First tested for two seasons in the mid-1960s and later adopted to crown continental champions from 1988 onward, the Final Four evokes all the suspense of a do-or-die drama.
Final Four History: All the champions, 1988-2022
For one weekend every year, the eyes of the global basketball community are placed squarely on the Final Four, which has proven itself time and again to be a showcase of the unpredictability, unmatched passion and vibrant color of European basketball. The event has been staged in many of the continent's historic cities, giving fans a combination of superb games and elite culture in one spectacular package.
2022 - Belgrade, Serbia
Champion, Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Final Four MVP, Vasilije Micic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Championship Game, Real Madrid 57-58 Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Third place Game, FC Barcelona 84-74 Olympiacos
Semifinal A, FC Barcelona 83-86 Real Madrid
Semifinal B, Olympiacos Piraeus 74-77 Anadolu Efes Istanbul
2021 - Cologne, Germany
Champion, Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Final Four MVP, Vasilije Micic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Championship Game, FC Barcelona 81-86 Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Third place Game, AX Armani Exchange Milan 83-73 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, FC Barcelona 84-82 AX Armani Exchange Milan
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 86-89 Anadolu Efes Istanbul
2019 - Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Champion, CSKA Moscow
Final Four MVP, Will Clyburn, CSKA Moscow
Championship Game, Anadolu Efes Istanbul 83-91 CSKA Moscow
Third place Game, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 75-94 Real Madrid
Semifinal A, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 73-92 Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 95-90 Real Madrid
2018 - Belgrade, Serbia
Champion, Real Madrid
Final Four MVP, Luka Doncic, Real Madrid
Championship Game, Real Madrid 85-80 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
Third place Game, CSKA Moscow 77-79 Zalgiris Kaunas
Semifinal A, CSKA Moscow 83-92 Real Madrid
Semifinal B, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 76-67 Zalgiris Kaunas
2017 - Istanbul, Turkey
Champion, Fenerbahce Istanbul
Final Four MVP, Ekpe Udoh, Fenerbahce Istanbul
Championship Game, Fenerbahce Istanbul 80-64 Olympiacos Piraeus
Third place Game, Real Madrid 70-94 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, Fenerbahce Istanbul 84-75 Real Madrid
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 78-82 Olympiacos Piraeus
2016 - Berlin, Germany
Champion, CSKA Moscow
Final Four MVP, Nando de Colo, CSKA Moscow
Championship Game, Fenerbahce Istanbul 96-101 CSKA Moscow
Third place Game, Laboral Kutxa Vitoria-Gasteiz 75-85 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
Semifinal A, Fenerbahce Istanbul 88-77 Laboral Kutxa Vitoria-Gasteiz
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 88-81 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
2015 - Madrid, Spain
Champion, Real Madrid
Final Four MVP, Andres Nocioni, Real Madrid
Championship Game, Real Madrid 78-59 Olympiacos Piraeus
Third place Game, Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul 80-86 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, Real Madrid 96-87 Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 68-70 Olympiacos Piraeus
2014 - Milan, Italy
Champion, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Final Four MVP, Tyrese Rice, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Championship Game, Real Madrid 86-98 Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Third place Game, FC Barcelona 93-78 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, FC Barcelona 62-100 Real Madrid
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 67-68 Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
2013 - London, United Kingdom
Champion, Olympiacos Piraeus
Final Four MVP, Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Championship Game, Olympiacos Piraeus 100-88 Real Madrid
Third place Game, CSKA Moscow 74-73 FC Barcelona Regal
Semifinal A, CSKA Moscow 52-69 Olympiacos Piraeus
Semifinal B, FC Barcelona Regal 67-74 Real Madrid
2012 - Istanbul, Turkey
Champion, Olympiacos Piraeus
Final Four MVP, Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Championship Game, CSKA Moscow 61-62 Olympiacos Piraeus
Third place Game, Panathinaikos Athens 69-74 FC Barcelona Regal
Semifinal A, CSKA Moscow 66-64 Panathinaikos Athens
