Copa Rommel Fernández
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Copa Rommel Fernández is the third level of Panama's national club championship. It was founded in 1996 and it is a seasonal tournament that lasts 2 months in which the champion is promoted to Liga Nacional de Ascenso. The tournament is named after Panamanian football legend Rommel Fernández. The tournament is presided by Lucas Fernández and managed by Panamanian Football Federation.
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Panama |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of clubs | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Liga Nacional de Ascenso |
| Relegation to | Local district leagues |
| Current champions | River Plate David |
| Website | Fepafut |
| Current: Copa Rommel Fernández 2018 | |
Since the championship is seasonal only, at the end of each competition each of the teams (except the champions) are relegated to their respective district leagues where they compete to earn a spot for the following season. Additionally, the team relegated from the Liga Nacional de Ascenso automatically holds a spot to compete in the Copa Rommel Fernández after the end of the second division championship.
Format
The tournament is divided into three zones which include the qualified teams from each respective provincial tournaments (see below) plus previous season Liga Nacional de Ascenso relegated team. Each province is represented by two teams except Chiriquí which is represented by four teams and Panamá with ten teams. Each team plays a single game against the other teams from their same zone, the two teams with most points in their respective zones will qualify to the final round. The eight qualified teams play a knock out stage which starts with rounds of 16 and finishes with a two team final. The champion gains promotion to the Liga Nacional de Ascenso held that same year.
Qualification
In order to gain the right to play in this tournament each team has to first participate in their respective district leagues. The winners of each district league will later move on a provincial tournament. The champion and the runner-up of the provincial tournaments obtain the right to represent their province in the Copa Rommel Fernández held the following year.
Past Champions & Runners-up
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Details |
N/A | [1] | N/A |
| 1997 Details |
La Primavera (Veraguas) | N/A | |
| 1998 Details |
Solano FC | 2–2 5–2**[2] |
Inter de Guabito |
| 1999–2000 Details |
C.A.I. | 3–1[3] | Zona Libre FC (Changuinola) |
| 2000–01 Details |
Orión (San Miguelito) | 3–1[4] | Vista Hermosa (Penonomé) |
| 2002 Details |
River Plate de Colón | 1–0 | Río Abajo |
| 2003 Details |
Boxer FC | Chitre FC | |
| 2004 Details |
Atalanta Jr. | Chorrillito (Panamá Oeste) | |
| 2005–06 Details |
Deportivo Génesis (Panamá Este) | 5–2[5] | Independiente F.C. (Veracruz) |
| 2006–07 Details |
Paraíso FC (San Miguelito) | 3–0[6] | Chorrillito (Panamá Oeste) |
| 2007–08 Details |
Chorrillito (Panamá Oeste) | 4–2[7] | Five Star (Bocas del Toro) |
| 2008–09 Details |
Millenium (Barraza) | 5–4*[8] | El Tecal (Arraijan) |
| 2009–10 Details |
SUNTRACS (San Miguelito) | 5–0[9] | Los Pumas (Penonomé) |
| 2010–11 Details |
Santa Gema FC (Arraijan) | 4–0[10] | Atlético Evolution (Capira) |
| 2011–12 Details |
Santos FC (La Chorrera) | 3–0[11] | AD San Antonio (Penonomé) |
| 2012–13 Details |
CD Centenario (Panamá Este) | 2–1* [12] | La Mesa FC (Veraguas) |
| 2013–14 Details |
Club River Plate (David) | 1–1 4–2**[13] |
Promesa de Dios (Pto. Caimito) |
| 2014–15 Details |
Nueva York FC (Colón) | 3–2[14] | Deportivo Aroon (La Mesa, Veraguas) |
| 2015–16 Details |
Panamá Viejo Fútbol Club | 2–0[15] | Club River Plate (David) |
| 2016–17 Details |
- [*] Won after extra time
- [**] Won penalty kick