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EHF Champions League

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EHF Champions League
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2024–25 EHF Champions League
SportHandball
Founded1956; 68 years ago (1956)
No. of teams16 (Group phase)
CountryEHF members
ConfederationEHF (Europe)
Most recent
champion(s)
Spain FC Barcelona
(12th title)
Most titlesSpain FC Barcelona
(12 titles)
Level on pyramid1
Official websiteehfcl.eurohandball.com

The EHF Champions League is the most important club handball competition for men's teams in Europe and involves the leading teams from the top European nations. The competition is organised every year by EHF. The official name for the men's competition is the EHF Champions League Men.

The EHF coefficient rank decides which teams have access and in which stage they enter.

Eligibility and qualifying

[edit]

Each year, the EHF publishes a ranking list of its member federations. The first 9 nations are automatically permitted to participate in the tournament with their national champion.[1] The national federation ranked first place in the EHF European League, currently Germany,[2] is awarded a second qualification berth for the domestic runner-up.[3] The remaining six positions are designated through wildcards, with each national federation without two teams already qualified able to submit a single applicant.[3] The wildcards are judged on five criteria: venue, TV, spectators, results in past EHF competitions and product management and digital.[3]

Tournament format

[edit]

Each year, the EHF publishes a ranking list of its member federations. The first nine nations are allowed to participate in the tournament with their national champion. In addition, the tenth spot is reserved for the best ranked national federation of the EHF European League Men. The national federations are allowed to request upgrades for their teams eligible to play in the EHF European League and based on the criteria list the EHF Executive Committee approves six upgrades.

The EHF Champions League is divided into four stages. All participating teams enter the competition in the group phase.

The current playing system has been introduced before the 2020/21 season.

Group phase

[edit]

Since the 2020/21 season, the format sees two groups formed, with eight teams each in Group A and B. All the teams in each group play each other twice, in home and away matches (14 rounds in total). The first two teams in Groups A and B advance directly to the quarter-finals, while teams from positions three to six in each of these groups proceed to the playoff. The season is over for the last two teams in each group after the completion of the group phase.

Play off

[edit]

The pairings for the playoff are decided by the placement of the teams at the end of the group phase (A6 vs B3, B6 vs A3, A5 vs B4 and B5 vs A4). Each pairing is decided via a home and away format, with the aggregate winners over the two legs advancing to the quarter-finals. The higher ranked teams in the group phase have the home right advantage in the second leg.

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The pairings for the quarter-finals are also decided by the placement in the group phase (Winner of A5/B4 vs A1, Winner B5/A4 vs B1, Winner A6/B3 vs A2, Winner B6/A3 vs B2). The ties are decided through a home and away format, with the four winners over the two legs played in each pairing advancing to the EHF FINAL4. The higher ranked teams in the group phase have the home right advantage in the second leg.

EHF FINAL4

[edit]

The official name for the men's EHF FINAL4 is the EHF FINAL4 Men. The participating EHF FINAL4 teams are paired for the semifinals through a draw and play the last two matches of the season over a single weekend at one venue. The two semi-finals are played on a Saturday, with the third-place game and final on a Sunday.

Brand Sound

[edit]

Much like the visual brand identity, the brand sound identity will acoustically connect the various leagues and tournaments which fit under the EHF umbrella. For the EHF Brand Sound, the authors got to the core of "The Sound of Handball" and created a handball sound DNA as the recurring element across all audio-visual applications. The jump shot was identified as the most iconic and defining handball movement.

Through video analysis and motion tracking, the jump shot was extracted into a rhythmic design pattern. There are numerous application opportunities of the brand sound, which will be developed over time. First implementations of the new EHF Brand Sound will be heard in the EHF Champions League. The premium character of this tournament was translated into a modern sound design through a new EHF Champions League sound logo and anthem. Both will come to life in the arena and will consistently complement all audio-visual communications.

The previous anthem for the EHF Champions League is "Hymn of the Champions", used until the end of the 2019/20 season and exclusively written by Austrian film composer Roman Kariolou in 2007. The recording played during the entry ceremony before every game was performed by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Hernando.[4]

Winners

[edit]

European Champions Cup (organised by IHF)

[edit]
Year Final Semi-final losers
Champion Score Second place
1956–57
Details
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
21–13 Sweden
Örebro SK
Denmark
HG Kopenhagen
France
Paris UC
1958–59
Details
Sweden
Redbergslids IK
18–13 West Germany
Frisch Auf Göppingen
Denmark
Helsingør IF
Romania
Dinamo București
1959–60
Details
West Germany
Frisch Auf Göppingen
18–13 Denmark
Aarhus GF
Romania
Dinamo București
France
Paris UC
1961–62
Details
West Germany
Frisch Auf Göppingen
13–11 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Bjelovar
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
Denmark
IK Skovbakken
1962–63
Details
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
15–13 Romania
Dinamo București
West Germany
Frisch Auf Göppingen
Denmark
Ajax København
1964–65
Details
Romania
Dinamo București
13–11 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Medveščak Zagreb
Switzerland
Grasshopper
Denmark
Ajax København
1965–66
Details
East Germany
SC DHfK Leipzig
16–14 Hungary
Budapest Honvéd
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
Denmark
Aarhus GF
1966–67
Details
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
17–13 Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
Soviet Union
SK Cuncevo
Romania
Dinamo București
1967–68
Details
Romania
Steaua București
13–11 Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
East Germany
Dynamo Berlin
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Bjelovar
1969–70
Details
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
14–11 East Germany
Dynamo Berlin
Romania
Steaua București
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
RK Crvenka
1970–71
Details
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
17–16 Romania
Steaua București
Portugal
Sporting CP
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Bjelovar
1971–72
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Bjelovar
19–14 West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
Soviet Union
MAI Moskva
Czechoslovakia
Tatran Prešov
1972–73
Details
Soviet Union
MAI Moskva
26–23 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Bjelovar
East Germany
SC Leipzig
Sweden
SoIK Hellas
1973–74
Details
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
19–17 Soviet Union
MAI Moskva
Norway
Oppsal IF Oslo
Czechoslovakia
Červená Hviezda Bratislava
1974–75
Details
East Germany
ASK Frankfurt/Oder
19–17 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Borac Banja Luka
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
Romania
Steaua București
1975–76
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Borac Banja Luka
17–15 Denmark
Fredericia KFUM
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
Norway
Fredensborg/Ski
1976–77
Details
Romania
Steaua București
21–20 Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Denmark
Fredericia KFUM
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
1977–78
Details
East Germany
Magdeburg
28–22 Poland
Śląsk Wrocław
Hungary
Honvéd
Spain
Calpisa
1978–79
Details
West Germany
TV Großwallstadt
30–28
(14–10 / 18–16)
East Germany
Empor Rostock
Hungary
Budapest Honvéd
Romania
Dinamo București
1979–80
Details
West Germany
TV Großwallstadt
21–12 Iceland
Valur
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
Spain
Atlético de Madrid
1980–81
Details
East Germany
Magdeburg
52–43
(25–23 / 29–18)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Slovan Ljubljana
Sweden
LUGI HF
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
1981–82
Details
Hungary
Budapest Honvéd
49–34
(25–16 / 18–24)
Switzerland
TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen
Denmark
Helsingør IF
West Germany
TV Großwallstadt
1982–83
Details
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
32–29
(15–19 / 13–14)
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Barcelona
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
1983–84
Details
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
38–38
(21–17 / 21–17)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
West Germany
VfL Gummersbach
Hungary
Budapest Honvéd
1984–85
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
49–32
(19–12 / 20–30)
Spain
Atlético de Madrid
Iceland
FH
Czechoslovakia
Dukla Prague
1985–86
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
54–52
(29–24 / 30–23)
Poland
Wybrzeże Gdańsk
Romania
Steaua București
Spain
Atlético de Madrid
1986–87
Details
Soviet Union
SKA Minsk
62–49
(32–24 / 25–30)
Poland
Wybrzeże Gdańsk
West Germany
TUSEM Essen
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
1987–88
Details
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
36–36
(18–15 / 21–18)
West Germany
TUSEM Essen
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Metaloplastika
Spain
Elgorriaga Bidasoa
1988–89
Details
Soviet Union
SKA Minsk
61–53
(30–24 / 37–23)
Romania
Steaua București
East Germany
SC Magdeburg
Sweden
HK Drott
1989–90
Details
Soviet Union
SKA Minsk
53–50
(26–21 / 29–27)
Spain
Barcelona
West Germany
TUSEM Essen
France
US Créteil Handball
1990–91
Details
Spain
Barcelona
41–40
(23–21 / 20–17)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Proleter Zrenjanin
Turkey
ETİ Bisküvi
Soviet Union
Dinamo Astrakhan
1991–92
Details
Croatia
Zagreb
50–38
(22–20 / 18–28)
Spain
TEKA Santander
Denmark
Kolding IF
Spain
Barcelona
1992–93
Details
Croatia
Zagreb
40–39
(22–17 / 22–18)
Germany
SG Wallau-Massenheim
France
Vénissieux Handball
Spain
Barcelona

