Some facts and figures ahead of the 2017/18 Betfred Cup, which begins on Friday with Ayr United v Kilmarnock at Somerset Park, live on BT Sport.
- Last season’s eight group winners were Peterhead, St Johnstone, Inverness CT, Alloa Athletic, Partick Thistle, Rangers, Hamilton Academical and Morton. Dundee United, Motherwell, Queen of the South and Ayr United qualified for the last 16 as the four best runners-up. Celtic are the current holders, having beaten Aberdeen 3-0 in the final.
- Prior to last season, the League Cup hadn't featured a group stage since 1983/84. The 2017/18 group stage involves 38 SPFL clubs plus Highland League champions Buckie Thistle and Lowland League winners East Kilbride.
- BT Sport has the rights to show 13 live games in the Betfred Cup, including six in the group stage. Full details of the selections can be found HERE
- The second round of the competition takes place on the midweek of August 8/9, the quarter-finals are scheduled for the midweek of September 19-21, the semi-finals will be played on the weekend of October 21/22 and the final is on Sunday November 26.
Previous winners
27 Rangers
16 Celtic
6 Aberdeen
4 Heart of Midlothian
3 Dundee
3 East Fife
3 Hibernian
2 Dundee United
1 Kilmarnock
1 Livingston
1 Motherwell
1 Partick Thistle
1 Raith Rovers
1 Ross County
1 St Mirren
Runners-up
15 Celtic
8 Aberdeen
7 Hibernian
7 Rangers
5 Dundee United
5 Kilmarnock
3 Dundee
3 Dunfermline Athletic
3 Heart of Midlothian
3 Partick Thistle
2 Motherwell
2 St Johnstone
2 St Mirren
1 Ayr United
1 Falkirk
1 Inverness Caley Thistle
1 Morton
1 Raith Rovers
1 Third Lanark
Recent winning managers
2006/07 - John Collins (Hibernian)
2007/08 - Walter Smith (Rangers)
2008/09 - Gordon Strachan (Celtic)
2009/10 - Walter Smith (Rangers)
2010/11 - Walter Smith (Rangers)
2011/12 - Kenny Shiels (Kilmarnock)
2012/13 - Danny Lennon (St Mirren)
2013/14 - Derek McInnes (Aberdeen)
2014/15 - Ronny Deila (Celtic)
2015/16 - Jim McIntyre (Ross County)
2016/17 - Brendan Rodgers (Celtic)
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