Your legends deserve daylight - European Handball Federation

Your legendsdeserve daylightThe VELUX Group is donating roof windows to sports clubs across Europe.In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we are donating roof windows to sports clubs around Europe. Your sports club can apply for a donation of a complete installation of six windows by simply filling out the online application and contacting an installer. This is your chance to bring light and fresh air into your clubhouse, making it more bright, inviting and comfortable – and giving your legends the daylight they deserve.

Apply now at www.velux.com/sportsclubs

V11947-111_End-user_EHFmagazine_Ad_A5.indd 1 11-03-2016 12:15:21

5

Table of contents

HC Meshkov Brest

MOL-Pick Szeged

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

IFK Kristianstad

GROUP C

Preview

Head-to-heads in the EC

Naturhouse La Rioja

HC Metalurg

Chekhovskie Medvedi

Montpellier HB

Elverum Handball

Tatran Presov

GROUP D

Preview


HBC Nantes

TTH Holstebro

HC Motor Zaporozhye

Besiktas Mogaz HT

Dinamo Bucuresti

ABC/Uminho

Important regulations

HISTORY

All-time stats and records

2015/16 Top scorers

All-Star Team Votes

Past winners

All-time club standings

History of the EHF Champions League

112

118

124

130

136

138

140

146

152

158

164

170

176

178

180

186

192

198

204

210

216

217

218

219

220

221

222

4

Table of contents

Table of contentsForeword

Media contacts

Map of participating clubs

Playing system diagrams - stages and dates

How to follow and cover the matches

List of TV stations

VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown

VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures

VELUX EHF FINAL4 travel and ticket partners announced

MOTW - A fresh new look

Qualification Tournament 1


Facts and figures of the group phase

GROUP A

Preview


Telekom Veszprem

FC Barcelona Lassa

Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Orlen Wisla Plock

SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Kadetten Schaffhausen

THW Kiel

GROUP B

Preview


Rhein-Neckar Löwen

KS Vive Tauron Kielce

HC Vardar

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb

6

7

8

10

14

16

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

28

30

34

40

46

52

58

64

70

76

82

84

88

94

100

106

6

Foreword

ForewordDear handball friends,

On behalf of the European Handball Federation, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2016/17. As we enter the opening stages of the competition’s 24th season, we are looking forward to a fresh challenge for Europe’s top teams.

Last season we introduced a new playing system with more teams involved. The huge increase in tough and exciting matches for fans to enjoy has convinced us it was the right decision. The final showdown and penalty shootout between Kielce and Veszprem came as the cherry on top of a wonderful season.

Starting the season are 28 of the continent’s leading teams and the field represents 19 countries from across Europe. Denmark, Spain, Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Poland each have two teams in the competition this season, whilst Germany and France are the only countries represented by three clubs.

Sixteen teams will compete in Groups A and B, while Groups C and D contain six teams each. The best two teams from C and D will make it through to the Last 16 where they will join the teams placed second to sixth from Groups A and B. The two group winners qualify directly for the quarter-finals stage.

There are six clubs in the competition with EHF Champions League titles under their belts. The defending champions, Vive Tauron Kielce will launch their new campaign in Group B together with 2003/04 trophy holders Celje Pivovarna Lasko, while record winners FC Barcelona Lassa meet three-time winners THW Kiel and 2013/14 champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt in Group A. The 2002/03 winners Montpellier Handball start in Group C.

Denmark’s TTH Holstebro and France’s HBC Nantes will make their premiere amongst the heavyweights of European handball, but there will be no time for the newcomers to find their feet with tough clashes promised from the very first round in Group D. There is one more team in this group that deserves a special mention as we are excited to welcome the runners-up of the first EHF Champions League season in 1993/94. ABC/UMinho lost the first final to TEKA Santander by just two goals and it has been 16 years since their last foray into the group phase.

Memories of the unbelievable final moments from Cologne are still vivid and although it will take several months until the four best teams descend upon the LANXESS arena again, there is much to look forward to over the months ahead. I wish all teams the very best of luck on their VELUX EHF Champions League journey and wish you, the fans, yet another unforgettable season!

Jean BrihaultEHF President

7

Media contacts

EHF/M media contacts

Clubs media contacts

Media matters

Vlado BrindzakMedia and CommunicationsEuropean Handball Federation+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

GROUP A GROUP B

GROUP C GROUP D

TV and Radio

Miguel Mateo MarcellanMedia ManagerEHF Marketing GmbH+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

Telekom Veszprém (HUN)Zsolt Sevinger+36 [email protected]

Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)Christopher [email protected]

Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez+34 63 77 66 [email protected]

HBC Nantes (FRA)Marina Normand+33 671 55 63 [email protected]

Orlen Wisła Płock (POL)Tomasz BaumanTel: +48 723 100 [email protected]

HC Meshkov Brest (BLR)Ivan Karaitschev+375 529 [email protected]

HC Metalurg (MKD)Ana Neloska+389 723 103 [email protected]

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)Dmitriy Karpushchenko+380 50 [email protected]

Montpellier HB (FRA)Suzy Demonte+33 499 610 [email protected]

Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) Alexandru Enciu+40 754 929 [email protected]

PSG Handball (FRA)Louise Cosnard+33 (0)675 591 [email protected]

HC PPD Zagreb (CRO)Goran Roknić+385 95 9999 [email protected]

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)Sandra von Wallis+49 [email protected]

MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)Levente Juhasz+36 70 543 [email protected]

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS)Olga Belysheva+7 909 6391 [email protected]

Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR)Berk Karahan+90 535 358 [email protected]

Tatran Presov (SVK)Branko Benko+421 911 [email protected]

ABC/UMinho (POR)Jose Carvalho+351 935 156 146 [email protected]

FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP)Gustau Galvache+34 [email protected]

Vive Tauron Kielce (POL)Sebastian Kozubek+48 [email protected]

Elverum Handball (NOR)Erik Henriksen+47 400 [email protected]

TTH Holstebro (DEN)Line Kristoffersen+45 2845 [email protected]

Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)Barbara Imobersteg+41 [email protected]

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)Nejc Ajdnik+386 [email protected]

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN)Jonas Loytved+45 23 [email protected]

HC Vardar (MKD)Biljana [email protected]

THW Kiel (GER)Christian Robohm +49 [email protected]

IFK Kristianstad (SWE)Anders Hallengren+46 734 33 11 [email protected]

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, DEN

Montpellier Handball, FRA

Chekhovskie MedvediRUS

TelekomVeszprém, HUN

HC Metalurg MKD

SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER

ABC/UMinhoPOR

HC Meshkov BrestBLR

HC MotorZaporozhyeUKR

RK Celje PivovarnaLasko, SLO

HC PPD Zagreb, CRO

R U K O M E T N I K L U BPRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVOZ A G R E B

HC VardarMKD

FC Barcelona Lassa ESP

NaturhouseLa Rioja ESP

KadettenSchaffh ausen SUI

Rhein-Neckar LöwenGER

AchillesBocholt, BEL

Tatran Presov SVK

TTHHolstebro, DEN

IFK Kristianstad SWE

THW Kiel GER Orlen Wisla

Plock, POL

KS Vive Tauron KielcePOL

Dinamo Bucuresti, ROU

MOL-PickSzeged HUN

BregenzHandball, AUT

Paris Saint-GermainHandball, FRA

Besiktas MOGAZ HT, TUR

Elverum HH NOR

VELUX EHF FINAL4

Host City Cologne, GER

Maccabi CASTROTel Aviv, ISR

GorenjeVelenje, SLO

Red BoysDiff erdange, LUX

HBC NantesFRA

Cocks FIN

Tournaments

Last 16

status: 27.06.2016

QualificationTournaments

21.-25.09.2016 (1); 28.9.-2.10.2016 (2);03./04.09.2016 05.-09.10.16 (3); 12.-16.10.16 (4) 22.-26.03.2017 19.-23.04.2017 03./04.06.2017tournaments 19.-23.10.2016 (5); 09.-13.11.2016 (6) first leg first leg tournament

16.-20.11.2016 (7); 23.-27.11.2016 (8)30.11.-4.12.2016 (9); 08.-12.2.2017 (10) 29.03.-02.04.2017 26.-30.04.2017

15.-19.2.17 (11-A/B); 22.-26.2.17 (12-A/B) second leg second leg01.-05.03.17 (13); 08.-12.03.17 (14)

2 groups with 8 teams1 HUN 1 Telekom Veszprem2

9 BLR 1 HC Meshkov Brest

24 FRA 3 Montpellier Handball25 ROU 1 Dinamo Bucuresti

RK Gorenje VelenjeABC/UMinhoTatran Presov

Bregenz HandballRed Boys Differdange

Achilles BocholtCocks

Maccabi Castro Tel-Aviv

KO m

atch

es fr

om G

roup

C a

nd D

qua

lify

for t

he L

ast 1

6

Group Phase

2 groups with 4 teams

played in semi finals and finals played in semi finals and finals

Your legendsdeserve daylightThe VELUX Group is donating roof windows to sports clubs across Europe.In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we are donating roof windows to sports clubs around Europe. Your sports club can apply for a donation of a complete installation of six windows by simply filling out the online application and contacting an installer. This is your chance to bring light and fresh air into your clubhouse, making it more bright, inviting and comfortable – and giving your legends the daylight they deserve.

Apply now at www.velux.com/sportsclubs

V11947-111_End-user_EHFmagazine_Ad_A5.indd 1 11-03-2016 12:15:21

Wherever you are!

Watch it wherever you are on ehfTV.com!

All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League and WOMEN’S EHF Champions League,selected games of European Cups, DKB Handball-Bundesliga, Liga Bauhaus Asobal live and on demand.Don’t miss the best highlights, compilations, interviews, features, behind the scenes and more.

Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single match in the new season of both elite European club competitions. All matches starting from Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Group Matches of the Women's EHF Champions League will be broadcast live on ehfTV.com and the videos of all matches will be also on demand. Furthermore, like in the past season fully produced highlights magazine - “Rewind - the handball show” will feature stories and highlights from all Men´s top matches will be played out on Monday 7:00 / 8:00 GMT after each playing round. Apart from selected matches of other European Cup competitions in the new season there will also be a renewed focus on coverage of top league competitions, with selected matches from both the German Handball Bundesliga and Spain’s Asobal.

Live tickerThe EHF Live Ticker will track the scores of all matches. Every goal, missed shot and yellow card will be documented and live statistics made available online for the first time at this stage of Europe’s elite club competition. In addition an extended version will be used adding also the goalkeepers' stats.

EHF Live on social mediaThe EHF’s social media channels will provide a very different view of the chase for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. While in the 2015/16 the focus of the channels was almost entirely on the Matches of the Week, in the new season fans wil be able to get a special coverage also in a non-match day via a new series “1 day with” which has launched already in the summer. The social media feed with the behind the scenes look will be provided on four channels - EHF Champions League Facebook page, Instagram, @EHF_Live Twitter account and the EHF_Live on Snapchat.

Online match reportsFrom the opening matches of the season, the complete team line-up is available online at eurohandball.com and available to download as a PDF

document. The online solution introudced already in the 2015/16 season sees the EHF match delegate complete the final team line-up immediately after the technical meeting. This development means that team line-ups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each match throws-off. A short time after each match, a completed match report will also be available online with details such as goal scorers and number of spectators.

Accreditation for Group Phase The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs. TV and Radio accreditations are subject to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán.

Online informationwww.ehfCL.comwww.ehfTV.comwww.ehfFINAL4.comRegulations of the VELUX EHF Champions League Twitter: @ehf, @ehfclFacebook: ehf.champions.league

Official nameThe official name of the competition is: VELUX EHF Champions League. The full name of the competition should always be used. VELUX and the three letter abbreviation for the European Handball Federation should always be displayed in capital letters before the name of the competition. Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after “Champions League” e.g. VELUX EHF Champions League 2016/17. The wording “Champions League” should be written with a capital letter at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The remaining letters should be in lower case. The word Champions does not have an apostrophe after the ‘s’.

14

All matches of new season live

All matches of new season live

http://twitter.com/EHF_Live

http://twitter.com/EHF_Live

http://www.ehfCL.com

http://www.ehfTV.com

http://www.ehfFINAL4.com

http://ebook.eurohandball.com/2016-regulations-MCL/

http://www.twitter.com/ehf

http://www.twitter.com/ehfcl

https://www.facebook.com/ehf.champions.league

Jetzt auf sky.de 01806 884 000 00€ 0,20 inkl. MwSt./Anruf aus dem dt. Festnetz; max. € 0,60 inkl. MwSt./Anruf aus dem Mobilfunknetz

*Angebot gilt bei Buchung von Sky Starter und einem Premiumpaket (Fußball-Bundesliga oder Sport) für mtl. € 19,99; jeweils mit einer Mindestvertragslaufzeit von 12 Monaten (Monat der Freischaltung (anteilig) zzgl. 12 Monaten) plus einer Logistikpauschale i. H. v. € 12,90. Aktivierungsgebühr: Die einmalige Aktivie-rungsgebühr in Höhe von € 59 für Neukunden entfällt. Für Abonnenten, in deren Haushalt und/oder unter deren Kontonummer ein Sky Abonnement für sich oder Dritte besteht oder bestand, welches bereits gekündigt oder innerhalb von 3 Monaten vor Neuabschluss beendet worden ist, fällt eine Aktivierungsge-bühr i. H. v. € 100 an. Verlängerung: Wird das Abo nicht fristgerecht 2 Monate vor Ablauf der Vertragslaufzeit gekündigt, verlängert es sich jeweils um weitere 12 Monate zu mtl. € 37,49. Sky Go: Mit Sky Go können Kunden einzelne Inhalte ihres Sky Abonnements über das Internet mit ausgewählten Smartphones/Tablets empfangen (ab iOS 7.0, Android 4.2). Empfohlene Bandbreite: 1 Mbit/s für SD-Qualität, 6 Mbit/s für HD-Qualität. Empfang nur in Deutschland und Österreich. Weitere Infos: skygo.de/faq. Receiver: Zu diesem Abonnement stellt Sky einen Sky+ HD-Festplattenreceiver während der gesamten Laufzeit leihweise zur Ver-fügung (Servicepauschale i. H. v. € 169 entfällt). Alle Preise inkl. gesetzlicher MwSt. Angebot gültig bis 30.9.2016. Stand: August 2016. Änderungen vorbehalten. Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG, Medienallee 26, 85774 Unterföhring. Fotos: Kaymer © 2016 Getty Images; Handball © Sascha Klahn; Rosberg © dpa/picture alliance/Thomas Melzer; Kerber © 2014 Getty Images/Bongarts/Adam Pretty; Müller © imago/Camera 4; © Sky/Andreas Hoffmann

Ganz großer Sport

Der beste Live-Sport.Auch unterwegs. Nur auf Sky.

Bundesliga und 2. Bundesliga – Alle 612 Spiele der Saison 2016/2017 live, einzeln und in der Original Sky Konferenz

Internationaler Live-Sport: Golf, Tennis, Formel 1, Handball, Beachvolleyball – vieles exklusiv

Preisgekrönte Berichterstattung zu jedem Sportevent und jederzeit top informiert mit Sky Sport News HD

Sky+: Dein HD-Festplattenleihreceiver.* Aufnehmen und anschauen, wann Du willst

Sky Starter* – Großartige Programmvielfalt mit bis zu 26 hochwertigen Pay-TV-Sendern

Sky Go* – Immer live dabei, auch unterwegs

Mehr Sport zeigt keiner. Gönn Dir jetzt alle Wettbewerbe live.

oder

Inklusive

Für

(im 12-Monats-Abo, danach € 37,49 mtl.*)

Bis 30.9.2016

€0€ 59statt

Aktivierungsgebühr*

€ mtl.*1999 UEFA Champions League – Alle 145 Spiele live, UEFA Europa League –

Alle 205 Spiele live und DFB-Pokal – Alle 63 Spiele live

Stadionmagazin_Handball_148x210_sky.indd 1 19.08.16 14:51

16

TV stations to broadcast matches all over the world

TV stations to broadcast matches all over the world

EUROPE• GER - Sky Germany

• HUN - Sport TV

• POL - NC+

• POL - Eleven Sports

• FRA - beIN Sports

• EU - ehfTV.com

• BIH/MNE/MKD/SRB - Arenasport

• SWE - Viasat

• NOR - Viasat

• ROU - Digi Sport

• ROU - Dolce Sport

• ESP - Teledeporte

• ESP - Esports3

• DEN - DR

• DEN - TV3 Sports

• CRO - HRT

• CRO - Arenasport

• MKD - MRT

• SVK/CZE - Sport TV

• SLO - Sport TV

• TUR - Dsmart

• GRE - OTE Sport

• POR - Sport TV

• POR - Porto TV

• ISR - Sport1

• RUS - Match TV

• SUI - Teleclub

• BEL - Eleven Sports

AMERICA• USA - beIN Sports USA

ASIA/AFRICA• MENA - beIN Sports MENA

• Asia - Eleven Sports

The matches of the upcoming season will be shown live or delayed almost all over the world. Not less than 30 TV stations will broadcast matches live or delayed.

Only in Europe fans will be able to watch matches in 30 countries, but also the handball TV audience in America (USA and Brazil), Asia and Africa (countries of Middle East and North Africa, Malaysia and Singapore) can look forward to a television coverage.

See the list of TV stations and countries below:

18



0 players had been part of all seven editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 from 2010 to 2016.

0 times a club has defended its trophy at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

1 coach so far steered two different clubs to the VELUX EHF FINAL4: Talant Dujshebaev - first with Ciudad Real/Atletico Madrid (2010, 2011, 2012), then with Kielce (2015, 2016).

1 player only has won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with two differ-ent clubs: German, Tobias Reichmann. After raising the trophy with THW Kiel in 2010 and 2012, he repeated the success in 2016 with Kielce.

1 VELUX EHF FINAL4 final match so was without the participa-tion neither of a German nor a Spanish club - the 2016 edition of Kielce vs Veszprém.

Champions League debutants had made it all the way to Cologne in their first season: Füchse Berlin and AG

Kobenhavn, both in 2012.

2

Since the premiere in 2010, the LANXESS arena in Cologne is the place to be, it is the theatre of dreams in Euro-pean club handball. Seven times the VELUX EHF FINAL4 was the pinnacle event of handball in a sold-out arena, exciting and entertaining fans 20,000 fans each time around.Prior to the start of the new VELUX EHF Champions league season, here are the most important facts and figures.


The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club handball season. The two-day event sees the best four men’s teams in Europe playing to decide the ultimate winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League.Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2020 in the LANXESS arena, Cologne, the decision to create a new format for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League was seen as crucial for the growth of handball across Europe.The aim was to create a flagship event, one that could compete on the international sports market and make the Europe’s leading club competition even more attractive to fans, partners and sponsors.The success of all seven editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 up to date showed that this format has been the right strategy. It has set new standards in organisation and entertainment: it is not just four games played over two days but a true entertainment event. Yet again the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016 was the season’s highlight in European handball – nearly

20,000 spectators in the LANXESS arena and millions of fans at home watched four unforgettable handball games and a unique entertainment show. Tickets for the 2017 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 went on sale on the opening day of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016. Now, eight months before the participating teams are known, only a very limited number of tickets remain.The success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is also thanks to the commitment of a great number of volunteers who have been active on the weekend of the event. The application procedure for next edition has already started and applications are invited also in the area of media.

Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com

VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Accreditation The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will start in March 2017.

19


5 different German clubs had qualified for the VELUX EHF FI-NAL4 so far: Kiel (6 times), Hamburg (2), Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Flensburg and Füchse Berlin (each 1).

6 times THW Kiel qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far the record holders in this ranking. Barcelona (5 participations) are second ranked ahead of Ciudad Real/Atletico, Veszprém and Kielce (each 3).

6 times, Alfred Gislason was coach at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 (all with THW Kiel). Xavi Pascual (5 times with Barcelona) is second in this ranking, and Talant Dujshebaev (3 times with Ciudad Real/Atletico and twice with Kielce).

7 - is all the times so far the LANXESS area was sold out with approx. 20,000 fans at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 events.

9 times a player scored ten or more goals in a single VELUX EHF FINAL4 match.

7 countries represent the clubs, which had participated at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since 2010. Besides Germany (11 participations with 3 clubs) and Spain (8 participations with 2 clubs), it is Poland and Hungary (3 participations with 1 club each) and Denmark, France and Russia (1/1).

13 goals in one match, scored by Juanin Garcia (Barcelona) in 2010’s final against Kiel, are still an all-time FINAL 4 high. Filip Jicha scored eleven goal twice for Kiel (2010 final against Barcelona and 2011 semi against Berlin) as well as Filip Laza-rov (Atletico) in the 2012 semi against Kobenhavn; Domagoj Duvnjak (Hamburg) in the 2013 semi against Kiel and Siarhei Rutenka (Barcelona) in the 2015 placement match 3-4 against Veszprém. One player only scored double-figured in both matches of one tournament: Mikkel Hansen. The to-be Cham-pions League top scorer netted ten times each in the 2016 semi against Kielce and the placement match against Kiel.

2 different Danish referee pairs whistled the finals: 2010 it were Olesen/Pedersen, 2014 Gjeding/Hansen. Five other countries were represented by one pair officiating the finals - France, Serbia, Norway, Romania and Spain.

3 different countries represent the seven VELUX EHF FINAL4 winners: Germany (4 - Kiel/2, Hamburg and Flensburg), Spain (2/both Barcelona) and Poland (Kielce).

4 VELUX EHF FINAL4 matches so far needed to be decided in extra-time, two of them even in a penalty shootout: First Hamburg beat Barcelona in the 2013 final 30:29 after extra-time, followed by the 2014 semi shootout of Flensburg vs Barcelona (40:39). In 2016, first Veszprém beat Kiel after extra-time 31:28, but then lost to Kielce after penalties 38:39 in the final.

4 direct red cards were given in the history of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far, three of them for Croatian player (Denis Buntic/Kielce in 2013, Renato Sulic/Veszprém 2014 and Igor Vori/PSG 2016). The fourth was received by Kielce’s pole Piotr Chrapkowski. Five more players had to finish the matches in the stands after three two-minute-suspensions, among them again three Croats (Sulic/2015, Domagoj Duvnjak/Kiel 2015 and Ilija Brozovic/Kiel 2015).

straight times with four different clubs, Icelandic record international Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson was part

of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. After missing the trophy with Löwen (2011), Kobenhavn (2012, Kiel (2013 and 2014), he finally took the title in 2015 in the jersey of

FC Barcelona.

different clubs had been part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since its premiere in 2010.

5

12

16 different nations were represented in the squads of the four 2016 VELUX EHF FINAL4 participants: GER, ESP, HUN, POL, CRO, NOR, SWE, DEN, ISL, SRB, FRA, SLO, BIH, EST, MNE, UKR - 9 different at Kiel and Veszprém, 7 at Paris and 6 at Kielce.

47 goals was the lowest score of VELUX EHF FINAL4 match since 2010- and the spectators of the final day in 2012 even saw this low number even twice in a row: First in the place-ment match Berlin vs Kobenhavn (21:26), then in the final Kiel vs Atletico Madrid (26:21).

245 goals were in total scored at the 2016 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to top this ranking and is closely ahead of 2014 (244 goals), and 2013 (243). The lowest overall score was 191 goals in 2012. 2010 (215), 2011 and 2015 (224 each) take up the midfield-positions.

55 goals each make Filip Jicha (at his time at THW Kiel) and Momir Ilic (for Kiel and Veszprém) the top scorers of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 history thusfar. Both top the ranking ahead of Siarhei Rutenka (47), Kiril Lazarov (42), Jesper Noddesbö (40) and a trio with 38 FINAL4 goals each, Laszlo Nagy, Victor Tomas and Aron Palmarsson.

80 goals were scored in the record breaking 2014 semi of Flensburg vs Barcelona (41:39 after extra-time and penalties) to top this ranking ahead of those 77 goals in the 2016 final Kielce vs Veszprém (39:38) and the highest score of a FINAL4 match decided after 60 minutes, the 2013 semi Hamburg vs Kiel (39:33/72 goals).

http://www.ehfFINAL4.com

20



With over 8,000 tickets already sold for the next edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, those unlucky enough not yet to have secured their place in the LANXESS arena, Cologne on 3/4 June 2017 have been waiting for a chance to buy their ticket.The event’s organiser, EHF Marketing GmbH, has released details of the first of its official travel and ticket partners, through which fans will be able to purchase not just tickets but also hotel and travel packages.The first nine official partners covering Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Switzerland have been announced, and will be offering complete packages for fans wanting to travel to Cologne in June 2017. Additional official ticket partners will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans wanting to make a booking with one of the official travel partners should contact one of the following companies direct:

VietentoursThe well-known German sports travel specialist, Vietentours, has been a partner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since 2010 and offers travel packages to all major handball and sports events worldwide. Contact:+49 211 17 [email protected].

SvenskahandbollfansOfficial partner for the Swedish market.Contact:+46 73-250 20 [email protected]

Hemispheres VoyagesA new partner, Hemispheres Voyages is the exclusive travel partner for the French market. Specialising in sports travel, the company has been organising travel arrangements to major rugby, football, tennis and handball events for the past 18 years. Contact:+ 33 4 38 37 22 21

[email protected]

Travel Sense A/STravel partner for the Danish market and official partner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the second time is Travel Sense A/S. The company has tickets available in all categories. Contact:+ 45 70 23 06 [email protected]

Kagan’s Turist ApsTravel partner for the Danish market Contact: +45 24 41 93 50 [email protected]

Treff AGOfficial travel partner for the Swiss market for a number of yearsContact: +41 32 387 00 87 [email protected]

OlliP ABPartner for both Swedish and

Danish markets (Travel packages available from October)Contact:[email protected]

Ticket2FinalA partner for several years offering unique reservation packages, which entitle you to tickets should your team qualify.Contact: +44 [email protected]

TF travelsA long-standing partner covering the Swedish [email protected]

Sportimadok.huA new partner covering the Hungarian market.Contact:+36 70 / 630 [email protected]

21



The VELUX EHF Champions League is one of the most attractive sporting competitions in Europe, and during a season over 200 matches of top handball are broadcast live to handball fans from around the world on ehfTV.com. Starting this season EHF Marketing would like to bring Europe’s premier handball competition to a whole new level. To achieve this, a greater focus will be put on this season’s MATCH OF THE WEEK (MOTW) ties and the engagement with fans through our various social media channels will increase. The aim of this is to make games during the whole season more accessible for handball fans and to create an arc of suspense towards the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne.EHF Marketing will take one match per round as the MOTW, as it has been custom in past seasons. The most interesting game in terms of fan’s expectations and the entertainment value of the tie will be selected. Whether well-known clubs compete against each other or less experienced clubs fight to get into the next round – we are sure that all the games will be captivating and thrilling. The MOTW will receive more attention in terms of TV commentary, branding, social media activities, half-time games, mobile reporting and the sale of merchandise in the hall itself. The idea is to continuously develop the concept throughout the season and also to bring fresh content to fans in the arena, in front of their TV or on their laptops at home.Live commentary with insights and captivating explanations, and an enhanced look and feel of TV graphics will give the audience the feeling of being right in the action. This season the commentary team will be expanded with Tom O’Brannagain being joined by David Bregazzi and Chris O‘Reilly, who will all take their own MOTW games.MOTW also offers also the perfect platform to develop and implement new exciting technical equipment that brings the best handball directly into households around world. For example, referee cameras and other new broadcasting elements will come into use at selected matches during this season.

Match of the Week set for opening four roundsThe ehfTV.com Match of the Week will be played in four different countries in the first four rounds with matches showcasing the VELUX EHF Champions League’s finest talent, certain to satisfy handball fans across Europe in September and October.

The four matches will feature seven sides from five countries, all serious contenders in Europe’s top flight in recent seasons.Round 1:Saturday 24 September (17:30 CET), FLENS Arena (Flensburg, GER)SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Telekom Veszprém2014 champions Flensburg welcome Veszprem to northern Germany for the first clash of the season.Both sides’ campaign last season came to an end with defeat against eventual champions Kielce and both will see this match as a perfect opportunity to leave their painful loss in the past and get the new season off to a bright start.Round 2:Saturday 1 October (TBC), Palau Blaugrana (Barcelona, ESP)FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW KielTwo of the competition’s most successful outfits meet in the standout match of Round 2. THW Kiel came out on top when they met over two legs in last season’s quarter-final stage, but Barcelona won their home match 33:30 and will fancy their chances of repeating that result at Palau Blaugrana.Round 3:Sunday 9 October (17:00 CET), Varosi Sportcsarnok (Szeged, HUN)MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron KielceRound 3 sees defending champions Kielce enter the MOTW limelight for the first time this season as they visit Hungary to take on formidable opponents Szeged. This will be a particularly big occasion for Dean Bombac, who moved from Szeged to Kielce after his incredible 101 goals in the competition in 2015/16.These teams met in the group phase last season and shared the spoils with one home victory by one goal each, promising another exciting and tight match when they meet on 9 October on ehfTV.com.

Round 4:

Sunday 16 October (18:30 CET), Stade Pierre de Coubertin (Paris, FRA)Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Now PSG have a taste for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and they will do everything in their power to reach the event once again and give themselves a chance of collecting the trophy.

However, Group A is full of danger and Flensburg are a foe they know all too well, following their two barnstorming group phase matches last season, which combined for 138 goals in 120 minutes. This massive test of Paris’ strength at home will be the featured match in Round 4.

http://www.vietentours.com

mailto:info%40travelsense.dk?subject=

http://www.busudlejning.dk

mailto:tf%40lysekil.nu?subject=

22



Review: Presov impress and seal group phase berth

The Slovakian side powered past the experienced RK Gorenje Velenje in their group phase decider match, while the Finnish side take third spot in the VELUX EHF Champions League Qualification Group 1 after their win over the Luxembourg champions Red Boys Differdange.

• TATRAN broke the qualification tournament curse after five failed attempts• The hosts took full advantage of their home court, leading from start to finish• Cocks take third in Group 1 on their debut in the CL• Differdange finish bottom of the group on their return to the European elite for first time since 1999

FINALRK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs TATRAN Presov (SVK) 21:23 (10:12)

After failing five times in the qualification tournaments, TATRAN Presov impressed against RK Gorenje Velenje to win a second consecutive berth in the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League.Strong back court helped TATRAN pull away

A motivated Slovakian side never went behind in one of the most important games of their season. With a loud croud behind them, TATRAN pressed from the start and never looked back, helped by a flawless back court, in which Oliver Rabek and Lukas Urban were stars from the first minute. However, TATRAN would have had a lot of trouble if not for their amazing defence, that helped the Slovakian champions power to a 10:7 lead after 21 minutes.

But the real difference was made in the first 15 minutes of the second half. A 6:2 run, spurred on by Rabek and Urban helped TATRAN jump to a 20:14 lead that could not be recovered by the Slovenian side. As Presov were already celebrating the win, Velenje clawed back, but the 23:21 win was enough for TATRAN who play against Naturhouse La Rioja, HC Metalurg, Chehovskie Medvedi, Montpellier HB and Elverum Handball in this year’s VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase.

THIRD PLACE MATCH:Cocks (FIN) vs Red Boys Differdange (LUX) 30:21 (18:14)

SEMI-FINALS:RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs Cocks (FIN) 28:25 (16:14)TATRAN Presov (SVK) vs Red Boys Differdange (LUX) 38:32 (19:17)

Qualification Tournament 1 (Presov, SVK)Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO)Cocks (FIN)Tatran Presov (SVK)Red Boys Differdange (LUX)

Group CNaturhouse La Rioja (ESP)HC Metalurg (MKD)Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS)Montpellier Handball (FRA)Elverum Handball (NOR)Tatran Presov (SVK)

2nd ranked team - Rk Gorenje Velenje - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 33rd ranked team - Cocks - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - Red Boys Differdange - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs: Maccabi Srugo Rishon Lezion (ISR)

23

Qualification Tournament 2 (Bregenz, Austria)

Review: ABC/UMinho hold their nerve against Bregenz

Bregenz failed to take advantage of their home court against the Portuguese champions ABC/UMinho.

• ABC/UMinho will try to emulate Porto winning seven games in the group phase• ABC lost their two previous qualifying tournaments• After a 15-year hiatus, the Portuguese side will play in Group D• The Israeli side took 3rd place and will continue in EHF Cup Round 3• In their fourth game in Europe, Maccabi earned their first win• Pomeranz was Maccabi’s top scorer (ten goals) adding to his 12 scored against ABC

FINALABC/UMinho (POR) vs Bregenz Handball (AUT) 33:32 (16:16)

There was no shortage of drama near Lake Constance. The home fans left disappointed after a hard-fought game that saw ABC/UMinho claim one of the most important wins in their history.

The lead changed hands five times in only 30 minutes, this could only mean that the Bregenz fans were in for a long afternoon. This deadlock came from the sturdy attacks from both sides -- each side

boasting a shot efficiency of 60 per cent. However, clues that ABC were the better team were soon clear to see as Nuno Pereira seemed unstoppable with seven goals.

It quickly emerged that the game was to be won in the attack and ABC were the better team in that section. Both Pereira and right back Pedro Spinola had astonishing games, with 11 and 8 goals scored respectively, as the Portuguese champions pulled away thanks to a 6:2 run between the 41st and 48th minute. While Bregenz managed to claw back and close the game (29:29), ABC had the stronger nerves and after a well-taken timeout by coach Carlos Resende, the Portuguese side won the game by the lowest of margins, 33:32, thanks to a Miguel Pereira goal. ABC will play against HBC Nantes, TTH Holstebro, HC Motor Zaporozhye, Besiktas Mogaz HT and Dinamo Bucuresti in Group D.

THIRD PLACE MATCH:Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv (ISR) vs Achilles Bocholt (BEL) 33:30 (16:15)

SEMI-FINALSABC/UMinho (POR) vs Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv (ISR) 34:27 (16:16)

Bregenz Handball (AUT) vs Achilles Bocholt (BEL) 39:31 (20:17)

Qualification Tournament 2ABC/UMinho (POR)Achilles Bocholt (BEL)Bregenz Handball (AUT)Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv

Group DHBC Nantes (FRA)TTH Holstebro (DEN)HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR)Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)ABC/UMinho (POR)

2nd ranked team - Bregenz Handball - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 33rd ranked team - Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - Achilles Bocholt - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Csurgo KK (HUN)

Qualification Tournament 2 (Bregenz, Austria)

24

Facts and figueres of the group phase

Facts and figures of the group phaseAfter Tatran Presov (Slovakia) and ABC/UMinho (Portugal) took the last spots as the winners of the qualifica-tion tournaments on Sunday, the group phase of the 2016/17 VELUX EHF Champions League season is ready to begin. To celebrate the return of the competition, here are the most important facts and figures of the upcoming group phase and beyond:

0 times since the inauguration of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010, have the champions defended their title. The last team to do so was BM Ciudad Real in 2009.

6 former or current EHF Champions League winners with a combined total of 15 trophies are part of the 2016/17 group phase: Kielce, Barcelona, Kiel, Flensburg, Montpellier and Celje.

6 former or current top scorers of the VELUX EHF Champions League are still on court in the 2016/17 season: Momir Ilic (2014/15 - 114 goals, 2013/14 - 103 goals, Veszprem), Mikkel Hansen (2011/12 - 98 goals for AG Kobenhavn, 2015/16 - 141 goals for PSG), Uwe Gensheimer (2010/11 - 118 goals, Rhein Neckar Löwen, now PSG), Filip Jicha 2008/09 - 99 goals, and 2009/10 - 119 goals for Kiel, now Barcelona), Kiril Lazarov (2007/08 - 96 goals and 2005/06 - 85 goals for Veszprem, now Barcelona), Nikola Karabatic (2006/07 - 89 goals for Kiel, now PSG)

8 times (1995-2000, 2011, 2015) FC Barcelona have won the EHF Champions League and they are the record winners.

14 rounds will be played in Groups A and B. Groups C and D will play 10 rounds, followed by two rounds in the playoffs.

19 different nations (one less than last season) are repre-sented by the 28 group phase participants. Germany and France have three clubs each, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Poland each two.

20 matches is the maximum, participants of the 2016 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 will play, unless they skip the Last 16 or progress from Groups C/D.

8 former or current IHF World Handball Players of the Year are part of the 28 squads of this Champions League season, four of them are contracted by PSG: Arpad Sterbik (2005/Vardar), Nikola Karabatic (2007, 2014/PSG), Thierry Omeyer (2008/PSG), Slawomir Szmal (2009/Kielce), Filip Jicha (2010/Barcelona), Mikkel Hansen (2011, 2015/PSG), Daniel Narcisse (2012/PSG) and Domagoj Duvnjak (2013/Kiel). Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev was awarded twice (1994, 1996).

1 draw only will be held between now and the end of the season - for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 semi-finals in Cologne. All pairings of the Last 16 and quarter-finals are set by the rankings of the group phase.

1 person won the EHF Champions League as a player and a coach: Talant Dujshebaev. The current coach of Vive Tauron Kielce won the competition in 1994 as a player of Santander (ESP) and 2006, 2008 and 2009 as a coach of Ciudad Real, before steering Kielce to their first trophy in 2016.

2 winners of Groups A and B progress directly to the quar-ter-finals.

2 coaches led two different teams to the EHF Champions League trophies: Icelandic born Alfred Gislason (2002 SC Magdeburg, 2010 and 2012 THW Kiel) and Talant Dujshebaev (2006, 2008, 2009 Ciudad Real, 2016 Vive Tauron Kielce).

4 participants of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016 have qualified for the group phase again: Kielce, Veszprem, PSG and Kiel.

4 times each, Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier 2003, Kiel 2007, 2010, 2012) and Uros Zorman (Celje 2004, Ciudad Real 2008 and 2009, Kielce 2016) have won the EHF Champions League and are the most successful active players. Still, Andrej Xepkin is the individual record winner with seven trophies (six with Barcelona, one with Kiel).

4 playoff matches featuring the two best ranked teams of Groups C and D in March will decide the remaining Last 16 spots

5 countries are represented by the previous 22 EHF Champi-ons League champions: Spain (14 titles), Germany (6), Poland, Slovenia and France (one each).

6 times THW Kiel have qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far, winning the trophy at Cologne twice (2010, 2012).

5 times only Spanish and/or German teams had qualified for the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 (2010 Kiel vs Barcelo-na, 2011 Barcelona vs Madrid, 2012 Kiel vs Madrid, 2013 Hamburg vs Barcelona, 2014 Flensburg vs Kiel). 2016 meant the first final without a Spanish or German team, when Kielce faced Veszprem.

teams are debutants of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase: Holstebro (DEN) and Nantes (FRA).

pairings will compose the Last 16. Teams in the posi-tions 2-6 of Groups A and B and the Group C/D playoff

winners will face off.

times Spanish teams have won the EHF Champions League - Barcelona (8), Ciudad Real (3), Santander, Irun

and Portland (each 1).

2

6

14

23 Champions League participations in 24 years since the start of the competition in the 1993/94 season give RK Zagreb this record ahead of Veszprem and Celje (22 participations each).

28 teams are part of the group phase, split in eight teams each in Groups A and B and six teams each in Groups C and D.

57.03 goals were scored in average in all 160 matches of the 2015/16 VELUX EHF Champions League season.

141 goals were scored by current World Handball Player of the Year and Olympic champion Mikkel Hansen for PSG to become top scorer of the 2015/16 season.

208 matches will be carried out in the 2016/17 season of the

614 goals were scored by Kielce in their 20 matches of the 2015/16 season, which is the best attacting record.

496 goals were conceded by Paris in their 18 matches of the 2015/16 season, which was the competition’s best defensive record.

11,522 goals were scored the 2015/16 VELUX EHF Champions League season, 248 in qualification, 9619 in the group phase, 249 in the playoff matches of Groups C/D, 704 in the Last 16 matches, 456 in the quarter-finals and 246 at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

15,200 spectators attended the fans attended Zagreb’s two matches against PSG in the group phase and quarter-final and the group phase match against Veszprem, the highest attendance in the 2015/16 season prior to the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

19,750 fans are expected for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 once again on 3/4 June 2017.

Frenchmen among the 641 eligible players from 34 countries in total. Denmark has 51 and Croatia 47.

Only one player each for Egypt, Estonia, Finland and Republic of Congo.

71

25


HC Meshkov Brest 28,9 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 28,1 Kadetten Schaffhausen 27,5 FC Barcelona Lassa 27,3 HC Vardar 27,3 HC Motor Zaporozhye 27,1 Naturhouse La Rioja 27,1 Dinamo Bucuresti 27,0 HC PPD Zagreb 27,0 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 26,9 Besiktas Mogaz HT 26,6 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 26,2 Telekom Veszprém 26,1 THW Kiel 26,0 Orlen Wisla Plock 25,7 ABC/UMinho 25,5 Elverum Handball 25,3 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 24,9 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 24,0 TATRAN Presov 24,0 HBC Nantes 23,9 MOL-Pick Szeged 23,8 IFK Kristianstad 23,8 Chekhovskie Medvedi 23,3 Montpellier HB 23,0 TTH Holstebro 22,9 HC Metalurg 22,5 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 22,0

CL average 25,3

Orlen Wisla Plock 196,2 Naturhouse La Rioja 194,9 THW Kiel 194,4 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 194,3 MOL-Pick Szeged 193,5 HC Motor Zaporozhye 193,4 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 193,2 HC Meshkov Brest 193,2 HC Vardar 192,7 Telekom Veszprém 192,7 Dinamo Bucuresti 192,4 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 192,3 Besiktas Mogaz HT 192,0 FC Barcelona Lassa 192,0 Kadetten Schaffhausen 191,9 TATRAN Presov 191,7 HBC Nantes 191,5 TTH Holstebro 191,5 HC Metalurg 191,3 Chekhovskie Medvedi 191,3 Elverum Handball 191,2 Montpellier HB 191,0 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 190,7 IFK Kristianstad 190,3 HC PPD Zagreb 190,1 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 189,4 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 189,0 ABC/UMinho 187,4

CL average 191,9

THW Kiel 97,3 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 97,3 Dinamo Bucuresti 96,9 HC Vardar 96,8 Orlen Wisla Plock 96,6 Elverum Handball 95,8 MOL-Pick Szeged 95,6 HC Meshkov Brest 95,3 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 95,0 Telekom Veszprém 95,0 Besiktas Mogaz HT 94,9 Naturhouse La Rioja 94,6 IFK Kristianstad 93,8 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 93,3 TTH Holstebro 93,3 Kadetten Schaffhausen 92,9 FC Barcelona Lassa 92,4 HC PPD Zagreb 92,1 HC Motor Zaporozhye 91,9 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 91,6 HC Metalurg 91,5 TATRAN Presov 91,5 Montpellier HB 91,5 HBC Nantes 90,5 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 89,8 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 89,5 ABC/UMinho 88,5 Chekhovskie Medvedi 88,0

CL average 93,1

Teams by age average Teams by height average Teams by weight average

VELUX EHF Champions League. After those eight qualification matches, which took place already, 172 group matches, four Group C/D playoffs, 12 Last 16 matches, eight quarter-finals and four matches at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will follow.

