LEN Champions League

Summary

The LEN Champions League is the top-tier European professional water polo club competition with teams from up to 18 countries. It is organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation.

LEN Champions League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 LEN Champions League
FormerlyEuropean Cup
Euroleague
SportWater polo
Founded1963; 61 years ago (1963)
PresidentPaolo Barelli
No. of teams24 (preliminary stage)
16 (group stage)
CountryLEN members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
Italy Pro Recco (11th title)
Most titlesItaly Pro Recco (11 titles)
Level on pyramid1st Tier (Europe)
Official websitechampionsleague.len.eu

The competition started in 1963 as European Cup. A change of name and format occurred in 1996, with the competition being renamed Champions League and the final four system being established as the format of choice, for the first time during the 1996–97 LEN Champions League. From 2003 to 2011 the competition was named LEN Euroleague (with the change of name being simply a re-branding) and from 2011 and on LEN Champions League, its current name.

LEN Champions League is the most popular water polo league in the European continent. It has been won by 24 clubs, 10 of which have won the title more than once. The most successful club in the competition is Pro Recco, with eleven titles. The current European champion is Pro Recco, who won their eleventh title after defeating Novi Beograd in the 2022–23 LEN Champions League Final in Belgrade.

History edit

Names of the competition edit

  • 1963–1996: European Cup
  • 1996–2003: Champions League
  • 2003–2011: LEN Euroleague
  • 2011–present: LEN Champions League

Title holders edit

 

Finals edit

Year Final Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1963–64
Details
 
Partizan
4–3  
Dynamo Moscow
 
Dynamo Magdeburg
 
ASC Duisburg
1964–65
Details
 
Pro Recco
1–0  
Partizan
 
Dynamo Magdeburg
 
CSK VMF Moscow
1965–66
Details
 
Partizan
8–7
(5–3 / 3–4)
 
Dynamo Magdeburg
 
Pro Recco
 
CSK VMF Moscow
1966–67
Details
 
Partizan
10–8
(5–3 / 1–2 / 4–3)
 
Pro Recco
 
Dynamo Magdeburg
 
Dinamo București
1967–68
Details
 
Mladost
8–6
(4–2 / 4–4)
 
Dinamo București
 
CSK VMF Moscow
 
Pro Recco
1968–69
Details
 
Mladost
11–7
(7–3 / 4–4)
 
Dynamo Moscow
 
Dynamo Magdeburg
 
Partizan
1969–70
Details
 
Mladost
7–6
(5–3 / 2–3)
 
Pro Recco
 
Barcelona
 
OSC Budapest
1970–71
Details
 
Partizan
4–4  
Mladost
 
Dynamo Moscow
 
Stockholm
1971–72
Details
 
Mladost
4–2  
Pro Recco
 
Dynamo Moscow
 
De Robben
1972–73
Details
 
OSC Budapest
5–4  
Partizan
 
CSK VMF Moscow
 
Dinamo București
1973–74
Details
 
MGU Moscow
4–3  
OSC Budapest
 
Partizan
 
Canottieri Napoli
1974–75
Details
 
Partizan
6–2  
OSC Budapest
 
Dinamo București
 
De Robben
1975–76
Details
 
Partizan
6–5  
Vasas
 
Canottieri Napoli
 
De Robben
1976–77
Details
 
CSK VMF Moscow
7–5  
Zian
 
Würzburg 05
 
Partizan
1977–78
Details
 
Canottieri Napoli
5–5  
CSK VMF Moscow
 
Partizan
 
Würzburg 05
1978–79
Details
 
OSC Budapest
5–2  
Montjuïc
 
Würzburg 05
 
Pro Recco
1979–80
Details
 
Vasas
9–7  
Partizan
 
Spandau 04
 
Montjuïc
1980–81
Details
 
Jug Dubrovnik
6–4  
Spandau 04
 
Vasas
 
Ethnikos Piraeus
1981–82
Details
 
Barcelona
12–11  
Spandau 04
 
Vasas
 
Alphen
1982–83
Details
 
Spandau 04
17–16
(7–10 / 10–6)
 
