League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946–47 and was entitled the Scottish League Cup. However, in the Republic of Ireland the now-defunct League of Ireland Shield was the first national league-only tournament of its kind (played first in 1921); this was subsequently replaced by the League of Ireland Cup in 1983.
The creation of a League Cup marked the difference from the or Primary Cup, which is generally also open to teams from multiple leagues, often as far down as regional amateur leagues, and who are also members of the country's football association.
The creation of a tournament of this kind exclusively for the top national-level league teams, in addition to the two main domestic association football tournaments of the league and association cup, also created a new national footballing achievement called the domestic "treble". The first national league treble of this kind was won by Shamrock Rovers of the Republic of Ireland in 1925.
League cups were generally introduced after the Second World War – for example, the Football League Cup in England in 1960 – although in other countries they were created following a rise in the number of floodlit stadiums, allowing regular midweek matches.
In certain countries, the League Cup had, or in some cases still has, group stages in the early stages. These often opened the season before the main league season began.
List of League Cups and Secondary Cups
Africa
KPL Top 8 Cup
South Africa
- MTN 8 – first tier
- Telkom Knockout – second tier
Asia
Europe
England
- EFL Cup (formerly the Football League Cup) – first tier
- EFL Trophy (formerly the Football League Trophy) – second tier
- Isthmian League Cup – regional competition
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup – regional competition
- Northern Premier League President's Cup – regional competition
- Southern Football League Cup – regional competition
Deildabikar
League of Ireland Cup
Toto Cup
Irish League Cup
Taça da Liga
Scotland
- Scottish League Cup – first tier
- Scottish Challenge Cup – second tier
Welsh League Cup
South America
Copa de la Superliga
Copa de la Liga Paraguaya de Fútbol
Torneo Intermedio
North America
Defunct League Cups and Secondary Cups
Asia
Europe
Belgian League Cup
Spar Cup, Danish League Cup, Viasat Cup
Olympia-Pokal (1964), Fuwo-Pokal (1972), DFV-Toto-Sonderrunde (1974 and 1976)
Full Members Cup, Super Cup, Centenary Trophy, Conference League Cup
Finnish League Cup
Coupe Charles Drago
Coupe de la Ligue
DFL-Ligapokal
Gibraltar Premier Cup
Greek League Cup
Virsligas Winter Cup
Norwegian League Cup
Ekstraklasa Cup
Federation Cup
Cupa Ligii
Russian Premier League Cup
Saint Mungo Cup, Summer Cup, Southern League Cup
All-Union Committee of Physical Culture and Sports Tournament (1952), USSR Federation Cup
Copa de la Liga
Swiss League Cup
Spor Toto Cup
Ukrainian Second League Cup (a preliminary tournament for the Ukrainian Cup that involved third tier teams along with best teams of Ukrainian Amateur Cup; the Ukrainian League Cup was a single season supplemental tournament for the third tier teams of 2009–10 Ukrainian Second League and involved participation of some reserve and amateur teams)
FAW Premier Cup
Yugoslav League Cup