26

Luka SavanovicTeo JezernikDomen MakucDogukan KeserAndi Muris HoulbertDylan NahiAndry Goujon BellevueLuka SimonicViktor MillerJannek KleinStefan ZabicEduardo Cadarso CaballeroAdam DimovicsMartin NagyJens Dolberg Plougstrup

Tom JensenJesper LarssonLjubomir VranjesVadym BrazhnykIbrahim DemirSören RasmussenNikola MarinovicThierry OmeyerGorazd SkofGurutz Aguinagalde AquizuHumberto GomesMattias AnderssonJose Manuel Sierra MendezTonci ValcicMichael V. Knudsen

Benedek SzakalyArtem KozakevychRoland SelmecziMichal DaszekTeo JezernikAndrei YurynokEmil SidelmannBalazs MolnarEduardo Cadarso CaballeroAleix Gomez AbelloKyllian VilleminotLukas BlohmeGal MargucMiha ZarabecMatej Vernarsky

BIHSLOSLOTURFRAFRAFRASLORUSGERSLOESPHUNHUNDEN

DENSWESWEUKRTURDENAUTFRASLOESPPORSWEESPCRODEN

HUNUKRHUNPOLSLOBLRDENHUNESPESPFRAGERSLOSLOSVK

16.1.200129.8.2000

1.7.200024.1.2000

24.12.199930.11.1999

2.9.199927.8.199916.4.199925.3.199917.2.199913.2.199923.1.1999

9.1.19998.1.1999

31.8.197127.7.19733.10.197325.2.19754.10.197512.8.197629.8.19762.11.197611.7.1977

26.10.19771.1.1978

29.3.197821.5.1978

9.6.19784.9.1978

656870707070707071717272727273

RK Celje Pivovarna LaskoRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoBesiktas Mogaz HTHBC NantesParis Saint-Germain HandballParis Saint-Germain HandballRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoChekhovskie MedvediSG Flensburg-HandewittRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoNaturhouse La RiojaMOL-Pick SzegedMOL-Pick SzegedBjerringbro-Silkeborg

Bjerringbro-SilkeborgIFK KristianstadSG Flensburg-HandewittTATRAN PresovBesiktas Mogaz HTBjerringbro-SilkeborgKadetten SchaffhausenParis Saint-Germain HandballParis Saint-Germain HandballNaturhouse La RiojaABC/UMinhoSG Flensburg-HandewittMOL-Pick SzegedHC PPD ZagrebBjerringbro-Silkeborg

Telekom VeszprémHC Motor ZaporozhyeMOL-Pick SzegedOrlen Wisla PlockRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoHC Meshkov BrestTTH HolstebroTelekom VeszprémNaturhouse La RiojaFC Barcelona LassaMontpellier HBSG Flensburg-HandewittRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoTATRAN Presov


Facts and figures of the group phase

Youngest Oldest

Lightest

16.1.2001 31.8.1971

65 kg

Luka Savanovic

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko / BIH

Tom Jensen

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg / DEN

Benedek Szakaly

Telekom Veszprém / HUN

Dainis KristopansStrahinja MilicRafael Baena GonzalezBence BanhidiKristian Krag OrstedMatic SuholeznikKamil SyprzakZbigniew KwiatkowskiKristian BeciriArpad Sterbik CaparRogerio Ferreira MoraesJesper NielsenIonut Adrian IrimusTolga ÖzbaharAdam Borbely

Dainis KristopansAngel Montoro CabelloTomasz GebalaNikolaj Rømer Berg MarkussenKristian Krag OrstedMarko KopljarMateusz PiechowskiLaszlo NagyAlexander TatarintsevSergii BurkaEvgeny DzeminKamil SyprzakRobin DourteBence BanhidiAleksander Borresen

Ljubomir VranjesTadej MatijasicMiha ZarabecBalazs MolnarViktor MillerStas SkubeEmil SidelmannGal MargucVictor Tomas GonzalezEdouard KempfBenedek SzakalyIvan CupicSergio MuggliTim D. SörensenOgulcan Güney

LATSRBESPHUNDENSLOPOLPOLCROESPBRASWEROUTURHUN

LATESPPOLDENDENCROPOLHUNRUSUKRRUSPOLFRAHUNNOR

SWESLOSLOHUNRUSSLODENSLOESPFRAHUNCROSUIDENTUR

135132128123121121120120120119118118118118118

213213212211210210210208208208207206206206206

168173174175175176177177178178178178178178178

HC Meshkov BrestHC VardarRhein-Neckar LöwenMOL-Pick SzegedBjerringbro-SilkeborgRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoFC Barcelona LassaOrlen Wisla PlockRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoHC VardarHC VardarParis Saint-Germain HandballDinamo BucurestiBesiktas Mogaz HTTelekom Veszprém

HC Meshkov BrestNaturhouse La RiojaOrlen Wisla PlockBjerringbro-SilkeborgBjerringbro-SilkeborgTelekom VeszprémOrlen Wisla PlockTelekom VeszprémIFK KristianstadHC Motor ZaporozhyeChekhovskie MedvediFC Barcelona LassaParis Saint-Germain HandballMOL-Pick SzegedElverum Handball

SG Flensburg-HandewittHC MetalurgRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoTelekom VeszprémChekhovskie MedvediMOL-Pick SzegedTTH HolstebroRK Celje Pivovarna LaskoFC Barcelona LassaParis Saint-Germain HandballTelekom VeszprémHC VardarKadetten SchaffhausenIFK KristianstadBesiktas Mogaz HT

Heaviest

TallestShortest

135 kg

213 213168 cm

Dainis Kristopans

HS Meshkov Brest / LAT

Dainis KristopansHS Meshkov Brest / LAT

Angel Montoro CabelloNaturhouse La Rioja / ESP

Ljubomir Vranjes

SG Flensburg-Handewitt / SWE

27


28

Group A preview

Group Apreview

THE STRONGEST EVER GROUP IN EUROPEAN CLUB

HANDBALL

“Nearly impossible to predict the group winner,” as five teams from Group A aim for the VELUX EHF FINAL4

When the group phase draw for the VELUX EHF Champions League on 1 July had come to an end, one could see open mouths and stunned faces. “This is the strongest group ever in European club handball,” was the unanimous opinion of everybody involved in Group A.

After Veszprém, PSG, Kiel and Flensburg had already been part of last season’s Group A, now record winners FC Barcelona Lassa will join this quartet to be the icing on the cake.

Barcelona (8), Kiel (3) and Flensburg (1) represent 12 EHF Champions League titles, Veszprem were finalists in 2015 and 2016 and PSG are the top favourites, and all five of them have the goal to make it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne - a goal, which at least one of them will miss.

“It is impossible to predict the winner of this group,” says THW Kiel new team cap-tain Domagoj Duvnjak. Last season’s Group A and B winners - PSG and Barcelona - are part of Group A. “This is a dream come true for every handball fan,” says PSG manager Bruno Martini. “In every round you will face world-class players either at home or away,” continued Martini.

New Veszprém sports director Nikola Eklemovic shares this opinion: “Every game will be like a FINAL4 game. For the supporters it will be amazing because they will see extremely good and interesting games each and every week.”

Besides those five powerhouses of European club handball, Polish runners-up Plock, the Danish champions Bjerringbro and the Swiss champions Schaffhausen will mainly fight for the last remaining spot for the Last 16.

With new coaches and bolstered squads, Plock (coached by Piotr Przybecki) and Schaffhausen (Lars Walther) are eager to enter this fight.

While the Flensburg squad has nearly remained unchanged, Barcelona and Kiel have started a rejuvenation of their rosters. After losing some experienced players, both signed young guns, who are seen by many to be the Champions League heros in the upcoming years such as Lasse Andersson (Barcelona), Lukas Nilsson or Nikola Bilyk (both Kiel).

In contrast, PSG have added some more world-class players to their star-stud-ded team like Uwe Gensheimer or Luka Stepancic. Veszprém have increased the number of players significantly, as they are part of three competitions (Hungarian

29

Group A preview

league, SEHA-Liga and Champions League) and aim to finish on top of all.

Former PSG and Barcelona player Marko Kopljar or the top scorer of the 2015 World Championship, Dragan Gajic, are among the new arrivals at the unlucky losers of the 2016 final.

In the previous season with nearly the same line-up, PSG finished on top, ahead of Veszprém, Flensburg and Kiel, while Plock took sixth. In the end, Veszprém, PSG and Kiel made it to the FINAL4, but all were below Kielce after the final day. “It would definitely be no surprise, if both 2017 finalists would come from Group A. But definitely I cannot name them right now,” is the opinion of Flensburg manager Dierk Schmäschke.

But due to the huge number of Olympic Games participants, and a shorter period of preparation than normal, the top sides are aware that a lot of surprises could occur up until the winter break in December. “But in the end, the big names will fight for the top positions.

Though it will not be easy for us, we are aiming for a position among the top four as you can make your life in the knockout stages a little easier,” says THW manager Thorsten Storm.

His team is the record holder in terms of FINAL4 participations with six appearanc-es followed by Barcelona (5), Veszprem (3) and Flensburg and PSG, who both have made it to Cologne once.

Björn Pazen

30

Group A preview

Telekom Veszprém vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 3-0-3 (157:165) 6:6

Telekom Veszprém vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 1-1-0 (58:52) 3:1

24.02.2001 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Fotex KC Veszprém, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 31:22 (13:12)03.03.2001 Fotex KC Veszprém vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 20:22 (9:10)05.10.2008 MKB Veszprém KC vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group F 29:28 (14:14)16.11.2008 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Group F 32:29 (15:15)26.09.2015 MVM Veszprém vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:24 (15:14) 27.02.2016 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:29 (12:10)

06.04.2008 Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ vs MKB Veszprém KC, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-Final 28:28 (12:18) 12.04.2008 MKB Veszprém KC vs Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-Final 30:24 (16:14)

Group A head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC

Telekom Veszprém vs FC Barcelona Lassa 4-1-11 (422:462) 9:23

Telekom Veszprém vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 4-1-1 (172:153) 9:3

Telekom Veszprém vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 2-0-0 (57:44) 4:0

Telekom Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock 4-1-1 (186:161) 9:3

13.04.1986 VAEV Epitök SC vs FC Barcelona, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 27:25 (13:12)19.04.1986 FC Barcelona vs VAEV Epitök SC, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 29:19 (13:10)21.02.1998 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:28 (19:13)01.03.1998 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:27 (13:15)31.01.1999 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:29 (14:15)07.02.1999 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:24 (16:11)14.11.1999 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group D 23:31 (13:16)04.12.1999 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group D 25:21 (13:13)13.12.2003 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:29 (18:15)20.12.2003 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Last 16 31:26 (16:14)25.04.2010 FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:27 (17:15)01.05.2010 MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:34 (19:15)27.03.2011 FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:21 (14:13)02.04.2011 MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:26 (15:8)01.06.2014 FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 26:25 (9:10)31.05.2015 FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final 28:23 (14:10)

19.04.2014 PSG Handball vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 26:28 (14:12)26.04.2014 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs PSG Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 31:26 (12:12)12.04.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qu.-final 24:24 (10:12)19.04.2015 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qu.-final 34:28 (16:12)25.10.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs MVM Vészprem, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (16:12) 28.11.2015 MVM Veszprém vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:20 (16:14)

08.10.2011 MKB Veszprém KC vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:25 (17:11) 04.12.2011 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 19:25 (5:14)

09.11.2002 Wisla Plock SSA vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group A 25:30 (9:13)08.12.2002 Fotex KC Veszprém vs Wisla Plock SSA, EHF Champions League – Group A 38:24 (20:14)23.03.2014 Orlen Wisla Plock vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 34:33 (16:16)29.03.2014 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 31:26 (16:11)19.09.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:27 (11:13) 05.03.2016 MVM Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – group A 27:25 (16:13)

31

Group A preview

FC Barcelona Lassa vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 2-0-0 (71:57) 4:0)

FC Barcelona Lassa vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 2-0-0 (71:57) 4:0)

FC Barcelona Lassa vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 2-0-0 (58:50) 4:0)

FC Barcelona Lassa vs Orlen Wisla Plock 1-0-1 (61:59) 2:2)

FC Barcelona Lassa vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 4-0-2 (199:190) 8:4

Telekom Veszprém vs THW Kiel 7-0-7 (402:406) 14:14

20.10.2013 PSG Handball vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:33 (17:17) 15.02.2014 FC Barcelona vs PSG handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 38:28 (19:9)

20.10.2013 PSG Handball vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:33 (17:17) 15.02.2014 FC Barcelona vs PSG handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 38:28 (19:9)

17.03.2013 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:32 (12:15) 24.03.2013 FC Barcelona Intersport vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:24 (12:13)

05.10.2014 FC Barcelona vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:25 (13:12) 06.12.2014 Orlen Wisla Plock vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 34:31 (17:15)

18.12.1999 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, European Championship for Club Teams – Semi-Final 32:29 (16:14)23.02.2007 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs FC Barcelona-Cifec, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 31:21 (13:10)03.03.2007 FC Barcelona-Cifec vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 34:29 (14:12)31.05.2014 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 - Semi-final 39:41 (17:18, 32:32, 36:36)15.11.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 33:37 (16:16) 23.11.2014 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 36:27 (14:16)

24.01.1996 THW Kiel vs Fotex Veszprém SE, EHF Champions League – Group A 28:25 (17:15)13.02.1996 Fotex Veszprém SE vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group A 23:21 (11:9)25.10.2002 THW Kiel vs Fotex KC Veszprém, European Championship for Club Teams – Semi-final 23:31 (11:15)24.02.2007 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 39:36 (19:20)01.03.2007 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 39:32 (22:15)18.10.2012 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:30 (14:15)17.02.2013 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:21 (17:13)21.04.2013 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:31 (15:16)27.04.2013 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 28:29 (14:12)31.05.2014 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 26:29 (13:13)30.05.2015 THW Kiel vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 27:31 (13:13)17.10.2015 MVM Veszprém vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (17:15) 06.12.2015 THW Kiel vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:24 (11:12) 28.05.2016 THW Kiel vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 28:31 (15:12, 25:25)

FC Barcelona Lassa vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 4-0-0 (132:103) 8:006.10.2011 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:30 (13:14) 03.12.2011 FC Barcelona Intersport vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:29 (18:15) 27.09.2012 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 23:33 (12:17) 01.12.2012 FC Barcelona Intersport vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 36:25 (19:13)

32

Group A preview

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Orlen Wisla Plock

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt

No previous encounters in European competitions


FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW Kiel 10-1-10 (627:637) 21:21

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Kadetten Schaffhausen

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Orlen Wisla Plock 2-0-0 (56:46) 4:0

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 2-0-2 (124:139) 4:4

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel 3-0-6 (256:281) 6:12

22.04.2000 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Final 28:25 (15:14)29.04.2000 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Final 29:24 (15:12)25.03.2001 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 28:24 (12:11)31.03.2001 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 33:28 (14:11)20.04.2002 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Cup – Final 36:29 (19:13)28.04.2002 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Final 28:24 (14:08)05.03.2005 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 30:25 (13:14)12.03.2005 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:27 (17:14)06.04.2008 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 41:31 (20:15)13.04.2008 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 44:37 (19:20)19.10.2008 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group C 27:31 (15:15)23.11.2008 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Group C 33:26 (16:11)11.10.2009 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group D 27:30 (17:20)14.02.2010 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Group D 30:32 (15:17)30.05.2010 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel GER, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final 34:36 (20:17)03.10.2010 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:28 (14:10)05.12.2010 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 32:29 (13:15)24.04.2011 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 27:25 (14:15)01.05.2011 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:36 (15:19) 24.04.2016 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:24 (16:12) 30.04.2016 FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:30 (13:14)



27.09.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:24 (16:13) 27.02.2016 Orlen Wisla Plock vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 22:27 (12:16)

15.10.2005 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Paris Handball, EHF Champions League – Group H 37:24 (17:13)13.11.2005 Paris Handball vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:31 (16:16)19.09.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Gr. A 39:32 (21:16) 06.03.2016 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Gr. A 35:32 (16:16)

14.12.2003 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, EHF Cup – Last 16 34:27 (19:12)21.12.2003 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Last 16 30:32 (14:19)04.12.2005 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Last 16 21:28 (11:13)10.12.2005 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, EHF Champions League – Last 16 44:28 (22:12)16.11.2014 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:27 (13:12)22.11.2014 THW Kiel vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:29 (14:15)12.11.2015 THW Kiel vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:30 (10:16)21.11.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 37:30 (18:12)29.05.2016 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 29:27 (15:11)

33

Group A preview

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs THW Kiel

Orlen Wisla Plock vs Kadetten Schaffhausen

Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 2-0-4 (166:181) 4:8

Orlen Wisla Plock vs THW Kiel 1-0-7 (207:262) 2:14

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 3-0-1 (102:91) 6:2

Kadetten Schaffhausen vs THW Kiel

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel 4-1-7 (335:346) 9:15

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 1-0-1 (58:50) 2:2



08.12.2001 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen SSA Plock, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 33:27 (19:12)15.12.2001 Orlen SSA Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 25:23 (10:9)08.10.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:28 (21:16)22.02.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:29 (14:13)25.10.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 30:34 (13:17) 25.11.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:25 (13:11)

08.10.2005 Wisla Plock SSA vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group E 32:31 (16:15)22.10.2005 THW Kiel vs Wisla Plock SSA, EHF Champions League – Group E 37:22 (17:12)14.03.2012 Orlen Wisla Plock vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 24:36 (12:14)18.03.2012 THW Kiel vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 27:24 (15:10)22.09.2013 Orlen Wisla Plock vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 33:34 (14:14)01.12.2013 THW Kiel vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 34:25 (16:11)10.10.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 23:37 (8:18) 17.02.2016 THW Kiel vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:24 (14:14)

13.10.1996 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, EHF Cup – Round 2 27:16 (13:7) 19.10.1996 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Cup – Round 2 21:23 (10:11) 24.04.2010 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Kadetten SH Handball, EHF Cup – Semi-final 31:30 (15:15) 01.05.2010 Kadetten SH Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Cup – Semi-final 24:21 (12:12)


18.04.1998 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Final 25:23 (12:9)22.04.1998 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Cup – Final 26:21 (16:9)28.10.2001 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, European Championship for Club Teams – Place 3/4 33:31 (17:14)28.02.2006 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 28:32 (13:12)04.03.2006 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:34 (16:17)22.04.2007 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Final 28:28 (10:12)29.04.2007 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Final 29:27 (15:10)01.06.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final 30:28 (14:16)15.03.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 21:30 (9:16)22.03.2015 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:28 (16:10)03.10.2015 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:23 (14:13) 14.02.2016 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 37:27 (17:14)

03.12.2006 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg A/S vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 30:20 (19:7) 10.12.2006 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg A/S, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 30:28 (15:14)

34

Telekom Veszprém

‘#40 years’ is the hashtag for the upcoming season, as Telekom Veszprém will celebrate their 40th anniversary since the club was founded on 9 January 1977 and all of Balaton Lake are eager to crown the anniversary season with several trophies. After winning the SEHA Liga twice in a row, Veszprém hopes for the treble and under the helm of new Sports Director, Nikola Eklemovic, the team wants to forever forget their cruellest minutes throughout their 21 Champions League participations. Fifteen minutes before the end of the 2016 final game in Cologne, Veszprém were ahead by eight goals, but nearly an hour later, after extra time and a penalty shoot-out, Vive Tauron Kielce were on the podium. Veszprém were beaten for the third time in a Champions League final, following 2002 (Magdeburg) and 2015 (Barcelona).Veszprém learned from this match and as they face three hard competitions (Hungarian League, SEHA, Champions League), the team has clearly increased the number of players on their squad. The top signings among the eleven new players include Croat Marko Kopljar from Barcelona and Slovenians Dragan Gajic from Montpellier and Blaz Blagotinsek from Celje.“With a team such as this one, Veszprém has a goal which is nothing short of being among the best teams in every competition and doing anything for the final victo-ry,” clarifies team captain, Laszlo Nagy. Sports director Eklemovic is more concrete with the goals. “Our target is the fourth straight qualification for the FINAL4. It will be very hard, but I hope our team will not be limited by injuries and I hope all players will be ready to play to the end of season.”Veszprém were drawn in tough Group A. “Every game will be like a FINAL4 game. For the supporters, it will be amazing because they will see extremely exciting and very interesting games every single week,” says Eklemovic confidently.

GROUP A

Club AddressVeszprem HC5 Külső Kádártai út8200 VeszprémHungary

Media contactZsolt Sevinger+36 [email protected]

handballveszprem.hu

veszpremhandballteam

@mkbveszpremkc

Playing hallVeszprém ArenaKülso Kadartai ut8200 VeszprémHungaryCapacity: 5,020

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 22Final (3): 2001/02, 2014/15, 2015/16Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13Last 16 (3): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Run-ners-up 1996/97SEHA-league: 2 titles (2015, 2016)Hungarian league: 24 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)Hungarian Cup winner: 25 times

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: green

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGK shirt: black

Telekom Veszprém

35

EHF Champions League club records

VELUX EHF Champions League record

Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goals

Most goals opponent

Most goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponent

Fewest goals both teams

38:17 (18:9) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.200430:18 (16:8) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), 24.01.199511 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010)11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010)3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996)4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999)46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), 07.10.200646 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.200639 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.200739 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.201677 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.201615 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.199513 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.200113 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.200232 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002

Telekom Veszprém

114677

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals

Most goals both teams

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95

1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 2 2 2 131:147 –16 6:6 3rd Gr. A1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 3 0 3 147:144 +3 6:6 3rd Gr. A1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 5 1 2 228:204 +24 11:5 1/4-finals1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 3 1 4 200:188 +12 7:9 1/4-finals1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 4 0 4 203:202 +1 8:8 1/4-finals2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 12 9 0 3 310:267 +43 18:6 Runner-up2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 8 0 2 276:238 +38 16:4 1/2-finals2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 306:276 +30 14:6 1/4-finals2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 317:259 +58 14:6 1/4-finals2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:318 +55 18:6 1/2-finals2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 10 7 0 3 338:288 +50 14:6 1/4-finals2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 6 2 2 2 184:171 +13 6:6 3rd Gr. F2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 8 0 4 351:320 +31 16:8 1/4-finals2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 419:368 +51 22:6 1/4-finals2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:338 +35 18:6 1/8-finals2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 7 0 5 321:322 -1 14:10 1/8-finals2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 410:348 +62 22:6 1/4-finals2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 11 1 4 477:410 +67 23:9 Fourth Place2014/15 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 13 1 2 480:423 +57 27:5 Runner-up2015/16 MVM Veszprém HUN 20 15 2 3 600:539 +61 32:8 Runner-upTotal: 222 151 10 61 6444:5770 +674 312:132

36

Telekom Veszprém

Xavier Sabatecoach• signed with Veszprém as assistant coach of Antonio Carlos

Ortega but became interim coach after Ortega parted ways with the club

• Spanish tactician earned a per manent contract on 8th Janu-ary 2016, he is contracted until June 2017

• worked as an assistant coach under Ortega for more than ten years, their co-operation started at BM Antequera in Spain

• Veszprém is the first club Sabaté has lead as head coach but in March 2016 he was appointed as interim coach to train the Hungarian national team

Newcomers:Inal Aflitulin (Bergischer HC)Mirko Milasevic (Dinamo Bucuresti)Gábor Ancsin (Szeged)Dragan Gajic (Montpellier)Marko Kopljar (Barcelona)Blaz Blagotinsek (Celje)Patrik Ligetvári (Balatonfüred – back from loan)Norbert Gyene (Balatonfüred – back from loan)Dávid Fekete (Vác – back from loan)Ádám Borbély (Tatabánya – back from loan)Attila Tóth (junior Veszprém)

Left the club:Christian Zeitz (THW Kiel)Isaias Guardiola (HC Erlangen)

37

Team roster

Telekom Veszprém

No.

2232273112415543173151342166962416404419181425455913346474830974923

First Name

InalMirkoGaborBlazAdamMateDavidDanielDraganPeterNorbertMomirGergöMarkoMatePatrikGasperRolandMirkoBalazsLaszloAndreasAronJose MariaPeterTimuzsin I.IvanRenatoBenedekErikZoltanMirsadAttilaDavidCristian

Surname

AflitulinAlilovicAncsinBlagotinsekBorbelyDavidFeketeFüziGajicGulyasGyeneIlicIvancsikKopljarLekaiLigetvariMargucMiklerMilasevicMolnarNagyNilssonPalmarsson“Chema” RodriguezSchmidSchuchSliskovicSulicSzakalySzeitlSzitaTerzicTothUbornyakUgalde Garcia

Nat.

RUSCROHUNSLOHUNHUNHUNHUNSLOHUNHUNSRBHUNCROHUNHUNSLOHUNMNEHUNHUNSWEISLESPHUNHUNCROCROHUNHUNHUNBIHHUNHUNESP

Position

Centre Back Goalkeeper Right Back Line Player Goalkeeper Line Player Left Wing Line Player Right Wing Right Wing Right Wing Right Back Left Wing Right Back Centre Back Left Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Left Wing Right Back Line Player Centre Back Centre Back Centre Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Right Wing Line Player Centre Back Left Back Right Back Centre Back Left Wing

Date of birth

22.3.198815.9.198527.11.199017.1.199422.6.199524.9.199612.10.19969.8.199621.7.19844.3.198418.4.199422.12.198130.11.198112.2.198616.6.198813.2.199620.8.199020.9.198427.7.198525.6.19973.3.198112.4.199019.7.19905.1.19806.8.19965.6.198523.10.199112.10.19797.9.199718.7.199710.2.199812.7.198317.3.19978.9.199819.10.1987

Place of birth

Astrakhan, RUSLjubuski, CROBekescsaba, HUNCelje, SLODebrecen, HUNCegléd, HUNBudapest, HUNVeszprém, HUNCelje, SLOVeszprem, HUNVeszprém, HUNAndjelovac, SRBGyör, HUNPozega, CROBudapest, HUNVárpalota, HUNCelje, SLODunaujvaros, HUNCetinje, MNEVeszprém, HUNSzeged, HUNTrelleborg, SWEReykjavik, ISLPalencia, ESPVeszprém, HUNNagyatad, HUNSplit, CRORijeka, CROBudapest, HUNTapolca, HUNVeszprém, HUNPriboj, BIHBadapest, HUNSzabadszállás, HUNBarcelona, ESP

Height

183200201202196195180188188200188198190210190200180190196175208197193187190197197192178194196196193188187

Weight

851101091101189782958410575107861088994841019370116116949892109981086510390105907480

C

38

Telekom Veszprém

Roland Mikler goalkeeper• 2005 All-Star goalkeeper of the junior WCh, at which he led Hungary to bronze

• Hungarian national team member is quick, compact, excellent at directing defence

• as a teenager Mikler reached the semi-final of the EHF Cup over a decade ago, with Dunaferr in 2003, and won it with Szeged in 2014

• joined Veszprem in 2014 after the EHF Cup success with Szeged

Cristian Ugalde left wing• brought up by Barcelona and played regularly in the first team since he was 18

• excelled at international level in the 2007/08 season with his 34 goals and participation in the national team

• won every possible title with Barca – some of them multiple times

• found a new challenge in Veszprém with Gergö Iváncsik, who is one of the best players in this position according to Ugalde

Mirko Alilovic goalkeeper• like his predecessor (Dejan Peric) belongs to the elite class of goalkeepers who can send the audience to their feet and inspire his teammates

• Croatian national team member, has been fighting for the first choice position with Roland Mikler in Veszprém

• very familiar with the Spanish contingent in Veszprém as he played for five years in the ASOBAL

Momir Ilic left back• top scorer and only player passing 100 goals (103) in the 2013/14 CL season and again top scorer in 2014/15 (114 goals), in 2015/16 2nd behind Mikkel Hansen (120 goals)

• joined THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL Gummersbach and won seven titles during his four years with the club, including two CL titles

• led Serbia to their 1st medal as an independent nation at EHF EURO 2012 as MVP

• 2013/14 and 2015/16 CL All-star team left back

EC trophy: EHF Cup 2014

EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: B 2011

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012EURO: S 2012

OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, 2016, WCh: S 2009, B 2013

39

Telekom Veszprém

Aron Palmarsson centre back• before joining Veszprem in summer 2015 the versatile and tactically as well as technically skilled playmaker was with Kiel for six years

• struggled to find his game in Veszprém but became an influential player of the Hungarian team with some top-drawer performances.

• won all possible trophies with Veszprém in his first year (Hungarian Championship and Cup, SEHA League) apart from the CL trophy

Laszlo Nagy right back• started his career as a basketball player and was close to a move to the USA at 13

• decided for handball and became one of the best right backs in the world

• transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain despite being a foreigner; captain of Veszprém since 2014

• All-Star right back of the 2013 WCh and the 2012/13 CL season

Andreas Nilsson line player• the 26 year-old pivot has already featured in three Champions League finals having been crowned as champion in 2013 with Hamburg

• won two SEHA League titles, two national championships and cups in Hungary with Veszprém

• the Swede is sharing line-playing duties with Croatian Renato Sulic and the newcomer from Celje Blaz Blagotinsek

Dragan Gajic right wing• signed by Montpellier in 2011 together with fellow Slovenian Vid Kavticnik

• has had two stellar seasons behind him in 2014/15 & 2015/16 scoring 71 & 73 goals respectably

• signed with Veszprém in 2016, where he will share minutes with fellow Slovenian Gasper Marguc and the team’s co-captain Peter Gulyas

• 2015 WCh top scorer (71 goals) and All-Star team right wing

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012EURO: B 2010

EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003

EC trophies: CL 2013OG: S 2012

40

FC Barcelona Lassa

It is an anniversary for the record winners of the EHF Champions League: For the 20th time, FC Barcelona Lassa are a part of Europe’s top handball competition. In the previous 19 years, the Catalans have been semi-finalists 13 times, finalist 11 times and they have won the competition eight times - impressive numbers! But last season, Barcelona joined the fate of every other VELUX EHF FINAL4 winner before - they did not defend their title in Cologne. In two thrilling quarter-final encounters against THW Kiel, Barcelona missed the qualification for the tourna-ment for the second time, similar to 2012 when they were also the defending champions.After winning their 23rd championship title in Spain, their sixth in a row, the squad of Xavi Pascual has undergone several changes. World class goalkeeper, Danijel Saric, was traded to Qatar and was replaced by Macedonian Borko Ristovski. In addition, experienced players such as Marko Kopljar (Veszprem), Daniel Sarmiento (Saint-Raphael), Eduardo Gurbindo (Nantes) and Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (Rhein Neckar Löwen) all left the club for a new adventure.On the other hand, FC Barcelona Lassa signed a couple highly talented young guns from all over Europe, including the two Frenchmen, Dika Mem (Tremblay) and Timothey N’Guessan (Chambery), as well as Dane Lasse Andersson (Kolding). In ad-dition, one ‘forgotten son’ returned to his home club, where his career first began: Valero Rivera jun (from Nantes), the son of current Qatar coach and former Barca coach, Valero Rivera. Rivera is the only coach in the history of the EHF Champions League to win the trophy five times.As per usual, in the upcoming season, Barcelona belongs to the list of favourites for making it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. To clinch the berth for this pinnacle event is the goal of Barcelona coach, Xavi Pascual. “We will try to go all the way and play good matches,” Pascual says.

GROUP A

Club AddressFC Barcelona LassaAvda. Aristides Maillol, s/n08028 BarcelonaSpain

Media contactGustau Galvache+34 [email protected]

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FCBHandbol

@FCBHandbol

Playing hallPalau BlaugranaAv. Aristides Maillol, s/n08028 BarcelonaSpainCapacity: 7,250

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: light greenPlayer short: light greenGK shirt: blue or yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: blue and redPlayer short: blueGK shirt: green or black

FC Barcelona Lassa

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 sea6son): 20Winner (8): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11, 2014/15Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13Semi-final (2): 2007/08, 2013/14Quarter-final (4): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2015/16Last 16 (1): 2003/04Main Round (1): 2008/09OtherEHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95 Spanish league: 23 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988-92, 1996-2000, 2003, 2006, 2011-16)Spanish Cup winner: 20 titlesAsobal Cup winner: 11 titles

VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95

1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 2 1 213:173 +40 12:4 Winner1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 1 1 358:264 +94 21:3 Winner1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 12 9 1 2 358:284 +74 19:5 Winner1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 3 1 357:289 +68 19:5 Winner1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 0 2 345:271 +74 20:4 Winner2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 2 2 316:281 +35 18:6 Runner-up2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 1 2 262:212 +50 11:5 1/8-finals2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 14 8 0 6 400:360 +40 16:12 Winner2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 9 0 1 293:244 +49 18:2 1/4-finals2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 8 0 2 314:263 +51 16:4 1/4-finals2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 14 11 0 3 475:407 +68 22:6 1/2-finals2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 10 6 0 4 307:275 +32 12:8 3rd MR Gr. 42009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 13 1 2 545:461 +84 27:5 Runner-up2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 10 3 3 501:451 +50 23:9 Winner2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 14 11 0 3 459:357 +102 22:6 1/4-finals2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 16 13 0 3 488:404 +84 26:6 Runner-up2013/14 FC Barcelona ESP 16 12 1 3 535:426 +109 25:7 Third Place2014/15 FC Barcelona ESP 16 14 1 1 527:408 +119 29:3 Winner2015/16 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 16 12 1 3 480:431 +49 25:7 1/4-finalsTotal: 244 182 17 45 7533:6261 +1272 381:107

41

EHF Champions League club records Biggest winBiggest defeat

Longest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing run

Longest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponent

Most goals both teamsFewest goals

Fewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

17:43 (9:21) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (a), 19.11.201131:21 (13:10) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 23.02.200741:31 (20:15) v THW Kiel GER (a), 06.04.200812 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012)16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997)2 matches (25.03.2000 – 22.04.2000)2 matches (16.10.2004 – 23.10.2004)2 matches (11.12.2004 – 05.03.2005)2 matches (15.03.2008 – 06.04.2008)2 matches (23.11.2008 – 14.02.2009)2 matches (30.05.2010 – 25.09.2010)3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010)46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.200941 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.200841 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41L (a), 31.05.201482 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.200921 v ABC Braga POR 21:21D (a), 09.11.199721 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:21L (a), 23.10.200421 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:21L (a), 25.02.200621 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 31:21L (a), 23.02.200721 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 22:21L (a), 20.09.201511 v Aalborg Handball DEN 11:31W (a), 15.03.201538 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (h), 20.04.199638 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004

FC Barcelona Lassa

124682

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals


42

FC Barcelona Lassa

Xavi Pascualcoach

• played for a lengthy period for Barcelona and some other Spanish clubs, before becoming the goalkeeper coach at the CL record winners in 2005

• in 2009 he succeded Manolo Cadenas at Barcelona’s helm

• in June 2016 he signed a four-year contract with the Roma-nian national team

• in a historic season 2014/15 season won all the titles with Barca emulating Valero Rivera’s (7 out of 7) success in 1999/00

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015

Newcomers:Borko Ristovski (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)Joan Saubich (Aix-En-Provence)Dika Mem (Tremblay)Lasse Andersson (Kolding)Timothey N’Guessan (Chambery)Valero Rivera jun (Nantes)

Left the club:Danjel Saric (Qatar)Marko Kopljar (Veszprem)Daniel Sarmiento (Saint Raphael)Eduardo Gurbindo (Nantes)Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)Carlos Ruesga (Sporting Lisbon)

43

Team roster

FC Barcelona Lassa

No.

3111139364142397724271931612173710218

First Name

JoanLasseAitorRaulGerardAleixWaelFilipKirilDikaViranTimotheyJesperGonzaloOriolBorkoValeroJoanCedricKamilVictor

Surname

Amigo BoadaAnderssonArino BengoecheaEntrerriosForns GalveGomez AbelloJallouzJichaLazarovMemMorros de ArgilaN’guessanNöddesboPerez de VargasRey MoralesRistovskiRivera FolchSaubich MirSorhaindoSyprzakTomas Gonzalez

Nat.

ESPDENESPESPESPESPTUNCZEMKDFRAESPFRADENESPESPMKDESPESPFRAPOLESP

Position

Left Back Left Back Left Wing Centre Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Back Left Back Right Back Right Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Line Player Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Line Player Right Wing

Date of birth

17.7.199311.3.19945.10.199212.2.198126.12.19947.5.19973.5.199119.4.198210.5.198031.8.199715.12.198318.9.199223.10.198010.1.199131.3.19942.11.198222.2.19857.11.19897.6.198423.7.199115.2.1985

Place of birth

Barcelona, ESPKøbenhavn, DENPenarth, ESPGijon, ESP

Sant Boi de Llobregat, ESP

Sabadell, ESPGrombalia, TUNPilsen, CZEVeles, MKDParis, FRABarcelona, ESPMassy, FRAHerning, DENToledo, ESPSt Maria de Palautordera, ESPSkopje, MKDBarcelona, ESPSarrià de Ter, ESPLa Trinite, FRAPlock, POLBarcelona, ESP

Height

190195187193185182197201195195199194199189190190189186192206178

Weight

9296809282719210599859994100939598808210012085C

44

FC Barcelona Lassa

Gonzalo Perez de Vargas goalkeeper• returned to the Catalan club in 2014 after having played for BM Granollers and Tolouse to gain more experience

• in 2016/17 has more responsibility following the departure of Danijel Saric to Qatar

• international with Spain in all age categories, in the senior national team shares the position with another former Barcelona goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik

Wael Jallouz left back• key player in the Tunisian national team, which also made it to the Rio 2016 OG

• became the first African player at the FINAL4 in 2014 in his first season with Kiel

• left his home town Hammamet for Kiel in 2013 and joined Barcelona in 2014

• became a key player for FC Barcelona in 2015/16 thanks to his progress

Valero Rivera left wing• returned to the CL after 11 years following his transfer from Nantes

• started to play handball in Barcelona and played with the first team from 2001 to 2005, later played for four different Spanish teams in 5 years and spent 6 years in Nantes

• top scorer of the EHF EURO 2016 (48 goals), elected WCh 2015 best left winger and MVP in French League in 2012; also best left-wing in the French League 2012 & 2013

• his father, also named Valero Rivera, currently coaches Qatar

Filip Jicha left back• 2010 World Handball Player of the Year as the first Czech to win the award

• twice top scorer of the CL, top scorer and MVP at the EHF EURO 2010

• former captain of the THW Kiel came to Barcelona in the summer of 2015, but his first season was hampered by injuries

• one-against-one ability and tough shots make him feared by defences, also a strong defender

•

EC Trophies: CL 2015EURO: B 2014, S 2016

EC trophies: CL 2015

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2006

EC trophies: CL 2005EURO: B 2014, S 2016, WCh: G 2013

45

FC Barcelona Lassa

Raul Entrerrios centre back• one of the household names in Spanish handball for his experience

• EHF EURO 2016 MVP

• although his natural position sees him playing in the center, his skills on the first line allow him to change permanently with effectiveness and perform with ease in all positions

• with three Spanish clubs (Leon, Valladolid, FC Barcelona) has won all the most important European Cup competitions including the CL

Kiril Lazarov right back• has scored over 1,000 goals in the CL, two-time top scorer (2005/06 and 2007/08)

• powerful Macedonian back court shooter and the specialist from 7m

• most successful scorer at a single EURO (61 goals - 2012) and at WCh (92 - 2009)

• joined Barcelona in 2013 after stints with Pelister, Zagreb, Veszprem and Ciudad Real/Atletico de Madrid

Cedric Sorhaindo line player• with Viran Morros, Sorhaindo is a key player in defence for FC Barcelona

• arrived in Barcelona as an unknown player and now he is one of the best in the world in his position with a lot of experience

• prolonged his contract with Barcelona until 2020, ten years after his arrival

• one of the stalwarts in the French national team

Victor Tomas right wing• team captain, one of the most beloved players for his courage and passion

• joined Barcelona’s youth team in 1998 and has not played for any other club

• his biggest assets are his great pace and his impressive flexibility that make him a strong player in attack but also in defence

• in 2015/16 reached 500th goal in CL and goal 1.000th in the Spanish league

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015, Cup Winner’s Cup 2005, 2009OG: B 2008, EURO: S 2006, 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2015, B 2011


EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, 2015, EHF Cup: 2003OG: B 2008, EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2013

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015EURO: G 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2015, OG: G 2012, S 2016

46


In 2014 and 2015, they failed during the last stage before the pinnacle event. In May 2016, Paris Saint-Germain made their first-ever appearance at the VELUX EHF FINAL4, but missed the final. Since Montpellier’s triumph in 2003, no French team has made it to the VELUX EHF Champions League Final, let alone even won the competition, but PSG hopes that their time will soon come.After 90 percent of the squad was involved with the Olympic Games in Rio - and half of them returned to the French capital with medals, including the Danish gold medallists, Mikkel Hansen and Henrik Möllgaard, the biggest pre-season challenge was the IHF Super Globe in Doha. At their debut, Paris made it to the final by beat-ing current VELUX EHF Champions League winners Kielce, but then failed against Füchse Berlin. This tournament already proved that Paris’ top transfer was an ace: German Uwe Gensheimer, All-star team member and bronze medallist in Rio, was by far PSG’s best scorer at the Super Globe. Alongside Gensheimer, the PSG signings are mainly international, with Croat Luka Stepancic, Slovenian goalkeeper Gorazd Skof, Dane Jesper Nielsen and some additional native French players. Now, the French champi-ons belong to the top favourites once again.The new key players are meant to strengthen the squad, after several players departed, including left-handed Sergey Onufriyenko or Croatian line player, legend Igor Vori. “Due to the Olympic Games our pre-season was quite short, but we hope that the impact is not too harsh,” says manager Bruno Martini.Everyone within the Paris organization agrees that their group A is the “hardest and strongest ever group in the history of the Champions League.” Despite all those big names, Paris aim to repeat last season’s success, when they captured first position to skip the Last 16 in a nearly similar group.

GROUP A

Club AddressParis Saint-Germain Handball82 avenue Georges Lafont75016 ParisFrance

Media contactLouise Cosnard+33 675 591 [email protected]

www.psghand.fr

PSGHAND

@PSG_HANDBALL

Kit colours


DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: green


Playing hallStade Pierre de Coubertin82, Avenue Georges Lafond75016 ParisFranceCapacity: 4,012

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 5Semi-final (1): 2015/16 (3rd)Quarter-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15Last 16 (1): 2005/06

OtherEHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last 16 2003/04

French league: 3 titles (2013, 2015, 2016)French cup: 2 titles



1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 1 0 5 131:161 –30 2:10 4th Gr. D2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 4 1 3 212:229 -17 9:7 1/8-finals2013/14 PSG Handball FRA 14 7 1 6 429:402 +27 15:13 1/4-finals2014/15 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 14 8 1 5 395:367 +28 17:11 1/4-finals 2015/16 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 18 14 1 3 557:496 +61 29:7 Third PlaceTotal: 60 34 4 22 1724:1655 +69 72:48

47


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten run

Longest losing runLongest run without winMost goals

Most goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goals


38:24 (22:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (h), 23.11.201344:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.20057 matches (27.09.2015 – 21.11.2015)7 matches (27.09.2015 – 21.11.2015)7 matches (06.12.2015 – 01.05.2016)4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997)4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997)40 v Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 30:40W (a), 03.10.201540 v Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 40:28W (h), 20.02.201644 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.200572 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.200520 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.199720 v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.199720 v MVM Veszprém HUN 28:20L (a), 28.11.201518 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.200539 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005


74072

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals


48


Noka Serdarusiccoach• born in Yugoslavia, became a German citizen in 2008• came out of retirement in 2012 to coach Aix, then moved to

PSG in 2015• does not speak French, only German, but since many players

in PSG have played in Germany before it seems to be no problem

• his previous coaching experience includes eleven seasons with THW Kiel and three with SG Flensburg-Handewitt

• almost a honourary member of the Karabatic family

EC trophies: CL 2007, EHF Cup 1998, 2002, 2004

Newcomers:Luka Stepancic (Zagreb)Uwe Gensheimer (Rhein Neckar Löwen)Gorazd Skof (Nantes)Nedim Remili (Créteil)Jesper Nielsen (Berlin)Dylan Garain (Paris Saint-Germain Youth)

Left the club:Fahrudin Melic (Chambéry)Sergiy Onufriyenko (Aix)Robert Gunnarsson (Aarhus)Patrice Annonay (Tremblay)Samuel Honrubia (Tremblay)Igor Vori (Zagreb)

49

Team roster


No.

1968814293410132177039724236622449201177905992536161812721

First Name

LucWilliamTitouanXavierDjordaneClementAdrienPaulRobinDylanClementUweAndryMikkelGauthierHalilLukaNikolaAdamaEdouardBenoitJanusJeffreyHenrikDylanDanielJesperThierryNedimGorazdLukaJonathan

Surname

AbaloAccambrayAfanou GatineBarachetBougrainvilleBrancoChaudansonCorreiaDourteGarainGaudinGensheimerGoujon BellevueHansenIvahJaganjacKarabaticKarabaticKeitaKempfKounkoudLapajneM’timaMøllgaard JensenNahiNarcisseNielsenOmeyerRemiliSkofStepancicTroudart

Nat.

FRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAGERFRADENFRACROFRAFRAFRAFRAFRASLOFRADENFRAFRASWEFRAFRASLOCROFRA

Position

Right Wing Left Back Right Back Right Back Left Back Right Wing Line Player Right Back Line Player Left Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Left Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Left Back Line Player Left Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Wing Right Back Left Wing Left Back Left Wing Centre Back Line Player Goalkeeper Right Back Goalkeeper Right Back Line Player

Date of birth

6.9.19848.4.198827.1.199519.11.19888.8.199325.8.19961.12.199812.2.199730.6.199822.8.199613.3.199726.10.19862.9.199922.10.19876.1.199922.6.199819.4.198811.4.19845.6.199720.3.199819.2.19973.3.199516.7.19912.1.198530.11.199916.12.197930.9.19892.11.197618.7.199511.7.197720.11.199015.1.1996

Place of birth

Creteil, FRACannes, FRALyon, FRANice, FRASaint-Denis Reunion, FRAPerpignan, FRALyon, FRANantes, FRAThionville, FRALes Abymes, FRAMartigues, FRAMannheim, GERCourtry, FRAHelsingor, DENSaint-Denis, FRARijeka, CROStrasbourg, FRANis, SRBParis, FRAMulhouse, FRAVersailles, FRASampeter pri Gorici, SLOSchlitighelm, FRABramming, DENParis, FRASt Dennis-Reunion, FRANorrköping, SWEMulhouse, FRACreteil, FRANovo Mesto, SLOPula, CROFort de France, FRA

Height

182194193196190190192185206192197188193192191200202196183178188192188195190189200192195188203194

Weight

8094979588851009110586878980939595103102777678938097909311893949110582

C

50


Mikkel Hansen left back• 2011 & 2015 IHF World Handball Player of the Year went back to the FINAL4 in May 2016 with PSG, after already visiting twice with FC Barcelona and AG Kobenhavn

• son of former Danish international Flemming; having grown into a top player at GOG

• joining AG in 2011 arrived in PSG before the 2012/13 season; his headbands have now become a collector item among PSG fans

• best CL scorer of the 2011/12 and 2015/16 editions

Uwe Gensheimer left wing• after 13 seasons playing for Rhein-Neckar Löwen, the German player of the year in 2011-14, left to join PSG in the summer of 2016

• his talent discovered early as he became Junior European champion in 2006, one year later awarded MVP at the Junior WCh

• top scorer of 2010/11 CL season, when he also reached his only FINAL4

Nikola Karabatic left back / centre back• 2007 & 2014 World Handball Player of the Year

• in his first season with PSG (2015/16), helped the club get the first taste of Cologne

• won everything there is to win, as he has triumphed at Olympics, WChs and EHF EUROs with the French national team and three times in the CL (Montpellier, Kiel and Barcelona)

• one of the most complete players with strengths both in attack and defence

EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2003, 2005

OG: G 2016, EURO: G 2012, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013

EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2015OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2003, 2005, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013OG: B 2016

Thierry Omeyer goalkeeper• crowned best goalkeeper in history by the IHF

• returned to Montpellier from Kiel for the 2013/14 season, reached the EHF Cup final and decided to move on to PSG in the summer of 2014

• awarded the best goalkeeper and the MVP at the WCh 2015 in Qatar

• IHF Player of the Year 2008, All-star goalkeeper of OG 2008 and 2012, EURO 2006

51


Daniel Narcisse centre back• might well go down in history as one of the most decorated French players

• 2012 IHF World Handball Player of the Year

• nicknamed “Air France” because of his jumping skills

• after three years of absence, ended up back to Cologne with former THW Kiel teammate Thierry Omeyer in May 2016

Luka Stepancic right back• at 25, had been a target for PSG for years, but has just arrived in 2016 summer

• follows the footstep of another tall Croatian right back who used to play in PSG in couple of seasons ago, Marko Kopljar

• more than 2 m tall left-hander with a great jump shot and ability to play in defence

• member of Croatian national team; at the 2009 Junior WCh in Tunisia won the gold

Luka Karabatic line player• was a national-level tennis player until he was 19, only then turned his back on the yellow ball and chose handball

• began in Montpellier, then moved to Aix and finally to PSG in the summer of 2015

• on the CL list of Montpellier for six seasons, but did not enjoy too much playing time (in total 22 goals)

• PSG is the third club where he reunites with his brother Nikola

Luc Abalo right wing• spectacular winger returned to France from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2012

• immediately showed how much progress he has made during his four seasons in Spain reached the final of the CL in 2011 and 2012

• regular fixture in the national team as well

• with his high jumps and all the tricks a winger must have in their bag, he is one of the best in his position

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2015, B 2003, 2005

WCh: B 2013

EC trophies: CL 2009OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2009, 2011

OG: S 2016, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

52


Even before the national final had been played, it was settled that Denmark would see a new champion as the successor of KIF Kolding. In the end, Bjerringbro defeat-ed Holstebro to capture their first domestic trophy and thanks to the EHF ranking, they are now part of group A in the VELUX EHF Champions League. For manager Christian Lynnerup, a dream will come true in his team’s fourth-ever participation within the top flight of European club handball. “We have the great pleasure to be in the strongest group ever of the VELUX EHF Champions League. We are going to face five teams, which have a very realistic chance to win the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. We are very much looking forward to playing in these matches.” Only one top player left the Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen’s team - Danish Olympic cham-pion Mads Christiansen (to Magdeburg). Bjerringbro were quarter-finalists in the previous EHF Cup season, missing the EHF Cup Final at Nantes by only one goals against Granollers (Spain).Lynnerup underlines that the anticipation is at its highest. “We will play in some of the biggest arenas of Europe, where the atmosphere will be incredible. In some matches, our chances to gain points will be minimal, but we will enjoy every minute. Even though we will play against clubs with a more positive economic background, we will be ready to take the points when the opportunity arises and we will do anything to get enough points to qualify for the Last 16.”In 2013, Bjerringbro made it to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League for the one and only time thus far. Experienced team captain, Michael Knudsen, is confident they will return. “It is a very tough group with world class teams, as five of them were already part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. We will give our best in all the matches and we hope it will be enough to qualify for the Last 16.”

GROUP A

Club AddressBjerringbro-SilkeborgVestre Ringvej 78850 BjerringbroDenmark

Media contactJonas Loytved+45 23 [email protected]

bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk

bjerringbrosilkeborg

@BSVofficiel

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blueGK shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: red


Playing hallJYSK Arena, SilkeborgAnsvej 1148600 SilkeborgDenmarkCapacity: 3,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 4Last 16 (1): 2012/13Group Phase (1): 2011/12Qualification (1): 2010/11

OtherEHF Cup: quarter-finals 2002/03, 2008/09, 2015/16, Last 16 2010/11 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2006/07

Danish league: 1 title (2016)

53


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponent

Most goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

23:35 (11:18) v St. Petersburg HC RUS (a), 18.11.201232:18 (18:14) v HC Metalurg MKD (a), 24.02.20132 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012)2 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012)11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012)11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012)35 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 23:35W (a), 18.11.201237 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 37:29L (a), 23.10.201137 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:37L (h), 19.02.201266 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 37:29L (a), 23.10.201118 v HC Metalurg MKD 32:18L (a), 24.02.201322 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:22W (h), 25.11.201244 v MKB Veszprém HUN 19:25L (h), 04.12.2011


23566

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2011/12 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 10 0 0 10 253:315 -62 0:20 6th Gr. B2012/13 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 12 4 0 8 309:339 –30 8:16 1/8-finalsTotal: 22 4 0 18 562:654 -92 8:36

54


Peter Bredsdorff-Larsencoach

• head coach in Bjerringbro-Silkeborg since 2014• at club level, had a previous career as head coach in Danish

league clubs Skanderborg, AaB, Aalborg, KIF Kolding and KIF Kolding Kobenhavn

• assistant national coach, Denmark, 2005-2012 and again 2015

• won the Danish championship 2009-10 as head coach by AaB Handball and in 2015-16 with Bjerringbro

• in his days as a player, he played the right wing in the Aarhus based club VRI

EURO: G 2008 and 2012, WCh: S 2011 (as coach)

Newcomers:Sebastian Frandsen (Ribe-Esbjerg)Kasper Olsen (Aarhus Haandbold)Jacob Lassen (Randers HH)Rasmus Kier (youth team)

Left the club:Mads Christiansen (Magdeburg)Kasper Larsen (Mors-Thy)Mikkel Münter (Aarhus)Peter Pucelj (retired)

55

Team roster


No.

21110232916342777922711173912114

First Name

AllanSebastianJohanStefanRasmusTomRasmusKristianMichael V.JacobNikolaj Nikolaj OrisKasperKristianJensSörenSebastianKlaus

Surname

DamgaardFrandsenHansenHundstrupJensenJensenKierKlitgaardKnudsenLassenMarkussenNielsenOlsenOrstedPlougstrupRasmussenSkubeThomsen

Nat.

DENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENSLODEN

Position

Centre Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Wing Line Player Right Back Left Back Right Back Left Back Line Player Left Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Line Player

Date of birth

11.4.198627.5.19941.5.199430.6.198617.6.198931.8.19714.7.199620.6.19864.9.197811.9.19951.8.198826.9.19861.2.199022.5.19958.1.199912.8.19763.4.198726.4.1986

Place of birth

Nysted, DENÅrhus, DENTorshavn, FARSvendborg, DENOdense, DENHobro, DENSilkeborg, DENEsbjerg, DENHobro, DENRanders, DENGribskov, DENBjerringbro, DENKøbenhavn, DENÅrhus, DENSilkeborg, DENSkive, DENNovo Mesto, SLOHaderslev, DEN

Height

185204190193190190180196192197211197193210190193189198

Weight

88102918610291781029911710610090121889890102

C

56


Sören Rasmussen goalkeeper• joined the club in the summer 2014 from SG Flensburg-Handewitt after winning the CL with the North German side

• before going abroad to represent Flensburg in 2010, he represented Viborg HK and AaB Handbold, with the latter, he won the Danish championship in 2010

• played 35 internationals for Denmark (2000-13), most of them as substitute

• despite his age, extended his contract until the summer of 2017

Sebastian Frandsen goalkeeper• joined from league rivals Ribe Esbjerg in the summer of 2016

• goalkeeper for the future and seen as a perfect partner for veteran Rasmussen

• has experience from several junior national teams, where his greatest triumph so far was winning the Men's U20 WCh in Hungary in 2013

• turned down an offer from Barca in 2014, as he preferred court time in Esbjerg

Stefan Hundstrup left wing• arrived in the summer of 2014 from KIF Kolding København

• has won the Danish championship with AG København as well as with KIF Kolding København

• also represented GOG and Viborg HK in the Danish league

• he is good as the advanced player in a 5-1 defence.

Nikolaj Markussen left back• joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from nearby league rivals Skjern Handbold ahead of this season

• the 213 cm tall already represented another Danish league club, Nordsjælland – the club of his childhood – as well Atletico Madrid and the Qatari club El Jaish

• his career has been hampered by a couple of long injury breaks, but he has been completely fit for some time now and is back at full strength

EC trophies: CL 2014 WCh: S 2011

EURO: G 2012, WCh S 2011

57


Sebastian Skube centre back• joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from RK Celje in the summer of 2014

• Bjerringbro-Silkeborg is his first club outside Slovenia

• has played more than a hundred internationals for Slovenia and was part of the Slovenian team for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland

• his younger brother, Stas, who plays for Szeged, plays the playmaker position just like Sebastian

Michael V. Knudsen line player• joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the summer of 2014

• represented Viborg HK as well as Skjern Handbold in the Danish league before

• strong and versatile on the line in the attack, clever and uncompromising defender, his slogan “Winners never quit and quitters never win”

• played 244 internationals for Denmark (796 goals) before saying goodbye in 2014

Nikolaj Oris Nielsen right back• has played in Bjerringbro-Silkeborg all his career apart from being loaned out to league colleagues Lemvig Thyborøn one year

• made his break-through in the Danish national team under coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson in 2015 and took part at the EHF EURO 2016

• his older brother Mads, a former national team player, plays for Danish league rivals Skive FH, while his younger brother Mikkel has a past career with Aarhus Handball

• only left-handed back court player in the squad after Danish international Mads Christiansen left for SC Magdeburg

Johan Hansen right wing• born on the Faroe Islands and started his career in the Faroe Islands club Kyndil

• joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from another Danish club Skanderborg in 2015

• could have played for the Faroe Islands, but has chosen the Danish national team

• over the 2015/16 season, his obvious skills has made him first choice on the right wing in the team

EC trophies: CL 2014 EURO: G 2008, 2012, S 2014, B 2002, 2004, 2006, WCh S 2011, B 2007

58

Orlen Wisla Plock

A new coach, players from nine nations and the aim to make another step forward in the VELUX EHF Champions League: This is the situation of Orlen Wisla Plock prior to the start of their 12th Champions League season. After Manoel Cadenas said good-bye to the Polish runners-up and is no longer the Spanish national team coach, Piotr Przybecki, is in control of the Oilers.On a domestic level, Plock will attempt to end the chain of Kielce’s successes in the league and on route to the cup. On the international stage, Plock hopes for their first ever participation in the Champions League quarter-final. “First, we want to be a tough opponent for all teams in our group. Secondly, we want to secure a better ranking in the final group phase to have a higher chance in the knockout stage, beginning with the Last 16,” says coach Piotr Przybecki.Przybecki will steer a quiet international team, which is bolstered by the Polish Gebala brothers and the Croats, Sime Ivić and Lovro Mihić. On the other hand, line player Marco Oneto, the tall Spanish shooter Angel Montoro, Serb Ivan Nikcevic and Polish international Bartosz Konitz have all left Plock.In the previous two seasons, Plock lost their Last 16 matches: in 2014 against Vardar and Veszprem was the victorious gladiator in the same round in 2015. Once again, Plock will need to rely on their Orlen Arena as a true fortress, as proven in the previous years, when they have beaten teams, such as Barcelona or Flensburg, at home. “It is great for us to see the best European teams return to the Orlen Arena; it is highly important for our fans, the club and the city to be part of the VELUX EHF Champions League,” says Przybecki. Kiel, Barcelona and Kielce are the favourites for winning the VELUX EHF Champions league title this season.

GROUP A

Club AddressOrlen Wisła PłockPlac Celebry Papieskiej 109-400 PłockPoland

Media contactTomasz BaumanTel: +48 723 100 [email protected]

www.sprwislaplock.pl

sprWisla

@SPRWisla

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: white, bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: yellow


Orlen Wisla Plock

Playing hallOrlen ArenaPl. Celebry Papieskiej 109-400 PłockPolandCapacity: 5,467

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 12Last 16 (5): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09Qualification (1): 2012/13

OtherEHF Cup: quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13

Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011)Polish Cup: 10 titles

59


Biggest winBiggest defeat

Longest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponent


42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.200435:18 (19:4) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), 07.10.200634:17 (15:7) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), 12.10.20085 matches (29.11.2014 – 14.03.2015)6 matches (23.11.2014 – 14.03.2015)6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008)8 matches (25.11.2015 – 26.03.2016)42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.200440 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.200272 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.200213 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.200619 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.200619 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.201219 v Besiktas MOGAZ HT 28:19W (h), 27.09.201434 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006

Orlen Wisla Plock

54272

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 167:195 –28 2:10 3rd Gr. A2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 159:177 -18 2:10 4th Gr. D2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 2 0 4 155:182 -27 4:8 3rd Gr. E2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 2 0 4 141:170 –29 4:8 3rd Gr. C2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 0 0 6 122:188 -66 0:12 4th Gr. H2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 4 1 7 321:332 -11 9:15 1/8-finals2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 5 0 7 335:341 -6 10:14 1/8-finals2014/15 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 7 1 4 340:337 +3 15:9 1/8-finals2015/16 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 16 3 3 10 426:452 –26 9:23 1/8-finals 82 25 5 52 2166:2374 –208 55:109

60

Orlen Wisla Plock

Piotr Przybeckicoach• replaced Manuel Cadenas at the helm of Plock in the summer of 2016• former centre and left back, member of Polish national team with 372

goals• after several years spent in the Polish league he moved to Germany,

where played for TV Hüttenberg, TUSEM Essen, THW Kiel, HSG Nord-horn and TSV Hannover-Burgdorf

• with Kiel won the German Championship and two EHF Cups and he remains the best Polish player in Bundesliga

• was a candidate for the coach of Polish national team in 2016 but he lost against Talant Dujshebaev

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004, 2008 (as player)

Newcomers:Gilberto Duarte (FC Porto)Sime Ivić (HBC Nantes)Lovro Mihić (HC PPD Zagreb)Tomasz Gębala (SC Magdeburg)Maciej Gębala (SC Magdeburg)

Left the club:Bartosz Konitz (Pogon Szczecin)Marco Oneto (uknown)Ivan Nikcević (Sporting Lisbon)Angel Montoro (Naturhouse La Rioja)

61

Team roster

Orlen Wisla Plock

No.

3633752820152123416183371726121089

First Name

RodrigoMichalJose D.GilbertoMaciejTomaszValentin

SimeZbigniewLovroAdamMateuszMiljanDan EmilTiagoMarkoMarcinAdamDmitry

Surname

Corrales RodalDaszekDe ToledoDuarteGebalaGebalaGhioneaIvicKwiatkowskiMihicMorawskiPiechowskiPusicaRacoteaRochaTarabochiaWicharyWisniewskiZhitnikov

Nat.

ESPPOLBRAPORPOLPOLROUCROPOLCROPOLPOLSRBROUPORBIHPOLPOLRUS

Position

Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Back Left Back Line Player Left Back Right Wing Right Back Line Player Left Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Left Back Left Back Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Centre Back

Date of birth

24.1.199127.6.199211.1.19946.7.199010.1.199423.11.199529.4.198421.1.19932.4.198525.8.199417.10.19941.3.199530.6.199121.7.199517.10.198528.11.198817.2.198024.10.198020.11.1989

Place of birth

Cangas, ESPTczew, POLSao Paulo, BRAPortimao, PORGdyna, POLGdyna, POLBaia Mare, ROUSplit, CROMlawa, POLZagreb, CROCiechanów, POLPlock, POLPrijepolje, SRBBrasov, ROUS. Paio Oleiros, PORZagreb, BIHZabrze, POLPlock, POLZvolen, RUS

Height

202180193197200212197195202180192210199202196192193192193

Weight

9970969610211790931207484110101981049210010090

C

62

Orlen Wisla Plock

Rodrigo Corrales goalkeeper• coming to Plock in 2014 seems to be one of the best decisions made by the Spaniard who had been in the shadow of other keepers in FC Barcelona

• taken under previous coach Manolo Cadenas wings, which soon made the experts call him the future of Spanish handball

• talented, hard-working and dynamic player soon gained hearts of the local fans with incredible saves in crucial moments of many games

Marcin Wichary goalkeeper• despite his inconspicuous look, while standing in the goal he turns into a beast

• came to Plock in 2004 and since that moment he has become a true Oiler, beloved by the local fans

• in his WCh debut in 2013 impressed with a 50% save efficiency in the group phase

• his best achievement to date remains the 5th place in the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing and the bronze medal from the WCh 2015 in Qatar

Adam Wisniewski left wing• team's captain has spent all his career in Płock and wants to finish it there as well

• was about to finish his career after rapturing his knee ligaments three times but he came back in 2009 after a three-year break

• due to serious injuries missed the biggest success of the Polish national team to finally win a bronze medal on WCh in Qatar in 2015

• his nickname “Gadżet” is a reference to popular cartoon “Inspector Gadget”

Dan-Emil Racotea left back• reinforced the ranks of Wisla before 2014/15was his first move abroad

• besides his shooting abilities he has a great jump and a clear view over the court

• playing for Wisła Płock enabled him to perform in the CL where he has been improving over past years

• in his third season in the tournament he may play a key role in the team, but is expected to share his position mainly with a new signing from Porto Gilberto Duarte


WCh: B 2015

WCh: B 2015

63

Orlen Wisla Plock

Dmitry Zhitnikov centre back• comes from Krasnodar, and his first coach at the local school was his father

• at the age of 16, the talented boy was invited to Chekhov where he played five seasons in the reserve team

• as he matured and experienced players left, Zhitnikov began to play a more prominent role at Medvedi

• member of the Russian national team joined Plock in the summer of 2015 and turned out to be one of the most successful recent transfers of the team

Tiago Rocha line player• first Portuguese player in Polish league

• hard-working player aware of his physical assets, despite his huge dimensions possesses a good coordination

• after spending 12 years in FC Porto made his first step abroad joining Płock in 2014

• after the departure of Kamil Syprzak to Barcelona in 2015 he became the main line player of Płock

Jose Guilherme de Toledo right back• surprisingly joined Plock in November 2015 after Nemanja Zelenovic’s transfer to Magdeburg

• top scorer of the Men’s U-19 World Championship in 2013

• already during his first months in Plock he became an important part of the club in both domestic and European context

• talented young player will share his position with other clever youngster Sime Ivić

• before handball he used to train football and hockey

Valentin Ghionea right wing• Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008 and two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007)

• joined Wisla Plock in 2012 and already during his first season, he showed his great goalscoring ability

• quickly became a very important Wisla player and his team’s top scorer

• in his free time he likes to play football, billiards and to fish

64


Before Vive Tauron Kielce leaped onto the winner’s podium in May 2016, the Champions League triumph of SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2014 had been the big-gest surprise ever at a VELUX EHF FINAL4 event. After the team of Ljubomir Vranjes missed another ticket to Cologne in 2016 by only one goal in the quarter-final at Kielce, they now dream of another berth at the LANXESS arena in the 2016/17 season.“We played a great season and we increased our consistency. From this, we will try everything to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. But in a group such as ours, the first goal is to proceed to the Last16, as even that will be anything but easy,” Vranjes said.SG Flensburg finished second in the Bundesliga, below Rhein Neckar Löwen, but ahead of THW Kiel. For the new season, the ticket for the VELUX EHF Champions League is Flensburg’s main objective on domestic ground. The Vranjes’ squad basically did not change at all - as only one Croatian player (Kresimir Kozina) left and another (Ivan Horvat) arrived. The rest of the roster remains the same for the ultimate season of left winger, Anders Eggert, in a Flensburg jersey, as he will return to Denmark in 2017. Before SG can experience true and top handball, as manager Dierk Schmäschke says, Flensburg must be perfect. “This is the toughest group ever in the Champions League history. Every single match represents world class and you have to be 100 percent in all the matches to be victorious.” For Schmäschke, there are no favour-ites in this group. “Kiel, Veszprem, Paris, Barcelona and Flensburg are on an equal level, but we all need to have respect for Schaffhausen, Plock and Bjerringbro, too.”Similar to their group phase opponents PSG and Barcelona, Flensburg was the third club to be represented on both sides in the Olympic final in Rio by silver medallist Kentin Mahe (France) and Danish Olympic champions, Henrik Toft Hansen and Lasse Svan.

GROUP A

Club AddressSG Flensburg-HandewittSchiffbrücke 6624939 FlensburgGermany

Media contactSandra von Wallis+49 [email protected]

sg-flensburg-handewitt.de

SGFleHa

@SGFleHa

Playing hallFlens ArenaCampusallee 224943 FlensburgGermanyCapacity: 6,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blueGK shirt: black

DarkPlayer shirt: dark-bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: orange


Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 12Winners (1): 2013/14Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007Semi-final (1): 2005/2006Quarter-final (5): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2015/16Last 16 (1): 2014/15Main Round (1): 2007/2008

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/2001 2011/2012EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997City Cup: Winners 1998/1999

German league: 1 title (2004)German cup: 4 titles

65



Longest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing run

Longest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.200636:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.200524:38 (08:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.201135:21 (19:13) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 28.09.20149 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016)9 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016)3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006)3 matches (22.02.2015 - 22.03.2015)5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008)44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.200341 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.200680 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), 31.05.201419 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), 22.09.201018 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.201143 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), 01.03.200943 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.201143 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), 01.05.2011


94480

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 10 1 3 450:401 +49 21:7 Runner-up2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 10 7 1 2 319:270 +49 15:5 1/4-finals2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 12 7 0 5 372:326 +46 14:10 1/2-finals2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 8 1 5 437:398 +39 17:11 Runner-up2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 4 2 6 355:356 -1 10:14 4th MR Gr. 32008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 8 0 4 360:329 +31 16:8 1/4-finals2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 11 0 3 394:354 +40 22:6 1/4-finals2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 9 3 2 416:384 +32 21:7 1/4-finals2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 16 12 1 3 489:441 +48 25:7 Winner2014/15 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 6 0 6 337:340 -3 12:12 1/8-finals2015/16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 18 12 1 5 544:494 +50 25:11 1/4-finals 148 94 10 44 4473:4093 +380 198:98

66


Ljubomir Vranjescoach• former Swedish national team player, still on the players’ list of

Flensburg• became club manager in 2009 and coach in November 2010;

awarded IHF coach of the Year in 2014• after winning the CL in the 2014/15 season he declined the

number of top offers from PSG and the German national team• led Serbia to the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark as a caretaker, but

did not continue• highly creative photographer in his spare time and published his

book of memoirs

EC trophies: CL 2014 (as coach), Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 (as coach)OG: S 2000, WCh: G 1999, EURO: G 1998, 2000 and 2002

Newcomers:Ivan Horvat (GRK Varaždin 1930)

Left the club:Kresimir Kozina (Füchse Berlin)

67

Team roster


No.

14223327177924217319773282620188235323710163441365025386112340142722

First Name

MattiasPhilippLukasRobinMortenPetarAndersHolgerJimJacobIvan

Johan Mikael

ThoreTobiasJannekPer OkeJohannesTomsNormanKentinAndreasMarcelThomasKevinJamoBogdanGeorgMarlonRasmusNiels-JonasJanosLasseHenrikLjubomirHampusLeonAnders

Surname

AnderssonAsmussenBlohmeBreitenfeldtDibbertDjordjicEggert MagnussenGlandorfGottfridssonHeinlHorvatJakobssonJöhnckKarlssonKleinKohnagelKrügerLielaisLouwersMaheMeyer EjlersenMöllerMogensenMøllerMummRadivojevicRohwerRunowLauge SchmidtSimonsSteidtmannSvanToft HansenVranjesWanneWitteZachariassen

Nat.

SWEGERGERGERGERSRBDENGERSWEGERCROSWEGERSWEGERGERGERLATGERFRADENGERDENDENGERSRBGERGERDENGERGERDENDENSWESWEGERDEN

Position

Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing Left Wing Left Back Left Back Left Wing Right Back Centre Back Line Player Centre Back Right Back Goalkeeper Line Player Right Back Centre Back Left Wing Left Back Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Wing Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Right Wing Right Wing Line Player Centre Back Left Wing Left Wing Line Player

Date of birth

29.3.197817.8.19967.11.19942.1.199819.10.199117.9.199014.5.198230.3.19832.9.19929.10.198617.2.199312.2.198728.7.19954.6.198125.3.199928.5.199428.6.199720.5.199621.5.199422.5.199128.6.199725.7.199030.1.198320.6.19898.10.19972.3.19934.9.199711.1.199720.6.199112.9.19948.9.199631.8.198318.12.19863.10.197310.12.199325.9.19954.9.1991

Place of birth

Malmö, SWEFlensburg, GERFlensburg, GERFlensburg, GERRendsburg, GERSabac, SRBAarhus, DENOsnabrück, GERYstad, SWEHamburg, GERBalzano, ITALundby, SWEKiel, GERKarlskrona, SWERendsburg, GERFlensburg, GERFlensburg, GERAizkraukle, LATWolfsburg, GERParis, FRAHorsens, DENEutin, GEROdder, DENTondern, DENRendsburg, GERBeograd, SRBRendsburg, GERFlensburg, GERRanders, DENFlensburg, GERFlensburg, GERStevns, DENSkive, DENGöteborg, SWELundby, SWEFlensburg, GERSonderborg, DEN

Height

185187188183193197179195190195192195184196197188179191200185188191187200185186183197193179194184200168184183192

Weight

938772749510277909510197898410292837691103818596100103838483879683908410880848496

C

68


Mattias Andersson goalkeeper• already in the younger age categories part of all All-Star teams and became member of the senior national team

• played at Kiel (2001-08), TV Großwallstadt before signing in Flensburg; awarded “best player of the Bundesliga season 2011/12”

• his saves at the 2014 FINAL4 were key for Flensburg winning his last missing EC trophy

• preparation perfectionist, no other keeper has a bigger video archive of top players

Anders Eggert left wing• had big shoes to fill in Flensburg as successor of legendary Lars Christiansen

• top scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 (248 goals) and top scorer of the 2013 WCh in Spain (55 goals)

• started his career at Braband, in his tenth season in Flensburg after intermediately being on loan at Skjern Handball, where he moves again in 2017

• also famous for one of the highest percentages in the CL from the penalty throws

Kentin Mahe centre back• joined Flensburg in 2015 after spells with HSV Hamburg, VfL Gummersbach and Bayer Dormagen (coached by his father Pascal in Dormagen)

• Men's 20 EURO 2010 MVP and top scorer (49 goals); 2015 EHF Cup Finals MVP

• in 2010 a debut in the French national team, now one of the key players

• reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final with Gummersbach in 2011/12 and EHF Cup final with HSV in 2014/15

Thomas Mogensen centre back• experienced Danish playmaker with more than 1,000 goals for his club and long list of silverware

• since 2007 playing for Flensburg – his first stop outside his home country

• before played for Viborg and GOG, Danish champion and cup winner twice

• to focus only on SG he quit his career in the national team after the EURO 2014

EC trophies: CL 2007, 2014, EHF Cup: 2002, 2004, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2000

OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2015

EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, S 2014

EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

69


Henrik Toft Hansen line player• whole family involved in handball: brothers Rene (also a line player of Kiel) and Allan (Mors-Thy) and sisters Majbritt (Skive) and Jeanette players in the Danish league

• his girlfriend Ulrike Agren plays in the women's CL for Esbjerg in 2016/17

• part of AG Kobenhavn, later transferred to Aalborg, before he joined Hamburg in 2013 and then Flensburg in 2015 after being part of the EHF Cup final

Tobias Karlsson line player• typical powerful Scandinavian defence specialist; best defence player at the EHF EURO 2014; awarded best Bundesliga defender in the 2015/16 season

• team captain, a great honour after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG

• Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF, retired from the national team just before the 2016/17 season

• founded an insurance company with some other former players in Sweden

Holger Glandorf right back• left-handed shooter and the last remaining German 2007 world champion in the Flensburg roster

• despite some injury breaks, always returned to a high level of performance

• has the full set of three major European Cup competitions titles on his tally, with Nordhorn and Flensburg

• in August 2014 retired from the German national team to only focus on his club

Lasse Svan right wing• one of the fastest wing players in the CL; same qualities as Eggert on the other side: fast counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency

• 2nd best Danish scorer at Rio Olympics 2016 another task in his team: motivation and relaxing – as his business is mental coaching

• after four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008

• was also a billiard’s champion in his home region Seeland

OG: G 2016, EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013

EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2008, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012WCh: G 2007

EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012OG: S 2012

EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

70


After winning their third double (league and cup) in Switzerland since 2011, Kadet-ten Schaffhausen have clearly bolstered their squad to take on a tough Group A.Swiss number 1 Aurel Bringolf replaces Nikola Portner between the goal posts, while Polish World Championship bronze medallist and Olympic semi-finalist Michel Szyba and Swedish Kristian Bliznac will increase the squad’s international experience massively.Despite opponents like Barcelona, Veszprem, Kiel, Flensburg and PSG lying in wait, the Swiss champions hope to reach the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League for the third time. “This is perhaps the strongest group in the history of the competition,” says manager Gabor Vass. “This group will be extremely tough, but we are ready to fight for sixth position, which will be a huge challenge,” adds team captain David Graubner.After German 2007 world champion Markus Baur had been coach for several years, Schaffhausen made a change early in 2016 by signing Lars Walther. The Dane had been coaching several Champions League teams such as Wisla Plock (Poland) and last season Baia Mare (Romania). Though Szyba missed pre-season due to the Olympic Games, Kadetten produced some good results, including victory at the test tournament in Altensteig. In domestic competitions, Schaffhausen aim to win all possible trophies, and: “We need to be part of the Champions League to improve the team and to represent the club and the country,” Vass says.Graubner is looking forward to “a fantastic international season and matches against five of the best clubs in handball. “It’s going to be a year with nothing but highlights for us. Barcelona, Kiel, PSG, Veszprem, Flensburg - to face them all in one season is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”The Kadetten team captain expects hard fights with Plock and Bjerringbro for the spot in the knock-out stage: “We can’t wait for the season to get started.”

GROUP A

Club AddressKadetten SchaffhausenSchweizersbildstrasse 108207 SchaffhausenSwitzerland

Media contactBarbara Imobersteg+41 [email protected]

www.kadettensh.ch

@kadettensh

kadettensh

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: orangePlayer short: blackGK shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: orangeGK shirt: black


Playing hallBBC ArenaSchweizersbildstr. 108207 SchaffhausenSwitzerlandCapacity: 3,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 10Last 16 (2): 2010/11, 2011/12Group Phase (6): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16Qualification (1): 2009/10

OtherEHF Cup: final 2009/10Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final: 2007/08

Swiss league: 9 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)Swiss Cup: 8 titles

71


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing run

Longest run without win

Most goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goals


43:18 (23:8) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (h), 09.02.201236:25 (19:13) v FC Barcelona Intersport ESP (a), 01.12.20123 matches (25.10.2015 – 19.11.2015)3 matches (25.10.2015 – 19.11.2015)4 matches (06.10.2011 – 17.11.2011)4 matches (17.10.2012 – 01.12.2012)4 matches (18.10.2014 – 30.11.2014)5 matches (25.11.2007 – 14.10.2010)5 matches (18.10.2014 – 04.12.2014)43 v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18W (h), 09.02.201240 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.201375 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.201322 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:22L (a), 15.10.200522 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:23L (h), 11.11.200617 v HC Metalurg MKD 27:17W (h), 19.11.201544 v HC Metalurg MKD 27:17W (h), 19.11.2015


34375

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2005/06 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 1 1 4 160:181 -21 3:9 3rd Gr. G2006/07 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 2 1 3 168:169 -1 5:7 3rd Gr. B2007/08 Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ SUI 6 2 1 3 179:174 +5 5:7 3rd Gr. C2010/11 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 1 6 362:376 -14 11:13 1/8-finals2011/12 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 0 7 366:345 +21 10:14 1/8-finals2012/13 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 2 0 8 284:330 –46 4:16 6th Gr. D2014/15 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 2 2 6 264:297 –33 6:14 6th Gr. D2015/16 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 5 1 4 270:270 0 11:9 3rd Gr. D 72 24 7 41 2053:2142 -89 55:89

72


Lars Walther coach• arrived in spring 2016 at Schaffhausen, replacing Markus Baur, who

then only focused on the German junior national team and now is coach of TVB Stuttgart

• had before been coach at teams in six different countries: Denmark, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, Italy and Romania

• his last job before was at HCM Baia Mare men’s team, which had been part of the CL season 2015/16; had his biggest successes as a coach at Wisla Plock, leading them to the Polish championship 2011 and being a permanent CL participant

• as a player had been signed by clubs in Denmark, Portugal, Germany and Iceland

EC Trophies : CL 2007, EHF Cup 1998, 2002, 2004

Newcomers:Aurel Bringolf (Pfadi Winterthur)Ron Delhees (GC Amicitia Zürich)Michal Szyba (RK Gorenje Velenje)Kristian Bliznac (HSG Wetzlar)

Left the club:Aleksandar Stojanovic (SG GS Kadetten Espoir SH)Nikola Cvijetic (RTV Basel)Nikola Portner (Montpellier Handball)

73

Team roster


No.

15101173842165122022297161424

First Name

KristianChristofferAurelGaborRonDavidIvanJohanDimitrijManuelNikolaLukaLucasSergioAndrijaMarkusKajMichalNik

Surname

BliznacBrännbergerBringolfCsaszarDelheesGraubnerKaracicKochKüttelLinigerMarinovicMarosMeisterMuggliPendicRichwienStokholmSzybaTominec

Nat.

SWESWESUIHUNSUISUIBIHDENSUISUIAUTSUISUISUISUIGERSUIPOLSLO

Position

Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Left Back Centre Back Line Player Right Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Line Player Left Wing Centre Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing

Date of birth

27.5.198329.12.19902.11.198716.6.198428.8.199529.5.198426.5.198529.11.199018.2.199410.9.198129.8.197620.3.199416.8.19966.7.199312.3.19875.7.198515.4.199518.3.198826.3.1991

Place of birth

Göteborg, SWEFarsta, SWEWinterthur, SUICelldömölk, HUNZug, SUIMoosseedorf, SUIMostar, BIHSvendborg, DENGersau, SUIWinterthur, SUIBelgrade, SRBZürich, SUIBasel, SUIZürich, SUIArbon, SUIMagdeburg, GERZürich, SUILublin, POLLuzern, SUI

Height

204200190188197194190185192180198196197178190186195196190

Weight

1041058898969393919076100981007890841009785

C

74


Nikola Marinovic goalkeeper• for more than ten years the number 1 of the Austrian national team

• born in Belgrade, but changed his citizenship to Austrian in 2004

• his first CL start with Austrian side Bregenz, later transferred to various German clubs (Wetzlar, Balingen and Göppingen)

• joined Kadetten before the 2015/16 season to replace Jonas Maier

• Austrian handball player of the year in 2007

Kristian Bliznac left back• with 2,04 m one of the tallest players in the Kadetten squad

• arrived from German side HSG Wetzlar at Schaffhausen, where had played together with world stars like Jose Javier Hombrados and Ivano Balic

• had been signed by several Swedish clubs, before his first top side was Alingsas, where he became Swedish champion in 2009 and later on had his first CL appearance

• later on he played for Sävehof, before he joined Wetzlar in 2014

Manuel Liniger left wing• experienced wing player had been part of the successful Kadetten team from 2007 until 2010

• twice semi-finalist of the Cup Winners’ Cup (becoming top scorer of the competition in 2008/09) and finalist in the EHF Cup 2009/10

• started his career in Winterthur and also had spell at German sides Wilhelmshaven, Lemgo and Balingen

• one of the all-time top scorers of Swiss national team with over 800 goals

Gabor Csaszar centre back• had played professional handball in five different countries: Hungary, Denmark, Spain, France and now Switzerland

• joined Kadetten in the middle of the 2014/15 season, arriving from French powerhouse PSG

• the playmaker of the Hungarian national team

• part of two Olympic Games (2004, 2012) with Hungary, each time finishing fourth

• national champion in Hungary and Switzerland

75


Ivan Karacic centre back• arrived at Schaffhausen in spring 2016 with his new and old coach Lars Walther, being signed by Baia Mare (Romania) before

• number 1 playmaker of the Bosnian national team

• has CL experience with his former clubs Borac Banja Luka, Brest and Baia Mare

• national champion with his former teams in Bosnia, Belarus and Romania

• older brother of Igor Karacic, who plays for the Croatian national team; younger brother Goran is football goalkeeper in the Bosnian first league team of Mostar

Michal Szyba right back• arrived in the summer of 2016 from Slovenian runners-up and former CL participants Gorenje Velenje, with whom he reached the 2015 EHF Cup Finals in Berlin

• had played for Polish side Azoty Pulawy from 2004 to 2014

• builds the left handed duo in the right back with Swiss international Dimitrij Küttel

• part of the Polish national team at the WCh at Qatar and scored the decisive goal to win the bronze medal against Spain

Johan Koch line player• had been playing for German side Emsdetten before he joined Kadetten at the start of the 2015/16 season

• replaces Swedish line player Anton Mansson, who left for Lemgo (Germany)

• had been teammate of Mikkel Hansen in his first club GOG Svendborg

• played three years for current Swedish champions Kristianstad until 2013, before he moved to Germany

Markus Richwien right wing• only current Kadetten player, who was part of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, playing at Cologne with Füchse Berlin in 2012

• born in Magdeburg, he went through all youth teams of former CL winner SCM

• in 2007 joined Füchse Berlin, where he became German international – making debut against Switzerland in 2008

• after winning the German cup and making it to the EHF Cup Finals on home court in 2014, signed for Kadetten, his first club abroad

WCh: B 2015

76

THW Kiel

No club has qualified more often for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne than THW Kiel. By eliminating FC Barcelona in the 2016 quarter-finals, the German record champions are on top with six participations at seven editions. But the last time they raised the trophy is four years ago for the three-time winners (2007, 2010, 2012).And the new season is something like the start of a new era: After players like Ilic, Palmarsson and now Canellas and Klein leaving, coach Alfred Gislason is building a new squad with talented players from all over Europe like Swede Lukas Nilsson or the Austrian Nikola Bilyk.Having in mind the previous season, when THW were hit extremely hard by long-term injuries, the German side increased the number of players - and welcomes back a ‘forgotten son’. After two years at Veszprem, Christian Zeitz is back at Kiel to be the only player in the current squad to be part of all three Champions League titles. But the biggest signing is the one between the posts: Andreas Wolff, the German EURO hero, gold medallist and member of the All-star Team, will form the new goalkeeper duo with the newly crowned Olympic champion, former EURO champion and Rio All-star team goalkeeper Niklas Landin.Kiel will need a strong squad to keep up with the rest of Group A such as Barcelo-na, PSG, Veszprem or their local rivals Flensburg. The anticipation of the “toughest group phase ever in the history of handball” (new team captain Domagoj Duvnjak) is huge at Kiel, as the club already sold more than 7,000 ‘season tickets’ for the seven home matches in the group phase. Duvnjak - the 2013 Champions league winner with Hamburg - still waits for his first international trophy with Kiel – but he will do everything to reach the final destination in Cologne again. In the first group matches, Kiel will have to replace left back Christian Dissinger after his severe injury at Rio 2016 (compartment syndrome).

GROUP A

Club AddressTHW KielZiegelteich 3024103 KielGermany

Media contactChristian Robohm +49 [email protected]

www.thw-provinzial.de

thwhandball

@thw_handball

Playing hallSparkassen-Arena-KielEuropaplatz 1, 24103 KielGermanyCapacity: 10,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: black

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: red

THW Kiel

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 20Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14Semi-final (5): 1996/97, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96

OtherEHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04

German league: 20 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)German Cup winners: 9 times

77




Most goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponent


26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), 22.10.200637:27 (17:14) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 14.02.201611 matches (02.10.2014 – 22.03.2015)17 matches (22.10.2011 – 11.10.2012)3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996)3 matches (30.05.2015 – 17.09.2015)3 matches (30.04.2016 – 29.05.2016)3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996)3 matches (30.05.2015 – 17.09.2015)3 matches (12.11.2015 – 28.11.2015)3 matches (30.04.2016 – 29.05.2016)50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), 22.10.200644 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.200881 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.200813 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.200015 v SKA Minsk BLR 15:27W (a), 10.11.199615 v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), 12.01.199735 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000

THW Kiel

115081

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals



1994/95 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 137:136 +1 6:6 2nd Gr. B1995/96 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 151:148 +3 6:6 2nd Gr. A1996/97 THW Kiel GER 10 6 1 3 247:211 +36 13:7 1/2-finals1998/99 TKW Kiel GER 8 7 0 1 229:199 +30 14:2 1/4-finals1999/00 THW Kiel GER 12 7 1 4 319:283 +36 15:9 Runner-up2000/01 THW Kiel GER 10 5 1 4 279:255 +24 11:9 1/2-finals2002/03 THW Kiel GER 8 4 1 3 234:211 +23 9:7 1/4-finals2004/05 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 336:274 +62 16:4 1/4-finals2005/06 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 346:293 +53 16:4 1/4-finals2006/07 THW Kiel GER 14 11 1 2 517:420 +97 23:5 Winner2007/08 THW Kiel GER 16 13 0 3 533:462 +71 26:6 Runner-up2008/09 THW Kiel GER 16 12 1 3 548:461 +87 25:7 Runner-up2009/10 THW Kiel GER 16 14 1 1 534:444 +90 29:3 Winner2010/11 THW Kiel GER 14 9 2 3 456:393 +63 20:8 1/4-finals2011/12 THW Kiel GER 16 12 3 1 496:414 +82 27:5 Winner2012/13 THW Kiel GER 16 11 0 5 518:457 +61 22:10 Fourth Place2013/14 THW Kiel GER 16 13 1 2 491:427 +64 27:5 Runner-up2014/15 THW Kiel GER 16 12 0 4 498:421 +77 24:8 Fourth Place2015/16 THW Kiel GER 20 10 1 9 579:567 +12 21:19 Fourth Place 240 168 14 58 7448:6476 +972 350:130

78

THW Kiel

Alfred Gislasoncoach• won nine German championships (with Essen, Magdeburg

and Kiel), four German cup titles, six European club titles; five times “coach of the year” in Germany

• his first job on the bench was in his home town Akureyri, before taking over Hameln, Magdeburg and Gummersbach in Germany and the Icelandic national team

• joined Kiel in 2008 as the successor of Noka Serdarusic – to lead THW to 16 trophies to date

EC trophies: CL 2002, 2010, 2012 (as coach), EHF Cup 2001 (as coach)

Newcomers:Raul Santos (VfL Gummersbach)Nikola Bilyk (HC Fivers Margareten)Andreas Wolff (HSG Wetzlar)Lukas Nilsson (Ystads IF HF)Christian Zeitz (Telekom Veszprem)

Left the club:Dominik Klein (HBC Nantes)Joan Canellas (RK Vardar Skopje)Nikolas Katsigiannis (HC Erlangen)Erlend Mamelund (Haslum HK)Igor Anic (Saran HB)Rogerio Moraes Ferreira (RK Vardar Skopje)Torsten Jansen (end of career/coach Handball Sportv-erein Hamburg)Dominik Plaue (Handball Sportverein Hamburg)

79

Team roster

THW Kiel

No.