Dynamo Alma-Ata
 
Vasas
 
Pro Recco
1983–84
Details
 
Pro Recco
16–15
(8–10 / 8–5)
 
Alphen
 
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Spandau 04
1984–85
Details
 
Vasas
21–16
(11–11 / 10–5)
 
CSK VMF Moscow
 
Spandau 04
 
Partizan
1985–86
Details
 
Spandau 04
14–13
(7–9 / 7–4)
 
BVSC
 
Montjuïc
 
Jug Dubrovnik
1986–87
Details
 
Spandau 04
17–13
(10–5 / 7–8)
 
Dynamo Moscow
 
Primorac Kotor
 
Újpest
1987–88
Details
 
Pescara
21–19
(12–10 / 9–9)
 
Spandau 04
 
Dinamo București
 
Partizan
1988–89
Details
 
Spandau 04
22–21
(11–10 / 11–11)
 
Catalunya
 
Partizan
 
Ferencváros
1989–90
Details
 
Mladost
20–19
(9–10 / 11–9)
 
Spandau 04
 
Vasas
 
CSK VMF Moscow
1990–91
Details
 
Mladost
21–17
(10–7 / 11–10)
 
Canottieri Napoli
 
CSK VMF Moscow
 
Spandau 04
1991–92
Details
 
Jadran Split
21–20
(10–12 / 11–8)
 
Savona
 
Polar Bears Ede
 
Spandau 04
1992–93
Details
 
Jadran Split
13–12
(7–8 / 6–4)
 
Mladost
 
Olympic Nice
 
Polar Bears Ede
1993–94
Details
 
Újpest
21–17
(10–6 / 11–11)
 
Catalunya
 
Posillipo
 
Jadran Split
1994–95
Details
 
Catalunya
15–13
(7–6 / 8–7)
 
Újpest
 
Mladost
 
Spandau 04
1995–96
Details
 
Mladost
13–10
(7–4 / 6–6)
 
Újpest
 
Barcelona
 
Posillipo
1996–97
Details
 
Posillipo
10–7  
Mladost
 
Barcelona
 
Bečej
1997–98
Details
 
Posillipo
8–6  
Pescara
 
Mladost
 
Spartak Volgograd
1998–99
Details
 
POŠK
8–7  
Bečej
 
Dynamo Moscow
 
Posillipo
1999–00
Details
 
Bečej
11–8  
Mladost
 
BVSC
 
POŠK
2000–01
Details
 
Jug Dubrovnik
8–7  
Olympiacos
 
Posillipo
 
Bečej
2001–02
Details
 
Olympiacos
9–7  
Honvéd
 
Posillipo
 
Jug Dubrovnik
2002–03
Details
 
Pro Recco
9–4  
Honvéd
 
Mladost
 
Spandau 04
2003–04
Details
 
Honvéd
7–6  
Jadran Herceg Novi
 
Primorje
 
Shturm 2002
2004–05
Details
 
Posillipo
9–8  
Honvéd
 
Pro Recco
 
Jug Dubrovnik
2005–06
Details
 
Jug Dubrovnik
9–7  
Pro Recco
 
Posillipo
 
Savona
2006–07
Details
 
Pro Recco
9–8  
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Partizan
 
Olympiacos
2007–08
Details
 
Pro Recco
13–12  
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Vasas
 
Mladost
2008–09
Details
 
Primorac Kotor
8–7  
Pro Recco
 
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Mladost
2009–10
Details
 
Pro Recco
9–3  
Primorac Kotor
 
Partizan
 
Jug Dubrovnik
2010–11
Details
 
Partizan
11–7  
Pro Recco
 
Mladost
 
Budva
2011–12
Details
 
Pro Recco
11–8  
Primorje
 
Mladost
 
Vasas
2012–13
Details
 
Crvena zvezda
8–7  
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
 
Partizan
2013–14
Details
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
7–6  
Radnički Kragujevac
 
