The 2023 Champions of the European leagues and how they won.
As the 2024 American football season in Europe is about to get underway, let’s take a look back at the winners of the various league titles in 2023.
We have listed a total of 25 league/cup 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 thriving throughout Europe.
Click on the links where available for a recap of each championship game.
Austria – Danube Dragons
The Danube Dragons defeated the Vienna Vikings 14-13 to capture the 2023 Austrian Bowl, their second straight title and third overall (2010, 2022 and 2023).
Balkan League – Belgrade Blue Dragons
The Belgrade Blue Dragons (Serbia) downed the Sarajevo Spartans (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 27-10 to come out winners of the Balkan League.
BNL – Amsterdam Crusaders
Central European Football League (CEFL) – La Courneuve Flash
The La Courneuve Flash defeated the Thonon Black Panthers in a hard fought battle 26-21 to walk away as the 2023 CEFL Champions.
CEFL Cup – Kragujevac Wild Boars
The Kragujevac Wild Boars scored the winning touchdowns with 10 seconds left to defeat the Budapest Wolves 51-45 and win the 2023 CEFL Cup Final.
Czech Republic – Vysočina Gladiators
The Vysocina Gladiators defeated the previously unbeaten Ostrava Steelers 42-28 to capture the Czech title.
Denmark – Copenhagen Towers
The Copenhagen Towers rolled over the Søllerød Gold Diggers 50-36 to capture their 10th Danish title and second in a row.
ELF – Rhein Fire
Finland – Porvoon Butchers
The Porvoon Butchers dominated the Seinäjoki Crocodiles 27-7 to capture their seventh Finnish title.
France – Thonon Black Panthers
The Thonon Black Panthers defeated the Marseilles Blue Stars 35-18 to capture the French championship.
Germany – Potsdam Royals
Great Britain – Manchester Titans
Hungary – Budapest Wolves
The Budapest Wolves downed the Ujpest Bulldogs 49-28 to win their ninth Hungarian title.
Italy – Parma Panthers
The underdog Parma Panthers defeated the Firenze Guelfi 29-13 to capture the 2024 Italian Bowl played in Toledo, Ohio.
Ireland – Dublin Rebels
The Dublin Rebels defeated University College Dublin 40-34 to win the 2023 Shamrock Bowl.
Lithuania – Kaunas Dukes
The Kaunas Dukes defeated the Vilnius Iron Wolves 28-20 to win the Lithuanian title.
Norway – Oslo Vikings
Netherlands – Lightning Leiden
The Lightning Leiden needed a late fourth quarter touchdowns to get by the Lelystad Commanders 14-9 to win the championship in the Netherlands.
Poland – Bialystok Lowlanders
Portugal – Cascais Crusaders
The Cascais Crusaders defeated the Lisboa Devils 27-21 to capture their second Portuguese title.
Romania – Bucharest Rebels
The Bucharest Rebels beat the Resita Locomotives 34-28 in the 2024 Romanian Bowl.
Serbia – Kragujevac Wild Boars
The Kragujevac Wild Boars rolled over arch rivals, Vukovi Belgrade, beating them 48-7 to win the 2023 Serbian Bowl.
Spain – Las Rozas Black Demons
The Las Rozas Black Demons captured their first ever Spanish title by downing the Osos Rivas 22-13.
Sweden – Stockholm Mean Machines
The Stockholm Mean Machines defeated the Tyresö Royal Crowns 55-35 to win their second straight Swedish title and 13th overall.
Switzerland – Calanda Broncos
The Calanda Broncos Defeated the Thun Tigers 53-21 to capture the 2023 Swiss Bowl.