533423154182652481616592117411317257720

First Name

NikolaIlijaRuneChristianDomagojNiclasLucasSebastianDenerBlazenkoTomNiklasLukasRaulChristianReneMarkoSteffenPatrickAlexanderAndreasChristian

Surname

BilykBrozovicDahmkeDissingerDuvnjakEkbergFirnhaberFirnhaberJaanimaaLackovicLandgrafLandin JacobsenNilssonSantosSprengerToft HansenVujinWeinholdWiencekWilliamsWolffZeitz

Nat.

AUTCROGERGERCROSWEGERGERESTCROGERDENSWEAUTGERDENSRBGERGERGERGERGER

Position

Left Back Line Player Left Wing Left Back Centre Back Right Wing Right Back Left Back Right Back Left Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Left Back Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Right Back Right Back Line Player Left Back Goalkeeper Right Back

Date of birth

28.11.199626.5.199110.4.199315.11.19911.6.198823.12.198823.4.199718.4.19949.8.198925.12.198011.3.199619.12.198816.11.19961.6.19926.4.19831.11.19847.12.198419.7.198622.3.198915.8.19963.3.199118.11.1980

Place of birth

Tunis, TUNSplit, CROKiel, GERLudwigshafen, GERDakovo, CROYstad, SWEBuxtehude, GERBuxtehude, GERTallinn, ESTVarazdin, CROAschersleben, GERSoborg, DENYstad, SWESanto Domingo, DOMLudwigsfelde, GERRybjerg, DENBacka Palanka, SRBFuerth, GERDuisburg, GERHamburg, GEREuskirchen, GERHeidelberg, GER

Height

198195190202198191200198185197198200192180190200200191200187198186

Weight

9410781102100919397921001069597759411010010010995100103

C

80

THW Kiel

Niklas Landin goalkeeper• joined Kiel in the summer of 2015 after three seasons with Rhein-Neckar Löwen

• successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt in the Danish national team broke through during the 2011 WCh

• played also for Gudme in Denmark, where he was number 1 at the age of 20

• best goalkeeper at the 2013 WCh, EHF EURO 2014, 2013/14 CL and 2016 Olympics

Rune Dahmke left wing• only Kiel-born player in the team; when younger cheered for his idols in the stands

• got his first professional contract in 2012 after being part of the THW youth teams

• his father Frank Dahmke was THW player and now is member of the club board

• following Dominik Klein's departure to Nantes the number 1 on the left wing

• youngest of the EURO gold medallists in 2016 in Krakow

Andreas Wolff goalkeeper• German No.1 since the autumn of 2015, excelled at the EURO 2016, where he was awarded best goalkeeper and later also EHF Player of the Month

• in the summer of 2016 arrived in Kiel from Wetzlar, also played in Großwallstadt

• learnt a lot from his former legendary Spanish teammate Jose Javier Hombrados

• 2016 “title holder” of the “German beard of the year” award; also known for his blood donations

Domagoj Duvnjak centre back• THW’s top signing before the 2014/15 season, arrived from Hamburg, where he played since 2009

• 2013 IHF World Handball Player of the Year, best Bundesliga player in 2013

• not just a typical playmaker he is also a scorer and is an essential part of defence

• started his career in Dakovo

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

EURO: G 2016

EC trophies: CL 2013OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2010, B 2012 B 2016

OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016

81

THW Kiel

Rene Toft Hansenline player• even better in defence than on the line in attack, but after Marcus Ahlm’s departure in 2013, the learning period in attack was over for him

• new captain since Jicha’s departure; EHF EURO 2012 All-Star Team member

• in the CL since 2007 with former clubs KIF Kolding and AG Kobenhavn

• his brother Henrik is playing for Flensburg, his brother Allan for Mors-Thy and his sister Majbritt for Skive – all four line players

Marko Vujin right back• in 2012 the Serbian shooter arrived to fill the gap after the departure of Kim Andersson to KIF

• top scorer of the 2013/14 Bundesliga (248 goals)

• won eight consecutive national championships with Veszprém and Kiel until 2015

• started his international career in Dunaferr, then played five years in Veszprem

Steffen Weinhold right back• one of the most prominent players in current German handball

• after the 2008 junior WCh, the Bavarian changed from Erlangen to HSG Nordhorn winning the EHF Cup in his first season

• after signing for TV Großwallstadt was in the focus of the national team coach Heiner Brand, made the next step in his career, signing for SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2012 and joined THW just weeks after Flensburg beat them in the 2014 CL final

Niclas Ekberg right wing• tall winger from Ystad has large variety of shots, also effective on counterattacks

• these qualities have also earned him more than 90 internationals for Sweden

• joined Kiel in 2012 after after his first VELUX EHF FINAL4 with AG Kobenhavn, who spotted and signed him in 2010

• top scorer of the London Olympics 2012 (50 goals), but missed the 2016 Games due to injury

OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008EURO: S 2012

OG: S 2012

EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup 2008OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016

82

Group Bpreview

Group Bpreview

EUROPEAN KINGS KIELCE LEAD STRONG FIELD

IN GROUP B

KS Vive Tauron Kielce, who lit up last season’s VELUX EHF Champions league when they won Europe’s elite competition for the first time in the club’s history, will head into the new season as the favourites in an exceptionally tough preliminary section.

The Polish giants will lock horns with some familiar rivals in Rhein-Neckar Löwen, HC Vardar and MOL-Pick Szeged, a quartet expected to finish in the top half of the table and sail into the knockout rounds.

With two more berths available in the Last 16, HC PPD Zagreb, RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, last season’s top flight debutants IFK Kristianstad and Meshkov Brest are likely to be tied up in a tight four-way survival battle aimed at avoiding an early exit.

However, the competition’s beauty is that there is so little between the teams and hence one of the upstarts could easily sneak into the top four to spice up what promises to be a fascinating group from start to finish.

Having claimed their maiden title with an epic 39:38 overtime win over Telekom Veszprém in May, Kielce wasted no time in boosting their impressive squad to make sure they launch a strong title defence against hungry opposition.

Their most notable acquisition is Slovenian right wing Dean Bombac. Bombac was last season’s fifth-highest scorer in the competition with 101 goals, which carried Szeged through the group stage and into the Last 16, where they were beaten by THW Kiel.

Bombac should have no trouble fitting into a squad featuring an array of household names, with the core of the side comprising of experienced Polish stalwarts who were part of the national team that finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The other big name to join Kielce is Croatian goalkeeper Filip Ivic, an ideal back-up to veteran Slawomir Szmal, while the 21-year old Serbian sharpshooter Darko Djukic will get his first taste of action at the highest level after an impressive season with Besiktas, having scored 87 goals for the Turkish title holders last term.

Kielce had a patchy dress rehearsal for the new season earlier this month with a third-place finish at the IHF Super Globe 2016, the annual club world champion-ship, having lost to Paris Saint-Germain Handball 29:25 in an entertaining semi-fi-nal. The outcome handed the French side a measure of revenge for their 28:26 defeat by the Polish powerhouse in their VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 tie.

Löwen have celebrated the biggest success in the club’s history by winning the

83

Group B preview

Bundesliga last season and will try to prove their worth on the European stage, where the elusive trophy again turned out to be a far-fetched dream after a shock 54:53 aggregate defeat to Zagreb in the Last 16.

The German giants have lost iconic winger Uwe Gensheimer to PSG but Icelander Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, who has arrived in from FC Barcelona Lassa, should prove to be an apt replacement.

Dejan Manaskov has been hauled in to provide reliable back-up, having spent one season with Vardar after a long spell at their bitter Macedonian rivals Metalurg.

Vardar will themselves be boosted by the arrival of livewire Croatian right wing Ivan Cupic from Kielce, who enjoyed four excellent years at the Polish champions and netted 67 goals last term in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

In contrast to their heralded rivals, Szeged have a completely revamped outfit with a haul of new players joining the club while just as many have left for new pastures.

Among those who arrived are Kielce’s Croatian duo Marin Sego and Denis Buntic to compensate for Bombac going the other way while Spaniard Antonio Garcia joined Kolding Kobenhavn.

Zoran Milosavljevic

84

Group B preview

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Meshkov Brest

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged 3-0-3 (176:172) 6:6

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 7-0-1 (252:223) 14:2


12.10.2008 Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Group H 24:28 (17:13)09.11.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group H 35:28 (15:13)13.03.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:34 (17:16)22.03.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 31:29 16:13)17.10.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:25 (13:13) 05.12.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:24 (14:12)

14.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 28:34 (14:16)26.02.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 31:26 (15:16)02.10.2010 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:32 (12:14)04.12.2010 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:32 (14:16)12.10.2013 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:28 (07:13)20.02.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 35:25 (19:12) 13.11.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 31:27 (13:15) 23.11.2014 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 32:28 (16:11)

Group B head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce 3-3-3 (260:258) 9:9

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar 1-0-3 (100:115) 2:6

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 4-3-1 (233:219) 11:5

08.10.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:29 (17:15)13.02.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:35 (19:15)17.10.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 23:23 (12:12)27.02.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (11:13)04.09.2011 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament Group W 32:30 (13:11)22.03.2014 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:28 (17:13)31.03.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 27:23 (16:14) 30.09.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:32 (19:15) 20.02.2016 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 28:27 (12:10)

12.10.2014 HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 28:25 (13:13)21.02.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 28:35 (13:20)10.10.2015 HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 25:19 (11:10)11.02.2016 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 28:27 (14:15)

04.10.2008 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:33 (16:14) 13.11.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group H 27:27 (11:15) 27.03.2011 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:31 (12:15) 31.03.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 27:27 (11:9) 14.11.2013 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 34:26 (21:11) 23.11.2013 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 24:28 (12:13) 19.03.2016 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 23:24 (12:10) 27.03.2016 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – last 16 29:31 (15:13)

85

Group B preview

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar 3-0-1 (102:105) 6:2

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest 2-0-0 (65:58) 4:0

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged 4-0-2 (178:168) 8:4

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0-0-4 (116:136) 0:8

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad 1-1-0 (70:62) 3:1

HC Vardar vs HC Meshkov Brest

HC Vardar vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 1-1-4 (153:175) 3:9

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad 1-0-1 (52:58) 2:2

11.04.2015 HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 20:22 (11:11)19.04.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:31 (16:14)24.10.2015 HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 34:24 (18:14) 28.11.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 23:20 (10:6)

19.03.2016 HC Meshkov Brest vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:32 (14:12) 26.03.2016 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:30 (14:14)


17.03.2013 Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:25 (15:14)24.03.2013 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:27 (14:11)04.10.2014 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 37:32 (18:17)06.12.2014 MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 26:27 (11:14)20.09.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:30 (17:14) 06.03.2016 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 27:26 (12:16)

30.10.1999 KS Iskra-Lider Market vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group B 25:30 (13:14) 27.11.1999 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs KS Iskra-Lider Market, EHF Champions League – group B 40:32 (20:13) 26.09.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 30:36 (11:18) 19.02.2011 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 30:29 (12:14)

10.10.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:27 (20:12) 11.02.2016 IFK Kristianstad vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:35 (17:19)


10.11.2002 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group D 25:28 (13:11) 08.12.2002 RK Zagreb vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D 30:25 (17:9)03.04.2005 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs RK Zagreb, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 23:21 (10:11) 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 34:26 (16:11) 07.10.2007 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group C 28:28 (10:16) 10.11.2007 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group C 26:34 (12:16)

22.10.2015 IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:29 (20:12) 26.11.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:20 (15:10)

86

Group A preview

HC Vardar vs MOL-Pick Szeged 2-1-1 (100:101) 5:3

HC Vardar vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 2-0-0 (61:58) 4:0

HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad 2-0-0 (68:61) 4:0

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Meshkov Brest 1-0-1 (47:49) 2:2)

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs MOL-Pick Szeged 4-2-2 (222:211) 10:6

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 9-1-6 (380:354) 19:13

16.10.2004 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group A 24:24 (9:10)30.10.2004 SC Pick Szeged vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group A 25:18 (13:8) 27.09.2015 HC Vardar vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 27:23 (11:11) 28.02.2016 MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:31 (14:13)

27.09.2014 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 26:27 (12:12) 29.11.2014 HC Vardar vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 34:32 (19:17)

04.10.2015 IFK Kristianstad vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 25:30 (13:15) 20.02.2016 HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 38:36 (21:19)

15.11.2014 HC Meshkov Brest vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:22 (12:7) 23.11.2014 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:23 (11:8)

23.11.1996 SC Pick Szeged vs Badel Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group B 22:22 (12:13)18.01.1997 Badel Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group B 29:29 (17:13) 08.11.2003 SC Pick Szeged vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group E 27:26 (15:12) 30.11.2003 RK Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group E 26:25 (15:13) 18.10.2008 Pick Szeged vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group H 30:36 (14:15) 22.11.2008 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group H 29:25 (14:14)29.09.2012 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 30:27 (15:8)01.12.2012 Pick Szeged vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 26:24 (16:10)

27.09.1992 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs RK Zagreb, Champions Cup – Qualification Round 2 18:17 (6:9) 03.10.1992 RK Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, Champions Cup – Qualification Round 2 26:17 (13:7) 11.11.1995 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Croatia Banka Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:21 (11:9) 18.11.1995 Croatia Banka Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:20 (14:11)04.01.1998 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group A 26:21 (13:8)31.01.1998 Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group A 26:22 (14:10)22.03.1998 Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 27:20 (14:10)28.03.1998 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 25:24 (10:10)26.11.2000 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group A 29:26 (12:12)16.12.2000 Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group A 22:22 (12:11)21.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 22:25 (11:16)07.03.2009 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 31:18 (14:6)21.09.2013 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 24:21 (13:10)30.11.2013 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:20 (14:11) 26.09.2015 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 20:21 (10:9) 27.02.2016 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 24:23 (8:9)

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs IFK KristianstadNo previous encounters in European competitions

87

Group A preview

MOL-Pick Szeged vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 1-1-2 (93:98) 3:5

MOL-Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad 4-0-0 (124:101) 8:0

HC Meshkov Brest vs MOL-Pick Szeged 0-0-4 (93:115) 0:8

HC Meshkov Brest vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

HC Meshkov Brest vs IFK Kristianstad

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs IFK Kristianstad




04.12.2004 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Last 16 23:23 (11:10) 12.12.2004 SC Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Last 16 20:21 (12:9)10.02.2008 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 35:30 (18:13) 08.03.2008 Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 20:19 (8:7)

12.02.2014 IFK Kristianstad vs Pick Szeged, EHF Cup – Group C 23:26 (12:13)29.03.2014 Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad, EHF Cup – Group C 29:18 (16:9)14.11.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:28 (19:14) 18.11.2015 IFK Kristianstad vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:34 (19:16)

07.10.2006 Brest HC Meshkov vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group B 24:30 (14:17) 21.10.2006 SC Pick Szeged vs Brest HC Meshkov, EHF Champions League – Group B 28:23 (14:10) 14.10.2007 HC Meshkov Brest vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group H 22:24 (12:14) 24.11.2007 Pick Szeged vs HC Meshkov Brest, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:24 (12:9)

88

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

For the first time and in their eighth appearance in the VELUX EHF Champions League, the Löwen have qualified for the competition as German champions, managing to leave THW Kiel behind. The Löwen’s final league match, after which they raised the trophy, was also a great farewell to their unique ‘son of Mannheim.’ After 13 years, Olympic All-star left winger, Uwe Gensheimer, departed from the Löwen to accept a challenge at Paris Saint-Germain. The successor of the four-time German handball player of the year is a well-known face in the club - Icelandic Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson will be returning to the yellow dressed from Barcelona. Goalkeeper Borko Ristovski was replaced by Andreas Palicka to create an all Swedish goalkeeping duo alongside Mikkael Appelgren. At the beginning of the new season, the Löwen captured the German Super Cup by defeating Magdeburg and therefore, they will be full of confidence moving for-ward. After an unexpected elimination against Zagreb in last season’s Last 16, the international goal is set quite humble: to make it to the knockout stage. The Löwen will play all their VELUX EHF Champions League matches in Frankfurt this season, after moving between different venues in past years.The preparation was not that easy, as both right backs, Alexander Petersson and Harald Reinkind, were ruled out by injuries and four players were involved with the Olympic Games. Mads Mensa Larsen returned as a gold medallist with Denmark and Hendrik Pekeler took the bronze medal with Germany. After Gensheimer’s exit, Swiss international Andy Schmid was selected as the Löwen’s new team captain, having been previously awarded the best Bundesliga player for three consecutive years. Since last July, Jennifer Kettemann is the new club director, taking over from Lars Lamade. “First we want to make it to the Last 16, then we can look ahead,” Kettemann’s general opinion on the group phase. “After the Last 16, we will face demanding opponents. We know some teams from the past seasons; Brest are the only unknown opponent to us.”

GROUP B

Club AddressRhein-Neckar LöwenMollstraße 49a68165 MannheimGermany

Media contactChristopher [email protected]

rhein-neckar-loewen.de

rnloewen

@RNLoewen

Playing hallFraport ArenaSilostrasse 4665 929 FrankfurtGermanyCapacity: 5,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blueGK shirt: red/blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: red/white

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 8Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14Last 16 (2): 2014/15, 2015/16Qualification (1): 2011/12

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07

German league: 1 title (2016)

89


Biggest win

Biggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten run

Longest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 08.03.200924:39 (10:20) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), 18.10.200937:22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 10.10.201037:23 (20:8) v THW Kiel GER (a), 26.04.20095 matches (12.10.2013 – 28.11.2013)8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010)8 matches (12.10.2013 – 20.02.2014)3 matches (21.02.2015 - 22.03.2015)4 matches (28.05.2011 - 29.09.2013)40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.200938 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.201176 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.201119 v HC Vardar MKD 25:19L (a), 10.10.201517 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), 17.10.201343 v FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 22:21W (h), 20.09.2015

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

54076

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 447:392 +55 20:8 1/2-finals2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 450:408 +42 20:8 1/4-finals2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 7 4 5 486:465 +21 18:14 Fourth Place2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 422:369 +53 20:8 1/4-finals2014/15 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 12 6 0 6 361:347 +14 12:12 1/8-finals2015/16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 9 1 6 422:407 +15 19:13 1/8-finals 86 49 11 26 2588:2388 +200 109:63

90

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Nikolaj Jacobsencoach• arrived on the Löwen bench in 2014 as his predecessor Gud-

mundur Gudmundsson became Danish national team coach• coached Viborg, Bjerringbro (both as an assistant) and

Aalborg in the past, steering Aalborg to a surprising title and the CL in 2013

• six league titles and seven cup titles in Denmark and Germa-ny in his playing career

• now made history by steering Löwen to their first ever bundesliga trophy

• TV expert since 2007

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004 (as player)

Newcomers:Andreas Palicka (Aalborg Handbold)Dejan Manaskov (Vardar Skopje)Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (FC Barcelona)Michel Abt (SG Kronau-Östringen)

Left the club:Uwe Gensheimer (Paris St. Germain)Stefan Kneer (HSG Wetzlar)Stefan Sigurmannsson (Aalborg Handbold)Borko Ristovski (FC Barcelona)

91

Team roster

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

No.

261166160422430149722111223322713235919

First Name

MichelMikaelRafaelLukasKimMarvinPatrickGedeonMaxRicoMadsDejanAndreasHendrikAlexanderHaraldMaximilianAndreMax

Gudjon Valur

Marius

Surname

AbtAppelgrenBaena GonzalezBauerEkdahl du RietzGerdonGroetzkiGuardiola VillaplanaHaiderKellerMensah LarsenManaskovPalickaPekelerPeterssonReinkindRolkaSchmidSchwarzSigurdssonSteinhauser

Nat.

GERSWEESPGERSWEGERGERESPGERGERDENMKDSWEGERISLNORPOLSUIGERISLGER

Position

Left Back Goalkeeper Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Right Wing Right Wing Line Player Line Player Left Back Centre Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Right Back Right Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Left Wing Right Wing

Date of birth

25.7.19906.9.19897.11.198222.8.199523.7.198924.7.19964.7.19891.10.198426.4.199630.7.199712.8.199126.8.199210.7.19862.7.19912.7.198017.8.199221.11.199630.8.19832.4.19938.8.19796.2.1993

Place of birth

Heidelberg, GERUddevalla, SWEEstepa, ESPGermersheim, GERLund, SWESpeyer, GERPforzheim, GERPetrer, ESPHeidelberg, GERHeidelberg, GERHolbæk, DENVeles, MKDN Nöbbelöv, SWEItzehohe, GERRiga, LATTrondheim, NORBremen, GERHorgen, SUIPforzheim, GERReykjavik, ISLKarlsruhe, GER

Height

193191191192194179189200197192188181189203186196190190190187187

Weight

9710012895100758410310587109788810187958786908283

C

92

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Mikael Appelgrengoalkeeper• awarded best goalkeeper of the Swedish league 2011/12, when he played for Skövde

• then transferred to German club Melsungen, where he made it twice to the German cup final tournament and played in the group phase of the EHF Cup

• was signed by Löwen in 2015 to become the successor of Niklas Landin

• formed the duo between the post with three different goalkeepers in 2015/16: Darko Stanic, Borko Ristovski and Richard Stochl – all have gone by the end of the season

• since 2016/17 shares his time with Andreas Palicka (former Kiel and Aalborg keeper)

Kim Ekdahl Durietz left back• despite the huge competition at left back in the past, the Swede became No 1, important part of the defence as well, but famous for his long-range shots

• arrived in Mannheim in 2012 from Nantes after beginning his career at Lugi Lund

• made his first league debut at the age of 16

• particularly large shoe size of 51

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson left wing• after two seasons at FC Barcelona the Icelander returned to Bundesliga and Löwen, where he was until 2012

• before his stay in Barcelona spent just one season away from Germans sides- in 2011/12 he played for AG Kobenhavn, also former Essen, Gummersbach and Kiel player

• all-time top scorer of the Icelandic national team, reached 500 CL goals in 2015/16

• his fifth trip to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 brought him the CL title 2015 with Barcelona

Andre Schmid centre back• seven-time Swiss handball player of the year

• played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009, joined Löwen after one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

• key in attack – both as playmaker and as shooter, awarded best Bundesliga player in the previous three seasons

• new team captain after Uwe Gensheimer's departure to PSG

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013OG: S 2012

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013

EC trophies: CL 2015, EHF Cup 2005OG: S 2008

93

Rhein-Neckar Löwen

OG: S 2012

Mads Mensah Larsen centre back• started his international career at AG Kobenhavn & made it to the 2012 FINAL4

• became Danish champion for the second time at Aalborg, where he firstly was coached by Nikolaj Jacobsen, when Jacobsen became Löwen coach in 2014, he followed him to Mannheim

• was U20 EHF EURO champion with Denmark

• his father is from Ghana, his mother Danish

Harald Reinkind right back• had his debut in the Norwegian league at 16 already, playing for Fyllingen Bergen

• played EHF Champions League already at the age of 18

• was awarded best right back at the U21 World Championship in 2013

• had his debut in the Norwegian men’s team at the age of 19, part of the successful team, which made it to the semi-final of the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland

• transferred to Löwen in 2014, later took the number 1 role on his position from Icelandic Alexander Petersson

Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana line player• defence boss of Löwen as the successor of Oliver “The Rogg” Roggisch

• arrived in Mannheim in 2012 with his twin brother Isaias, who then left to Aalborg in 2014; played at Logrono and San Antonio before he joined Löwen

• had been a karateka in his younger days

• when scores for Löwen, the whole arena shouts “Ole!”

Patrick Groetzki right wing• born in Pforzheim only a few kilometres away from Mannheim

• right after ending his youth career he switched to Löwen and became part of the German younger age category national teams; MVP and silver medallist of the Men’s 20 EHF EURO in 2008 and junior world champion in 2009

• key player right after he was nominated for the men’s national team for the first time, missed the EHF EURO 2016 due to a broken leg

OG: S 2016, WCh: S 2013, EURO: S 2014

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013OG: B 2016

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014, S 2016

94


It was the biggest surprise in the history of the VELUX EHF FINAL4; after going down by eight goals in the middle of the second half of the final against Veszprém, Kielce turned the match around and became the first team to win the trophy after a penalty shoot-out. Now the Polish champions and their coach Talant Dujshebaev & Co. are the hunt-ed. Dujshebaev is only the second ever coach to win the Champions League with two different clubs (Ciudad Real/Kielce) after Alfred Gislason (Magdeburg/Kiel). The squad had changed a little, but mainly the new arrivals Darko Djukic (Besiktas) and Filip Ivic (Zagreb) have already proved during the IHF Super Globe in Doha (third place for Kielce) that they fit well in the team. The only question mark sits over their top signing Slovenian Dean Bombac (coming from Szeged), who returned from the Olympic Games in Rio with a shoulder injury. On the other hand, three Croats (Buntic and Sego to Szeged, Cupic to Vardar) have left Kielce, while long term team captain Grzegorz Tkaczyk has retired.His successor is EURO 2016 All-star left back Michal Jurecki; one of half a dozen of Polish national team players, who made it to the Olympic semi-final, under the helm of their ‘double coach’ Dujshebaev.For Jurecki, the big goal for the next season is to book another ticket to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, but “of course the road there will be very hard. We face a lot of top teams in our group, all of them we came up against last season. Thus, every game in the group phase will be really difficult. We want to go step by step and we will only think about every next opponent.”For manager Radoslaw Wasiak, the home matches in the Hala Legionów are “the most important games of the season due to the huge fan interest”. In general, Wasiak (a former Kielce player) expects a “very exciting season for our team after that magic final against Veszprem.”

GROUP B

Club AddressKS Vive Tauron Kielceul. Robotnicza 525-662 KielcePoland

Media contactSebastian Kozubek+48 [email protected]

www.vtkielce.pl

kielcehandball

@ksvive

Playing hallHala M.O.S.I.R – Legionówul. Boczna 15A25-093 KielcePolandCapacity: 4,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blueGK shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: green


Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 14Winners (1): 2015/16Semi-final (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 (third ranked in VELUX F4)Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11

Other11 participations in other ECs

Polish league: 13 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)Polish cup: 13 titles

95



Longest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goals

Fewest goals opponent


35:23 (16:13) v FC Porto Vitalis POR (h), 29.09.201330:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.200311 matches (25.09.2014 – 15.03.2015)14 matches (15.11.2015 – 29.05.2016)5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010)5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011)6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010)39 v MVM Veszprém HUN 39:38Wa7m (a), 29.05.201641 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.200377 v MVM Veszprém HUN 39:38Wa7m (a), 29.05.201621 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.201021 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.201220 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.201220 v HC Vardar MKD 20:22W (a), 11.04.201520 v HC Vardar MKD 23:20W (h), 28.11.201541 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012


113977

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 6 3 0 3 173:186 –13 6:6 3rd Gr. B2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 6 2 1 3 159:177 -18 5:7 3rd Gr. G2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 5 1 6 345:344 +1 11:13 1/8-finals2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 10 1 2 7 276:300 -24 4:16 6th Gr. A2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 6 1 5 345:336 +9 13:11 1/8-finals2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 469:400 +69 28:4 Third Place2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 7 1 4 362:331 +31 15:9 1/8-finals2014/15 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 483:439 +44 28:4 Third Place2015/16 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 20 14 4 2 614:577 +37 32:8 Winner 110 66 10 34 3226:3090 +136 142:78

96


Talant Dujshebaevcoach• most awarded figure in the club; during his longstanding playing career

won plenty of trophies with three different national teams (CIS, Russia, Spain)

• voted twice as the IHF World Player of the Year, in 1994 and in 1996• has successfully continued as a coach for the last 10 years• joined Kielce in the half of the 2013/14 season, replacing Bogdan Wenta• changed the playing style of Kielce placing emphasis on the aggressive

defence

EC Trophies: CL 1994 (as player), 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016 (as coach), EHF Cup 1993, Cup Winners’ Cup 2002, 2003 OG: G 1992, B 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1993, EURO: S 1996, 1998, B 2000

Newcomers:Darko Djukic (Besiktas Mogaz HT)Dean Bombac (MOL-Pick Szeged)Filip Ivic (HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb)Patryk Walczak (Pogon Szczecin)

Left the club:Denis Buntic (MOL-Pick Szeged)Ivan Cupic (HC Vardar)Marin Sego (MOL-Pick Szeged)Grzegorz Tkaczyk (retired)

97

Team roster


No.

1314184431045416155201119

2291712723

First Name

JulenKarolBartlomiejDeanJakubPiotrDarkoMichalFilipMateuszMichalMariuszMateuszKrzysztofKrzysztofPawelTobiasManuelSlawomirBrankoPatrykUros

Surname

Aguinagalde AkizuBieleckiBisBombacBulskiChrapkowskiDjukicGrabowskiIvicJachlewskiJureckiJurkiewiczKusLijewskiMarkowskiPaczkowskiReichmannStrlekSzmalVujovicWalczakZorman

Nat.

ESPPOLPOLSLOPOLPOLSRBPOLCROPOLPOLPOLPOLPOLPOLPOLGERCROPOLMNEPOLSLO

Position

Line Player Left Back Line Player Right Wing Line Player Right Wing Right Wing Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Right Back Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing Left Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Line Player Centre Back

Date of birth

8.12.198223.1.198225.3.19974.4.198929.4.199824.3.198811.12.199428.11.199730.8.199227.12.198427.10.19843.2.198214.7.19877.7.19835.8.199714.6.199327.5.19881.12.19882.10.197820.4.199829.7.19929.1.1980

Place of birth

Irun, ESPSandomierz, POLKielce, POLKoper, SLOKielce, POLGoreczno, POLNis, SRBKielce, POLZagreb, CROGdynia, POLKoscian, POLLubin, POLPiekary SL, POLOstrów Wlkpl., POLKielce, POLSwiecie, POLBerlin Ost, GERZagrzeb, CROStrzelce Opolskie, POLNiksic, MNESzczecin, POLKranj, SLO

Height

195202198188195202191188195185198199200198185192188181190194198189

Weight

110101989296100788795881101031109482908579909910896

C

98


Slawomir Szmal goalkeeper• 2009 World Handball Player of the Year; one of the key players in the Polish national champions’ defence

• spent several years in Germany playing for TuS N-Lübbecke and Rhein-Neckar

• competed in three VELUX EHF FINAL4 events with Löwen in 2010/11 and thrice with Kielce in 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17

• on the court a hardworking Titan, beyond it always keen on initiatives for kids

Manuel Strlek left wing• his arrival in Kielce in 2012 were his first steps abroad, after leaving his boyhood club Zagreb

• started gathering CL experience in 2006

• very fast player, scoring a lot of goals on the counterattacks

• All-Star team left wing at EHF EURO 2010, EHF EURO 2016 and CL 2015/16

Michal Jurecki left back• Kielce’s powerful left back returned to Poland in 2010 after a three-season stint in Germany and spells at HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke

• All-Star Team Left back of the EHF EURO 2016

• under his steel covering the Polish tank hides a cheerful nature and a volcano of energy exploding in the most thrilling moments of the game

• since 2015/16 a new captain of the team

Karol Bielecki left back• Poland’s biggest handball icon

• spent eight seasons in the Bundesliga playing for Magdeburg and Rhein-Neckar

• after losing sight in his left eye in an accident in 2010, the 33-year-old has made a remarkable comeback to his current steady form

• known for his ability to score from long-range

EC Trophies: CL 2016WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

EC Trophies: CL: 2016OG: B 2012, WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2012, 2016

EC Trophies: CL: 2016WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

EC trophies: CL: 2016, EHF Cup 2007WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

99


Uros Zorman centre back• one of the best playmakers in the game and one of only two players (with Thierry Omeyer) who has ever managed to win four CL titles

• not known for scoring lots of goals, but his movement and passes provide ample space for his teammates in attack

• longstanding captain of Slovenian national team, famous for his charisma, weakness for coffee, work with children, for whom he has been organising summer camps over past years

Julen Aguinagalde line player• All-Star team line player of the 2013 WCh in Spain, EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark and EHF EURO 2016 in Poland

• nominated for World Handball Player of the Year 2012

• joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid in 2013 for his first foreign league experience

• five times participated in VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010-16, scored the deciding penalty throw in the 2015/16 shootout against Veszprem

Krzysztof Lijewski right back• wanted to be a basketball player, but under the influence of his father and older brother Marcin, he chose handball

• joined Kielce in 2012 after seven successful years spent in Germany with Hamburg and Rhein-Neckar Löwen

• best right back of EHF EURO 2014; most versatile player in the team, clever in attack and vigilant in defence

Tobias Reichmann right wing• started his career at SC Magdeburg, played three seasons in Kiel and two in Wetzlar before joining Kielce in 2014 as the first German player in the Polish league

• All-Star team right winger of the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland

• his development in Kielce amplified his position in German national team

• winner of the IHF Super Globe in 2011 as part of THW Kiel

EC Trophies: CL: 2004, 2008, 2009, 2016EURO: S 2004

EC Trophies: CL: 2016WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016

EC trophies: CL: 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, 2016OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016

100

HC Vardar

In three consecutive years, from 2014 to 2016, Vardar failed to make it to Cologne and after those quarter-final eliminations, the Macedonians now hope for an improvement this season. “The last three years have been a major success for our club, but now we want to improve, as we believe that our team can accomplish our highest expectations,” says manager Davor Stojanovski. “All our fans and everyone in the club would be overjoyed, if we could finally make it to the FINAL4 in Cologne. Achieving the top results is always difficult in a competition like the Champions League, but we are ready for the challenge.” The new team captain, Macedonian international Stojanche Stoilov, fully agrees and emphasizes the importance of competing in the VELUX EHF FINAL4. “Vardar has continuously proven that this is a serious project with high goals. Our clear pri-ority for this season is to qualify for the FINAL4 in Cologne. We showed continuity by qualifying for the top 8 within Europe three times and now, I hope we can make this one final step further. I cannot guarantee that we will make it, but I hope to fulfil our wishes.”Vardar signed some big names, such as Joan Canellas (Kiel) and Ivan Cupic (Kielce). On the other hand, some key players left the team coached by Raul Gonzalez, including Sergej Harbok. In group B, Vardar will face some well-known compet-itors, like their SEHA-Liga opponents Brest, Zagreb and Celje, plus two of their Champions League group phase opponents from last year, Kielce, who previously eliminated Vardar twice in the quarter-final and the Löwen.“We know all those rivals,” says Stojanche Stoilov, “some more, some less, but we are familiar with their qualities. We have a real chance to fight for one of the top two spots in the group. We will not surrender in any game and we will not under-estimate any opponent.”

GROUP B

Club AddressHC Vardar Marko SavovskiBUL 8 mi Septemvri 20FYR Macedonia

Media contactBiljana [email protected]

www.rkvardar.com.mk

rkvardar

@HCVardar

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: black/redPlayer short: blackGK shirt: green, black

HC Vardar

Playing hallJane SandanskiSkopjeFYR MacedoniaCapacity: 5,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 11Quarter-final (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16Last 32 (1): 1999/2000Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals 2006/07

SEHA league: 1 title (2012)

Macedonian league: 10 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)Macedonian cup: 11 titles

101


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning run

Longest unbeaten run

Longest losing runLongest run without win

Most goals

Most goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

24:37 (11:19) v Wacker Thun SUI (a), 19.10.201341:19 (19:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.20034 matches (26.04.2014 – 12.10.2014)4 matches (29.11.2014 – 21.02.2015)4 matches (20.09.2015 – 10.10.2015)5 matches (26.04.2014 – 19.10.2014)5 matches (20.02.2016 – 26.03.2016)7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004)8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004)8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010)39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:28W (h), 04.10.201439 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 34:39W (a), 06.12.201441 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.200374 v IFK Kristianstad SWE 38:36W (h), 20.02.201612 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.200419 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 25:19W (h), 10.10.201538 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004

HC Vardar

43974

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 1 4 152:175 –23 3:9 4th Gr. D2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 2 0 4 152:181 –29 4:8 4th Gr. D2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 157:210 -53 0:12 4th Gr. B2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 2 3 124:153 -29 4:8 3rd Gr. A2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 6 2 1 3 161:180 -19 5:7 4th Gr. C2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 10 1 1 8 253:316 -63 3:17 5th Gr. D2013/14 HC Vardar – Skopje MKD 14 6 3 5 376:369 +7 15:13 1/4-finals2014/15 HC Vardar MKD 14 8 1 5 421:396 +25 17:11 1/4-finals 2015/16 HC Vardar MKD 18 10 2 6 527:486 +41 22:14 1/4-finals 86 31 11 44 2323:2466 –143 73:99

102

HC Vardar

Raul Gonzalez Gutierrezcoach• former stalwart of BM Valladolid and a member of the Span-

ish national team• started his coaching carrier in Atletico Madrid and Ciudad

Real working in team with Talant Dujshebaev• replaced Zoran Kastratovic early in the 2013/14 season at

Vardar • steered the team to a historical success - the quarter-finals

of the CL for the first time and was just one goal shy of the FINAL4

Newcomers:Joan Canellas (THW Kiel)Rogerio Moraes (THW Kiel)Vuko Borozan (TuS N-Lübbecke)Ivan Cupic (Vive Tauron Kielce)

Left the club:Dejan Manaskov (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)Matjaz Brumen (Gorenje Velenje)Alem Toskic (Gorenje Velenje)Sergei Gorbok (Pick Szeged)Filip Lazarov (HC Timisoara)

103

Team roster

HC Vardar

No.

20263421252717312219618159312773315

First Name

IlijaPetarVukoJoanLukaIvanAlexanderTimurIvanAlexRogerioIgorJorgeMijajloStrahinjaVladoDaniilArpadStojanche

Surname

AbutovicAngelovBorozanCañellas ReixachCindricCupicDerevenDibirovDimitrovskiDujshebaevFerreira MoraesKaracicMaqueda PenaMarsenicMilicNedanovskiShishkarevSterbik CaparStoilov

Nat.

SRBMKDMNEESPCROCRORUSRUSMKDESPBRACROESPSRBSRBMKDRUSESPMKD

Position

Left Back Goalkeeper Left Back Centre Back Centre Back Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Left Wing Right Back Line Player Centre Back Right Back Line Player Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Wing Goalkeeper Line Player

Date of birth

2.8.19888.3.19779.4.199430.9.19865.7.199327.3.198626.3.199230.7.19832.4.199817.12.199211.1.19942.11.19886.2.19889.3.199322.12.199023.6.19856.7.198820.11.197930.4.1987

Place of birth

Vrbas, SRBKavadarci, MKDCetinje, MNESt. Maria de Palau, ESPOgulin, CROMetkovic, CROToliatti, RUSPetrozavodsk, RUSBitola, MKDSantander, ESPAbaetetuba, BRAMostar, BIHToledo, ESPBerane, MNEPristina, SRBResen, MKDKustanay, RUSSenta, SRBSkopje, MKD

Height

202185203198185178199180185187204189197202200187190200191

Weight

9990105100927885747588118871051071329085119110C

104

HC Vardar

Arpad Sterbik goalkeeper• one of the best goalkeepers who holds Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish citizenship

• after ten seasons spent in Spain moved from Barcelona in 2014 and signed a four- year contract with Macedonian powerhouse

• dozens of international awards incl. 2005 IHF World Handball Player of the Year

• voted as the best goalkeeper of the Spanish league five times

Timur Dibirov left wing• in 2013 he joined Vardar as just the second club in his career

• first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with whom he reached the FINAL4 in 2010

• key player of the Russian national team; voted best left wing of at the 2013 WCh

• fast breaks specialist and also key in defence

• married to one of the greatest Russian players - Irina Poltoratskaya

Alexander Dereven left back• started playing handball in Togliatti Handball School

• played in all age categories of Chekhovskie Medvedi

• his personal best 62 goals in the CL 2014/15

• won three titles in the Russian championship 2013, 2014, 2015

• joined Vardar in 2015 but missed the biggest part of 2015/16 due to injury

Joan Canellas centre back• top scorer of the EHF EURO 2014 (50 goals in eight matches)

• with Barcelona and Ciudad Real Spanish champion and cup winner

• twice (2011, 2012) CL finalist with Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid – the club with which he also won the IHF Super Globe twice (2010, 2012)

• came in 2016 from Kiel and signed a three-year contract

EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009WCh: B 1999, B 2001, B 2011, G 2013, EURO: S 2016

EC trophies: Cup Winners' Cup 2006

WCh G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016

105

HC Vardar

Stojance Stoilov goalkeeper• first choice on the line player position in the Macedonian national team

• joined Vardar in 2010 from city rivals Metalurg (after a brief spell in with Odorheiu Secuiesc) - a step that saw his career spiralling upwards

• played a brilliant tournament at the EHF EURO 2012 when FYR Macedonia finished 5th

• had to share his playing time with Alem Toskic in the 2015/16 season

Alex Dujshebaev right back• son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar at the beginning of the 2013/14 season

• voted best right back at the 2012 Men’s 20 EHF EURO and the 2013 Junior WCh

• top scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL with BM Aragon in 2011/12 and 2012/13

• voted best young player of the CL in 2014/15

• will join his father as he has signed with KS Vive Tauron Kielce from 2017

Jorge Maqueda right back• arrived in Skopje at the beginning of the 2015/16 season and signed a two-year contract

• before his arrival in Vardar he played for Barcelona, Alcobendas, Aragon and Nantes

• the world class defender is gold medalist from the World Championship 2013 in Spain and bronze holder from EHF EURO 2011

Ivan Cupic right wing• second top goal scorer at the London 2012 Olympics

• named on the All-Star team at the 2009 WCh

• despite losing one finger in an accident in 2008 remained an important player of each team he has played for including the national team

• won the CL with Vive Tauron Kielce in his fourth season in the club, before he signed a four-year contract with Vardar

WCh: G 2013, EURO: S 2016

EURO: S 2016

EC trophies: CL 2016OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, 2016

106

HC PPDZagreb

26 straight years Croatian champions, and for the 22nd time part of the EHF Cham-pions League – HC PPD Zagreb maintain their records in both rankings. After clinch-ing the berth for the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals twice in 2015 and 2016, now the four-time finalists have the dream of making it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. Their historic elimination of Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the previous season boosts the hopes of the team of legendary coach Veselin Vujovic.Another reason for the huge confidence is the homecoming of one of the most successful Croatian handball players ever: Igor Vori. And he is back in Zagreb, where it all started. The World and Olympic champion and 2013 VELUX EHF Cham-pions League winner returns home from Paris, while back court ace Luka Stepancic has gone in the opposite direction to the French capital. Like Stepancic, another top talent of the Croatian record champions has made it to a top club abroad, goalkeeper Filip Ivic signed for the Champions League winners Kielce; he was replaced by Slovenian international Matevz Skok. His fellow country-man Darko Cingesar (Maribor) is another top PPD signing.But the preparation for the new season was anything but easy for the Croats. Five players - Cingesar, David Miklavcic, Skok, Zlatko Horvat and Ivan Stevanovic – as well as coach Veselin Vujovic (as Slovenian NT coach) missed out on most of the pre-season due to the Olympic Games. In addition, Zagreb suffer from two long-term injuries, left back Domagoj Pavlovic (shoulder injury) is ruled out until the end of the year, while PPD expects right back Luka Sebetic (elbow injury) to be back in November. Despite those problems, the hopes are high: “We want to qualify for the Last 16, and to make it among the top eight teams again. That would be a fantastic result for us; to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 would be a dream come true,” says club director Ante Ancic.

