European Football League
Encyclopedia
The European Football League (EFL) is a European Cup
style tournament for European American Football
teams affiliated to EFAF (European Federation of American Football). The final game of the EFL is called the Eurobowl
, which has been competed for annually since 1986.
in football, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in an annual competition. EFAF determine the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocates teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations take part. National League Champions, runners-up or teams with International success are eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues may take part in the EFAF Cup
a sort of UEFA Europa League for European American Football teams.
The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. Tournament will be expanded to an eight-team competition. The two finalists from the 2007 season, Vienna Vikings and Marburg Mercenaries, earned automatic berths for the next season and the two semi-finalists, Eidsvoll 1814's from Norway and Tirol Raiders from Austria, earned a spot for the national champions of their respective countries. In quarterfinals these teams face the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams will be paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners will then advance to the Eurobowl.
For a list of Champions see Eurobowl
.
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
style tournament for European American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
teams affiliated to EFAF (European Federation of American Football). The final game of the EFL is called the Eurobowl
Eurobowl
The Eurobowl is both the final game and the trophy of the European Football League , a European American football contest.-Eurobowls:-Champions:...
, which has been competed for annually since 1986.
EFL
Under the governance of EFAF, comparable with UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
in football, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in an annual competition. EFAF determine the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocates teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations take part. National League Champions, runners-up or teams with International success are eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues may take part in the EFAF Cup
EFAF Cup
The EFAF Cup is an international competition for European American Football clubs. The EFAF Cup is the second highest level of club competition in the European Federation of American Football , behind the European Football League ,.- EFAF Cup :...
a sort of UEFA Europa League for European American Football teams.
Format
Teams are split into 4 divisions of 3 or 2 teams. In a division of 3 teams play 2 matches, once at home to one opponent and the other away to the other opponent. In a division of 2 teams, each team plays each other home and away. The division winners then advance to the play-offs.The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. Tournament will be expanded to an eight-team competition. The two finalists from the 2007 season, Vienna Vikings and Marburg Mercenaries, earned automatic berths for the next season and the two semi-finalists, Eidsvoll 1814's from Norway and Tirol Raiders from Austria, earned a spot for the national champions of their respective countries. In quarterfinals these teams face the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams will be paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners will then advance to the Eurobowl.
For a list of Champions see Eurobowl
Eurobowl
The Eurobowl is both the final game and the trophy of the European Football League , a European American football contest.-Eurobowls:-Champions:...
.
By club
| Club | Won | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vienna Vikings |
4 | 4 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 | 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010 |
| Swarco Raiders Tirol Swarco Raiders Tirol The Swarco Raiders Tirol, is a semi-professional American football club based in Innsbruck, Austria. Founded in 1992, the Raiders since has become one of Austria's and Europe's most dominant American Football clubs, winning the Eurobowl title three times and the EFAF Cup once... |
3 | 0 | 2008, 2009, 2011 | |
 Bergamo LionsBergamo Lions The Bergamo Lions is an American football team from Bergamo, Italy. They won the Eurobowl in 2000, 2001 and 2002, while losing to the Chrysler Vikings in the finals of 2004 and 2005. In Italy they have been unbeaten since 1998... |
3 | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 | 1994, 2004, 2005 |
 Hamburg Blue DevilsHamburg Blue Devils The Hamburg Blue Devils are an American football team in Hamburg, Germany. The Blue Devils are one of the most successful American football clubs in Germany, having won four German Bowls as well as three Eurobowls... |
3 | 2 | 1996, 1997, 1998 | 1999, 2000 |
 Amsterdam CrusadersAmsterdam Crusaders The Amsterdam Crusaders are an American Football club from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Together with the Rotterdam Trojans and Alphen Eagles, Amsterdam Crusaders are the oldest surviving Dutch American Football club.-Beginnings:... |
2 | 3 | 1991, 1992 | 1988, 1989, 1993 |
| Braunschweig Lions Braunschweig Lions The New Yorker Lions are an American Football team from Braunschweig, Germany. Until late 2010, the team was known as the Braunschweig Lions.... |
2 | 1 | 1999, 2003 | 2002 |
 London OlympiansLondon Olympians The London Olympians is a British amateur American football team, based in Crystal Palace, London. They are the United Kingdom's most successful amateur American football club... |
2 | 1 | 1993, 1994 | 1995 |
| Berlin Adler Berlin Adler The Berlin Adler is an American football club based in Berlin, Germany. The club is one of the most successful clubs in the sport in Germany, having won six German Bowls as well as a ten Ladies Bowls and five Junior Bowls.... |
1 | 2 | 2010 | 1991, 2011 |
| Legnano Frogs |
1 | 1 | 1989 | 1990 |
| Düsseldorf Panther Düsseldorf Panther The Düsseldorf Panther are an American football team from Düsseldorf, Germany. The club is the oldest still existing American football club in Europe, having been formed on 1 May 1978.... |
1 | 0 | 1995 | |
| Manchester Spartans Manchester Spartans The Manchester Spartans were an English American football club based in Manchester. The club were founded in 1983 under the name Northwich Spartans. Becoming Manchester Spartans in 1984, the club became national champions in 1989 and 1990 and competed in Eurobowl IV in 1990... |
1 | 0 | 1990 | |
 Helsinki RoostersHelsinki Roosters Helsinki Roosters is an American Football team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays in the Vaahteraliiga in Finland and their home field is the Helsinki Velodrome.- National Champions :... |
1 | 0 | 1988 | |
| Taft Vantaa |
1 | 0 | 1986 |