The 1996 Football League Cup final took place on 24 March 1996 at Wembley Stadium and was contested between Aston Villa and Leeds United. This was the 36th final and the 30th to be played at Wembley. Aston Villa had won the trophy two years earlier, while Leeds' last victory was in their only final appearance in 1968.
In the first half the teams were separated by a goal from Savo Milošević. After half-time, Leeds United tired and Aston Villa took advantage to eventually win 3–0. Goals from Ian Taylor and Dwight Yorke completed the scoring. This was the beginning of the end for Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson, as he was heckled by the club's fans for his and the team's failure. However, it was Villa's fifth success in the competition, at the time equalling the record set by Liverpool. This was the last time that Aston Villa won a major trophy until 30 years later when they won the UEFA Europa League in 2026.
Road to Wembley
+ Aston VillaRound 2 (1st leg)Aston Villa6–0Peterborough UnitedRound 2 (2nd leg)Peterborough United1–1Aston Villa (Aston Villa win 7–1 on aggregate)Round 3Aston Villa2–0Stockport CountyRound 4Aston Villa1–0Queens Park RangersQuarter-finalAston Villa1–0Wolverhampton WanderersSemi-final (1st leg)Arsenal2–2Aston VillaSemi-final (2nd leg)Aston Villa 0–0Arsenal (2–2 on aggregate. Aston Villa advance on Away Goals)
+ Leeds UnitedRound 2 (1st leg)Leeds United0–0Notts CountyRound 2 (2nd leg)Notts County2–3Leeds United (Leeds win 3–2 on aggregate)Round 3Derby County0–1Leeds UnitedRound 4Leeds United2–1Blackburn RoversQuarter-finalLeeds United2–1ReadingSemi-final (1st leg)Birmingham City1–2Leeds UnitedSemi-final (2nd leg)Leeds United 3–0Birmingham City (Leeds United win 5–1 on aggregate)
Match details
GK 1 Mark BosnichCB 6 Ugo EhioguCB 5 Paul McGrathCB 4 Gareth SouthgateRWB2 Gary CharlesLWB3 Alan WrightCM 7 Ian TaylorCM 11 Andy Townsend (c)CM 8 Mark DraperCF 10 Dwight YorkeCF 9 Savo MiloševićSubstitutes:GK 13 Michael OakesDF 12 Steve StauntonFW 14 Tommy JohnsonManager: Brian Little GK 1 John LukicCB 5 John PembertonCB 6 David WetherallCB 3 Lucas Radebe RWB2 Gary KellyLWB11 Gary SpeedCM 8 Mark Ford CM 4 Carlton PalmerCM 10 Gary McAllister (c)CF 9 Tony YeboahCF 7 Andy GraySubstitutes:DF 15 Nigel WorthingtonFW 12 Brian Deane FW 14 Tomas Brolin Manager: Howard Wilkinson
Man of the match Andy Townsend (Aston Villa)
Assistant referees Brian Coddington Martin Sims Fourth official Jim RushtonMatch rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level Three named substitutes, of which two may be used
References
External links Game facts at soccerbase.com Full Results from the 1996 Football League Cup competition at soccerbase.com League Cup 1996 at The English Football Archive