GROUP B

Club AddressHC PPD ZagrebVeprinecka 1610000 ZagrebCroatia

Media contactGoran Roknić+385 95 9999 [email protected]

www.rk-zagreb.hr

RK-Zagreb

@RKZagreb

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: yellow

HC PPD Zagreb

Playing hallArena ZagrebLaniste b.b.,10000 ZagrebCroatiaCapacity: 15,200

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 23Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99Semi-final (1): 1999/00Quarter-final (7): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11Main Round (1): 2007/08Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13

OtherEHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2006/07

SEHA League: 1 title (2013)

Croatian league: 26 titles (1991-2016)Croatian Cup winner: 23 times

107



Longest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponent


34:15 (16:8) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.201043:21 (23:10) v FC Barcelona ESP (h), 18.04.20156 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999)6 matches (09.11.1996 – 18.01.1997)6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999)6 matches (30.10.1999 – 05.12.1999)6 matches (04.10.2008 – 22.11.2008)7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013)8 matches (04.10.2012 – 16.02.2013)38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.201343 v FC Barcelona ESP 43:21L (a), 18.04.201569 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.201015 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.200513 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.200013 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.200536 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.199936 v HC Metalurg MKD 19:17W (h), 11.10.2014

HC PPD Zagreb

63869

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals



1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 0 2 4 135:147 –12 2:10 4th Gr. A1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 203:203 0 11:5 Runner-up1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 2 1 3 138:144 -6 5:7 3rd Gr. B1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 6 3 3 310:294 +16 15:9 Runner-up1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 7 0 5 300:287 +13 14:10 Runner-up1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 8 1 3 288:269 +19 17:7 Runner-up1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 7 1 2 260:230 +30 15:5 1/2-finals2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 4 1 3 195:192 +3 9:7 1/4-finals2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 3 2 3 209:216 -7 8:8 1/4-finals2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 273:258 +15 8:12 1/4-finals2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 165:170 -5 6:6 3rd Gr. B2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 212:194 +18 11:5 1/8-finals2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 153:148 +5 6:6 3rd Gr. D2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 5 1 6 339:344 -5 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 32008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 7 3 2 357:313 +44 17:7 1/4-finals2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 6 0 6 351:335 +16 12:12 1/8-finals2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 12 6 3 3 358:319 +39 15:9 1/8-finals2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 9 1 4 391:359 +32 19:9 1/4-finals2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 2 1 7 266:284 –18 5:15 5th Gr. D2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 267:282 -15 8:12 5th Gr. A2014/15 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO 14 7 0 7 328:356 -28 14:14 1/4-finals 2015/16 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO 18 6 2 10 464:480 –16 14:22 1/4-finals 226 109 24 93 5962:5824 +138 242:210

108

HC PPD Zagreb

Veselin Vujoviccoach• hired by Zagreb right before the beginning of the 2014/15 CL

campaign• one of the best players ever, worked as a head-coach in Ciudad

Real, Vardar, Yugoslavian national team, Serbia and Montenegro (fourth place the OG in Sydney 2000) and is in charge of Slovenia now

• with Vardar won the regional SEHA League title in its first season• known as an outstanding specialist but also as an impulsive coach• nominated for best coach in the CL 2015/16 season

EC trophies: Champions Cup 1985, 1986, 1991 (as player)OG: G 1984, WCh: G 1986 (as player)

Newcomers:Darko Cingesar (Maribor)David Miklavcic (HC Tremblay)Matevz Skok (HC Lübbecke)Josip Eres (HC Izvidac Ljubuski)Igor Vori (PSG)Lovro Jotic (HC Dubrava)

Left the club:Filip Ivic (Vive Tauron Kielce)Luka Stepancic (PSG)Antonijo Kovacevic (HC Dubrava)Lovro Mihic (Orlen Wisla Plock)Stanko Sabljic (HC Erlangen)

109

Team roster

HC PPD Zagreb

No.

1331823519832764154828941714161112192224106

First Name

DarkoJosipZlatkoLovroArijanTinMateoStipeVelkoDobrivojePetarDavidDomagojLukaLukaMatevzLovroIvanLeonJosipTonciIgorStefan

Surname

CingesarEresHorvatJoticJovicKontrecLukacecMandalinicMarkoskiMarkovicMedicMiklavcicPavlovicRakovicSebeticSkokSpremStevanovicSusnjaValcicValcicVoriVujic

Nat.

SLOBIHCROCROCROCROCROCROMKDSRBCROSLOCROCROCROSLOCROCROCROCROCROCROCRO

Position

Left Wing Right Wing Right Wing Centre Back Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Left Wing Left Back Left Wing Centre Back Right Back Left Back Right Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Left Back Line Player Centre Back

Date of birth

25.7.199019.3.199525.9.198412.11.199418.6.19969.9.198924.1.19959.9.19925.4.198622.4.198612.6.199629.1.198321.3.19936.6.198826.5.19942.9.198626.1.199018.5.19825.8.199321.4.19849.6.197820.9.19806.7.1991

Place of birth

Ljubljana, SLOLjubuski, BIHZagreb, CROZagreb, CROZagreb, CRONasice, CROIvanic Grad, CROSplit, CROStruga, MADTeslic, SCGZagreb, CROLjubljana, SLOZagreb, CROZagreb, CROBjelovar, CROCelje, SLOZagreb, CRORijeka, CROSiroki Brijeg, CROZadar, CROZadar, CROZagreb, CRORijeka, CRO

Height

183185179191184191180195194188190195189179198189186193204190194203192

Weight

857886869089859010081859882869796881011139710011491

C

110

HC PPD Zagreb

Ivan Stevanovic goalkeeper• one of the oldest and most experienced Zagreb players

• had amazing 2015/16 season that earned him place in Croatian national team at the age 33, originally wanted to quit handball at the age of 29

• his first sport was swimming, started handball at the end of primary school

• played in Trsat, Pecine, Zamet, Porec, Krsko

Darko Cingesar left wing• newcomer to Zagreb made his first international move, played only in Slovenia before (Skofja Loka, Gorenje Velenje, Branik Maribor)

• played CL with Gorenje, known for efficient shooting

• expected to make excellent pair on left wing side with Dobrivoje Markovic

• Veselin Vujovic made him a national team player in 2016 when he got invited for EURO in Poland

Stipe Mandalinic left back• voted MVP of Men's 20 EHF EURO 2012, where he also won a silver medal with his team

• his best season in the CL was 2013/14 when he scored 43 goals

• nicknamed “Little Lacković” (or “Little Lac”) because of similar style of shooting and playing

• had a great return from the second knee injury scoring 40 goals in 8 CL matches, but another injury will keep him sidelined until November 2016

Velko Markoski left back• Macedonian defence specialist arrived in Zagreb in 2015

• came from Metalurg where he was coached by former Croatian national team coach Lino Cervar

• coached by Vujovic as a junior in 2007 when he was at the helm of the Macedonian junior team

EURO: B 2016

WCh: B 2013

111

HC PPD Zagreb

Josip Valcic centre back• co-captain of Zagreb plays together with brother Tonci Valcic on the team

• started in Split, played in Gummersbach but spent most of his career in Zagreb

• in his 11th season has to step in for injured Domagoj Pavlovic, who is out until the end of 2016

Igor Vori line player• played handball in five countries so far, including, France (PSG), Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Hamburg) and, more strangely, Italy

• returning to Zagreb after seven years

• great defensive player who will enforce Zagreb's defence and be a mentor to younger players

• started playing handball in Zagreb

Luka Sebetic right back• holds gold medal from Men's EHF EURO 2010

• scored his first goal in the CL when he was 17

• season 2016/17 will be his seventh in the CL

• scored 52 CL goals in 2015/16

Zlatko Horvat right wing• captain and speedy wing is a counter-attack specialist, but he is an important part of defence at the same time

• had his debut in the national team in 2006 and since then he has won four medals

• played in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and has already 13 campaigns in the CL under his belt

• in the 2010/11 season the third top scorer with 94 goals

EC trophies: CL 2013OG: G 2004, B 2012; EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009, B 2013

EURO: B 2016

OG B 2012, EURO B 2012, B 2016, WCh S 2009, B 2013

EURO: S 2008, WCh: S 2009

112

HC Meshkov Brest

Meshkov Brest again took the double in Belarus by becoming league champions and cup winners last season. In 2001, they named the club after famous Belarusian handball coach Anatoly Meshkov, who died in 1994. The whole club in Brest will celebrate its 80th anniversary in February 2017.When the time rolls around, everybody at Meshkov hopes to still be part of the VE-LUX EHF Champions League. In the 2015/16 season, Brest made it through to the Group C+D playoffs, but were eliminated by eventual Champions League winners Vive Tauron Kielce in the Last 16. Proceeding to the knockout stage is again one major goal of Brest, besides taking all domestic titles and qualifying for the final tournament of the SEHA Liga. The squad of coach Sergej Bebeshko did not change that much, compared to the previous season. The biggest names among the new arrivals are Rajko Prodanovic (MOL-Pick Szeged), Vladislav Ostroushko (HCM Baia Mare) and Iman Jamali (IFK Kristianstad). Besides those newcomers, Dzianis Ruten-ka is back after injury. Maksim Baranau is the only key player who left. In addition, Dzmitry Kamyshyk will miss the whole 2016/17 season after a serious injury during pre-season.This year, Meshkov had been seeded among the 16 top teams in Group B. Thus, manager Pavel Bashkin expects great matches for his side: “The strongest teams in our group are Kielce and Rhein-Neckar Löwen. All other teams are almost equal. So it is our main goal is to finish this stage among the first six teams, preferably to be in top four of the group.”For Bashkin “it is a prestigious thing to play in the elite group. The team will only develop and progress by playing against the strongest teams.” Team captain Dzmi-try Nikulenkau is looking forward to this development: “We would like to take the next step and qualify for the quarter-finals. But first of all, we need to be among first six teams of the group.“

GROUP B

Club AddressHC Meshkov BrestLeningradskaya 4224028 BrestBelarus

Media contactIvan Karaitschev+375 529 [email protected]

bgk-meshkova.com

bgkmeshkova

bgk_meshkova

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGK shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: black

HC Meshkov Brest

Playing hallSportshall VictoriaLeningradskaya 4224028 BrestBelarusCapacity: 3,500

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 8Last 16 (1): 2015/16Group Phase (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2014/15Qualification (1): 2008/09

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: quarter-final 2011/12

Belarusian league: 8 titles (2004-08, 2014-16)Belarusian cup: 10 titles

113




Most goalsMost goals opponent



34:22 (15:14) v Vojvodina SRB (h), 19.09.201536:17 (16:8) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), 09.10.20045 matches (24.10.2015 – 05.12.2015)7 matches (24.10.2015 - 05.03.2016)10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005)10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007)10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005)10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007)35 v Vojvodina SRB 26:35W (a), 14.11.201539 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), 11.11.200639 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), 28.09.201470 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), 28.09.201417 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), 09.10.200417 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.200420 v TATRAN Presov SVK 20:30W (a), 26.09.201544 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004

HC Meshkov Brest

53570

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 6 1 0 5 143:184 -41 2:10 4th Gr. C2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 1 0 5 165:183 -18 2:10 4th Gr. E2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 0 0 6 146:189 –43 0:12 4th Gr. B2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 6 1 0 5 154:182 -28 2:10 4th Gr. H2014/15 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 10 2 2 6 267:293 –26 6:14 5th Gr. A2015/16 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 14 9 1 4 437:383 +54 19:9 1/8-finals 48 14 3 31 1312:1414 -102 31:65

114

HC Meshkov Brest

Sergey Bebeshkocoach• was appointed the new head coach of Brest in June 2015 replacing Zel-

jko Babic who concentrated on his job with Croatia national team then• as a head coach of Dinamo Minsk in 2009-13 and led them to four

consecutive league titles and the first time in Belarusian handball to the CL Last 16 in 2013

• number of players that had worked with him in Minsk including Pavel Atman, Siarhei Shylovich, Dzianis Rutenka, Dzmitry Nikulenkau and Maxim Babichev

• led Brest to another Belarusian title as well as to the CL Last 16 in 2015/16

OG: G 1992 (as player)

Newcomers:Andrei Yashchanka (HC Gomel)Andrei Yurynok (SKA Minsk)Rajko Prodanovic (MOL-Pick Szeged)Rade Mijatovic (Grundfos Tatabanya KC)Vladislav Ostroushko (HCM Baia Mare)Iman Jamali (IFK Kristianstad)

Left the club:Maksim Baranau (Odorhei)Artsiom Selvasiuk (Mezökövesdi KC)

115

Team roster

HC Meshkov Brest

No.

20621221073017321223132288181923714

First Name

PavelMaximVitaliImanDainisArtsiomRadeDzmitryVladislavIvanRajkoSimonDzianisViachaslauSiarheiRastkoAlexanderLjuboAndreiAndrei

Surname

AtmanBabichevCharapenkaJamaliKristopansKulakMijatovicNikulenkauOstroushkoPesicProdanovicRazgorRutenkaShumakShylovichStojkovicTioumentsevVukicYashchankaYurynok

Nat.

RUSBLRBLRHUNLATBLRMNEBLRUKRCROSRBSLOBLRBLRBLRSRBESPCROBLRBLR

Position

Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Right Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Right Back Line Player Centre Back Left Wing Left Back Left Wing

Date of birth

25.5.19877.3.198627.1.198411.10.199127.9.199023.2.199630.6.198112.7.19845.3.198617.3.198924.4.198618.9.198514.2.198622.12.198816.5.198612.7.19814.10.19833.8.19827.1.199221.9.1996

Place of birth

Volgograd, RUSMinsk, BLRBrest, BLREsfahan, IRILudza, LATBrest, BLRSombor, SRBMinsk, BLRCherkasy, UKRRijeka, CROBeograd, SRBCelje, SLOMinsk, BLRBrest, BLRBobrujsk, BLRBelgrad, SRBAjtubinsk, RUSSplit, CROGomel, BLRBrest, BLR

Height

190200194202213190192188202194186183187204198191185192194179

Weight

94100861021357598901011128784851169511085968570

C

116

HC Meshkov Brest

Rade Mijatovic goalkeeper• vetran Montenegrin goalkeeper arrived in Brest in the summer of 2016, moving from Hungary's Tatabanya

• Belarus is not a new country for him as he played for Dinamo Minsk in 2012-13, winning the title of a national champion in that season

• also won the Serbian league with RK Vojvodina Novi Sad in 2005 and RK Red Star Belgrade in 2008, as well as the Macedonian league with Metalurg Skopje in 2014

• regularly plays for the Montenegro national team

Simon Razgor left wing• Slovenian is beginning his third season in Brest

• before joining the Belarusian team, he spent his entire career at home playing for Celje and RK Maribor

• top all-time scorer of RK Maribor with 1,052 goals

• his father was also a handballer who played for Celje as well as for the Yugoslavia junior national team and later became a coach

Pavel Atman left back• the blonde Russian international is going to play his second season in Brest

• this is his second time in Belarus — between 2010 and 2013, he played for Dinamo Minsk, coached by Bebeshko at that time, and won three titles of Belarusian champion

• in 2013 moved from Minsk to Metalurg Skopje where he quickly became one of the fans’ favorites and won the national league in 2014

• left Metalurg before the end of the 2014/15 season and spent the rest of the season playing for Al-Jaish in Qatar

Dzmitry Nikulenkau centre back• native of Minsk is a national player of Belarus and a well-respected figure

• during a number of years, he played a key role at Dinamo Minsk where he was the captain

• was at Dinamo since the club foundation in 2008 and until the club ceased to exist in February 2014, and won five titles of Belarus league

• had some offers from abroad but preferred to move to Brest where he won the Belarusian league three more times

117

HC Meshkov Brest

Rastko Stojkovic line player• joined Brest in December 2013 after spending a few months in Qatar

• the native of Belgrade started his career at RK Crvena Zvezda and moved abroad at the age of 24, spent four seasons at Pfullingen and Nordhorn

• played for Kielce in 2009-13 and won three titles of Polish champion as well as four Polish Cups, also reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2013

• became the top scorer of Brest in 2015/16 CL with 89 goals and All-star line player

Dainis Kristopans right back• born in a small Latvian town Ludza and started his career in the local club Latgols

• at the age of 18, moved to Tatran Presov and stayed almost six years in Slovakia, having won the national league five times

• left Tatran in February 2015 and spent a few months in Qatar before joining Brest

• with the height of 213 cm, he is the tallest handball player not only in Brest but together with Angel Montoro in the whole CL

Rajko Prodanovic right wing• Serb is a new player in Brest since the summer of 2016

• moved to Brest from Pick Szeged where he had two spells, in 2011-13 and 2014-16, and won silver medals of the Hungarian league in all four seasons

• also played for Serbia's Jugovic as well as Spain's BM Antequera, Macedonia's Vardar and Germany's Rhein-Neckar Löwen

• regular member of Serbia national team, he played at the 2012 Olympics

Dzianis Rutenka right wing• younger brother of Siarhei Rutenka, the famous left back

• unlike his brother, Dzianis has spent most of his career at home — he became a five- time Belarusian champion with Dinamo Minsk and then added three more titles with HC Meshkov Brest

• moved to Brest in March 2014 immediately after Dinamo Minsk had gone bankrupt and ceased to exist

• sidelined for a big part of the 2015/16 season due to a severe knee injury

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008EURO: S 2012

EURO: S 2012

118

MOL-Pick Szeged

When you have eleven new arrivals and ten players departed, the first objective is to build a new team structure. This is the main job of Juan Carlos Pastor at the 2014 EHF Cup winners MOL-Pick Szeged for the upcoming season.Big names such as playmaker and top scorer Dean Bombac (to Kielce) and Spanish World Champion Antonio Garcia (to Kolding Kobenhavn) have said farewell to Hun-gary, while other big names such as Sergei Gorbok (Vardar), two recent champions from Kielce Marin Sego and Denis Buntic as well as Velenje stars Stas Skube and Mario Sostaric came to the Hungarian runners-up.“We must learn to play together, to play as a team, to improve and to get to know each other,” details Pastor as his main tasks. Already in their season of transition Szeged hope to snatch away at least one title from the hands of their domestic arch rivals Telekom Veszprem, though they estimate the Balaton-based champions as the favourites again.“In the VELUX EHF Champions League our philosophy is to go step by step, from match to match; we have to prepare against each opponent very thoroughly. The goal is of course, to qualify for the knockout phase, but we will need to achieve a good place in the group to get a good opponent in the next phase and to hope for the quarter-finals. This year, each match, even in the group phase, will be like a final to everyone,” says Pastor.For club CEO Nándor Szögi, it is “a big honour being among big teams such as last season’s winners Kielce. Since we are going to have eleven new players, our main goal is to build our new team step by step, from match to match.“We are going to have minimum of 14 matches against the best handball teams, which is a big challenge for MOL-Pick Szeged. We are really proud of being in this top competition and we do hope that our team can achieve the quarter-final like we did two seasons ago.”

GROUP B

Club AddressMOL-Pick SzegedDeák Ferenc u. 28-30.6720 SzegedHungary

Media contactLevente Juhasz+36 70 543 [email protected]

www.pickhandball.hu

pickszeged

@pickhandball

Playing hallVarosi Sportcsarnok SzegedTemesvari Krt.336726 SzegedHungaryCapacity: 3,200

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: orangePlayer short: blackGK shirt: white or red

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: black

MOL-Pick Szeged

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 15Quarter-final (3): 1996/1997, 2003/2004, 2014/15Last 16 (6): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2010/2011, 2012/13, 2015/16Main Round (1): 2007/2008Group Phase (3): 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012Qualification (1): 2013/14

OtherEHF Cup: Winners 2014/15, Quarter-final: 2000/01Last 16: 1994/95, 1999/2000Cup Winners’ CupSemi-final: 1993/94Quarter-final: 2002/03, 2008/09Hungarian league: 2 titles (1996, 2007)Hungarian cup: 6 titles

119



Longest losing run


39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 07.10.200740:17 (19:5) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 15.02.19976 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007)6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007)6 matches (24.10.2015 – 14.02.2016)6 matches (17.10.2009 – 20.02.2010)6 matches (06.03.2011 – 15.10.2011)7 matches (17.10.2009 – 27.02.2010)39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), 07.10.200740 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.199773 v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 38:35W (h), 19.11.201117 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), 05.10.2008 39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), 08.03.2008

MOL-Pick Szeged

63973

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 205:216 –11 8:8 1/4-finals2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN 10 4 0 6 269:262 +7 8:12 1/4-finals2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 4 2 2 190:187 +3 10:6 1/8-finals2005/06 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 0 5 219:218 +1 6:10 1/8-finals2006/07 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 202:203 -1 8:8 1/8-finals2007/08 Pick Szeged HUN 12 9 0 3 361:310 +51 18:6 3rd MR Gr. 42008/09 Pick Szeged HUN 6 2 0 4 159:161 -2 4:8 3rd Gr. H2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN 10 2 2 6 287:307 -20 6:14 5th Gr. A2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN 12 5 0 7 336:351 -15 10:14 1/8-finals2011/12 Pick Szeged HUN 10 3 0 7 285:316 -31 6:14 5th Gr. D2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN 12 4 0 8 313:350 –37 8:16 1/8-finals2014/15 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 14 9 1 4 395:383 +12 19:9 1/4-finals 2015/16 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 16 8 1 7 466:455 +11 17:15 1/8-finals 134 59 10 65 3687:3719 -32 128:140

120

MOL-Pick Szeged

Juan Carlos Pastorcoach• one of the masterminds of contemporary handball with an

incredible amount of silverware in his career• Szeged found him fit for the job of rebuilding their team in

order to be able to challenge for the Hungarian title against Veszprém

• won the EHF Cup in his first year at the helm• became also the sporting director after Szeged legend

Richárd Mezei resigned

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B 2008

Newcomers:Bence Banhidi (Balatonfüredi KSE)Richard Bodo (Grundfos Tatabanya)Bendeguz Boka (Balatonfüredi KSE)Denis Buntic (Vive Tauron Kielce)Marin Sego (Vive Tauron Kielce)Mario Sostaric (Gorenje Velenje)Matej Gaber (Montpellier Handball)Pedro Rodriguez Alvares (Naturhouse La Rioja)Sandro Obranovic (RK PPD Zagreb, on loan)Sergei Gorbok (Vardar Skopje)Stas Skube (Gorenje Velenje)

Left the club:Gabor Ancsin (Telekom Veszprem)Antonio Garcia (KIF Kolding Kobenhavn)Dean Bombac (Vive Tauron Kielce)Ferenc Ilyes (Grundfos Tatabanya)Marko Curuvija (unknown)Niko Mindegia (KIF Kolding Kobenhavn)Piotr Wyszomirski (TBV Lemgo)Rajko Prodanovic (Meshkov Brest)Roberto Garcia Parrondo (CYEB Budapest)Vladimir Vranjes (Grundfos Tatabanya)Vladan Loncar (Naturhouse La Rioja, on loan)

121

Team roster

MOL-Pick Szeged

No.

9119279921977349395152288141398894527128126168212024188317

First Name

PatrikZsoltBenceDenesAlenRichardBendeguzDenisAdamKarolyBalintMatejBenceThiagusSergeiGergöJonasRichardMartinSandroImreZoltan PeterPedroMarinRolandJose ManuelStasMarioStefanMateSzabolcs

Surname

ArpasiBaloghBanhidiBenakBlazevicBodoBokaBunticDimovicsDoleszalFeketeGaberGötz

Goncalves Dos SantosGorbokHaszilloKällmanMezeiNagyObranovicPasztorPatyiRodriguez AlvarezSegoSelmecziSierra MendezSkubeSostaricSunajkoSzaboZubai

Nat.

HUNHUNHUNHUNCROHUNHUNCROHUNHUNHUNSLOHUNBRARUSHUNSWEHUNHUNCROHUNHUNESPCROHUNESPSLOSLOSRBHUNHUN

Position

Line Player Right Back Line Player Line Player Left Back Left Back Left Wing Right Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Line Player Left Back Left Back Left Back Centre Back Left Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Wing Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing Line Player

Date of birth

17.9.199629.3.19899.2.199520.10.199829.3.198613.3.19932.10.199313.11.198223.1.19991.12.199527.6.199522.7.199125.11.199825.1.19894.12.198230.9.199617.7.198128.11.19969.1.199918.10.199223.7.199618.2.199522.8.19902.8.198514.3.199721.5.197815.11.198925.11.199210.4.199827.1.199731.3.1984

Place of birth

Orosháza, HUNOrosháza, HUNGyor, HUNSzeged, HUNNasice, CROMateszalka, HUNVeszprem, HUNLjubuski, BIHSzeged, HUNSzékesfehérvár, HUNGyula, HUNKranj, SLOSárospatak, HUNJuiz de Fora, BRAMinsk, BLRSzékesfehérvár, HUNVäxjö, SWESzeged, HUNSzeged, HUNKarlovac, CROSzolnok, HUNSzeged, HUNVigo, ESPMostar, BIHSzeged, HUNMoguer, ESPNovo Mesto, SLOSlovenj Gradec, SLOZombor, SRBSzeged, HUNMezokövesd, HUN

Height

197189206188201204194199187190195198192199196192201189202195193182192194189194176192190190193

Weight

110981239511511490110838595110851001029210096889811590849970918093807598C

122

MOL-Pick Szeged

Marin Sego goalkeeper• signed in 2016 to replace Polish international Wyszomirski, who left Szeged

• like he had in Plock with Marcin Wichary and in Kielce with a Polish national team goalkeeper, Szmal, he has now Sierra as competition in Szeged

• before his first FINAL4 was most successful with Zagreb, where he helped his club to progress twice to the CL quarter-finals

Sergei Gorbok left back• started his career in Minsk, also played in Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Germany

• took Russian citizenship, started playing for Russia after three seasons in Chekhov

• in the 2013/14 season with Rhein-Neckar Löwen he was close to the FINAL4

• joined the Russian “colony” of Vardar in 2014 and left for Szeged in 2016, where a lot is expected from him

Jonas Källman left wing• signed in the winter of 2013/14 and showed his ability to defend in 3 positions

• vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor’s defensive variatons and Szeged’s attacking edge

• spent more than a decade in Spain with Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid before returning home (IFK Skövde) and finally signing a three-and-a-half year contract with Pick

• the Swede is one of the survivors of the great changes in the Szeged locker-room

Sandro Obranovic centre back• having started handball as a member of RK Karlovac youth squad, working his way up to the first team and the Challenge Cup berth

• joined Szeged in 2016 from PPD Zagreb

• flourished under guidance of Veselin Vujovic in the 2014/15 season, he will be a clutch 7th field player in Szeged

• awarded best left back of the 2015 SEHA League Final tournament

EC trophies: CL 2016EURO: S 2010

EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014OG: S 2012

EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014OG: S 2012

123

MOL-Pick Szeged

Matej Gaber line player• signed by Szeged at the beginning of the 2016/17 season and has done everything since to justify his “hard-defending” reputation

• should become a very important piece of coach Juan Carlos Pastor's puzzle in the forthcoming years

• Slovenian rock is a regular at the national team having represented his country for more than 100 times

• has played for Montpellier, where he already gained considerable CL experience

Zsolt Balogh right back• joined Pick Szeged from Braun Gyöngyös in 2012, by 2014 overtook Gábor Ancsin in the Pick roster in his poition

• not as tall as one would expect from a backcourt player but has outstanding dribbling skills and a sharp eye for passing

• coach Pastor gave him more time and he grabbed his chance, he is one of the few who remained in Szeged from the 2015/16 team

Denis Buntic right back• born in Ljubuski, traditional handball city of Bosnia and Herzegovina

• played for Izvidac, Zagreb, Koper, Ademar Leon and Kielce before joining Szeged

• set his scoring record in the EC in 2009/10 with Ademar (57 goals)

• the Croatian arrived in Szeged as Champions League's defending champion

Mario Sostaric right wing• spent his latest years away from Champions League action but has more than 50 goals in the competetion from 2014 with Velenje.

• the 1,92 m tall winger is unlucky to have such competition as Gajic and Marguc in the Slovenian national team

• was voted to the All Star team in the junior ECh and WCh (2011, 12)

• Juan Carlos Pastor asked for Sostaric personally, he signed a three-year contract with the club

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014

EC trophies: CL 2016OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2010, B 2012, WCh: S 2005, 2009

124


For the past 70 years, handball has been played in Celje. During that period, RK Piv-ovarna Lasko have been the Slovenian champions 20 times and for the 22nd time, the 2004 winners are once again a part of the EHF Champions League. To celebrate their accomplishments, RK have produced and new club anthem.Celje aims high in all competitions they play. The main goals of Branko Tamse team are to defend their domestic titles (league and cup) and to proceed to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League.One key player left (Blaz Blagotinsek to Telekom Veszprem), one retired (Luka Dobelsek) and one returned back to the club where he started (Borut Mackovsek). With this nearly equal squad, Celje will additionally begin in the multi-national SEHA Liga for the first time.With that, the Slovenian record champions want to use this international experi-ence to accomplish a mission they did not fulfil in the 2015/16 season. “We missed the Last 16 by an inch in the last round; now, we want to fight until the end this season and be successful,” says manager Gregor Planteu.But, it is not only the sportive results which count for Planteu and his club. “We want to improve in terms of business, too - that means having an organization at the top level and a packed Zlatorog Arena with an average of 4000 spectators per game, which is impressive for the size of the city of Celje. We need to have great results. Of course, every fan expects more than a game; they want to have a top event and we are going to deliver that to them.”Experienced team captain, Luka Zvizej, shares the hopes and expectations of Celje proceeding to the knockout stage. “We know that this will be very hard task. Clubs like Kielce, Zagreb, Pick Szeged, Löwen and Vardar are always hard to beat. So, we hope to cause some upsets in a full Zlatorog arena.”

GROUP B

Club AddressCelje Pivovarna LaskoOpekarniska Cesta 153000 CeljeSlovenia

Media contactNejc Ajdnik+386 [email protected]

www.rk-celje.si

rkceljepivovarnaLasko

@RKCPL

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellow-bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: black



Playing hallDvorana ZlatorogOpekarinska cesta 153000 CeljeSloveniaCapacity: 5,830

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 21Winner (1): 2003/04Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06Last 16 (3): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11, 2014/15Qualification (1): 2009/10OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: semi-finals 2002/02, 2011/12

Slovenian league: 20 titles (1992-2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015)Slovenian cup: 19 times

125



Longest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponent


37:17 (16:9) v Redbergslids IK SWE (h), 18.11.200043:27 (23:16) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.20116 matches (23.03.1997 – 24.01.1998)6 matches (25.03.2000 – 09.12.2000) 8 matches (31.10.2004 – 02.04.2005) 7 matches (26.09.2015 – 21.11.2015)9 matches (26.09.2015 – 06.12.2015)44 v HC ‘Granitas-Karys’ LTU 44:27W (h), 22.11.2008 44 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.201077 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.201017 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.199416 v SG Wallau-Massenheim GER 23:16W (h), 13.02.199416 v Redbergslids Göteborg SWE 31:16W (h), 14.11.199835 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994


64477

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




1993/94 Celje ‘Pivovarna Lasko’ SLO 6 2 0 4 120:116 +4 4:8 4th Gr. A1996/97 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 254:213 +41 15:5 1/2-finals1997/98 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 8 0 2 268:234 +34 16:4 1/2-finals1998/99 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 290:245 +45 15:5 1/2-finals1999/00 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 294:250 +44 14:6 1/2-finals2000/01 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 6 1 3 292:254 +38 13:7 1/2-finals2001/02 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 232:217 +15 12:4 1/4-finals2003/04 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 14 10 2 2 447:398 +49 22:6 Winner2004/05 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 8 1 3 360:327 +33 17:7 1/2-finals2005/06 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 311:273 +38 14:6 1/4-finals2006/07 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 272:237 +35 12:4 1/8-finals2007/08 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 4 2 6 342:344 -2 10:14 4th MR Gr. 42008/09 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 4 0 6 296:287 +9 8:12 4th MR Gr. 22010/11 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 0 7 300:332 -32 6:14 5th Gr. A2012/13 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 0 7 305:324 –19 10:14 1/8-finals2013/14 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 1 6 322:327 -5 11:13 1/8-finals2014/15 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 0 7 284:293 -9 6:14 5th Gr. C2015/16 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 1 10 385:398 –13 7:21 7th Gr. A 184 101 10 77 5374:5069 +305 212:164

126


Branko Tamsecoach• former player and coach of Celje’s arch rivals from Velenje• took over the club in December 2014, just 48 hours after

Vladan Matic and Celje announced the termination of their contract

• major task of the former youth and junior national team player was to rebuild a young team with talents and create a competitive force to keep up with the pace of the more renowned rivals in the group

Newcomers:Borut Mackovsek (ThSV Eisenach)Kristian Beciri (RK Maribor Branik)

Left the club:Blaz Blagotinsek (Telekom Veszprem)Luka Dobelsek (career end)Marko Dujmovic (unknown)

127

Team roster


No.

7806626161481325315142951155159612210172377

First Name

PovilasKristianGasperLucijanIvanMaticBlazTeoTilenMatevzUrbanBorutDomenArthurJakaGalZigaVidDavidLukaLukaJanMaticStefanMihaLuka

Surname

BabarskasBeciriDobajFizuletoGajicGroseljJancJezernikKodrinKunstLesjakMackovsekMakucMalburg PatrianovaMalusMargucMlakarPotekoRazgorSavanovicSimonicSivkaSuholeznikZabicZarabecZvizej

Nat.

LTUCROSLOSLOSRBSLOSLOSLOSLOSLOSLOSLOSLOBRASLOSLOSLOSLOSLOBIHSLOSLOSLOSLOSLOSLO

Position

Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Centre Back Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing Right Wing Left Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Left Back Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Right Wing Right Back Line Player Centre Back Right Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Line Player Line Player Centre Back Left Wing

Date of birth

13.12.198814.6.199413.11.199823.2.199417.5.197922.9.199720.11.199629.8.200014.5.199425.3.199824.8.199011.9.19921.7.200022.4.199315.6.199616.11.199616.5.19905.4.199113.7.198916.1.200127.8.199912.7.19972.5.199517.2.199912.10.19919.12.1980

Place of birth

Kaunas, LTUHeppenheim, GERSlovenj Gradec, SLOCelje , SLONis, SRBTrbovlje, SLOBrezice, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOKoper, SLOPostojna, SLOItajausc, BRACelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLOBanja Luca, BIHLeoben, AUTCelje, SLOCelje, SLOCelje, SLONovo Mesto, SLOCelje, SLO

Height

200202184186191193185180190184188203189188190177192193181186197183202202174185

Weight

901208484105908570897995100839790729594828292761211007288C

128


Ivan Gajic goalkeeper• started his handball career in his birthplace with RK Zeleznicar Nis in 1997

• played five seasons (2008-2013) for Celje’s biggest rival RK Gorenje Velenje, under current Celje coach Branko Tamse, won three Slovenian champions titles

• vast club-level experience playing at Hannover, Frisch Auf Göppingen, Silkeborg, Tremblay as well as Al Ahly for a season each

• expected share his playing time with Slovenian international Urban Lesjak

Luka Zvizej left wing• competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens

• listed among the top ten goal scorers at the 2012 EHF EURO, also part of the national team at the WCh 2013, where Slovenia finished fourth

• moved from his home team to Spain in 2003 – first to CB Cantabria and then to FC Barcelona, where he won the CL in 2005 and ASOBAL in 2006

• before moving back had a second stint at Cantabria and spent 3 years with Szeged

Arthur Malburg Patrianova left back• signed for Celje in the summer of 2015

• despite his young age has been member of the Brazilian national team for some years and played both at the WCh 2013 in Spain and WCh 2015 in Qatar

• came from Villa de Aranda, ASOBAL team, before he played in Naturhouse la Rioja, but longed for more minutes on the court

• can play in the centre back position too

• in March 2015 suffered a knee injury and had to undergo a surgery

Borut Mackovsek left back• returned to Celje in the summer of 2016 after two years with Montpellier

• played for three different clubs in the 2013/14 season: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, then Dinamo Minsk, then RK Celje

• famous for scoring 10 goals in a Last 16 CL match against Hamburg in 2013/14

• reached his personal best in the CL in 2012/13 scoring 62 goals


129


Miha Zarabec centre back• joined Celje in the summer of 2014 from another Slovenian club RK Maribor Branik, where he experienced the EHF Cup Group Phase in 2012/13

• after Sebastian Skube and Mate Lekai left the club, Zarabec took over attacking duties

• his main strenghts are speed, explosivity and his vision of play

• in his first season in the CL he became the top scorer of his team with 54 goals

Vid Poteko line player• member of Celje since 2010, now a key part of Celje’s defence, known as a true fighter, who never gives up

• part of the Slovenian team playing in Mersin at the Mediterranean games 2013 together with Gasper Marguc, Urban Lesjak and Borut Mackovsek

• since Alem Toskic left Celje for Vardar Skopje in 2013 and Blaz Blagotinsek for Veszprem in 2016, he gets more minutes in the offensive play

Ziga Mlakar right back• started playing handball when 12-year-old, has never played for a foreign club yet

• apart from the 2014/15 season, when he wore the Branik Maribor jersey, played his entire career in Celje

• one of the main figures of the successful 1990 generation

• recorded his best season in 2015/16 scoring 60 goals in the CL

Blaz Janc right wing• one of the biggest talents in history of Slovenian handball

• already in his 5th season in the first team making his debut in the CL at 15 years old and scoring over 100 goals in the CL still as a teenager

• after Gasper Marguc’s departure to Veszprem in 2014 he used his extended playing time to become the third best Celje’s scorer (44 goals)

• best right back in the previous Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2014 and Junior WCh 2015 where he was playing with players two years older than him

• top scorer of Slovenia at the Rio 2016 Olympics (28 goals in 6 matches)

130

IFK Kristianstad

First they had to wait for more than 50 years - from 1953 until 2015 - to become Swedish champions again, and then IFK Kristianstad took their second straight league title in Sweden. Ola Lindgren’s team had not only been successful in domestic competition, but set showed signs of brilliance in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season. Lindgren announced that he has resigned from his position as Swedish national team coach to focus on IFK.Kristianstad beat Kolding twice, Löwen once and tied with eventual Champions League winners Kielce in their first ever appearance in the group phase. Due to being drawn into a tough group, even those results were not enough to make it to the Last 16.Such outstanding performances made other clubs sit up and take notice of Kristianstad’s players: Thus, Fredric Pettersson and Andreas Cederholm have left for France, top star Kristian Björnsen signed for German side Wetzlar, while his Norwegian teammate Christian O’Sullivan joined Magdeburg (Germany). Lindgren’s job now is to cope with this transitional phase. It’s the club’s goal not only to take the treble in Sweden but also to go a step further in the VELUX EHF Champions League in the upcoming year. “We are aiming to continue our great performances in our home arena with a fan-tastic atmosphere and we will try to make it to the Last 16,” club manager Nikolas Larsson says, adding on the opponents: “We are playing in a very tough group with many strong teams including defending champions Kielce and German champions Rhein-Neckar Löwen.” Lindgren was Löwen coach some years ago as the predeces-sor of current Danish gold hero Gudmundur Gudmundsson. Icelandic team captain Olafur Gudmundsson - 2014 Champions League winner with SG Flensburg-Hande-witt - expects an “inspiring challenge from which I hope to proceed to the knock-out stage; Kielce, Löwen and Vardar will be the top three favourites in our group, but we will try to match the rest in our home arena.”

GROUP B

Club AddressIFK KristianstadVästra Storgatan 6929154 KristanstadSweden

Media contactAnders Hallengren+46 734 33 11 [email protected]

www.ifkkristianstad.se

IFKKristianstad

@IFKKristianstad

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: orangePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: red/yellow/black/white

DarkPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: red/yellow/black/white

IFK Kristianstad

Playing hallKristianstad ArenaVästra Storgatan 129154 KristianstadSwedenCapacity: 4,800

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 2Group Phase (1): 2015/16

OtherEHF Cup: Group Phase 2013/14

Swedish league: 6 titles (1941, 1948, 1952, 1953, 2015, 2016)

131




Longest losing run


21:30 (13:11) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 06.03.201629:20 (15:10) v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER (a), 26.11.20151 match (16.09.2015)1 match (22.10.2015)1 match (06.03.2016)1 match (16.09.2015)1 match (22.10.2015)1 match (11.02.2016)1 match (06.03.2016)4 matches (26.09.2015 – 17.10.2015)4 matches (14.11.2015 – 05.12.2015)7 matches (14.11.2015 – 25.02.2016)36 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.201638 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.201674 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.201620 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 29:20L (a), 26.11.201521 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 21:30W (a), 06.03.201649 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 29:20L (a), 26.11.2015

IFK Kristianstad

13674

MATCH

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2015/16 IFK Kristianstad SWE 14 3 1 10 409:437 –28 7:21 7th Gr. B 14 3 1 10 409:437 –28 7:21

132

IFK Kristianstad

Ola Lindgrencoach• head coach in Kristianstad since 2012, celebrated his greatest triumph as

a coach by leading them to their first Swedish championship title in 62 years in 2014/15

• before returning home was coach at HSG Nordhorn and Rhein-Neckar Löwen

• apart from being head coach in Kristianstad, in 2008-16 was in charge of the Swedish national team together with his former national teammate Staffan Olsson

• was a great line player in his active days, the golden age of Swedish handball

• with 376 matches for Sweden, he is the Swedish player with second most caps

OG: S 1992, 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1990, 1999, S 1997, 2001, B 1993, 1995, EURO: G 1994, 1998, 2000

Newcomers:Gunnar Steinn Jonsson (Gummersbach)Mario Lipovac (Redbergslid IK)Alexander Tatarintsev (Gornik Zabrze)Stig Tore Moen (Bodö HK)Philip Henningsson (IFK Ystad)Tim Sörensen (Skanderborg)

Left the club:Johan Jepson (retired)Fredric Pettersson (Toulouse)Andreas Cederholm (Toulouse)Kristian Björnsen (Wetzlar)Anton Lindskog (Wetzlar)Christian O’Sullivan (Magdeburg)Marcus Dahlin, (Mors-Thy)Oskar Cosmo (O/V Helsingborg)

133

Team roster

IFK Kristianstad

No.

533131429627101236111431935321672817

First Name

Arnar FreyrInge AasOlafurViktorRichardPhilipGunnarAlbinFredrikJesperJohannesLeoMarioFilipStig ToreAntonEmilNebojsaTim D.AlexanderJerry

Surname

ArnarssonEriksenGudmundssonHallenHanischHenningssonJonssonLagergrenLandinLarssonLarssonLarssonLipovacMoberg AnderssonMoen NilsenPerssonSchusterSimicSörensenTatarintsevTollbring

Nat.

ISLNORISLSWESWESWEISLSWESWESWESWESWESWESWENORSWESWEMNEDENRUSSWE

Position

Line Player Back Back Left Wing Back Back Back Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Back Back Left Back Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Back Left Wing

Date of birth

14.3.199625.4.199413.5.19901.2.19942.6.199014.6.19954.5.198711.9.19922.6.199627.7.19739.8.199116.10.19902.11.199112.8.19979.8.19945.6.199821.5.199719.1.199310.2.199213.3.199013.9.1995

Place of birth

Reykjavik, ISLStord, NORHafnarfjarðar, ISLKungsholmen, SWEEskilstuna, SWEHörby, SWEAkureyri, ISLVarberg, SWEGöteborg, SWEKristianstad, SWEKristianstad, SWEYstad, SWEKarlstad, SWEKungälv, SWEAlta, NORKristianstad, SWEKristianstad, SWECetinje, MONSkive, DENStavropol, RUSNorrtälje, SWE

Height

200193194188190197193187182190182187198189193180192194178208182

Weight

110101968490100959083957893112989385821158210681

C

134

IFK Kristianstad

Nebojsa Simic goalkeeper• joined in the summer of 2015 from HC Lovcen in his homeland Montenegro

• advanced to being first choice as goalkeeper during the 2015/16 season, for a great part due to some stellar performances in the VELUX EHF Champions League

• part of the Montenegrin national team at the EHF EURO 2014 and has played 15 internationals for his country

• despite being a relatively stationary goalkeeper most of the time, he won the hearts of the fans in the Kristianstad Arena in the 2015/16 season with his saves

Jerry Tollbring left wing• joined from league colleagues Rimbo HK in the summer of 2014

• signed as substitute to experienced Johan Jepson in the left wing position, but his skills soon made him first choice on the left wing

• his club performance in the 2015/16 season paved his way to the Swedish national team at the EHF EURO in Poland and also at the Rio Olympics

• his sister Cassandra plays on a centre back position in H65 Höör

Olafur Gudmundsson left back• returned to IFK from German Bundesliga club TSV Hannover-Burgdorf in the summer of 2015

• also represented IFK from 2012-14, and has represented Danish league clubs AG Kobenhavn and Nordsjælland Håndbold as well

• can look forward to more court time in the 2016/17 season after several key players having left the club

• has played over 70 internationals for Iceland

Gunnar Steinn Jonsson centre back• joined this summer from German Bundesliga club VfL Gummersbach

• succeeding Norwegian international Christian O'Sullivan who has left for another Bundesliga club, SC Magdeburg

• no stranger to Sweden as he played for HK Drott Halmstad from 2009 to 2012

• complete playmaker with cleverness and ability to read the game as his biggest strengths

• has played 30 internationals for Iceland

135

IFK Kristianstad

Mario Lipovac line player• joined this summer from Swedish league rivals Redbergslids, where he was captain

• played in Redbergslids from 15 and had had his league debut at the age of 17

• has some kind of a challenge filling out the line player position after Swedish international Anton Lindskog who has left for HSG Wetzlar

• can play at both ends of the court

Arnar Freyr Arnarsson line player• joined in the summer of 2016 from Icelandic league club Fram Reykjavik

• has signed a three-year contract with Kristianstad, his first foreign adventure

• with his two meters and 110 kilos, he has the size and physical strength to make an impact on the line, where he is always easy to find for his back court players

• part of the Icelandic team for the M 20 EURO 2016 in Denmark and was also in the 28 players squad for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland back in January

Albin Lagergren right back• one of the few IFK players, who were also in the club in the 2015/16 season mostly substituting for Andreas Cederholm, who has left for French Toulouse

• had several great performances last season already, not least in the VELUX EHF Champions League

• extended his contract with IFK as far as until the summer of 2018

• had played two internationals for Sweden up until the summer 2016, but was nominated for the Swedish squad for the Rio Olympics 2016

Tim Sörensen right wing• joined this summer on a two-year contract from Danish league club Skanderborg

• was actually under contract with Skanderborg this season too, but had an option to get out of that contract, if he got an offer from a foreign club – which he did

• will be trying to fill out the gap after Norwegian international Kristian Bjørnsen who has left for German Bundesliga club HSG Wetzlar

• top scoring player in Skanderborg and number two on the top scorers' list in the Danish league for large parts of the 2015/16 season

136

Group C preview

Group Cpreview

MONTPELLIER TO PROVE THEIR ELITE STATUS CHALLENGING SPANISH CROWNED PRINCES

Group C gets underway with a replay of the opening match from last season in Russia, where Chekhovskie Medvedi met Spanish runners-up Naturhouse La Rioja.

