The European Club Championships (ECC) is a celebration of 65 years of European judo tradition. Since the 1960s, the event has brought together the continent’s strongest clubs, with legendary cities like Paris, Abensberg, Haarlem, and Moscow playing host. Since 1997, women’s teams have joined the ranks, and since 2010, the format has been centralised, bringing Europe’s finest under one roof. From the Golden League to the Champions League since 2018, this prestigious tournament has stood as the ultimate test of club judo excellence.
The Serbian capital has already carved its name into ECC history. In 2016, Belgrade staged the Championships, while Red Star Belgrade proudly claimed Champions League bronze medals in both 2018 and 2019. Most recently, the city hosted the 2023 Champions League, delivering a thrilling showcase of Europe’s top men’s and women’s teams before Montpellier carried the torch in 2024. Now, the event returns to Belgrade, where judo passion runs high and the city’s energy will once again create the perfect backdrop for Europe’s leading clubs to battle for continental glory.
The preparations are in full swing and to guarantee a world-class event, the EJU delegation carried out a detailed visit to Belgrade from 14–16 September 2025. The team, led by EJU Vice President, Catarina Rodrigues; Head of Event Management and Broadcasting, Janity Tibor, and Assistant to President, Tóth Fanni, reviewed every aspect of the organisation alongside the Serbian Judo Federation.
The programme included visits to the official hotels (Hilton and Moxy), an inspection of the Aleksandar Nikolić Hall, which has hosted major judo events including World Championships in the 1989, and meetings with the Local Organising Committee to fine-tune areas such as sports operations, accreditation, transfers, and IT systems.
Rodrigues shared her confidence following the visit:
“Overall, all went well. We are building on the experience of 2023 and improving details to make this edition even stronger. Belgrade has the expertise, the passion, and the facilities to effectively host this European Club Championships.”
The 2025 ECC is a championships worth waiting for. It promises to bring together Europe’s finest clubs and athletes in an atmosphere of tradition, rivalry, and excitement. With the rules already communicated to national federations and preparations progressing steadily, we are moving closer to full readiness for 22 November 2025.
Author: Szandra Szogedi