EuroLeague
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier and the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licences and wild cards, making the league a semi-closed league. The league was first organized by FIBA in 1958, subsequently by ULEB in 2000 and then solely by Euroleague Basketball.
The competition was introduced in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup, which operated under FIBA's umbrella until Euroleague Basketball was created for the 2000–01 season. The FIBA European Champions Cup and the EuroLeague are considered to be the same competition, with the change of name being simply a re-branding. From 2010 to 2025, it was sponsored by Turkish Airlines.
The EuroLeague is one of the most popular indoor sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 10,383 for league matches in the 2023–24 season. This was the fifth-highest of any professional indoor sports league in the world, and the second-highest of any professional basketball league in the world, only behind the National Basketball Association.
The EuroLeague title has been won by 22 clubs, 15 of which have won it more than once. The most successful club in the competition is Real Madrid, with 11 titles while CSKA Moscow follow with 8 and Panathinaikos with 7. The latter is also the competition's [|most successful club] during its modern era since 2000 with 6 trophies, while Virtus Bologna was the first ever winner in 2000–01.
Maccabi Tel Aviv was the competition's last ever champion during the FIBA period which was ended in 2001. Until then FIBA had organised 44 editions with Real Madrid also being the most decorated club during the FIBA era with 8 titles.
History
FIBA era and the 2000 split
The FIBA European Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA and it operated from 1958 until the summer of 2001. Since the 1987–88 FIBA European Champions Cup and until 2001, the winner was decided by a final four.The 1999–00 season was the last before the split of 2000 between FIBA and various top clubs backed by ULEB who launched its own top-tier competition. In the summer of 2000 the Euroleague Basketball was found.
FIBA had previously used the EuroLeague name for the competition since 1996, but it had never trademarked the name. As FIBA had no legal recourse on the usage of the name, ULEB grasped the opportunity and started a new league under the name of Euroleague', while FIBA renamed its top-tier competition the FIBA SuproLeague. Thus, the2000–2001 season started with two top European professional club basketball competitions: FIBA SuproLeague and EuroLeague by ULEB.
Top clubs were split between the two leagues: Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow and Efes S.K.|Efes Pilsen] stayed with FIBA, while Olympiacos, Kinder Bologna, Real Madrid Teka, FC Barcelona, Paf Wennington Bologna, PAOK, Žalgiris Kaunas, Benetton Treviso, AEK and Tau Cerámica joined ULEB. The first Euroleague champion of the new era in 2000-01 was decided by a best of three series.
ULEB era: 2001-2009
In May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of the ULEB Euroleague. Both organizations realized the need to come up with a unified competition and Euroleague Basketball negotiated terms and dictated proceedings which FIBA agreed to their terms. As a result, European club competition was fully integrated under Euroleague Basketball's umbrella and teams that competed in the FIBA SuproLeague during the 2000–01 season joined it as well.The authority in European professional basketball was divided over club-country lines. FIBA stayed in charge of national team competitions, while ULEB and Euroleague Basketball took over the major European club competition, establishing 3-year licences with top clubs - not based on sporting merit.
From that point on, FIBA's Korać Cup and Saporta Cup competitions lasted one more season and then Euroleague Basketball launched the ULEB Cup, now known as the EuroCup, following another major disagreement with FIBA who launched its own two competitions as an answer.
2009: Euroleague Basketball
In 2009, Euroleague Properties S.A. was created and the competition's company Euroleague Basketball under Jordi Bertomeu took full control, limiting ULEB's role. During all this period many top European clubs had permanent presence in the competition via licences and regardless of their domestic performances.In October 2015, FIBA tried to take control back, tempting 8 top European clubs to sign long-term licenses with the Federation in a 16-team brand new European league called the FIBA Basketball Champions League in a round-robin format. The clubs rejected the proposal, but they came up with an almost identical plan a few weeks later.