Three of the six teams in Group C came across each other last season, also in Group C. La Rioja beat Presov twice, and the rest of the ties were very close, Presov and La Rioja both came out on top at home against Medvedi.

Metalurg and Elverum also won their home head-to-head matches in Group D last term, so expect teams in this group to heavily count on their home advantage.

Montpellier, who was seeded in Group B last time out, are considered the big favourite to take the top spot. The only French EHF Champions League winners from 13 years ago, with long serving coach Patrice Canayer, have been reinforced by All-star right back from the 2016 Rio Olympics Valentin Porte. Montpellier still have two members of the 2003 winning squad – coach Patrice Canayer and team captain Michael Guigou.

The Spanish powerhouse, La Rioja, aim to repeat their success from 2015, when they reached Last 16 of the compeititon. Unlike last year, when they were knocked out by Zaporozhye in the Groups C+D elimination round. The Spanish side will do without Cristian Malmagro and Pedro Rodriguez (with a combined score of 125 goals), but instead have the 2,13 metres tall signing Angel Montoro from Plock to come up with the goods. Chasing Barcelona in the Spanish ASOBAL League for three consecutive years should give La Rioja enough confidence to challenge Mont-pellier for the top spot in the group in their fourth apperance in the group stage.

Not many changes have been made to the young team of Chekhov. The Bears remain the only team joined with RK Zagreb, to win 15 consecutive domestic titles, but is it enough to match the European elite? After their apperance at the very first VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 in 2010, they are again reinforcing their position in Europe. They heavily count on veteran Alexander Chernoivanov, elected MPV, best defensive and line player of the Russian league.

Metalurg Skopje leave no stone unreturned in their fight to return to the glory of 2013 and 2014, when they reached the quarter-finals. However Lino Cervar, coach of the ‘golden Croatian’ side at the 2014 Olympics, is cautious as his squad has undergone a number of vital changes, including the departure of key player Janko Bozovic.

Tatran and Elverum can easily be considered the dark horses of the group. They can surprise, yet they are not considered as the knockout-stage favourites. Without Radoslav Antl, and his 46 goals last season, but with Czech right winger Jakub Hrstka, a new Presov return to Europe’s premier club competition. Winning the

137

Group C preview

qualification tournament 1 at home by beating Gorenje Velenje in the deciding match might give the young team more confidence. Vadym Brazhnyk returns to Presov after 11 years, whilst important line player Michal Kopco has left for Sporting Lisabon.

Elverum, led by Michael Apelgren won the Norwegian Championship for the third time. And the side from Norway signed Tamas Ivancsik from Baia Mare but had to omit Steffen Stegavik, one of the key players last year.

The cards are set for Montpellier to fight for the first spot. Naturhouse La Rioja, ambitious club from Logrono should make the bid for second place in the group. They will be challenged by the young prospects from Chekhov, led by legendary Vladimir Maximov. It will be interesting to see how Metalurg will react to the number of changes made in the club and how the return to SEHA League will affect also their Champions League performances. Tatran Presov hope they can improve their last season’s bad record of two wins, finishing bottom of Group C, yet they have to show their young squad can match the European powerhouses. Elverum, debutants from last season, were seeded directly into the group phase for the first time. Their ambition is focused on building on their record from last season of three wins.

Tomas Cuncik

138

Group C preview

HC Metalurg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 0-0-2 (53:72) 0:4

HC Metalurg vs Elverum Handball 1-0-1 (45:48) 2:2

Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB 3-3-10 (446:467) 9:23

30.09.2006 Chehovskie Medvedi vs RK Metalurg Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D 40:25 (22:9)04.11.2006 RK Metalurg Skopje vs Chehovskie Medvedi, EHF Champions League – Group D 28:32 (12:16)

03.10.2015 HC Metalurg vs Elverum Handball Herrer, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 22:19 (10:12)06.12.2015 Elverum Handball Herrer vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 29:23 (15:7)

09.11.1996 Montpellier HB vs CSKA Moscow, EHF Cup – Last 16 24:18 (10:09)16.11.1996 CSKA Moscow vs Montpellier HB, EHF Cup – Last 16 17:17 (10:09)10.11.2002 Chehovski Medvedi, Moskau vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group C 30:31 (15:11)08.12.2002 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi, Moskau, EHF Champions League – Group C 25:24 (13:12)12.10.2003 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi Moscow, EHF Champions League – Group D 27:19 (14:09)22.11.2003 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group D 25:30 (14:13)16.10.2005 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov, EHF Champions League – Group A 36:29 (19:14)12.11.2005 Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group A 35:28 (20:12)08.11.2009 Montpellier HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, EHF Champions League – Group A 33:28 (19:14)25.02.2010 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group A 27:28 (11:16)28.04.2010 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:27 (18:13)01.05.2010 Montpellier HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 36:32 (12:14, 32:27)18.10.2012 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 35:29 (19:15)17.02.2013 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 30:30 (17:17)

Group C head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC

Naturhouse La Rioja vs HC Metalurg 1-0-1 (59:56) 2:2)

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Chekhovskier Medvedi 1-0-1 (53:56) 2:2

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Montpellier HB

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Elverum Handball

HC Metalurg vs Montpellier HB

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Tatran Presov 2-0-0 (58:48) 4:0

HC Metalurg vs Tatran Presov

16.11.2014 Naturhouse La Rioja vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 31:27 (13:13)22.11.2014 HC Metalurg vs Naturhouse La Rioja, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:28 (15:16)

17.09.2015 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Naturhouse La Rioja, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 27:26 (13:13)14.11.2015 Naturhouse La Rioja vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 30:26 (14:14)




03.10.2015 Naturhouse La Rioja vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 37:29 (22:15)05.12.2015 TATRAN Presov vs Naturhouse La Rioja, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 19:21 (8:6)


139

Group C preview

Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Elverum Handball

Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Tatran Presov 3-0-1 (115:110) 6:2

Montpellier HB vs Elverum Handball

Montpellier HB vs Tatran Presov 2-0-0 (73:56) 4:0

Elverum Handball vs Tatran Presov


25.02.2006 Tatran Presov vs Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 27:30 (11:14)04.03.2006 Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov vs Tatran Presov, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 35:28 (17:13)18.10.2015 TATRAN Presov vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 27:21 (12:12)22.10.2015 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:28 (15:15)


16.10.2010 TATRAN Presov vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:33 (16:17)27.02.2011 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 40:25 (19:11)


16.11.2014 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 32:32 (15:14)22.11.2014 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 33:34 (17:16)

Naturhouse La Rioja

140

For the third straight time, the Logrono based team of Naturhouse La Rioja finished second in the Spanish league, only topped by FC Barcelona Lassa.After qualifying for the Last 16 in 2015 and missing the knockout stages narrowly in the playoffs against Zaporozhye in 2016, the Spanish runners-up are out looking for another spot among the best 16 teams in Europe once again.While Swedish back court ace Philip Stenmalm left for Kolding (Denmark), La Rioja managed to sign the tall right back Angel Montoro from Plock (Poland) and the Egyptian Mohamed Sanad from Hungary.Like their Brazilian player Vincius Langaro, Sanad was part of his national team at the Olympic Games in Rio.“Proceeding to the Last 16 would be a major success for us,” coach and manager Jesus Javier Gonzalez Fernandez adds: “We play in a tough group. The big favourite for the top position is Montpellier, so there will be a tight race for second.”Goalkeeper and team captain Gurutz Aguinagalde Akizu - brother of Spanish inter-national Julen Aguinagalde - expects a tough fight for the two top positions: “Our opponents are big teams and a few of them are leaders in their domestic league, so I am sure they will be tough teams to beat. I think the best team is Montpellier, they are on a higher level compared to the rest of our group.”In general, the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League is something great for Gonzalez Fernandez: “For a small club like us, playing in the best club competition in the world is important keeping and reaching new sponsors.”

GROUP C

Club AddressNaturhouse La RiojaAvenida de Moncalvillo 226008 LogronoSpain

Media contactJaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez+34 63 77 66 [email protected]

www.cbclogrono.com

Club-Balonmano-Naturhouse-La-Rioja@NaturhouseRioja

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: redGK shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: blue

Naturhouse La Rioja

Playing hallPalacio de los deportes de la RiojaAvenida Moncalvillo 2LogronoSpainCapacity: 3,500

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 4Group Phase (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16

OtherEHF Cup: Semi-finalists 2009/10, 2010/11, Group Phase 2012/13

Spanish league: no titlesSpanish Cup winners: - (runners-up in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)

141


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without win

Most goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

31:22 (15:9) v Vojvodina SRB (h), 24.10.201537:25 (19:11) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 12.02.20146 matches (26.09.2015 – 14.11.2015)6 matches (26.09.2015 – 14.11.2015)3 matches (14.03.2015 – 17.09.2015)4 matches (21.09.2013 – 19.10.2013)4 matches (22.11.2014 – 14.02.2015)39 v Meshkov Brest BLR 39:31W (h), 28.09.201439 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 39:37L (a), 05.03.201676 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 39:37L (a), 05.03.201621 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.201519 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.201540 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.2015

Naturhouse La Rioja

63976

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2013/14 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8:12 5th Gr. D2014/15 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 12 4 1 7 359:373 –14 9:15 1/8-finals2015/16 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 12 7 0 5 365:340 +25 14:10 Elimination C+D 34 14 3 17 1016:1033 -17 31:37

142

Naturhouse La Rioja

Jesús Javier González Fernándezcoach• for the first time in his coaching career he led a CL participant in

the 2013/14 season• awarded “best coach of the Spanish league” in the 2012/13

season for the second time in his life• in 2007 the former player took over the team of Logroño after

being coach in Valladolid, his first coaching job was an assistant position to Juan Carlos Pastor

• after his arrival the club made their first steps on the European stage

Newcomers:Angel Montoro Cabello (Orlen Wisla Plock)Javier Munoz Cabezon (BM Villa De Aranda)Mohamed Hisham Mohamed Anis Aly Sanad (Sport 26 Kolmo)

Left the club:Alberto Val Sancho (Bada Huesca)Cristian Malmagro (Saudi Arabia)Philip Stenmalm (KIF Kolding)Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez (MOL Pick Szeged)

143

Team roster

Naturhouse La Rioja

No.

1211333217224191231311825245490214

First Name

GurutzPabloEduardoAngelRubenFranciscoImanolMohamedHanielLuis FelipeRichard CarlosAngelJavierInakiAlbertJavierMiguelVictor

Surname

Aguinagalde AquizuCacheda GonzalezCadarso CaballeroFernandez PerezGarabaya ArenasGarcia RubioGarciandia AlustizaHisham SanadInoue LangaroJimenez ReinaKappelinMolina CosanoMontoro CabelloMunoz CabezonPecina TomeRocas ComasRomeo LopezSanchez MigallonVigo Gerpe

Nat.

ESPESPESPESPESPESPESPEGYBRAESPSWEESPESPESPESPESPESPESPESP

Position

Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Wing Left Wing Line Player Line Player Right Back Right Wing Left Back Right Back Goalkeeper Left Back Right Back Right Wing Line Player Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Wing Centre Back

Date of birth

26.10.19779.1.199213.2.199916.9.198815.9.19787.1.199030.4.199516.1.19917.3.199512.6.198930.9.198331.5.199110.4.198922.5.199231.5.198816.6.19821.6.19908.2.19959.5.1984

Place of birth

Irun, ESPLalín, ESPLogroño, ESPSantander, ESPAviles, ESPBolanos, ESPUrretxu, ESPEl Cairo, EGYUmuarama, BRAPuente Genil, ESPIrsta, SWEBarcelona, ESPToledo, ESPMadrid, ESPIrún, ESPPalafrugell, ESPLogroño, ESPCiudad Real, ESPCamariñas, ESP

Height

201180190192201196201186196193191202213192200188195200186

Weight

11082719011011598861009096901058610484959690

C

144

Naturhouse La Rioja

Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu goalkeeper• one of the most experienced players at La Rioja during each of their European campaigns

• winner of the Spanish King’s Cup in 1996 and the Spanish Super Cup in 1996

• important part in the Rioja’s run in the 2012/13 EHF Cup when they only narrowly missed the quarter-finals

• brother of Spanish national team line player Julen

Richard Kappelin goalkeeper• joined La Rioja ahead of the 2015/16 season from French Selestat Alsace Handball

• has previous CL experience from another Spanish club, Aragon as well as from Danish Aalborg

• has been a bit around in his career, which also took him to Al Gharafa in Qatar for six months before he joined Aalborg in 2013

• represented the Swedish league clubs IK Sävehof and Alingsas HK before

• has not played any senior internationals, won the Junior WCh with Sweden in 2003

Angel Fernandez Perez left wing• playing in Naturhouse La Rioja since the 2013/14 season

• replacement for Juanin Garcia who left for Ademar

• in the 2014/15 season he played more minutes in left back

• called up by Manolo Cadenas for the Spanish national team, played two games against Germany in 2015

Carlos Molina left back• his speciality has always been defence, but gradually he has been taking more responsibility in attack

• studies nursing

• born in South Spain, joined young age categories in FC Barcelona

• was in Aragon and Huesca before he arrived in La Rioja in 2014

• 6 caps for Spain and 11 times with the beach handball national team, also played for the U20 and U18 national teams

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 1997

145

Naturhouse La Rioja

Pablo Cacheda centre back• played for SD Octavio and Valladolid before he decided to transfer to La Rioja in 2014

• U20 World champion with Spain in 2012 and MVP of that tournament's final

• troubled by some long injures, but regained consistency in the 2015/16 season

• still a young talented player with a potential to grow

Francisco Javier Garcia line player• in the past played for Barcelona and Aragon

• spent the 2013/14 season in the French club Nantes, but returned to Spain in the summer of 2014 to join La Rioja

• strong line player, defensive specialist, expected to share his duties with a veteran Ruben Garabaya

• played for the young categories on the national team

Angel Montoro right back• with 2,13 meters one of the tallest players in CL

• played football and basketball, before he switched to handball

• started with Ademar Leon, later joined FC Barcelona, which opened the door to the national team for him

• after two foreign stints with Tolouse and Wisla Plock, he returned to Spain in 2016 and joined La Rioja

Albert Rocasright wing• double world champion with the Spanish national team (2005 and 2013)

• nominated as the best ASOBAL right wing in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and best right wing of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008

• after six seasons at Barcelona, Rocas made the move to Kolding before the 2013/14 season, his first to a foreign league

• in 2015/16 he was hit by a knee injury which sidelined him for a major part

WCh: G 2013

HC Metalurg

146

After hitting their VELUX EHF Champions League peak by reaching the quarter-fi-nals in 2013 and 2014, things have changed at Metalurg. With another huge exodus prior to this season, coach Lino Cervar is implementing a new, young team in the Macedonian capital.While on the domestic front their clear target is to remain second in the ranking chasing champions Vardar, the aim for the Champions League is to simply win more than last season. Some young Macedonian and Serbian players have arrived at Metalurg, but some big names such as Janko Bozovic (now in Lisbon) have left. For Cervar, who steered the Croatian national team to several trophies and medals, including the Olympic triumph in 2004, building a new team is a major challenge: “We have plenty of potential among our young players, who are the future of Macedonian men’s handball.”Facing teams like Montpellier, La Rioja or Medvedi, Cervar expects a tough race for the playoffs: “This season we will play in a much stronger group than last time. Thus, it will be very difficult to snatch victories. Montpellier are very experienced, but we can learn a lot from them. La Rioja are well-known in Skopje, but we will be competitive in both matches.”

Looking at the general development of the club, Cervar remains realistic: “After all that’s happened over the last two years, we feel excited to face the best teams in the world. Currently, we are far away from the level we had when we saw major Champions League success, but we are working hard to get back to where we were.” Metalurg started their preparation in the Macedonian ski region Mavrovo, and then they played two big tournaments in Struga (FYR Macedonia) and Kanjiza (Serbia). After a one-year absence the Macedonian runners-up are back in the SEHA Liga, and their first matches against Vardar, TATRAN Presov and Brest will be perfect tests ahead of their Champions League opener against Elverum.

GROUP C

Club AddressHC Metalurgul. Jane Lukroski 61000 SkopjeFYR Macedonia

Media contactAna Neloska+389 723 103 [email protected]

www.rkmetalurg.mk

rkmetalurgofficial

@RKMetalurg

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGK shirt: yellow/black/red

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: yellow/black/red

HC Metalurg

Playing hallBoris Trajkovskibul. 8 Septemvri bbSkopje FYR MacedoniaCapacity: 7,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 9Quarter-final (2): 2012/13, 2013/14Last 16 (1): 2011/12Group Phase (4): 2006/07, 2008/09, 2014/15, 2015/16Qualification (1): 2010/11

Other9 participations in other ECMacedonian league: 6 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)Macedonian cup: 5 titles

147



Longest winning run


Longest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

32:18 (18:14) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (h), 24.02.201343:24 (23:12) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 19.10.200635:16 (17:3) v THW Kiel (a), 15.02.20154 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012)4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013)4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012)4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013)4 matches (16.02.2014 – 30.03.2014)8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008)8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008)37 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.200843 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.200669 v THW Kiel 27:42L (h), 18.10.201415 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:15L (a), 28.04.201314 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 14:32W (a), 16.02.201336 v HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 19:17L (a), 11.10.2014

HC Metalurg

73769

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 148:206 –58 0:12 4th Gr. D2008/09 HC Metalurg MKD 6 2 0 4 157:172 -15 4:8 3rd Gr. C2011/12 HC Metalurg MKD 12 6 2 4 294:275 +19 14:10 1/8-finals2012/13 HC Metalurg MKD 14 9 0 5 361:313 +48 18:6 1/4-finals2013/14 HC Metalurg MKD 14 7 2 5 356:373 -17 16:12 1/4-finals2014/15 HC Metalurg MKD 10 1 1 8 233:294 –61 3:17 6th Gr. A2015/16 HC Metalurg MKD 10 2 0 8 219:241 –22 4:16 6th Gr. D 72 27 5 32 1768:1874 -106 59:85

148

HC Metalurg

Lino Cervarcoach• most successful coach of the Croatian men’s national team, becoming

Olympic gold medallist in 2004 and world champion in 2003• collected several more medals like two WCh silver medals in 2005 and

2009 and EURO silver 2008 and 2010 • parallel to his work for the Croatian federation, was coach of Zagreb for

a long time • in 2009 he started coaching Metalurg – a job he focuses on completely

since resigning from the helm of Croatia, steered them to quarter-finals in 2013 and 2014

• in 2016 became head coach of the Macedonian national team

OG: G 2004, EURO: S 2008, 2010, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009

Newcomers:Vojislav Brajovic (RK Maribor)Darko Dimitrievski (Csurgoi KK)Nemanja Obradovic (Valence Handball)Darko Arsic (Metaloplastika Sabac)Milos Dragas (Bergischer HC)Martin Marchec (Varazdin)Stefan Drogriski (Pelister Bitola)Goran Pecenkovski (HC Ohrid)Martin Tomovski (HC Prolet)Tomislav Jagurinovski (Vardar Skopje II)Filip Arsenovski (Vardar Skopje II)

Left the club:Janko Bozovic (Sporting Lisbon)Marko Buvinic (Handball Bregenz)Milorad Kukoski (Odorhei)Milos Vukovic (Spartak Subotica)Bojan Madzovski (Pelister Bitola)Marko Matic, Stevan VujovicLuka MrakovcicMilan Sajin (all unknown)

149

Team roster

HC Metalurg

No.

991634883351022825187317324147123443281230

First Name

FilipDarkoVojislavDarkoMilosStefanDanielTomislavNikolaGoranFilipMartinTadejNemanjaMarkoNemanjaDavorGoranZharkoKostadinFilipMartinMartin

Surname

ArsenovskiArsicBrajovicDimitrievskiDragasDrogrishkiDupjacanecJagurinoskiKosteskiKrstevskiKuzmanovskiMarcecMatijasicMladenovicNeloskiObradovicPalevskiPecenkovskiPeshevskiPetrovTaleskiTomovskiVelkovski

Nat.

MKDSRBSRBMKDSRBMKDMKDMKDMKDMKDMKDCROSLOSRBMKDSRBMKDMKDMKDMKDMKDMKDMKD

Position

Line Player Goalkeeper Right Back Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Wing Centre Back Left Back Left Wing Left Wing Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Left Wing Centre Back Line Player Line Player Left Back Goalkeeper Right Back

Date of birth

30.7.199820.1.19897.11.199416.5.199311.6.19909.9.199415.7.198319.8.199822.8.199229.3.19963.7.199624.11.199222.1.19944.1.19946.6.19968.1.199126.2.199721.6.198811.4.199130.3.199228.3.199610.7.199710.3.1997

Place of birth

Skopje, MKDVranje, SRBSarajevo, SRBVeles, MKDPriboj, SRBBitola, MKDPrilep, MKDSkopje, MKDStruga, MKDResen, MKDBitola, MKDVarazdin, CROLjubljana, SLOSid, SRBStruga, MKDKrusevac, SRBSkopje, MKDResen, MKDSkopje, MKDVeles, MKDKrusevo, MKDSkopje, MKDSkopje, MKD

Height

193195193194201192190188183197198180173193200200182180195190200192191

Weight

9795949011092958174881038076901001057578110105868893

C

150

HC Metalurg

Darko Arsic goalkeeper• signed a two-year contract with Metalurg

• part of Metaloplastika Sabac for many years

• in the last three seasons he played with Metaloplastika in the Challenge cup

Martin Marcec left wing• has been member of the Croatian U20 national team

• arrived in Macedonia from Varazdin where he played in the last three seasons

• previously played for Varteks Di Caprio and Vidovec

Filip Taleski left back• considered one of the biggest talents in Macedonian handball

• made his first team debut for Metalurg at the age of 17

• scored 27 goals in three matches at the Men’s 20 EURO qualification, has made 16 caps for all Macedonian youth selections before called up for the senior team

• his debut for Macedonian national team came in 2014 in the WCh 2015 play-off against Greece

• made his CL debut in a match against THW Kiel

Nemanja Mladenovic left back• one of the most promising Serbian young players

• after two years in VfL Gummersbach youth academy was promoted to the first team

• shortly after his promotion to VfL Gummbersbach was sent on loan to the second team HC Empor Rostock

• before his arrival in Metalurg, part of the French team Cesson-Rennes Métropole

151

HC Metalurg

Zharko Peshevski line player• current Macedonian national team member, having played in all the youth selection for his country

• Metalurg team captain

• brother Antonio a teammate, goalkeeper at Metalurg

• made his first team debut in 2009, becoming a first-choice line player after Mijajlo Marsenic left to join Vardar

Nikola Kosteski right wing• started his career in Struga and moved to Metalurg in 2015

• makes his debut in the Champions League in the 2014/2015 season

• scored 17 goals in his premiere CL season

• member of the wider squad of the Macedonian national team

Nemanja Obradovic centre back• before his transfer to Metalurg he played in the 2nd French league for Valence handball

• in Metalurg he will play with his former teammate from Metaloplastika – Darko Arsic

• has also been member of RK Jagodina and RK Napredak

Filip Kuzmanovski left back• started his career in Pelister Bitola and moved in Metalurg in 2015 where he signed three year contract

• debuted for the senior Macedonian national team at the EHF EURO 2016

• with his first club Pelister Bitola played in the Challenge Cup

• scored 11 goals in his debut CL season 2015-2016

Chekhovskie Medvedi

152

Can you think of clubs in the VELUX EHF Champions League with the strength and tradition to win 15 consecutive national titles?Barcelona perhaps; maybe Kiel or Veszprem?No, Only Croatian side RK Zagreb have matched the phenomenal feat of Russian powerhouse Chekhovskie Medvedi.The team of coaching legend Vladimir Maximov took their 15th straight title in the 2015/16 season. Since 2002, no team could beat the “Bears of Chekhov”, despite the best efforts of the likes of St. Petersburg and Perm.Chekhov have come close in recent years to replicate their success internationally, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2006 and being part of the very first VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010.71-year-old coach Maximov’s main task is to develop Russian youngsters in his team. “As the Russian championship is a weak competition, it is highly important for us and mainly the players to have international opponents in the Champions League.Without these matches there would be no development,” says Maximov, who has lead the team for 16 years.The Medvedi squad has not changed much over the summer, two Evgenis (Prokop-iew and Dzemin) arrived, while Anton Otrezow left.For Maximov, Montpellier and La Rioja are the toughest obstacles on the way to the Group C/D playoffs. In the previous season, Medvedi never really challenged for a spot in the knockout stages.

GROUP C

Club AddressChekhovskie MedvediPoligrafistov str. 30142300 Chekhov, Mosk. oblastRussia

Media contactOlga Belysheva+7 909 6391 [email protected]

www.ch-medvedi.ru

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: purplePlayer short: purpleGK shirt: black

Chekhovskie Medvedi

Playing hallSport Hall “Olimpiyskiy” ChekhovPoligrafistov Str. 30142300 ChekhovRussiaCapacity: 3,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 16Semi-final (1): 2009/10Quarter-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11Last 16 (3): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13Main Round (1): 2007/08Group Phase (8): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06,2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Winner 2005/06

Russian league: 15 titles (2002-2016)Russian cup: 14 titles

153



Longest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goals


22:46 (12:24) v AC PAOK GRE (a), 03.03.201038:24 (20:15) v HSV Hamburg GER (a), 23.04.20115 games (29.11.2003 – 06.11.2004)8 games (18.10.2012 – 14.03.2013)5 games (10.11.2001 – 08.12.2001)5 games (24.03.2013 – 19.10.2014)5 games (22.11.2014 – 21.02.2015)11 games (24.03.2013 – 21.02.2015)46 v AC PAOK GRE 22:46W (a), 03.03.201045 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.200477 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.200419 v Montpellier HB FRA 27:19L (a), 12.10.200319 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.200617 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 30:17W (h), 31.03.201145 v TBV Lemgo GER 23:22W (h), 11.12.200445 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006

Chekhovskie Medvedi

54677

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2001/02 CSKA Moskau RUS 6 1 0 5 155:181 –26 2:10 4th Gr. C2002/03 Chehovski Medvedi. Moskau RUS 6 2 0 4 182:170 +12 4:8 3rd Gr. C2003/04 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 3 0 3 166:165 +1 6:6 3rd Gr. D2004/05 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 8 6 0 2 252:246 +6 12:4 1/8-finals2005/06 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 6 3 0 3 192:184 +8 6:6 3rd Gr. A2006/07 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 8 4 0 4 242:233 +9 8:8 1/8-finals2007/08 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 1 4 369:331 +38 15:9 2nd MR Gr. 12008/09 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 0 5 387:370 +17 14:10 1/4-finals2009/10 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 16 9 2 5 529:476 +53 20:12 Fourth Place2010/11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 14 8 3 3 437:396 +41 19:9 1/4-finals2011/12 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 3 4 3 291:276 +15 10:10 5th Gr. B2012/13 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 12 6 4 2 373:347 +26 16:8 1/8-finals2014/15 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 0 1 9 300:349 –49 1:19 6th Gr. C2015/16 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 4 0 6 271:292 –21 8:12 4th Gr. C 136 63 15 58 4146:4016 +130 141:131

154

Chekhovskie Medvedi

Vladimir Maximovcoach• handball legend is still the only person who has become an

Olympic champion both as a coach and as a player• led the Russian national team to a number of big titles but

resigned from that job in 2012 to fully concentrate on his club duties at Medvedi

• joined the club in 2001 and has led the team to the title of the Russian champion every year since that time

EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006OG: G 1976 (as player), 2000, B 2004, WCh: G 1993, 1997, S 1978 (as player), 1999, EURO: G 1996, S 1994, 2000

Newcomers:Evgeni Prokopiev (St. Petersburg)Evgeni Dzemin (UOR Moscow)

Left the club:Anton Otrezow (Dinamo Victor Stavropol)

Date of birth

19.7.19928.4.199813.2.197930.8.199717.6.199620.2.198420.6.199330.10.19953.5.199616.6.199211.7.199423.5.199215.5.198216.11.199410.3.199716.4.199926.9.19921.1.199123.2.19967.4.19961.6.199829.7.199215.4.1984

155

Team roster

Chekhovskie Medvedi

No.

11

10

311362330617971413

1912183

3420

First Name

PavelNikitaAlexanderEvgenyVictorOlegArtemAlexanderAlexeyDmitriyAlexanderKirillDmitryMaximTimofeiViktorRomanDmitryEvgenyDmitriiFedorDmitryOleg

Surname

AndreevAvtonomovChernoivanovDzeminFurtsevGramsGrushkoIzmailovKaribovKornevKotovKotovKovalevKuretkovMaslennikovMillerOstashchenkoPavlenkoProkopyevSantalovSelinShelestyukovSkopintsev

Nat.

RUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUSRUS

Position

Line Player Goalkeeper Line Player Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Right Wing Right Back Centre Back Right Wing Right Back Right Wing Left Wing Left Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Left Back Right Back Left Back Left Wing

Place of birth

Saint Petersburg, RUSSamarkand, UZBKrasnodar, RUSUssuriysk, RUSBelgorod, RUSKrasnodar, RUSOdessa, UKRAstrakhan, RUSAstrahan, RUSVologda, RUSVolgograd, RUSMoscow, RUSOmsk, RUSMaykop, RUSChekhov, RUSKaluga, RUSMoscow, RUSZaporoje, UKRTolyatti, RUSBlagoveshensk, RUSBelorechensk, RUSVolgograd, RUSKrasnodar, RUS

Height

195196202207198200193185192186198185180191185175184190198196195185184

Weight

859710590951039185937597758087889083769987887480

C

156

Chekhovskie Medvedi

Oleg Grams goalkeeper• born and raised in Krasnodar moved to Chekhov at a very young age

• has been a member of Medvedi since the club foundation in 2001

• during this time, he has become a 15-time Russian champion

• gained a lot of experience on the international stage, competing both for Medvedi and for the Russian national team at he EURO, WCh and the Olympics

Roman Ostashchenko left wing• born in Moscow and started to play handball at Kuntsevo

• joined the reserve team of Medvedi in 2007 and was promoted to the main team in 2013

• elected the best left wing of the Russian league in the 2015/16 season

• member of the Russia national team

Dmitriy Santalov left back• born and raised in Blagoveshchensk, a town in the Russian Far East

• at the age of 16 he moved to Chekhov, which is about 7,700 km from his home town, and joined the handball academy of Medvedi

• promoted to the main team of Medvedi in 2014 and at first was the youngest player in the squad

• studies at the university in Moscow and is expected to get a diploma in ecology

Kirill Kotov centre back• started to play handball in Dolgoprudny, a small town near Moscow

• joined Medvedi in 2007 at the age of 15 and became a member of the main team in 2013

• three-time Russian champion is already a member of the Russia national team

• was elected the best playmaker of the Russian league in the 2015/16 season

EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006

157

Chekhovskie Medvedi

Alexander Chernoivanov line player• veteran was elected the MVP, the best defensive player and the best line player of the Russian league in the 2015/16 season

• born in Krasnodar and started his career at the local club SKIF

• joined Chekhov in 2004 but needed two years to move up from the reserve to the first team

• ten-time Russian champion

Alexander Kotov right back• born in Volgograd and started his career at Kaustik

• moved to Chekhov together with his teammate from Kaustik Dmitri Shelestyukov

• in the summer of 2015, he has played for the Russia U-21 team at the Junior WCh in Brazil

• not a relative of his teammate Kirill Kotov

Dmitry Kornev right wing• born in Moscow and started to play handball in the Russian capital

• two-time Russian champion with Medvedi

• used to play for the Russian U-21 national team in the 2013 WCh in Bosnia

• in April 2016 made his debut in the Russia senior national team

Dmitry Kovalev right wing• captain of Medvedi and one of the key figures both on and off the court

• born in Omsk, he played a few seasons at Sungul Snezhinsk before moving to Chekhov in 2003

• last spring, he won the Russian league for the 13th consecutive time

• with the Russia national team he participated in a number of major international tournaments including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing



Montpellier HB

158

Despite the ever-growing strength of Paris Saint-Germain, Montpellier are the only French EHF Champions League winners. 13 years ago, they beat Portland in the finals, and two of those heroes are still part of the current squad: Team captain Michael Guigou and coach Patrice Canayer, who has been at the helm since 1994.In the 2015/16 season, Montpellier finished up as runners-up of the French league, but managed to snatch away two trophies from PSG by winning the French cup and the French league cup. To take at least one domestic title is one for the objectives for the upcoming season. In addition, the 2014 EHF Cup finalist want to go one step further in the Champions League, and proceed to the quarter-finals, after being eliminated in the Last 16 last season.Canayer strengthened the squad by signing French international Valentin Porte, who was part of the Olympic Games All-star Team in Rio as best right back and took home a silver medal. The Slovenian Olympian Miha Zvizej arrived in from Fenix Toulouse.While one Slovenian came, two others left Montpellier: right wing Dragan Gajic (now Veszprem) and powerful line player Matej Gaber, who joined another Hun-garian side, Pick Szeged. In addition, Montpellier have changed their goalkeeper by signing the Swiss talent Nikola Portner, while Arnaud Siffert left to their domestic rivals HBC Nantes. Another new arrival with Champions League experience is The-ophile Causse from Dunkerque.In contrast to the previous Champions League season, Montpellier were not seed-ed in Groups A/B, but start in Group C. Canayer is aware of what is ahead: “Our opponents in the group phase seem to be on the same level as each other. They neither seem to be unbeatable but all are dangerous in terms of the qualifica-tion for the knockout stages. We want to do better than last season and to finish amongst the best eight teams.”

GROUP C

Club AddressMontpellier HBCentre Jean Paul Lacombe - 100034090 MontpellierFrance

Media contactSuzy Demonte+33 499 610 [email protected]

montpellierhandball.com

montpellierhandball

@mhbofficiel

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: light blue/yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: purple

Montpellier HB

Playing hallPark & Suites Arena MontpellierRue de la Foire34470 Pérols/MontpellierFranceCapacity: 8,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 19Winners (1): 2002/03Semi-final (1): 2004/05Quarter-final (4): 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11Last 16 (6): 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2016/17Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09Group Phase (3): 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13Qualification (1): 2013/14OtherEHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, Quarter-final: 1996/97Last 16: 1993/94, 1994/95Last 32: 1997/98Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2001/02French league: 14 titles (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)French cup: 13 titles

159



Longest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponent



46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), 04.10.200937:20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), 06.11.19997 matches (21.12.2003 – 14.11.2004)7 matches (18.10.2009 – 25.02.2010)7 matches (16.10.2010 – 06.03.2011)10 matches (18.10.2009 – 03.04.2010)6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016)6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016)46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), 04.10.200938 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), 05.12.200438 v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), 19.11.201178 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), 09.02.200817 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), 03.01.199917 v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), 10.12.200016 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), 07.10.200638 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), 08.11.1998

Montpellier HB

74678

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 134:134 0 6:6 3rd Gr. A1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 139:148 -9 6:6 3rd Gr. A2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA 8 4 1 3 193:193 0 9:7 1/4-finals2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA 12 8 1 3 334:311 +23 17:7 Winner2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA 8 6 0 2 216:199 +17 12:4 1/8-finals2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA 12 9 0 3 375:328 +47 18:6 1/2-finals2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 0 4 282:272 +10 12:8 1/4-finals2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA 8 5 1 2 224:198 +26 11:5 1/8-finals2007/08 Montpellier HB FRA 12 7 0 5 358:348 +10 14:10 3rd MR Gr. 22008/09 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 1 3 295:275 +20 13:7 4th MR Gr. 32009/10 Montpellier HB FRA 14 10 2 2 447:372 +75 22:6 1/4-finals2010/11 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 14 10 0 4 442:379 +63 20:8 1/4-finals2011/12 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 12 6 0 6 357:357 0 12:12 1/8-finals2012/13 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 10 2 2 6 301:311 –10 6:14 5th Gr. A2014/15 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 12 4 2 6 351:377 –26 10:14 1/8-finals2015/16 Montpellier HB FRA 16 3 1 12 429:472 –43 7:25 1/8-finals 170 92 11 67 4877:4674 +203 195:145

160

Montpellier HB

Patrice Canayercoach• currently in his 23rd season at the head of Montpellier, in

which he has won over 40 trophies• in 1994 he started his coaching career and coached players

like Nikola Karabatic, Thierry Omeyer, Jerome Fernandez and Didier Dinart

• in his active career played for Bordeaux and Racing Paris


Newcomers:Valentin Porte (Fenix Toulouse)Nikola Portner (Kadetten Schaffhausen)Miha Zvizej (Fenix Toulouse)Jonas Truchanovicius (Union Leoben)Theophile Causse (Dunkerque)

Left the club:Felipe Borges (Sporting Lisbon)Jose Costa (Inconnus-Harnes HC)Dragan Gajic (Telekom Veszprem)Arnaud Siffert (HBC Nantes)Matej Gaber (MOL Pick Szeged)

161

Team roster

Montpellier HB

No.

3211229242620611272511014301523528169749719222

First Name

ArthurNassimSamirArnaudBaptisteJulienMaximeTheophileJureLudovicJean LoupVincentMathieuMichaelIliesAntoineVidSamuelValentinNikolaMaximeDiegoAymenJonasKyllianIswaranMiha

Surname

AnquetilBellahceneBellahceneBingoBonnefondBosBouschetCausseDolenecFabregasFaustinGerardGrebilleGuigouHakikiJonnierKavticnikPaulinPortePortnerSavonneSimonetToumiTruchanoviciusVilleminotZahmZvizej

Nat.

FRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRASLOFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRASLOFRAFRASUIFRAESPTUNLTUFRAFRASLO

Position

Left Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Left Back Left Wing Right Back Right Wing Right Back Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Back Left Wing Line Player Line Player Right Back Left Back Right Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Wing Left Back Centre Back Left Back Line Player

Date of birth

23.7.19959.1.199820.2.199512.10.198722.1.199318.8.19982.4.199612.10.19926.12.19881.7.199623.3.199516.12.19866.10.199128.1.19829.10.199818.8.199824.5.198420.5.19987.9.199019.11.199311.1.199726.12.198911.7.199024.6.199320.5.199823.5.19966.11.1987

Place of birth

Montpellier, FRAMontpellier, FRAMontpellier, FRALyon, FRALyon, FRAPessac, FRAMontpellier, FRAPort au Prince, FRAKranj, SLOPerpignan, FRAMontpellier, FRAWoippy, FRAParis, FRAApt, FRAMontpellier, FRALibourne, FRAGradec, SLOMontpellier, FRAVersailles, FRALyon, FRANimes , FRABuenos Aires, ARGSousse, TUNSiauliai, LTULyon , FRASaint Denis, FRACelje, SLO

Height

182190190190194188185179190198185189198179193197191202190194195188184203189200193

Weight

789011683997687759510288989877909588989391100888810572100100

C

162

Montpellier HB

Vincent Gerard goalkeeper• formed in Montpellier, he came back to his first club in the summer of 2015 after playing in Istres and Dunkerque

• welcomes a new comrade between the posts this season, the promising Swiss Nikola Portner

• his exuberant celebrations have instantly made him a fan favourite

• reached four times in a row the CL Last 16 (2x Dunkerque, 2x Montpellier)

Michael Guigou left wing / centre back• player with the longest history in Montpellier since he has played there for 16 seasons in a row

• able to play on the left wing or on the centre back position, very quick on fast breaks and able to play in tiny spaces inside the defences

• over the years, he has become less of a scorer and turned more into a play-maker

• only player of the winning CL campaign in 2003 who still plays for MAHB

Mathieu Grebille left back• most known figure of the new Montpellier wave, along with Ludovic Fabregas

• enjoyed his first national team appearance at only 21

• missed most of the last two seasons due to knee injuries

• his jumps have earned him the nickname "Flying Grébille"

• his great-grand father was an Olympic champion in boxing

Vid Kavticnik centre back / right back• experienced Slovenian has entered his 9th season with Montpellier

• played with Gorenje Velenje and THW Kiel in the past

• used to play on the right wing when he was in Kiel, then moved to the right back a couple of seasons later, before being mostly used as centre back in 2015/16

• having arrived in 2009 alongside Nikola Karabatic, he was the first of many Slovenians to join Montpellier

EC trophies: CL 2003OG : G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2005

OG: S 2016, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

OG: S 2016

163

Montpellier HB

Valentin Porte right back• arrived in the summer of 2016 from other French club Toulouse with the ambition of playing the CL

• played on the right wing until 2014, Claude Onesta then decided to place him on the backcourt, to much success

• rose to prominence during the EURO 2014 (16 goals in the semi-final and the final)

• golf aficionado, taught a lot of his former teammates, including now FC Barcelona goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas

Aymen Toumi right wing• arrived last summer and was only meant to stay for a season, but his stellar performances in the CL and Dragan Gajic's departure convinced the club to keep him

• has had a troubled relationship with his national team in the team, but everything's gone back to normal now

• last remaining Tunisian player in Montpellier, which counted five just a couple of seasons ago

Ludovic Fabregas line player• at only 20 and he has already played the EURO and the Olympics, making him one of the most promising French players of late

• part of the new Golden generation of French handball, along with teammate Mathieu Grébille and PSG right winger Benoit Kounkoud

• national team coach Didier Dinart counts on him to be the foundations of defence

• youth European and world champion in mountain biking before definitely turning to handball at 15

Jure Dolenec right back• uses his original style much to his advantage, he's very efficient in small spaces and likes to shoot through the defense

• made his name in the CL with his former team of Gorenje Velenje, scoring 64 goals in the 2012/13 season

• doesn't particularly like resting since, as he says, "the more I play, the better I am"

• already has nearly a hundred games with his national team

OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2015, EURO: G 2014

OG: S 2016

Elverum Handball

164

In the 2015/16 season, Elverum Handball Herrer embarked on their maiden voyage to the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League after they had won the qualification tournament in Banja Luka. This season, for the first time, the Nor-wegian champions have been granted with a direct place in the group phase. For the third time after 2013 and 2015, the team of coach Michael Apelgren won the Norwegian championship. For this season the club’s aim is to continue developing the team on international level and edge closer to the European top clubs.In 2015/16 Elverum won three of their ten matches – it should be more this season. In order to do so, Elverum signed the highly experienced former Hungarian international Tamas Ivancsik who arrives from Baia Mare. However, on the other side one of last season’s key players, Steffen Stegavik, has left the club.Club manager Bjørnar Myhren hopes that participation in the VELUX EHF Champi-ons League pushes the team’s development.“We want to get closer and closer to the level of performance the best teams in Europe deliver. We want to fight for points, and want to be a good representative for Norwegian handball,” he says. “We face many good teams and we are looking forward to playing them at home in Terningen Arena.” Team captain Morten Nergaard expects “a tough group with a lot of good teams. “We know we need to be at our maximum level to be able to compete with them. But it will be fun and challenging for our team.”Most of the 20,000 inhabitants of Elverum love handball. Therefore being part of Europe’s top club competition is something very special for the entire region.“It is of great importance for the club and the town of Elverum. For us as a club it is important to meet the best teams in Europe to develop our team and get closer and closer to the level they are at,” says Bjørnar Myhren.

