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Central European Football League

Current season, competition or edition: 2024
Formerly	Southeast European League of American Football (SELAF)
Sport	American Football
Founded	2005; 19 years ago (2005)
First season	2006
No. of teams	13
Country	Europe Formerly:  Serbia  Slovenia  Hungary  Austria  Slovakia  Turkey  Croatia  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Most recent champion(s)	Danube Dragons (2024)
Most titles	Belgrade Vukovi (6 titles)
TV partner(s)	Sport Klub
Official website	european-league.com

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.

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

2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 2013, the league has seen the return of one of its original teams, Kragujevac Wild Boars. 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

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.

2015

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.

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

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

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:

• Western Conference: Triangle Razorbacks, Panthers Wrocław, Swarco Raiders Tirol
• Eastern Conference: SBB Vukovi Beograd, Kragujevac Wild Boars, Budapest Cowbells, Koç Rams

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

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

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

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

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. The season was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

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. However, some of the extended pandemic lockdowns have forced some teams to withdraw, and CEFL decided to start the tournament with only 8 teams. 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
	Carlstad Crusaders	0
					Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns	35
					Calanda Broncos	21
	Calanda Broncos	35
	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

1. ^ 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

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. 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
					Budapest Wolves	28
					Calanda Broncos	35

1. Game canceled due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Wolves advance to the next round

2023

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

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. 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

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	Belgrade Vukovi	William Powell
2016	CEFL Bowl XI	Graz	Graz Giants	52–49	Belgrade Vukovi	Moritz Profant
2017	CEFL Bowl XII	Innsbruck	Swarco Raiders Tirol	55–20	Kragujevac Wild Boars	Sean Shelton
2018	CEFL Bowl XIII	Innsbruck	Swarco Raiders Tirol	49–20	Koç Rams	Fabian Seeber
2019	CEFL Bowl XIV	Chur	Calanda Broncos	42–46	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	Danube Dragons	Paul Schachner

Finalists

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

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

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.

External links

• Central European Football League

• American football leagues in Europe
• 2005 establishments in Europe
• Sports leagues established in 2005