CEV Cup

The CEV Volleyball Cup is an annual European club competition in men's and women's volleyball, organized by the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV), and positioned as the continent's second-tier club tournament below the elite CEV Champions League Volley while above the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup.^[1][2] Established as a key fixture in the European volleyball calendar, the competition features up to 32 clubs per gender, qualified through national championships, cups, and rankings from CEV's 56 member federations, fostering high-level international play from October to May each season.^[3][4] The tournament follows a knockout format, beginning with qualification rounds and progressing through home-and-away ties in the 1/16 finals, 1/8 finals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and culminating in a final phase typically held in February and March, where matches are played at standard times of 18:00 and 20:30 local time to accommodate broadcasting and fan access.^[4] Notable for crowning competitive champions and providing pathways for emerging clubs, the 2025 edition saw Ziraat Bankkart of Turkey claim the men's title and Igor Gorgonzola Novara of Italy secure the women's crown, highlighting the event's role in elevating national teams through club success ahead of continental events like the CEV EuroVolley.^[2] Broadcast globally via platforms like EuroVolleyTV, the CEV Volleyball Cup underscores the CEV's commitment to promoting volleyball across Europe, with official partners including Mikasa for equipment and Infront for media rights, ensuring wide visibility and professional standards.^[5][6]

Overview

Competition Status

The CEV Cup serves as the second-tier annual competition for men's volleyball clubs in Europe, ranking below the premier CEV Champions League and above the CEV Challenge Cup.^[2] Organized by the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV), it features elite club teams competing for continental prestige and qualification opportunities to higher-level events.^[7] The tournament is exclusively for men's clubs affiliated with one of the CEV's 56 member national federations, drawing participants from across the continent to showcase competitive depth beyond the top division. Up to 32 teams enter the main draw, typically comprising strong performers from national leagues and domestic cups, ensuring a balanced mix of established powerhouses and emerging contenders.^[4][8] Established in 1972 as the CEV Cup Winners' Cup, the competition has been held annually since, with the exception of the 2019–20 season, which was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic by decision of the CEV Board of Administration.^[9] The most recent edition, 2024–25, was won by Turkey's Ziraat Bank Ankara, marking their first European club title.^[2] Over time, the CEV Cup's prestige has evolved from its origins as a contest limited to national cup winners to a more inclusive event open to a wider array of high-ranking teams from domestic championships, broadening its appeal and competitiveness. It has undergone several name changes, including to CEV Top Teams Cup from 2000 to 2007, before adopting its current title in 2007.^[8][10]

Administration

The CEV Cup, officially known as the CEV Volleyball Cup, is administered by the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV), the continental governing body for volleyball in Europe. Headquartered in Luxembourg City, the CEV oversees the organization, scheduling, and execution of the competition, ensuring compliance with its statutes and regulations.^[11][12] The CEV handles all key operational aspects, including the appointment of international referees through its European Refereeing Commission, match scheduling within FIVB-approved calendar periods (such as finals in March and April), and enforcement of rules aligned with the FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028. This alignment ensures standardized play across international volleyball, with CEV supervisors monitoring events for adherence to protocols on player eligibility, uniforms, and technical officiating, including the use of the Challenge System from the quarterfinals onward.^[12][13] Sponsorship for the CEV Cup is primarily managed and funded by the CEV itself, with commercial rights retained by the organization to display approved advertisements while prohibiting betting or gambling branding. As of 2025, there is no major title sponsor for the competition, though occasional partnerships with commercial entities support broader CEV events. Key regulations include match formats following FIVB standards, where semi-finals and finals are contested as home-and-away legs, each played in a best-of-five sets format; additionally, the CEV enforces anti-doping policies in line with the FIVB Medical & Anti-Doping Regulations and WADA Code, requiring players to hold anti-doping education certificates, alongside fair play measures under the CEV Disciplinary Regulations to promote integrity and prevent competition manipulation.^[12][13][14]

History

CEV Cup Winners' Cup (1972–1999)

