EFL Cup
UEFA Conference League play-off round | |
Current champions | Liverpool (10th title) |
---|---|
Most successful club(s) | Liverpool (10 titles) |
Television broadcasters | Sky Sports ITV Sport (highlights only) International: Broadcasters |
Website | efl.com/competitions/carabao-cup |
2023–24 EFL Cup |
The EFL Cup (historically and colloquially referred to as the League Cup), currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Organised by the English Football League (EFL), it is open to any club within the top four levels of the English football league system—92 clubs in total—comprising the top-level Premier League, and the three divisions of the English Football League's own league competition (Championship, League One and League Two).
First held in
The tournament is played over seven rounds, with single-leg ties throughout, except for the semi-finals. The final is held at Wembley Stadium, which is the only leg in the competition played at a neutral venue and on a weekend (Sunday). The first two rounds are split into North and South sections, and a system of byes based on league level ensures higher ranked teams enter in later rounds and defers the entry of teams still involved in Europe. Winners not only receive the EFL Cup,[1] of which there have been three designs, the current one also being the original but also qualify for European football: from 1966–67 until 1971–72 the winners received a place in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, from 1972–1973 until the 2019–20 season in the UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) and starting with the 2020–21 season in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Should the winner also qualify for Europe through other means at the end of the season, this place is transferred to the highest-placed Premier League team that has not already qualified for European competition. The most successful club in the competition are current holders Liverpool, who defeated Chelsea 1–0 in the 2024 final to win their tenth League Cup.
Status
Although the League Cup is one of the four domestic trophies attainable by English league teams, it is regarded as of lower prestige than the league title or the FA Cup.[2] League Cup winners receive £100,000 prize money (awarded by the Football League) with the runners-up receiving £50,000, considered relatively insignificant to top-flight teams, compared to the £2 million prize money of the FA Cup, which is in turn eclipsed by the Premier League's television money (awarded on final league position) and consequent participation in the Champions League.[3][4]
Some clubs have repeatedly fielded a weaker side in the competition, making the opportunity for giant-killing of the larger clubs more likely. Many teams in the Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester United in particular, have used the competition to give young players valuable big-game experience.[5] Consequently, it began to be described sarcastically by many fans as the "Mickey Mouse cup".
However, in 2010, in response to Arsène Wenger's claim that a League Cup win would not end his trophy drought, Alex Ferguson described the trophy as worth winning. After a period of decline when the competition's future was regularly questioned, recent years have seen a revival in respect for the trophy, as the larger Premier League clubs have come to dominate the competition again, and the development nature of the competition has begun to be viewed as a positive for the clubs involved. Premier League giants Manchester City (6), Manchester United (5), Liverpool (5) and Chelsea (3) between them won 19 editions of the tournament between 2001 and 2024.[6]
History
The original idea for a League Cup came from Stanley Rous, who saw the competition as a consolation for clubs who had already been knocked out of the FA Cup. However, it was not Rous who came to implement it, but Football League Secretary Alan Hardaker. Hardaker initially proposed the competition as a way for the clubs to make up for lost revenue due to a reduction in matches played, for when the league was to be reorganised. The reorganisation of the league was not immediately forthcoming; however, the cup competition was introduced regardless.
The trophy was paid for personally by Football League President Joe Richards, who was proud of the competition, and he had his own name engraved on it. Richards described the competition's formation as an "interim step" on the way to the league's re-organisation.[7] Richards' priority was the reorganisation of the leagues, "perhaps by cutting down the number of clubs in each division, as has already been suggested, and even given more consideration to the system of four up and four down".
Hardaker felt that the Football League needed to adapt to the times, as the English game was losing prestige. He felt that the Football League should take the lead in revitalising football in the nation: "It must be obvious to all of you that the time has come to do something, and it is up to the Football League to give the lead. I hope the Press will not immediately assume that the League is going to fall out with the F.A. or anybody else... the time has come for our voice to be heard in every problem which affects the professional game."[7]
The League Cup competition was established at a time when match-day attendances were dwindling. The league had lost a million spectators compared to the previous season. It was established at a time when tensions between the
During the late 1950s, the majority of senior English clubs equipped their grounds with
The League Cup was criticised by the better-endowed clubs.
