National Champions in Europe

SBSP wrote:What leagues are not decided?

Weather130 wrote:

SBSP wrote:What leagues are not decided?

French league, Swiss league, Turkish league, Bulgarian league, Czech league, Austrian league, Slovak league, Serbian league, Bosnian league, Slovenian league, Montenergo league, and San Marino league

LOSC Lille Métropole coach Rudi Garcia is still waiting for his team's achievements to "sink in" after they completed a league and cup double by wrapping up the Ligue 1 title.


LOSC Lille Métropole coach Rudi Garcia said his team's achievements have yet to "sink in" after they added their first Ligue 1 title in 57 years to last week's French Cup triumph.

A 2-2 draw at Paris Saint-Germain FC on Saturday moved the northern club an unassailable six points clear of outgoing champions Olympique de Marseille, with Ludovic Obraniak and Moussa Sow finding the net to take them over the line. Sow's strike was his 22nd of the season, and Lille were able to hold on for the result they needed following a 73rd-minute equaliser from Mathieu Bodmer.

"It's the culmination of an exceptional season," said Garcia. "To be crowned champions with one game remaining after we just won the French Cup is something great. It has to sink in a little bit that we've gone down in French football history. I'm particularly happy to have achieved this victory with a squad of likeable, talented and hard-working players. They kept believing in their strengths and this was a win for attacking football."

Indeed, to clinch their first double since 1946 and the first in France since Olympique Lyonnais in 2007/08, Les Dogues remained faithful to an entertaining style. In a country renowned for defensive football in recent years, Garcia's men have scored 65 goals in 37 outings, with Sow feeding on superb service from Gervinho and Eden Hazard.

"This double is also reward for years of continuing, relentless hard work," added goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau, emphasising the fact that Lille have finished in the top half of the division every season since 2003/04. "The players appreciate each other and we like spending time together. Now we can party with the fans. It's fantastic. I think we don't even realise what we've done. This will be in our memories for life."

"We're proud of ourselves but also for the people of Lille," added Hazard, while Gervinho explained: "It's deserved. This title is reward for a great season and a squad which never flinched."

"Lille are great champions because that's always true of the team which gets the most points over a season," commented Marseille coach Didier Deschamps. "Congratulations to Lille."

The double may just prove the beginning, as the club have big plans for the future. A new 50,000-seater stadium is set to open in July 2012 and club president Michel Seydoux is determined for Lille "to stay among the top sides in France for a long time".

Fenerbahçe SK are celebrating a record 18th Turkish league title after finishing ahead of Trabzonspor AŞ on goal difference following a crucial 4-3 success at Sivasspor in their final game.


Fenerbahçe SK have claimed a record 18th Turkish title after rounding off the Super League season with a vital 4-3 success at Sivasspor, topping the pile ahead of Trabzonspor AŞ on goal difference.

André Santos (6) put the Istanbul giants in front but they were pegged back when Jakub Navratil struck 14 minutes later. Needing a win to stay above Trabzonspor – 4-0 victors at Kardemir Karabükspor – Fenerbahçe went ahead again when Selçuk Şahin's long-range strike (41) found its way past Sivasspor goalkeeper Korcan Çelikay.

Alex increased the visitors' lead courtesy of a 51st-minute free-kick and, moments after Erman Kılıç reduced the deficit (65), Joseph Yobo headed in Fenerbahçe's fourth. Erman upped the tension levels with an added-time effort, but the Yellow Canaries held on to clinch the crown. They are now Turkey's most successful club, having moved ahead of Galatasaray AŞ and their 17 titles.

"We've faced a lot of difficulties as a team since the start of the season," said Fenerbahçe captain Alex, who contributed 28 goals in 33 outings, including five in a 6-0 rout of MKE Ankaragücü on 15 May. "We put in a brilliant performance in the second half of the season, going unbeaten and claiming the title in the end.

"I don't remember any other season in my career more challenging than this one. We came from nine points behind to take the title and every game was like a final. This is a totally deserved victory for us."

FC Basel 1893 have taken the Swiss title with a 3-0 win against FC Luzern, much to the delight of coach Thorsten Fink, who said: "I hardly slept last night and now we are champions."

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Published: Wednesday 25 May 2011, 21.47CET

Frei helps Basel wrap up Swiss title

FC Basel 1893 have taken the Swiss title with a 3-0 win against FC Luzern, much to the delight of coach Thorsten Fink, who said: "I hardly slept last night and now we are champions."
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FC Basel 1893 have taken their 14th Swiss league title, with an early Alexander Frei goal propelling them to a comfortable 3-0 win against FC Luzern in the final game of the season.

A crowd of 38,500 at St. Jakob-Park watched as Basel denied FC Zürich the chance to snatch the title from under their noses. Frei's 27th league goal of the campaign kicked off proceedings on eight minutes, and Xherdan Shaqiri doubled their lead with a low strike just before half-time. Jacques Zoua made it 3-0 in the 55th minute, ensuring Zürich's 1-0 defeat of FC Thun was to no avail.


"I hardly slept last night and now we are champions," said Basel coach Thorsten Fink. "We deserved to win the title, but FC Zürich had a fantastic season as well.


"This is the first time Basel have become champions while also playing in the Champions League. That's testament to the character of this team and gives us hope for the upcoming UEFA Champions League season."

Sean wrote:The Turkish league makes me hungry

polska. wrote:Wow someone else won in Moldova?