25 years since Portland San Antonio once again placed ASOBAL handball at the top of Europe.

ASOBAL handball and its legacy celebrate this Tuesday the 25º anniversary of the conquest of the European Cup by Portland San Antonio, which on April 28, 2001, brought to the top of the old continent the seal of the elite of Spanish men's handball clubs. A milestone that is part of the history of today's professional competition, positioned among the best in Europe, with a long history and collection of national and international successes.

Among them is that of Portland San Antonio, one of the most awarded clubs in the history of ASOBAL, League champion in 2002 and 2005; of the ASOBAL Super Cup in the editions of 2002, 2003, and 2006; of the King's Cup in 1999 and 2001 and of two European Cups Winners' Cup (2000 and 2004), beyond two more runner-ups in the now Champions League. The victory in the 2001 European final against Barça, another flagship of the competition, was one of the first golden pages in the Navarrese club and an achievement of international magnitude, demonstrating the potential of ASOBAL, transferring its equality and talent to the best courts of the old continent.

An award that rewarded a legendary team coached by Zupo Equisoain, an institution of the national circuit, with players of the stature of the members and nominees to the ASOBAL Hall of Fame such as José Javier Hombrados or Mateo Garralda, in addition to illustrious names such as Jackson Richardson, Oleg Kisselev, Mikhail Iakimovich, Xabier Mikel Errekondo, or Fernando Barbeito. The Pamplona team made good the result of the first leg (30-24) in the final tie to defeat Barça. The second assault at the Palau Blaugrana served as an example and radiograph of what was and is the NEXUS ENERGY ASOBAL League, from the maximum competitiveness and the ability to generate idols cyclically. After an equal match, with the Blaugranas leading the scoreboard, a final goal by Olalla certified the title of Portland San Antonio.

Europe, at the rhythm of the successes of the ASOBAL clubs

The one of Portland is one of the many success stories of ASOBAL handball in Europe. A total of five teams lifted the Champions League: the aforementioned Pamplonans, Elgorriaga Bidasoa, Teka Cantabria, BM. Ciudad Real and Barça, which has maintained its excellence until these last seasons, reaching the glory with the current 'Final Four' format that is held annually at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. The project currently led by Carlos Ortega is, in fact, the king of kings on the continental plane, being the team that has lifted the Champions League title the most times in the modern era.

The collection of titles of the ASOBAL clubs remains in the rest of continental tournaments such as the old Winners' Cup or the now called European League, conquered by clubs like BM. Granollers, Ademar León, BM. Valladolid, Club Balonmano Alicante, C.B. Alzira and the aforementioned Barça, Cantabria, Bidasoa, and Ciudad Real. A path of titles and reign of the NEXUS ENERGY ASOBAL League, second national competition with the most points in the last ranking prepared by the European Handball Federation (EHF), which takes into account the performance of the clubs in the competitions of the old continent during the seasons 2023/2024, 2022/2023, and 2021/2022. ASOBAL occupies the second position with 273.33 points accumulated by its clubs, only behind the German Bundesliga that leads the table with 328 points and ahead of Poland (212.66), France (206.33), Denmark (202.33), Hungary (201.33), and Portugal (143.67).