Semifinal B, Olympiacos Piraeus 68-64 FC Barcelona Regal
2011 - Barcelona, Spain
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 70-78 Panathinaikos Athens
Third place Game, Real Madrid 62-80 Montepaschi Siena
Semifinal A, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 82-63 Real Madrid
Semifinal B, Panathinaikos Athens 77-69 Monatepaschi Siena
2010 - Paris, France
Champion, Regal FC Barcelona
Final Four MVP, Juan Carlos Navarro, Regal FC Barcelona
Championship Game, Regal FC Barcelona 86-68 Olympiacos Piraeus
Third place Game, CSKA Moscow 90-88 Partizan Belgrade
Semifinal A, Regal FC Barcelona 64-54 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal B, Partizan Belgrade 80-83 Olympiacos Piraeus
2009 - Berlin, Germany
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Vassilis Spanoulis, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Panathinaikos Athens 73-71 CSKA Moscow
Third place Game, Olympiacos Piraeus 79-95 Regal FC Barcelona
Semifinal A, Olympiacos Piraeus 82-84 Panathinaikos Athens
Semifinal B, Regal FC Barcelona 78-82 CSKA Moscow
2008 - Madrid, Spain
Champion, CSKA Moscow
Final Four MVP, Trajan Langdon, CSKA Moscow
Championship Game, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 77-91 CSKA Moscow
Third place Game, Montepaschi Siena 97-93 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Semifinal A, Montepaschi Siena 85-92 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Semifinal B, Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz 79-83 CSKA Moscow
2007 - Athens, Greece
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Panathinaikos Athens 93-91 CSKA Moscow
Third place Game, Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz 74-76 Unicaja Malaga
Semifinal A, Panathinaikos Athens 67-53 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 62-50 Unicaja Malaga
2006 - Prague, Czech Republic
Champion, CSKA Moscow
Final Four MVP, Theodoros Papaloukas, CSKA Moscow
Championship Game, CSKA Moscow 73-69 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Third place Game, Winterthur FC Barcelona 82-87 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Semifinal A, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 85-70 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Semifinal B, Winterthur FC Barcelona 75-84 CSKA Moscow
2005 - Moscow, Russian Federation
Champion, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Final Four MVP, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Championship Game, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 90-78 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Third place Game, CSKA Moscow 91-94 Panathinaikos Athens
Semifinal A, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 91-82 Panathinaikos Athens
Semifinal B, CSKA Moscow 78-85 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
2004 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Champion, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Final Four MVP, Anthony Parker, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Championship Game, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 118-74 Skipper Fortitudo Bologna
Third place Game, Montepaschi Siena 94-97 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, Montepaschi Siena 102-103 Skipper Fortitudo Bologna
Semifinal B, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 93-85 CSKA Moscow
2003 - Barcelona, Spain
Champion, FC Barcelona
Final Four MVP, Dejan Bodiroga, FC Barcelona
Championship Game, FC Barcelona 76-65 Benetton Treviso
Third place Game, Montepaschi Siena 79-78 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal A, Montepaschi Siena 62-65 Benetton Treviso
Semifinal B, FC Barcelona 76-71 CSKA Moscow
2002 - Bologna, Italy
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Dejan Bodiroga, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Kinder Virtus Bologna 83-89 Panathinaikos Athens
Semifinal A, Benetton Basket 82-90 Kinder Virtus Bologna
Semifinal B, Panathinaikos Athens 83-75 Maccabi Elite
2001 - Bologna, Italy and Vitoria, Spain
Best-of-five Playoff series decided the EuroLeague champ this season
Champion, Kinder Virtus Bologna
Finals MVP, Manu Ginobili, Kinder Virtus Bologna
Game 1, Kinder Virtus Bologna 65-78 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Game 2, Kinder Virtus Bologna 94-73 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
Game 3, Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz 60-80 Kinder Virtus Bologna
Game 4, Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz 96-79 Kinder Virtus Bologna
