1991 Football League Cup final
The 1991 Football League Cup Final was a football match played on 21 April 1991 between Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday. It was the first of two years that the competition was sponsored by Rumbelows.
| Event | 1990–91 Football League Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 21 April 1991 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Nigel Pearson (Sheffield Wednesday) | ||||||
| Referee | Ray Lewis (Surrey) | ||||||
| Attendance | 77,612 | ||||||
| Weather | Cloudy 16 °C (61 °F) | ||||||
Leading up to the final Wednesday beat Chelsea 6–1 in the semi-final, United beating Leeds United 3–1.
Despite the previous season's FA Cup winners, Manchester United (led by Ferguson), being favourites to lift the trophy, Second Division side Sheffield Wednesday won the match 1–0, the winning goal scored by John Sheridan, giving the Owls their first League Cup title in a season when they also won promotion back to the top flight on their first attempt after being relegated the season before. The match is regarded as one of the most memorable League Cup finals of all time. As of 2024, it is the last time a team from outside the top flight has won any major trophy.
The trophy was presented to Wednesday skipper Nigel Pearson by Rumbelows employee of the year Tracy Bateman. Pearson was also named man of the match.