575 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EUROPEAN WOMEN'S CLUB COMPETITIONS 1958 2024 CLUBS INTRODUCTION CLUBS ARE THE BASIS OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE In many ways, development of talent is unique in Europe. The clubs are an integral part of the European sports model. Developing talent is not only limited to players of all ages and genders, but clubs also develop coaches, referees, and administrators. It was therefore a logical extension of FIBA’s activities, when FIBA’s first Secretary General William Jones created the Men’s European Club Competition’s in 1957 and Women’s European Club Competitions in 1958; having previously organized global and continental championships for national teams. Working out of an 80 sqm office, which he also used as his apartment, Jones only had two staff members, and was equipped with a telephone, a typewriter and a Telex machine! Yet he invited the Champions of National Leagues in Europe and some from North Africa to play in the early editions of the European Cup for Champion Clubs. In this Encyclopedia we list the 664 clubs that participated in European Club Competitions in alphabetical order by Name of the club, Country, Number of wins, Losses andTies, Seasons played, and Competitions played. For the country codes and competition codes used please refer to page 574. TTT Riga, the dominant force in the early years of women's club competitions, won 16 of the first 19 European Cups (1958-1977), including 12 consecutive titles (1964-1975). Pictured: the 1960 championship team, celebrating their first triumph.
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