Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

The Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (pronounced: [ˈsupɛɾ ˈtasɐ ˈkɐ̃didu dɨ oliˈvɐjɾɐ]; English: Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup, or Portuguese Super Cup) is an annual Portuguese football match contested by the champions of the previous Primeira Liga season and the holders of the Taça de Portugal. If the Primeira Liga champions also win the Taça de Portugal (i.e. achieve the double, Portuguese: dobradinha), then they play against the runners-up of the Taça de Portugal.

The Supertaça is organised by the Portuguese Football Federation since its creation in 1979, and is usually played in August, just before the start of the domestic season. The trophy is named after former player, coach, and sports journalist Cândido de Oliveira.

History

In the 1943–44 season, the Super Cup was created for a special game between Primeira Divisão champions Sporting CP and Taça de Portugal winners Benfica, on occasion of the inauguration of the Estádio Nacional. The commissioned trophy was named Taça Império – not to be mistaken with Taça do Império, the first incarnation of the Taça de Portugal. After the game, it was decided that the competition was to be continued, but it was later canceled. The second incarnation came 20 years later when Casa da Imprensa (The Press House) instituted a trophy, the Taça de Ouro da Imprensa to be challenged between the national champions and the cup winners.