Jump to content

EuroLeague Final Four

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The EuroLeague Final Four is the final four format championship of the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague professional club basketball competition. The Euroleague Basketball Company used the final four format for the first time in 2002, following the 2001 FIBA SuproLeague Final Four, which was the last final four held by FIBA Europe. In the original FIBA Europe competition, as seen below, the final four was used for the first time at the 1966 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four. The final four format was used again the next year, with the 1967 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four, but was then abandoned.

The final four finally returned as the format of choice, for the first time during its modern era, with the 1988 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four. It is known as the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for name sponsorship reasons. Panathinaikos has been the most successful team at the EuroLeague Final Four, since the modern final four era began in the 1987–88 season, winning the title 7 times (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2024). Panathinaikos are the most recent winners, having clinched their seventh Final Four title in 2024.[1]

The EuroLeague Final Four is broadcast on TV in up to 213 countries and territories.[2]

History

[edit]

Names of the Final Four

[edit]
  • FIBA era (1958–2001):
    • FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four (1966–1967, 1988–1991)
    • FIBA European League Final Four ("FIBA EuroLeague Final Four") (1992–1996)
    • FIBA EuroLeague Final Four (1997–2000)[3]
    • FIBA SuproLeague Final Four (2001)
  • Euroleague Basketball era (since 2000):
    • Euroleague Final Four (2002–2016)
    • EuroLeague Final Four (since 2017)

Historical changes

[edit]

The first time the EuroLeague used a Final Four format to decide its league champion, was at the conclusion of the 1965–66 and 1966–67 seasons, when it held the 1966 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four, and the 1967 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four. Those first two final fours were won by Simmenthal Milano (1966) and Real Madrid (1967). FIBA Europe did not use the final four format again until the 1987–88 season, when it held the 1988 FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four, which was also won by Tracer Milano.

The EuroLeague Final Four has been held every year since, with FIBA Europe organizing it until 2001, and the Euroleague Basketball Company organizing it since 2002.

There were two separate competitions during the 2000–01 season. The SuproLeague, which was organized by FIBA, and the EuroLeague, which was organized by Euroleague Basketball Company. Euroleague Basketball Company's EuroLeague competition, in its inaugural year, used a playoff format, with the two professional teams from Bologna (Virtus and Fortitudo), AEK, and TAU reaching the tournament's semifinals. Virtus was the winner of the 2001 Euroleague Finals.