The CEV Cup Winners' Cup was established in 1972 by the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV) as an annual club competition exclusively for national cup winners from across Europe, providing a dedicated European platform analogous to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in football.^[15] This initiative aimed to foster international competition among top domestic cup champions, filling a gap in the CEV's portfolio of club events alongside the premier European Champions Cup. The tournament quickly gained traction, reflecting the growing organization of volleyball in post-World War II Europe. The inaugural 1972–73 edition adopted a knockout format culminating in a final group stage involving four teams, held in Athens, Greece, from March 16–18, 1973. Zvezda Voroshilovgrad from the Soviet Union emerged as the first champions, defeating Csepel Budapest (Hungary), Levski-Spartak Sofia (Bulgaria), and Ruini Firenze (Italy) to secure the title with an undefeated record.^[16] Subsequent seasons maintained a primarily knockout structure, starting with around 16–20 teams and expanding participation modestly as more national federations joined, though the exact number varied based on entries from CEV member nations. Over its 28 editions from 1972–73 to 1999–2000, the competition showcased a shift from early dominance by Eastern European clubs—such as Radiotechnik Riga's three wins (1973–74, 1974–75, and 1976–77) and Avtomobilist Leningrad's back-to-back titles (1982–83)—to increasing success for Western teams, particularly Italian sides that claimed fourteen victories in the 1980s and 1990s, including Panini Modena in 1980 and 1986.^[17] This evolution highlighted the tournament's role in promoting balanced continental rivalry, with 24 different clubs from 10 countries lifting the trophy by 1999. In 2000, it was restructured and renamed the CEV Top Teams Cup to broaden eligibility beyond strict cup winners.^[15]

CEV Top Teams Cup (2000–2007)

In 2000, the competition underwent a significant rebranding from the CEV Cup Winners' Cup to the CEV Top Teams Cup, shifting its focus to broaden participation beyond solely national cup winners and incorporating high-ranked teams from domestic leagues to foster greater diversity and competitiveness among Europe's top clubs.^[10] This adjustment marked a transitional phase in the tournament's evolution, allowing more clubs from various national rankings to qualify and compete, which helped elevate the overall level of play during its eight editions from the 2000/01 to 2006/07 seasons.^[18] The format saw notable evolution, expanding to include up to 24 teams in certain seasons with the addition of preliminary rounds to accommodate the larger field, while maintaining a knockout structure emphasizing matches between "top teams" selected via national rankings and performance criteria.^[10] This structure encouraged broader representation across CEV member federations, contrasting with the pre-2000 exclusivity limited to cup champions. Key events during this period highlighted increased participation from Western European nations; for instance, Italian clubs gained prominence, with CopraNordMeccanica Piacenza securing the title in the 2005/06 season after a Final Four victory.^[19] Similarly, the 2001/02 edition was won by Knack Randstad Roeselare of Belgium, underscoring the growing influence of clubs beyond Italy in the competition.^[20] The era concluded with the 2006/07 final won by ACH Volley Bled of Slovenia, which faced logistical challenges arising from the expanded participant pool, including scheduling complexities for home-and-away ties across a wider geographic spread.^[10] These adjustments laid the groundwork for the competition's subsequent full openness under its modern CEV Cup branding starting in 2007/08, promoting sustained inclusivity in European club volleyball.^[18]

CEV Cup (2007–present)

The CEV Cup, the second-tier European club volleyball competition for men, was established in its current form through a rebranding in 2007 from the previous CEV Top Teams Cup, marking a shift toward broader accessibility for elite teams. This iteration opened participation to leading clubs from national leagues that failed to qualify for the premier CEV Champions League, fostering greater competition across Europe while maintaining a focus on high-level play. Since its inception, the tournament has featured 18 editions as of the 2024–25 season, with the 2019–20 edition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no winner that year.^[21] Throughout its history, the CEV Cup has showcased dominance by clubs from Italy and Russia, which together account for 11 of the 17 titles awarded since 2007. Italian teams have secured six victories, including recent triumphs by Vero Volley Monza in 2021–22 and Valsa Group Modena in 2022–23, while Russian clubs, including Dinamo Moscow with three titles, Lokomotiv Belgorod, and Belogorie Belgorod, have claimed five. This trend reflects the strength of these nations' domestic leagues in producing competitive rosters, though other countries such as Turkey, France, Poland, and Germany have also lifted the trophy, adding diversity to the winners' list.^[21] Key developments in the modern era include the expansion of digital broadcasting through the CEV's EuroVolley.TV platform, which has increased global accessibility to matches via live streaming and on-demand content, partnering with entities like PowerVolley to reach new audiences on platforms such as YouTube. The 2024–25 season culminated in Ziraat Bank Ankara's maiden title win, defeating Asseco Resovia Rzeszów 3–1 in the second leg of the final after a 3–2 victory in the first leg, securing the overall championship through the home-and-away format. Additionally, the CEV has integrated sustainability efforts into its operations, aligning with broader environmental goals such as those in the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, though specific measures like emission reductions in club travel have been more prominently featured in national and beach volleyball initiatives rather than club competitions.^{[5][22][23][24]}

