Central European Football League

The Central European Football League (CEFL) is a European organization of American football which hosts two international competitions, CEFL Championship and CEFL Cup. The final game of the CEFL Championship playoffs is dubbed CEFL Bowl.

Central European Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024
FormerlySoutheast European League of American Football (SELAF)
SportAmerican Football
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
First season2006
No. of teams13
Country Europe
Formerly:
 Serbia
 Slovenia
 Hungary
 Austria
 Slovakia
 Turkey
 Croatia
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Most recent
champion(s)
Danube Dragons (2024)
Most titlesBelgrade Vukovi (6 titles)
TV partner(s)Sport Klub
Official websiteeuropean-league.com

Until the formation of the CEFL Cup in 2017 the name of the organization was synonymous with its flagship competition – CEFL Championship, or simply "the league". Initially named Southeast European League of American Football (SELAF) it featured teams from Serbia and Slovenia in its introductory 2006 season. The following year teams from other countries joined ranks and the name was changed to the current one before the 2008 season. First 4 seasons of the league were played during the spring and autumn, with a month-and-a-half to a three-month summer break. Starting from 2010 season the competition takes place during the spring. Over its existence, the league was played intermittently by teams from: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

History

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2006

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The inaugural season featured a total of five teams: Belgrade Vukovi, Kragujevac Wild Boars, Novi Sad Dukes and Sirmium Legionaries from Serbia, as well as Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia.

The first ever league champions were Wild Boars who beat Vukovi 23–12 in SELAF Bowl, played on FK Radnički stadium in Belgrade on 8 October.

2007

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The second season was already a season of expansion for the league with two new teams. Joining the league were the top Hungarian team, Budapest Wolves, and CNC Gladiators, then of Austrian Division I (Austria 2nd highest level). Meanwhile, the Legionaries have left the competition. For the first time teams were split into two conferences: North and South. North Conference consisted of Gladiators, Silverhawks and Wolves and South Conference included three Serbian teams: Dukes, Vukovi and Wild Boars.

The final game was named CEFL Bowl II and took place on the Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 27 October, with the title won by Vukovi after beating Wolves 28–27 in a dramatic fashion.

That season was also the first in which the league made it to television: the semifinal and the bowl game were broadcast on Serbian nationally covered TV Avala.

2008

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The league changed its name to Central European Football League and the third season featured three new teams from three different countries: Bratislava Monarchs from Slovakia, Budapest Cowboys from Hungary and Zagreb Thunder from Croatia, while the Wild Boars did not return. The Cowboys and Thunder joined the South Conference, also filling the vacant spot made with the departure of the Wild Boars, while the Monarchs were placed in the North Conference.

In CEFL Bowl III, CNC Gladiators from Austria's 2nd highest level league beat Vukovi 14–8 at the Vienna Vikings' Ravelin football center in Vienna on 25 October.

2009

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In the 2009 season, Cineplexx Blue Devils of Austria replaced the non-returning Monarchs. They joined a newly formed conference with Thunder, Vukovi and Wolves. The other conference consisted of 2008 champions, Gladiators, along with Cowboys, Dukes and Silverhawks.

The bowl game was again played on the Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 24 October, with Vukovi reclaiming the title after beating Blue Devils 39–20.

The season was also a considerable milestone for the league, as multiple league games have been televised on a trans-European channel Sport Klub.

2010

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The league changed format again in 2010, with the Turkish national champion Istanbul Cavaliers joining the league and Cowboys, Gladiators and Thunder not returning. Cavaliers were scheduled to play Blue Devils in the newly formed wild card cup, with the winner taking the final playoff spot.

The bowl game was played in Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia on 18 July, where Vukovi beat Silverhawks 42–20 to become the league champions once again.

2011

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In the 2011 season the league saw the departure of Blue Devils and Dukes. Competition consisted of four teams, which were all national champions of their respective countries.

The title was again claimed by the Vukovi who beat the Wolves 34–33 in yet another dramatic bowl game between these two teams played on Margaret Island Athletic Center in Budapest on 23 July.

2012

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Croatian top team Zagreb Patriots joined the league and Blue Devils rejoined, while Cavaliers departed. The league was renamed to Sport Klub CEFL after its main sponsor and had multiple league games broadcast on Sport Klub television channels.

CEFL Bowl VII was played on Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 21 July, where the Silverhawks won their first title after beating the Vukovi 34–21.

2013

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In 2013, the league has seen the return of one of its original teams, Kragujevac Wild Boars.[1] Blue Devils and Patriots have left the league.

The bowl game was again played on Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 7 July, with Vukovi reclaiming the title after the most convincing bowl game win over Wild Boars 42–0.

