Coupe de la Ligue

This article is about the football competition. For the ice hockey, see Coupe de la Ligue (ice hockey).

Coupe de la Ligue

Founded	1994
Region	France
Number of teams	42
Current champions	Marseille (2nd title)
Most successful club	Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain (3 times)
Television broadcasters	France 2, France 3, France 4 (France Télévisions)
2011–12 Coupe de la Ligue

The Coupe de la Ligue (French pronunciation: [kup də la liɡ]), known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel.^[1] The tournament was established in 1994^[2] and, unlike the Coupe de France, is only open to professional clubs in France, which play in country's top three football divisions, though only two professional clubs currently play in the Championnat National. Competitions similar to the Coupe de la Ligue had been previously held in France.^[3] The Coupe Charles Drago was held from 1953 to 1965; it involved teams eliminated from the Coupe de France.^[3] The winner of the first Coupe Charles Drago final was decided by a coin-toss when Sochaux and Toulouse tied 3–3 after extra time.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] This tournament continued under the name of Coupe de la Ligue, until 1994, before the beginning of the French season.^[3]

History

The tournament in its current format started in 1994. Entrance to the UEFA Cup, now called the UEFA Europa League, is offered to the winning team.^[2] Its first winner was Paris Saint-Germain, after their 2–0 victory over Bastia.^[5] The first final decided by a penalty shootout was the 1996 cup when Metz beat Olympique Lyonnais.^[6] The first three finals were held at Parc des Princes; since the 1998 cup, all finals have been held at the Stade de France.^[7] Strasbourg and Paris Saint-Germain have won the competition at both stadiums.^[2] Gueugnon became the first team below the top division of France to win the cup after beating Paris Saint-Germain in the 2000 final.^[2] Overall, there have been 14 winners of the competition since 1995.^[3] The most successful teams, in terms of competitions won, are Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain, who have won the cup thrice.^[3] The current holders of the cup are Marseille, who beat Bordeaux in the 2010 final. Olympique de Marseille became the first club to win the cup two times in a row by beating Montpellier HSC.

Finals

Main article: List of Coupe de la Ligue winners

Records

• Most tournament wins (team): three, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux.^[8]
• Most final appearances (team): six, Bordeaux.^[8]
• Highest goalscorer (career): Pauleta, 15 goals.^[9]
• Most goals scored in a season (player): Stéphane Guivarc'h, seven goals in 1997–98.^[10]

Media coverage

In Australia the Coupe de la Ligue is broadcast by Setanta Sports Australia.

In many parts of the world the game is broadcasted live in TV5MONDE

See also

• Coupe de France, the nation's football cup

References

1. ^ "League Cup". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "League Cup History". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=7782. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "France — List of League Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesf/franleagcuphist.html. Retrieved 19 February 2009. 
4. ^ "France Summer Cup 1982". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesf/franleagcup82.html. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
5. ^ "Paris Saint-Germain 2–0 SC Bastia". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=1994/1995&code_evt=CL&num_ordre=1&code_jr_tr=T99. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
6. ^ "FC Metz 0–0 Olympique Lyonnais". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=1995/1996&code_evt=CL&num_ordre=1&code_jr_tr=T99. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
7. ^ "Roll of Honour". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/palmares.asp. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Roll of Honour". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/palmares.asp. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
9. ^ "Top Scorer — All Time". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/classementButeur.asp?code_jr_tr=ALL&saison=ALL. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
10. ^ "Top Scorer — Season 1997–98". Ligue de Football Professionnel. http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/classementButeur.asp?code_jr_tr=ALL&saison=1997/1998. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 

External links

• Coupe de la Ligue fixtures, results and statistics (English)