European Aquatics Women's Champions League

European Aquatics Women's Champions League
Current season, competition or edition:
2024–25 European Aquatics Women's Champions League
SportWater polo
Founded1987
PresidentGianni Lonzi
CountryEuropean Aquatics members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
Sant Andreu
(1st title)
Most titles Orizzonte Catania
(8 titles)
Level on pyramid1st Tier (Europe)
Official websitelen.eu

The European Aquatics Women's Champions League, formerly known as LEN European Cup (from 1987 to 1999), LEN Champions Cup (from 1999 to 2013), LEN Euroleague Women (2014 to 2022) and LEN Women's Champions League (from 2023 to 2024) 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. From 2024, after LEN was renamed to European Aquatics, the new name is the European Aquatics Women's Champions League.

History

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 (2022–2023)
  • European Aquatics Women's Champions League (since 2024)

Format

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

Finals

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
2024–25
Details

Sant Andreu
9–8
Astralpool Sabadell

Olympiacos

FTC-Telekom Waterpolo

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

Titles by club

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 4 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
Sant Andreu 1 2024–25
14. Uralochka Zlatoust 2
Dunaújváros 2
Vasutas 2
17. Dauphins Créteil 1
UVSE 1
Assolim Mataró 1
Volturno 1

Titles by nation

Rank Country Titles Runners-up
1. Italy 10 5
2. Spain 8 5
3. Greece 7 8
4. Netherlands 7 3
5. Russia 4 10
6. Hungary 1 5
7. France 1

Most Titles

Incomplete list.

Players

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
Judith Forca 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

Coach Titles Clubs
# List
Mauro Maugeri 6 1 Orizzonte Catania 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
Ignasi Guiu 4 1 Sabadell 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
David Palma Lopera 3 1 Sabadell 2019, 2023, 2024

See also

Men

Women

References

  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.