2014

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The 2014 season was again played with the same four teams: Budapest Wolves from Hungary, Belgrade Vukovi and Kragujevac Wild Boars from Serbia, and Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia.

CEFL Bowl IX was played in Ivančna Gorica on 20 July, where Vukovi won the title beating Silverhawks 27–17.[2]

2015

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The 2015 season was once again played with four teams. Belgrade Vukovi and Ljubljana Silverhawks have extended their membership, accompanied by two returning teams Novi Sad Dukes from Serbia and the Cineplexx Blue Devils from Austria. Kragujevac Wild Boars and Budapest Docler Wolves have left the league.[3]

CEFL Bowl X was played on FK Kabel stadium in Novi Sad on 5 July, where Dukes took their first trophy by beating Vukovi in a nailbiter 25–23.

2016

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The 2016 season marked the expansion of the CEFL with 12 teams. Member teams from last year were joined by new additions Budapest Cowbells from Hungary and Graz Giants from Austria, while Zagreb Patriots from Croatia returned to the fold. Former Alpe Adria Football League teams joined as well. Those were: Domžale Tigers and Kranj Alp Devils from Slovenia, Niš Imperatori and Inđija Indians from Serbia, and Sarajevo Spartans from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CEFL Bowl XI was played on ASKÖ Stadium in Graz on 3 July, where Giants won the trophy by outgunning Vukovi 52–49 in another cliffhanger.

2017

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CEFL Championship continued to gain traction. Problems with IFAF leadership which started the year before lead to the discontinuation of IFAF Europe Champions League competition. Some of its team members joined CEFL Championship, while the Northern teams formed the Northern European Football League (NEFL). The Raiders Tirol left the BIG6 and joined the CEFL, too. CEFL Championship was composed of two conferences:

This year the league also introduced CEFL Cup, played in two conferences as a developmental competition:

  • Western Conference: Kranj Alp Devils, Sarajevo Spartans, Zagreb Patriots
  • Eastern Conference: Novi Sad GAT Dukes, Inđija Indians, Sirmium Legionaries, Belgrade Blue Dragons[5]

CEFL Bowl XII was played at the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck on 10 June, where Swarco Raiders overpowered Kragujevac Wild Boars 55–20. CEFL Cup finals were played the same day in Kranj, the home of Alp Devils who were shutout by Novi Sad Gat Dukes 0–59.

2018

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Most prominent season in organization's existence. CEFL Championship was played by 6 champions: 5 national and a returning CEFL Bowl XII winner. It was made possible by two new additions, Prague Black Panthers from Czechia in the Western Conference and Moscow Patriots from Russia in the Eastern, while Cowbells, Razorbacks and Vukovi exited.

CEFL Cup was transformed into a cup competition for high-level teams and featured four participants. Vukovi, who left the Championship and Cowbells, Hungarian champions, were former CEFL members. Two national vice-champion teams were added to membership: Seahawks Gdynia from Poland and Sakarya Tatankalari from Turkey.

CEFL Bowl XIII was again played on the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck on 9 June, where Swarco Raiders defended the title by beating Koç Rams 49–20. CEFL Cup finals took place the following day on the BASK stadium in Belgrade, where Vukovi beat Seahawks 55–41.

The Superfinal game between CEFL and NEFL champions was played on 30 June at Gentofte Sportspark in Copenhagen, where Swarco Raiders beat Copenhagen Towers 45–20 to claim the title.

2019

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This year the organization has surpassed all of its previous seasons. CEFL Championship participants hailed from 7 countries. Five of them were national champions, including the current standing two-time CEFL Bowl winners, and the other 2 were vice-champions. Newcomers from previous season have exited the Championship, and there were 3 new additions. Thonon Black Panthers and Milan Seamen formed the Western Conference together with Swarco Raiders. Calanda Broncos reinforced the Eastern Conference with Kragujevac Wild Boars and Koç Rams, and Panthers Wrocław were relocated to it.

CEFL Cup doubled its membership to eight top-level teams. Previous season's additions have departed, and the newcomers were Italian league finalists Bolzano Giants, Russian champions Moscow Spartans, Romanian champions Bucharest Rebels, and Turkish Istanbul İTÜ Hornets, while Hungarian champions Budapest Wolves and Russian runners-up Moscow Patriots returned to CEFL flock.

CEFL Bowl XIV was played in Chur, Switzerland on 8 June between Calanda Broncos and Swarco Raiders. This very exciting duel went to Swarco Raiders in the final seconds, and they triumphed by 46–42. Another excitement followed a day later in Bolzano Italy, where Moscow Spartans outlasted Bolzano Giants 15–14.

ECTC finals, a successor of the Superfinals, were played at the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck, where two Austrian Football League teams played the final where the Swarco Raiders conquered Vienna Vikings with a 35–10 score.