EuroLeague Final Four by season

[edit]
Year Host city Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place
FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four (early events)
1966 Italy Bologna Italy Simmenthal Milano Czechoslovakia Slavia VŠ Praha Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Greece AEK
1967 Spain Madrid Spain Real Madrid Italy Simmenthal Milano Czechoslovakia Slavia VŠ Praha Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia AŠK Olimpija
FIBA European Champions Cup Final Four
1988 Belgium Ghent Italy Tracer Milano Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan Greece Aris
1989 West Germany Munich Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jugoplastika Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Greece Aris Spain FC Barcelona
1990 Spain Zaragoza Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jugoplastika Spain FC Barcelona Banca Catalana France Limoges CSP Greece Aris
1991 France Paris Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia POP 84 Spain FC Barcelona Banca Catalana Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Italy Scavolini Pesaro
FIBA European League Final Four
1992 Turkey Istanbul Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan Spain Montigalà Joventut Italy Philips Milano Spain Estudiantes Argentaria
1993 Greece Piraeus France Limoges CSP Italy Benetton Treviso Greece PAOK Spain Real Madrid Teka
1994 Israel Tel Aviv Spain 7up Joventut Greece Olympiacos Greece Panathinaikos Spain FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
1995 Spain Zaragoza Spain Real Madrid Teka Greece Olympiacos Greece Panathinaikos France Limoges CSP
1996 France Paris Greece Panathinaikos Spain FC Barcelona Banca Catalana Russia CSKA Moscow Spain Real Madrid Teka
FIBA EuroLeague Final Four
1997 Italy Rome Greece Olympiacos Spain FC Barcelona Banca Catalana Slovenia Smelt Olimpija France ASVEL
1998 Spain Barcelona Italy Kinder Bologna Greece AEK Italy Benetton Treviso Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan Zepter
1999 Germany Munich Lithuania Žalgiris Italy Kinder Bologna Greece Olympiacos Italy Teamsystem Bologna
2000 Greece Thessaloniki Greece Panathinaikos Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Turkey Efes Pilsen Spain FC Barcelona
2001* 3-2 won Kinder Italy Kinder Bologna Spain Tau Cerámica Greece AEK / Italy Paf Bologna No third place game
FIBA SuproLeague Final Four
2001* France Paris Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Greece Panathinaikos Turkey Efes Pilsen Russia CSKA Moscow
Euroleague Final Four
2002 Italy Bologna Greece Panathinaikos Italy Kinder Bologna Italy Benetton Treviso Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
2003 Spain Barcelona Spain FC Barcelona Italy Benetton Treviso Italy Montepaschi Siena Russia CSKA Moscow
2004 Israel Tel Aviv Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Italy Skipper Bologna Russia CSKA Moscow Italy Montepaschi Siena
2005 Russia Moscow Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Spain Tau Cerámica Greece Panathinaikos Russia CSKA Moscow
2006 Czech Republic Prague Russia CSKA Moscow Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Spain Tau Cerámica Spain Winterthur FC Barcelona
2007 Greece Athens Greece Panathinaikos Russia CSKA Moscow Spain Unicaja Spain Tau Cerámica
2008 Spain Madrid Russia CSKA Moscow Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv Italy Montepaschi Siena Spain Tau Cerámica
2009 Germany Berlin Greece Panathinaikos Russia CSKA Moscow Spain Regal FC Barcelona Greece Olympiacos
2010 France Paris Spain Regal FC Barcelona Greece Olympiacos Russia CSKA Moscow Serbia Partizan
2011 Spain Barcelona Greece Panathinaikos Israel Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv Italy Montepaschi Siena Spain Real Madrid
2012 Turkey Istanbul Greece Olympiacos Russia CSKA Moscow Spain FC Barcelona Regal Greece Panathinaikos
2013 United Kingdom London Greece Olympiacos Spain Real Madrid Russia CSKA Moscow Spain FC Barcelona Regal
2014 Italy Milan Israel Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv Spain Real Madrid Spain FC Barcelona Russia CSKA Moscow
2015 Spain Madrid Spain Real Madrid Greece Olympiacos Russia CSKA Moscow Turkey Fenerbahçe
2016 Germany Berlin Russia CSKA Moscow Turkey Fenerbahçe Russia Lokomotiv Kuban Spain Laboral Kutxa
EuroLeague Final Four
2017 Turkey Istanbul Turkey Fenerbahçe Greece Olympiacos Russia CSKA Moscow Spain Real Madrid
2018 Serbia Belgrade Spain Real Madrid Turkey Fenerbahçe Lithuania Žalgiris Russia CSKA Moscow
2019 Spain Vitoria-Gasteiz Russia CSKA Moscow Turkey Anadolu Efes Spain Real Madrid Turkey Fenerbahçe
2020 Germany Cologne
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Germany Cologne Turkey Anadolu Efes Spain FC Barcelona Italy AX Armani Exchange Milan Russia CSKA Moscow
2022 Serbia Belgrade Turkey Anadolu Efes Spain Real Madrid Spain FC Barcelona Greece Olympiacos
2023 Lithuania Kaunas Spain Real Madrid Greece Olympiacos France AS Monaco Spain FC Barcelona
2024 Germany Berlin Greece Panathinaikos Spain Real Madrid Greece Olympiacos Turkey Fenerbahçe

* The 2000–01 season was a transition year, with the best European teams split into two different major leagues, the SuproLeague 2000–01, held by FIBA, and the Euroleague 2000–01, held by Euroleague Basketball. That season's Euroleague Basketball tournament, the Euroleague 2000–01 season, did not end with a Final Four tournament. Instead, it ended with a 5-game playoff series. The EuroLeague now officially recognizes both the 2001 FIBA SuproLeague, and the 2001 Euroleague, in its statistics.

Statistics

[edit]

Performance by club

[edit]
  • Including original FIBA European Champions Cup and EuroLeague Final Four competitions.
Club 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Greece Panathinaikos 7 1 3 1 12
Spain Real Madrid 5 4 1 4 14
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 4 6 1 1 12
Russia CSKA Moscow 4 3 7 6 20
Greece Olympiacos 3 6 2 2 13
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Split [a] 3 3
Spain FC Barcelona 2 5 4 6 17
Italy Virtus Bologna [b] 2 2 4
Turkey Anadolu Efes 2 1 2 5
Turkey Fenerbahçe 1 2 3 6
Italy Olimpia Milano [c] 2 1 2 5
Spain Joventut Badalona 1 1 2
Serbia Partizan 1 1 2 4
France Limoges CSP 1 1 1 3
Lithuania Žalgiris 1 1 2
Italy Treviso [d] 2 2 4
Spain Baskonia [e] 2 1 3 6
Greece AEK 1 1 2
Italy Fortitudo Bologna [f] 1 1 2
Czechoslovakia Slavia VŠ Praha 1 1 2
Italy Mens Sana 1871 [g] 3 1 4
Slovenia Olimpija 1 1 2
Greece Aris 1 2 3
Greece PAOK 1 1
Spain Málaga [h] 1 1
Russia Lokomotiv Kuban 1 1
France AS Monaco 1 1
Italy Victoria Libertas [i] 1 1
Spain Estudiantes 1 1
France ASVEL 1 1
Total 39 39 38 38 154