GROUP C

Club AddressElverum Handball HerrerPostboks 2952403 ElverumNorway

Media contactErik Henriksen+47 400 [email protected]

www.ehh.no

elverumhandball

@ElverumHandball

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGK shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: green

Elverum Handball

Playing hallTerningen ArenaHamarvegen 1122418 ElverumNorwayCapacity: 2,400

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 3Group Phase (1): 2015/16Qualification (1): 2013/14

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2010/11EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13

Norwegian league: 4 titles (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)

165


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teams

Fewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

29:23 (15:7) v HC Metalurg MKD (h), 06.12.201523:37 (12:18) v Skjern Handbold DEN (h), 27.09.20152 matches (29.11.2015 – 06.12.2015)2 matches (29.11.2015 – 06.12.2015)4 matches (18.10.2015 – 22.11.2015)7 matches (27.09.2015 – 22.11.2015)31 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 30:31W (a), 17.09.201537 v Skjern Handbold DEN 23:37L (h), 27.09.201563 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 33:30L (a), 24.10.201563 v Skjern handbold DEN 34:29L (a), 22.11.201519 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.201522 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.201541 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.2015

Elverum Handball

23163

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2015/16 Elverum Handball Herrer NOR 10 3 1 6 274:289 –15 7:13 5th Gr. D1999/00 10 3 1 6 274:289 –15 7:13

166

Elverum Handball

Michael Apelgrencoach• joined Elverum as playing head coach ahead of the 2014/15

season• succeeded former Norwegian international Christian Berge,

as Berge became national team coach of Norway• former successful playmaker for Puerto Sagunto in the

Spanish ASOBAL• as a player, he has also represented BM Granollers as well as

several Swedish clubs; has five Swedish championships as a player

• played five internationals for Sweden in his playing days

Newcomers:Josef Pujol (Hammarby)Tamas Ivanscik (Baia Mare)

Left the club:Luka Mitrovic (Gorenje Velenje)Steffen Stegavik (uknown)Lars Nordberg (retired)Kalle Bjørkman (retired)

167

Team roster

Elverum Handball

No.

718193129141521187102451070176

First Name

AleksanderJonasHakonTorbjörnEmil KheriTamasJoergenAndreDidrik W.NikolajMortenLarsVegardPetterTineJosefErikDavid

Surname

BorresenBurudBratvold EkrenFredriksen EideImsgaardIvancsikJansrudLindboeLinderudMehlNergaardNordbergBakken OeienÖverbyPoklarPujolThorsteinsen ToftWattström

Nat.

NORNORNORNORNORHUNNORNORNORDENNORNORNORNORSLOSWENORSWE

Position

Line Player Right Back Centre Back Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Left Back Goalkeeper Line Player Left Back Centre Back Left Back Left Wing

Date of birth

30.8.198520.10.199310.7.199427.11.19906.3.19983.4.198323.7.199624.6.19887.12.19953.8.198426.2.198723.4.19828.7.199426.3.19925.10.199019.2.199214.11.199226.6.1993

Place of birth

Baerum, NOROslo, NORElverum, NORMelhus, NORHamar, NORGyör, HUNEidskog, NORTonsberg, NOROslo, NORStruer, DENElverum, NORElverum, NORElverum, NORKongsvinger, NORKoper, SLOStocholm, SWEElverum, NORHägersten, SWE

Height

206195186192196180195186182190190197192200190183192190

Weight

11497100979278988086959310511511293819693

C

168

Elverum Handball

Morten Nergaard goalkeeper• has spent far most of his career in Elverum, had a short foreign adventure by Danish Aalborg in 2012

• played eight internationals for Norway

• one of the Elverum players who has European experience from the 2012/13 CL qualification and the EHF Cup Group Phase

Andre Lindboe left wing• born in the women’s handball stronghold Larvik played for four other Norwegian clubs before he joined Elverum in 2011 (Halsen, Larvik, Fram, Sandefjord)

• made a debut in the national team of Norway in April 2011 against Germany

• took part at the EHF EURO 2014 scoring seven goals in three matches

Erik Toft Thorsteinsson left back• versatile back court player, and though being right handed, he can actually play all three back court positions

• has always played in Elverum, the place where he was also born

• had his debut in Elverum’s league team at the age of 16

• is not the only famous name in his family, as his mother is in charge of a well-known Norwegian TV program

• played 27 junior internationals for Norway

Jörgen Jansrud left back• joined in the summer of 2015 from Falk Horten

• his height, 195 cm and his shot are among his greatest assets, but after his first year in Elverum, he has also developed as a defender

• got a taste of the CL already in the 2015/16 season, where he also gathered valuable experience in the Norwegian league

• seen as one of the greatest back court talents in Norwegian handball

• part of the Norwegian team for the Men's 20 EURO in Denmark this summer

169

Elverum Handball

Josef Pujol centre back• joined in 2016 from Swedish league club Hammarby, where he played for 11 years

• filling out the footprints of playmakers Luka Mitrovic and Steffen Stegavik who have both left the club

• nominated for the All-Star team of the Swedish league in the 2015/16 season

• fast-thinking playmaker with a good eye for the game and his teammates

Nikolaj Mehl right back• playing his third season in Elverum after joining from league rivals Drammens HK in the summer of 2014

• has been playing in Norway since 2012

• has a past career in the Danish league clubs Team Tvis Holstebro and Lemvig Thyboron as well as second league club Faaborg HK

• has an academy diploma in international trade and marketing

Tamas Ivancsik right wing• Elverum's most decorated player, with seven Hungarian championships, six Hungarian Cups and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2008

• his older brother, Gergö plays for Veszprem, while younger brother Adam is in Tatabanya KC

• played 8 consecutive seasons in the CL (2007-14), scoring at least 11 goals in each

• married to a successful lawyer with whom he shares the exact date of birth

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008, Champions Trophy 2008

Petter Överby line player• joined Elverum ahead of the 2015/16 season from league rivals Notteroy signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year

• played 12 senior internationals for Norway, including the EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers against Croatia

• by joining Elverum, he left his younger brother Henrik who was among his teammates in Notteroy

• strong and solid pivot who is good at making room on the line and with a fine scoring percentage from the line.

TATRAN Presov

170

After failing four straight times in VELUX EHF Champions League qualification tournaments, now TATRAN Presov broke the curse. On home court, they first beat champions from Luxembourg Red Boys Differdange and then left experienced Slo-venian runners-up Velenje behind - though coach Rastistlav Trtik had to start with a completely new line-up.

Nine players including SEHA Liga top scorer Radoslav Antl (to SBS Eger-Eszterhazy), Alexandr Radcenko (HCB Karvina) or Michal Kopco (Sporting Lisboa) all have left Tatran. And the new arrivals do lack international experience. But the Slovakian champions, who won the league and the cup trophy for the tenth consecutive time in 2016, managed to snatch a spot in Europe’s premier club competition after they had been granted a direct spot for the group phase last season.

In the new season, Tatran will celebrate their 15th anniversary as an incorporated company, marking a new era of handball in Presov. Thus, even a new mascot (a white horse) will be presented, as the successor of Nestor. After finishing on the bottom of their group last time out, the “new Tatran” aim to climb the ladder. Their pre-season was quite successful, winning the International Memorial Cup in Mielec, Poland, and the Czecho-Slovak Cup on home court in Presov. Besides that, they finished second at tournaments in Sala and Doboj before clinching a berth for the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. “It is really a great honor to be part of this competition and to promote Presov’s and Slovakian handball in Europe,” says manager Branko Benko. Like last season, his team will face La Rioja and Medvedi in their group, and Benko has huge respect for both teams, but his personal favourite for finishing on top of the group is French side Montpellier. In addition, Presov will face Metalurg like in SEHA Liga.

GROUP C

Club AddressTATRAN PresovHolleho 3080 01 PresovSlovakia

Media contactBranko Benko+421 911 [email protected]

www.tatranpresov.sk

TatranPresovHandball-TeamSlovakia

Kit colours


DarkPlayer shirt: greenPlayer short: greenGK shirt: black

TATRAN Presov

Playing hallCity Hall PresovJana Pavla II 20801 PresovSlovakiaCapacity: 3,500

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16season): 12Last 16 (1): 2004/05Last 32 (1): 1993/94Group Matches (4): 2005/06, 2007/08,2008/09, 2010/11Qualification (5): 2009/10, 2011/12,2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15OtherEHF CupQuarter-final 2011/12, Last 16 1994/95,1995/96, Group Phase 2012/13, Round4 2009/10, Round 3 2006/07Cup Winners’ CupQuarter-final 205/06, Last 16 2007/08,2008/09, Round 4 2002/03Slovak league: 11 titles (2004, 2005,2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,2013, 2014, 2015)Slovak cup: 12 titles

171



Longest losing run

Longest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponent



37:24 (17:11) v RK Metkovic CRO (h), 30.10.200442:25 (22:12) v MKB Veszprém KC HUN (a), 05.11.20052 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007)2 matches (09.10.2004 – 17.10.2004)2 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007)7 matches (05.12.2004 – 05.11.2005)7 matches (16.11.2008 – 20.11.2010)16 matches (16.11.2008 – 10.10.2015)37 v RK Metkovic CRO 37:24W (h), 30.10.200442 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 42:25L (a), 05.11.200542 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.200774 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.200719 v Vojvodina SRB 19:27L (h), 10.10.201519 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.201518 v RK Metkovic CRO 18:29W (a), 17.10.200440 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.2015

TATRAN Presov

23774

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2004/05 Tatran Presov SVK 8 3 1 4 231:237 -6 7:9 1/8-finals2005/06 Tatran Presov SVK 6 1 0 5 154:201 -47 2:10 3rd Gr. F2007/08 Tatran Presov SVK 6 1 1 4 182:211 -29 3:9 3rd Gr. D2008/09 Tatran Presov SVK 6 2 0 4 165:183 -18 4:8 3rd Gr. D2010/11 TATRAN Presov SVK 10 0 2 8 273:325 -52 2:18 6th Gr. B2015/16 TATRAN Presov SVK 10 2 0 8 240:279 –39 4:16 6th Gr. C 46 9 4 33 1245:1436 -191 22:70

172

TATRAN Presov

Rastislav Trtikcoach• collected his first coaching experience with Banik Karvina in

the Czech Republic• Czech Republic national team head coach for three years

between 2002 and 2005• in 2005, won promotion to German Bundesliga with MT

Melsungen• head coach of Tatran Presov between 2008 and 2011, win-

ning three Slovak championship titles, leading Tatran into their last CL Group Phase campaign in 2010/11

Newcomers:Vadym Brazhnyk (AHC Dunarea Calarasi)Stefan Jankovic (Borac Banja Luka)Leon Vucko (PPD Zagreb)Roman Tsarapkin (Chekhovskie Medvedi)Marek Pales (HKM Sala)

Left the club:Radoslav Antl (SBS Eger-Eszterhazy)Andrej Petro (SBS Eger-Eszterhazy)Alexandr Radcenko (HCB Karvina)Michal Kopco (Sporting Lisbon)Vasja Furlan (US Ivry Handball)Richard Wilga (Fuzesabony)Vladimir Bozic (Neusser HV)Ivan Ivkovic (Budakalasz FKC)David Pogany (unknown)

173

Team roster

TATRAN Presov

No.

207312216433149441922210301113377171623

First Name

VadymIgorJurajTomasJakubPatrikStefanMartinDominikMarekRadovanAlexeyOliverTomasBorisViacheslavLubosMilosRomanLukasMatejLeon

Surname

BrazhnykChuprynaCikarevCipHrstkaHumenanskyJankovicKrizKrokPalesPekarPeskovRabekRecicarResovskySadovyiSarpatakySarpatakyTsarapkinUrbanVernarskyVucko

Nat.

UKRUKRSVKCZECZESVKBIHSVKSVKSVKSVKRUSSVKSVKSVKUKRSVKSVKRUSSVKSVKCRO

Position

Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing Centre Back Left Wing Left Back Line Player Left Back Right Back Left Back Left Back Line Player Left Back Right Wing Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Line Player

Date of birth

25.2.197525.4.19903.10.19965.10.198917.3.199028.3.199720.8.199227.7.199722.1.19918.7.199427.12.198016.12.198330.9.198730.11.19984.10.199811.7.199015.1.199615.1.19969.5.199522.6.19951.3.19949.1.1995

Place of birth

Brovary, UKRIllychevsk, UKRKosice, SVKZubri, CZEZubri, CZEPresov, SVKBanja Luka, BIHPresov, SVKBardejov, SVKPrievidza, SVKPresov, SVKMoscow, RUSNove Zamky, SVKPresov, SVKPresov, SVKKiev, UKRPresov, SVKPresov, SVKMoscow, RUSPresov, SVKPresov, SVKZagreb, CRO

Height

200198188189188188189186189192196199204189189190185185197199186192

Weight

1009587949181867779100107991108287998585958673115

C

174

TATRAN Presov

Igor Chupryna goalkeeper• Ukrainian national team goalkeeper moved to Presov in summer 2015 from HC Portovik

• 2015/16 was his first CL season

• supposed to back up Vladimir Bozic last season, but became number one for Trtik

• one of the best Tatran players in 2015/16 season in European competitions, making it to the save of the week in November with his unorthodox save against Meshkov Brest

Jakub Hrstka left wing• born in Zubří, Czech Republic from where he left for Presov in 2011 together with Tomas Cip

• second best Presov scorer in the CL group phase 2015/16 with 40 goals

• Czech Handball talent of the year in 2010

• featured at 2014 European Championship and 2015 World Championship For Czech Republic

• great friend with his teammate Tomas Cip, also a winger

Oliver Rabek left back• scored ten goals for Presov last season in CL

• one of the pillars of offensive play for Presov

• known for very accurate and hard shots from the distance, able to coordinate his movement in the air

• has four league titles and Slovakian Cup wins with Presov - every season since he joined in 2012

• played at EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia – his only major tournament for Slovakia

Radovan Pekar left back• one of the most experienced players in the current Presov squad, local patriot, born and raised in Presov

• captained Slovakian national team as one of the most experienced national team player

• played at 2008 EHF EURO in Norway and 2009 WCh in Croatia for the national team, scored first Slovakian goal at WCh – against Argentina in 2009

• captain and defensively most important player in the squad has most domestic titles with Presov than any other player in the squad – 10

175

TATRAN Presov

Marek Pales line player• returns back to Presov after spending two seasons on loan in HKM Sala, winning bronze medals in Slovakian Championship

• has very little European experience -this season will be his big test

• both line players from last season left, Michal Kopco and Andrej Petro, new faces Leon Vucko and Marek Pales are the new blood to replace them

• both Pales and Vucko got injured in pre-season but are declared to be fit

Tomas Cip right wing• Czech international started his career in his hometown, Zubri, where he played until his transfer to Presov in the summer of 2011

• one of the two players from Zubri, the other one being left winger Jakub Hrstka

• regular Czech national team starter, until now has featured in over 50 games and scored more than 100 goals

• able to defend on the wing as well as attack, although he is highly rated for his game in offence

Dominik Krok left back / centre back• one of the players who remembers the CL group phase adventure back in 2010/2011

• joined Presov in 2009, ever since became one of the longest serving players in current squad

• known for his powerful shots from the distance, one of the favourites of fans in Presov for his friendliness and ever present smile

• big fan of tennis, where he develops his skills and accuracy

Alexey Peskov right back• two-metre tall Russian international came to to replace Latvian giant Dainis Kristopans in 2015

• most experienced player from the squad, played the CL for his mother club Chekhovski Medvedi and Celje

• also played in Poland’s Wisla Plock and Ukraine’s Dinamo-Poltava, with the latter having won the Ukrainian league in 2012, spent three seasons in Ukrainian Zaporozhye


176

Group D preview

Group Dpreview

A TALE OF NEWBIES AND COMEBACKS

Two newbies coming from France and Denmark will face long trips to the Ukraine, Romania, Turkey and Portugal in a group, which promises to provide a nail-biting finish.

With only five group appearances between the six teams in their whole history, Group D promises to be a battle of grit and team spirit. While HBC Nantes and TTH Holstebro have the pedigree from their respective championships and experience from playing in Europe. Motor Zaporozhye hope to emulate last season’s heroics when they reached the Last 16. Besiktas, Dinamo Bucuresti and ABC/UMinho will try to establish themselves on this level and to create problems for the favourites.

Already having proven themselves in European competitions, and having qualified two times for the EHF Cup Final during the last three seasons, it was high time for HBC Nantes to have a shot at the VELUX EHF Champions League. Their chance came in form of a wild card, but the French side is taking nothing for granted.

A Finn, a Swede, two Icelandic players and a plethora of Danes will look to boost TTH Holstebro’s chances on their maiden voyage into the deep waters of the VELUX EHF Champions League. After a one-year hiatus in the Last 16, Denmark has had their chances boosted, by having two teams in the group phase, with Bjer-ringbro-Silkeborg and Holstebro. However, Holstebro look to have the best chance, as the Danish champions were drawn into the group of death. It is also time for Holstebro to take their revenge on Nantes, who beat them four years ago in the EHF Cup Final, 26:20.

HC Motor will look to repeat last year’s run when they were stopped by the to-be-finalists Veszprém. The Ukrainian side has already established themselves as a constant in Europe’s premium handball competition by playing their fourth con-secutive season. Without important changes in the team, the Ukrainian champions are looking to build upon their home record from last season of five wins from five matches in the group phase.

It is Besiktas’ second year in a row in the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. However, this time, the Turkish champions will aim to be a competitive side, after winning only one game of their 14 from last season. The home support will be, of course, one of the most important factors for the Turkish side, who have bolstered their squad with experience from the Bundesliga, but lost key player Darko Djukic to Kielce.

A powerhouse of Romanian handball, Dinamo Bucuresti were closer to folding than to winning another championship in the last few years. The ‘Red Dogs’ were forced to move to Brasov and Calarasi in order to survive, but found a way to once again settle in Bucharest in 2013. The wait was enough and after an 11-year hiatus, Dinamo will make their comeback to Europe. Last season was a stellar one, which

177

Group D preview

ended in a 2-1 win against rivals CSM Bucuresti in the Romanian League final.

With no real stars in the team, Dinamo will rely on their team strength and also on their fans --some of the best in the country -- who promise to prepare special support for the team in all home games.

Last, but not least, ABC/UMinho will represent Portugal, after a successful qualify-ing tournament, in which the Portuguese champions shocked hosts Bregenz. After taking their first European trophy in May, ABC powered past Benfica again in the domestic league, in which proved to be the most important month in the club’s history. It is a tall task, but the Portuguese side was inspired by Porto’s amazing group phase last season and will try to emulate their counterparts’ performances.

Adrian Costeiu

178

Group D preview

HBC Nantes vs Besiktas Mogaz HT 2-0-0 (55:45) 4:017.02.2013 HBC Nantes vs Besiktas JK, EHF Cup – Group D 31:24 (16:10) 23.03.2013 Besiktas JK vs HBC Nantes, EHF Cup – Group D 21:24 (11:12)

Group D head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC

HBC Nantes vs TTH Holstebro 3-0-0 (86:70) 6:0

HBC Nantes vs HC Motor Zaporozhye

HBC Nantes vs Dinamo Bucuresti

HBC Nantes vs ABC/UMinho

TTH Holstebro vs HC Motor Zaporozhye

TTH Holstebro vs Besiktas Mogaz HT

TTH Holstebro vs Dinamo Bucuresti

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Besiktas Mogaz HT

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Dinamo Bucuresti

TTH Holstebro vs ABC/UMinho

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs ABC/UMinho

18.05.2013 Team Tvis Holstebro vs HBC Nantes, EHF Cup – Semi-final 20:26 (9:11) 21.02.2016 HBC Nantes vs Team Tvis Holstebro, EHF Cup – Group B 32:23 (17:9) 27.03.2016 Team Tvis Holstebro vs HBC Nantes, EHF Cup – Group B 27:28 (10:13)











Besiktas Mogaz HT vs Dinamo Bucuresti 1-0-1 (70:76) 2:204.09.2005 Besiktas Istanbul vs Dinamo Baumit Bucuresti, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 34:41 (14:22) 10.09.2005 Dinamo Baumit Bucuresti vs Besiktas Mogaz HT, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 35:36 (19:17)

179

Group D preview

Besiktas Mogaz HT vs ABC/UMinho

Dinamo Bucuresti vs ABC/UMinho



HBCNantes

180

After hosting the EHF Cup Finals twice (in 2013 and 2016) and making it to the finals at both events, HBC Nantes have their maiden voyage in the VELUX EHF Champions League ahead; the club being awarded a wild card for the group phase.Though Spanish 2013 World Champions Alberto Entrerrios (now assistant coach) and Valero Rivera (FC Barcelona) and two goalkeepers Mattias Schulz and Gorazd Skof have left, coach Thierry Anti’s squad looks well-prepared for their first chal-lenge in the Champions League.Nantes have signed two new World Champions, Eduardo Gurbindo (Spain 2013) and Dominik Klein (Germany 2007) from two of the best clubs in the world, Bar-celona and Kiel. The new goalkeepers are Cyril Dumoulin (Toulouse) and Arnaud Siffert (Montpellier).Entrerrios takes over from Gregory Cojean, who now is in charge of the club’s youth team. Under his guidance four U18 and U20 World Champions came to fruition. As Cojean needs more time for the development of talent, he resigned as assistant of Anti to connect the club’s youth team and the professional team.Supported by their “Big H superhero” mascot, Nantes know how to organise great events in a Trocardière arena. The arena, staff and the team are ready for the new adventure, as club president Gaël Pelletier points out: “We have been playing in European Cup competitions since 2011 and our objective was to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League - this is the first step. It’s an important competition; it’s a reward for the club’s hard work; the staff, the players, and the partners will all enjoy us playing in the Champion’s League. We have entered into a new era.”The first goal is to reach the Last 16: “It would be a good start, if we could manage it,” says Pelletier.

GROUP D

Club AddressHBC Nantes91 rue de la Trocardiere44400 RezeFrance

Media contactMarina Normand+33 671 55 63 [email protected]

www.hbcnantes.com

HBCNantesOfficiel

HBCNantes

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: white/purplePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: orange or blue

DarkPlayer shirt: purple/yellowPlayer short: purpleGK shirt: black

HBC Nantes

Playing hallSalle Sportive de la Trocardiere91 Rue de la Trocardiere44400 RezeFranceCapacity: 4,500

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 1

OtherEHF Cup: runners-up 2012/13, 2015/16, quar-ter-finals 2013/14

French League Cup: 1 title (2015)

select-sport.com

OFFICIAL EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH BALLNew SELECT Ultimate. Completely controlled bounce. Extreme durability. Optimal roundness. Perfect grip and soft feel.

182

HBC Nantes

Thierry Anticoach• arrived in 2009 as they just promoted to the French first

league• steered them to one trophy, the League cup in 2014/15• previously coached Créteil and Paris and reached the IHF

Cup Winners’ Cup final with Créteil in 1989• reached EHF Cup Final twice but Nantes lost in both cases • trusts a lot his young players and helps them develop

Newcomers:Senjamin Buric (Gorenje Velenje),Eduardo Gurbindo (FC Barcelona Lassa)Dominik Klein (THW Kiel)Jerko Matulic (Chambery)Olivier Nyokas (Göppingen)Arnaud Siffert (Montpellier Handball)Romain Lagarde (Nantes youth)Cyril Dumoulin (Toulouse)

Left the club:Uros Bundalo (HC Erlangen)Matias Schulz (Pfadi Winterthur)Alberto Entrerrios (ended playing career)Valero Rivera (FC Barcelona Lassa)Jordan Camarero (Pays d’Aix Universite Club)Sime Ivic (Orlen Wisla Plock)Gorazd Skof (Paris Saint-Germain)Vitaly Komogorov (HC Odorhei)Rodrigo Salinas (Chartres Metropole Handball 28)

183

Team roster

HBC Nantes

No.

20301910127171411351823

92272115

86222416

1126

First Name

LucienValentinDavidSenjaminRobinNicolasFlorianThéoCyrilRockMahmoudEduardoEdsonNicolasDominikRomainArthur

Michel Junior

JerkoAndiO’BrianGuy OlivierDraganJames Junior

ArnaudNathanNicolasLucas

Surname

AuffretBacheleBalaguer RomeuBuricCantegrelClaireDelecroixDerotDumoulinFelihoGharbiGurbindo MartinezImareJauffrineauKleinLagardeLaugierMatiaba-TuzolanaMatulicMuris HoulbertNyateuNyokasPechmalbecScottSiffertTourancheauTournatWeiss

Nat.

FRAFRAESPBIHFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRATUNESPFRAFRAGERFRAFRAFRACROFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRAFRA

Position

Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Left Back Goalkeeper Back Line Player Right Back Centre Back

Left Wing Left Back Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing

Centre Back Left Back Line Player Left Back Goalkeeper

Line Player Left Back

Date of birth

25.1.199725.6.199817.8.199120.11.199013.2.199510.7.198717.3.199417.6.19922.2.198413.8.198211.2.19828.11.19879.9.199831.1.199716.12.19835.3.19976.2.199827.5.199720.4.199024.12.19997.11.199228.6.19865.1.199627.5.19966.12.197826.5.19975.4.19944.3.1997

Place of birth

La Roche sur Yon, FRAFRABarcelona, ESPMaglaj, BIHNantes, FRASaint-Denis Réunion, FRANiort, FRANîmes, FRARillieux la Pape, FRACotonou, BENTunis, TUNPamplona, ESPFRA

Miltenberg, GERLorient, FRAFRAArgenteuil, FRASupetar, CRO

Bordeaux, FRAFRAFRALens, FRALongjumeau, FRA

Niort, FRAColmar, FRA

Height

182190185198194190197193200192192195189

190194185188187

186187194200190

200189

Weight

73959310091919396100100869278

8695807583

9086948393

11693

C

184

HBC Nantes

Cyril Dumoulin goalkeeper• after playing in Chambéry and Toulouse, he arrived in Nantes

• arrived at the end of the 2015/16 season, to make up for the injury of Gorazd Skof

• with 1.99 m height, one of the tallest goalkeeper on the circuit

• beside his handball career, he's also published two books he wrote - a diary of his seasons and they gained much critical success

Dominik Klein left wing• in 2016, after ten seasons in THW Kiel, the left winger decided to give himself a new challenge by moving to France

• his wife Isabell has moved with him and play for the women's club in Nantes

• scored 1,071 goals in his 15 seasons in bundesliga, won 8 bundesliga titles and 6 German cup trophies

• in his homeland played also for Obernburg, Wallau-Massenheim and Grosswallstadt

Olivier Nyokas left back• the 2016 recruit came back to France after two seasons in German Balingen

• late bloomer, he impressed at the last EURO, most notably scoring eight goals against Serbia in his first game at a major tournament

• major difference between him and his twin brother Alix Kevynn, who plays for Frisch Auf Göppingen, is their shooting hand - Olivier right, Alix Kevynn left

• reunited with Thierry Anti, who was important to him as a young player in Paris

Theo Derot centre back• born in a handball family, his dad was a French international player and his uncle, Christian Gaudin, won the CL with SCM Magdeburg in 2002

• aged 25, he left his beloved club of Istres, where he was coached by his father, in the summer of 2015 to join Nantes

• immediately rewarded with a EURO participation in January 2016

• still needs to toughen up physically as he is very injury-prone

EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

EC trophies : CL 2007, 2010, 2012WCh: G 2007

185

HBC Nantes

Nicolas Tournat line player• considered by Didier Dinart as “one of the brightest hopes in French handball”

• as a consequence, he made his first national team appearance in November 2015

• signed his first contract in the 2014/15 season and is now a regular fixture in the Nantes squad

• without a doubt, the best player of his team during the EHF Cup Finals last season, where Nantes lost the final to Frisch Auf! Göppingen

Jerko Matulic right wing• young Croatian decided to try his luck in France in 2014, after waiting behind Zlatko Horvat in Zagreb for a long time

• proved to be a successful move, since a lot of teams wanted to sign him in the summer of 2016

• even though all Europe is aware of his talents, he still does not get his chance in the national team, being third choice behing Ivan Cupic and Zlatko Horvat

• played in Chambéry in 2015/16, with whom he took part in the EHF Cup Finals

Nicolas Claire centre back• former player of PSG Handball joined Nantes in 2014 to meet Thierry Anti, the coach who coached him at the beginning of his professionnal career

• played his first international games with France in April 2015

• born on Réunion Island, where Jackson Richardson and Daniel Narcisse are from

• handball is a family affair for him, since his two younger brothers play in the second league in France

• delighted to be able to play with Olivier Nyokas, one of his best friends

Eduardo Gurbindo right back• after trying his luck for two seasons, Thierry Anti finally managed to convince the Spaniard to come to Nantes in 2016

• will perpetuate the tradition of Spanish players in Nantes, even though Valero Rivera made the inverse trip to Barcelona

• has the advantage to be able to play both on the wing and the backcourt position

• has taken part three times in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with FC Barcelona

EC trophies : CL 2015EURO: S 2016, B 2014

TTH Holstebro

186

After three successful seasons in the EHF Cup, including their very first EHF Cup Final at Nantes in 2013, TTH Holstebro are ready for the next step in their devel-opment. This season will be their first adventure in the VELUX EHF Champions League. “We are very proud to play against the best teams in Europe. We look forward to having close, intense matches and we will do everything we can to be a well-de-served opponent. The Champions League will provide our club and the team with international experience. We will fight to make it to the next round,” says new club director John Mikkelsen; a former Holstebro player, who played 404 matches for TTH.The biggest success for the club thus far was winning the EHF Cup with their wom-en’s team and now, TTH Holstebro has high hopes in their maiden voyage in the men’s major club competition.The squad of Patrick Westerholm and Sören Hansen underwent some changes pri-or to the season. In total, ten players left TTH, including cornerstones Swede Jonas Larholm and Anders Oechsler. Among the new arrivals are Swedish talent Victor Östlund, as well as Icelandic international Vignir Svavarsson.Apart from building up a new team, TTH hopes to reach the Danish league play-offs and the Champions League Last 16. “We hope to gain some international experi-ence,” says team captain Peter Balling. Dinamo Bucuresti and HBC Nantes are the favourites for winning group D.

GROUP D

Club AddressTTH HolstebroHostrupsvej 277500 HolstebroDenmark

Media contactLine Kristoffersen+45 2845 [email protected]

teamtvisholstebro.dk

teamtvisholstebro

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGK shirt: black

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: blue or green

TTH Holstebro

Playing hallGräkjaer ArenaHostrupvej 277500 HolstebroDenmarkCapacity: 3,250

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 1

OtherEHF Cup: semi-finals (3rd ranked) 2012/13, quarter-finals 2014/15

Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2009/10Challenge Cup: Round 4 2002/03

Danish league: -runners-up 2016Danish cup: 1 title (2008)

KOBRA MENMagma Red/Black

KOBRA MENBlack/Shocking Orange

KOBRA WOMEN Diva Pink/Turquoise

salminghandball.com

WATCH THE SALMING KOBRA VIDEO ONwww.salminghandball.com

Official Partner of the EHF and the EHF Champions League

188

TTH Holstebro

Patrick Westerholmcoach• Finland-born coach joined from league colleagues HC Midtjylland in 2015,

replacing Klavs Bruun Jørgensen who took over as women’s national coach

• before coaching men was head coach for the women of SønderjyskE and later assistant coach in Team Esbjerg

• former centre back celebrated his greatest triumphs as a player during his nine years with KIF Kolding winning five Danish championships and three Danish Cups

• ended his active career in Skjern Handbold, in his first season in Holste-bro, he led the team to a shared first place in the Danish league at the end of the autumn season

Newcomers:Martin Hansen (HC Midtjylland)Jonas Porup (Mors-Thy)Vignir Svavarsson (HC Midtjylland)Kasper Kildelund (GOG)Anders AggerShadrach-Amie NsoniViktor Östlund (Eskilstuna Guif)Rasmus Lind (Ribe-Esbjerg)

Left the club:Patrick Wiesmach (Aalborg)Anders OechslerSøren Tau (Ribe-Esbjerg)Jonas Hansen (Ribe-Esbjerg)Nicolai Neupart (Odder Haandbold)Jonas Larholm (IK Sävehof)Sigurbergur Sveinsson (IBV Handbolti)Mathias Bitsch (Skive)Frederik LadefogedSimon Gade (on loan Lemvig-Thyboron)

189

Team roster

TTH Holstebro

No.

16626231011316821121851157259143024

First Name

MarcusOliverPeterSimonMagnusMartinJeppeMadsJac KasperRasmusEgillLarsShadrach-A.ViktorAndersJonasToke BjelkeEmilTorbjoernVignirMichael

Surname

AbildgaardSommer AsmussenBalling Christensen

Ellersgaard BirkefeldtGrubb BrammingLysdal HansenFavrholt HauskovByskov HojJensenKarlssonKildelundSchmidt LindMagnússonMousing NielsenNsoniÖstlundAgger PedersenSogaard PorupSchröderSidelmannSittrup BergerudSvavarssonKrohn Thogersen

Nat.

DENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENFINDENDENISLDENCGOSWEDENDENDENDENNORISLDEN

Position

Centre Back Centre Back Right Back Right Back Left Wing Centre Back Right Wing Right Back Centre Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Line Player Left Back Left Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Right Wing

Date of birth

19.7.199828.10.19975.4.199022.1.19911.10.199015.9.19875.12.199826.3.199816.4.198611.5.19948.4.198322.2.19964.3.199223.1.199819.1.199220.9.199812.2.199119.10.199830.10.199616.7.199420.6.198010.4.1996

Place of birth

Silkeborg, DENHolstebro, DENSkive, DENÅrhus, DENRoskilde, DENHerning, DENLemvig, DENLemvig, DENKaris, FINSvendborg, DENStruer, DENReykjavik, ISLKøbenhavn, DENRepub. Congo, CGOHusby- Ärlinghndra, SWEHolstebro, DENLemvig, DENHolstebro, DENHolstebro, DENDrammen, NORReykjavik, ISLStruer, DEN

Height

192185188198182185189196186183192200195192198203197193177199196186

Weight

87828710580967599908010399959996109103967010611085

C

190

TTH Holstebro

Torbjörn Bergerud goalkeeper• joined this summer from Swedish league club Lugi HF

• has played 15 internationals for Norway and did particularly well in the recent WCh qualifiers against Slovenia

• as a boy, he was afraid of the ball - he has certainly got over that fear over time

• his girlfriend, Hege Bakken Wahlquist also joined TTH in 2016 (from Norwegian league club Glassverket)

Magnus Bramming left wing• fast and versatile winger with a varied shot, good on counter attacks and penalties

• can also play the playmaker position and has done so several times, when the back court line was haunted by injury

• has played a total of 46 junior internationals for Denmark, but with regards the senior team, he is still standing in the shadow of Anders Eggert and Casper Mortensen

• contributes a lot to the spirit in the team, is known for his changing hair styles

Viktor Östlund left back• joined this summer from Swedish Eskilstuna Guif

• one of his reasons for joining TTH was a wish to get stronger in a physically stronger league at a higher level than the Swedish league

• has played 36 internationals for Sweden and was part of the Swedish squad for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland this January

• already a strong and solid back court player with a good variety of hard shots

Martin Lysdal Jansen left back / centre back• joined this summer from league rivals HC Midtjylland, also had a fine career at another Danish club, SønderjyskE

• versatile playmaker and also a shooting playmaker with a pretty hard shot

• with his 186 cm, he is not the tallest among back court players these days, but he compensates with technical skill, his hard shot and a lot of fighting spirit.

• many of his qualities are so different from Jac Karlsson, that those two are expected to supplement each other fine as playmakers

191

TTH Holstebro

Jac Karlsson centre back• joined from neighbours Mors-Thy Handball in the summer of 2015

• started his career in BK 46 Karis in his homeland, Finland, but has played in Denmark since 2010

• experienced playmaker with a good eye for his teammates and with a good shot

• used to be a crucial playmaker in the Finnish national team too, but he has made a break from the national team due to knee problems

Vignir Svavarsson line player• joined in summer 2016 from league rivals HC Midtjylland, has a rich experience with the Danish league, having also represented Skjern Handbold for several years

• also has experience from the German Bundesliga, representing TBV Lemgo before returning to Denmark and HC Midtjylland in the summer of 2014

• physically strong and with a lot of experience at high level, has played 230 internationals for Iceland and scored 261 goals

Simon Birkefeldt right back• joined in 2013 from league rivals Aarhus Handball

• started his career in Odder outside Aarhus

• missed most of 2015/16 season due to a brain concussion, and missed also the 2nd leg of the Danish championship final against Bjerringbro due to a broken hand

• get a lot of extra responsibility in 2016/17 season, as the other right back, Danish international Peter Balling is sidelined with a torn cruciate ligament

Kasper Kildelund right wing• joined in the summer of 2016 from league rivals GOG, whom TTH defeated in the Danish championship play-off semi-finals the season before

• got his handball upbringing in GOG, one of Denmark's largest talent factories

• son of one of the legends in GOG, Søren Kildelund, who was part of the team that won the first titles to the club on Southern Funen

• has played in several junior national teams, will have to fill out the rather big foot prints of Patrick Wiesmach who has returned to Aalborg Handball

EURO: B 2010

HC Motor Zaporozhye

192

Like their Belarusian neighbours Meshkov Brest, Motor Zaporozhye grabbed a Last 16 spot from the Group C/D play-offs of the VELUX EHF Champions League last season.The first knock-out stage against eventual finalists Veszprem was the final destina-tion for the Ukrainian champions, but this season it is their goal to make the next step to the quarter-finals.In contrast to previous years, the squad remains almost the same - three new-comers arrived and three players left the club, coached by Mykola Stepanets since 2015. Just like in the previous season, the four-time consecutive domestic champi-ons will play their home matches in Kharkov.Manager Gennady Kasay expects up to three teams with the ability to top the group and to make it to the Last 16 playoffs.“We are able to compete with all of these rivals. We would like to repeat last sea-son’s success and even hope to make it to the quarter-finals. Our fans expect us to play in the Champions League, and we want to do it in a successful way.”Team captain Sergey Shelmenko is also confident: “After a good preparation, we are ready to battle, but it will not be easy to fight for our goals. There are no weak opponents in the Champions League, as each team tries to show their best. It is a matter of will when deciding which teams make it through.”

GROUP D

Club AddressHC Motor ZaporozhyeIvanova Str. 2469068 ZaporozhyeUkraine

Media contactDmitriy Karpushchenko+380 50 [email protected]

handball.motorsich.com

HC-Motor

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: white/redPlayer short: whiteGK shirt: yellow/black

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGK shirt: red/black

HC Motor Zaporozhye

Playing hallLokomotiv Sport ComplexKotlova 90/1KharkivUkraineCapacity: 4,500

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 4Last 16 (2): 2013/14, 2015/16Group Phase (1): 2014/15

OtherEHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12

Ukrainian league: 4 titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)Ukrainian cup: 3 titles

193


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

31:23 (13:9) v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI (h), 28.11.201544:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), 10.10.20135 matches (18.10.2015 – 28.11.2015)8 matches (18.10.2015 – 05.03.2016)6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014)6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014)39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.201644 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), 10.10.201376 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.201621 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 21:23L (h), 04.10.201418 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.201342 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013

HC Motor Zaporozhye

53976

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 12 4 1 7 333:367 -34 9:15 1/8-finals2014/15 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 10 3 0 7 283:284 -1 6:14 5th Gr. D2015/16 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 14 9 1 4 418:414 +4 19:9 1/8-finals 36 16 2 18 1034:1065 -31 34:38

194

HC Motor Zaporozhye

Nikolay Stepanetscoach• led Motor to the three titles of the Ukrainian champion• used to be an interim coach, but last year convinced Motor’s

management to appoint him the head coach and did a good job

• born in Kiev, the 51-year-old also coached domestic rivals Budyvelnik Brovary

• with Etoile Sportive du Sahel he won the Tunisian league silver medals and the League Cup in 2007

Newcomers:Lev Tselishchev (Dinamo Astrakhan)Dmitry Gunko (Dinamo Astrakhan)Viktor Kireev (Neva St. Petersburg)Ievgen Buinenko (GK Portovik)

Left the club:Valentin Kosovy (Azot-Pulavy)Konstantin Kurilenko (Calarasi)

195

Team roster

HC Motor Zaporozhye

No.

46911149921875520578783104474242

First Name

EvgeniySergiiZakharDmytroDmytroGlebVictorGennadiyArtemIuriiAidenasBarysSergeyOlexandrIgorLevIevgenStanislav

Surname

BuinenkoBurkaDenysovDoroshchukGunkoKalarashKireevKomokKozakevychKubatkoMalasinskasPukhouskiShelmenkoShevelevSorokaTcelishchevZhukZhukov

Nat.

UKRUKRUKRUKRUKRRUSRUSUKRUKRUKRLTUBLRRUSUKRRUSRUSUKRUKR

Position

Right Back Left Back Left Wing Line Player Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Wing Centre Back Centre Back Right Back Line Player Left Back Back Left Back Right Back

Date of birth

20.9.19929.6.19871.3.199029.9.198614.2.199229.11.19905.5.19875.7.19872.10.199228.8.198829.4.19863.1.19875.4.19832.12.198727.5.199116.4.19904.8.199026.3.1992

Place of birth

Zaporozhye, UKRZaporozhye, UKRIlychevsk, UKRVolyn reg., UKRSlavyanoserbsk, UKRMoscow, RUSPenzenskaya obl., RUSZaporozhye, UKRNovovolynsk, UKRZaporozhye, UKRLietuva, LTUSt.Mazorita, BLRKiev, UKRZaporozhye, UKRCherkessk, RUSKishtim, RUSZaporozhye, UKRNovovolynsk, UKR

Height

201208188198192205190196182184189186195200180205184198

Weight

93110821158295949668788410098115731037594

C

196

HC Motor Zaporozhye

Victor Kireev goalkeeper• arrived at Motor this summer, having signed a two-year contract with the club

• played in his native Russia for Kaustik Volgograd, and spent the last two seasons at St.Petersburg

• expressed desire to continue his career elsewhere in Western Europe, but eventually opted to move to Ukraine

• made a very solid performance at EHF EURO 2016 which was his first big tournament with the Russia national team

Igor Soroka left wing• grew up in Cherkessk, in the southern part of Russia, and his first coach was his father Yuri

• in Russia he played for Dinamo-Viktor Stavropol, RGUFK-Chekhovskie Medvedi and Permskie Medvedi

• following the 2014/15 season elected the best left wing of the Russian league

• his move to Zaporozhye was initially planned for the summer of 2016, but due to financial problems Permskie Medvedi let him go to Ukraine already in winter

Dmytro Gunko left back• Ukrainian moved back to his home country after two years spent with Dinamo Astrakhan in Russia

• had an option to stay in Russia but preferred to move to Motor in order to play in the VELUX EHF Champions League

• previously also played for Portovik Yuzhny and became the top scorer of the Ukrainian league in the 2013/14 season

• will compete with Stanislav Zhukov and Sergii Burka at this position

Aidenas Malasinskas centre back• joined Motor in the summer of 2015 and quickly became a key element in the team

• Lithuanian international has no problems with language barrier speaking Russian as well as the whole team at Motor

• played also for Kaunas clubs (Lusis and Granitas-Karys) in his homeland followed by stints with Bidasoa Irun, Fraikin BM Granollers, Naturhouse La Rioja

• arrived from BM Puerto Sagunto and finished third in the ASOBAL top scorers list in the 2014/15 season

197

HC Motor Zaporozhye

Olexandr Shevelev line player• one of not too many Ukrainians who have played in the Western European leagues in the recent years

• arrived from Dinamo Minsk (BLR), but played in Astrakhan, Aalborg and scored his first goals in the CL for Ciudad Real in 2011

• his debut appearance in the CL was in the 2006/07 season with Portovik Yuzhny

• his experience and physical strength make him a crucial figure in the center of defence and attack

Artem Kozakevych right wing• Motor’s long hunt for one of the most talented players in Ukraine was successfully completed in 2014 when the winger moved from Portovik Yuzhny

• his dream was always to play in the CL, and he already took part twice in the competition with Motor

• shares the position with Yuriy Kubatko and is considered as one of the main penalty takers in the team

• in 2012, he won a silver medal with the Ukraine national team at the beach handball WCh

Barys Pukhouski centre back• moved to Motor from SKA Minsk last summer and quickly established himself as one of Zaporozhye's leaders

• with 90 goals, he was the top scorer of Motor in the 2015/16 CL season

• also had stints at Dinamo Minsk in his native Belarus and at Csurgo in Hungary

• one of the key players of the Belarus national team

Lev Tselishchev right back• born and raised in Kyshtym, a small town in the Ural region, he played football for ten years before concentrating on handball

• started his professional career at Sungul Snezhinsk and moved to Dinamo Astrakhan in 2013

• in the summer of 2016 decided to move to Ukraine and signed a contract with Motor

• the 205-cm powerful left back is a specialist on defence


Besiktas Mogaz HT

198

It is all about establishing, developing and growing at Besiktas. Though the twelve-time Turkish champions have lost their top scorer and star Darko Djukic to VELUX EHF Champions League winners Vive Tauron Kielce, the hopes for the Istan-bul-based club are high as they aim to be a competitive opponent in the upcoming season.The squad has undergone some changes and was bolstered by two players with German Bundesliga experience: Turkish goalkeeper Yunus Özmusul (returning from TVB 1898 Bittenfeld) and Bosnian Faruk Vrazalic (Füchse Berlin).With the new line-up manager Berk Karahan hopes to improve the club and raise more interest: “The VELUX EHF Champions League is a highly competitive and tough competition. It will take time to establish ourselves there, but we are sparing no effort. It is all about how much you fight in the matches. We have to fight until the end. No pain, no gain is our motto.”With good domestic and international results, Besiktas aim to drum up interest in handball: “Fans are so important. We consider ourselves new to the European handball family, and if our fans want us to be successful, they should fill the stands every time we come out to play,” stated Karahan. Last season, the Turkish champions came away from Group A with only one win from 14 matches - against Zagreb. Now they aim for more victories, as team cap-tain Ibrahim Demir predicts: “We want to qualify for the Last 16, and with the help of our fans, we hope to play our games in a carnivalesque atmosphere.”In the pre-season Besiktas were shocked by a tragic car accident where their young right wing Kubilay Yılmaz was badly hurt. For two weeks he was in a critical condi-tion, but the situation has recently improved.