2020

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In 2020, 12 teams (10 national champions and 2 vice-champions) should have participated in the 15th CEFL season: Swarco Raiders, Vienna Vikings, Calanda Broncos, Wroclaw Panthers, Thonon Black Panthers, Milan Seamen, Copenhagen Towers, Badalona Dracs, Stockholm Mean Machines, Kragujevac Wild Boars, Koc Rams, and Moscow Spartans.[6] The season was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

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After taking 2020 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CEFL announced its return for 2021, with a tournament that, for the first time ever, will feature a team from the German Football League. The tournament was initially supposed to feature 11 teams from 10 countries, including 8 national champions.[7] However, some of the extended pandemic lockdowns have forced some teams to withdraw, and CEFL decided to start the tournament with only 8 teams.[8] The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns won the title in the first year they participated with a last second victory over the Raiders Tirol.

Quarterfinals
15 – 29 May
Semifinals
29 May – 13 June
CEFL Bowl
26 June
      
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 35[A]
  Carlstad Crusaders 0
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns[B] 35
  Calanda Broncos 21
  Calanda Broncos 35[A]
  Fehérvár Enthroners 0
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 22
  Swarco Raiders Tirol 16
  Swarco Raiders Tirol 41
  Milano Seamen 14
  Swarco Raiders Tirol 20
  Vienna Vikings 13
  Vienna Vikings 82
  Kragujevac Wild Boars 7

Source: european-league.com

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Game was cancelled because of travel issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  2. ^ Host changed because of travel issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2022

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On 22 December 2021, the CEFL announced that the 2022 season would expand the cup tournament format to four rounds. Thirteen teams were invited, with nine national champions among the invitations, along with the defending CEFL Champions.[9] The Unicorns defended their title.

First round Second round Semifinals CEFL Bowl XVI
        
  La Courneuve Flash 49
  Badalona Dracs 7
  La Courneuve Flash 45
  Thonon Black Panthers 27
  Las Rozas Black Demons 6
  Thonon Black Panthers 12
  La Courneuve Flash 21
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 35
  Örebro Black Knights 56
  Copenhagen Towers 25
  Örebro Black Knights 7
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 58
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 42
  Parma Panthers 17
  Danube Dragons 35
  Belgrade Vukovi 21
  Danube Dragons 10
  Parma Panthers 21
  Parma Panthers 21
  Calanda Broncos 9
  Moscow Spartans 0
  Budapest Wolves 35[a]
  Budapest Wolves 28
  Calanda Broncos 35
  1. ^ Game canceled due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Wolves advance to the next round

2023

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In the 2023 season, 12 teams entered the competition. With the Kuopio Steelers the first finish team played in the CEFL. The two French clubs Thonon Black Panthers and La Courneuve Flash made it to the final. In the semi finals, the Black Panthers defeated two times titleholder Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, while Flash won over the second participant of last season's bowl game, Parma Panthers. In the CEFL Bowl, Flash succeeded with a 26–21 victory over the national rival.

2024

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In the 2024 season, again 12 teams entered the competition. The British national league had its first representative in the CEFL with the Manchester Titans and an Austrian team returned to the competition after being absent in 2023.[10] The French teams from Thonon and La Courneuve both lost their semi final games against Danube Dragons from Austria and Calanda Broncos from Switzerland. It was the Broncos second appearance in an CEFL Bowl. The Dragons won the CEFL Bowl championship defeating the Broncos 27–14 in Chur, Switzerland.

