By Stelios Toromanidis / info@eurohoops.net
The EuroLeague, or, as it used to be called, the European Champions Cup, whether under the roof of FIBA or not, in any of its various formats, is the best that European basketball has to offer at the club level and is the favorite pastime of European basketball fans, while it has been engrossing millions of people in arenas, in front of TVs and radios every week for more than 60 years with its competition, intensity, spectacle and emotions.
Over the 60 seasons it exists, there have been 21 different teams that have won the precious trophy, originating from a total of 14 countries. Nine of those are still playing in the competition, while the rest are no longer among the best.
Real Madrid (9 trophies), CSKA Moscow (7 trophies), Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos (6 trophies), Olympiacos and Armani Milan (3 trophies), Barcelona (2 trophies), Zalgiris Kaunas and Fenerbahce (1 trophy) are still integral parts of the EuroLeague to this day. But the sum of seasons they have dominated is numbered at 38. This means that the teams that won the other… 23 out of the total of 61 trophies – if we also take into account the 2000-2001 season when there were two different competitions – no longer take part in the competition.
Whether because of financial problems, or the change of the EuroLeague’s format, or other factors, there are 12 championship-winning teams that no longer participate in the competition. Despite their absence, they’ve played an important role in the past and their accomplishments are still remembered by basketball fans.
Seven of those teams have played in the EuroLeague in its current format (2000 to today), while the last of those exited in the 2015-2016 season. It’s worth mentioning that there is a team that played in the competition for the last time in the 1960-1961 season. Of course, this doesn’t mean that none of the trophy-winning teams will ever take part in the future among the elite of European teams.
We should point out that the order of presentation is random.
1. Badalona (Spain)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 8 (1967-1968, 1978-1979, 1991-1995, 2006-2007, 2008-2009)
Final Four appearances: 2 (1992,1994)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1994)
Games: 119
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 62-57 (52,1%)
They are one of the best and most historic teams in Spain, while together with Real Madrid they are the only teams that have never been relegated to lower divisions thus far.
Their best moment in the EuroLeague was in the 1993-1994 season, when they climbed to the top of Europe in the Final Four in Tel Aviv and the final against Olympiacos, with Thompson, Villacampa, Martinez and the Jofresa brothers their starring players. They had also been finalists two years earlier in Istanbul, where they lost the trophy to Partizan with Djordjevic’s three-point buzzer beater and to coach Obradovic, who later led the team all the way to the title.
They returned to the competition for two seasons in the past decade.
Right now they are in second to last place in the ACB and they are fighting to avoid relegation, while they’re also playing in FIBA’s Basketball Champions League. They are the holders of another four European titles.
2. Limoges (France)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 12 (1983-1985, 1988-1991, 1992-1995, 1996-1998, 2014-2016)
Final Four appearances: 3 (1990, 1993, 1995)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1993)
Games: 179
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 88-91 (49,2%)
Aside from their famous porcelain, Limoges also has a very good basketball team that had a starring role in the top competition in the 90s. Then, they appeared in three Final Fours and won their only trophy in the competition when they prevailed over Real (semifinal) and Benetton (final) in the Peace and Friendship Stadium in 1993, by playing a super defensive game of very few possessions that wasn’t to the liking of lovers of attacking basketball, but which turned out to be effective.
Coach Maljkovic and Zdovc, Young, Dacoury, were the protagonists of this success. In the next years the French team encountered financial problems, fell to the lower divisions of the domestic league and returned to the higher level this decade. In fact, they played in the EuroLeague again for two seasons between 2014 and 2016.
They are in fourth place in the LNB right now and they’re playing in the EuroCup, with the hope of returning to Europe’s top club competition in the coming years.
3. Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 21 (1979-1980, 1981-1982, 1987-1988, 1991-1992, 1995-1998, 2000-2014)
Final Four appearances: 4 (1988, 1992, 1998, 2010)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1992)
Games: 350
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 154-196 (44%)
Perhaps the best Serbian team and the only one that is a EuroLeague title-holder, even though in 1992 when they won it, their country still belonged to Yugoslavia. They reached the top in a season when they used Fuenlabrada as their home because of the war raging at home, beating Badalona in the final in Istanbul and winning the trophy with Djordjevic’s legendary three-pointer and then first-time winner, Zeljko Obradovic, on the bench.
