Football League Cup

The Football League Cup, also known by the abbreviated name of the League Cup and the current designation Capital One Cup ( also on German League Cup), is a cup competition in English football. Like the better-known and more prestigious FA Cup, he will be playing in the knock-out system. Unlike the FA Cup here are only the 92 members of the Football League, which organizes the competition itself, and eligible to enter clubs in the Premier League. The winner of the League Cup qualifies for the UEFA Europa League (until 2008 for the UEFA Cup), so far this has not already attained in another way the authorization.

Since 1982 the League Cup will be held under a changing Identification of current Sponsors:

  • Milk Cup (1982-1986)
  • Littlewoods Challenge Cup (1986-1990)
  • Rumbelows Cup (1990-1993)
  • Coca -Cola Cup (1993-1998)
  • Worthington Cup (1998-2003)
  • Carling Cup (2003-2012)
  • Capital One Cup (2012-2016)

The League Cup is in meaning clearly in the shadow of the FA Cup and was at the time of sponsorship by Worthington as Worthless Cup: mocked ( to German Worthless Cup ). Also common is the derogatory term Mickey Mouse Cup. The top clubs often tend the League Cup matches to contest with reserve or youth players.

  • 3.1 1961-1966 ( return match )
  • 3.2 Since 1967 ( a game)

Format of the competition

Preliminary round

A preliminary round will always only be played when the number of clubs participating in European competitions, affects the number of byes for teams in the second round and thus does not lead to more byes in the first round (see exactly the rules in the first and the second round). The games are usually between clubs at the end of the table the fourth division, so the Football League Two discharged, and usually relate exactly to the clubs who are just out of the fifth division, ie the Conference National, have risen.

The encounters are each individual games that are in the event of a draw after 90 minutes, in an extension, and if then still no winner could be determined, decided in a penalty shootout. The winners will progress to the first round of the competition.

First round

All clubs in the Football League, so the second to fourth division (Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League Two ), get this round in the cup, unless they participate in the UEFA Cup. Previously played the winner of the preliminary round round out the field of competitors. It is sometimes necessary because of active European clubs, to distribute a first -round bye for one or more clubs. This could be the case when (or not ) clubs in the Football League have qualified European and if a previous preliminary round represented a better way to construct an even number of games. The clubs that may come along the way to a bye, are the highest ranked in the Football League clubs. As a rule, these are just relegated from the Premier League clubs.

In the first round the clubs in the northern or southern region will be allocated, although this does not always lead to two equal parts, so that one of the parts predominates. In each area, half of the clubs is set and determines whether the set club must deny a home or away game. In the next step each of the unseeded teams from the same region will be drawn as an opponent.

Again, the meeting will be decided in a single game and possibly after extra time and penalties. The winners will progress to the second round of the competition.

Second Round

In addition to the winners of the first round, now climb the clubs in the Premier League in the competition. Excluded are all clubs participating in the Champions League or Europa League.

As mentioned previously, a game is decided, if necessary by extra time and penalties in the second round. The winners will progress to the third round of the competition.

Third Round

All clubs who took part in the Champions League or Europa League, now go into the competition and completed with the winners of the second round a field with a total of 32 clubs.

Here are the matches in each one game, possibly discharged after extra time and penalties. The winners progress to the fourth round.

Second round and quarter-finals

Both rounds are played in knockout system. There are the same rules as before.

Semifinal

The four winners of the quarter finals will take part in this round.

The two matches will be played in two games, each club discharged against his first drawing opponents one home and one away match. The winner, determined by adding the two match results, move on to the finals. If the added result lead to a draw, an extension will be held at the end of the second game. Will this continue to be a draw, thus winning the team with the higher number of away goals scored. If even this number is equal, so the game will be decided in a penalty shootout.

Final

The two winners of the semi-finals compete in a final against each other and determine the winner of the League Cup.

The game will be in a match on neutral territory held (currently at Wembley Stadium ), which must decide an extension and then optionally a penalty shootout over the title winners in a draw after 90 minutes.

Currently, the English FA awarded a place in the Europa League (formerly UEFA Cup ) to the League Cup winner. He will take the sixth- the Premier League in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Should the League Cup winner himself otherwise, eg by winning an international title or by at least 5 square can be reached in the Premier League will qualify for an international competition, so moves not about the losing finalist, but another participant the Premier League, in general, the sixth- after. But is there also by the FA Cup runners- one, so even the seventh- may move up and play internationally.

History

During the 1950s, the big English clubs expanded their stadiums to floodlighting. This opened them the opportunity to use evenings of working days in the winter. The introduction of the League Cup in the 1960/61 season was a direct response to this development and was explicitly introduced as a competition, which was played in the middle of a week under the lights. In the early days of the League Cup by many clubs was rejected and it was only thanks to that later took part in all the clubs in the competition qualifying opportunity for the UEFA Cup.

The Liverpool FC with eight wins, the record title holder and was in the 1980s the trophy even win four consecutive times. The last win was in 2012 against Cardiff City.

All Final Results

Note: * means Overtime

1961-1966 ( return match )

Since 1967 ( a game)

Clubs with a League Cup titles:

  • Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United, Luton Town, Middlesbrough FC, Oxford United, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, Swansea City, Swindon Town, West Bromwich Albion
England Coca-Cola Conference Premier Cardiff City F.C. Aston Villa F.C. Villa Park Spotland Stadium Carrow Road Birmingham City F.C. Leicester City F.C. Stamford Bridge (stadium) West Ham United F.C. Boleyn Ground The Hawthorns Wembley Stadium (1923) Swindon Town F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Newcastle United F.C. Hillsborough Stadium 1977–78 Football League Cup Nottingham Forest F.C. 1978–79 Football League Cup Southampton F.C. 1979–80 Football League Cup 1980–81 Football League Cup 1981–82 Football League Cup 1982–83 Football League Cup Manchester United F.C. 1983–84 Football League Cup Maine Road 1984–85 Football League Cup 1985–86 Football League Cup 1986–87 Football League Cup 1987–88 Football League Cup 1988–89 Football League Cup 1989–90 Football League Cup Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 1990–91 Football League Cup Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 1991–92 Football League Cup 1992–93 Football League Cup 1993–94 Football League Cup 1994–95 Football League Cup Bolton Wanderers F.C. 1995–96 Football League Cup Middlesbrough F.C. Tranmere Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers F.C. 2005–06 Football League Cup Wigan Athletic F.C. 2008–09 Football League Cup 2009–10 Football League Cup 2010–11 Football League Cup 2011–12 Football League Cup 2012–13 Football League Cup Swansea City A.F.C. Bradford City A.F.C. 2013–14 Football League Cup Sunderland A.F.C. Finnish League Cup Coupe de la Ligue Ligakupa Belgian League Cup Ekstraklasa Cup Copa de la Liga FA Women's Premier League Cup
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