Abolished in 2020, the League Cup could rise from its ashes. Several leaders of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs are campaigning for the creation of a new competition. A look back at the history of this trophy and deciphering the challenges of such a return!
Created in 1994, the Coupe de la Ligue aimed to offer French clubs additional competition, while generating additional revenue thanks to attractive television rights. For more than two decades, it has seen teams from the first two divisions compete, offering historic or modest clubs the opportunity to enrich their record.
AS Saint-Étienne left its mark in this competition by winning the 2013 edition. The Greens beat Stade Rennais in the final (1-0), thanks to a goal from Brandão. A success which remains engraved in the memory of the supporters.
The Coupe de la Ligue was canceled for several reasons: a schedule considered overloaded and a growing lack of interest on the part of broadcasters and the public. The lack of significant income had sealed his fate.
A League Cup to fill the calendar?
Since its abolition, the landscape of French football has evolved. With the increase to 18 clubs in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, teams not involved in European competitions or quickly eliminated from the Coupe de France now have weeks without a match. This has led some leaders to advocate for the creation of a new competition.
At the start of the season, the subject was discussed during a Ligue 1 college. A working group bringing together five managers – notably Marc Keller (Strasbourg), Laurent Prud'homme (Lyon), and Waldemar Kita (Nantes) – was to be constituted. Although this group has not yet met, the idea is gaining ground.
-“This League Cup filled certain weeks and brought in revenue”confides a manager to the newspaper L’Equipe. Indeed, the competition not only made it possible to maintain a competitive rhythm for the players, but also to offer opportunities to players lacking playing time and to young talents from training centers.
The contours of a new test
The planned project is intended to be innovative. Among the avenues explored is a regionalized format for the first rounds, making it possible to limit travel and increase the number of derbies. Future clubs from the third professional division (Ligue 3) could also be included in the competition.
Another idea would be to impose a minimum number of young players on the match sheets, taking inspiration from the Challenge Espoirs (U23). The objective would be to encourage the emergence of new talents while reducing constraints for the teams engaged in Europe.
However, several questions remain unanswered. Would this competition offer European qualification? What would be its schedule to avoid burdening that of European clubs? Finally, collaboration between the LFP and the FFF will be essential to ensure the consistency of the project with possible reforms of the Coupe de France.
Despite a favorable reception from many leaders, the return of the League Cup is not an immediate priority. The project will have to find its place in a calendar where every day of competition counts.
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