Capital One Cup

The Capital One Cup is the current name for the Football League Cup in England due to the latest sponsorship for the competition, which was first held in 1960. It makes up one of the three major domestic trophies on offer during the season along with the FA Cup and Premier League title.

92 clubs enter the League Cup each year. 20 of those are from the Premier League, while the other 72 are members of the Football League. The top-flight teams don't enter until the second round, while sides participating in Europe come in a round later.

The competition is played in a knockout basis just like the FA Cup. There are no replays, so if any games are tied after 90 minutes, they come to a conclusion by extra-time, and then if necessary, through penalties. This format changes once the tournament reaches the semi-finals as this round is played across two legs. Both sides meet each other home and away and the combined aggregate scores are added together to determine the winner.

Once the tournament reaches the final it is played at Wembley Stadium in February each season. It has been held at the home of the England football team since 1967, although Old Trafford, Villa Park, Maine Road, Hillsborough and the Millennium Stadium have all hosted a final when the national stadium has not been available for whatever reason. 

The winners of the Capital One Cup qualify for the UEFA Europa League, unless they have already secured a spot in a European competition courtesy of their league position.

They also receive £100,000 in prize money, while the runner-up picks up £50,000. 

The most successful club in the history of the tournament is Liverpool as they have won the trophy on eight different occasions. Aston Villa are next best with five victories, while Chelsea, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham all have four wins to their name.

At the time of writing the holders were Swansea, winning their first major trophy in England by beating Bradford 5-0. That was also the highest margin of victory by any side in a final of the League Cup. The Yorkshire club became only the second team in history to reach the final from the basement division. Rochdale did the same in 1962 when they were beaten by Norwich.

Some managers have opted to field weakened teams in the competition in recent years, most notably Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He uses the cup tournament to give some of the younger members of his squad vital first team experience. 

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