Primorje
 
Partizan
2014–15
Details
 
Pro Recco
8–7  
Primorje
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
 
Jug Dubrovnik
2015–16
Details
 
Jug Dubrovnik
6–4  
Olympiacos
 
Szolnok
 
Pro Recco
2016–17
Details
 
Szolnok
10–5  
Jug Dubrovnik
 
Pro Recco
 
Eger
2017–18
Details
 
Olympiacos
9–7  
Pro Recco
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
 
Jug Dubrovnik
2018–19
Details
 
Ferencváros
10–10 (PSO: 4–3)  
Olympiacos
 
Pro Recco
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
2019–20
Details
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
2020–21
Details
 
Pro Recco
9–6  
Ferencváros
 
AN Brescia
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
2021–22
Details
 
Pro Recco
13–13 (PSO: 4–3)  
Novi Beograd
 
Ferencváros
 
AN Brescia
2022–23
Details
 
Pro Recco
14–11  
Novi Beograd
 
Atlètic-Barceloneta
 
NC Vouliagmeni

Titles by club edit

Rank Club Titles Runner-up Champion years
1.   Pro Recco 11 7 1964–65, 1983–84, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
2.     Mladost 7 4 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1995–96
3.     Partizan 7 3 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 2010–11
4.     Jug Dubrovnik 4 4 1980–81, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2015–16
  Spandau 04 4 4 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89
6.   Posillipo 3 1996–97, 1997–98, 2004–05
7.   Olympiacos 2 3 2001–02, 2017–18
8.   OSC Budapest 2 2 1972–73, 1978–79
9.   Vasas 2 1 1979–80, 1984–85
10.   Jadran Split 2 1991–92, 1992–93
11.   Honvéd 1 3 2003–04
12.   CSK VMF Moscow 1 2 1976–77
  Újpest 1 2 1993–94
  Catalunya 1 2 1994–95
15.   Canottieri Napoli 1 1 1977–78
  Pescara 1 1 1987–88
  Bečej 1 1 1999–00
  Primorac Kotor 1 1 2008–09
  Ferencváros 1 1 2018–19
20.   MGU Moscow 1 1973–74
  Barcelona 1 1981–82
  POŠK 1 1998–99
  Crvena zvezda 1 2012–13
  Barceloneta 1 2013–14
  Szolnok 1 2016–17
26.   Dynamo Moscow 3
27.   Primorje 2
  Novi Beograd 2
29.   Dynamo Magdeburg 1
  Dinamo București 1
  Zian 1
  Montjuïc 1
  Dynamo Alma-Ata 1
  Alphen 1
  BVSC 1
  Savona 1
  Jadran Herceg Novi 1
  Radnički Kragujevac 1

Titles by nation edit

Rank Country Titles Runners-up CL winning clubs
1.   Italy 16 10 4
2.     Yugoslavia [A] 14 6 4
3.   Hungary 8 10 6
4.   Croatia [A] 7 9 3
5.   Germany [B] 4 4 1
6.   Spain 3 3 3
7.   Soviet Union [C] 2 6 2
8.   Greece 2 3 1
9.   Serbia [A] 2 3 2
10.   Montenegro [A] 1 1 1
11.   Netherlands 2
12.   East Germany 1
  Romania 1

*A Results until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 and the self-determination of all countries unless the union of Serbia and Montenegro, named until 2003 as FR YUgoslavia, and broke up in 2006. Clubs from present day Serbia won the title 7 times and were runners-up additional 4 times, clubs from present day Croatia won the title 7 and were runners-up one time, clubs from present day Montenegro were runners-up one time.

*AB and AB . Note, Croatian record counting since 1991, while Serbian and Montenegrin counting since 2006, only.

*B The results of West Germany counted with those of Germany.

*C Results until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Clubs from present day Russia won the title 2 times and were runners-up additional 5 times, clubs from present day Kazakhstan were runners-up once time.

