The Internationaler Saarlandpokal was a football competition organised by 1. FC Saarbrücken, after the club were denied in their application to regularly compete in France's Ligue 2. The competition is regarded as a forerunner to the European Cup.
Following the creation of the Saar Protectorate, FC Saarbrücken competed in the 1948–49 French Division 2, winning the championship under the Francised name of FC Sarrebruck, beating Valenciennes 9–0 and Rouen 10–1 on the way to the title. Saarbrücken applied to join the French Football Federation at the insistence of FIFA president Jules Rimet. Saarbrücken's application was resoundly rejected by French clubs, particularly those in Alsace and Lorraine who had been forced to play in the German Gauliga Elsaß following the German occupation of France from 1940 to 1944. Saarbrücken's results were consequently discounted and RC Lens won the championship.[3][1]
With the Saar's Ehrenliga deemed too weak for a club of Saarbrücken's stature, the club organised the Internationaler Saarlandpokal between 15 European clubs with a prize fund of two million Saar francs being awarded to the winners of the tournament.[1]
The tournament began on 18 September 1949 with FC Saarbrücken defeating Swiss club FC La Chaux-de-Fonds 7–0. Saarbrücken played every game at their Stadion Kieselhumes [de] home, with the three clubs with the best results against Saarbrücken joining the hosts in the semi-finals.
The following season, the tournament was hosted by both FC Saarbrücken and fellow Saarlanders Borussia Neunkirchen at their Ellenfeldstadion ground with games played on a home and away basis. For the 1950–51 edition, German clubs were invited for the first time, as well as five new entries from Europe. The tournament was never completed due to a lack of interest and sponsorship after it was agreed that Saarlander clubs would return to the German football system in time for the 1951–52 Oberliga.[4]
The Internationaler Saarlandpokal gave FC Saarbrücken new found exposure and the club played Switzerland, Liverpool, Universidad Católica, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Newell's Old Boys in the months following the formation of the competition.[5] The competition is regarded as a forerunner to the European Cup, with Saarbrücken representing the Saar in the 1955–56 European Cup, despite playing in the German league system at the time. Saarbrücken won their first game in UEFA's inaugural European competition, beating A.C. Milan 4–3 at the San Siro, before losing the second leg and exiting the competition on aggregate.[1]
1. FC Saarbrücken 
FC La Chaux-de-Fonds 
Standard Liège 
Stade Rennais 
IF Elfsborg 
Køge BK 
Hajduk Split 
Austria Wien 