They count a total of 350 games in the EuroLeague and four appearances in the Final Four, while from the 2014-2015 season and onwards they haven’t been playing in the competition due to Crvena Zvezda’s domination in the Adriatic League as well as the serious financial problems that have been plaguing them.
Right now, they are in sixth place in the ABA and they’re fighting to return to their old, high standards, as they are also playing in the EuroCup.
4. Split/Jugoplastika (Croatia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 11 (1971-1972, 1978-1979, 1988-1992, 1993-1995, 1996-1998, 2000-2001)
Final Four appearances: 4 (1972, 1989, 1990, 1991)
EuroLeague titles: 3 (1989, 1990, 1991)
Games: 160
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 96-64 (60%)
They were the best team in Europe for three seasons between 1989 and 1991, and a pleasant surprise for all fans of the sport. They won three consecutive titles in that period, having four huge players on their roster most of whom were at a young age though, while it’s worth highlighting that, together with Riga, they are the only teams that have won three EuroLeague titles in a row. With Ivanovic as their captain, and Radja, Kukoc and Savic at the forefront, the armada of coaches Maljkovic (in the beginning) and Pavlicevic (a bit later) beat every opponent they came across.
The next season, with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, they disappeared from Europe’s top club competition, where they’ve never played again since. Despite this, for thirty years (1970-1990) they played a leading role in European and domestic competitions. Now, they only play in the Croatian championship, where they were finalists in the 2007-2008 season.
5. Riga (Latvia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 4 (1957-1961)
Final Four appearances: 4 (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961)
EuroLeague titles: 3 (1958, 1959, 1960)
Games: 26
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 21-5 (80,8%)
We’re talking about the holders of the first three European championships, coached by the legendary Alexander Gomelsky! They were one of the best teams of that period in the almighty league of the Soviet Union that played a leading part until the 90s. Then the team dissolved, was reconstituted in 2006 and then won the Latvian league in 2007.
Despite this, they had huge financial problems and in 2009 they dissolved once again and, as a result, no longer exist as a basketball team.
The roster of the former titles holders: Jānis Krūmiņš, Valdis Muižnieks, Maigonis Valdmanis, Gundars Muiznieks, Oļģerts Hehts, Leons Jankovskis, Alvils Gulbis, Teobalds Kalherts, Aivars Leonciks, Juris Kalnins, Ivars Veritis, Janis Davids, Gunars Silinš (Coach: Alexander Gomelsky).
6. Cibona (Croatia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 23 (1982-1983, 1984-1986, 1991-2011)
Final Four appearances: 2 (1985, 1986)
EuroLeague titles: 2 (1985, 1986)
Games: 367
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 168-199 (45,8%)
The eight years between 1980 and 1988 were the best period in Cibona’s history thus far. That’s when they won 14 trophies, including 2 EuroLeague trophies, 3 Yugoslav leagues, 7 Croatian Cups and 2 Saporta Cups. With the Hall of Famers Cosic and Petrovic leading the way, the Croatian basketball club was… amazing!
In the following years they kept having a leading role in domestic competitions but not in the EuroLeague. In fact, from 2011 onwards, because of financial difficulties that have been plaguing them, they have been unable to get back in the competition. It’s telling, though, that even though they won the ABA in the 2013-2014 season, they couldn’t compete with the other top teams and so Crvena Zvezda took their place.
This season, they are in tenth place in the Adriatic league.
7. Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 4 (1959-1960, 1961-1963, 1992-1993)
Final Four appearances: 3 (1960, 1962, 1963)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1962)
Games: 21
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 13-8 (61,9%)
The team from Georgia has won the trophy once, in the distant 1962 in the final against Real Madrid, when it belonged to the Soviet Union. Back then they were one of the best teams of the Soviets, as they won four domestic championships and three cups.