The first League Cup was won in
The introduction of the League Cup gave the Football League more negotiating power with the FA and UEFA. Hardaker threatened UEFA with a boycott of the
Prior to the agreement with UEFA, the competition was not considered worthy of the larger clubs' attention. However, once a position in Europe was on offer, as was a final at Wembley Stadium, the competition's standing was improved and in the 1968–69 season only Manchester United declined to participate.[14] Everton chose not to compete in 1970–71 so that they could concentrate their efforts on the European Cup. Entry was made compulsory for all Football League teams the following year.
Liverpool have won the cup on the most occasions with ten victories, and both they and Manchester City have won four League Cups in successive years. Liverpool completed two trebles of trophy wins, in 1983–84 and 2000–01, winning the League Cup in both of these years.[15][16]
English clubs lost their place in European competitions for an indefinite period in 1985 as a result of the
In 2016–17, the competition was renamed the EFL Cup as part of the Football League's rebranding to become the English Football League.
Modern changes
In the early 21st century, following restructuring of European football, particularly of its international club competitions, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Europa Conference League, there were considerations of removing the prize of European qualification from the League Cup's winners. England and France are the only UEFA members to offer a European berth to the winners of their second cup competitions until 2020, when Coupe de la Ligue was suspended indefinitely, meaning England is the only UEFA member to do so.[17] This has allowed the League Cup to retain popularity, especially with fans of clubs for whom success in cup competitions offers their only realistic chance of qualifying for Europe.[18][19]
Giant-killings
Giant-killings are less well remembered in the League Cup than in the
Former League club and now defunct Scarborough defeated Chelsea 4–3 on aggregate in October 1989, while a Fourth Division club. In 1992–93, Scarborough then defeated Coventry City (then a top-tier side) 3–2 on aggregate, before ultimately going out of the competition, narrowly, 1–0, against Arsenal.
In
Grimsby Town recorded a number of upsets over a nine-year stretch; whilst playing in the third tier in 1997–98 they defeated Premier League side Sheffield Wednesday 4–3 on aggregate over both legs before knocking out fellow Premier League side (and League Cup holders) Leicester City 3–1. In 2001–02 they beat current holders Liverpool at Anfield with a 2–1 win in extra time. Four years later they recorded another giant killing by defeating Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 at home, by this time Grimsby were playing in the fourth tier.
Manchester United have also been knocked out by Southend United and Coventry City in 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively: in the match against Southend they fielded a strong side with 10 internationals, bucking a trend they had themselves started during the 1990s.[20] In the 2014–15 season, Manchester United fielded five international players but lost 4–0 in the second round (in which they entered the tournament) against third-tier side MK Dons.[21]
In 2010
In the 2022–23 competition, Gillingham (then ranked 22nd in League Two) eliminated Brentford (then ranked 11th in the Premier League) in the third round on penalties; the teams were 79 places apart in the English football league system.[22][23]
Format
The League Cup is open to all 92 members of the
Matches in all rounds are single-legged, except for the semi-finals, which have been two-legged since the competition began., when penalties were introduced to settle the first replay; the last single-legged tie to require a replay was played in 1996–97.