Game 5, Kinder Virtus Bologna 82-74 Tau Ceramica Vitoria-Gasteiz
2000 - Thessaloniki, Greece
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Zeljko Rebraca, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Pamathinaikos Athens 73-67 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Semifinal, Panathiaikos Athens 81-71 Efes Pilsen Istanbul
Semifinal, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 65-51 FC Barcelona
1999 - Munich, Germany
Champion, Zalgiris Kaunas
Final Four MVP, Tyus Edney, Zalgiris Kaunas
Championship Game, Zalgiris Kaunas 82-74 Kinder Bologna
Semifinal, Kinder Bologna 62-57 TeamSystem Bologna
Semifinal, Zalgiris Kaunas 87-71 Olympiacos Piraeus
1998 - Barcelona, Spain
Champion, Kinder Virtus Bologna
Final Four MVP, Zoran Savic, Kinder Virtus Bologna
Championship Game, Kinder Virtus Bologna 58-44 AEK Athens
Semifinal, Kinder Virtus Bologna 93-61 Partizan Belgrade
Semifinal, AEK Athens 69-66 Benetton Treviso
1997 - Rome, Italy
Champion, Olympiacos Piraeus
Final Four MVP, David Rivers, Olympiacos Piraeus
Championship Game, Olympiacos Piraeus 73-58 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus 74-65 Union Olimpija Ljubljana
Semifinal, FC Barcelona 77-70 ASVEL Lyon
1996 - Paris, France
Champion, Panathinaikos Athens
Final Four MVP, Dominique Wilkins, Panathinaikos Athens
Championship Game, Panathinaikos Athens 67-66 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, Panathinaikos Athens 81-71 CSKA Moscow
Semifinal, FC Barcelona 76-66 Real Madrid
1995 - Zaragoza, Spain
Champion, Real Madrid
Final Four MVP, Arvydas Sabonis, Real Madrid
Championship Game, Real Madrid 73-61 Olympiacos Piraeus
Semifinal, Real Madrid 62-49 Limoges
Semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus 58-52 Panathinaikos Athens
1994 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Champion, Joventut Badalona
Final Four MVP, Zarko Paspalj, Olympiacos Piraeus
Championship Game, Joventut Badalona 59-57 Olympiacos Piraeus
Semifinal, Joventut Badalona 79-65 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus 77-72 Panathinaikos Athens
1993 - Athens, Greece
Champion, Limoges
Final Four MVP, Toni Kukoc, Benetton Treviso
Championship Game, Limoges 59-55 Benetton Treviso
Semifinal, Benetton Treviso 79-77 PAOK Thessaloniki
Semifinal, Limoges 62-52 Real Madrid
1992 - Istanbul, Turkey
Champion, Partizan Belgrade
Final Four MVP, Predrag Danilovic, Partizan Belgrade
Championship Game, Partizan Belgrade 71-70 Joventut Badalona
Semifinal, Joventut Badalona 91-69 Estudiantes Madrid
Semifinal, Partizan Belgrade 82-75 Philips Milan
1991 - Paris, France
Champion, POP 84 Split
Final Four MVP, Toni Kukoc, POP 84 Split
Championship Game, POP 84 Split 70-65 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, POP 84 Split 93-87 Scavolini Pesaro
Semifinal, FC Barcelona 101-67 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
1990 - Zaragoza, Spain
Champion, Jugoplastika Split
Final Four MVP, Toni Kukoc, Jugoplastica Split
Championship Game, Jugoplastica Split 72-67 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, Jugoplastika Split 101-83 Limoges
Semifinal, FC Barcelona 104-83 Aris Thessaloniki
1989 - Munich, Germany
Champion, Jugoplastika Split
Final Four MVP, Dino Radja, Jugoplastica Split
Championship Game, Jugoplastica Split 75-69 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Semifinal, Jugoplastika Split 87-77 FC Barcelona
Semifinal, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 99-86 Aris Thessaloniki
1988 - Ghent, Belgium
Champion, Philips Milan
Final Four MVP, Bob McAdoo, Philips Milan
Championship Game, Philips Milan 90-84 Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Semifinal, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 87-82 Partizan Belgrade
Semifinal, Philips Milan 87-82 Aris Thessaloniki
European Champions 1958 - 1987
1987 Tracer Milan
In Lausanne, Switzerland: Tracer Milan, Italy 71-69 Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Top Scorer: 24 Lee Johnson - Maccabi Tel Aviv , Winning Coach: Dan Peterson
1986 Cibona Zagreb
In Budapest, Hungary: Cibona Zagreb, Yugoslavia 84-82 Zalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania
Top Scorer: 27 Arvydas Sabonis - Zalgiris Kaunas, Winning Coach: Zeljko Pavlicevic
1985 Cibona Zagreb
In Athens, Greece: Cibona Zagreb, Yugoslavia 87-78 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 36 Drazen Petrovic - Cibona Zagreb, Winning Coach: Mirko Novosel
1984 Banco di Roma
In Geneva, Switwerland: Banco di Roma, Italy 79-73 FC Barcelona, Spain
Top Scorer: 31 J.A. San Epifanio - FC Barcelona, Winning Coach: Valerio Bianchini
1983 Ford Cantu
