Anglo-Italian League Cup

The Anglo-Italian League Cup (Italian: Coppa di Lega Italo-Inglese, also known as the Anglo-Italian League Cup Winners' Cup[1]) was a short-lived football competition between teams from England and Italy – an English cup-winning team (League Cup or FA Cup) and the Coppa Italia winner, playing each other over two legs. It was contested between 1969–71 and 1975–76.

Anglo-Italian League Cup
Founded1969
Abolished1976
Region England
 Italy
Last champions Napoli (1st title)

The competition was set up at the same time as the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1969.

History

The Football League Cup was changed in 1967 so the winner would be awarded a place in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.[2] But UEFA did not allow third-tier teams to compete in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup at that time.[3][4] When Queens Park Rangers won the 1967 League Cup final they were in the Third Division, as were Swindon Town when they won the 1969 League Cup.

The Anglo-Italian League Cup was organised as a way of compensating Swindon for the ruling that prevented them competing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.[3] A two-legged match was organised with that year's Coppa Italia champions A.S. Roma. The first-leg was held at the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma winning 2–1,[5] but that deficit was overturned in the return leg at the County Ground, Swindon where Swindon won 4–0 making them champions with a 5–2 aggregate.[6]

In 1970, Coppa Italia winners Bologna defeated League Cup winners Manchester City with a 3–2 win on aggregate.[7] The 1971 competition was the last for a few years and League Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur defeated Coppa Italia winners Torino 3–0 on aggregate.[7]

It was briefly reinstated in 1975 (winners Fiorentina), this time between the FA Cup and Coppa Italia winners, but only lasted two seasons before being finally scrapped in 1976 (winners Napoli).

Winners
Key
Bold Indicates the winner in two-legged finals
Year Country Home team Score Away team Country Venue Location Notes
1969  ITA Roma 2–1 Swindon Town  ENG Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy [8]
 ENG Swindon Town 4–0 Roma  ITA County Ground Swindon, England
Swindon Town won 5–2 on aggregate
1970  ITA Bologna 1–0 Manchester City  ENG Stadio Comunale Bologna, Italy [9]
 ENG Manchester City 2–2 Bologna  ITA Maine Road Manchester, England
Bologna won 3–2 on aggregate
1971  ITA Torino 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur  ENG Stadio Comunale Turin, Italy [10]
 ENG Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Torino  ITA White Hart Lane London, England
Tottenham Hotspur won 3–0 on aggregate
1972 Not played
1973 Not played
1974 Not played
1975  ITA Fiorentina 1–0 West Ham United  ENG Stadio Artemio Franchi Florence, Italy [11]
 ENG West Ham United 0–1 Fiorentina  ITA Upton Park London, England
Fiorentina won 2–0 on aggregate
1976  ENG Southampton 1–0 Napoli  ITA The Dell Southampton, England [12]
 ITA Napoli 4–0 Southampton  ENG Stadio Artemio Franchi Florence, Italy
Napoli won 4–1 on aggregate

See also

References
  1. "Swindon Town Match Preview". Bristol Rovers F.C. 22 April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  2. Murray, Scott (12 November 2008). "Why the League Cup still has its place in English football". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  3. Murray, Scott (26 June 2009). "The Joy of Six: Extinct football competitions". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  4. Murphy, Alex (2 May 2009). "Mike Keen: Footballer who captained Third Division Queen's Park Rangers to League Cup victory in 1967". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  5. King, Clive (28 August 1969). "Swindon make it tough for the Italians". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  6. King, Clive (28 August 1969). "Swindon outplay Italians to win cup". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  7. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  8. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  9. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  10. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  11. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  12. "Anglo-Italian League Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
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