Until 1974–75, two-legged ties that remained level after extra time in the second leg would be replayed; in that time, three ties reached a third replay.[24] Between 1975–76 and 1979–80, ties would still be replayed, but a penalty shoot-out would be used to settle ties that could not be decided after a replay; replays of two-legged matches were finally abolished for 1980–81, with the away goals rule and penalties being adopted instead.[24] The semi-finals were the exception to this, with level ties being replayed until 1986–87, after which the away goals rule and penalties were introduced.[24] The semi-finals, when played over two legs, would apply the away goals rule only after extra time.[26][failed verification] From 2018–19, extra time was scrapped for all rounds except the final, and the away goal rule was scrapped for the semi-final, with level ties going straight to a penalty shoot-out.[27][28]
Final
For the first six seasons of the Football League Cup, the final was played over two legs, with each leg being played at the home ground of each finalist. Since
Since
Since 1989–90, the best player in the League Cup final has been presented with the Alan Hardaker Trophy, named after Alan Hardaker, the former secretary of the Football League who devised the Football League Cup. John Terry, Ben Foster, Vincent Kompany and Virgil van Dijk are the only players to win the award more than once.[29]
Results by club
Sponsorship
From 1981 to the present (except from 1960–81 and in 2016–17), the League Cup has attracted title sponsorship, which meant, unlike its older sibling the FA Cup, the League Cup was named after its sponsor, giving it the following names:
Period | Sponsor | Name | Trophy |
---|---|---|---|
1960–1981 | — | Football League Cup | Original |
1981–1986 | Milk Marketing Board | Milk Cup | Sponsor designed |
1986–1990 | Littlewoods | Littlewoods Challenge Cup | |
1990–1992 | Rumbelows | Rumbelows Cup | Original |
1992–1998 | Coca-Cola[30] | Coca-Cola Cup | |
1998–2003 | Worthington's[31] | Worthington Cup | |
2003–2012 | Carling[32] | Carling Cup | |
2012–2016 | Capital One[33] | Capital One Cup | |
2016–2017 | — | EFL Cup | |
2017–2027[34] | Carabao Energy Drink[35] | Carabao Cup |
Trophy
The winners receive the EFL Cup,[1] of which there have been three designs – the current one also being the original, a three-handled Georgian-style urn with a separate plinth (added later). Designed and manufactured by Mappin & Webb, it weighs 2.976 kg and measures 27 cm by 20.5 cm. It is worth around £20,000.[1] It was used until the 1980–81 competition, before coming back into use ever since the 1990–91 competition.[36] The reason for the break in usage was the introduction of the first competition sponsor – the Milk Marketing Board, who chose to award their own trophy from 1981–82 to 1985–86.[37] The next sponsor, Littlewoods, also chose to award their own trophy, from 1986–87 until 1989–90.[38] Later sponsors have used the original.
Broadcasters
In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, 15 matches will be broadcast live by Sky Sports through 2024[39] with highlights from the several matches on ITV Sport beginning in 2022/23.[40] This competition is included in the EFL broadcast package.
From 2024/25, all matches will be broadcast live by Sky Sports.
Records
As of 2024[update]:
- Most tournament wins (team): 10 – Liverpool[41]
- Most consecutive tournament wins (team): 4 – Liverpool (1981–1984) and Manchester City (2018–2021)[41]
- Most final appearances (team): 14 – Liverpool[41]
- Most tournament wins (individual): 6[41]
- Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho for Manchester City (2014, 2016, 2018–2021)
- Most final appearances: (individual): 6
- Ian Rush for Liverpool (1981–1984, 1987, 1995)
- Emile Heskey for Leicester City (1997, 1999, 2000), Liverpool (2001, 2003) and Aston Villa (2010)
- Fernandinho for Manchester City (2014, 2016, 2018–2021)
- Most finals scored in: (individual): 3 - Didier Drogba[42]
- Most goals scored (individual, career): 49 – Ian Rush[43]
- Most goals scored (individual, season): 12 – Andy Ritchie, Oldham Athletic (1989–90)[41]
- Most goals scored (individual, match): 6 – Frankie Bunn (Oldham Athletic, vs Scarborough, 25 October 1989)[44]
- Biggest win:
- West Ham United 10–0 Bury, second round, second leg, 25 October 1983
- Liverpool 10–0 Fulham, second round first leg, 23 September 1986[45]
- Biggest aggregate win in a semi-final: Burton Albion (9–0 home, 1–0 away), 23 January 2019[46]
- Biggest win in a final: Bradford City, 24 February 2013[47]
- Highest scoring game: 12 goals
- Most penalties scored in a penalty shoot-out: 27
- Liverpool 14–13 Middlesbrough (23 September 2014)[50]
- Derby County 14–13 Carlisle United (23 August 2016)[51]
- Most penalties attempted in a penalty shoot-out: 32 – Derby County vs Carlisle United (23 August 2016)[51]
- Youngest player: Harvey Elliott (15 years, 174 days) – Millwall vs Fulham (25 September 2018)[52]
- Youngest goalscorer in the final: 1983[53]
- Youngest captain in the final: 1985[53]
- Most replays in a tie: 3
- Lowest league tier of a League Cup winner: tier 3
- Football League Third Division— overall rank 45th)
- Football League Third Division— overall rank 46th)
- Lowest league tier of a League Cup runner-up: tier 4
- Football League Fourth Division— overall rank 80th)
- Bradford City (2012–13; Football League Two— overall rank 75th)
References
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External links
- England League Cup Full Results 1960–1996. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF)
- BBC News and RSSSF for attendance data