Who has won the most Carabao Cups?

In the 1960/61 season, the Football League Cup was formed after clubs began to use floodlights at their stadiums, with Aston Villa winning the inaugural tournament, coming out on top against Rotherham United 3-2 in the final over two legs.

The competition changed the final format from over two legs to a single match in the 1966/67 season, played at Wembley Stadium, where third-division club Queens Park Rangers became the first lower-tier club to lift the trophy after defeating West Bromwich Alboin by three goals to two. 

Another third-division club reached the final against a first-division side in 1969 when Swindon Town defeated Arsenal 3-1. 

Liverpool emerged as the dominant force in the competition in the 1980s, securing four consecutive trophies from 1981 to 1984. Only Manchester City has emulated that feat, winning four cups from 2018 to 2021.

The name of the League Cup has changed multiple times over the years, becoming known as the Milk Cup from 1981 to 1986 after being sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board.

In 1986, the competition became known as the Littlewoods Cup, and in 1990, it was called the Rumbelows Cup. Coca-Cola became the title sponsor in 1992, and in 1998, it was renamed the Worthington Cup.

In 2003, it was called the Carling Cup and the Capital One Cup in 2012, with Carabao joining the ranks as the latest sponsor of the League Cup in 2017.

Every season, teams from the English Premier League, the Championship, League One, and League Two compete in the Carabao Cup in knockout rounds to decide the winner.

English Premier League sides are given a bye into round two, whilst teams that have qualified for the Champions League and Europa League begin their campaign in round three.

Only the semi-finals are contested over two legs, with the final being played at Wembley Stadium each year, with the winner automatically qualifying for the Europa Conference League. 

Notable records achieved by individuals in the Carabao Cup since its inception:

1966 England World Cup-winning hero Geoff Hurst and Liverpool legend Ian Rush hold the record of being joint top scorers in the competition with 49 goals each, although Hurst achieved that feat in 60 appearances and Rush in 80.

Here is the list of the most successful teams to have won the Carabao Cup.