They had had another appearance in a final in 1960, when they were defeated by Riga. In the Georgian league that was established in the 90s they occasionally have a leading role, while they also won last season’s title.
8. Bosna Sarajevo (Bosnia)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 4 (1978-1981, 1983-1984)
Final Four appearances: 1 (1979)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1979)
Games: 61
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 40-21 (65,6%)
Bosna also reached the top of Europe once, in 1979. The best player then was Delibasic, with the Bosnians winning the European championship against Varese, representing the former Republic of Yugoslavia. They still count three Yugoslav championships, while since 1992 they’ve been playing in the Bosnian league and occasionally in the ABA.
They have been Bosnian champions four times and cup winners another three. In the EuroLeague, they’ve played a total of 61 games. The Bosnians won their last title in 2008, which was their domestic championship.
9. Varese (Italy)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 14 (1961-1962, 1964-1965, 1969-1979, 1998-2000)
Final Four appearances: 11 (1965, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)
EuroLeague titles: 5 (1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976)
Games: 162
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 106-56 (65,4%)
Their clashes with Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 70s have made history. In fact, back then they reached the top of Europe five times, something that only another four teams have accomplished (Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos).
The protagonists on the court were Raga, Ossola and Meneghin, Morse and off the court, coach Nikolic. This historic team played in another two finals, in 1971 and in 1974.
Their course after the 80s was a downward one. They played for the last time in the EuroLeague in the 1999-2000 season, while in 2008 they were relegated to Italy’s second division. They got back up fast, though, but to this day are unable to find a leading role, with the only exception being their presence in the cup final of 2013. This season, they’re fighting to stay in the Serie A.
10. Virtus Bologna (Italy)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 16 (1960-1961, 1979-1981, 1984-1985, 1991-1999, 2000-2003, 2007-2008)
Final Four appearances: 6 (1980, 1981, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002)
EuroLeague titles: 2 (1998, 2001)
Games: 294
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 166-128 (56,5%)
An excellent team even at the top level from 1991 to 2003, the period in which they accomplished their successes in the EuroLeague. With players like Ginobili, Andersen, Jaric, Smodis and Rigaudeau, they got two trophies in the competition coached by Ettore Messina, the current assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs. AEK and Baskonia were their opponents in the finals, while they are the only team in history that has won the trophy in a playoff series (2001) in the first EuroLeague of the modern era.
Their last appearance was in the 2007-2008 season, while since then, like most Italian teams, they’ve disappeared from Europe’s top club competition.
In the 2015-2016 season they were a disappointment in the Liga Basket as they were relegated to the second division for the first time in their history. Despite this, they bounced back quickly and now they want to return to the high standards of the past.
11. Cantu (Italy)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 7 (1975-1976, 1981-1984, 1993-1994, 2011-2013)
Final Four appearances: 4 (1976, 1982, 1983, 1984)
EuroLeague titles: 2 (1982, 1983)
Games: 101
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 57-44 (56,4%)
Another Italian team with a rich past. In fact, they won two consecutive titles, against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Milan, in an era when they really dominated in Europe.
They’ve won another 4 Korac Cups and as many Saporta Cups. They tasted the bitterness of relegation (1994) but then managed to return to a very good level, which gave them the opportunity to play in the EuroLeague again, from 2011 to 2013, with Andrea Trinchieri on their bench.
Last season they finished in 14th place in the Serie A.
12. Roma (Italy)
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 8 (1983-1985, 2003-2004, 2006-2011)
Final Four appearances: 1 (1984)
EuroLeague titles: 1 (1984)
Games: 125
Record (W-L) in the EuroLeague: 56-69 (44,8%)
Of the four Italian representatives, this is perhaps the team with the least prestige in the EuroLeague. Despite this, they managed to win a title in 1984 in the final against Barcelona.
The protagonists that night were Wright and Kea. From 2006 to 2011 they returned to the competition, without a starring role however.
They no longer play in the first division of their domestic league after relegating to second in the 2014-2015 season, and that’s where they are right now, a long way away from their older, higher standards.