In Grenoble, France: Ford Cantu, Italy 69-68 Billy Milan, Italy
Top Scorer: 18 W. Bryant and A. Riva - Ford Cantu, Winning Coach: Giancarlo Primo
1982 Squibb Cantu
In Cologne, Germany: Squibb Cantu, Italy 86-80 Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Top Scorer: 23 Bruce Flowers - Squibb Cantu, Winning Coach: Valerio Bianchini
1981 Maccabi Tel Aviv
In Strasbourg, France: Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel 80-79 Synudine Bologna, Italy
Top Scorer: 26 Marco Bonamico - Synudine Bologna, Winning Coach: Rudy D'Amico
1980 Real Madrid
In Berlin, Germany: Real Madrid, Spain 89-85 Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Top Scorer: 31 Earl Williams - Maccabi Tel Aviv, Winning Coach: Manolo Sainz
1979 Bosna Sarajevo
In Grenoble, France: Bosna Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 96-93 Emerson Varese, Italy
Top Scorer: 45 Zarko Varajic - Bosna Sarajevo, Winning Coach: Bogdan Tanjevic
1978 Real Madrid
In Munich, Germany: Real Madrid, Spain 75-67 Mobilgirgi Varese, Italy
Top Scorer: 25 Walter Szczerbiak - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Manolo Sainz
1977 Maccabi Tel Aviv
In Belgrade, Yugoslavia: Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel 78-77 Mobilgirgi Varese, Italy
Top Scorer: 26 Jim Boatwright - Maccabi Tel Aviv, Winning Coach: Ralph Klein
1976 Mobilgirgi Varese
In Geneva, Switwerland: Mobilgirgi Varese, Italy 81-74 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 28 Bob Morse - Mobilgirgi Varese, Winning Coach: Sandro Gamba
1975 Ignis Varese
In Anvers, Belgium: Ignis Varese, Italy 79-66 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 30 Bob Morse - Ignis Varese, Winning Coach: Sandro Gamba
1974 Real Madrid
In Nantes, France: Real Madrid, Spain 84-82 Ignis Varese, Italy
Top Scorer: 25 Dino Meneghin - Ignis Varese, Winning Coach: Pedro Ferrandiz
1973 Ignis Varese
In Liege, Belgium: Ignis Varese, Italy 71-66 CSKA Moscow, USSR
Top Scorer: 36 Sergey Belov - CSKA Moscow, Winning Coach: Aza Nikolic
1972 Ignis Varese
In Tel Aviv, Israel: Ignis Varese, Italy 70-69 Jugoplastika Split, Yugoslavia
Top Scorer: 26 Petar Skansi - Jugoplastika Split, Winning Coach: Aza Nikolic
1971 CSKA Moscow
In Antwerp , Belgium: CSKA Moscow, USSR 69-53 Ignis Varese, Italy
Top Scorer: 24 Sergey Belov - CSKA Moscow, Winning Coach: Alexander Gomelski
1970 Ignis Varese
In Sarajevo, Yugoslavia: Ignis Varese, Italy 79-74 CSKA Moscow, USSR
Top Scorer: 21 Sergey Belov - CSKA Moscow, Winning Coach: Aza Nikolic
1969 CSKA Moscow
In Barcelona, Spain: CSKA Moscow, USSR 103-99 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 37 Vladimir Andreev - CSKA Moscow, Winning Coach: Ardenak Alachatchan
1968 Real Madrid
In Lyon, France: Real Madrid, Spain 98-95 Spartak Brno, CSSR
Top Scorer: 26 Miles Ajken - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Pedro Ferrandiz
1967 Real Madrid
In Madrid, Spain: Real Madrid, Spain 91-83 Simmenthal Milan, Italy
Top Scorer: 34 Steve Chubin - Simmenthal Milan, Winning Coach: Pedro Ferrandiz
1966 Simmenthal Milan
In Bologna, Italy: Simmenthal Milan, Italy 77-72 Slavia Prague, CSSR
Top Scorer: 22 Jiri Zidek - Slavia Prague, Winning Coach: Cesare Rubini
1965 Real Madrid
In Moscow/Madrid: Real Madrid, Spain 81-88, 76-62 CSKA Moscow, USSR
Top Scorer: 24.0 Clifford Luyk - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Pedro Ferrandiz
1964 Real Madrid
In Brno/Madrid: Real Madrid, Spain 99-110, 84-64 Spartak Brno, CSSR
Top Scorer: 29.5 Emiliano Rodriguez - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Joaquin Hernandez
1963 CSKA Moscow
In Madrid/Moscow: CSKA Moscow, USSR 69-86, 91-74, 99-80 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 21.0 Emiliano Rodriguez - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Evgeniy Alekseyev
1962 Dinamo Tbilisi
In Geneva, Switzerland: Dinamo Tbilisi, USSR 90-83 Real Madrid, Spain
Top Scorer: 30 Wayne Hightower - Real Madrid, Winning Coach: Otar Korkija
1961 CSKA Moscow
In Riga/Moscow: CSKA Moscow, USSR 87-62, 61-66 ASK Riga, USSR
Top Scorer: 21.5 Viktor Zubkov - CSKA Moscow, Winning Coach: Evgeniy Alekseyev
1960 ASK Riga
In Tbilisi/Riga: ASK Riga, USSR 86-81, 84-71 Diinamo Tbilisi, USSR
Top Scorer: 21.5 Janis Kruminsh - ASK Riga, Winning Coach: Aleksandar Gomelski
1959 ASK Riga
In Riga/Sofia: ASK Riga, USSR 79-58, 69-67 Akademic Sofia, Bulgaria
Top Scorer: 28.0 Janis Kruminsh - ASK Riga, Winning Coach: Aleksandar Gomelski
1958 ASK Riga
In Riga/Sofia: ASK Riga, USSR 86-81, 84-71 Akademic Sofia, Bulgaria
Top Scorer: 19 Viktor Radev - Akademic Sofia, Winning Coach: Aleksandar Gomelski