CEFL Bowls

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Year Host City Home Result Visitor MVP (winning team player)
2006 SELAF Bowl I   Belgrade   Belgrade Vukovi 12–23   Kragujevac Wild Boars Marko Obradović
2007 SELAF Bowl II   Belgrade   Belgrade Vukovi 28–27   Budapest Wolves Pavle Tasić
2008 CEFL Bowl III   Vienna   CNC Gladiators 14–8   Belgrade Vukovi Peter de Gouw
2009 CEFL Bowl IV   Belgrade   Belgrade Vukovi 39–20   Cineplexx Blue Devils Jordan Green
2010 CEFL Bowl V   Ivančna Gorica   Ljubljana Silverhawks 20–42   Belgrade Vukovi Brandon McDowell
2011 CEFL Bowl VI   Budapest   Budapest Wolves 33–34   Belgrade Vukovi Vinnie Miroth
2012 CEFL Bowl VII   Belgrade   Belgrade Vukovi 21–34   Ljubljana Silverhawks Anthony Gardner
2013 CEFL Bowl VIII   Belgrade   Belgrade Vukovi 42–0   Kragujevac Wild Boars Mihailo Josović
2014 CEFL Bowl IX   Ivančna Gorica   Ljubljana Silverhawks 17–27   Belgrade Vukovi Shaun Rutherford
2015 CEFL Bowl X   Novi Sad   Novi Sad Dukes 25–23[11]   Belgrade Vukovi William Powell
2016 CEFL Bowl XI   Graz   Graz Giants 52–49[12]   Belgrade Vukovi Moritz Profant
2017 CEFL Bowl XII   Innsbruck   Swarco Raiders Tirol 55–20[13]   Kragujevac Wild Boars Sean Shelton
2018 CEFL Bowl XIII   Innsbruck   Swarco Raiders Tirol 49–20[14]   Koç Rams Fabian Seeber
2019 CEFL Bowl XIV   Chur   Calanda Broncos 42–46[15]   Swarco Raiders Tirol Darius Saint-Robinson
2021 CEFL Bowl XV   Innsbruck   Swarco Raiders Tirol 16–22   Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Tyler Rutenbeck
2022 CEFL Bowl XVI   Schwäbisch Hall   Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 42–17   Parma Panthers Tyler Rutenbeck
2023 CEFL Bowl XVII   La Courneuve   La Courneuve Flash 26–21   Thonon Black Panthers Angelo Druck
2024 CEFL Bowl XVIII   Chur   Calanda Broncos 14–27[16]   Danube Dragons Paul Schachner[17]

Finalists

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Club Champions Finals Years won
  Belgrade Vukovi 6 11 2007, 2009–2011, 2013, 2014
  Swarco Raiders Tirol 3 4 2017–2019
  Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 2 2 2021, 2022
  Ljubljana Silverhawks 1 3 2012
  Kragujevac Wild Boars 1 3 2006
  Danube Dragons 1 1 2024
  La Courneuve Flash 1 1 2023
  Graz Giants 1 1 2016
  Novi Sad Dukes 1 1 2015
  CNC Gladiators 1 1 2008
  Budapest Wolves 2
   Calanda Broncos 2
  Thonon Black Panthers 1
  Koç Rams 1
  Cineplexx Blue Devils 1

Membership of CEFL Championship

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Team Nat Seasons 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021
SBB Vukovi Beograd   2006–2017
Novi Sad Dukes   2006–2010, 2015–2016
Sirmium Legionaries   2006
Kragujevac Wild Boars   2006–2007, 2013–2014, 2017–present
Ljubljana Silverhawks   2006–2016
Budapest Wolves   2007–2014
CNC Gladiators   2007–2008
Bratislava Monarchs   2008
Budapest Cowbells   2008–2009, 2016–2017
Zagreb Thunder   2008–2009
Cineplexx Blue Devils   2009–2010, 2012, 2015–2016
Istanbul Cavaliers   2011
Zagreb Patriots   2012, 2016
Graz Giants   2016
Alp Devils   2016
Sarajevo Spartans   2016
Domžale Tigers   2016
Inđija Indians   2016
Niš Imperatori   2016
Panthers Wrocław   2017–2019
Swarco Raiders Tirol   2017–2021
Triangle Razorbacks   2017
Koç Rams   2017–2019
Moscow Patriots   2018
Prague Black Panthers   2018
Thonon Black Panthers   2019–present
Milano Seamen   2019–2022
Calanda Broncos   2019–present
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns   2021–present
Vienna Vikings   2021
Carlstad Crusaders   2021
Fehervar Enthroners   2021
  • Note: teams whose names are in bold are current participants.

References

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  1. ^ "CEFL welcomes back the Wild Boars". 19 December 2012.
  2. ^ "SBB Vukovi raise the trophy again". 23 July 2014.
  3. ^ "A dream decade". 21 January 2015.
  4. ^ Top European teams joining CEFL
  5. ^ Constituting CEFL Cup
  6. ^ "European teams' alliance". 8 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Central European Football League set to return in 2021 with Germany added". 28 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Central European Football League goes straight to quarterfinal round". 21 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Central European Football League returns in 2022". American Football International. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  10. ^ "CEFL Championship 2024 announcement". european-league.com. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Dukes take the title in a thriller". 6 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Giant win". 5 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Austria's Swarco Raiders down Kragujevac Wild Boars from Serbia to win CEFL Bowl XII". 11 June 2017.
  14. ^ "CEFL Bowl XIII – Swarco Raiders repeat as champions, beat Turkey's Koc Rams". 12 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Raiders' three-peat in incredible ending". 9 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Calanda Broncos — Danube Dragons Vienna". 22 June 2024.
  17. ^ "CEFL Bowl XVIII Recap: Calanda Broncos – Danube Dragons Vienna". 26 June 2024.
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