EUROPE'S BEST: WHO ARE THE GREAT EUROLEAGUE CHAMPIONS?

EUROPE'S BEST: WHO ARE THE GREAT EUROLEAGUE CHAMPIONS?

Do you watch basketball? If yes, you probably know what the Euroleague is. In fact, you probably know without being a fan of the orange ball sport. If you haven't heard of this great competition, it's the basketball equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. The strongest teams from the best leagues in Europe face each other in a long and tough season to determine the champion of the Old Continent. And the title in the race is always deserved.

In the current format, each team has to go through between 39 and 41 games on the way to it. A 34-game regular season, a 3-of-5 quarterfinal playoff series, and a one-game Final Four. The winner is always determined to be the king of European club basketball. Ever since 1958, when Europe had its first champion. Fortunately for us, the Bulgarian Akademik is part of the final, but unfortunately for us, it loses it to the then Soviet Riga. History repeats itself next year. Again Riga against Akademik and again a victory for the Latvians. But who are the most successful teams in Euroleague history?

1. Real Madrid – 10 titles

No mistake, friends. We're not talking about football. Simply, in basketball, the team from the Spanish capital is the record holder for titles in the most prestigious club tournament. Real is first both in terms of titles with its 10, and in total number of finals with 18. In 1963, the "whites" became the first champion of Europe outside the Soviet Union. Twice in their history, Real has gone on long streaks without a title, and the last time the Madridistas triumphed in 2018 after defeating Fenerbahçe in the final.

2. CSKA Moscow – 8 titles

The second champion in history, although the "armies" won their debut title only in the 4th edition of the Euroleague. But certainly deserved, because in the final they beat the unchanging champion Riga at that time. Then the winner is determined in two meetings. CSKA Moscow won their 8 titles in a total of 4 different decades and lost 6 more finals. Muscovites are extremely consistent in the Euroleague, which they last won in 2019.

3. Maccabi Tel Aviv – 6 titles

Israelis have a great tradition in club basketball, and Maccabi's 3rd place in the ranking proves it. The "Yellows" are the only team from the country with a title in the strongest European tournament, but they have as many as 6 and another 9 lost finals. In 2014, Maccabi defeated Real Madrid in one of the most dramatic title fights, with the match even going to extra time. Since then, the giant from Tel Aviv has been looking for his usual face and has not been involved in the final four.

4. Panathinaikos – 6 titles

The legendary Greek team and Maccabi Tel Aviv are equal in terms of titles, but the "green and white" have as many as 8 finals less. Which can also be defined as a success, because PAO lost only once in the title match – in 2001 precisely to Maccabi. Between 2007 and 2011, the Athenians dominated the Euroleague and won it 3 times in 5 years. All 6 titles of the Greek grand are after 1996.

5. Varese – 5 titles

We also reached the sleeping Italian giant, which has not had a single significant trophy since 2012 (then the Coppa Italia). In the 1970s, the team was by far the strongest in Europe. Between 1970 and 1976, Varese won the Euroleague 5 times. Between 1971 and 1979, the Italians lost 5 more finals. Yes, your maths is correct - 10 consecutive tournament finals, half of them won. The problem for Varese is the present, which has not seen a single Italian title since 1990.

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