Performance by nation

[edit]
  • Including original FIBA European Champions Cup and EuroLeague Final Four competitions.
Nation (Domestic League) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Greece Greece (GBL) 10 8 7 6 31
Spain Spain (LEB / ACB) 7 11 7 14 40
Israel Israel (ISBL) 4 6 1 1 12
Russia Russia (RSL / PBL / VTB) 4 3 7 6 20
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia SFR Yugoslavia (FFBL) 4 2 1 7
Italy Italy (LBA) 3 6 7 3 19
Turkey Turkey (BSL) 3 3 2 3 11
France France (Pro A) 1 2 2 5
Lithuania Lithuania (LKL) 1 1 2
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (CSBL) 1 1 2
Soviet Union Soviet Union (PBL) 1 1
Slovenia Slovenia (SKL) 1 1
Serbia Serbia (ABA/KLS) 1 1
Total 36 36 36 36 144

Opening press conference venues

[edit]
Year Venue Host city Country
2008 Community of Madrid Sports Centre Madrid Spain Spain
2009 O2 World Berlin Germany Germany
2010 Hôtel de Ville Paris France France
2011 Gothic Quarter (City hall) Barcelona Spain Spain
2012 Çırağan Palace Istanbul Turkey Turkey
2013 London City Hall London England England
2014 Piazza del Duomo Milan Italy Italy
2015 Cybele Palace Madrid Spain Spain
2016 Alexanderplatz Berlin Germany Germany
2017 Çırağan Palace Istanbul Turkey Turkey
2018 Kalemegdan Fortress Belgrade Serbia Serbia
2019 Plaza Nueva Vitoria-Gasteiz Spain Spain
2020
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

EuroLeague Final Four MVPs

[edit]
Season Final Four MVP Club Ref.
United States Bob McAdoo Italy Tracer Milano
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dino Rađa Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jugoplastika
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Toni Kukoč Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jugoplastika
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Toni Kukoč (2) Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia POP 84
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sasha Danilović Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan
Croatia Toni Kukoč (3) Italy Benetton Treviso
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Žarko Paspalj Greece Olympiacos
Lithuania Arvydas Sabonis Spain Real Madrid Teka
United States Dominique Wilkins Greece Panathinaikos
United States David Rivers Greece Olympiacos
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Savić Italy Kinder Bologna
United States Tyus Edney Lithuania Žalgiris
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Rebrača Greece Panathinaikos
United States Slovenia Ariel McDonald Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dejan Bodiroga Greece Panathinaikos
Serbia and Montenegro Dejan Bodiroga (2) Spain FC Barcelona
United States Anthony Parker Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Lithuania Šarūnas Jasikevičius Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Greece Theo Papaloukas Russia CSKA Moscow
Greece Dimitris Diamantidis Greece Panathinaikos
United States Trajan Langdon Russia CSKA Moscow
Greece Vassilis Spanoulis Greece Panathinaikos
Spain Juan Carlos Navarro Spain Regal FC Barcelona
Greece Dimitris Diamantidis (2) Greece Panathinaikos
Greece Vassilis Spanoulis (2) Greece Olympiacos
Greece Vassilis Spanoulis (3) Greece Olympiacos
United States Montenegro Tyrese Rice Israel Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Argentina Andrés Nocioni Spain Real Madrid
France Nando de Colo Russia CSKA Moscow
United States Ekpe Udoh Turkey Fenerbahçe
Slovenia Luka Doncic Spain Real Madrid
United States Will Clyburn Russia CSKA Moscow
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Serbia Vasilije Micić Turkey Anadolu Efes
Serbia Vasilije Micić (2) Turkey Anadolu Efes
Cape Verde Edy Tavares Spain Real Madrid

EuroLeague All-Final Four Team

[edit]

EuroLeague Final Four records

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Playing under the name of "Jugoplastika" and "POP 84" due to sponsorship reasons.
  2. ^ Playing under the name of "Kinder Bologna" due to sponsorship reasons.
  3. ^ Playing under the name of "Tracer Milano", "Philips Milano" and "AX Armani Exchange Milan" due to sponsorship reasons.
  4. ^ Playing under the name of "Benetton Treviso" due to sponsorship reasons.
  5. ^ Playing under the name of "Tau Cerámica" and "Laboral Kutxa" due to sponsorship reasons.
  6. ^ Playing under the name of "Teamsystem Bologna" and "Skipper Bologna" due to sponsorship reasons.
  7. ^ Playing under the name of "Montepaschi Siena" due to sponsorship reasons.
  8. ^ Playing under the name of "Unicaja" due to sponsorship reasons.
  9. ^ Playing under the name of "Scavolini Pesaro" due to sponsorship reasons.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Eternal Llull gives to Real Madrid its 11th EuroLeague title
  2. ^ Record broadcast reach for 2017 Final Four!
  3. ^ The European Cup For Men's Champion Clubs – The Early Years
  4. ^ European club champions: 1958-2014.
  5. ^ Nocioni named bwin MVP of Euroleague Final Four.
  6. ^ De Colo celebrates title as Final Four MVP.
  7. ^ Udoh caps historic Final Four with MVP award.
  8. ^ Doncic chosen Final Four MVP.
  9. ^ Will Clyburn, CSKA: 'Heart had to carry me'.
  10. ^ Micic is chosen Final Four MVP
  11. ^ Micic repeats as Final Four MVP!
  12. ^ "Edy Tavares named EuroLeague Final Four MVP".
[edit]