LEN Women's Champions League

(Redirected from Women's LEN Champions' Cup)

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.

LEN Champions League Women
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League
SportWater polo
Founded1987
PresidentGianni Lonzi
CountryLEN members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
Spain Astralpool Sabadell
(7th title)
Most titlesItaly Orizzonte Catania
(8 titles)
Level on pyramid1st Tier (Europe)
Official websitelen.eu

History

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Created 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

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Over 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

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Finals

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Year Finalists Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1987–88
Details
 
Donk Gouda
15–10  
Dauphins Créteil
 
Szentes
 
Volturno
1988–89
Details
 
Donk Gouda
Round-robin (14–12)  
Vasutas
 
Volturno
 
SU Neukölln
1989–90
Details
 
Nereus
21–6 / 11–6  
Vasutas
 
SU Neukölln
 
Volturno
1990–91
Details
 
Donk Gouda
8–6  
Volturno
 
SU Neukölln
 
Szentes
1991–92
Details
 
Brandenburg
12–8  
Uralochka Zlatoust
 
Vasutas
 
Dauphins Créteil
1992–93
Details
 
Szentes
6–5  
Orizzonte Catania
 
Donk Gouda
 
Uralochka Zlatoust
1993–94
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
6–3  
Nereus
 
Vasutas
 
Vouliagmeni
1994–95
Details
 
Nereus
7–7 (9–8 a.e.t.)  
Orizzonte Catania
 
Szentes
 
Nancy
1995–96
Details
 
Nereus
8–7 (a.e.t.)  
SKIF Moscow
 
Orizzonte Catania
 
Olympiacos
1996–97
Details
 
SKIF Moscow
7–6  
Nereus
 
Orizzonte Catania
 
Mediterrani
1997–98
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
7–6 (a.e.t.)  
SKIF Moscow
 
Nereus
 
Szentes
1998–99
Details
 
SKIF Moscow
8–6  
Donk Gouda
 
Orizzonte Catania
 
BEAC
1999–00
Details
 
Glyfada
7–5  
SKIF Moscow
 
Szentes
 
Orizzonte Catania
2000–01
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
Round-robin (12–6)  
Glyfada
 
Uralochka Zlatoust
 
Szentes
2001–02
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
Round-robin (6–6)  
Uralochka Zlatoust
 
Glyfada
 
Dunaújváros
2002–03
Details
 
Glyfada
Round-robin (6–4)  
Dunaújváros
 
Uralochka Zlatoust
 
Orizzonte Catania
2003–04
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
Round-robin (6–4)  
Glyfada
 
Dunaújváros
 
Vouliagmeni
2004–05
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
Round-robin (6–5)  
Kinef Kirishi
 
Dunaújváros
 
Blau-Weiss Bochum
2005–06
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
Round-robin (14–11)  
Kinef Kirishi
 
Dunaújváros
 
Vouliagmeni
2006–07
Details
 
Fiorentina
Round-robin (12–10)  
Kinef Kirishi
 
Glyfada
 
Uralochka Zlatoust
2007–08
Details
 
Orizzonte Catania
11–11 (14–13 a.e.t.)  
Vouliagmeni
 
Fiorentina
 
ZVL
2008–09
Details
 
Vouliagmeni
12–9  
Orizzonte Catania
 
Kinef Kirishi
 
Honvéd
2009–10
Details
 
Vouliagmeni
10–7  
Kinef Kirishi
 
Orizzonte Catania
 
Olympiacos
2010–11
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
13–8  
Orizzonte Catania
 
Olympiacos
 
Kinef Kirishi
2011–12
Details
 
Pro Recco
8–7  
Vouliagmeni
 
Kinef Kirishi
 
Orizzonte Catania
2012–13
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
13–11  
Kinef Kirishi
 
Vouliagmeni
 
Eger
2013–14
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
19–10  
Vouliagmeni
 
Orizzonte Catania
 
Imperia
2014–15
Details
 
Olympiacos
10–9  
Astralpool Sabadell
 
Kinef Kirishi
 
UVSE Budapest
2015–16
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
11–8  
UVSE Budapest
 
Kinef Kirishi
 
Olympiacos
2016–17
Details[2]
 
Kinef Kirishi
7–6  
Olympiacos
 
Astralpool Sabadell
 
Mataró
2017–18
Details[3]
 
Kinef Kirishi
8–8
(5–4 p.s.o.)
 
Astralpool Sabadell
 
Ekipe Orizzonte
 
UVSE Budapest
2018–19
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
13–11  
Olympiacos
 
Vouliagmeni
 
Plebiscito Padova
2019–20
Details
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
2020–21
Details
 
Olympiacos
7–6  
Dunaújváros
 
UVSE Hunguest Hotel
 
Uralochka Zlatoust
2021–22
Details
 
Olympiacos
11–7  
Astralpool Sabadell
 
Plebiscito Padova
 
UVSE Hunguest Hotel
2022–23
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
9–8  
Assolim Mataró
 
Ekipe Orizzonte
 
Dunaújváros
2023–24
Details
 
Astralpool Sabadell
16–10  
Olympiacos
 
Sant Andreu
 
Assolim Mataró

Source: LEN (from 1987 to 2016).[4]

Titles by club

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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

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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

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Incomplete list.

Players

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bold - 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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Euro League, Kirishi clinches the trophy on its 11th try". LEN. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Kirishi retains title after shootout". LEN. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  4. ^ "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.