EFL Cup

EFL Cup. The EFL Cup is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. Organized by the English Football League (EFL), it is open to all 92 clubs from the Premier League and the EFL Championship, EFL League One, and EFL League Two. First contested in the 1960–61 season, it is one of the three major domestic trophies, alongside the FA Cup and the Premier League.

History

The competition was inaugurated in 1960 as the Football League Cup, conceived by the English Football League as a midweek floodlit tournament to generate additional revenue for its member clubs. The first final was held in 1961 and was won by Aston Villa. Initially viewed with skepticism by some top clubs, its prestige grew significantly after it secured a UEFA Europa League berth for the winner. Landmark moments include Liverpool's record number of victories and Manchester United's first triumph under Alex Ferguson in 1992. The competition has been a platform for memorable giant-killings, such as when fourth-tier Bradford City reached the final in 2013, and has been integral to the development of the English game.

Format

The tournament involves all 92 professional clubs from the top four tiers of the English football pyramid. It is a straight knockout competition from the first round, with all ties decided by a single match, excluding the two-legged semi-finals. Extra time and a penalty shoot-out are used to determine a winner if necessary. Teams involved in European competition, typically from the Premier League, receive a bye to later rounds. The draw for each round is usually unseeded and regionalized in the early stages to minimize travel for lower-league clubs. The winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round.

Trophy

The winner receives the EFL Cup trophy, a sterling silver design that has remained largely unchanged since its creation. The original trophy was designed and manufactured by Mappin & Webb and was first presented to Aston Villa in 1961. It features a crown-like top and three handles, standing approximately 27 inches tall. Clubs that win the competition five times or three times in succession are awarded a special commemorative trophy to keep permanently; Liverpool achieved this in 2022. The current trophy is valued at over £100,000 and is traditionally presented at Wembley Stadium.

Sponsorship

Since 1982, the competition has been known by various names due to sponsorship rights. Early sponsors included the Milk Marketing Board, leading to the "Milk Cup" era. Subsequent sponsors have included Littlewoods, Rumbelows, Coca-Cola, Worthington's, Molson Coors (via Carling), and Capital One. Since 2017, the naming rights have been held by the Thai company Carabao Group, leading to its current common name, the Carabao Cup. These sponsorship deals have been a significant source of revenue for the English Football League, with the current agreement reported to be worth tens of millions of pounds.

Records and statistics

Liverpool holds the record for the most victories, having won the competition ten times. Manchester City has been the most successful team in recent years, winning it four times between 2018 and 2021. The highest-scoring final was in 2024, when Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1–0 after extra time. Notable individual records include Sergio Agüero's tally of goals for Manchester City and Clive Allen's feat of scoring 12 goals in a single campaign for Tottenham Hotspur in 1986–87. The fastest goal in a final was scored by John Arne Riise for Liverpool against Chelsea in 2005.

Media coverage

Domestic television rights are held by Sky Sports, which broadcasts live matches exclusively in the United Kingdom. The final and semi-finals are typically shown on free-to-air television in the UK on ITV. Internationally, broadcast rights are sold to various networks globally, including ESPN in the United States and beIN Sports in the Middle East and France. Radio coverage is provided nationally by BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT. The competition's digital and highlight rights are managed by the English Football League and its broadcast partners. Category:Football competitions in England Category:English Football League Category:National association football league cups