Records edit

  • Pro Recco has been the most successful club, having won the competition a record 11 times.
  • Mladost (1968, 1969, 1970) and Pro Recco (2021, 2022, 2023) are the only two clubs to have won the competition three times in a row.
  • Partizan and Pro Recco are the only two clubs to have won the European Championship twice in a row for two times (1966, 1967 & 1975, 1976) and (2007, 2008 & 2021, 2022)
  • Spandau 04 (1986, 1987), Mladost (1990, 1991), Jadran Split (1992, 1993) and Posillipo (1997, 1998) are the other five teams to have won the European Championship twice in a row, only for one time.
  • Most finals in a row: 7 Pro Recco (2006-2012), 5 Mladost (1968-1972) & Spandau 04 (1986-1990).

Most Titles edit

[1]

Players edit

bold - active players

Player Titles Clubs
# List
 /  Pietro Figlioli 7 1 Pro Recco 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
  Đorđe Perišić 6 1 Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
  Maurizio Felugo 6 2 Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015
  Aaron Younger 5 3 Szolnok 2017, Ferencvaros 2019, Pro Recco 2021, 2022, 2023
  Ozren Bonačić 5 2 Partizan 1964, Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Mirko Sandić 5 1 Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975
  Tamas Kasas 5 2 Posillipo 1998, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
  Tibor Benedek 5 2 Ujpest 1994, Pro Recco 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
  Stefano Tempesti 5 1 Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015
  Andrija Prlainović 5 4 Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2012, 2015, Crvena Zvezda 2013, Szolnok 2017
  Aleksandar Ivović 5 1 Pro Recco 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
  Norbert Madaras 5 2 Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, Ferencváros 2019
  Božidar Novaković 5 1 Partizan 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
  Duško Pijetlović 4 3 Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2012, 2015, Crvena Zvezda 2013
  Karlo Stipanić 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Zlatko Šimenc 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Miroslav Poljak 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Marijan Žužej 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Milan Jeger 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Zdravko Hebel 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
  Francesco Di Fulvio 4 1 Pro Recco 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
  Matteo Aicardi 4 1 Pro Recco 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
 /  Gonzalo Echenique 4 2 Barceloneta 2014, Pro Recco 2021, 2022, 2023
  Hagen Stamm 4 1 Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
 /  Armando Fernández 4 1 Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
  Peter Röhle 4 1 Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
  Zoran Janković 4 1 Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971
  Feliče Tedeski 4 1 Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971
  Branimir Glidžić 4 1 Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971

* Titles with 3 clubs:   Felipe Perrone

Coaches edit

Coach Titles Clubs
# List
  Vlaho Orlić 6 1 Patizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
  Giuseppe Porzio 5 2 Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
  Aleksandar Coša Seifert 4 1 Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
 /  Alfred Balen 3 1 Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986

As Player and Coach combined edit

Player/Coach Titles as Player as Coach
# List # List
  Giuseppe Porzio 7 2 Posillipo 1997, 1998 5 Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
  Ozren Bonačić 6 5 Partizan 1964, Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 1 Mladost 1996
  Igor Milanović 5 3 Mladost 1990, 1991, Catalunya 1995 2 Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2015
  Duško Antunović 5 3 Partizan 1971, 1975, 1976 2 Mladost 1990, 1991
  Ivo Trumbić 4 3 Mladost 1967, 1968, 1969 1 Pescara 1988
  Paolo De Crescenzo 3 1 Canottieri Naples 1978 2 Posilllipo 1997, 1998
  Sandro Sukno 3 1 Pro Recco 2012 2 Pro Recco 2022, 2023

* Two players were players and coaches at the same time in the winning teams. Boris Čukvas won three titles in a dual role. He was a player and Partizan's coach during the seasons in which the Belgrade-based club won its first three titles (1963/64, 1965/66 and 1966/67). Eraldo Pizzo was a player and Pro Recco's coach in the season 1964/65.

Titles (2) as a player and a coach: Veselin Đuho, Marco Baldineti, Vjekoslav Kobeščak.

Awards edit

Most valuable player Final Tournament edit

Top Scorer by Season edit

See also edit

Men edit

Women edit

Defunct edit

References edit

External links edit

  • Official website  
  • LEN Champions League at LEN
  • LEN Champions League on Facebook  
  • LEN Champions League on Twitter  
  • LEN Champions League on Instagram