The Dr. Mário Mexia Multi-Sports Pavilion, in Coimbra, will be the European hub for rink hockey between 6 and 10 May, as it hosts, for the first time in this format, the men’s and women’s WSE Champions League finals simultaneously, bringing together the Men’s Final Eight and the Women’s Final Four on the same stage.
Between May 6 and 10, the Mário Mexia Pavilion, in the city of Coimbra, will be the decision-making hub of the WSE Champions League in rink hockey, simultaneously hosting the men’s and women’s final stages of Europe’s premier club competition, bringing both title deciders together in the same venue and within the same competitive period.
Inaugurated in 2005, with a capacity of 2,239 spectators, the Dr. Mário Mexia Pavilion will be the setting for a historic moment in the sport, hosting these two competitions in parallel for the first time.
In the men’s competition, the Final Eight format returns, bringing the eight best European clubs together in a single venue, following the format used in 2022/23 in Viana do Castelo, which was won by FC Porto.
Last season, the title was claimed by Óquei Clube de Barcelos, who defeated FC Porto in a penalty shoot-out final held at the Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos.
Historically, the most successful club in the competition is FC Barcelona, with 22 titles, followed by Reus Deportiu (8), HC Liceo (6), Igualada HC (6), Sporting CP (4), CP Voltregà (3), FC Porto (3), Óquei Clube de Barcelos (2), SL Benfica (2), CE Noia (1), Hockey Trissino (1) and Follonica Hockey (1).
In the women’s competition, the Final Four format is maintained. The most recent champion is HC Palau i Plegamans, who defeated Gijón HC 1-0 in the final held in Palau-solità i Plegamans.
In the competition’s roll of honour, Gijón HC (6 titles) and CP Voltregà (6) stand out, followed by HC Palau i Plegamans (3). Other winners with one title each are CP Fraga, SL Benfica and CP Alcorcón.
The organisation and production of the event are the responsibility of Sigma Stars, in partnership with World Skate Europe Rink Hockey – the body overseeing the competition at European level – and the Coimbra City Council.
