The LEN Women's Champions League, formerly known as LEN European Cup (from 1987 to 1999), LEN Champions Cup (from 1999 to 2013) and LEN Euroleague Women (2014 to 2022), is the premier competition for women's water polo clubs of Europe and takes place every year. It is organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) and was created in 1987 as LEN European Cup.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League | |
 | |
| Sport | Water polo |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| President | Gianni Lonzi |
| Country | LEN members |
| Continent | Europe |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Astralpool Sabadell(7th title) |
| Most titles |  Orizzonte Catania(8 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1st Tier (Europe) |
| Official website | len.eu |
History
editCreated in 1987 as the women's water polo clubs continental competition, contested amongst the national champions of the European countries, it has been played under the following names:[1]
- LEN European Cup (1987–1999)
- LEN Champions Cup (1999–2013)
- LEN Euro League Women (2014–2022)
- LEN Champions League Women (since 2023)
Format
editOver the years, different formats have been used in the competition, either Round-robin or Knockout or both combined (round-robin at early stages and knockout at final stages). Since the 2007–08 season, the competition has been played in four stages (qualification round, preliminary round, quarter final round and final four).
Title holders
edit- 1987–88:
Donk Gouda - 1988–89: Donk Gouda
- 1989–90: Nereus
- 1990–91: Donk Gouda
- 1991–92: Brandenburg
- 1992–93:
Szentes - 1993–94:
Orizzonte Catania - 1994–95: Nereus
- 1995–96: Nereus
- 1996–97:
SKIF Moscow - 1997–98: Orizzonte Catania
- 1998–99: SKIF Moscow
- 1999–00:
Glyfada - 2000–01: Orizzonte Catania
- 2001–02: Orizzonte Catania
- 2002–03: Glyfada
- 2003–04: Orizzonte Catania
- 2004–05: Orizzonte Catania
- 2005–06: Orizzonte Catania
- 2006–07: Fiorentina
- 2007–08: Orizzonte Catania
- 2008–09: Vouliagmeni
- 2009–10: Vouliagmeni
- 2010–11:
Astralpool Sabadell - 2011–12: Pro Recco
- 2012–13: Astralpool Sabadell
- 2013–14: Astralpool Sabadell
- 2014–15: Olympiacos
- 2015–16: Astralpool Sabadell
- 2016–17: Kinef Kirishi
- 2017–18: Kinef Kirishi
- 2018–19: Astralpool Sabadell
- 2019–20: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2020–21: Olympiacos
- 2021–22: Olympiacos
- 2022–23: Astralpool Sabadell
- 2023–24: Astralpool Sabadell
Finals
edit
Titles by club
edit| Rank | Club | Titles | Runner-up | Champion Years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Orizzonte Catania
|
8 | 4 | 1993–94, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08 | |
| 2. | Sabadell
|
7 | 3 | 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24 | |
| 3. |  Olympiacos
|
3 | 3 | 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22 | |
| 4. |  Nereus
|
3 | 2 | 1989–90, 1994–95, 1995–96 | |
| 5. | Donk Gouda
|
3 | 1 | 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91 | |
| 6. |  Kinef Kirishi
|
2 | 5 | 2016–17, 2017–18 | |
| 7. | SKIF Moscow
|
2 | 3 | 1996–97, 1998–99 | |
| Vouliagmeni
|
2 | 3 | 2008–09, 2009–10 | ||
| 9. | Glyfada
|
2 | 2 | 1999–00, 2002–03 | |
| 10. | Brandenburg
|
1 | 1991–92 | ||
 Szentes
|
1 | 1992–93 | |||
| Fiorentina
|
1 | 2006–07 | |||
| Pro Recco
|
1 | 2011–12 | |||
| 14. | Uralochka Zlatoust
|
2 | |||
| Dunaújváros
|
2 | ||||
| Vasutas
|
2 | ||||
| 17. |  Dauphins Créteil
|
1 | |||
| UVSE
|
1 | ||||
| Assolim Mataró
|
1 | ||||
| Volturno
|
1 |
Titles by nation
edit| Rank | Country | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Italy
|
10 | 5 |
| 2. | Greece
|
7 | 8 |
| 3. | Spain
|
7 | 4 |
| 4. | Netherlands
|
7 | 3 |
| 5. | Russia
|
4 | 10 |
| 6. | Hungary
|
1 | 5 |
| 7. | France
|
1 |
Most Titles
editIncomplete list.
Players
editbold - active players
| Player | Titles | Clubs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | List | ||
| Silvia Bosurgi |
7 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| Tania Di Mario |
7 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| Laura Ester |
7 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024 |
| Maica García Godoy |
7 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024 |
| Matilde Ortiz |
7 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024 |
| Maddalena Musumeci |
6 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| Chiara Brancati |
6 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| Giusi Malato |
6 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1994, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| Francesca Cristiana Conti |
5 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1994, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
| Cinzia Ragusa |
5 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008 |
| Anni Espar |
5 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| Olga Doménech |
5 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| María del Pilar Peña |
4 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Jennifer Pareja |
4 | 1 | Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
Notes: Maddalena Musumeci played her whole career for Orizzonte Catania but was inactive in 2005.
Coaches
edit| Coach | Titles | Clubs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | List | ||
| Mauro Maugeri |
6 | 1 | Orizzonte Catania 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| Ignasi Guiu |
3or4 | 1 | Sabadell 2011(?), 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| David Palma Lopera |
3 | 1 | Sabadell 2019, 2023, 2024 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Euro League Women - Book of Champions 2017" (PDF). LEN. p. 47 (section 3.1 'Competition names'). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Euro League, Kirishi clinches the trophy on its 11th try". LEN. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Kirishi retains title after shootout". LEN. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Euro League Women - Book of Champions 2017" (PDF). LEN. pp. 3-48 ('Summary of LEN European Cup Results'). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018.