European Aquatics Challenger Cup

European Aquatics Challenger Cup
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 European Aquatics Challenger Cup
SportWater polo
Founded2022
PresidentPatrice Coste
CountryEuropean Aquatics members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion		Turkey Galatasaray (1st title)
Most titlesTurkey Galatasaray
Greece GS Apollon Smyrnis
(1 title each)
Level on pyramid3rd Tier (2022–2025)
4th Tier (2025–present)
Official website[1]

The European Aquatics Challenger Cup is a water polo club competition organised by the European Aquatics. It acts as the fourth tier, below the European Aquatics Champions League, European Aquatics Euro Cup and the European Aquatics Conference Cup. GS Apollon Smyrnis of Greece became the first champions, defeating CN Terrassa of Spain in the final.[1] From 2024, after LEN was renamed to European Aquatics, the new name is the European Aquatics Challenger Cup.

History

The European Aquatics Challenger Cup was created by European Aquatics (formerly LEN) in 2022, with the goal of creating more opportunities for developing Water Polo nations.[2][3]

On the 2 June 2023, LEN formally announced they would create a LEN Women's Challenger Cup, starting in the 2023–24 season.[4]

From 2025, after the introduction of the Conference Cup, the Challenger Cup will become the fourth tier tournament in European club water polo.[5][6][7]

Winners

Challenger Cup

Year Final Semi-finalists
Champion Score Second place
2022–23
Details 		Greece
GS Apollon Smyrnis 		30–25
(12–11 / 18–14) 		Spain
CN Terrassa 		Spain
Tenerife Echeyde 		Turkey
Enkaspor
2023–24
Details 		Turkey
Galatasaray 		33–19
(14–6 / 19–13) 		Slovenia
Triglav Kranj 		Lithuania
EVK Zaibas 		Switzerland
SC Kreuzlingen
2024–25
Details 		Netherlands
GZC Donk 		23–22
(11–13 / 12–9) 		Lithuania
EVK Zaibas 		Malta
Sliema ASC 		Netherlands
ZV De Zaan

Editions

See also

Men

Women

References

  1. ^ Boado, Carlitos (April 29, 2023). "Apollon stun Terrassa, claim historical trophy". Len.eu.
  2. ^ Curcic, Ivan (June 16, 2022). "New system of LEN competition for clubs; first Challenger Cup starts in season 2022/23".
  3. ^ Curcic, Ivan (July 18, 2022). "LEN Challenger Cup - opportunity for everyone".
  4. ^ "Big changes in European water polo club competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. June 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "New European water polo competition set to boost quality and club development - European Aquatics®". April 2, 2025.
  6. ^ Curcic, Ivan (April 2, 2025). "EA launches Conference Cup and reduces number of teams in Champions League and Euro Cup qualifications".
  7. ^ https://europeanaquatics.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WATER-POLO-CLUB-COMPETITIONS-REGULATIONS-SEASON-2025-2026.pdf [bare URL PDF]
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Aquatics_Challenger_Cup