GROUP D

Club AddressBesiktas MOGAZ HTSuleyman Seba Cd. No. 4834357 Besiktas - IstanbulTurkey

Media contactBerk KarahanTel: +90 535 358 [email protected]

www.bjk.com.tr

@BJKHentbol

Besiktas

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGK shirt: redDarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: green

Besiktas Mogaz HT

Playing hallKocaeli Sehit Polis Recep Topaloglu Spor SalonuYahya Kaptan Mah.Kizilay Sok No: 41050 ArastaIzmit, TurkeyCapacity: 5,000

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 10Group Phase (2): 2014/15, 2015/16Qualification (7): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/2011, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14

OtherEHF Cup: Last 16 1998/99, 2005/06, 2010/11Challenge Cup: Semi-final2008/09, Quarter-final 2002/03

Turkish league: 12 titles (1981, 1982, 2005, 2007, 2009-2016)Turkish cup: 12 titles

199


Biggest win

Biggest defeatLongest winning run


Longest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teams

Fewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

28:26 (13:15) v Alingsas HK SWE (h), 16.11.201432:30 (17:13) v HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO (h), 24.10.201543:29 (21:14) v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO (a), 05.03.20161 match (16.11.2014)1 match (24.10.2015)1 match (16.11.2014)1 match (24.10.2015)10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015)10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015)34 v MVM Veszprém HUN 34:38L (h), 13.02.201643 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.201672 v MVM Veszprém HUN 34:38L (h), 13.02.201672 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.201619 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 28:19L (a), 27.09.201426 v Alingsas HK SWE 28:26W (h), 16.11.201447 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 28:19L (a), 27.09.201447 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 20:27L (h), 16.10.2014

Besiktas Mogaz HT

53976

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2014/15 Besiktas MOGAZ HT TUR 10 1 0 9 253:303 –50 2:18 6th Gr. B2015/16 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 14 1 0 13 382:487 -105 2:2 8th Gr. A 24 2 0 22 635:790 –155 4:44

200

Besiktas Mogaz HT

Mufit Arincoach• had plenty of success as a coach with Besiktas JK, dominating

the Turkish domestic league over the past ten years• eight-time Turkish league champion, six-time Turkish cup

winner, six-time Turkish Super Cup winner• reached the Challenge Cup semi-final in the 2008/09 season• notable playing achievement is winning the Turkish league

with Arcelik HK in 1983, but nothing can be compared to the premiere of Turkish handball in the CL group phase in the 2014/15 season

Newcomers:Yunus Özmusul (TVB 1898 Bittenfeld)Onur Ersin (Göztepe SK)Faruk Vrazalic (Füchse Berlin)Mihajlo Radojkovic (Partizan RK)Jozef Holpert (Bursa Nilüfer Bel)

Left the club:Darko Djukic (Vive Tauron Kielce)Miroslav Kocic (Saran HB)Nikolay Sorokin (Steaua Bucuresti)Maksym Karamyshev (ZTR Zaporozhye)Ömer Ozan Arifoglu (Beykoz Bel SK)Ugur Coban (Beykoz Bel SK)Senol Boyar (Izmir BSB SK)Berkay Gülyurt (Izmir BSB SK)Ercan Asıkoglu (unknown)

201

Team roster

Besiktas Mogaz HT

No.

11252614532192313629272012817718

First Name

JosipPredragIbrahimMehmetRamazanOnurOgulcanJozefMehmetDogukanÖmerIvanTolgaYunusNemanjaMihajloFarukKubilay

Surname

BuljubasicDacevicDemirDemirezenDöneErsinGüneyHolpertKaratayKeserMercanNincevicÖzbaharÖzmusulPribakRadojkovicVrazalicYilmaz

Nat.

CROSRBTURTURTURTURTURSRBTURTURTURCROTURTURMKDSRBBIHTUR

Position

Left Back Left Back Goalkeeper Line Player Right Back Centre Back Left Wing Left Wing Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Back Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Right Wing Right Wing

Date of birth

11.7.198821.7.19864.10.19753.8.198810.7.198120.3.19923.5.19951.6.19887.2.199824.1.200010.4.199727.10.198124.4.19844.2.198926.3.19845.12.199422.6.199022.3.1997

Place of birth

Metkovic, CROBelgrad, SRBEskisehir, TURAnkara, TURRize, TURSamsun, TURIstanbul, TURCrvenka, SRBTURKars, TURIstanbul, TURZadar, CROAydın, TUREskisehir, TURNis, SRBSmederevo, SRBSarajevo, BIHIstanbul, TUR

Height

202197194193192190178190197179195185197199190197186195

Weight

1089810510010686818887829382118100103968590

C

202

Besiktas Mogaz HT

Ibrahim Demir goalkeeper• won more than 15 national championships (9 times with Besiktas - 7 times in a row), and the same number of Turkish Cups and Super Cups

• played more than 250 games in 20 years for Turkey, retired from the national team in 2015, still captain of beach handball national team

• graduated from two universities as an anesthesiologist and a teacher

• founding member of a sport center for disabled children

Ivan Nincevic left wing• Croatian national team’s left winger was a big reinforcement for Turkish champions right before their first CL season in 2014/15

• built his name in Germany - from the second division Stralsunder, as a top scorer he has earned a transfer to Füchse Berlin

• played also in Dinamo Minsk and later accepted Beskitas’ call

• outstanding scorer and a good defensive player able to motivate the whole team

Yunus Özmusul goalkeeper• after spending a season in the toughest league of the world, the German Bundesliga with TVB 1898 Bittenfeld, returned to Besiktas in 2016 to play the CL

• bronze medallist at Mediterranean Games in 2013

• raised in handball city Eskişehir, like teammate İbrahim Demir

• married to left back Ülkü Cagli of Kastamonu BGSK

Predrag Dacevic left back• played for Partizan Belgrade, RK Kolubara Lazarevac, RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, MT Melsungen, HC Vardar, BSV Bern Muri, Ademar Leon before joining Besiktas

• won Serbian Cup with RK Kolubara, national championship and Slovenian Cup with CL participant RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

• 2 national championships, 2 Turkish Cups and 2 Super Cups with Besiktas

• graduated from two universities: Banking and sports management

OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013

203

Besiktas Mogaz HT

Nemanja Pribak centre back• known for his excellent court vision, assists and playmaking ability

• started playing handball in his hometown of Nis, for RK Zeleznicar before joining HC Vardar, following a stint at RK Trimo Trebnje

• made a debut for Serbia at the WCh 2011, but opted to play for FYR Macedonia in 2013

• joined Besiktas in 2015 after five seasons for HC Vardar, where he is considered a club legend

Ramazan Döne right back• joined Besiktas in 2006 from Cankaya Belediyesi

• became the top scorer of the Challenge Cup in 2005/06 (66 goals in 7 games) as well as the top scorer of the Turkish league in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2009/10

• in the 2012/13 season he helped Besiktas to reach the EHF Cup Group Phase and was their top scorer with 30 goals

• awarded the best right back in the Turkish league several times and has played over 150 international matches for Turkey so far

Tolga Özbahar line player• came to Besiktas in 2010 and is recognised as one of Turkey’s best line players

• over 60 international matches for Turkey

• awarded the best line player in the Turkish league several times

• in the 2012/13 season, when Besiktas reached the EHF Cup Group Phase, he was the second best scorer (27)

• first Turkish player nominated for the All-Star Team in 2014/15 (received almost 5,000 votes)

Faruk Vrazalic right wing• has CL experience with HC Bosna Sarajevo and Reale Ademar Leon

• spent three years in the German Bundesliga at Eisenach, Balingen and German powerhouse Füchse Berlin before joining Besiktas in 2016

• started to play for Bosnian national team at the age of 19

• studying economics in Sarajevo

• speaks local languages in his clubs he goes

Dinamo Bucuresti

204

In May 2016, handball fans in the city of Bucharest went crazy. After a thrilling final win against Györi Audi ETO KC, CSM Bucuresti’s women’s team became the first Romanian side to win the Women’s EHF Champions League.In the 2016/17 season, Bucharest is also represented in the men’s event as Dinamo Bucuresti enter the VELUX EHF Champions League in Group D.It is 11 years ago that Dinamo was last part of the EHF Champions league. In the 2015/16 season they already participated and made it to the group phase of the EHF Cup; this season the team of head coach Elionor Voica ready to make the next step.Dinamo has been a household name for Romanian handball for more than 50 years. The club’s success story started when it won the Champions Cup, the prede-cessor of the EHF Champions League in 1965.In their upcoming campaign the Romanian champions hope to proceed to the play-offs of Groups C and D to have a chance to fight for the Last 16.“Being part of the VELUX EHF Champions League means to increase the image of our club and to gain international experience on all levels,” says club manager Ovidiu Semen.

GROUP D

Club AddressDinamo BucurestiSos.Stefan cel Mare n° 7-9 ,sec2BucurestiRomania

Media contactAlexandru Enciu+40 754 929 106 [email protected]

www.csdinamo.eu

csdinamo

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGK shirt: orangeDarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGK shirt: black

Dinamo Bucuresti

Playing hallDinamo Bucuresti ArenaSoseaue Stefan Cel Mare 7-9Sector 2, 020121 BucurestiRomaniaCapacity: 2,538

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2016/17 season): 4Group Stage (1): 2005/06Qualification (2): 1995/96, 1997/98

Other EHF Cup: semi-finals 2003/04, Last 16 2001/02, 2004/05Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2002/03Challenge Cup: runners-up 2000/01, semi-finals 2007/08City Cup: Semi-finals 1999/2000European Champions’ Cup: 1 title (1965)IHF Cup Winners’ Cup: runners-up 1983Romanian league: 13 titles (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2016)Romanian cup: 3 titles (1979, 1982, 1988)

205


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without winMost goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goalsFewest goals opponentFewest goals both teams

28:24 (14:14) v Tatran Presov SVK (h), 15.10.200540:17 (19:9) v BM Ciudad Real ESP (a), 06.11.20051 match (15.10.2005)1 match (15.10.2005)3 matches (22.10.2005 – 12.11.2005)3 matches (22.10.2005 – 12.11.2005)28 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.200540 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.200565 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 27:38L (h), 22.10.200517 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.200524 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.200552 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.2005

Dinamo Bucuresti

12865

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




2005/06 Dinamo Baumit Bucuresti ROU 6 1 0 5 148:198 -50 2:10 4th Gr. F

6 1 0 5 148:198 -50 2:10

206

Dinamo Bucuresti

Eliodor Voicacoach• considered to be one of Dinamo’s heroes, after bringing back

the title after a 11-year drought• was also coaching Dinamo between 2008 and 2011, when

the club was close to folding, due to lack of funds• former coach the Romanian national team, but failed to

qualify for an important tournament, being forced to quit after a shameful defeat against Finland in 2014

• as a player scored 867 goals in 205 games for the Romanian national team

Newcomers:Bogdan Criciotoiu (ThSV Eisenach)Sania Alin (Dunarea Calarasi)Daniel Bera (HC Minaur Baia Mare)Cosmin Capota (CSM Ploiesti)Allahcaram Esteki (Montpellier HB)Sajad Esteki (TVB Stuttgart)

Left the club:Darius Makaria (BM Sinfin)Adrian Balut (CSM Focsani)Razvan Rapciuga (CSM Focsani)Ciprian Vancea (unknown)Ibrahima Diaw (Saran Handball)

207

Team roster

Dinamo Bucuresti

No.

107351119033612161566881827131777

First Name

MihaiDanielCosminFlaviusAlinBogdanAllahkaramSajadStefanIonut AdrianLiviuMarius IulianSeyed AlirezaPierre YvesCiprianAlin FlorinDan AndreiJakov

Surname

AsoltaneiBeraCapotaCimpanConstantinescuCriciotoiuEstekiEstekiGrigorasIrimusMironescuMocanuMousavi GhalehmirzRagotSandruSaniaSavencoVrankovic

Nat.

ROUROUROUROUROUROUIRIIRIROUROUROUROUIRIFRAROUROUROUCRO

Position

Left Wing Left Wing Centre Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Centre Back Left Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Line Player Line Player Centre Back Left Back Left Back Line Player Right Back

Date of birth

14.9.198926.5.199013.5.19903.9.19886.3.199813.3.199020.3.198828.4.199018.12.199022.8.198715.2.19859.12.198627.4.199014.5.198627.2.199111.2.198312.10.198512.6.1993

Place of birth

Vaslui, ROUFagaras, ROUBucuresti, ROUTimisoara, ROUPitesti, ROUTg. Jiu, ROUEsfahan, IRIEsfahan, IRIBacau, ROUBaia Mare, ROUVaslui, ROUCalarasi, ROUEsfahan, IRINancy, FRASighisoara, ROUCRAIOVA, ROUGalati, ROUSplit, CRO

Height

186182197184189196195189194200184195197187194198197200

Weight

8582928786100106979811886106100909610911097

C

208

Dinamo Bucuresti

Ionut Irimus goalkeeper• having a whooping height of 2.00m, he is the tallest goalkeeper ever to have played in the Romanian National League

• nicknamed “Ață” (thread), Irimuș is also a very mobile goalkeeper, who was a vital piece in Dinamo’s title winning campaign last season

• having already played in Europe for UCM Reșița and Minaur Baia Mare in the Cup Winners’ Cup and the EHF Cup but never the CL before 2016/17

Alexandru Asoltanei left wing• one of the first players that have graduated from the National Excelence Centre in Sighișoara, a handball school that have provided Romania with a lot of players

• played in the Cup Winners' Cup and the EHF Cup for Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Dinamo

• one week after winning his maiden champion title in Romania, he got married

• Dinamo’s left wing stated that he likes to be a journeyman and he never liked to stay more than four years at a team

Ciprian Sandru left back• in 2015/16 won the title and the Romanian Supercup with Dinamo and also the gold medal at the World University Games with the Romanian national team

• with a powerful shot and the tactical nous on top, Sandru has been Dinamo’s top scorer last season, just four goals shy of the 200-goal mark

• like Alexandru Asoltanei, one of the products of the National Excellence Center

Alin Sania left back• one of the most experienced players in Dinamo’s roster, playing in United Arab Emirates and the Bundesliga, for Melsungen

• one of the few men to have played for both Steaua and Dinamo, the two most successful teams in the Romanian handball’s history

• had been offered to play for Qatar’s national handball team, but refused, making his comeback into Romania’s squad in 2015

• In 2014, when he came back in Romania’s second league, for Calarasi, he stated he does not stand a chance to play again in the VELUX EHF Champions League

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2006

209

Dinamo Bucuresti

Dan Savenco line player• defensive specialist, Savenco rarely plays in attack, but is well-known in Romania for his power and harshness

• one of few players that knows the taste of the VELUX EHF Champions League, having already played there for Steaua MFA Bucuresti in 2008

• experienced line player plied his trade in Spain, at Antequera, before coming back to Romania in 2014 to play for Dinamo

Flavius Cimpan right wing• born in Timișoara, played for Potaissa Turda and Dinamo, representing his teams in the EHF Cup and the Challenge Cup

• never before the 2016/17 season played in the VELUX EHF Champions League

• considered one of the emerging players in the Romanian national team a few years ago

Pierre Yves Ragot centre back• journeyman, the French player has changed seven teams in 13 years, coming to Dinamo in 2014

• usually deployed as a centre back, but can also play on the left wing, as his speed and technique are perfect for that position

• has been easily adopted by Dinamo’s fans, who are calling themselves “Red Dogs” and referring to Ragot as a pitbull, a player whose tenacity can be relied upon

Jakov Vrankovic right back• huge Croatian back has been in Dinamo’s roster since 2014, scoring 53 goals in the 2015/16 EHF Cup

• pursued a career in modeling, winning the “Mr. Tourism” distinction in Porec in the summer of 2016, could have represented Croatia in the “Mr Tourism World” competition, but decided to continue playing for Dinamo

• left France in order to join Dinamo, a decision that he considers one of the best of his entire life

ABC/UMinho

210

Only two goals were missing on 30 April 1994 from making handball history.After a 22:22 draw on home court in the final of the first ever EHF Champions League season, ABC Braga travelled to Santander, but lost 21:23 in the return leg against the Basque club, who became the first ever Champions League winner.Still, this is the biggest success in ABC’s club history. 22 years later, the twelve-time Portuguese champions took their first international trophy in May 2016 by beating Benfica in the Challenge Cup Final. And now - after becoming Portuguese champi-ons for the first time again since 2007 – they have crowned 2016 by qualifying for the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. In Bregenz, they beat the Austrian hosts in the final of the qualification tournament giving them their first appearance in the group phase since 2001.One of the keys to success is Carlos Resende, the most popular and successful handball player of all time, scoring 1,444 goals in 250 international matches. Re-sende arrived back at Braga - where he had played in the ‘golden era’ - in 2011 as the new coach. Now, he steers an all-Portuguese squad to the club’s 20th interna-tional season. Making it to the Last 16 is the goal for the Champions League, while in domestic competitions ABC/UMinho hope to go all the way. In the Champions League, they will have their home matches not in their regular Flávio Sá Leite Arena, but in the Parque de Exposicao de Braga.Carlos Resende shares his high estimations for the new adventure: “After being part of two straight Challenge Cup Finals, the club, and the players have the chance to express themselves on the highest European level.”Team captain Humberto Gomes calls ABC/UMinho “a modest team with a lot of history in European Handball. We are a team that embodies the true meaning of the word ‘team’.”

GROUP D

Club AddressABC/UMinhoPavilhao Flavio sa LeiteApartado 2437/Parque da Ponte4701-905 Braga, Portugal

Media contactJose Carvalho +351 935 156 146 [email protected]

www.abcdebraga.com

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: yellowGK shirt: multicolour

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGK shirt: multicolour

t

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipation (including 2016/17 season): 9Final (1): 1993/94Quarter-finals (4): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2000/01Last 32 (1): 1998/99Qualification (2): 2006/07, 2007/08

OtherEHF Cup: semi-finals 1999/00Challenge Cup: winners 2015/16, runners-up 2004/05, 2014/15Portuguese league: 13 titles (1987, 1988, 1991-93, 1995-98, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2016)Portuguese cup: 11 titles

Playing hallParque de Exposicao de BragaAv.Dr. Francisco Pires Goncalves, Apartado 604711-909 Braga, Portugal

211


Biggest winBiggest defeatLongest winning runLongest unbeaten runLongest losing runLongest run without win

Most goalsMost goals opponentMost goals both teamsFewest goals


33:24 (17:13) v Pallamano Trieste ITA (h), 16.12.200032:18 (18:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 24.01.19983 matches (15.11.1997 – 11.01.1998)6 matches (26.01.1994 – 06.04.1994)3 matches (30.04.1994 – 24.01.1996)3 matches (24.01.1998 – 21.02.1998)4 matches (23.04.1994 – 24.01.1996)33 v Pallamano Trieste ITA 33:24W (h), 16.12.200034 v FC Barcelona ESP 34:26L (a), 18.01.199760 v FC Barcelona ESP 34:26L (a), 18.01.199716 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 27:16L (a), 24.01.199616 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:16L (a), 24.02.200115 v Schachtjor Donetsk UKR 21:15W (h), 16.11.199636 v Schachtjor Donetsk UKR 21:15W (h), 16.11.1996

ABC/ UMinho

33360

MATCHES

GOALS

GOALS

Longest winning run

Most goals




1993/94 ABC Braga POR 8 3 3 2 182:180 +2 9:7 Runner-up1995/96 ABC Braga POR 6 2 0 4 129:153 –24 4:8 4th Gr. A1996/97 ABC Braga POR 8 4 0 4 187:185 +2 8:8 1/4-finals1997/98 ABC Braga POR 8 3 2 3 190:195 -5 8:8 1/4-finals2000/01 ABC Braga POR 8 4 0 4 188:202 –14 8:8 1/4-finals 38 16 5 17 876:915 –39 37:39

212

ABC/UMinho

Carlos Resendecoach• one of the most important names of contemporary Portu-

guese handball• his career as a coach started in 2006 with FC Porto, he

moved to ABC in 2011• won the first title as coach in 2006/2007 with FC Porto• in 2000, considered one of the best left backs in Europe• last time he still played (2006) was the last time Portugal

qualified for an European Championship


Newcomers:Dario Andrade (AC Fafe)Jose Costa (Montpellier HB)

Left the club:Nuno Rebelo (Aguas Santas-Milaneza)Fabio Vidrago (S.L. Benfica)

213

Team roster

ABC/UMinho

No.

6718348104815271247191322141267817

First Name

TomasDarioGoncaloCarlosDiogoJoseLucasAndreHumbertoJoao PedroPedroCarlosMiguelNunoRicardoEmanuelHugoClaudioPedro

Surname

AlbuquerqueAndradeAreiasBandeiraBranquinhoCostaFerraoGomesGomesGoncalvesMarquesMartinsPereiraPereiraPesqueiraRibeiroRochaSilvaSpinola

Nat.

PORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPORPOR

Position

Centre Back Left Wing Centre Back Right Wing Left Wing Line Player Centre Back Left Back Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Right Wing Right Wing Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Goalkeeper Right Back

Date of birth

31.5.199315.2.198119.4.19973.2.199825.7.199423.3.198415.8.199827.7.19981.1.197821.2.198825.5.199014.6.19947.2.199022.3.198727.12.199117.12.199417.12.19826.7.199620.8.1983

Place of birth

Braga, PORBraga, PORBraga, PORPenedono, PORAveiro, PORBraga, PORBraga, PORBraga, PORBraga, PORBraga, PORAveiro, PORMoimenta da Beira, PORBraga, PORAveiro, PORPorto, PORGuimaraes, PORPorto, PORBraga, PORFunchal, POR

Height

182181180182185193185193193188179180185193198189201187187

Weight

858281808996868610110282778295105801008785

C

214

ABC/UMinho

Humberto Gomes goalkeeper• started playing handball with ABC and, in 2010, returned to the club

• has two Challenge Cups in his curriculum: Sporting (2010) and ABC (2016)

• in 25 years as a handball player, played about 1,200 games, 80 of them for the national team

• Alexander Donner was one of his great influencers

Hugo Rocha left back• more known for his defensive power, can also play as a line player

• one of ABC’s top scorers in the 2015/16 season and recorded his best season so far

• played for ABC between 2006 and 2009 and returned to the club after some years in Sporting

• his father, his grandfather and his uncle were handball players

Diogo Branquinho left wing• started playing handball at 12 and made his debut in ABC’ senior team at 19

• in the last two years he developed remarkably and now is a key player for the club

• his idol is his teammate Nuno “Grilo” Pereira

• has two European University titles and one World University title

Nuno Pereira left back• started playing handball at 13

• played for FC Porto and SL Benfica before arriving at ABC in 2013

• his idols are Nikola Karabatic and Carlos Resende (his coach)

• known for his fast transitions and determination

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2010, 2016


EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2010, 2016


215

ABC/UMinho

Pedro Marques centre back• played for S. Bernardo and Sporting before arriving at ABC in 2011

• at 2015 Summer Universiade won the champions’ title and was announced as the MVP

• known for his technical skills and a sense for good decisions in critical moments

• came to ABC to replace Carlos Matos

Pedro Spinola right back• arrived at ABC in January 2016 and will stay for another season

• played the CL with FC Porto and accomplished a dream

• was the second top scorer of 2015/16 Challenge Cup

• was nominated for the best seven of the CL in 2013

Jose Costa line player• started playing handball with ABC and returned to the club after eight years

• last season played for Montpellier Handball and won the Coupe de la Liga

• Portuguese international since 2007

• experienced player known for his physical power

Miguel Pereira right wing• started playing handball with ABC and returned in 2015

• played the CL qualification stage with FC Porto in 2013

• 2012/13 was the season he consolidated as a player

• won a Summer Universiade title in 2015




217

All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League

All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League

Biggest wins

Biggest away wins

Biggest home wins

Biggest lead at half-time

Most goals

Fewest goals:

Fewest goals both teams:

Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to win a game

Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to draw a game


31

31

26

18

50

11

32

-9

-6

82

Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009

Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009

Montellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9),

04.10.2009

RK Zagreb CRO vs Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13 (23:5),

16.10.2005

THW Kiel GER @ HC Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50

(13:24), 22.10.2006

Aalborg Handball DEN vs FC Barcelona ESP 11:31

(5:16), 15.03.2015

Wallau-Massenheim GER vs UHK West Wien AUT 17:15 (7:6), 20.03.1994

KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL @ HC Motor Zaporozhye

UKR 27:28 (19:10), 18.02.2015

FC Barcelona ESP @ GOG Gudme DEN 22:22

(16:10), 14.02.1996

Barcelona Borges ESP vs KIF Kolding DEN 46:36

(23:19), 17.10.2009

29 ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.200326 Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.200926 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011

29 ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.200326 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011

25 FC Barcelona ESP vs Hapoel Rishon Le Zion ISR 42:17 (18:10), 15.11.199725 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI vs HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18 (23:8), 09.02.2012

17 Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009

48 HSV Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.200947 THW Kiel GER vs CS HCM Constanta ROU 47:31 (24:18), 12.11.2006

12 AS Conversano 2003 ITA vs ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.200312 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD vs FC Barcelona ESP 12:26 (8:15), 06.11.2004

32 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN vs Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13 (9:7), 17.11.200233 Panellinios AC Athens GRE vs Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 16:17 (8:9), 30.11.2002

-6 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 28:28 (10:16), 07.10.2007-6 Pevafersa Valladolid ESP vs Pick Szeged HUN 35:35 (13:19), 27.02.2010-6 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 32:32 (13:19), 19.10.2013

81 FC Barcelona ESP vs THW Kiel GER 44:37 (19:20), 13.04.200880* FC Barcelona ESP vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41 (17:18, 32:32, 36:36), 31.05.2014

216

Important regulations

Important regulationsScoring of the matches and ranking

GeneralAll matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. The EHF reserves the right to extend the half-time break in special circumstances to 15 minutes.The matches shall be scored as follows:a) win = 2 pointsb) draw = 1 pointc) loss = 0 pointsTeams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won.

Group PhaseIf two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows:During the Group Phase: a) higher goal difference in all matches; b) higher number of plus goals in all matches;After completion of the Group Phase if two teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of the two teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of the two teams directly involved; c) higher number of goals scored in the away match of the two teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group;

After completion of the Group Phase if three or more teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of all teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of all teams directly involved; c) higher number of plus goals in matches of all teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group;If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined.If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by drawing lots. Lots shall be drawn by the EHF, if possible in the presence of a representative of each club.

Group Phase KO matchesIf, after the completion of the two matches, both clubs have won the same number of points (no extra time will be played), the teams’ standings shall be determined by the following criteria:a) goal differenceb) higher number of plus goals scored in away matchc) penalty throws

218

2015/16 Top Scorers

2015/16 Top ScorersRank Player Club Goals

1 Mikkel Hansen (DEN) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 141

2 Momir Ilic (SRB) MVM Veszprém (HUN) 120

3 Kiril Lazarov (MKD) FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) 1094 Marko Vujin (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 103

5 Dean Bombac (SLO) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) 101

6 Domagoj Duvnjak (CRO) THW Kiel (GER) 93

Michal Jurecki (POL) KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 93

8 Anders Eggert (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 90

Nikola Karabatic (FRA) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 90

Barys Pukhouski (BLR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 90

11 Rastko Stojkovic (SRB) HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) 89

12 Darko Djukic (SRB) Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu (TUR) 87

13 Holger Glandorf (GER) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 83

14 Timur Dibirov (RUS) HC Vardar (MKD) 78

Gasper Marguc (SLO) MVM Veszprém (HUN) 78

Andre Schmid (SUI) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 78

Lasse Svan (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 78

18 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 77

19 Karol Bielecki (POL) KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 76

20 Ramazan Döne (TUR) Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu (TUR) 74

Iman Jamali Moorchegani (HUN) IFK Kristianstad (SWE) 74

219

All-star team votes

Season 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016Number of

votes 20,000 20,568 43,981 81,476

Goalkeeper Darko Stanic (HC Metalurg)

Niklas Landin (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Roland Mikler (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Niklas Landin (THW Kiel)

Left wing Anders Eggert (SG Flensburg-Handewitt)

Timur Dibirov (HC Vardar)

Uwe Gensheimer (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Manuel Strlek (Vive Tauron Kielce)

Left back Filip Jicha (THW Kiel)

Momir Ilic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Nikola Karabatic (FC Barcelona)

Momir Ilic (MVM Veszprem)

Centre back Daniel Narcisse (THW Kiel)

Mikkel Hansen (PSG Handball)

Mikkel Hansen (PSG Handball)

Dean Bombac (MOL-Pick Szeged)

Line player Julen Aguinagalde (Atletico Madrid)

Renato Sulic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Renato Sulic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Rastko Stojkovic (HC Meshkov Brest)

Right back Laszlo Nagy (MKB Veszprem)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona Lassa)

Right wing Ivan Cupic (Vive Targi Kielce)

Luc Abalo (PSG Handball)

Victor Tomas (FC Barcelona)

Gasper Marguc (MVM Veszprem)

Young player N/A N/A Alex Dujshebaev (HC Vardar)

Darko Djukic (Besiktas JK)

Defender Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MKB Veszprem)

Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Rene Toft Hansen (THW Kiel)

Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MVM Veszprem)

Coach N/A N/A Talant Dujshebaev (Vive Tauron Kielce)

Xavier Sabate (MVM Veszprem)

All-star team votes

220

Past winners

2016 Vive Tauron Kielce (POL)

2015 FC Barcelona (ESP)

2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 2013 HSV Hamburg (GER)

2012 THW Kiel (GER)

2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP)

2010 THW Kiel (GER)

2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)


2007 THW Kiel (GER)


2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP)

2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)

2003 Montpellier HB (FRA)

2002 SC Magdeburg (GER)

2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP)






1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)

1994 TEKA Santander (ESP)

Past winners

221

All-time club standings 1993 - 2016

TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA GD P NP %

1 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 244 182 17 45 7533:6261 +1272 381:107 (19)* 78,07%

2 THW Kiel GER 240 168 14 58 7448:6476 +972 350:130 (19)* 72,92%

3 Telekom Veszprem HUN 222 151 10 61 6444:5770 +674 312:132 (20)* 70,27%

4 HC PPD Zagreb CRO 226 109 24 93 5962:5824 +138 242:210 (22)* 53,54%

5 BM Atletico Madrid ESP 144 111 5 28 4502:3803 +699 227:61 (10) 78,82%

6 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 184 101 10 77 5374:5069 +305 212:164 (18)* 57,61%

7 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 148 94 10 44 4473:4093 +380 198:98 (11)* 66,89%

8 Montpellier Handball FRA 170 92 11 67 4877:4674 +203 195:145 (16)* 57,35%

9 HSV Hamburg GER 98 68 9 21 3088:2670 +418 145:51 (7) 73,98%

10 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 110 66 10 34 3226:3090 +136 142:78 (9)* 64,55%

11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 136 63 15 58 4146:4016 +130 141:131 (14)* 51,84%

12 Portland San Antonio ESP 100 64 6 30 2929:2594 +335 134:66 (9) 67,00%

13 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 134 59 10 65 3687:3719 -32 128:140 (13)* 47,76%

14 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 118 54 9 55 3330:3361 -31 117:119 (12) 49,58%

15 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 86 49 11 26 2588:2388 +200 109:63 (6)* 63,37%

16 Reale Ademar Leon ESP 100 50 6 44 2875:2817 +58 106:94 (10) 53,00%

17 HC Vardar MKD 86 31 11 44 2323:2466 –143 73:99 (9)* 42,44%

18 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 60 34 4 22 1724:1655 +69 72:48 (5)* 60,00%

19 Chambery Savoie Handball FRA 74 29 3 42 2028:2133 -105 61:87 (8) 41,22%

20 HC Metalurg MKD 72 27 5 32 1768:1874 -106 59:85 (7)* 40,97%

21 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 72 24 7 41 2053:2142 -89 55:89 (8)* 38,19%

22 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 82 25 5 52 2166:2374 –208 55:109 (9)* 33,54%

30 ABC/UMinho POR 38 16 5 17 876:915 –39 37:39 (5)Q 48,68%

32 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 36 16 2 18 1034:1065 -31 34:38 (3)* 47,22%

35 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 34 14 3 17 1016:1033 -17 31:37 (3)* 45,59%

36 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 48 14 3 31 1312:1414 -102 31:65 (6)* 32,29%

46 Tatran Presov SVK 46 9 4 33 1245:1436 -191 22:70 (7)Q 23,91%

67 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 22 4 0 18 562:654 -92 8:36 (2)* 18,18%

71 Elverum Handball NOR 10 3 1 6 274:289 -15 7:13 (1)* 35,00%

72 IFK Kristianstad SWE 14 3 1 10 409:437 -28 7:21 (1)* 25,00%

97 Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 24 2 0 22 635:790 –155 4:44 (2)* 16,67%

105 Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 6 1 0 5 148:198 -50 2:10 (1)* 16,67%

NR Team Tvis Holstebro DEN 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0)* 0,00%

NR HBC Nantes FRA 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0)* 0,00%

All-time club standings 1993 - 2016

222

History: 23 years of EHF Champions League


1993 - 20051993/94Final: ABC Braga vs TEKA Santander 22:22/21:23 (43:45) The inaugural year of the Men’s EHF Champions League saw the classic home and away knockout matches being replaced with a totally new system. 32 teams went into two qualification rounds, eliminating 24 clubs. The remaining eight teams were placed into two groups of four teams each playing in a round-robin system. TEKA Santander and ABC Braga topped their respective groups and faced each other in the final. Santander narrowly kept the upper hand and started what should become an eight-year Spanish club winning streak in the Men’s EHF Champions League.

1994/95Final: Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun vs Badel Zagreb 30:20 / 26:27 (56:47)The final of the EHF Champions League’s second season became the match of a lifetime for Irun’s Nenad Perunicic, nicknamed “the canon” or “Il Conquistadore” by the fans. He was his team’s key player in the final and, in his first year in Spain, not only he lifted the EHF Champions League but also the national championship trophy with Irun.

1995/96Final: FC Barcelona vs Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun 23:15 / 23:23 (46:38)In the season that was marked by the “Bosman decision”, which had substantial effects on transfer regulations and transfer fees in sport, FC Barcelona won their first EHF Champions League title. No other should be capable of dethroning the Catalan side for the next four years.

1996/97Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 31:22 / 30:23 (61:45)In their second consecutive EHF Champions League Final Barcelona dominated both matches against Badel Zagreb. And while the Spanish side celebrated their second EHF Champions League triumph, the Croatian side had lost their second final. Also in 1996/97 the so called “fast break” was born due to a rule change, making handball more attractive and athletic than ever before.

1997/98Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 28:18 / 28:22 (56:40)Barcelona beat Zagreb once more to win their third consecutive EHF Champions League title. But at least as much news as the repeated triumph made the wedding of Barcelona player Inaki Urdangarin who married Christina, youngest daughter of Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, on 4th October 1997.

1998/99Final: Badel Zagreb vs FC Barcelona 22:22 / 18:29 (40:51) Once again there were tears in Zagreb and joy in Barcelona. The Spanish team beat Zagreb in their third consecutive final and lifted the EHF Champions League trophy for the fourth time in a row. Zagreb’s coach Velimir Klajic had to admit that Barcelona “at this moment in time, were quite simply the best club team in the world.”

223


1999/00Final: THW Kiel – FC Barcelona 28:25 / 24:29 (52:54) THW Kiel became the first German team to make it into the Final but even a 28:25-victory in the final’s first leg was not enough to end Barcelona’s EHF Champions League winning streak. Backed by half of the Spanish national team and international stars like Christian Schwarzer and Tomas Svensson, Barcelona won their fifth title.

2000/01Final: Portland San Antonio – FC Barcelona 30:24 / 22:25 (52:49)For Barcelona it was a whole new feeling to watch another team celebrating at the end of the Champions League Final. Following five consecutive titles an era came to end when Spanish King Juan Carlos handed the huge tropy to Portland San Antonio at the end of all-Spanish Final.

2001/02Final: Fotex Veszprem vs SC Magdeburg 23:21 / 25:30 (48:51)One year after Barcelona’s dominance had ended in the EHF Champions League, the dominance of Spanish clubs also came to an end, when SC Magdeburg became the first German team to win the competition. And late at night, at the end of a glittering party, Stefan Kretzschmar and coach Alfred Gislason were still up for jokes: “Training is on the agenda. The entire team is going to run through the whole town until 08:00 tomorrow morning,” they both proclaimed.

2002/03Final: Portland San Antonio – Montpellier HB 27:19 / 19:31 (46:50) A new star was born during the finals of the 2002/03 EHF Champions League season. Montpellier’s Nikola Karabatic scored 11 goals in the first leg in Spain and another six in front of his home fans, enabling his team to turn around the eight goal defeat from the first leg and to become the first French side to win the EHF Champions League.

2003/04Final: Celje vs Flensburg- Handewitt 34:28 / 28:30 (62:58) In March 2003 the EHF had decided on a new structure for the competition. Three teams from Spain and Germany now had a starting slot. Two representatives from Hungary, Slovenia, Denmark and Croatia would start in the Group Phase. Overall 32 teams (8 groups of 4 teams each) made up the Group Phase. Flensburg had profited from the new system but Slovenian side Celje was too strong in the final.

2004/05Final: BM Ciudad Real vs FC Barcelona Cifec 28:27 / 27:29 (55:56) Following four years without being present in the final, Barcelona won their sixth EHF Champions League title. And while the spectator record for one match was 10,000 fans, the whole city celebrated Barcelona’s victory. “We did a lap of honour in the Stadion Nou Camp in front of 100,000 spectators and were celebrated by the whole town,” remembers Barcelona’s Dane Lars Krogh Jeppesen.

224



2005 - 20162005/06Final: Portland San Antonio vs BM Ciudad Real 19:25 / 28:37 (47:62)Spanish businessman and BM Ciudad Real president, Domingo Diaz de Mera, had put together a team that proved to be unbeatable in the 2005/06 Champions League season. Mera bought superstars from all over Europe and the team around Olafur Stefansson, Mirza Dzomba, Didier Dinart et al. paid justified Mera’s expenses when they beat Spanish rival San Antonio in the final.

2006/07Final: SG Flensburg- Handewitt vs THW Kiel 28:28 / 27:29 (55:57)The EHF Champions League, through the efforts of the 2005 founded EHF Marketing GmbH, became a unified look. Since 2006, TV spectators across Europe know they are watching a men’s EHF Champions League match when they see the distinct blue lagoon and black supplied by flooring specialists Gerfloor in addition to the season’s individual yellow and blue handball supplied by adidas. On the sport side of things, Kiel won their first EHF Champions League title, beating arch rival Flensburg-Handewitt.

2007/08Final: BM Ciudad Real vs THW Kiel 27:29 / 31:25 (58:54)In the 2007/08 season a second Group Phase with four groups of four teams each replaced the Last 16-matches and the quarter-finals. The first teams of each group qualified for the semi-finals and in the final 2006 champion Ciudad Real faced 2007 champion THW Kiel. The Spanish side prevailed and could win their second EHF Champions League trophy.

2008/09Final: THW Kiel vs BM Ciudad Real 39:34 / 27:33 (66:67)THW Kiel and BM Ciudad Real faced each other in the final for the second year in a row and even though Kiel had won the first leg of the final by five goals, it was Ciudad Real that won the EHF Champions League for a second consecutive time. Kiel were still in the lead by 20:16 after 39 minutes but with a series of 10:3 goals within 11 minutes Ciudad Real turned the match in their favour.

2009/10Final: FC Barcelona Borges vs HW Kiel 34:36In the 2009/10 season the number of participating teams in the first Group Phase was reduced from 32 to 24. Four groups of six teams each were formed and the first four teams qualified for the knockout phase which replaced the second group phase. For the first time the VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, which combined the Semi-finals and the Final, was held in Cologne, Germany, to decide the champion. THW Kiel won their second title when they beat Barcelona.

2010/11Final: FC Barcelona vs Renovalia Ciudad Real 27:24Since 2010 the event is known as the VELUX EHF Champions League. 40,000 fans stormed to Cologne to attend the VELUX EHF FINAL4 weekend and TV viewing audience figures went to a new height. 310 million viewers from 76 countries worldwide watched 2,800 hours of TV transmissions 2010/11. Barcelona extended their lead as the most successful club in EHF Champions League history when won their seventh title, beating Ciudad Real in the Final.

225


2011/12Final: THW Kiel vs BM Atletico Madrid 26:21The German powerhouse sensationally lost in their first home match of the season against Montpellier, but no other team was able to overcome THW Kiel throughout the remaining of the season. Gíslason led his team to the third trophy in the club’s history becoming the first coach who won with two different teams. Defending champions from Barcelona were eliminated in the quarter-finals by AG København, but the Danish side was stopped in the semi-final by Atlético Madrid, who made it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the fourth time in a row.

2012/13Final: FC Barcelona vs HSV Hamburg 29:30 AETHSV Hamburg go into the new season as the defending champion. For the first time the extra-time had to decide the winner. In 20 years of EHF Champions League history there have only been two champions, Montpellier in 2003 and Celje in 2004, who neither came from Spain nor from Germany. The All-Stars team of the 20 years were announced: Goalkeeper Tomas Svensson (SWE), Left Wing Stefan Kretzschmar (GER), Left Back Filip Jícha (CZE), Line Player Andrei Xepkin (ESP), Centre Back Jackson Richardson (FRA), Right Back (Oláfur Stefansson), Right Wing Mirza Džomba (CRO), Best defender Didier Dinart (FRA)

2013/14Final: SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel 30:28For the third year in a row a team from

Northern Germany prevailed as SG Flensburg-Handewitt took both of their opponents at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 by surprise. In the semi-final the “Vranjes boys” eliminated giants of FC Barcelona after a penalty-shoot-out thriller and made the Cinderrella story perfect by beating their neighbours from Kiel 30:28 in the final.

2014/15Final: FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprem 28:23The defending champions from SG Flensburg-Handewitt were eliminated already in the Last 16 as well as Rhein-Neckar Löwen.The end of the three-year-old reign of Bundesliga was sealed only in Cologne as THW Kiel were unable to repeat their 2014 semi-final win against Veszprem. However, the effort of Hungarian champions for their premiere trophy were denied by FC Barcelona who rose to the throne for the eighth time in the EHF history.

2015/16KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MVM Veszprem 39:38 after 7m shootoutThis final went down to history books of the Champions League as a breathtaking classic. Deep in the second half Veszprem were leading by nine goals, still Kielce put up a spritid fight to force the extra-time. Even the additional ten minutes could not solve the thriller and in the 7m shootout Kielce were luckier with Julen Aguinagalde’s last effort clinched the maiden title for the Polish champions adding only fifth country to the list of winners.

226

EHF Media & Communications 20/09/16Vlado Brindzak+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Zoran Milosavljevic, Peter Bruun, Tomas Cuncik, Adrian Costeiu, Nemanja Savic, Bence Martha, Kevin Domas, Sergey Nikolaev, Jelena Bagaric, Amina Idrizi, Magda Pluszewska, Laia Coll, Filipa Sousa. All stats by Roy Knoppert.

Notes

onemanypassionThink

can reachcountries.

www.uniqagroup.com

The UNIQA Group is one of the leading insurance groups in its core markets of Austria and Central and Eastern Europe with over 40 companies in 19 countries and more than 9.3 million customers.

140917_UNQ_Handball_A5.indd 1 9/18/14 14:29 PM

Your legends deserve daylight - European Handball Federation

Documents

Transcript of Your legends deserve daylight - European Handball Federation