Why Donald Trump once did the EFL Cup draw - he had ‘no idea’ what it was | OneFootball

Donald Trump once took part in the EFL Cup draw despite having no clue about the competition

US President and one of the most well-recognised figures of the 21st century, Donald Trump, once found himself selecting which teams would face each other in the EFL Cup.

Before the time when he was in charge of decisions that impacted the world’s most serious matters, the 79-year-old was simply a well-known businessman, tasked with pulling the names of football clubs such as Norwich City and Middlesbrough out of a little green bag.

Back in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves ran a Saturday afternoon TV show named ‘Saint and Greavsie’, which consisted of interviews, goals and funny moments that had been happening within the game of football.

The pair were in New York in December 1991 to film the qualifying draw for the 1994 World Cup, which was to be held in the US. Whilst they were there, another task also had to be completed.

This was, of course, the quarter-final draw for that season’s EFL Cup and Trump Tower was selected as the ideal place to hold such an event. Naturally, this is where Donald Trump enters the story.

Donald Trump had “no idea” what the EFL Cup was when holding the draw

After a meeting with Trump’s English secretary, St John and Greaves were introduced to the US President.

Once acquainted, an offer was made for the businessman to help out with the draw, which he obliged to do. St John stated in an interview on the subject that Trump had “no idea” what the draw was for, but was happy enough to take part all the same.

In one of the boardrooms at Trump Tower, the draw was to take place, with Greaves commenting that the surroundings were of a high standard. After comparing them to Doug Ellis’s boardroom at Aston Villa, Trump bellowed a huge laugh, even though he had no idea what the former England star was talking about.

Ready and set in front of the camera, the then-45-year-old Trump was tasked with selecting the away teams for the quarter-final. Greaves went first, selecting the home side, pulling out Tottenham Hotspur.

The President followed up next, picking out Norwich City to complete the clash.

Trump would go on to select clubs such as Nottingham Forest or Southampton and Middlesbrough, before selecting Manchester United for a visit to Leeds United.

“Ooh, Donald!” exclaimed John, clearly amused at the bumper tie Trump had just set up.

“That’s a biggy, that sounds like the type of game I want to go to,” replied the businessman, clearly aware that he had just done something important without knowing exactly what it was he had done.

Greaves followed this up with more humour, commenting: “I tell you what Donald, are you thinking of opening a store in England? Take my advice, you can open one in Leeds but don’t go to Manchester!”

Trump was soon asked whether he’d played the game before, which he admitted he had whilst at school and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Manchester United would go on to win that season’s EFL Cup, defeating Nottingham Forest in the final, with both sides selected by Trump during the draw.

Donald Trump's League Cup draw was a sign of the times

It seems incredibly unlikely that 34 years on from this draw taking place, anything of the sort could happen within the modern game.

Firstly, the EFL Cup quarter-finals draw would usually be held after one of the matches, probably in a TV studio with pundits who had just covered a game in the previous round.

It certainly wouldn’t be staged in one of New York City’s most prestigious buildings, inside a boardroom with the owner of the building they were using.

Furthermore, asking a relatively unknown US businessman to select the teams instead of a pundit or someone connected to the game also wouldn’t be seen, but that shows just how much times have changed in the world of football.

When reflecting on this event in the modern day, it seems incredible that Trump has gone on to become President of the USA twice and now enjoys a status as one of the world’s most powerful beings.