With the start of the American football season in Europe around the corner, let’s take a look back at the winners of the various league titles in 2022.
We have listed a total of 22 league champions, and we are aware there are a couple missing for a variety of reasons. However, the winners presented below give a pretty good indication that the game is growing in popularity and quality.
Click on the links where available for a recap of each championship game.
Austria – Danube Dragons
Photo: Alexander Forst
For the first time since 2010, the Danube Dragons hoisted the Austrian Bowl trophy, after capturing the Austrian championship by beating the Dacia Vienna Vikings 51-29 in the title game to cap an unbeaten season.
BNL – Amsterdam Crusaders
Photo: Bob de Calonne
Holland’s Amsterdam Crusaders defeated the Limburg Shotguns from Belgium 38-26 to win the BNL title in the inaugural season for the new league.
CEFL Bowl – Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
Photo: Sarah Philipp
The Unicorns spotted Italy’s Parma Panthers a touchdown before taking full control of CEFL Bowl XVI and rolling over the Panthers 42-17 to win their second straight CEFL Bowl title.
CEFL Cup – Fehervar Enthroners
Photo: Kutasi Petra
Hungarian champions, the Fehervar Enthroners jumped out to an early 10-0 lead over the Prague Lions, Czech league title holders, in the CEFL Cup tournament championship game and then held on in a see saw battle to finally defeat the Lions 24-20 in front of a cheering home crowd.
Czech Republic – Prague Lions
Czech champions Photo: Jakub Pláteník
The Prague Lions defeated the Vysocina Gladiators 35-29 to win their second Czech title since 2019 and avenge a 23-0 blanking in the 2021 championship game to the Gladiators.
Denmark – Copenhagen Towers
Photo: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo
The Copenhagen Towers defeated the Søllerød Gold Diggers 32-17 to capture their second straight Mermaid Bowl title and sixth in the past decade.
European League of Football
Photo: Sarah Philipp
In their first season in the ELF, the Vienna Vikings proved their years of success in the Austrian Football League were well deserved after winning the European League of Football title, defeating the Hamburg Sea Devils 27-15 in the championship game.
Finland – Kuopio Steelers
Photo: Jari Turunen
The Kuopio Steelers continued their Maple League dominance, beating the Seinäjoki Crocodiles 21-14 for their 3rd straight Maple Bowl title. The Steelers had dominated the regular season in Finland and finished the year with an unbeaten 14-0 record.
France – La Courneuve Flash
The La Courneuve Flash were without a doubt the best team in France in 2022. After a 9-1 regular season in league play, they won the FFFA title by defeating the Thonon–les–bains Black Panthers in the championship game. They had beaten the Black Panthers twice during the regular season and did enough in the title game to hoist the trophy.
Germany – Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
Photo: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns found themselves at the top of the mountain once again in 2022 after defeating the previously unbeaten Potsdam Royals 44-27 at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park in front of 9,000 fans in German Bowl XLIII.
Great Britain – Manchester Titans
Photo: Manchester Titans
The Manchester Titans beat the London Warriors 37-7 to win their first ever British title. The Titans were able to throw the ball well all season knocking off the powerhouse London Warriors in the Brit Bowl championship.
Holland – Amsterdam Crusaders
Photo: Bob de Calonne
The Crusaders captured their 21st Dutch title on July 3 when they rolled over the 010 Trojans 50-0.
Hungary – Fehervar Enthroners
Photo: Tenk Laszlo
The Fehervar Enthroners beat the Budapest Wolves 31-24 to win the Hungarian Bowl to regain the throne after being upset in the 2021 final by the Wolves. The Enthroners had a magnificent season both home and abroad winning the Hungarian Title, CEFL Cup, and the Austrian League’s first division to finish with an impressive 16-0 record.
Ireland – University College Dublin
Photo Paul Mcilwaine Sports Photography
University College Dublin captured their first ever Irish title with a 52-24 drubbing of the Dublin Rebels.
Italy – Firenze Guelfi
Photo: Guelfi Firenze
The Firenze Guelfi defeated the Milano Seamen 21-17 and hoisted the Italian Bowl trophy for the first time in Florence’s football history. The win avenged a regular season loss to Milano and an embarrassing drubbing in the 2019 Italian Bowl at the hands of the Seamen.
Norway – Eidsvoll 1814s
Photo: Eidsvoll 1814’s
The Eidsvoll 1814s pulled off the upset in Norway after defeating heavy favorites, the Oslo Vikings 35-28 in the Norwegian title game. Eidsvoll had lost twice to the Vikings during the regular season.
Poland – Bialystok Lowlanders
Photo: Bialystok Lowlanders
The Bialystok Lowlanders took care of business this year defeating the Krakow Kings 21-20 in the Polish Bowl. After losing to Krakow during the regular season the Lowlanders and coach Troy Baker and quarterback Nick Rooney were able to pull off the upset and defeat the Kings in the championship game.
Portugal – Cascais Crusaders
Photo: Cascais Crusaders
The Cascais Crusaders won their first ever Portuguese title by beating the Lisboa Devils 36-20 in the championship final.
Serbia – Vukovi Belgrade
Photo: SBB Vukovi Beograd
The Vukovi Beograd captured their third consecutive Serbian title and 10th since 2008 by beating the Kragujevac Wild Boars 24-17.
Spain – Osos Rivas
Photo: Lola Morales
Madrid’s Osos Rivas won the 2022 Spanish National League of American Football title in delayed fashion beating the Las Rozas Black Demons 28-12. This was the first title for Osos since 2001 and marked the end of an undefeated season.
Sweden – Stockholm Mean Machines
Photo: Stefan Akander
The unbeaten Stockholm Mean Machines were simply too much for the Örebro Black Knights in the Swedish Superserien Championship Game, dominating the second-place team from the opening whistle and rolling to a 52-8 blowout win.
Switzerland – Bern Grizzlies
Bern Grizzlies celebrate after winning Swiss Bowl Photo: Bianca Wüthrich
The Bern Grizzlies scored 12 unanswered fourth quarter points to come from behind to edge the Calanda Broncos 26-22 to capture their first Swiss title since 2016.
Romania – Bucharest Rebels
The Bucharest Rebels won their third straight Ro–Bowl title this fall defeating the Mures Monsters 48-28 capping off a undefeated season. The Romanian powerhouse is seemly looking to expand it international schedule playing in the Balkans Football League and scheduling a game against the Reykjavik Einherjar. All while still dominating the domestic scene in Romania.
Turkey – Borzazici Sultans
The Borzazici Sultans regained the throne in Turkey by defeating the Koc Istanbul Rams 17-14 in the championship game.