Top 4 managers with most EFL Cup titles

The English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) is an annual knockout competition in men’s English domestic football. For sponsorship reasons, it is officially known as the Carabao Cup, though many fans still simply call it the League Cup.

The tournament is open to all 92 clubs across the top four divisions of the English football league system, and it is organized by the English Football League (EFL). Alongside the FA Cup, it stands as one of the two main domestic cup competitions in England.

First introduced in the 1960–61 season as the Football League Cup, the competition has a long history. Over the years, only a select group of managers have managed to win it multiple times, making consistent success in this tournament a notable achievement in English football.

Let’s take a closer look at the four managers who’ve enjoyed the most success in the EFL Cup, leading the way with the highest number of titles in the competition’s history.

4. Jose Mourinho: 4 EFL Cups

Jose Mourinho is one of those managers who divides opinion—fans tend to either love him or really dislike him. Nicknamed “The Special One,” he has built a reputation as one of the most successful and charismatic coaches in modern football.

In 2022, he added another milestone to his career by winning his 26th trophy, leading AS Roma to victory in the first-ever UEFA Conference League. Over the years, Mourinho has enjoyed incredible success across Europe, including two Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan.

During his time in the Premier League, he was especially successful with Chelsea, winning multiple league titles and several domestic trophies, including four EFL Cups.

3. Sir Alex Ferguson: 4 EFL Cups

There’s no need to introduce one of the greatest managers in football history. Sir Alex Ferguson led Manchester United for 27 remarkable years, turning them into one of the most dominant clubs in the world. During his time at Old Trafford, he won an incredible 38 trophies, including the unforgettable treble in the 1998–99 season.

Ferguson remains the most successful manager in Premier League history. Despite his long and trophy-filled career with United, it’s surprising that he won the EFL Cup only four times—showing that even the greatest managers have competitions that eluded them more than expected.

2. Brian Clough: 4 EFL Cups

During his time as Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough led the club to four League Cup triumphs (now known as the EFL Cup), winning the competition in 1978, 1979, 1989, and 1990. His achievement stood as the record for over three decades, until it was finally surpassed in 2026 by Pep Guardiola.

1. Pep Guardiola: 5 EFL Cups

After Manchester City beat Arsenal 2–0 at Wembley to win the 2025–26 EFL Cup on Sunday, Pep Guardiola had plenty to celebrate.

The victory marked City’s ninth League Cup title, with five of those coming under Guardiola since he became manager in 2016. It also ended the club’s two-year wait for a trophy. On a personal level, Guardiola’s fifth League Cup win makes him the most successful manager in the competition’s history since it began in 1960.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports