Capital One Cup

Capital One Cup. The competition is one of the three major domestic trophies in English football, alongside the Premier League and the FA Cup. Established in 1960, it is open to all clubs in the top four tiers of the English football league system, providing a route to UEFA Europa League qualification for the winner. The tournament has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship arrangements but remains a coveted knockout cup.

History

The tournament was created in 1960 as a midweek floodlit competition, initially known as the Football League Cup. It was conceived by Alan Hardaker, then secretary of the Football League, as a means to generate additional revenue for clubs. For its first two decades, it was often overshadowed by the prestige of the FA Cup, with several top clubs, including Manchester United under Matt Busby, declining to participate. Its stature grew significantly after it began offering a UEFA Cup place to the winner in the 1970s, a period that saw memorable victories for clubs like Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough. The competition was a founding member of the Football League's commercial rebranding in the 1980s, leading to a series of title sponsorships.

Format

The competition involves all 92 clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League. It is a straight knockout tournament from the first round, with all matches except the semi-finals being single-legged ties decided on the night, with extra time and a penalty shootout used if necessary. The top clubs participating in UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League receive a bye into the third round. The semi-finals are contested over two legs, home and away, with the away goals rule having been abolished in 2018. The final is traditionally held at Wembley Stadium in London, providing a major showcase event in the domestic calendar.

Sponsorship

The cup has had a long history of commercial sponsorship, which is reflected in its various official names. Its first major sponsor was the Milk Marketing Board, leading to the "Milk Cup" era in the 1980s. Subsequent sponsors included Littlewoods, Rumblelows, Coca-Cola, and Worthington's. The competition was known as the Carling Cup for much of the 2000s following a deal with Molson Coors Beverage Company. The Capital One sponsorship, a deal with the American bank, began in the 2012-13 season and ran until 2016. Following this, English Football League secured a partnership with Carabao, an energy drink company, which continues to title the competition today.

Records and statistics

Liverpool holds the record for the most victories, having won the trophy ten times, including a triumph under manager Jürgen Klopp in 2022. Manchester City and Aston Villa have also been frequent winners. The record for most individual final appearances is held by Ian Rush, who played in seven finals for Liverpool. The highest-scoring final occurred in 2024 when Chelsea defeated Liverpool after extra time. In terms of giant-killing, clubs from lower divisions such as Bradford City and Oxford United have reached the final, with Swindon Town winning the trophy in 1969 while in the old Third Division.

Finals

The final has been held at various venues throughout its history, including the original Wembley, Maine Road, and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff during Wembley's reconstruction. Since 2008, it has been a permanent fixture at the new Wembley Stadium. Some of the most notable finals include Arsenal's dramatic last-minute victory over Sheffield Wednesday in 1993, Manchester United's win over Wigan Athletic in 2006, and Birmingham City's upset against Arsenal in 2011. The 2023 final saw Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, defeat Newcastle United to end the club's six-year trophy drought.

Category:Football competitions in England Category:National association football leagues