The EHF Women's Champions League is the competition for the top women's handball clubs in Europe, organised annually by the European Handball Federation (EHF). It is the most prestigious tournament for clubs, with the champions of Europe's top national leagues participating.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024–25 Women's EHF Champions League | |
 | |
| Sport | Handball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Country | EHF members |
| Continent | Europe |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Győri Audi ETO KC(6th title) (2023–24) |
| Most titles |  Spartak Kyiv(13 titles) |
| Related competitions | EHF European League |
| Official website | ehfcl.eurohandball.com |
Tournament structure
editEach year, the EHF publishes a ranking list of its member federations. The first 27 nations are allowed to participate in the tournament with their national champion. The national federations are allowed to request extra places or upgrades from the EHF European League.
The EHF Champions League is divided into five stages. Depending on the ranking of their national federation and of the criteria list, teams can enter the competition in either qualification or the group phase.
The current playing system changed for the 2020–21 season.
Qualification tournament
editGroups of four teams are formed. The number of groups can vary each season. Teams from each group play semi-finals and finals, in a single venue over a weekend. The winning team from each group advance to the group phase, while teams from lower ranks continue in the EHF European League.
Tournament format
editEach 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. 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
editSince 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 play off. The season is over for the last two teams in each group after the completion of the group phase.
Play off
editThe pairings for the play off 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
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
The participating EHF FINAL4 teams are paired for the semi-finals 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.
Summary
editEuropean Champions Cup
editEHF Women's Champions League (knockout system)
editEHF Women's Champions League (EHF FINAL4 system)
editRecords and statistics
editPerformance by club
editPerformance by country (1961–2024)
edit| Rank | Country | Winners | Runners-up | Semi-finals | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16
|
3
|
4
|
23
| |
| 2 | 8
|
12
|
21
|
41
| |
| 3 | 8
|
5
|
8
|
21
| |
| 4 | 7
|
5
|
9
|
21
| |
| 5 | 4
|
2
|
7
|
13
| |
| 6 | 3
|
6
|
11
|
20
| |
| 7 | 3
|
5
|
4
|
12
| |
| 8 | 3
|
3
|
16
|
22
| |
| 9 | 2
|
3
|
1
|
6
| |
| 10 | 2
|
1
|
3
|
6
| |
| 11 | 1
|
4
|
3
|
8
| |
| 12 | 1
|
3
|
11
|
15
| |
| 13 | 1
|
3
|
5
|
9
| |
| 14 | 1
|
2
|
5
|
8
| |
| 15 | 1
|
2
|
3
|
6
| |
| 16 | 0
|
1
|
3
|
4
| |
| 17 | 1
|
1
|
1
|
3
| |
| 18 | 0
|
1
|
2
|
3
| |
| 19 | 0
|
0
|
2
|
2
| |
| 20 | 0
|
0
|
2
|
2
| |
| 21 | 0
|
0
|
2
|
2
| |
| 22 | 0
|
0
|
1
|
1
| |
| Total | 61 | 61 | 122 | 244 | |
- Notes
- 1: Goals from four seasons (1998–2002) are missing. Bojana Popovic's tally is higher than what is written here.[19]
Top scorers by seasonedit
|
WOMEN'S EHF FINAL4 MVPs by seasonedit
|
Goals scored in the Final Four by nations
editAll goals (2199) scored in the Final Four by the nationality of the players.
- Last updated after the 2023/24 season.
|
|
Top Scorers by Teamedit
|
Top Scorers by Countryedit
|
Players with the most Champions League titles
editbold - active players
| Players | Titles | Winning years and clubs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | List | ||
| 13 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | |
| 9or10 | 2 | Spartak Kyiv 1986, 1987, 1988, Hypo Niederösterreich 1990(??), 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 | |
| 8 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | |
| 7 | 3 | Viborg 2009, 2010, Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, Vipers Kristiansand 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| 7 | 2 | Vasas Budapest 1982, Hypo Niederösterreich 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 | |
| 7 | 1 | Hypo Niederösterreich 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 | |
| 7 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 | |
| 6 | 3 | Larvik HK 2011, Győri ETO KC 2017, 2018, 2019, Vipers Kristiansand 2021, 2022 | |
| 6 | 3 | Slagelse FH 2004, 2005, 2007, Viborg HK 2009, 2010, ŽRK Budućnost 2012 | |
| 6 | 2 | Hypo Niederösterreich 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, Slagelse FH 2004, 2005 | |
| 6 | 2 | Győri ETO KC 2017, 2018, 2019, Vipers Kristiansand 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| 6or7 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1970(??), 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 | |
| 6 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986 | |
| 5 | 3 | Larvik HK 2011, Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, 2017, Vipers Kristiansand 2021 | |
| 5 | 1 | Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| 5 | 1 | Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| 5or7 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1979(??), 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988(??) | |
| 5 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 | |
| 5 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | |
| 4 | 1 | Hypo 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 | |
| 4 | 1 | Hypo 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 | |
| 4 | 2 | Viborg 2006, 2009, 2010, Bucuresti 2016 | |
| 4 | 3 | Slagelse 2007, Budućnost 2012, 2015, Györi ETO KC2014 | |
| 3or4 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1979(??), 1981, 1983, 1985 | |
As of the end of 2023/24 season no player has won 3 titles with 3 different clubs.[21]
Coaches with most titles
edit| Coach | Titles | Clubs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | List | ||
| 13 | 1 | Spartak Kyiv 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | |
| 4[22] | 1 | Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 | |
| 4 | 2 | Radnički Belgrade 1976, 1980, Hypo 1989, 1990 | |
| 4 | 2 | Larvik HK 2011, Vipers 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| 3 | 1 | Slagelse DT 2004, 2005, 2007 | |
As Player and Coach combined
edit| Player/Coach | Titles | as Player | as Coach | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | List | # | List | ||
| 5 | 1 | San Antonio 2001 | 4 | Győri ETO KC 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Information on the DELO WOMEN'S EHF FINAL4 2020". ehfcl.com. 26 June 2020.
- ^ Costeiu, Adrian. "Odense spoil Radičević's historic game". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Costeiu, Adrian. "Grit, courage and determination bring Neagu to 1,000-goal milestone". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Jovanka Radičević Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Cristina Neagu Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Andrea Lekić Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Anita Görbicz Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Nora Mørk Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Ana Gros Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Katarina Bulatović Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Eduarda Amorim Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Bojana Popović Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Andrea Penezić Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Heidi Løke Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Milena Raicevic Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Alexandra do Nascimento Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Isabelle Gulldén Profile". history.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "BOJANA POPOVIC - Career & Statistics | EHF".
- ^ "All-time overview of the EHF Champions League top scorers (1993/94 to 2013/14)". EHF. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "European Handball Federation - Three players and one coach on the hunt for title number five / Article".
- ^ "European Handball Federation - Three players and one coach on the hunt for title number five / Article".
General references
edit- Todor Krastev. "Women Handball European Champions Cup and Champions League Archive". Todor 66. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- "Champions League Regulation Women". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- "Women's Champions League Official site". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 5 January 2009.