EFL Cup
EFL Cup[edit | edit source]
The EFL Cup, also known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. It is organized by the English Football League (EFL) and is open to any club within the top four levels of the English football league system – 92 clubs in total, comprising the Premier League, EFL Championship, EFL League One, and EFL League Two.
History[edit | edit source]
The competition was established in 1960 as the Football League Cup. It was introduced as a means to generate additional revenue for clubs and to provide more competitive matches. The inaugural tournament was won by Aston Villa in 1961.
Over the years, the competition has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship deals. It has been known as the Milk Cup, Littlewoods Challenge Cup, Rumbelows Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Worthington Cup, Carling Cup, and Capital One Cup.
Format[edit | edit source]
The EFL Cup is a knockout tournament with seven rounds, including the final. The competition begins in August and concludes with the final in February. The first round features clubs from the EFL Championship, League One, and League Two. Premier League clubs enter in the second round, with those involved in European competitions joining in the third round.
Rounds[edit | edit source]
- First Round: 70 teams from the EFL Championship, League One, and League Two.
- Second Round: 50 teams, including 13 Premier League clubs not involved in European competitions.
- Third Round: 32 teams, including the remaining 7 Premier League clubs.
- Fourth Round: 16 teams.
- Quarter-finals: 8 teams.
- Semi-finals: 4 teams, played over two legs.
- Final: 2 teams, played at Wembley Stadium.
Significance[edit | edit source]
The winner of the EFL Cup qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League, unless they have already qualified for a higher UEFA competition through their league position or by winning another domestic cup. This provides an additional incentive for clubs to compete seriously in the tournament.
Notable Records[edit | edit source]
- Liverpool F.C. holds the record for the most EFL Cup wins, with 9 titles.
- Manchester City F.C. has been particularly successful in recent years, winning the cup multiple times in the 2010s and 2020s.
Criticism and Controversy[edit | edit source]
The EFL Cup has faced criticism for being less prestigious than other domestic competitions like the FA Cup. Some clubs, particularly those in the Premier League, have been known to field weakened teams, prioritizing league performance or other competitions.
Sponsorship[edit | edit source]
The competition has been sponsored by various companies over the years, with the current sponsor being Carabao, a Thai energy drink company. This sponsorship deal has led to the competition being branded as the Carabao Cup.
External Links[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
