The city of Łódź is abuzz with excitement as it prepares to host the CEV Champions League Men Final Four at the renowned Atlas Arena from May 16 to 18, 2025. This highly anticipated event will see Europe’s top volleyball clubs—Halkbank Ankara, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, and Jastrzębski Węgiel—compete for the coveted title.
The tournament officially commenced with a high-profile press conference attended by CEV President Roko Sikirić, Polish Volleyball Federation President Sebastian Świderski, Deputy Mayor of Łódź Adam Pustelnik, and team captains and coaches.
“We’ve reached the pinnacle of the season, and we’re ready to crown a new champion,” said Mr. Sikirić, expressing gratitude to the host city and acknowledging volleyball’s enduring popularity in Poland.
Mr. Świderski added, “It is a great privilege to host the Final Four here in Łódź. I congratulate all teams for being here and wish them good luck and, above all, good health in this tournament.”
Deputy Mayor Pustelnik highlighted the significance of hosting such a prestigious competition, stating, “It is a great privilege for us as Łódź that another big event related to volleyball is in our city. We are happy that two teams are from Poland, which will naturally attract many residents and Polish fans.”
Semifinal Matchups:
- Friday, May 16: Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia vs. Halkbank Ankara
- Saturday, May 17: Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie vs. Jastrzębski Węgiel
Perugia’s captain, Simone Giannelli, expressed determination: “We are very happy to be here, but we know that we face a very good team. We will be trying to win the title for the first time in Perugia’s history.”
Halkbank Ankara’s captain, Micah Ma’a, shared his journey: “It’s an honour to be here representing Halkbank. I didn’t grow up watching a lot of Champions League, but very quickly I understood the importance of this event.”
Jastrzębski Węgiel’s captain, Benjamin Toniutti, acknowledged the challenge ahead: “It is an honour for us to be again among the top four teams in Europe. We know our opponents very well; it will be a big fight.”
Mateusz Bieniek, captain of Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, reflected on the historic moment: “For our club, it is an amazing and historic moment because we are playing for the first time in our history in the Final Four. We are happy and proud to be here.”
Player Spotlights:
- Yoandy Leal (Halkbank Ankara): The 36-year-old Cuban-born player emphasized the team’s underdog mentality: “We knew from the start that we were not favourites. That gives us more energy to deliver better performances.”
- Tomasz Fornal (Jastrzębski Węgiel): Announcing his departure after six years, Fornal aims to end on a high note: “Winning the Champions League title for the first time would be a very nice ending to this chapter.”
- Mateusz Bieniek (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie): Highlighting the team’s experience, Bieniek stated, “We have some experienced players in the squad. Experience is very important, and we have to make it count.”
- Agustin Loser and Yuki Ishikawa (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): Both players are debutants in the Champions League and have been instrumental in Perugia’s journey to the Final Four. Ishikawa noted, “It is my first season in the Champions League, so it has been really special.”
With the Atlas Arena sold out and the city of Łódź buzzing, the stage is truly set for a great showdown in European volleyball.
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