With the opening round of the 2026-27 edition about to get underway, who comes out on top in the EFL Cup winners list?
Although England’s secondary domestic cup competition doesn’t offer the glitz and glamour of the FA Cup, it has certainly provided it’s fair share of memorable moments over the years.
Just ask supporters of Birmingham, Bradford, Oxford, Newcastle and QPR. All five clubs have left their mark in the EFL Cup and that also extends to the likes of Luton, Middlesbrough, Swindon and Sheffield Wednesday.
However, which side in England is the undisputed overall EFL Cup winners? Here at BetVictor News, we take a closer look at the ten most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
EFL Cup Winners: Who Boasts The Most Victories?
Liverpool hold the record for the most EFL Cup wins. The Reds have won the competition 10 times, one more than rivals Man City who have nine victories. The Cityzens are the current holders after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the 2026 final thanks to a brace from Nico O’Reilly.
Enzo Maresca’s side are the joint EFL Cup betting favourites ahead of this season’s edition. If Maresca can go all the way, it would be his first official major honour with City. His predecessor – Pep Guardiola – won the competition five times during his successful 10-year spell at the Etihad.
Who Won The First EFL Cup?
The inaugural winners of the EFL Cup (League Cup) were Aston Villa in the 1960-61 season. The Lions recorded a 3-2 win over two legs against Rotherham United. Check out the latest football odds here on BetVictor for all of the outright markets on Unai Emery’s side for the 2026-27 season.
Which Clubs Outside The Top Flight Have Won The EFL Cup?
Four teams outside of the top-flight have won the EFL Cup. The most famous of them include QPR, who rallied from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2 in 1967. The R’s were Third Division at the time.
Swindon caused a huge upset when they beat Arsenal 3-1 (AET) in the 1969 edition. Like the west Londoners, the Robins were also a Third Division club. Interestingly, Norwich won the competition twice while playing outside of England’s elite (1962, 1985).
The most recent victors were Sheffield Wednesday in 1991. The League One odds favour the Owls to make a title push this season and on that famous day 35 years ago, it was Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United they got the better of.
The Most Memorable EFL Cup Moments
The fairytale stories of Norwich, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon have created some of the most iconic moments in the competition’s history. However – despite not being EFL Cup winners – there are a number of clubs who have flourished.
The 2013 edition saw League Two Bradford get all the way to the final after beating Arsenal and Aston Villa along the way. However, they were thumped 5-0 by Premier League side Swansea. Championship clubs Cardiff (2012) and Birmingham (2001) also lost out in the final. As did Bolton (1995) and Tranmere (2000).
In terms of the EFL Cup winners who have created the most memorable moments, they include the Newcastle side of 2025 who ended their 70-year trophy drought. There was also the Birmingham team in 2011 who stunned Arsenal in the final.
Other honourable mentions include Middlesbrough’s victory in 2004. Their very first major honour. Oxford beat QPR 3-0 in the 1986 edition whereas Luton got the better of the Gunners in the 1988 final.
The Top Ten Most Successful Sides In EFL Cup History
| Rank | Club | Wins | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 10 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2022, 2024 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 9 | 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2026 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 6 | 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 5 | 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 5 | 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 1971, 1973, 1999, 2008 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990 |
| 8 | Leicester City | 3 | 1964, 1997, 2000 |
| 9 | Arsenal | 2 | 1987, 1993 |
| 10 | Norwich City | 2 | 1962, 1985 |
