Women’s European leagues have been played for a long time, since the 1970s. Prior to that it was only played as charity games and similar things, but then some organized competitions were held. Before this European League soccer was considered to be reserved only for man. Then, when it was allowed for women, it was named Women’s association soccer  as one of the European leagues and is one of the representative team sports for women in some countries. The women’s European leagues have fought hard for its rights to play, from being banned in England to finally getting their rights in 1971.

Over the years, women European league has grown in the number of players, teams, leagues and competitions, and also in its popularity. More players are competing in this sport than any other female team sport. The number of women European league players have increased since 1993 from 10400 to 150000 today. More and more women are getting coaching qualifications, and can thus coach any team in the European leagues. Moreover, full – time Soccer Development Officers are now employed to referee or arbitrate soccer games, and not only in women’s leagues, but also in men’s European leagues. The number of female referees in England has increased by 21 percent since 1993, so the FA (Football Association) has started some specific schemes for the referees (Female Referee Strategy). The increase is not limited to England, it is the same in almost all European leagues.

A lot of European league clubs also have Centers of Excellence in operation where talented girls from the age of 8 – 16 practice soccer under professional coaches. It is thought that as mucs as almost 20 percent of European leagues in Europe now are female leagues.

On the 28 September 2009 the FA confirmed the start of the FA Women’s European Super League. The application process started in October 2009 for clubs who want to play in the Super League, which is said to be launched in March 2011. Up till now in England there was the FA Women’s Premier League where Arsenal were one of the most successful teams not only in England, but among other European leagues as well.

The UEFA Women’s Champions Europa League is the first international club competition, that comes from its  predecessor the Women’s Cup. The European league UEFA Women’s Cup has been held since the season 2001/02 because of the increased interest in women’s European league soccer. Teams qualify by winning one competition in their European league, either the league or the cup, which is held because if there is no league. Thus, each country, except for the nation from where the defending champion comes from, got one place in the European league Women’s Cup. It was reformatted in the season 2009/2010, and the winner is now decided in a final which has only one match, instead of the previous two (some resemblance to the beginnings of the men’s European league competitions). The current Women’s Champion from all European leagues is FFC Turbine Potsdam.