The world needs more Mirandes

“Copa del Rey is such a beautiful tournament”. I have heard that expression from many Spanish football analysts over the years. It is the competition where your rank and division means absolutely nothing. It’s the chance for smaller and somewhat unknown clubs to shine. Teams like Barcelona, Madrid, Espanyol, or Valencia have suffered historical defeats against squads like Alcorcon, Novelda, Alicante and more recently Mirandes.

What Sporting Club Mirandes (U.D Mirandes) did this year in Copa del Rey is remarkable. A third division team that fought the likes of Villareal, Racing de Santader, and Espanyol in order to get a well deserved place in the semi finals. This is a team which entire annual budget is less than half the salary of what many first division players make in that same time! It is a true inspiration and a reminder for the world that, in the end, football is two teams of 11 players, a ball, and nothing more.

But let’s get real and put all the romanticism aside. Copa del Rey is a tournament that has been historically dominated by three clubs: Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Madrid. In the last decade, with the exception of Mallorca in 2003 and Zaragoza in 2004, the winners of the tournament have been in the top 5 of La Liga and/or reached at least quarters of finals in European competitions.

“La Copa” needs some changes to make it exciting again and give smaller clubs a bigger chance. The reason Mirandes’ place in the semifinals is causing such noise is because it is unusual. What about making the tournament a direct elimination only? Why not give field advantage to the team in the bottom rank? (Except for the final, which should remain neutral).

Perhaps it would not give us a champion Mirandes, but it would bring a much needed edgy side to the competition. Compare the level of excitement of the FA Cup to the excitement of a round of 16 match of Copa del Rey.

As for Mirandes, the sense of disappointment that they may have felt this week after losing the semifinals will soon transform into one of the best memories for its fans. Someday in the future they may tell their kids about the time they knocked out 3 first division teams and got to the semifinals with nothing but effort, passion, and a ball. Chapeau