The
Coupe de la Ligue (kup də la liɡ), known outside of France as the
French League Cup, is a
knockoutA single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
cup competition in
French footballFootball is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
organized by the
Ligue de Football ProfessionnelThe Ligue de Football Professionnel , commonly known as the LFP, is a French governing body that runs the major professional football leagues in France. It was founded in 1944 and serves under the authority of the French Football Federation...
. The tournament was established in 1994 and, unlike the
Coupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
, is only open to professional clubs in France, which play in country's
top three football divisionsThe French football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the...
, though only two professional clubs currently play in the
Championnat NationalThe Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. Competitions similar to the Coupe de la Ligue had been previously held in France. The
Coupe Charles DragoThe Coupe Charles Drago was an elimination cup competition organised by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, between clubs that are knocked out before the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. The tournament was founded in 1953 and was discontinued after the 1965 tournament.-Finals:Key-Results by...
was held from 1953 to 1965; it involved teams eliminated from the
Coupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
. The winner of the first Coupe Charles Drago final was decided by a
coin-tossCoin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
when
SochauxFootball Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
and
ToulouseToulouse Football Club was a French association football team playing in the city of Toulouse, Haute-Garonne. The team was founded in 1937 and disappeared in 1967, in a merge with Red Star Olympique. Even though this team held the same name as Toulouse's current main club , the two teams are not to...
tied 3–3 after extra time. Another competition named Coupe de la Ligue existed from 1963 to 1965; this was run alongside the Coupe Charles Drago for two years until they both ceased. In 1982, a Coupe d'Eté (Summer cup) was held before the start of the French league season; the cup was won by Stade Laval. This tournament continued under the name of Coupe de la Ligue, until 1994, before the beginning of the French season.
History
The tournament in its current format started in 1994. Entrance to the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, now called the UEFA Europa League, is offered to the winning team. Its first winner was Paris Saint-Germain, after their 2–0 victory over
BastiaSporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. The first final decided by a penalty shootout was the
1996 cupThe Coupe de la Ligue Final 1996 was a football match held at Parc des Princes, Paris on April 6, 1996, that saw FC Metz defeat Olympique Lyonnais in a penalty shootout-Match details:...
when
MetzFootball Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
beat
Olympique LyonnaisOlympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. The first three finals were held at
Parc des PrincesThe Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
; since the
1998 cupThe Coupe de la Ligue Final 1998 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on April 4, 1998, that saw defeat FC Girondins de Bordeaux in a penalty shootout-Match details:...
, all finals have been held at the
Stade de FranceThe Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
.
StrasbourgRacing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
and Paris Saint-Germain have won the competition at both stadiums.
GueugnonFootball Club Gueugnonnais was a French association football club based in Gueugnon. The club was formed in 1940 and played in the Championnat National, the third level of French football, before entering liquidation in April 2011. Gueugnon played its home matches at the Stade Jean Laville...
became the first team below the
top division of FranceLigue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
to win the cup after beating Paris Saint-Germain in the
2000 finalThe Coupe de la Ligue Final 2000 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on April 22, 2000, that saw FC Gueugnon of Division 2 defeat Paris Saint-Germain FC 2-0 thanks to goals by Marcelo Trapasso and Sylvain Flauto.-Match details:...
. Overall, there have been 14 winners of the competition since
1995The Coupe de la Ligue Final 1995 was a football match held at Parc des Princes, Paris on May 3, 1995, that saw defeat SC Bastia 2-0 thanks to goals by Alain Roche and Raí.-Match details:-External links:*...
. The most successful teams, in terms of competitions won, are Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain, who have won the cup thrice. The current holders of the cup are
MarseilleOlympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, who beat
BordeauxFootball Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
in the
2010 finalThe 2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 16th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue, a football competition for the 46 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel manages. The final took place on 27 March 2010 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis...
.
Olympique de MarseilleOlympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
became the first club to win the cup two times in a row by beating
Montpellier HSCMontpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
.
Records
- Most tournament wins (team): three, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
.
- Most final appearances (team): six, Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
.
- Highest goalscorer (career): Pauleta
Pedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes, OIH , commonly known as Pauleta , is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a striker....
, 15 goals.
- Most goals scored in a season (player): Stéphane Guivarc'h
Stéphane Guivarc'h is a retired French footballer that played as striker. He featured in the France squad that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil....
, seven goals in 1997–98.
Media coverage
In Australia the Coupe de la Ligue is broadcast by
Setanta Sports AustraliaSetanta Sports Australia is a sports television channel operating in Australia and is available to homes and businesses across all of Australia...
.
In many parts of the world the game is broadcasted live in
TV5MONDETV5MONDE is a global television network, broadcasting several channels of French language programming. It is an approved participant member of the European Broadcasting Union.-History:...
External links