EHF Champions League

[edit]
Year Final Semi-final losers
Champion Score Second place Third place
1993–94
Details
Spain
TEKA Santander
45–43
(22–22 / 23–21)
Portugal
ABC Braga
Austria
UHK West Wien
France
USAM Nîmes
1994–95
Details
Spain
Elgorriaga Bidasoa
56–47
(30–20 / 27–26)
Croatia
Zagreb
Germany
THW Kiel
Spain
Cantabria Santander
1995–96
Details
Spain
Barcelona
46–38
(23–15 / 23–23)
Spain
Elgorriaga Bidasoa
Switzerland
Pfadi Winterthur
Germany
THW Kiel
1996–97
Details
Spain
Barcelona
61–45
(31–22 / 23–30)
Croatia
Zagreb
Slovenia
RK Celje
Germany
THW Kiel
1997–98
Details
Spain
Barcelona
56–40
(28–18 / 22–28)
Croatia
Zagreb
Germany
TBV Lemgo
Slovenia
RK Celje
1998–99
Details
Spain
Barcelona
51–40
(22–22 / 29–18)
Croatia
Zagreb
Slovenia
RK Celje
Spain
Portland San Antonio
1999–00
Details
Spain
Barcelona
54–52
(28–25 / 29–24)
Germany
THW Kiel
Slovenia
RK Celje
Croatia
Zagreb
2000–01
Details
Spain
Portland San Antonio
52–49
(30–24 / 25–22)
Spain
Barcelona
Slovenia
RK Celje
Germany
THW Kiel
2001–02
Details
Germany
SC Magdeburg
51–48
(23–21 / 30–25)
Hungary
Veszprém
Denmark
Kolding IF
Spain
Portland San Antonio
2002–03
Details
France
Montpellier
50–46
(27–19 / 31–19)
Spain
Portland San Antonio
Slovenia
RD Prule 67
Hungary
Veszprém
2003–04
Details
Slovenia
RK Celje
62–58
(34–28 / 30–28)
Germany
Flensburg-Handewitt
Spain
Ciudad Real
Germany
SC Magdeburg
2004–05
Details
Spain
Barcelona
56–55
(28–27 / 29–27)
Spain
Ciudad Real
Slovenia
RK Celje
France
Montpellier
2005–06
Details
Spain
Ciudad Real
62–47
(19–25 / 37–28)
Spain
Portland San Antonio
Germany
Flensburg-Handewitt
Hungary
Veszprém
2006–07
Details
Germany
THW Kiel
57–55
(28–28 / 29–27)
Germany
Flensburg-Handewitt
Spain
Portland San Antonio
Spain
Valladolid
2007–08
Details
Spain
Ciudad Real
58–54
(27–29 / 25–31)
Germany
THW Kiel
Germany
HSV Hamburg
Spain
Barcelona
2008–09
Details
Spain
Ciudad Real
67–66
(39–34 / 33–27)
Germany
THW Kiel
Germany
HSV Hamburg
Germany
Rhein-Neckar Löwen
New Qualifying Format + Third Place Match
2009–10
Details
Germany
THW Kiel
36–34 Spain
Barcelona
Spain
Ciudad Real
Russia
Chekhovskiye Medvedi
2010–11
Details
Spain
Barcelona
27–24 Spain
Ciudad Real
Germany
Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Germany
HSV Hamburg
2011–12
Details
Germany
THW Kiel
26–21 Spain
Atlético de Madrid
Denmark
AG København
Germany
Füchse Berlin
2012–13
Details
Germany
HSV Hamburg
30–29 Spain
Barcelona
Poland
Vive Kielce
Germany
THW Kiel
2013–14
Details
Germany
Flensburg-Handewitt
30–28 Germany
THW Kiel
Spain
Barcelona
Hungary
Veszprém
2014–15
Details
Spain
Barcelona
28–23 Hungary
Veszprém
Poland
Vive Kielce
Germany
THW Kiel
2015–16
Details
Poland
Vive Kielce
39–38 Hungary
Veszprém
France
Paris Saint-Germain
Germany
THW Kiel
2016–17
Details
North Macedonia
RK Vardar
24–23 France
Paris Saint-Germain
Hungary
Veszprém
Spain
Barcelona
2017–18
Details
France
Montpellier
32–26 France
HBC Nantes
France
Paris Saint-Germain
North Macedonia
RK Vardar
2018–19
Details
North Macedonia
RK Vardar
27–24 Hungary
Veszprém
Spain
Barcelona
Poland
Vive Kielce
2019–20
Details
Germany
THW Kiel
33–28 Spain
Barcelona
France
Paris Saint-Germain
Hungary
Veszprém
2020–21
Details
Spain
Barcelona
36–23 Denmark
Aalborg Håndbold
France
Paris Saint-Germain
France
HBC Nantes
2021–22
Details
Spain
Barcelona
37–35 Poland
Vive Kielce
Germany
THW Kiel
Hungary
Veszprém
2022–23
Details
Germany
SC Magdeburg
30–29 Poland
Vive Kielce
Spain
Barcelona
France
Paris Saint-Germain
2023–24
Details
Spain
Barcelona
31–30 Denmark
Aalborg Håndbold
Germany
THW Kiel
Germany
SC Magdeburg

