The History of the Carabao Cup: Every Name Change and Why It Keeps Rebranding

A complete history of the EFL Cup's name changes from the Milk Cup in 1981 through to the Carabao Cup today, explaining why the competition keeps changing its name and who Carabao are.

The League Cup has had more name changes than most clubs have had managers. Since its first sponsored era began in 1981, the competition has been known as the Milk Cup, the Littlewoods Cup, the Rumbelows Cup, the Coca-Cola Cup, the Worthington Cup, the Carling Cup, the Capital One Cup, and now the Carabao Cup. 

That’s eight different names across four decades, with one unsponsored season in between. Here is the full Carabao Cup name history, why it keeps happening, and what it means for the competition's identity.

What is the League Cup's official name right now?

The competition's official name is the Carabao Cup, after its title sponsor Carabao Energy Drink. Its generic name, used when no sponsor is in place, is the EFL Cup. 

Its original name, used from its founding in 1960 until its first sponsorship in 1981, was the Football League Cup. Most fans simply call it the League Cup regardless of what it says on the branding, and with so many name changes, it’s probably the easiest option. 

Why does the cup keep changing its name?

Unlike the FA Cup, which keeps its name and labels sponsors separately, the League Cup sells its title naming rights outright. Each sponsorship deal rebrands the competition entirely. The EFL has historically seen this as a straightforward revenue stream. A title sponsor pays for the right to have their brand in the competition's name across all broadcasts, stadium signage, and official communications.

The result is a competition that has changed its name roughly every four to nine years since 1981, usually when a sponsorship deal expires and a new partner comes in. The FA Cup's approach produces stronger brand recognition, whereas the League Cup's approach produces more commercial revenue for the clubs that depend on it.

The full timeline: from Milk Cup to Carabao Cup

The competition launched in 1960 as the Football League Cup, with Aston Villa winning the first final in 1961. For its first 21 years it had no sponsor and no secondary name.

Carling's nine-season run from 2003 to 2012 was the longest single sponsorship until Carabao overtook it. With the current deal running through 2028-29, Carabao will have held the name for 12 consecutive seasons by the time it concludes.

Who are Carabao and why do they sponsor English football?

Carabao is a Thai energy drink brand founded by Sathien Setthasit. In Thailand, it’s one of the dominant energy drink brands in a market worth billions of baht annually. The decision to sponsor the EFL Cup in 2017 was a deliberate internationalisation strategy. 

English football's global broadcast reach gives Carabao exposure across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and beyond, and the kind of traction that would have been impossible to buy through conventional advertising at the same cost.

The original deal was three years, running from 2017 to 2020. It has since been extended three times. The most recent extension, agreed in March 2026, runs through the 2028-29 season, making Carabao the longest-serving title sponsor in the competition's EFL Cup history.

Which name has stuck in fans' minds the most?

The Carling Cup, by most measures. Its nine-season run coincided with the rise of social media, the peak of Chelsea and Arsenal's domestic rivalry, and several dramatic finals. It also benefited from being a recognisable brand name rather than a financial services company or dairy board. Carling was everywhere in English football during that era and the name embedded itself accordingly.

The Milk Cup carries its own nostalgic weight for older supporters. It was the name used during a period when the League Cup was at its most prestigious, with Liverpool winning it four consecutive times between 1981 and 1984.

Has the name changing hurt the competition's identity?

It has certainly complicated it. 

Broadcasters and media typically default to the generic League Cup when referring to the competition in historical context, because saying the Carling Cup semi-final of 2005 or the Milk Cup final of 1984 requires the reader to know the sponsorship timeline. That fragmentation makes it harder to build a coherent narrative around the competition across decades.

Whether it has hurt attendance or interest is harder to measure. The League Cup remains one of the most-watched domestic cup competitions in the world, and the Wembley final consistently sells out. The name changes haven’t visibly damaged the competition's core appeal. They have just made it harder to remember what it was called three sponsors ago.

Never miss a League Cup moment with Match Bingo

From the early rounds to the Wembley final in February, every goal, corner and card in the EFL Cup is live on Match Bingo throughout the season.

Download now!