Format

Qualification

The qualification for the CEV Cup is determined primarily through the performance of clubs in their domestic national leagues and cup competitions, with national federations nominating the highest-ranked teams that did not secure spots in the CEV Champions League, along with national cup winners or runners-up where applicable.^[12] This process ensures that the competition features strong contenders from across Europe, prioritizing those who excel nationally but fall short of the elite Champions League tier.^[12] The CEV allocates participation slots to national federations based on their clubs' results in the previous three seasons of European competitions, as reflected in the CEV European Ranking system, which awards bonus points for advancing rounds and competition points for match outcomes.^[12] Each federation is limited to a maximum of five clubs per gender across all three European club competitions (Champions League, Volleyball Cup, and Challenge Cup), with slots filled hierarchically starting with the Champions League.^[12] Strong volleyball nations, such as Italy and Poland, typically receive 3–4 direct spots in the CEV Cup, while smaller nations are allotted 1 spot each; the host country for the final stages also benefits from a wild card entry that does not count toward its quota.^[12] National federations handle nominations by submitting club applications via the official CEV 01 form, accompanied by a 100 Euro registration fee, in line with deadlines specified in the CEV's annual Official Communications.^[12] The CEV then verifies and confirms the participants using its updated ranking system, ensuring compliance with player eligibility rules, including national licenses, exclusive club associations, and international transfer certificates for foreign players.^[12] For the 2024–25 season, this resulted in approximately 8 direct qualifiers from major nations, alongside additional entries from various European federations.^[12] Special provisions allow for the redirection of teams eliminated from the Champions League group stage or qualification rounds into the CEV Cup, provided slots remain available within their federation's quota.^[12] Players from such redirected teams may also transfer to CEV Cup clubs under emergency rules, subject to CEV approval and fees, while all participants must adhere to medical, anti-doping, and preliminary inquiry requirements.^[12]

Tournament Structure

The CEV Volleyball Cup features a main draw of 32 teams per gender, structured as a single-elimination tournament.^[25] A preliminary round may be included if registrations exceed capacity, consisting of single-match knockouts to reduce the field to 32 teams.^[12] The main phase begins with the round of 32 (1/16 finals), followed by the round of 16 (1/8 finals), quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, all played as two-legged ties on a home-and-away basis.^[4] Winners advance based on aggregate score across the two matches; if tied, a golden set to 15 points (win by two) is played immediately after the second leg to determine the qualifier.^[12] The competition typically runs from October to April, aligning with the European club season, though the final phase may extend into May.^[26] For the 2024–25 season, the men's final was hosted in Ankara, Turkey, for the second leg, providing a home advantage to Ziraat Bankkart.^[27] Prize money totals €80,000 for the winners, with distributions scaling down for runners-up (€60,000) and semifinalists (€30,000 each) as of the 2025–26 season.^[25]

Records and Achievements

Title Holders

The CEV Cup, encompassing its predecessor competitions, has seen a total of 52 editions completed as of the 2024–25 season, with one cancellation in 2019–20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italian clubs have dominated the title holders, securing 21 victories overall, including 12 during the 1980s and 1990s eras of the CEV Cup Winners' Cup. Recent seasons have shown a shift in dominance, particularly following the 2022 sanctions against Russian clubs, which excluded them from CEV competitions and opened opportunities for teams from Turkey, Poland, and other nations.^[21] Finals are typically played over two legs, with the winner determined by aggregate sets; scores below refer to the second leg unless noted otherwise. The following table lists all title holders chronologically, including runners-up and final scores where documented in official records. Final locations have varied across Europe, often hosted by the winner's home arena for the second leg, such as Podpromie Arena in Rzeszów for the 2023–24 final and TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall in Ankara for 2024–25.^[21][28][23]