Notes:
Bold : Aggregate
Bold-italic : Winner's goals

Records and statistics

[edit]

Winning clubs

[edit]
Performance in the European Cup/EHF Champions League by club
Club
Winners Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Spain Barcelona 12 5 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2024 1990, 2001, 2010, 2013, 2020
West Germany VfL Gummersbach 5 1 1967, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1983 1972
Germany THW Kiel 4 4 2007, 2010, 2012, 2020 2000, 2008, 2009, 2014
Germany SC Magdeburg 4 0 1978, 1981, 2002, 2023
Czechoslovakia Dukla Prague 3 2 1957, 1963, 1984 1967, 1968
Spain Ciudad Real 3 2 2006, 2008, 2009 2005, 2011
Soviet Union SKA Minsk 3 0 1987, 1989, 1990
Croatia Zagreb 2 4 1992, 1993 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
Romania Steaua Bucureşti 2 2 1968, 1977 1971, 1989
West Germany Frisch Auf Göppingen 2 1 1960, 1962 1959
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Metaloplastika 2 1 1985, 1986 1984
West Germany TV Großwallstadt 2 0 1979, 1980
France Montpellier 2 0 2003, 2018
North Macedonia RK Vardar 2 0 2017, 2019
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bjelovar 1 2 1972 1962, 1973
Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 1 2 1988 1977, 1983
Spain Portland San Antonio 1 2 2001 2003, 2006
Germany Flensburg-Handewitt 1 2 2014 2004, 2007
Poland Vive Kielce 1 2 2016 2022, 2023
Romania Dinamo Bucureşti 1 1 1965 1963
Soviet Union MAI Moscow 1 1 1973 1974
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borac Banja Luka 1 1 1976 1975
Hungary Honvéd 1 1 1982 1966
Spain CB Cantabria 1 1 1994 1992
Spain Bidasoa Irún 1 1 1995 1996
Sweden Redbergslids IK 1 0 1959
East Germany DHfK Leipzig 1 0 1966
East Germany ASK Frankfurt/Oder 1 0 1975
Slovenia Celje 1 0 2004
Germany HSV Hamburg 1 0 2013
Hungary Veszprém KC 0 4 2002, 2015, 2016, 2019
Poland Wybrzeże Gdańsk 0 2 1986, 1987
Denmark Aalborg Håndbold 0 2 2021, 2024
Sweden Örebro SK 0 1 1957
Denmark Aarhus GF 0 1 1960
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Medveščak Zagreb 0 1 1965
East Germany Dynamo Berlin 0 1 1970
Denmark Fredericia KFUM 0 1 1976
Poland Śląsk Wrocław 0 1 1978
East Germany Empor Rostock 0 1 1979
Iceland Valur 0 1 1980
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slovan Ljubljana 0 1 1981
Switzerland TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen 0 1 1982
Spain Atlético Madrid 0 1 1985
West Germany TUSEM Essen 0 1 1988
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Proleter Zrenjanin 0 1 1991
Germany Wallau-Massenheim 0 1 1993
Portugal ABC Braga 0 1 1994
Spain Atlético de Madrid 0 1 2012
France Paris Saint-Germain 0 1 2017
France HBC Nantes 0 1 2018

