WSE Champions League
Current season, competition or edition: 2022–23 WSE Champions League | |
Sport | Roller hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 1965 |
No. of teams | 32 (since 2022–23) |
Continent | Europe (WSE) |
Most recent champion(s) | Trissino (1st title) |
Most titles | Barcelona (22 titles) |
TV partner(s) | WSE TV |
Official website | Official website |
The WSE Champions League is an annual club roller hockey competition organised by World Skate Europe - Rink Hockey and contested by teams from the top-ranked European leagues.
The current champions are Italian side Trissino, which secured their first title in the competition after beating Portuguese side AD Valongo in the 2022 final four.
History
Since its foundation in 1965, under the name of European Cup, the competition has been dominated by teams from Spain (mainly from Catalonia), Portugal and Italy. In 1997, the European Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup were merged to create the Champions League. In 2007, the competition name and format was changed to form the European League, a 16-team competition with no preliminary rounds. In 2020, the format was changed to a 9-team competition with no proliminary rounds. In 2021, the format was changed to an 8-team competition with no proliminary rounds. In 2023, along with a renaming back to Champions League, the format was again changed to accommodate 32 teams and two preliminary rounds.
The most successful team is Barcelona, having won a record 22 titles, including eight consecutive between 1978 and 1985. Barcelona are followed by four other Spanish teams, making Spain the most successful country in the competition, with 44 titles. Four Portuguese teams have won the trophy by eight times, while two Italian teams have won the trophy by two times.
Format
Since 2021, the competition is composed by 8 teams placed into 2 groups. The first 2 teams of each group play the final-four.
Finals
Performances
By club
By country
Country | Winners | Runners-up | Winners | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | 46 | 17 | Barcelona (22), Reus Deportiu (8), Liceo (6), Igualada (6), Voltregà (3), Noia | Barcelona (4), Vic (3), Reus Deportiu (3), Liceo (2), Voltregà, Vilanova, Sentmenat, Noia, Igualada |
Portugal | 8 | 25 | Sporting CP (3), Porto (2), Benfica (2), Barcelos | Porto (13), Benfica (5), Barcelos (2), Oliveirense (2), Lourenço Marques, Sporting CP, Valongo |
Italy | 2 | 13 | Follonica, Trissino | Novara (4), HC Monza (2), Triestina, Giovinazzo, Amatori Lodi, Roller Monza, Seregno, Amatori Vercelli, Bassano |
Belgium | 0 | 1 | — | Royal Sunday |