Titles by Club

The CEV Cup, including its predecessors the CEV Cup Winners' Cup (1972–2000) and CEV Top Teams Cup (2000–2007), has seen a select group of clubs achieve multiple victories, underscoring the competition's emphasis on consistent European excellence among elite teams. Italian clubs have historically dominated, reflecting the depth of the nation's volleyball infrastructure, while Russian squads have mounted strong challenges in both early and contemporary eras. No club has secured more than three consecutive titles, with the record shared by Panvini Parma (1987–90) and a few others holding two in a row. Modena Volley holds the joint-record of four titles, won across four decades: 1979–80, 1985–86, 1994–95, and 2022–23, marking their versatility from the competition's formative years to its modern professional format. VC Dynamo Moscow matches this haul with wins in 1984–85, 2011–12, 2014–15, and 2020–21, showcasing a revival under post-Soviet structures that propelled them to repeated finals appearances. Other prominent multiple winners include Panvini Parma (three titles: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90), Piemonte Volley Cuneo (three: 1996–97, 1997–98, 2009–10), and Radiotechnik Riga (three: 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77), each capitalizing on national league strengths during key periods of expansion. Eleven clubs have won at least two titles as of the 2024–25 season, when Ziraat Bankkart Ankara secured its maiden victory by defeating Asseco Resovia Rzeszów 3–2 and 3–1 across the final legs, emerging as a rising force from Turkey's competitive domestic scene. This distribution highlights the competition's evolution, from Eastern European influences in the 1970s–80s to a broader Western European and Italian core by the 1990s–2000s, and renewed diversity in the 2010s–20s.

Titles by Country

Italy has dominated the CEV Cup across its history, accumulating 21 titles since the competition's inception in 1972 under its various names, far surpassing other nations. Clubs from Russia and the former Soviet Union hold a combined 12 titles, reflecting strong Eastern European influence, particularly in the early decades. Other notable performers include France with 4 titles and Greece and Turkey with 2 each, while a total of 14 nations have claimed at least one title. This distribution highlights Italy's sustained excellence, contrasted with the Soviet Union's early prowess and a broadening of success to Western and other European countries since 2000.^[10][17] During the CEV Cup Winners' Cup era (1972–1999), Italian clubs rose to prominence, especially after 1990, securing 11 of the 13 titles in that decade and a total of 14 overall, fueled by the strength of Serie A leagues and clubs like Maxicono Parma and Sisley Treviso. The Soviet Union won 7 titles in this period, with victories concentrated in the 1970s and 1980s through teams such as Radiotechnik Riga, underscoring the era's East-West rivalry. Smaller nations like Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and Romania each claimed one title, adding diversity to the early competitions.^[17] The transition to the CEV Top Teams Cup (2000–2007) marked increased geographical spread, as seven different countries won the seven editions, including Italy's lone success with CopraNordMeccanica Piacenza in 2006 and debuts for Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Greece, and Slovenia. This era reflected growing competitiveness beyond traditional powerhouses.^[10] In the modern CEV Cup era (2007–present), Italy has continued its dominance with 6 titles, while Russia added 5, including wins by Dinamo Moscow and Belogorie Belgorod. France secured 2 (Paris Volley in 2013–14 and Tours VB in 2016–17, following earlier successes), and Turkey emerged with 2 victories (Halkbank Ankara in 2013 and Ziraat Bankkart Ankara in 2025), signaling the rise of Turkish volleyball. Western European growth is evident through single titles for Germany (Berlin Recycling Volleys in 2016) and Poland (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów in 2024). Russian clubs' last title came in 2021 amid international sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leading to their exclusion from CEV competitions thereafter and shifting opportunities to other nations.^[10]