The ball of the tournament named in memory of Manlio Selis, a well-known sportsman not only in Gallura, first footballer, later coach, and close to many high-level football personalities is rolling again.
Born in 1997 as a small youth football tournament, today it hosts more than 40 teams, 17 professional and 23 amateur, under the patronage of the Sardinia Region, the event's institutional sponsor, and the aegis of Coni, Figc and Fifa. The Main Sponsor is the prestigious French company Le Coq Sportif, a historic brand of sportswear known throughout the world which, for years now, has been linked to the Soccer event.
History and victories in previous editions
The first edition was won by Luras, the second by Palau, followed by Tempio, Calangianus and then again by Luras for two consecutive years, up to the seventh edition brought home by Latte Dolce di Sassari.
In 2004 the Manlio Selis Tournament attracted the attention of a great European team, Ajax, which conquered the public with a spectacular play and won the eighth edition.
From 2005 to 2007 the competition was won by Genoa, whose presence reinforces the importance of the event and attracts other professional teams from the peninsula.
In 2008 the press conferences begin and the big prize winners from the world of sport arrive, the Trophy goes to the young players of Roma, moves to Turin in 2009, and then returns to Roma in the 14th edition.
In 2011 and 2012, the Selis Tournament was tinged with Nerazzurri, Inter won the two editions before handing over the scepter to the Torino granades, who took home the victories of 2013, 2014, 2015.
In 2016, Atalanta won the ceramic trophy signed by Cerasarda, which will repeat the victory in 2019, confirming the goodness of one of the most prolific youth sectors in Italy. The 20th edition of 2017 bears the signature of Fiorentina, in 2018 the success of a foreign company arrives: the Blancos of Real Madrid, who enchant everyone with their rapid game and great technique. Although the formations now come from all over the world (also from Japan and Australia) in the history of Selis there are currently only 2 non-Italian teams to have lifted the trophy. In 2020 the pandemic interrupted sporting events and Selis started again in 2021 with a special edition: the Christmas edition, held in December between the fields of Tempio, Olbia, Luras and Calangianus. Victory for the first time goes to Juventus.
The edition of the silver wedding, the twenty-fifth of the Tournament, sees the Nerazzurri as protagonists again: it is Inter who sign the Roll of Honour.
“Selis Social Goal for Peace”
From the meeting between Enea Selis, patron and son of Manlio, and the Social Goal association, which organizes sports championships throughout Europe and Asia, a parallel tournament was born in 2022: the "Selis Social Goal for Peace".
A mini tournament dedicated to the Pulcini, which sees no defeats but only a great, incredible victory, that of breaking down barriers, prejudices and distances and uniting different and distant realities under a single passion: the passion for sport.
The first edition of Selis for peace took place in 2022 and met with great success in the national and foreign press and on various national television channels and beyond.
In the 2023 edition, in addition to the delegation of Israeli and Palestinian athletes, there will be a delegation of Ukrainian athletes, displaced by the war and who took refuge in Luxembourg. Football is the universal language of Selis Social Goal.
The 26th edition: teams, dates and stadiums
There are 40 teams that will meet at the 26th World Tournament “Manlio Selis” – Le Coq Sportif Cup, scheduled from 28 April to 1 May 2023.
Divided into 10 groups of 4 teams each, they will compete in the stadiums of the seven municipalities which, with the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, sponsor the event: Olbia, Arzachena, Tempio Pausania, Buddusò, Monti, Calangianus and Budoni.
Among the teams participating in the 26th 17 professional teams, both Italian and foreign: FC Juventus (Italy) - BC Atalanta (Italy) - CFC Genoa (Italy) - AC Milan (Italy) - FC Torino (Italy) - Cagliari Calcio (Italy) - AS Roma (Italy) – FC Internazionale Milano (Italy)– AC Pisa (Italy) - Olbia Calcio 1905 (Italy) – Sef Torres - (Italy), FC Crystal Palace (England) - FC Malmoe (Sweden) - FC Paris Saint Germain (France) - PFC Ludogorets, FKCCSKA 1948 Sofia (Bulgaria) – FC Espanyol de Barcelona (Spain).
There will be 23 amateur teams: GSD Tor Tre Teste Rome - Academy Rome - Vigor Perconti Rome - Grifone Calcio Rome - URBETEVERE Rome - AS Romulea (Lazio) - Blue Devils Naples - F6 Academy Salerno (Campania) Vado Ligure (Liguria) - Lascaris Turin - Chisola Calcio Turin (Piedmont) - Tau Calcio Altopascio (Tuscany) - Varesina Calcio (Lombardy) – Levante Azzurro Bari (Puglia) – Arzachena Academy - ASD Pirri - Cosmo Sassari – Selargius - FP14 Quartu Sant'Elena – Gigi Riva Cagliari -- Sassari Football Sweet Milk - GS San Paolo Sassari - Pol. Porto Rotondo (Sardinia).
The final will take place on May 1st, at 5.00 pm, at the "Nino Manconi" Stadium in Tempio Pausania, where the coveted Cerasarda Trophy will be awarded, a unique piece of great value created by the Sardinian company, world leader in the ceramics sector .
Not just football
The Selis Tournament has great appeal and arouses the interest of an increasing number of Italian and foreign teams, which participate with the right competitive spirit combined with the desire to share their great passion for football. It tells of a correct sport, which unites, integrates and speaks all languages, within a dream setting, which is Sardinia. Territory, hospitality and accommodation offer are increasingly involved and an integral part of an incredible event, whose success is constantly growing.