus in a world record transfer fee of 72 million euros; Colombia won the 40th edition of Copa América, held in Colombia
*2002 in football — Brazil set up a record fifth title in World Cup competition, defeating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final, Germany concede 2 goals in a match for the first time in that tournament, a result of Oliver Kahn's torn ligaments in his right ring finger. The first FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship is held in Canada, with the USA defeating the hosts in the final 1-0 on a golden goal in extra time.
*2003 in football — Germany win the Women's World Cup final against Sweden 2-1, after extra time; Rupert Murdoch's British Sky Broadcasting pays £1,024 million (1,510 million euros) for rights to transmit England FA Premier League seasons 2004-2007.
*2004 in football — Greece are surprise winners of the UEFA Euro 2004 football tournament, defeating the host nation Portugal 1-0 in the final.
*2005 in football — The Champions League final in Istanbul sees Liverpool come back from a 0-3 half-time score to defeat A.C. Milan 3-2 in a penalty shootout, following a 3-3 draw. Also, a match-fixing scandal rocks German football, though it does not directly affect the First Bundesliga. The Australian A-league is launched in replacement of the 'NSL' to improve the quality of the game in the country.
*2006 in football — 2006 FIFA World Cup is held in Germany and won by Italy on a penalty kick shootout over France; Miroslav Klose is The Adidas Golden Shoe winner, scoring 5 goals in the tournament, a step closer to breaking Ronaldo's record of 15 all-time goals in the tournament; a major match-fixing scandal erupts in Italy, with five Serie A teams implicated; Egypt record victory for the fifth time in the African Cup of Nations; the U-19 Women's World Championship increases its age limit to 20 effective with this year's event in Russia, won by wnft|Korea DPR.
*2007 in football — Brazil won the 42nd edition of Copa América, held in Venezuela; FIFA Women's World Cup is held in China and won by Germany. On 9 November Étoile Sportive du Sahel became the first African squad to have won all official club competition recognized by Confederation of African Football [cite web | url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/caf-ranking.html | title=African club competitions recognized by CAF | work=rsssf.com | accessdate=23 March | accessyear=2008.] after defeating Al-Ahly 3-1 in the CAF Champions League final in Susa (Tunisia).
*2008 in football — 2008 European Football Championship will be held in Austria and Switzerland; the first edition of FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will be held in New Zealand. Spain win their second European Championship title after beating Germany 1-0.
*2009 in football — The FIFA Confederations Cup will be held in South Africa; UEFA Women's Championship will be held in Finland.

2010s

*2010 in football — FIFA 2010 Football World Cup will be held for first time in an African country, in South Africa
*2014 in football — FIFA 2014 Football World Cup will be held in South America after 36 years, for second time in Brazil.

See also

*History of association football
*Timeline of English football

References

* [http://www.ifhof.com/wn/history.asp]