European Football League

The European Football League (EFL) established in 1986, was a tournament for the best European American football teams affiliated to IFAF (International Federation of American Football - Europe), which replaced the European Federation of American Football (EFAF) in 2014.

Until 2013, the final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986. In 2014, the EFL was replaced as Europe's top-tier club competition by the new BIG6 European Football League and the EFL Bowl was introduced as the new final game of the EFL. The 2018 EFL season was the last edition of the tournament.

EFL Under the governance of EFAF, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in annual competitions. Until 2013, the EFL was the first-tier competition for American football clubs in Europe. EFAF determined the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocated teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations took part. National league champions, runners-up or teams with international success were eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues could 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.BIG6 European Football League starts 2014 www.eurobowl.com, published: 20 November 2013, accessed: 5 December 2013 The EFL continued to be played as a second-tier competition, with its teams playing for the newly created EFL Bowl trophy.EFL 2014 teams announced www.efaf.info, published: 11 February 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014 The inaugural EFL Bowl was won by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of Germany against Spain's Badalona Dracs on 20 July 2014.Kiel Baltic Hurricanes win EFL Bowl I! www.efaf.info, published: 20 July 2014, accessed: 14 October 2014

From 2017 on, the EFL Bowl winners may play a relegation game against the last placed team of the BIG6, and be promoted to the BIG6 if they win.Regulations for Club-Team Competitions eurobowl.efaf.info, published: 15 October 2016, accessed: 2 November 2016 This relegation game never happened.

Rosters Every team in the European Football League had to publish its 60-man roster. After that no player can be added. Every game day the teams have to nominate an EFAF active game day roster, which is limited to 45 players with a maximum of 3 active Americans as defined USA, Canadian, Mexican or Japanese passport holders. These three players may all be on the field at the same time.

Format Until 2013, EFL 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 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.

GameYearDateCityWinnersScoRunners-upAttendanceMVP I 201419 July 2014EFL Bowl I am 19.07.2014 in Kiel www.efaf.info, published: 6 July 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014 Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 40–0 Badalona Dracs 2,104 Garrett Andrews (KBH) II 201527 June 2015EFL Bowl II on June 27, 2015 at Kiel www.efaf.info, published: 3 June 2015, accessed: 21 June 2015 Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 49–28 Allgäu Comets 1,752 III 2016 11 June 2016Frankfurt zieht ins Finale ein und richtet EFL-Bowl aus www.eurobowl.info, published: 29 May 2016, accessed: 30 May 2016 Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt Universe 35–21 Amsterdam Crusaders 6,056Samsung Frankfurt Universe ist EFL-Champion www.frankfurt-universe.de, published: 11 June 2016, accessed: 23 November 2016 Jesse Lewis (FU) IV 2017 10 June 2017EFL-Bowl: Thonon Black Panthers receive Rhinos Milano www.eurobowl.info, published: 7 June 2017, accessed: 11 June 2017 Thonon-les-Bains, France Thonon Black Panthers 29–20 Rhinos Milano 2,500 Stephen Yepmo (TBP) V 2018 9 June 2018 Sesto San Giovanni, Italy Potsdam Royals 43–42 Seamen Milano 2,500 Kahlif Rector (SM)

Records and statistics By club

ClubWonRunner-upYears won†Years runner-up† Vikings Vienna55 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012 Swarco Raiders Tirol31 2008, 2009, 2011 2013 Bergamo Lions33 2000, 2001, 2002 1994, 2004, 2005 Hamburg Blue Devils32 1996, 1997, 1998 1999, 2000 Amsterdam Crusaders24 1991, 1992 1988, 1989, 1993, 2016 Braunschweig Lions21 1999, 2003 2002 London Olympians21 1993, 1994 1995 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes20 2014, 2015 Berlin Adler12 2010 1991, 2011 Legnano Frogs11 1989 1990 Potsdam Royals 1 0 2018 Thonon Black Panthers10 2017 Frankfurt Universe10 2016 Calanda Broncos10 2012 Düsseldorf Panther10 1995 Manchester Spartans10 1990 Helsinki Roosters10 1988 Taft Vantaa10 1986 La Courneuve Flash03 1998, 2006, 2009 Badalona Dracs01 2014

† Listed are Eurobowls from 1986 to 2013 and EFL Bowls from 2014 on.

By country ChampionshipsCountryYear 11 Germany 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 20188 Austria2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 20134 Italy1989, 2000, 2001, 20023 United Kingdom1990, 1993, 19942 Netherlands1991, 19922 Finland1986, 19881 France20171 Switzerland2012

European Football League

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