LEN Champions League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 LEN Champions League
FormerlyEuropean Cup
Euroleague
SportWater polo
Founded1963 (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 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.

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

Names of the competition

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

Title holders

Finals

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

Titles by club

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

Titles by nation

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

  • 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

Players

bold - active players

Player Titles Clubs
#List
Australia/Italy Pietro Figlioli7 1Pro Recco 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Đorđe Perišić6 1Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
Italy Maurizio Felugo6 2Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015
Australia Aaron Younger5 3Szolnok 2017, Ferencvaros 2019, Pro Recco 2021, 2022, 2023
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ozren Bonačić5 2Partizan 1964, Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mirko Sandić5 1Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975
Hungary Tamas Kasas5 2Posillipo 1998, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
Hungary Tibor Benedek5 2Ujpest 1994, Pro Recco 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
Italy Stefano Tempesti5 1Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015
Serbia Andrija Prlainović5 4Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2012, 2015, Crvena Zvezda 2013, Szolnok 2017
Montenegro Aleksandar Ivović5 1Pro Recco 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
Hungary Norbert Madaras5 2Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, Ferencváros 2019
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Božidar Novaković5 1Partizan 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
Serbia Duško Pijetlović4 3Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2012, 2015, Crvena Zvezda 2013
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Karlo Stipanić4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zlatko Šimenc4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miroslav Poljak4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Marijan Žužej4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Jeger4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zdravko Hebel4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Italy Francesco Di Fulvio4 1Pro Recco 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
Italy Matteo Aicardi4 1Pro Recco 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
Argentina/Italy Gonzalo Echenique4 2Barceloneta 2014, Pro Recco 2021, 2022, 2023
Germany Hagen Stamm4 1Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
Mexico/Germany Armando Fernández4 1Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
Germany Peter Röhle4 1Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Janković4 1Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Feliče Tedeski4 1Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Branimir Glidžić4 1Partizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971

* Titles with 3 clubs: Spain Felipe Perrone

Coaches

Coach Titles Clubs
#List
Croatia Vlaho Orlić6 1Patizan 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1976
Italy Giuseppe Porzio5 2Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
Croatia Aleksandar Coša Seifert4 1Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
Croatia/Germany Alfred Balen3 1Spandau04 1982, 1985, 1986

As Player and Coach combined

Player/Coach Titles as Player as Coach
#List #List
Italy Giuseppe Porzio7 2Posillipo 1997, 1998 5Posillipo 2005, Pro Recco 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
Croatia Ozren Bonačić6 5Partizan 1964, Mladost 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 1Mladost 1996
Serbia Igor Milanović5 3Mladost 1990, 1991, Catalunya 1995 2Partizan 2011, Pro Recco 2015
Croatia Duško Antunović5 3Partizan 1971, 1975, 1976 2 Mladost 1990, 1991
Croatia Ivo Trumbić4 3 Mladost 1967, 1968, 1969 1Pescara 1988
Italy Paolo De Crescenzo3 1Canottieri Naples 1978 2Posilllipo 1997, 1998
Croatia Sandro Sukno3 1Pro Recco 2012 2Pro 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

Most valuable player Final Tournament

Top Scorer by Season

See also

References

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