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 (also currently known as the Carabao Cup). The trophy is named after Alan Hardaker, the EFL's former secretary who conceived the League Cup.[1][2]

Virgil van Dijk is the current holder of the award.

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 seventeen 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.

Winners

Key to score column
 †  – Indicates the match was decided by a replay
 *!  – Indicates the match went to penalty shoot-out
Alan Hardaker Trophy winners
FinalPlayerNationalityTeamOpponentsScore
1990Des Walker  EnglandNottingham ForestOldham Athletic1–0
1991Nigel Pearson  EnglandSheffield WednesdayManchester United1–0
1992Brian McClair  ScotlandManchester UnitedNottingham Forest1–0
1993Paul Merson  EnglandArsenalSheffield Wednesday2–1
1994Kevin Richardson  EnglandAston VillaManchester United3–1
1995Steve McManaman  EnglandLiverpoolBolton Wanderers2–1
1996Andy Townsend  IrelandAston VillaLeeds United3–0
1997Steve Walsh  EnglandLeicester CityMiddlesbrough1–1 †
1998Dennis Wise  EnglandChelseaMiddlesbrough2–0
1999Allan Nielsen  DenmarkTottenham HotspurLeicester City1–0
2000Matt Elliott  ScotlandLeicester CityTranmere Rovers2–1
2001Robbie Fowler  EnglandLiverpoolBirmingham City* 1–1 *
2002Brad Friedel  United StatesBlackburn RoversTottenham Hotspur2–1
2003Jerzy Dudek  PolandLiverpoolManchester United2–0
2004Boudewijn Zenden  NetherlandsMiddlesbroughBolton Wanderers2–1
2005John Terry  EnglandChelseaLiverpool3–2
2006Wayne Rooney  EnglandManchester UnitedWigan Athletic4–0
2007Didier Drogba  Ivory CoastChelseaArsenal2–1
2008Jonathan Woodgate  EnglandTottenham HotspurChelsea2–1
2009Ben Foster  EnglandManchester UnitedTottenham Hotspur* 0–0 *
2010Antonio Valencia  EcuadorManchester UnitedAston Villa2–1
2011Ben Foster (2)  EnglandBirmingham CityArsenal2–1
2012Stewart Downing  EnglandLiverpoolCardiff City* 2–2 *
2013Nathan Dyer  EnglandSwansea CityBradford City5–0
2014Samir Nasri  FranceManchester CitySunderland3–1
2015John Terry (2)  EnglandChelseaTottenham Hotspur2–0
2016Vincent Kompany  BelgiumManchester CityLiverpool* 1–1 *
2017Zlatan Ibrahimović  SwedenManchester UnitedSouthampton3–2
2018Vincent Kompany (2)  BelgiumManchester CityArsenal3–0
2019Bernardo Silva  PortugalManchester CityChelsea* 0–0 *
2020Phil Foden  EnglandManchester CityAston Villa2–1
2021Riyad Mahrez  AlgeriaManchester CityTottenham Hotspur1–0
2022Virgil van Dijk  NetherlandsLiverpoolChelsea* 0–0 *
2023 Casemiro  BrazilManchester UnitedNewcastle United2–0
2024Virgil van Dijk (2)  NetherlandsLiverpoolChelsea1–0

Awards won by nationality

CountryWin(s)Year(s)
 England171990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020
 Netherlands32004, 2022, 2024
 Scotland21992, 2000
 Belgium22016, 2018
 Ireland11996
 Denmark11999
 United States12002
 Poland12003
 Ivory Coast12007
 Ecuador12010
 France12014
 Sweden12017
 Portugal12019
 Algeria12021
 Brazil12023

Awards won by club

ClubWin(s)Year(s)
Manchester City62014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Manchester United61992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023
Liverpool61995, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2022, 2024
Chelsea41998, 2005, 2007, 2015
Aston Villa21994, 1996
Leicester City21997, 2000
Tottenham Hotspur21999, 2008
Nottingham Forest11990
Sheffield Wednesday11991
Arsenal11993
Blackburn Rovers12002
Middlesbrough12004
Birmingham City12011
Swansea City12013

References