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The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as '''UI Cup''' is a summer Football competition for Europe an clubs that have not qualified for one of the main UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup . Invited to participate are clubs ranked directly below those that qualify for the major UEFA competitions. The top three teams go on to take part in the UEFA Cup. HISTORY The Intertoto Cup was conceived by the later FIFA vice president and founder of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup , Ernst B. Thommen , and the Austrian coach Karl Rappan , who mainly worked in Switzerland. The 'cup for the cupless', was also heavily promoted by the Swiss newspaper 'Sport'. 'Toto' is the German term for Football Pools . Thommen, who had set up football betting pools in Switzerland in 1937 had a major interest in having purposeful matches played in the summer break. The betting background made the tournament initially distasteful for the UEFA. They permitted this new tournament, but refrained from getting officially involved. Clubs which were qualified for one of the official continental competitions, such as the European Champions Cup s and Cup Winners Cup were not allowed to participate. The first tournament was held in 1961 as the International Football Cup ('''IFC'''). Initially, the Cup had a group stage, which led to knock-out matches culminating in a final. By 1967 the knock out rounds and the final were scrapped, thus the tournament remained without a winner. By 1994, UEFA had reconsidered its opinion, took official control of the tournament and changed its format. The winners, in the first year two, thereafter three, forthwith were granted a place in the UEFA Cup . This makes the competition attractive to many clubs who see it as their only chance of qualifying for Europe. Many clubs dislike the competition and see it disruptive in the preparation for the new season, and as a consequence do not nominate for participation, even if entitled. Other clubs have extended on their success in the UI Cup and followed it up with great campaigns in the UEFA Cup. Notable are the efforts of FC Girondins De Bordeaux in 1996 when they reached the final. FORMAT From the 2006 / 2007 season, the format for the Cup changed. There are three rounds instead of the previous five, and the eleven winning teams from the third round will go through to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. Previously only three teams went through, to the First Round proper of the UEFA Cup . Only one team from each national association will be allowed to enter. However, should one or more nations not take up their place, the possibility has been left open for nations to have a second entrant. Seedings and entry are determined by each association, {Link without Title} 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup Draw: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/news/Kind=1/newsId=412509.html WINNERS OF UEFA INTERTOTO CUP AND INTERTOTO CUP UEFA Intertoto Cup from 1994 Intertoto Cup 1961-1967 Winners by nation EXTERNAL LINKS
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