Alan Hardaker Trophy


The Alan Hardaker Trophy is an annual association football award presented to the Man of the Match in the EFL Cup final. The trophy is named after Alan Hardaker, the EFL's former secretary who conceived the League Cup.
The Alan Hardaker Trophy was first awarded in 1990, Des Walker was the inaugural recipient. Ben Foster, John Terry, Vincent Kompany and Virgil van Dijk have won the award on two occasions, the most wins by an individual. Ben Foster is the only player to have won the award with 2 different clubs; Manchester United and Birmingham City respectively. Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all received the award six times, more than any other club. English players have won the trophy eighteen times, which is a record; the only other nations with multiple wins are: the Netherlands with three recipients, and Scotland and Belgium with two recipients each. Every Alan Hardaker Trophy winner has been on the winning team in the final.

Winners

;Key to score column
FinalPlayerNationalityTeamOpponentsScore
1990Nottingham ForestOldham Athletic1–0
1991Sheffield WednesdayManchester United1–0
1992Manchester UnitedNottingham Forest1–0
1993ArsenalSheffield Wednesday2–1
1994Aston VillaManchester United3–1
1995LiverpoolBolton Wanderers2–1
1996Aston VillaLeeds United3–0
1997Leicester CityMiddlesbrough
1998ChelseaMiddlesbrough2–0
1999Tottenham HotspurLeicester City1–0
2000Leicester CityTranmere Rovers2–1
2001LiverpoolBirmingham City
2002Blackburn RoversTottenham Hotspur2–1
2003LiverpoolManchester United2–0
2004MiddlesbroughBolton Wanderers2–1
2005ChelseaLiverpool3–2
2006Manchester UnitedWigan Athletic4–0
2007ChelseaArsenal2–1
2008Tottenham HotspurChelsea2–1
2009Manchester UnitedTottenham Hotspur
2010Manchester UnitedAston Villa2–1
2011 Birmingham CityArsenal2–1
2012LiverpoolCardiff City
2013Swansea CityBradford City5–0
2014Manchester CitySunderland3–1
2015 ChelseaTottenham Hotspur2–0
2016Manchester CityLiverpool
2017Manchester UnitedSouthampton3–2
2018 Manchester CityArsenal3–0
2019Manchester CityChelsea
2020Manchester CityAston Villa2–1
2021Manchester CityTottenham Hotspur1–0
2022LiverpoolChelsea
2023Manchester UnitedNewcastle United2–0
2024 LiverpoolChelsea1–0
2025Newcastle UnitedLiverpool2–1

Awards won by nationality

Awards won by club