European Football League
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 EFL Bowl, which has been held annually since 2014.
EFL
Under the governance of EFAF, comparable with UEFA 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. The final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986.
In 2014, the BIG6 European Football League was introduced as the new top-tier competition of American football in Europe.[1] The EFL continued to be played as a second-tier competition, with its teams playing for the newly created EFL Bowl trophy.[2] The inaugural EFL Bowl was won by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of Germany against Spain's Badalona Dracs on 20 July 2014.[3]
Format
Until 2013, Teams were split into 4 divisions of 3 or 2 teams. In a division of 3 teams played 2 matches, once at home to one opponent and the other away to the other opponent. In a division of 2 teams, each team played each other home and away. The division winners then advanced to the play-offs.
The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. The tournament was 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 faced the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams were be paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners then advanced to the Eurobowl.
With the start of the Big6 in 2014, the format of the EFL changed again. Six teams played in two divisions of three teams. The winners of the groups advanced to the EFL Bowl.
EFL Bowls
For a list of champions by year before 2014, see Eurobowl.
Records and statistics
By club
| Club |
Won |
Runner-up |
Years won† |
Years runner-up† |
 Vikings Vienna | 5 | 5 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 | 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012 |
| Swarco Raiders Tirol | 3 | 1 | 2008, 2009, 2011 | 2013 |
 Bergamo Lions | 3 | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 | 1994, 2004, 2005 |
 Hamburg Blue Devils | 3 | 2 | 1996, 1997, 1998 | 1999, 2000 |
 Amsterdam Crusaders | 2 | 3 | 1991, 1992 | 1988, 1989, 1993 |
| Braunschweig Lions | 2 | 1 | 1999, 2003 | 2002 |
 London Olympians | 2 | 1 | 1993, 1994 | 1995 |
| Berlin Adler | 1 | 2 | 2010 | 1991, 2011 |
| Legnano Frogs | 1 | 1 | 1989 | 1990 |
| Kiel Baltic Hurricanes | 1 | 0 | 2014 | |
 Calanda Broncos | 1 | 0 | 2012 | |
| Düsseldorf Panther | 1 | 0 | 1995 | |
| Manchester Spartans | 1 | 0 | 1990 | |
 Helsinki Roosters | 1 | 0 | 1988 | |
| Taft Vantaa | 1 | 0 | 1986 | |
 La Courneuve Flash | 0 | 3 | | 1998, 2006, 2009 |
- † Listed are Eurobowls from 1986 to 2013 and EFL Bowls from 2014 on.
by country
| Championships |
Country |
Year |
| 8 |
Germany |
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2014 |
| 8 |
Austria |
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
| 4 |
Italy |
1989, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| 3 |
United Kingdom |
1990, 1993, 1994 |
| 2 |
Netherlands |
1991, 1992 |
| 2 |
Finland |
1986, 1988 |
| 1 |
Switzerland |
2012 |
See also
References
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