Performance by country (1957-2024)

[edit]
Rank Country Winners Runners-up Semi-finals Total
1  Spain
18
13
19
50
2  Germany
17
10
27
54
3  Soviet Union [A]
5
3
4
12
4  Yugoslavia [B]
4
7
6
17
5  East Germany
4
2
3
9
6  Romania
3
3
7
13
7  Czechoslovakia [C]
3
2
6
11
8  Croatia
2
4
1
7
9  France
2
2
12
16
10  North Macedonia
2
0
1
3
11  Hungary
1
5
9
15
12  Poland
1
5
3
9
13  Sweden
1
1
3
5
14  Slovenia
1
0
7
8
15  Denmark
0
4
11
15
16  Switzerland
0
1
2
3
17  Iceland
0
1
1
2
18  Portugal
0
1
1
2
19  Norway
0
0
2
2
20  Austria
0
0
1
1
21  Russia
0
0
1
1
22  Turkey
0
0
1
1
Total 64 64 128 256

Notes

[edit]

Goals scored in the Final Four by nations

[edit]

All the goals (3573) scored in the Final Four by the nationality of the players.

Last updated after the 2023/24 season.

Coaches with most titles

[edit]
Coach Titles Clubs
# List
Spain Valero Rivera 6 1 Barcelona 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Spain Talant Dujshebaev 4 2 Ciudad Real 2006, 2008, 2009, Kielce 2016
Spain Xavier Pascual 3 1 Barcelona 2011, 2015, 2021
Iceland Alfreð Gíslason 3 2 Magdeburg 2002, Kiel 2010, 2012
Russia Spartak Mironovitch 3 1 SKA Minsk 1987, 1989, 1990

* Germany Horst Dreischang won titles with Gummersbach in 1967 and 1970. He was Gummersbach's coach until 29 January 1971, just after 1st game of Champions League 1/4 finals, which Gummersbach won with 11 goals lead. Gummersbach won the title that year.[25][26]

As Player and Coach combined

[edit]
Player/Coach Titles as Player as Coach
# List # List
Spain Carlos Ortega 8 6 Barcelona 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005 2 Barcelona 2022, 2024
Spain Talant Dujshebaev 6 2 CSKA Moscow 1988, Teka Santander 1994 4 Ciudad Real 2006, 2008, 2009, Kielce 2016
Spain Roberto García Parrondo 3 2 Ciudad Real 2008, 2009 1 Vardar 2019
Czech Republic Filip Jicha 3 2 THW Kiel 2010, 2012 1 THW Kiel 2020

Sponsorship

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "EHF releases place distribution for 2021/22 European club competitions".
  2. ^ "22 clubs vying for a place in the new EHF Champions League Men season".
  3. ^ a b c "REGULATIONS EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MEN SEASON 2021/22" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 July 2021.
  4. ^ eurohandball.com Hymn of the Champions[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Kiril Lazarov
  6. ^ Nikola Karabatić
  7. ^ Mikkel Hansen
  8. ^ Timur Dibirov
  9. ^ Momir Ilić
  10. ^ Marko Vujin
  11. ^ Ivan Čupić
  12. ^ Siarhei Rutenka
  13. ^ Alex Dujshebaev
  14. ^ László Nagy
  15. ^ Niclas Ekberg
  16. ^ Zlatko Horvat
  17. ^ Domagoj Duvnjak
  18. ^ Víctor Tomás
  19. ^ Uwe Gensheimer
  20. ^ Jonas Källman
  21. ^ Vid Kavtičnik
  22. ^ Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson
  23. ^ Gašper Marguč
  24. ^ Igor Karačić
  25. ^ "Leseprobe – VFL Gummersbach. Die Chronik by Verlag die Werkstatt - Issuu". 19 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Men Handball European Champions Cup 1971 Winner VFL Gummersbach (FRG)".
  27. ^ "EHF and EHF Marketing strike four-year deal with hummel". www.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
[edit]