Great Belarus proved his nickname “Mr. TTCM” winning his fourth title with Russian Fakel Gazprom Orenburg
Vladimir SAMSONOV has improved his individual TTCLM record in the just finished 2016/17 season winning his 12th title with Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. In fact he lifted his fourth trophy with Russian club but 12th in total.
The 41-year-old Belarus commenced his winning run in the 1998/99 season wearing Borussia Dusseldorf`s jersey the club he beat in the most recent TTCLM final. He won three titles with the best German club (1997 1998 2000) five with Belgian La Villete Charleroi (2001 2002 2003 2004 2007) and four with Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (2012 2013 2015 2017).
SAMSONOV now has three titles more than his former team mate German legend Jorg ROSSKOPF who conquered TTCLM seven times with Borussia (1989 1991 1992 1993 1997 1998 2000) and two times with TTV Re-Bau Gonnern (2005 2006). Regarding last two decades Jean-Michel SAIVE (also ex team mate of Belarus) won six titles with La Villete Charleroi (1994 1996 2001 2002 2003 2004) while two German players have five each: Timo BOLL (2005 2006 – Gonnern 2009 2010 2011 – Borussia) and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (2009 – Bourssia 2012 2013 2015 2017 – Orenburg).
Concerning Champions Leagues in all sports one of the most successful athlete ever was Soviet Union women`s basketball player Uljana SEMJONOVA (217 cm) who hold Champions League’s record in both competitions (man and women) for more than three decades. SEMJONOVA took her last 11th title 35 years ago playing for Latvian TTT Riga. Italian basketball legend Dino MENEGHIN is the most successful player in men`s competition (7 titles – 5 with Varese and 2 with Milano) while Spanish handball goalkeeper David BARUFFET won all his seven crowns with FC Barcelona. Football’s best is Real Madrid`s legend Francisco GENTO who got six titles from 1956 to 1966.
