Champions League Men | 16 May 2017

Vladimir SAMSONOV improves his TTCLM record to 12 titles

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.