League era: 2016- present
In November 2015, Euroleague Basketball and IMG agreed on a 10-year joint venture. Both Euroleague Basketball and IMG will manage the commercial operation, and the management of all global rights covering both media and marketing. The deal was worth €630 million guaranteed over 10 years, with projected revenues reaching €900 million. Along with the deal the league changed into a true league format, with 16 teams playing each other team in the regular season followed by the playoffs. The A-licensed clubs were assured of participation for the following ten years in the new format.After the new format of the EuroLeague and FIBA implementing national team windows, a conflict between the two organizations emerged. EuroLeague has been criticised by FIBA as well as several national federations for creating a 'closed league' and ignoring the principle of meritocracy. In July 2019, EuroLeague announced that from the 2019–20 season there will be no direct access to the league through domestic leagues anymore, effectively making it a closed league.
The EuroLeague saw increasing influence from the Middle East during the 2020s. The league had another milestone event in 2025, when it hosted the Final Four in Abu Dhabi, as the first final tournament to be held outside of Europe. The league further expanded to 20 teams in the 2025–26 season. As part of the expansion, Dubai Basketball was given a 5-year license, thus becoming the first team from outside of Europe to play in the competition.
Title sponsorship
In years 2010–2025, EuroLeague was sponsored by Turkish Airlines. In a five-year €15 million deal, starting in the 2010–11 season, the competition was named 'Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball'. The agreement included an option to extend it for another five years. The option was activated in October 2013, extending the sponsorship deal until 2020. On July 1, 2025, it has ended sponsor naming rights of Turkish Airlines. In September 2025, EuroLeague announced a four-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Etihad Airways, designating them as Main Partners of the EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions and Final Four Presenting Partner. The agreement includes brand visibility for Experience Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways across arenas, live broadcasts and team jerseys in all ErouLeague and EuroCup games.Names of the competition
- FIBA era:
- *FIBA European Champions Cup:
- *FIBA European League:
- *FIBA EuroLeague:
- *FIBA SuproLeague:
- Euroleague Basketball era:
- *ULEB Euroleague:
- *Euroleague:
- *EuroLeague:
Licences
The main difference between the competition run by FIBA Europe and the modern one since 2000 has been the licenses that guaranteed a club's participation in the Euroleague regardless of their performance in their national championship. The 3-year guaranteed participation was granted by an A-license. In 2009 the A-Licenses granted were 13, while in 2012 they became 14.Until 2015, many major clubs would compete with a 3-year licence, while others would get a wild card or a B-License for one year. In 2015, 11 clubs signed long-term licenses with the Euroleague Basketball and they also became the company's shareholders leaving only 5 spots to other teams to participate. In 2021–22 season, ASVEL and Bayern Munich were added to the shareholders' group taking the number to 13. As of the 2025–26 season, the Euroleague Basketball offers 3-year licenses to clubs other than the 13 shareholders with the fee being 5 million euros in total. The EuroLeague Board of Directors, composed of the 13 shareholders, is responsible to evaluate each individual request of a club for a 3-year license. In 2025, Euroleague Basketball granted 3-year licenses to the following clubs:
A-Licenses history
| Club | First License | Second License | Third License | Fourth License | Fifth License | Shareholder |
| Olympiacos BC | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Panathinaikos BC | 2001–2003 | - | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Anadolu Efes S.K. | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. | 2001–2003 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 | |
| Real Madrid Baloncesto | 2000-2003 | - | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Saski Baskonia | - | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| FC Barcelona Bàsquet | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Fenerbahçe S.K. | - | - | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 |
| BC Žalgiris | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 | |
| PBC CSKA Moscow | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | 2015–2026 | |
| KK Olimpija | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | - | - |
| Lottomatica Roma | - | - | - | 2009-2011 | 2012–2015 | - |
| ASVEL Basket | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | 2021–2026 |
| Mens Sana Siena | - | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012-2014 | - |
| Unicaja Malaga | - | 2006–2009 | 2009–2012 | 2012–2015 | - | |
| Prokom Trefl Sopot | - | - | - | 2009–2012 | 2012-2015 | - |
| EA7 Milano | - | - | - | - | 2012-2015 | 2015–2026 |
| Ülker G.S.K. | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | - |
| KK Cibona | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006–2009 | - | - | - |
| AEK BC | - | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | - |
| Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez | 2001–2003 | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | - |
| Le Mans Sarthe Basket | - | - | 2006–2009 | - | - | - |
| KK Zadar | 2000–2002 | - | - | - | - | - |
| KK Budućnost | 2000–2003 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Virtus Bologna | 2000–2002 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fortitudo Bologna | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | - |
| Benetton Treviso | 2000–2003 | 2003–2006 | - | - | - | - |
| Opel Skyliners | 2000–2002 | - | - | - | - | - |
| London Towers | 2000–2002 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alba Berlin | 2001–2003 | - | - | - | - | - |
| FC Bayern Munich | - | - | - | - | - | 2021–2026 |
Wild cards history
| Club | Period |
| Saint Petersburg Lions | 2000–2001 |
| Śląsk Wrocław | 2003–2004 |
| Mens Sana Siena | 2002–2003 |
| Darüşşafaka Basketbol | 2015–2017 |
| FC Bayern Munich | 2015–2016, 2019-2020 |
| SIG Strasbourg | 2015–2016 |
| Lokomotiv Kuban | 2015–2016 |
| Alba Berlin | 2021–2023, 2023–2025 |
| BC Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2019–2020, 2021-2022 |
| KK Crvena zvezda | 2021–2022, 2023–2024, 2025–2028 |
| KK Partizan | 2022–2023, 2024–2025, 2025–2028 |
| Valencia Basket | 2022–2023 |
| Virtus Bologna | 2023–2025, 2025–2028 |
| ASVEL Basket | 2020–2021 |
| AS Monaco | 2024–2026 |
| Dubai BC | 2025–2030 |
Competition systems
Tournament systems
The EuroLeague operated under a tournament system, from its inaugural 1958 season, through the 2015–16 season.- FIBA European Champions Cup : The champions of European national domestic leagues, and the then current European Champions Cup title holders, competing against each other, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with either a single game final, or a 2-game aggregate score finals (3 games if needed to break a tie).
- FIBA European Champions Cup : The champions of European national domestic leagues, competing against each other, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
- FIBA European League : The champions of the European national domestic leagues, the then current European League title holders, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
- FIBA EuroLeague : The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
* Euroleague : Some of the European national domestic league champions, and some of the runners-up from various national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a best of 5 playoff finals.* FIBA SuproLeague : Some of the European national domestic league champions, and some of the runners-up from various national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.- Euroleague : The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
League system
Starting with the 2016–17 season, the EuroLeague operates under a league format.- EuroLeague : The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, playing in a true European-wide league system format. The league culminates with a Final Four.
Format
The top eight placed teams at the end of the regular season advance to playoffs, each playing a five-game playoff series against a single opponent. The regular season standings are used to determine which teams play each other, and in each pairing the higher placed team has home-court advantage in the series, playing three of the five games at home. The winners of each of the four playoff series advance to the Final Four, held at a predetermined site. The Final Four features two semi-finals, a third place game, and the championship game, all on the same weekend.
Each team plays a maximum 41 games per season: 34 in the regular season, a maximum of 5 during the playoffs, and 2 in the Final Four.
Qualification
Currently, 12 out of the 18 EuroLeague places are held by licensed clubs that have long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball, and are members of the Shareholders Executive Board. These twelve licensed clubs are:The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs that have annual licences, of which one has a two-year wild card, three have one-year wild-cards and two are the finalists of the previous season's 2nd-tier European competition, the EuroCup. From the 2020–21 season, however, if the better of the two teams from the EuroCup makes it to the playoffs, it keeps the place for the following year.
European professional basketball club rankings
Current clubs
These are the teams that participate in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season:Results
- 1958–2001: FIBA European Champions Cup, FIBA European League, FIBA Euroleague, FIBA Suproleague
- 2001–present: ULEB Euroleague, EuroLeague
[FIBA] era (1958–2001)
[ULEB] and ECA">Euroleague Basketball">ECA era (2000–present)
Team statistics
Titles by club
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runner-up | Champion years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 |  Titles by nation
FIBA era
Season statistical leadersAll-time leadersSince the beginning of the 2000–01 season :Individual performancesAttendancesSeason averagesAll averages include playoffs and Final Four games.
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina