Your legends deserve daylight

The 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 Table of contents Table of contents

Table of contents

Foreword 6 HC Meshkov Brest 112 Media contacts 7 MOL-Pick Szeged 118 Map of participating clubs 8 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 124 Playing system diagrams - stages and dates 10 IFK Kristianstad 130 How to follow and cover the matches 14 GROUP C List of TV stations 16 Preview 136 VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown 18 Head-to-heads in the EC 138 VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures 19 Naturhouse La Rioja 140 VELUX EHF FINAL4 travel and ticket partners announced 20 HC Metalurg 146 MOTW - A fresh new look 21 Chekhovskie Medvedi 152 Qualification Tournament 1 22 Montpellier HB 158 Qualification Tournament 2 23 Elverum 164 Facts and figures of the group phase 24 Tatran Presov 170 GROUP A GROUP D Preview 28 Preview 176 Head-to-heads in the EC 30 Head-to-heads in the EC 178 Telekom Veszprem 34 HBC Nantes 180 FC Barcelona Lassa 40 TTH Holstebro 186 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 46 HC Motor Zaporozhye 192 Bjerringbro- 52 Besiktas Mogaz HT 198 Orlen Wisla Plock 58 Dinamo Bucuresti 204 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 64 ABC/Uminho 210 70 Important regulations 216 THW Kiel 76 HISTORY GROUP B All-time stats and records 217 Preview 82 2015/16 Top scorers 218 Head-to-heads in the EC 84 All- Team Votes 219 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 88 Past winners 220 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 94 All-time club standings 221 HC Vardar 100 History of the EHF Champions League 222 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo 106

4 5 Foreword

Foreword

Dear 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. , 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 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 Brihault EHF President

6 Media contacts

EHF/M media contacts

Media matters TV and Radio Vlado Brindzak Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media and Communications Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 161 +43 1 80 151 224 [email protected] [email protected]

Clubs media contacts GROUP A GROUP B

Telekom Veszprém (HUN) FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Zsolt Sevinger Gustau Galvache Christopher Monz Sebastian Kozubek +36 305024547 +34 618522789 +491744288849 +48 505031244 [email protected] gustau.galvache@ monz@ [email protected] fcbarcelona.cat rhein-neckar-loewen.de

PSG Handball (FRA) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) Louise Cosnard Jonas Loytved Goran Roknić Biljana Crvenkoska +33 (0)675 591 939 +45 23 323235 +385 95 9999 334 +38971247214 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Tomasz Bauman Sandra von Wallis Ivan Karaitschev Levente Juhasz Tel: +48 723 100 787 +49 4611609625 +375 529 3101161 +36 70 543 0979 [email protected] s.vonwallis@ karaitschev@bgk-meskova. levente.juhasz sg-flensburg-handewitt.de com @pickhandball.hu

Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) THW Kiel (GER) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) IFK Kristianstad (SWE) Barbara Imobersteg Christian Robohm Nejc Ajdnik Anders Hallengren +41 787203247 +49 1635306300 +386 40687766 +46 734 33 11 88 [email protected] christian.robohm@ [email protected] anders.hallengren@ thw-handball.de ifkkristianstad.se

GROUP C GROUP D

Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Montpellier HB (FRA) HBC Nantes (FRA) TTH Holstebro (DEN) Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez Suzy Demonte Marina Normand Line Kristoffersen +34 63 77 66 107 +33 499 610 358 +33 671 55 63 49 +45 2845 9081 naturhouselarioja.ehf@ suzy.demonte@montpelli- marina.normand@ [email protected] gmail.com er-handball.com hbcnantes.com

HC Metalurg (MKD) Elverum Handball (NOR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR) Ana Neloska Erik Henriksen Dmitriy Karpushchenko Berk Karahan +389 723 103 98 +47 400 21299 +380 50 5581181 +90 535 358 8747 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Tatran Presov (SVK) Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) ABC/UMinho (POR) Olga Belysheva Branko Benko Alexandru Enciu Jose Carvalho +7 909 6391 839 +421 911 620435 +40 754 929 106 +351 935 156 146 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

7 SG Flensburg- Cocks THW Kiel IFK Kristianstad Handewitt GER FIN GER Orlen Wisla SWE Plock, POL Elverum HH NOR

Bjerringbro- Silkeborg, DEN HC Meshkov Brest BLR

TTH Holstebro, DEN KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL

VELUX EHF FINAL4 Host City Cologne, GER Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS

Achilles Bocholt, BEL

Tatran Presov Red Boys SVK Diff erdange, LUX

Rhein-Neckar Löwen HC MotorZaporozhye GER UKR

Paris Saint-Germain Handball, FRA Telekom Veszprém, HUN

HBC Nantes FRA

MOL-PickSzeged HUN Montpellier Handball, FRA

Dinamo ABC/UMinho Bucuresti, ROU POR

Besiktas Bregenz Gorenje MOGAZ HT, TUR Naturhouse Handball, AUT Velenje, SLO La Rioja ESP HC Vardar RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO ZAGREB MKD

FC Barcelona Kadetten RK Celje Pivovarna HC PPD HC Metalurg Maccabi CASTRO Lassa ESP Schaffh ausen SUI Lasko, SLO Zagreb, CRO MKD Tel Aviv, ISR

Tournaments

Last 16

Qualification Tournaments Group Phase 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./04.06.2017 tournaments 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) played in semi finals and finals 30.11.-4.12.2016 (9); 08.-12.2.2017 (10) 29.03.-02.04.2017 26.-30.04.2017 played in 15.-19.2.17 (11-A/B); 22.-26.2.17 (12-A/B) second leg second leg semi finals and finals 01.-05.03.17 (13); 08.-12.03.17 (14)

2 groups with 8 teams

1 HUN 1 Telekom Veszprem 2

9 BLR 1 HC Meshkov Brest

16 s t a L e h or t f y li f qu a nd D a ro up C G ro m s f e h c t a m

24 FRA 3 Montpellier Handball O 25 ROU 1 Dinamo Bucuresti K Your legends RK Gorenje Velenje ABC/UMinho Tatran Presov deserve daylight Bregenz Handball Red Boys Differdange Achilles Bocholt The VELUX Group is donating roof windows to sports clubs across Europe. Cocks In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we are donating roof windows to sports clubs Maccabi Castro Tel-Aviv 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. 2 groups with 4 teams 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

status: 27.06.2016

V11947-111_End-user_EHFmagazine_Ad_A5.indd 1 11-03-2016 12:15:21 All matches of new season live

All matches of new season live Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single document. The online solution introudced already match in the new season of both elite European club in the 2015/16 season sees the EHF match delegate competitions. All matches starting from Group Phase complete the final team line-up immediately after the of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Group technical meeting. This development means that team Matches of the Women's EHF Champions League will line-ups are available for commentators and reporters be broadcast live on ehfTV.com and the videos of all hours before each match throws-off. A short time matches will be also on demand. Furthermore, like in after each match, a completed match report will also the past season fully produced highlights magazine be available online with details such as goal scorers - “Rewind - the handball show” will feature stories and number of spectators. and highlights from all Men´s top matches will be played out on Monday 7:00 / 8:00 GMT after each Accreditation for Group Phase playing round. Apart from selected matches of other The written media and photographer’s accreditation Wherever you are! European Cup competitions in the new season there procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the will also be a renewed focus on coverage of top league responsibility of the participating clubs. TV and competitions, with selected matches from both the Radio accreditations are subject to approval by EHF German Handball Bundesliga and Spain’s Asobal. Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán. Live ticker The EHF Live Ticker will track the scores of all matches. Online information Every goal, missed shot and yellow card will be www.ehfCL.com documented and live statistics made available online www.ehfTV.com for the first time at this stage of Europe’s elite club www.ehfFINAL4.com competition. In addition an extended version will be Regulations of the VELUX EHF Champions League used adding also the goalkeepers' stats. Twitter:@ehf , @ehfcl Facebook: ehf.champions.league EHF Live on social media The EHF’s social media channels will provide a very Official name different view of the chase for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 The official name of the competition is: VELUX EHF in Cologne. While in the 2015/16 the focus of the Champions League. The full name of the competition channels was almost entirely on the Matches of the should always be used. VELUX and the three letter Week, in the new season fans wil be able to get a abbreviation for the European Handball Federation special coverage also in a non-match day via a new should always be displayed in capital letters before the series “1 day with” which has launched already in the name of the competition. Please note: If the season summer. The social media feed with the behind the is required, it has to be positioned after “Champions scenes look will be provided on four channels - EHF League” e.g. VELUX EHF Champions League 2016/17. Champions League Facebook page, Instagram, @EHF_ The wording “Champions League” should be written Live Twitter account and the EHF_Live on Snapchat. with a capital letter at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The remaining letters should be Online match reports in lower case. The word Champions does not have an From the opening matches of the season, the apostrophe after the ‘s’. complete team line-up is available online at eurohandball.com and available to download as a PDF 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.

Watch it wherever you are on ehfTV.com! 14 TV stations to broadcast matches all over the world Der beste Live-Sport. TV stations to broadcast matches all over the world Auch unterwegs. Nur auf Sky. 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:

EUROPE • SLO - Sport TV • GER - Sky Germany • TUR - Dsmart • HUN - Sport TV • GRE - OTE Sport • POL - NC+ • POR - Sport TV • POL - Eleven Sports • POR - Porto TV • FRA - beIN Sports • ISR - Sport1 • EU - ehfTV.com • RUS - Match TV • BIH/MNE/MKD/SRB - Arenasport • SUI - Teleclub • SWE - Viasat • BEL - Eleven Sports • NOR - Viasat AMERICA • ROU - Digi Sport Ganz großer Sport • USA - beIN Sports USA • ROU - Dolce Sport Mehr Sport zeigt keiner. Gönn Dir jetzt alle Wettbewerbe live. Für • ESP - Teledeporte ASIA/AFRICA Bundesliga und 2. Bundesliga – Alle 612 Spiele der Saison 2016/2017 live, einzeln und • ESP - Esports3 • MENA - beIN Sports MENA in der Original Sky Konferenz oder 99 • DEN - DR • Asia - Eleven Sports * UEFA Champions League – Alle 145 Spiele live, UEFA Europa League – € mtl. • DEN - TV3 Sports Alle 205 Spiele live und DFB-Pokal – Alle 63 Spiele live 19 (im 12-Monats-Abo, danach € 37,49 mtl.*) Internationaler Live-Sport: Golf, Tennis, Formel 1, Handball, Beachvolleyball – vieles exklusiv • CRO - HRT Inklusive Bis 30.9.2016 • CRO - Arenasport Preisgekrönte Berichterstattung zu jedem Sportevent und jederzeit top informiert mit Sky Sport News HD • MKD - MRT statt Sky+: Dein HD-Festplattenleihreceiver.* Aufnehmen und anschauen, wann Du willst • SVK/CZE - Sport TV Sky Starter* – Großartige Programmvielfalt mit bis zu 26 hochwertigen Pay-TV-Sendern €0€ 59 Sky Go* – Immer live dabei, auch unterwegs Aktivierungsgebühr* 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. 16 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

Stadionmagazin_Handball_148x210_sky.indd 1 19.08.16 14:51 VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures

VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown

The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the 20,000 spectators in the LANXESS arena 2 different Danish referee pairs whistled the finals: 2010 it 7 - is all the times so far the LANXESS area was sold out with European club handball season. The two-day and millions of fans at home watched four were Olesen/Pedersen, 2014 Gjeding/Hansen. Five other approx. 20,000 fans at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 events. countries were represented by one pair officiating the finals - event sees the best four men’s teams in Europe unforgettable handball games and a unique France, , Norway, Romania and Spain. 9 times a player scored ten or more goals in a single VELUX playing to decide the ultimate winner of the entertainment show. 3 different countries represent the seven VELUX EHF FINAL4 EHF FINAL4 match. VELUX EHF Champions League. Tickets for the 2017 edition of the VELUX EHF winners: Germany (4 - Kiel/2, Hamburg and Flensburg), Spain Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be FINAL4 went on sale on the opening day of the (2/both Barcelona) and Poland (Kielce). played until at least 2020 in the LANXESS arena, VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016. Now, eight months 4 VELUX EHF FINAL4 matches so far needed to be decided 12 Cologne, the decision to create a new format before the participating teams are known, only in extra-time, two of them even in a penalty shootout: different clubs had been part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions a very limited number of tickets remain. First Hamburg beat Barcelona in the 2013 final 30:29 after since its premiere in 2010. extra-time, followed by the 2014 semi shootout of Flensburg League was seen as crucial for the growth of The success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is vs Barcelona (40:39). In 2016, first Veszprém beat Kiel after 13 goals in one match, scored by Juanin Garcia (Barcelona) handball across Europe. also thanks to the commitment of a great extra-time 31:28, but then lost to Kielce after penalties 38:39 in the final. in 2010’s final against Kiel, are still an all-time FINAL 4 high. The aim was to create a flagship event, one number of volunteers who have been active Filip Jicha scored eleven goal twice for Kiel (2010 final against Barcelona and 2011 semi against Berlin) as well as Filip Laza- that could compete on the international sports on the weekend of the event. The application 4 direct red cards were given in the history of the VELUX EHF rov (Atletico) in the 2012 semi against Kobenhavn; Domagoj market and make the Europe’s leading club procedure for next edition has already started FINAL4 so far, three of them for Croatian player (Denis Buntic/ Duvnjak (Hamburg) in the 2013 semi against Kiel and Siarhei competition even more attractive to fans, and applications are invited also in the area of Kielce in 2013, Renato Sulic/Veszprém 2014 and / Rutenka (Barcelona) in the 2015 placement match 3-4 against PSG 2016). The fourth was received by Kielce’s pole Piotr Veszprém. One player only scored double-figured in both partners and sponsors. media. Chrapkowski. Five more players had to finish the matches in matches of one tournament: . The to-be Cham- the stands after three two-minute-suspensions, among them The success of all seven editions of the VELUX pions League top scorer netted ten times each in the 2016 again three Croats (Sulic/2015, /Kiel 2015 semi against Kielce and the placement match against Kiel. EHF FINAL4 up to date showed that this format Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com and Ilija Brozovic/Kiel 2015). has been the right strategy. It has set new 16 different nations were represented in the squads of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media four 2016 VELUX EHF FINAL4 participants: GER, ESP, HUN, standards in organisation and entertainment: it 5 different German clubs had qualified for the VELUX EHF FI- POL, CRO, NOR, SWE, DEN, ISL, SRB, FRA, SLO, BIH, EST, MNE, Accreditation NAL4 so far: Kiel (6 times), Hamburg (2), Rhein-Neckar Löwen, is not just four games played over two days but a UKR - 9 different at Kiel and Veszprém, 7 at Paris and 6 at Flensburg and Füchse Berlin (each 1). true entertainment event. The accreditation procedure of media Kielce. Yet again the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016 was the representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will season’s highlight in European handball – nearly start in March 2017. 47 goals was the lowest score of VELUX EHF FINAL4 match 5 since 2010- and the spectators of the final day in 2012 even straight times with four different clubs, Icelandic saw this low number even twice in a row: First in the place- record international Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson was part ment match Berlin vs Kobenhavn (21:26), then in the final Kiel VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. After missing the trophy vs Atletico Madrid (26:21). with Löwen (2011), Kobenhavn (2012, Kiel (2013 and Since the premiere in 2010, the LANXESS arena in Cologne is the place to be, it is the theatre of dreams in Euro- 2014), he finally took the title in 2015 in the jersey of 55 goals each make Filip Jicha (at his time at THW Kiel) and FC Barcelona. pean club handball. Seven times the VELUX EHF FINAL4 was the pinnacle event of handball in a sold-out arena, Momir Ilic (for Kiel and Veszprém) the top scorers of the exciting and entertaining fans 20,000 fans each time around. VELUX EHF FINAL4 history thusfar. Both top the ranking ahead of Siarhei Rutenka (47), (42), Jesper Noddesbö Prior to the start of the new VELUX EHF Champions league season, here are the most important facts and figures. 6 times THW Kiel qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far (40) and a trio with 38 FINAL4 goals each, Laszlo Nagy, Victor the record holders in this ranking. Barcelona (5 participations) 0 players had been part of all seven editions of the VELUX Tomas and Aron Palmarsson. 1 VELUX EHF FINAL4 final match so was without the participa- are second ranked ahead of Ciudad Real/Atletico, Veszprém EHF FINAL4 from 2010 to 2016. tion neither of a German nor a Spanish club - the 2016 edition and Kielce (each 3). of Kielce vs Veszprém. 80 goals were scored in the record breaking 2014 semi of 0 times a club has defended its trophy at the VELUX EHF Flensburg vs Barcelona (41:39 after extra-time and penalties) FINAL4. 6 times, Alfred Gislason was coach at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to top this ranking ahead of those 77 goals in the 2016 final (all with THW Kiel). Xavi Pascual (5 times with Barcelona) is Kielce vs Veszprém (39:38) and the highest score of a FINAL4 1 coach so far steered two different clubs to the VELUX EHF second in this ranking, and (3 times with match decided after 60 minutes, the 2013 semi Hamburg vs FINAL4: Talant Dujshebaev - first with Ciudad Real/Atletico 2 Ciudad Real/Atletico and twice with Kielce). Kiel (39:33/72 goals). Madrid (2010, 2011, 2012), then with Kielce (2015, 2016). Champions League debutants had made it all the way to Cologne in their first season: Füchse Berlin and AG 7 countries represent the clubs, which had participated at 245 goals were in total scored at the 2016 edition of the Kobenhavn, both in 2012. the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since 2010. Besides Germany (11 1 player only has won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with two differ- VELUX EHF FINAL4 to top this ranking and is closely ahead of participations with 3 clubs) and Spain (8 participations with 2 ent clubs: German, Tobias Reichmann. After raising the trophy 2014 (244 goals), and 2013 (243). The lowest overall score clubs), it is Poland and Hungary (3 participations with 1 club with THW Kiel in 2010 and 2012, he repeated the success in was 191 goals in 2012. 2010 (215), 2011 and 2015 (224 each) each) and Denmark, France and Russia (1/1). 2016 with Kielce. take up the midfield-positions.

18 19 VELUX EHF FINAL4 travel and ticket MOTW - A fresh new look partners announced

VELUX EHF FINAL4 travel and ticket partners announced MOTW - A fresh new look

With over 8,000 tickets already sold for the next edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, those unlucky The VELUX EHF Champions League is one of the The four matches will feature seven sides from five most attractive sporting competitions in Europe, and countries, all serious contenders in Europe’s top flight enough not yet to have secured their place in the LANXESS arena, Cologne on 3/4 June 2017 have in recent seasons. been waiting for a chance to buy their ticket. during a season over 200 matches of top handball are broadcast live to handball fans from around the world Round 1: The event’s organiser, EHF Marketing GmbH, has released details of the first of its official travel and Saturday 24 September (17:30 CET), FLENS Arena on ehfTV.com. Starting this season EHF Marketing (Flensburg, GER) ticket partners, through which fans will be able to purchase not just tickets but also hotel and travel would like to bring Europe’s premier handball SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Telekom Veszprém packages. competition to a whole new level. 2014 champions Flensburg welcome Veszprem to The first nine official partners covering Germany, France, , Denmark, Hungary and To achieve this, a greater focus will be put on this northern Germany for the first clash of the season. Switzerland have been announced, and will be offering complete packages for fans wanting to season’s MATCH OF THE WEEK (MOTW) ties and the Both sides’ campaign last season came to an end with engagement with fans through our various social defeat against eventual champions Kielce and both travel to Cologne in June 2017. will see this match as a perfect opportunity to leave media channels will increase. The aim of this is to their painful loss in the past and get the new season Additional official ticket partners will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans wanting to make make games during the whole season more accessible off to a bright start. a booking with one of the official travel partners should contact one of the following companies for handball fans and to create an arc of suspense Round 2: direct: towards the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. Saturday 1 October (TBC), Palau Blaugrana EHF Marketing will take one match per round as the (Barcelona, ESP) Vietentours [email protected] Danish markets FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW Kiel MOTW, as it has been custom in past seasons. The The well-known German www.hemispheres-voyages.fr (Travel packages available from Two of the competition’s most successful outfits meet sports travel specialist, October) most interesting game in terms of fan’s expectations in the standout match of Round 2. THW Kiel came out Vietentours, has been a Travel Sense A/S Contact: and the entertainment value of the tie will be on top when they met over two legs in last season’s Travel partner for the Danish selected. Whether well-known clubs compete against quarter-final stage, but Barcelona won their home partner of the VELUX EHF [email protected] match 33:30 and will fancy their chances of repeating FINAL4 since 2010 and offers market and official partner of www.opproductions.se each other or less experienced clubs fight to get into the next round – we are sure that all the games will be that result at Palau Blaugrana. travel packages to all major the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the Round 3: second time is Travel Sense captivating and thrilling. handball and sports events Ticket2Final Sunday 9 October (17:00 CET), Varosi Sportcsarnok worldwide. A/S. The company has tickets A partner for several years The MOTW will receive more attention in terms of (Szeged, HUN) Contact: available in all categories. offering unique reservation TV commentary, branding, social media activities, MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce +49 211 17 7000 Contact: packages, which entitle you half-time games, mobile reporting and the sale Round 3 sees defending champions Kielce enter the [email protected] + 45 70 23 06 44 to tickets should your team of merchandise in the hall itself. The idea is to MOTW limelight for the first time this season as www.vietentours.com. [email protected] qualify. continuously develop the concept throughout the they visit Hungary to take on formidable opponents season and also to bring fresh content to fans in the Szeged. This will be a particularly big occasion for www.travelsense.dk Contact: Dean Bombac, who moved from Szeged to Kielce Svenskahandbollfans +44 2033180475 arena, in front of their TV or on their laptops at home. after his incredible 101 goals in the competition in Official partner for the Kagan’s Turist Aps [email protected] Live commentary with insights and captivating 2015/16. Swedish market. Travel partner for the Danish www.ticket2final.com explanations, and an enhanced look and feel of TV These teams met in the group phase last season and Contact: market graphics will give the audience the feeling of being shared the spoils with one home victory by one goal right in the action. This season the commentary team each, promising another exciting and tight match +46 73-250 20 17 Contact: TF travels when they meet on 9 October on ehfTV.com. [email protected] +45 24 41 93 50 A long-standing partner will be expanded with Tom O’Brannagain being joined www.svenskahandbollfans.se [email protected] covering the Swedish market. by David Bregazzi and Chris O‘Reilly, who will all take Round 4: www.busudlejning.dk [email protected] their own MOTW games. MOTW also offers also the perfect platform to Sunday 16 October (18:30 CET), Stade Pierre de Hemispheres Voyages www.koncertbussen.dk Coubertin (Paris, FRA) A new partner, Hemispheres Sportimadok.hu develop and implement new exciting technical Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg- Voyages is the exclusive Treff AG A new partner covering the equipment that brings the best handball directly Handewitt travel partner for the French Official travel partner for the Hungarian market. into households around world. For example, referee market. Specialising in Swiss market for a number of Contact: cameras and other new broadcasting elements will Now PSG have a taste for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and come into use at selected matches during this season. they will do everything in their power to reach the sports travel, the company years +36 70 / 630 1040 event once again and give themselves a chance of has been organising travel Contact: [email protected] Match of the Week set for opening four rounds collecting the trophy. arrangements to major rugby, +41 32 387 00 87 www.sportimadok.hu The ehfTV.com Match of the Week will be played However, Group A is full of danger and Flensburg football, tennis and handball [email protected] in four different countries in the first four rounds are a foe they know all too well, following their two events for the past 18 years. with matches showcasing the VELUX EHF Champions barnstorming group phase matches last season, Contact: OlliP AB League’s finest talent, certain to satisfy handball fans which combined for 138 goals in 120 minutes. This + 33 4 38 37 22 21 Partner for both Swedish and across Europe in September and October. massive test of Paris’ strength at home will be the featured match in Round 4.

20 21 Qualification Tournament 1 Qualification Tournament 2 (Bregenz, Austria)

Qualification Tournament 1 Qualification Tournament 2 (Bregenz, Austria) Qualification Tournament 1 (Presov, SVK) Group C Qualification Tournament 2 Group D Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) ABC/UMinho (POR) HBC Nantes (FRA) Cocks (FIN) HC Metalurg (MKD) Achilles Bocholt (BEL) TTH Holstebro (DEN) Tatran Presov (SVK) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Bregenz Handball (AUT) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Red Boys Differdange (LUX) Montpellier Handball (FRA) Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR) Elverum Handball (NOR) Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) Tatran Presov (SVK) ABC/UMinho (POR)

2nd ranked team - Rk Gorenje Velenje - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 2nd ranked team - Bregenz Handball - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 3rd ranked team - Cocks - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 3rd ranked team - Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - Red Boys Differdange - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs: Maccabi Srugo 4th ranked team - Achilles Bocholt - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Csurgo KK (HUN) Rishon Lezion (ISR) Review: ABC/UMinho hold their boasting a shot efficiency of 60 per cent. However, clues that ABC were the better team were soon clear A motivated Slovakian side never went behind in nerve against Bregenz Review: Presov impress and seal to see as Nuno Pereira seemed unstoppable with one of the most important games of their season. group phase berth seven goals. With a loud croud behind them, TATRAN pressed Bregenz failed to take advantage of their home court from the start and never looked back, helped by a against the Portuguese champions ABC/UMinho. The Slovakian side powered past the experienced RK It quickly emerged that the game was to be won Gorenje Velenje in their group phase decider match, flawless back court, in which Oliver Rabek and Lukas • ABC/UMinho will try to emulate Porto winning in the attack and ABC were the better team in that while the Finnish side take third spot in the VELUX Urban were stars from the first minute. However, seven games in the group phase section. Both Pereira and right back Pedro Spinola EHF Champions League Qualification Group 1 after TATRAN would have had a lot of trouble if not for • ABC lost their two previous qualifying had astonishing games, with 11 and 8 goals scored their win over the Luxembourg champions Red Boys their amazing defence, that helped the Slovakian tournaments respectively, as the Portuguese champions pulled Differdange. champions power to a 10:7 lead after 21 minutes. • After a 15-year hiatus, the Portuguese side will away thanks to a 6:2 run between the 41st and 48th minute. While Bregenz managed to claw back But the real difference was made in the first 15 play in Group D • TATRAN broke the qualification tournament curse and close the game (29:29), ABC had the stronger minutes of the second half. A 6:2 run, spurred on by • The Israeli side took 3rd place and will continue in after five failed attempts nerves and after a well-taken timeout by coach Rabek and Urban helped TATRAN jump to a 20:14 EHF Cup Round 3 • The hosts took full advantage of their home court, Carlos Resende, the Portuguese side won the game lead that could not be recovered by the Slovenian • In their fourth game in Europe, Maccabi earned leading from start to finish by the lowest of margins, 33:32, thanks to a Miguel side. As Presov were already celebrating the win, their first win • Cocks take third in Group 1 on their debut in the Pereira goal. ABC will play against HBC Nantes, TTH Velenje clawed back, but the 23:21 win was enough • Pomeranz was Maccabi’s top scorer (ten goals) CL Holstebro, HC Motor Zaporozhye, Besiktas Mogaz HT for TATRAN who play against Naturhouse La Rioja, HC adding to his 12 scored against ABC • Differdange finish bottom of the group on their and Dinamo Bucuresti in Group D. return to the European elite for first time since 1999 Metalurg, Chehovskie Medvedi, Montpellier HB and Elverum Handball in this year’s VELUX EHF Champions FINAL ABC/UMinho (POR) vs Bregenz Handball (AUT) THIRD PLACE MATCH: FINAL League Group Phase. 33:32 (16:16) Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv (ISR) vs Achilles Bocholt RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs TATRAN Presov (SVK) (BEL) 33:30 (16:15) 21:23 (10:12) THIRD PLACE MATCH: Cocks (FIN) vs Red Boys Differdange (LUX) 30:21 There was no shortage of drama near Lake Constance. The home fans left disappointed after a SEMI-FINALS After failing five times in the qualification (18:14) hard-fought game that saw ABC/UMinho claim one ABC/UMinho (POR) vs Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv tournaments, TATRAN Presov impressed against RK of the most important wins in their history. (ISR) 34:27 (16:16) Gorenje Velenje to win a second consecutive berth in SEMI-FINALS: RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs Cocks (FIN) 28:25 (16:14) the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Bregenz Handball (AUT) vs Achilles Bocholt (BEL) TATRAN Presov (SVK) vs Red Boys Differdange (LUX) The lead changed hands five times in only 30 Strong back court helped TATRAN pull away 39:31 (20:17) 38:32 (19:17) 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

22 23 Facts and figueres of the group phase Facts and figueres of the group phase

23 Champions League participations in 24 years since the VELUX EHF Champions League. After those eight qualification Facts and figures of the group phase start of the competition in the 1993/94 season give RK Zagreb matches, which took place already, 172 group matches, four this record ahead of Veszprem and Celje (22 participations each). Group C/D playoffs, 12 Last 16 matches, eight quarter-finals and four matches at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will follow. After Tatran Presov () and ABC/UMinho (Portugal) took the last spots as the winners of the qualifica- 28 teams are part of the group phase, split in eight teams tion tournaments on Sunday, the group phase of the 2016/17 VELUX EHF Champions League season is ready to 496 goals were conceded by Paris in their 18 matches each in Groups A and B and six teams each in Groups C and D. begin. To celebrate the return of the competition, here are the most important facts and figures of the upcoming of the 2015/16 season, which was the competition’s best defensive record. group phase and beyond: 57.03 goals were scored in average in all 160 matches of the 2015/16 VELUX EHF Champions League season. 0 times since the inauguration of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 6 former or current EHF Champions League winners with a 614 goals were scored by Kielce in their 20 matches of the 2010, have the champions defended their title. The last team to combined total of 15 trophies are part of the 2016/17 group 2015/16 season, which is the best attacting record. do so was BM Ciudad Real in 2009. phase: Kielce, Barcelona, Kiel, Flensburg, Montpellier and Celje. 11,522 goals were scored the 2015/16 VELUX EHF Champions 1 draw only will be held between now and the end of the 71 League season, 248 in qualification, 9619 in the group phase, 249 season - for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 semi-finals in Cologne. Frenchmen among the 641 eligible players from 34 in the playoff matches of Groups C/D, 704 in the Last 16 matches, All pairings of the Last 16 and quarter-finals are set by the countries in total. Denmark has 51 and Croatia 47. 456 in the quarter-finals and 246 at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. rankings of the group phase. 6 Only one player each for Egypt, Estonia, Finland and pairings will compose the Last 16. Teams in the posi- 1 person won the EHF Champions League as a player and a Republic of Congo. 15,200 spectators attended the fans attended Zagreb’s two coach: Talant Dujshebaev. The current coach of Vive Tauron tions 2-6 of Groups A and B and the Group C/D playoff winners will face off. matches against PSG in the group phase and quarter-final and Kielce won the competition in 1994 as a player of Santander 141 goals were scored by current World Handball Player of the group phase match against Veszprem, the highest attendance (ESP) and 2006, 2008 and 2009 as a coach of Ciudad Real, the Year and Olympic champion Mikkel Hansen for PSG to in the 2015/16 season prior to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. 6 former or current top scorers of the VELUX EHF Champions before steering Kielce to their first trophy in 2016. become top scorer of the 2015/16 season. League are still on court in the 2016/17 season: Momir Ilic 19,750 fans are expected for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 once 2 winners of Groups A and B progress directly to the quar- (2014/15 - 114 goals, 2013/14 - 103 goals, Veszprem), Mikkel 208 matches will be carried out in the 2016/17 season of the again on 3/4 June 2017. ter-finals. Hansen (2011/12 - 98 goals for AG Kobenhavn, 2015/16 - 141 2 coaches led two different teams to the EHF Champions goals for PSG), (2010/11 - 118 goals, Rhein League trophies: Icelandic born Alfred Gislason (2002 SC Neckar Löwen, now PSG), Filip Jicha 2008/09 - 99 goals, and Teams by age average Teams by height average Teams by weight average Magdeburg, 2010 and 2012 THW Kiel) and Talant Dujshebaev 2009/10 - 119 goals for Kiel, now Barcelona), Kiril Lazarov (2006, 2008, 2009 Ciudad Real, 2016 Vive Tauron Kielce). (2007/08 - 96 goals and 2005/06 - 85 goals for Veszprem, now Barcelona), Nikola Karabatic (2006/07 - 89 goals for Kiel, HC Meshkov Brest 28,9 Orlen Wisla Plock 196,2 THW Kiel 97,3 now PSG) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 28,1 Naturhouse La Rioja 194,9 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 97,3 Kadetten Schaffhausen 27,5 THW Kiel 194,4 Dinamo Bucuresti 96,9 8 times (1995-2000, 2011, 2015) FC Barcelona have won the FC Barcelona Lassa 27,3 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 194,3 HC Vardar 96,8 2 EHF Champions League and they are the record winners. teams are debutants of the VELUX EHF Champions HC Vardar 27,3 MOL-Pick Szeged 193,5 Orlen Wisla Plock 96,6 League Group Phase: Holstebro (DEN) and Nantes (FRA). 8 former or current IHF World Handball Players of the Year HC Motor Zaporozhye 27,1 HC Motor Zaporozhye 193,4 Elverum Handball 95,8 are part of the 28 squads of this Champions League season, Naturhouse La Rioja 27,1 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 193,2 MOL-Pick Szeged 95,6 four of them are contracted by PSG: (2005/ Dinamo Bucuresti 27,0 HC Meshkov Brest 193,2 HC Meshkov Brest 95,3 4 participants of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016 have qualified Vardar), Nikola Karabatic (2007, 2014/PSG), HC PPD Zagreb 27,0 HC Vardar 192,7 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 95,0 for the group phase again: Kielce, Veszprem, PSG and Kiel. (2008/PSG), Slawomir Szmal (2009/Kielce), Filip Jicha (2010/ KS Vive Tauron Kielce 26,9 Telekom Veszprém 192,7 Telekom Veszprém 95,0 Barcelona), Mikkel Hansen (2011, 2015/PSG), Besiktas Mogaz HT 26,6 Dinamo Bucuresti 192,4 Besiktas Mogaz HT 94,9 4 playoff matches featuring the two best ranked teams of (2012/PSG) and Domagoj Duvnjak (2013/Kiel). Kielce coach Rhein-Neckar Löwen 26,2 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 192,3 Naturhouse La Rioja 94,6 Groups C and D in March will decide the remaining Last 16 spots Talant Dujshebaev was awarded twice (1994, 1996). Telekom Veszprém 26,1 Besiktas Mogaz HT 192,0 IFK Kristianstad 93,8 THW Kiel 26,0 FC Barcelona Lassa 192,0 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 93,3 4 times each, Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier 2003, Kiel 2007, 14 rounds will be played in Groups A and B. Groups C and D 2010, 2012) and Uros Zorman (Celje 2004, Ciudad Real 2008 will play 10 rounds, followed by two rounds in the playoffs. Orlen Wisla Plock 25,7 Kadetten Schaffhausen 191,9 TTH Holstebro 93,3 and 2009, Kielce 2016) have won the EHF Champions League ABC/UMinho 25,5 TATRAN Presov 191,7 Kadetten Schaffhausen 92,9 and are the most successful active players. Still, Andrej Xepkin Elverum Handball 25,3 HBC Nantes 191,5 FC Barcelona Lassa 92,4 is the individual record winner with seven trophies (six with SG Flensburg-Handewitt 24,9 TTH Holstebro 191,5 HC PPD Zagreb 92,1 Barcelona, one with Kiel). 14 Paris Saint-Germain Handball 24,0 HC Metalurg 191,3 HC Motor Zaporozhye 91,9 TATRAN Presov 24,0 Chekhovskie Medvedi 191,3 5 countries are represented by the previous 22 EHF Champi- times Spanish teams have won the EHF Champions Paris Saint-Germain Handball 91,6 ons League champions: Spain (14 titles), Germany (6), Poland, League - Barcelona (8), Ciudad Real (3), Santander, Irun HBC Nantes 23,9 Elverum Handball 191,2 HC Metalurg 91,5 Slovenia and France (one each). and Portland (each 1). MOL-Pick Szeged 23,8 Montpellier HB 191,0 TATRAN Presov 91,5 IFK Kristianstad 23,8 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 190,7 Montpellier HB 91,5 5 times only Spanish and/or German teams had qualified for Chekhovskie Medvedi 23,3 IFK Kristianstad 190,3 HBC Nantes 90,5 the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 (2010 Kiel vs Barcelo- 19 different nations (one less than last season) are repre- Montpellier HB 23,0 HC PPD Zagreb 190,1 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 89,8 sented by the 28 group phase participants. Germany and na, 2011 Barcelona vs Madrid, 2012 Kiel vs Madrid, 2013 TTH Holstebro 22,9 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 189,4 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 89,5 Hamburg vs Barcelona, 2014 Flensburg vs Kiel). 2016 meant France have three clubs each, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, FYR HC Metalurg 22,5 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 189,0 ABC/UMinho 88,5 the first final without a Spanish or German team, when Kielce Macedonia and Poland each two. faced Veszprem. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 22,0 ABC/UMinho 187,4 Chekhovskie Medvedi 88,0 20 matches is the maximum, participants of the 2016 edition 6 times THW Kiel have qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so of the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 will play, unless they skip the Last CL average 25,3 CL average 191,9 CL average 93,1 far, winning the trophy at Cologne twice (2010, 2012). 16 or progress from Groups C/D.

24 25 Facts and figueres of the group phase Facts and figueres of the group phase

Facts and figures of the group phase

Youngest Oldest

Luka Savanovic RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko BIH 16.1.2001 Tom Jensen Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 31.8.1971 Teo Jezernik RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 29.8.2000 Jesper Larsson IFK Kristianstad SWE 27.7.1973 Domen Makuc RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 1.7.2000 SG Flensburg-Handewitt SWE 3.10.1973 Dogukan Keser Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 24.1.2000 Vadym Brazhnyk TATRAN Presov UKR 25.2.1975 Andi Muris Houlbert HBC Nantes FRA 24.12.1999 Ibrahim Demir Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 4.10.1975 Dylan Nahi Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 30.11.1999 Sören Rasmussen Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 12.8.1976 Andry Goujon Bellevue Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 2.9.1999 Nikola Marinovic Kadetten Schaffhausen AUT 29.8.1976 Luka Simonic RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 27.8.1999 Thierry Omeyer Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 2.11.1976 Viktor Miller Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 16.4.1999 Gorazd Skof Paris Saint-Germain Handball SLO 11.7.1977 Jannek Klein SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 25.3.1999 Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 26.10.1977 16.1.2001 Stefan Zabic RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 17.2.1999 31.8.1971 Humberto Gomes ABC/UMinho POR 1.1.1978 Mattias Andersson SG Flensburg-Handewitt SWE 29.3.1978 Luka Savanovic Eduardo Cadarso Caballero Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 13.2.1999 Tom Jensen Adam Dimovics MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 23.1.1999 Jose Manuel Sierra Mendez MOL-Pick Szeged ESP 21.5.1978 Tonci Valcic HC PPD Zagreb CRO 9.6.1978 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko / BIH Martin Nagy MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 9.1.1999 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg / DEN Jens Dolberg Plougstrup Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 8.1.1999 Michael V. Knudsen Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 4.9.1978

Shortest Tallest

Ljubomir Vranjes SG Flensburg-Handewitt SWE 168 Dainis Kristopans HC Meshkov Brest LAT 213 Tadej Matijasic HC Metalurg SLO 173 Angel Montoro Cabello Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 213 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 174 Tomasz Gebala Orlen Wisla Plock POL 212 Balazs Molnar Telekom Veszprém HUN 175 Nikolaj Rømer Berg Markussen Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 211 Viktor Miller Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 175 Kristian Krag Orsted Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 210 Stas Skube MOL-Pick Szeged SLO 176 Telekom Veszprém CRO 210 Emil Sidelmann TTH Holstebro DEN 177 Mateusz Piechowski Orlen Wisla Plock POL 210 Gal Marguc RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 177 Laszlo Nagy Telekom Veszprém HUN 208 Victor Tomas Gonzalez FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 178 Alexander Tatarintsev IFK Kristianstad RUS 208 Edouard Kempf Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 178 Sergii Burka HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 208 168 cm Benedek Szakaly Telekom Veszprém HUN 178 213 213 Evgeny Dzemin Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 207 Ljubomir Vranjes Ivan Cupic HC Vardar CRO 178 Dainis Angel Montoro FC Barcelona Lassa POL 206 Sergio Muggli Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 178 Kristopans Cabello Robin Dourte Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 206 SG Flensburg-Handewitt / SWE Tim D. Sörensen IFK Kristianstad DEN 178 HS Meshkov Naturhouse La Bence Banhidi MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 206 Ogulcan Güney Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 178 Brest / LAT Rioja / ESP Aleksander Borresen Elverum Handball NOR 206

Lightest Heaviest

Benedek Szakaly Telekom Veszprém HUN 65 Dainis Kristopans HC Meshkov Brest LAT 135 Artem Kozakevych HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 68 Strahinja Milic HC Vardar SRB 132 Roland Selmeczi MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 70 Rafael Baena Gonzalez Rhein-Neckar Löwen ESP 128 Michal Daszek Orlen Wisla Plock POL 70 Bence Banhidi MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 123 Teo Jezernik RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 70 Kristian Krag Orsted Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 121 Andrei Yurynok HC Meshkov Brest BLR 70 Matic Suholeznik RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 121 Emil Sidelmann TTH Holstebro DEN 70 Kamil Syprzak FC Barcelona Lassa POL 120 Balazs Molnar Telekom Veszprém HUN 70 Zbigniew Kwiatkowski Orlen Wisla Plock POL 120 Eduardo Cadarso Caballero Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 71 Kristian Beciri RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko CRO 120 Aleix Gomez Abello FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 71 Arpad Sterbik Capar HC Vardar ESP 119 65 kg Kyllian Villeminot Montpellier HB FRA 72 135 kg Rogerio Ferreira Moraes HC Vardar BRA 118 Paris Saint-Germain Handball SWE 118 Benedek Szakaly Lukas Blohme SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 72 Dainis Kristopans Gal Marguc RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 72 Ionut Adrian Irimus Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 118 Besiktas Mogaz HT Telekom Veszprém / HUN Miha Zarabec RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 72 HS Meshkov Brest / LAT Tolga Özbahar TUR 118 Matej Vernarsky TATRAN Presov SVK 73 Adam Borbely Telekom Veszprém HUN 118

26 27 Group A preview Group A preview

Group A preview

THE STRONGEST EVER GROUP IN EUROPEAN CLUB league, SEHA-Liga and Champions League) and aim to finish on top of all.

HANDBALL Former PSG and Barcelona player Marko Kopljar or the top scorer of the 2015 “Nearly impossible to predict the group winner,” as five teams from Group A aim World Championship, Dragan Gajic, are among the new arrivals at the unlucky for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 losers of the 2016 final. In the previous season with nearly the same line-up, PSG finished on top, ahead When the group phase draw for the VELUX EHF Champions League on 1 July of Veszprém, Flensburg and Kiel, while Plock took sixth. In the end, Veszprém, PSG had come to an end, one could see open mouths and stunned faces. “This is the and Kiel made it to the FINAL4, but all were below Kielce after the final day. “It strongest group ever in European club handball,” was the unanimous opinion of would definitely be no surprise, if both 2017 finalists would come from Group A. everybody involved in Group A. But definitely I cannot name them right now,” is the opinion of Flensburg manager Dierk Schmäschke. 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 But due to the huge number of participants, and a shorter period icing on the cake. 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 Barcelona (8), Kiel (3) and Flensburg (1) represent 12 EHF Champions League titles, fight for the top positions. 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, Though it will not be easy for us, we are aiming for a position among the top four which at least one of them will miss. as you can make your life in the knockout stages a little easier,” says THW manager Thorsten Storm. “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 His team is the record holder in terms of FINAL4 participations with six appearanc- - are part of Group A. “This is a dream come true for every handball fan,” says PSG es followed by Barcelona (5), Veszprem (3) and Flensburg and PSG, who both have manager Bruno Martini. “In every round you will face world-class players either at made it to Cologne once. home or away,” continued Martini. Björn Pazen 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 (Barcelona), or (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

28 29 Group A preview Group A preview

Group A head-to-heads Historic 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 THW Kiel 7-0-7 (402:406) 14:14 13.04.1986 VAEV Epitök SC vs FC Barcelona, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 27:25 (13:12) 24.01.1996 THW Kiel vs Fotex Veszprém SE, EHF Champions League – Group A 28:25 (17:15) 19.04.1986 FC Barcelona vs VAEV Epitök SC, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final 29:19 (13:10) 13.02.1996 Fotex Veszprém SE vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group A 23:21 (11:9) 21.02.1998 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:28 (19:13) 25.10.2002 THW Kiel vs Fotex KC Veszprém, European Championship for Club Teams – Semi-final 23:31 (11:15) 01.03.1998 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:27 (13:15) 24.02.2007 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 39:36 (19:20) 31.01.1999 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:29 (14:15) 01.03.2007 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 39:32 (22:15) 07.02.1999 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:24 (16:11) 18.10.2012 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:30 (14:15) 14.11.1999 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group D 23:31 (13:16) 17.02.2013 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:21 (17:13) 04.12.1999 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group D 25:21 (13:13) 21.04.2013 THW Kiel vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:31 (15:16) 13.12.2003 FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:29 (18:15) 27.04.2013 MKB Veszprém KC vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 28:29 (14:12) 20.12.2003 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Last 16 31:26 (16:14) 31.05.2014 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 26:29 (13:13) 25.04.2010 FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:27 (17:15) 30.05.2015 THW Kiel vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 27:31 (13:13) 01.05.2010 MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:34 (19:15) 17.10.2015 MVM Veszprém vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (17:15) 27.03.2011 FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:21 (14:13) 06.12.2015 THW Kiel vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:24 (11:12) 02.04.2011 MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:26 (15:8) 28.05.2016 THW Kiel vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 28:31 (15:12, 25:25) 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) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 2-0-0 (71:57) 4:0) Telekom Veszprém vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 4-1-1 (172:153) 9:3 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) 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) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 2-0-0 (71:57) 4:0) 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) 20.10.2013 PSG Handball vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:33 (17:17) 25.10.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs MVM Vészprem, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (16:12) 15.02.2014 FC Barcelona vs PSG handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 38:28 (19:9) 28.11.2015 MVM Veszprém vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:20 (16:14) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 2-0-0 (58:50) 4:0) Telekom Veszprém vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 2-0-0 (57:44) 4:0 17.03.2013 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:32 (12:15) 08.10.2011 MKB Veszprém KC vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:25 (17:11) 24.03.2013 FC Barcelona Intersport vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:24 (12:13) 04.12.2011 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 19:25 (5:14) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Orlen Wisla Plock 1-0-1 (61:59) 2:2) Telekom Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock 4-1-1 (186:161) 9:3 05.10.2014 FC Barcelona vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:25 (13:12) 09.11.2002 Wisla Plock SSA vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group A 25:30 (9:13) 06.12.2014 Orlen Wisla Plock vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 34:31 (17:15) 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) FC Barcelona Lassa vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 4-0-2 (199:190) 8:4 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) 18.12.1999 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, European Championship for Club Teams – Semi-Final 32:29 (16:14) 05.03.2016 MVM Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – group A 27:25 (16:13) 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, Telekom Veszprém vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 3-0-3 (157:165) 6:6 32:32, 36:36) 24.02.2001 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Fotex KC Veszprém, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 31:22 (13:12) 15.11.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 33:37 (16:16) 03.03.2001 Fotex KC Veszprém vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final 20:22 (9:10) 23.11.2014 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 36:27 (14:16) 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) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 4-0-0 (132:103) 8:0 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) 06.10.2011 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) Telekom Veszprém vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 1-1-0 (58:52) 3:1 01.12.2012 FC Barcelona Intersport vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 36:25 (19:13) 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)

30 31 Group A preview Group A preview

FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW Kiel 10-1-10 (627:637) 21:21 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 1-0-1 (58:50) 2:2 22.04.2000 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Final 28:25 (15:14) 03.12.2006 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg A/S vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 30:20 (19:7) 29.04.2000 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Final 29:24 (15:12) 10.12.2006 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg A/S, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 30:28 (15:14) 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) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs THW Kiel 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) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 2-0-4 (166:181) 4:8 06.04.2008 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 41:31 (20:15) 08.12.2001 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen SSA Plock, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 33:27 (19:12) 13.04.2008 FC Barcelona vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 44:37 (19:20) 15.12.2001 Orlen SSA Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 25:23 (10:9) 19.10.2008 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group C 27:31 (15:15) 08.10.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:28 (21:16) 23.11.2008 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Group C 33:26 (16:11) 22.02.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:29 (14:13) 11.10.2009 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group D 27:30 (17:20) 25.10.2015 Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 30:34 (13:17) 14.02.2010 THW Kiel vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Group D 30:32 (15:17) 25.11.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:25 (13:11) 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) Orlen Wisla Plock vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 24.04.2011 FC Barcelona Borges vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 27:25 (14:15) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Orlen Wisla Plock vs THW Kiel 1-0-7 (207:262) 2:14 30.04.2016 FC Barcelona Lassa vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:30 (13:14) 08.10.2005 Wisla Plock SSA vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Group E 32:31 (16:15) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 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) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Orlen Wisla Plock 2-0-0 (56:46) 4:0 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) 27.09.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 29:24 (16:13) 17.02.2016 THW Kiel vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:24 (14:14) 27.02.2016 Orlen Wisla Plock vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 22:27 (12:16) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Kadetten Schaffhausen 3-0-1 (102:91) 6:2 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 2-0-2 (124:139) 4:4 13.10.1996 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, EHF Cup – Round 2 27:16 (13:7) 15.10.2005 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Paris Handball, EHF Champions League – Group H 37:24 (17:13) 19.10.1996 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Cup – Round 2 21:23 (10:11) 13.11.2005 Paris Handball vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:31 (16:16) 24.04.2010 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Kadetten SH Handball, EHF Cup – Semi-final 31:30 (15:15) 19.09.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Gr. A 39:32 (21:16) 01.05.2010 Kadetten SH Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Cup – Semi-final 24:21 (12:12) 06.03.2016 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Gr. A 35:32 (16:16)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Kadetten Schaffhausen SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel 4-1-7 (335:346) 9:15 18.04.1998 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Final 25:23 (12:9) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel 3-0-6 (256:281) 6:12 28.02.2006 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 28:32 (13:12) 14.12.2003 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, EHF Cup – Last 16 34:27 (19:12) 04.03.2006 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:34 (16:17) 21.12.2003 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Last 16 30:32 (14:19) 22.04.2007 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Final 28:28 (10:12) 04.12.2005 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League – Last 16 21:28 (11:13) 29.04.2007 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Final 29:27 (15:10) 10.12.2005 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, EHF Champions League – Last 16 44:28 (22:12) 01.06.2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final 30:28 (14:16) 16.11.2014 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:27 (13:12) 15.03.2015 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 21:30 (9:16) 22.11.2014 THW Kiel vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:29 (14:15) 22.03.2015 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:28 (16:10) 12.11.2015 THW Kiel vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:30 (10:16) 03.10.2015 THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:23 (14:13) 21.11.2015 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 37:30 (18:12) 14.02.2016 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 37:27 (17:14) 29.05.2016 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 29:27 (15:11) Kadetten Schaffhausen vs THW Kiel Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Orlen Wisla Plock No previous encounters in European competitions No previous encounters in European competitions

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt No previous encounters in European competitions

32 33 Telekom Veszprém Telekom Veszprém

GROUP A Telekom EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 38:17 (18:9) v HC LTU (h), 06.11.2004 Veszprém Biggest defeat 30:18 (16:8) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), 24.01.1995 Longest winning run 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) ‘#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 Longest unbeaten run 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) and all of Balaton Lake are eager to crown the anniversary season with several Longest losing run 3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996) trophies. After winning the SEHA Liga twice in a row, Veszprém hopes for the treble MATCHES Longest run without win 4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999) and under the helm of new Sports Director, Nikola Eklemovic, the team wants Longest winning run to forever forget their cruellest minutes throughout their 21 Champions League 11 Most goals 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), 07.10.2006 participations. 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 GOALS Club Address Fifteen minutes before the end of the 2016 final game in Cologne, Veszprém Most goals Most goals opponent 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.2007 Veszprem HC were ahead by eight goals, but nearly an hour later, after extra time and a penalty 46 39 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.2016 5 Külső Kádártai út shoot-out, Vive Tauron Kielce were on the podium. Veszprém were beaten for the 8200 Veszprém third time in a Champions League final, following 2002 (Magdeburg) and 2015 GOALS Most goals both teams 77 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.2016 Hungary (Barcelona). 77 Most goals both teams Fewest goals 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.1995 Media contact Veszprém learned from this match and as they face three hard competitions Fewest goals opponent 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.2001 Zsolt Sevinger (Hungarian League, SEHA, Champions League), the team has clearly increased the 13 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 +36 305024547 number of players on their squad. The top signings among the eleven new players Fewest goals both teams 32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 [email protected] 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 handballveszprem.hu among the best teams in every competition and doing anything for the final victo- veszpremhandballteam ry,” clarifies team captain, Laszlo Nagy. Sports director Eklemovic is more concrete VELUX EHF Champions League record with the goals. “Our target is the fourth straight qualification for the FINAL4. It @mkbveszpremkc will be very hard, but I hope our team will not be limited by injuries and I hope all MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 players will be ready to play to the end of season.” 1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 2 2 2 131:147 –16 6:6 3rd Gr. A Veszprém were drawn in tough Group A. “Every game will be like a FINAL4 game. Kit colours 1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 3 0 3 147:144 +3 6:6 3rd Gr. A For the supporters, it will be amazing because they will see extremely exciting and Light very interesting games every single week,” says Eklemovic confidently. 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 5 1 2 228:204 +24 11:5 1/4-finals Player shirt: white 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 3 1 4 200:188 +12 7:9 1/4-finals Player short: white 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 4 0 4 203:202 +1 8:8 1/4-finals GK shirt: green Past achievements 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 12 9 0 3 310:267 +43 18:6 Runner-up VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2015/16 season): 22 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 8 0 2 276:238 +38 16:4 1/2-finals Player shirt: red Final (3): 2001/02, 2014/15, 2015/16 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 306:276 +30 14:6 1/4-finals Player short: red Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 317:259 +58 14:6 1/4-finals GK shirt: black Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:318 +55 18:6 1/2-finals 2012/13 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 10 7 0 3 338:288 +50 14:6 1/4-finals Last 16 (3): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 6 2 2 2 184:171 +13 6:6 3rd Gr. F Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08 Playing hall 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 8 0 4 351:320 +31 16:8 1/4-finals Other Veszprém Arena Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Run- 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 419:368 +51 22:6 1/4-finals Külso Kadartai ut ners-up 1996/97 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:338 +35 18:6 1/8-finals 8200 Veszprém SEHA-league: 2 titles (2015, 2016) 2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 7 0 5 321:322 -1 14:10 1/8-finals Hungary Hungarian league: 24 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 410:348 +62 22:6 1/4-finals Capacity: 5,020 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 11 1 4 477:410 +67 23:9 Fourth Place 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) 2014/15 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 13 1 2 480:423 +57 27:5 Runner-up Hungarian Cup winner: 25 times 2015/16 MVM Veszprém HUN 20 15 2 3 600:539 +61 32:8 Runner-up Total: 222 151 10 61 6444:5770 +674 312:132

34 35 Telekom Veszprém Telekom Veszprém

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 22 Inal Aflitulin RUS C e n t r e B a c k 22.3.1988 Astrakhan, RUS 183 85 32 Mirko Alilovic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 15.9.1985 Ljubuski, CRO 200 110 27 Gabor Ancsin HUN R i g h t B a c k 27.11.1990 Bekescsaba, HUN 201 109 31 Blaz Blagotinsek SLO L i n e P l a y e r 17.1.1994 Celje, SLO 202 110 12 Adam Borbely HUN G o a l k e e p e r 22.6.1995 Debrecen, HUN 196 118 41 Mate David HUN L i n e P l a y e r 24.9.1996 Cegléd, HUN 195 97 55 David Fekete HUN L e ft W i n g 12.10.1996 Budapest, HUN 180 82 43 Daniel Füzi HUN L i n e P l a y e r 9.8.1996 Veszprém, HUN 188 95 17 Dragan Gajic SLO R i g h t W i n g 21.7.1984 Celje, SLO 188 84 3 Peter Gulyas HUN R i g h t W i n g 4.3.1984 Veszprem, HUN 200 105 15 Norbert Gyene HUN R i g h t W i n g 18.4.1994 Veszprém, HUN 188 75 13 Momir Ilic SRB R i g h t B a c k 22.12.1981 Andjelovac, SRB 198 107 4 Gergö Ivancsik HUN L e ft W i n g 30.11.1981 Györ, HUN 190 86 21 Marko Kopljar CRO R i g h t B a c k 12.2.1986 Pozega, CRO 210 108 66 Mate Lekai HUN C e n t r e B a c k 16.6.1988 Budapest, HUN 190 89 Xavier Sabate 96 Patrik Ligetvari HUN L e ft B a c k 13.2.1996 Várpalota, HUN 200 94 coach 24 Gasper Marguc SLO R i g h t W i n g 20.8.1990 Celje, SLO 180 84 • signed with Veszprém as assistant coach of Antonio Carlos 16 HUN G o a l k e e p e r 20.9.1984 Dunaujvaros, HUN 190 101 Ortega but became interim coach after Ortega parted ways 40 Mirko Milasevic MNE L e ft B a c k 27.7.1985 Cetinje, MNE 196 93 with the club Balazs Molnar HUN L e ft W i n g 25.6.1997 Veszprém, HUN 175 70 • Spanish tactician earned a per manent contract on 8th Janu- 44 ary 2016, he is contracted until June 2017 C 19 Laszlo Nagy HUN R i g h t B a c k 3.3.1981 Szeged, HUN 208 116 • worked as an assistant coach under Ortega for more than ten 18 Andreas Nilsson SWE L i n e P l a y e r 12.4.1990 Trelleborg, SWE 197 116 years, their co-operation started at BM Antequera in Spain 14 Aron Palmarsson ISL C e n t r e B a c k 19.7.1990 Reykjavik, ISL 193 94 • Veszprém is the first club Sabaté has lead as head coach but in March 2016 he was appointed as interim coach to train 25 Jose Maria “Chema” Rodriguez ESP C e n t r e B a c k 5.1.1980 Palencia, ESP 187 98 the Hungarian national team 45 Peter Schmid HUN C e n t r e B a c k 6.8.1996 Veszprém, HUN 190 92 5 Timuzsin I. Schuch HUN L i n e P l a y e r 5.6.1985 Nagyatad, HUN 197 109 91 Ivan Sliskovic CRO L e ft B a c k 23.10.1991 Split, CRO 197 98 33 Renato Sulic CRO L i n e P l a y e r 12.10.1979 Rijeka, CRO 192 108 Newcomers: Left the club: 46 Benedek Szakaly HUN R i g h t W i n g 7.9.1997 Budapest, HUN 178 65 Inal Aflitulin (Bergischer HC) Christian Zeitz (THW Kiel) 47 Erik Szeitl HUN L i n e P l a y e r 18.7.1997 Tapolca, HUN 194 103 Mirko Milasevic (Dinamo Bucuresti) Isaias Guardiola (HC Erlangen) 48 Zoltan Szita HUN C e n t r e B a c k 10.2.1998 Veszprém, HUN 196 90 Gábor Ancsin (Szeged) Dragan Gajic (Montpellier) 30 Mirsad Terzic BIH L e ft B a c k 12.7.1983 Priboj, BIH 196 105 Marko Kopljar (Barcelona) 97 Attila Toth HUN R i g h t B a c k 17.3.1997 Badapest, HUN 193 90 Blaz Blagotinsek (Celje) 49 David Ubornyak HUN C e n t r e B a c k 8.9.1998 Szabadszállás, HUN 188 74 Patrik Ligetvári (Balatonfüred – back from loan) 80 Norbert Gyene (Balatonfüred – back from loan) 23 Garcia ESP L e ft W i n g 19.10.1987 Barcelona, ESP 187 Dávid Fekete (Vác – back from loan) Ádám Borbély (Tatabánya – back from loan) Attila Tóth (junior Veszprém)

36 37 Telekom Veszprém Telekom Veszprém

Roland Mikler Aron Palmarsson goalkeeper centre back • 2005 All-Star goalkeeper of the junior WCh, at which he led Hungary to bronze • before joining Veszprem in summer 2015 the versatile and tactically as well as technically skilled playmaker was with Kiel for six years • Hungarian national team member is quick, compact, excellent at directing defence • struggled to find his game in Veszprém but became an influential player of the • as a teenager Mikler reached the semi-final of the EHF Cup over a decade ago, with Hungarian team with some top-drawer performances. Dunaferr in 2003, and won it with Szeged in 2014 • won all possible trophies with Veszprém in his first year (Hungarian Championship and • joined Veszprem in 2014 after the EHF Cup success with Szeged Cup, SEHA League) apart from the CL trophy

EC trophy: EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: B 2010

Mirko Alilovic Andreas Nilsson goalkeeper line player • like his predecessor (Dejan Peric) belongs to the elite class of goalkeepers who can • the 26 year-old pivot has already featured in three Champions League finals having send the audience to their feet and inspire his teammates been crowned as champion in 2013 with Hamburg • Croatian national team member, has been fighting for the first choice position with • won two SEHA League titles, two national championships and cups in Hungary with Roland Mikler in Veszprém Veszprém • very familiar with the Spanish contingent in Veszprém as he played for five years in • the Swede is sharing line-playing duties with Croatian Renato Sulic and the the ASOBAL newcomer from Celje Blaz Blagotinsek

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

Cristian Ugalde Laszlo Nagy left wing right back • brought up by Barcelona and played regularly in the first team since he was 18 • started his career as a basketball player and was close to a move to the USA at 13 • excelled at international level in the 2007/08 season with his 34 goals and • decided for handball and became one of the best right backs in the world participation in the national team • transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain despite being • won every possible title with Barca – some of them multiple times a foreigner; captain of Veszprém since 2014 • found a new challenge in Veszprém with Gergö Iváncsik, who is one of the • All-Star right back of the 2013 WCh and the 2012/13 CL season best players in this position according to Ugalde

EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003 EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: B 2011

Momir Ilic Dragan Gajic left back right wing • top scorer and only player passing 100 goals (103) in the 2013/14 CL season and • signed by Montpellier in 2011 together with fellow Slovenian Vid Kavticnik nd again top scorer in 2014/15 (114 goals), in 2015/16 2 behind Mikkel Hansen (120 goals) • has had two stellar seasons behind him in 2014/15 & 2015/16 scoring 71 & 73 goals • joined THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL Gummersbach and won seven titles during his four respectably years with the club, including two CL titles • signed with Veszprém in 2016, where he will share minutes with fellow Slovenian • led Serbia to their 1st medal as an independent nation at EHF EURO 2012 as MVP Gasper Marguc and the team’s co-captain Peter Gulyas • 2013/14 and 2015/16 CL All-star team left back • 2015 WCh top scorer (71 goals) and All-Star team right wing

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: S 2012

38 39 FC Barcelona Lassa FC Barcelona Lassa

GROUP A EHF Champions League club records FC Barcelona Biggest win 17:43 (9:21) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (a), 19.11.2011 Biggest defeat 31:21 (13:10) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 23.02.2007 Lassa 41:31 (20:15) v THW Kiel GER (a), 06.04.2008 It is an anniversary for the record winners of the EHF Champions League: For the Longest winning run 12 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012) 20th time, FC Barcelona Lassa are a part of Europe’s top handball competition. In Longest unbeaten run 16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997) the previous 19 years, the Catalans have been semi-finalists 13 times, finalist 11 Longest losing run 2 matches (25.03.2000 – 22.04.2000) times and they have won the competition eight times - impressive numbers! 2 matches (16.10.2004 – 23.10.2004) MATCHES But last season, Barcelona joined the fate of every other VELUX EHF FINAL4 winner Longest winning run 2 matches (11.12.2004 – 05.03.2005) before - they did not defend their title in Cologne. In two thrilling quarter-final 12 2 matches (15.03.2008 – 06.04.2008) encounters against THW Kiel, Barcelona missed the qualification for the tourna- 2 matches (23.11.2008 – 14.02.2009) GOALS ment for the second time, similar to 2012 when they were also the defending 2 matches (30.05.2010 – 25.09.2010) Club Address Most goals FC Barcelona Lassa champions. 46 Longest run without win 3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010) Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n After winning their 23rd championship title in Spain, their sixth in a row, the squad Most goals 46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 08028 Barcelona of Xavi Pascual has undergone several changes. World class goalkeeper, Danijel GOALS Most goals opponent 41 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.2008 Most goals both teams Spain Saric, was traded to Qatar and was replaced by Macedonian . In 82 41 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41L (a), 31.05.2014 addition, experienced players such as Marko Kopljar (Veszprem), Daniel Sarmiento Media contact Most goals both teams 82 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Gustau Galvache (Saint-Raphael), (Nantes) and Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (Rhein Fewest goals 21 v ABC Braga POR 21:21D (a), 09.11.1997 +34 618522789 Neckar Löwen) all left the club for a new adventure. 21 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:21L (a), 23.10.2004 [email protected] On the other hand, FC Barcelona Lassa signed a couple highly talented young guns 21 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:21L (a), 25.02.2006 from all over Europe, including the two Frenchmen, Dika Mem (Tremblay) and 21 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 31:21L (a), 23.02.2007 Timothey N’Guessan (Chambery), as well as Dane Lasse Andersson (Kolding). In ad- www.fcbarcelona.cat 21 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 22:21L (a), 20.09.2015 dition, one ‘forgotten son’ returned to his home club, where his career first began: Fewest goals opponent 11 v Aalborg Handball DEN 11:31W (a), 15.03.2015 Valero Rivera jun (from Nantes), the son of current Qatar coach and former Barca FCBHandbol Fewest goals both teams 38 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (h), 20.04.1996 coach, Valero Rivera. Rivera is the only coach in the history of the EHF Champions @FCBHandbol League to win the trophy five times. 38 v Vardar Vatrost. MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record Kit colours is the goal of Barcelona coach, Xavi Pascual. “We will try to go all the way and play Light good matches,” Pascual says. MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Player shirt: light green 1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 2 1 213:173 +40 12:4 Winner Player short: light green GK shirt: blue or yellow Past achievements 1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 1 1 358:264 +94 21:3 Winner VELUX EHF Champions League 1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 12 9 1 2 358:284 +74 19:5 Winner Dark Participations (including 2016/17 sea6son): 20 1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 3 1 357:289 +68 19:5 Winner Player shirt: blue and red Winner (8): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, Player short: blue 1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 0 2 345:271 +74 20:4 Winner 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11, 2014/15 2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 2 2 316:281 +35 18:6 Runner-up GK shirt: green or black Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 Semi-final (2): 2007/08, 2013/14 2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 1 2 262:212 +50 11:5 1/8-finals Quarter-final (4): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 14 8 0 6 400:360 +40 16:12 Winner 2015/16 2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 9 0 1 293:244 +49 18:2 1/4-finals Last 16 (1): 2003/04 2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 8 0 2 314:263 +51 16:4 1/4-finals Playing hall Main Round (1): 2008/09 2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 14 11 0 3 475:407 +68 22:6 1/2-finals Other Palau Blaugrana 2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 10 6 0 4 307:275 +32 12:8 3rd MR Gr. 4 Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 08028 Barcelona 2001/02 2009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 13 1 2 545:461 +84 27:5 Runner-up Spain Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95 2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 10 3 3 501:451 +50 23:9 Winner Capacity: 7,250 Spanish league: 23 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 14 11 0 3 459:357 +102 22:6 1/4-finals 1982, 1986, 1988-92, 1996-2000, 2003, 2006, 2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 16 13 0 3 488:404 +84 26:6 Runner-up 2011-16) 2013/14 FC Barcelona ESP 16 12 1 3 535:426 +109 25:7 Third Place Spanish Cup winner: 20 titles Asobal Cup winner: 11 titles 2014/15 FC Barcelona ESP 16 14 1 1 527:408 +119 29:3 Winner 2015/16 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 16 12 1 3 480:431 +49 25:7 1/4-finals Total: 244 182 17 45 7533:6261 +1272 381:107

40 41 FC Barcelona Lassa FC Barcelona Lassa

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 31 Joan Amigo Boada ESP L e ft B a c k 17.7.1993 Barcelona, ESP 190 92 11 Lasse Andersson DEN L e ft B a c k 11.3.1994 København, DEN 195 96 13 Aitor Arino Bengoechea ESP L e ft W i n g 5.10.1992 Penarth, ESP 187 80 9 Raul Entrerrios ESP C e n t r e B a c k 12.2.1981 Gijon, ESP 193 92 36 Gerard Forns Galve ESP G o a l k e e p e r 26.12.1994 Sant Boi de Llobregat, ESP 185 82 41 Aleix Gomez Abello ESP R i g h t W i n g 7.5.1997 Sabadell, ESP 182 71 42 Wael Jallouz TUN L e ft B a c k 3.5.1991 Grombalia, TUN 197 92 39 Filip Jicha CZE L e ft B a c k 19.4.1982 Pilsen, CZE 201 105 77 Kiril Lazarov MKD R i g h t B a c k 10.5.1980 Veles, MKD 195 99 24 Dika Mem FRA R i g h t B a c k 31.8.1997 Paris, FRA 195 85 27 de Argila ESP L i n e P l a y e r 15.12.1983 Barcelona, ESP 199 99 19 Timothey N’guessan FRA L e ft B a c k 18.9.1992 Massy, FRA 194 94 3 Jesper Nöddesbo DEN L i n e P l a y e r 23.10.1980 Herning, DEN 199 100 1 Gonzalo Perez de Vargas ESP G o a l k e e p e r 10.1.1991 Toledo, ESP 189 93 6 Oriol Rey Morales ESP L i n e P l a y e r 31.3.1994 St Maria de Palautordera, ESP 190 95 Xavi Pascual 12 Borko Ristovski MKD G o a l k e e p e r 2.11.1982 Skopje, MKD 190 98 coach 17 ESP L e ft W i n g 22.2.1985 Barcelona, ESP 189 80 • played for a lengthy period for Barcelona and some other 37 Joan Saubich Mir ESP R i g h t W i n g 7.11.1989 Sarrià de Ter, ESP 186 82 Spanish clubs, before becoming the goalkeeper coach at the 10 Cedric Sorhaindo FRA L i n e P l a y e r 7.6.1984 La Trinite, FRA 192 100 CL record winners in 2005 21 Kamil Syprzak POL L i n e P l a y e r 23.7.1991 Plock, POL 206 120 • in 2009 he succeded at Barcelona’s helm C 8 Victor Tomas Gonzalez ESP R i g h t W i n g 15.2.1985 Barcelona, ESP 178 85 • 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: Left the club: Borko Ristovski (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Danjel Saric (Qatar) Joan Saubich (Aix-En-Provence) Marko Kopljar (Veszprem) Dika Mem (Tremblay) Daniel Sarmiento (Saint Raphael) Lasse Andersson (Kolding) Eduardo Gurbindo (Nantes) Timothey N’Guessan (Chambery) Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Valero Rivera jun (Nantes) (Sporting Lisbon)

42 43 FC Barcelona Lassa FC Barcelona Lassa

Gonzalo Perez de Vargas Raul Entrerrios goalkeeper centre back • returned to the Catalan club in 2014 after having played for BM Granollers and Tolouse • one of the household names in Spanish handball for his experience to gain more experience • EHF EURO 2016 MVP • in 2016/17 has more responsibility following the departure of Danijel Saric to Qatar • although his natural position sees him playing in the center, his skills on the first line • international with Spain in all age categories, in the senior national team shares the allow him to change permanently with effectiveness and perform with ease in all positions position with another former Barcelona goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik • with three Spanish clubs (Leon, , FC Barcelona) has won all the most important European Cup competitions including the CL EC Trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015, Cup Winner’s Cup 2005, 2009 EURO: B 2014, S 2016 OG: B 2008, EURO: S 2006, 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2015, B 2011

Valero Rivera Cedric Sorhaindo left wing line player • returned to the CL after 11 years following his transfer from Nantes • with Viran Morros, Sorhaindo is a key player in defence for FC Barcelona • started to play handball in Barcelona and played with the first team from 2001 to • arrived in Barcelona as an unknown player and now he is one of the best in the world 2005, later played for four different Spanish teams in 5 years and spent 6 years in Nantes in his position with a lot of experience • top scorer of the EHF EURO 2016 (48 goals), elected WCh 2015 best left winger and • prolonged his contract with Barcelona until 2020, ten years after his arrival MVP in French League in 2012; also best left-wing in the French League 2012 & 2013 • one of the stalwarts in the French national team • his father, also named Valero Rivera, currently coaches Qatar EC trophies: CL 2005 EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015 EURO: B 2014, S 2016, WCh: G 2013 EURO: G 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2015, OG: G 2012, S 2016

Wael Jallouz Kiril Lazarov left back right back • key player in the Tunisian national team, which also made it to the Rio 2016 OG • has scored over 1,000 goals in the CL, two-time top scorer (2005/06 and 2007/08) • became the first African player at the FINAL4 in 2014 in his first season with Kiel • powerful Macedonian back court shooter and the specialist from 7m • left his home town Hammamet for Kiel in 2013 and joined Barcelona in 2014 • most successful scorer at a single EURO (61 goals - 2012) and at WCh (92 - 2009) • became a key player for FC Barcelona in 2015/16 thanks to his progress • joined Barcelona in 2013 after stints with Pelister, Zagreb, Veszprem and Ciudad Real/Atletico de Madrid

EC trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2015

Filip Jicha Victor Tomas left back right wing • 2010 World Handball Player of the Year as the first Czech to win the award • team captain, one of the most beloved players for his courage and passion • twice top scorer of the CL, top scorer and MVP at the EHF EURO 2010 • joined Barcelona’s youth team in 1998 and has not played for any other club • former captain of the THW Kiel came to Barcelona in the summer of 2015, but his • his biggest assets are his great pace and his impressive flexibility that make him a first season was hampered by injuries strong player in attack but also in defence • one-against-one ability and tough shots make him feared by defences, also a strong • in 2015/16 reached 500th goal in CL and goal 1.000th in the Spanish league defender

•EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2006 EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, 2015, EHF Cup: 2003 OG: B 2008, EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2013

44 45 Paris Saint-Germain Handball Paris Saint-Germain Handball

GROUP A Paris Saint- EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 38:24 (22:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (h), 23.11.2013 Germain Handball Biggest defeat 44:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.2005 Longest winning run 7 matches (27.09.2015 – 21.11.2015) In 2014 and 2015, they failed during the last stage before the pinnacle event. In Longest unbeaten run 7 matches (27.09.2015 – 21.11.2015) May 2016, Paris Saint-Germain made their first-ever appearance at the VELUX EHF 7 matches (06.12.2015 – 01.05.2016) FINAL4, but missed the final. Since Montpellier’s triumph in 2003, no French team MATCHES Longest losing run 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) has made it to the VELUX EHF Champions League Final, let alone even won the Longest winning run competition, but PSG hopes that their time will soon come. 7 Longest run without win 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Most goals 40 v Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 30:40W (a), 03.10.2015 After 90 percent of the squad was involved with the Olympic Games in Rio - and GOALS Club Address half of them returned to the French capital with medals, including the Danish gold Most goals 40 v Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 40:28W (h), 20.02.2016 Paris Saint-Germain Handball medallists, Mikkel Hansen and Henrik Möllgaard, the biggest pre-season challenge 40 Most goals opponent 44 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 82 avenue Georges Lafont was the IHF Super Globe in Doha. At their debut, Paris made it to the final by beat- 75016 Paris ing current VELUX EHF Champions League winners Kielce, but then failed against GOALS Most goals both teams 72 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 France Füchse Berlin. 72 Most goals both teams Fewest goals 20 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.1997 Media contact This tournament already proved that Paris’ top transfer was an ace: German Uwe 20 v Caja Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.1997 Louise Cosnard Gensheimer, All-star team member and bronze medallist in Rio, was by far PSG’s 20 v MVM Veszprém HUN 28:20L (a), 28.11.2015 +33 675 591 939 best scorer at the Super Globe. Alongside Gensheimer, the PSG signings are mainly Fewest goals opponent 18 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 [email protected] international, with Croat Luka Stepancic, Slovenian goalkeeper Gorazd Skof, Dane Jesper Nielsen and some additional native French players. Now, the French champi- Fewest goals both teams 39 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 ons belong to the top favourites once again. www.psghand.fr The new key players are meant to strengthen the squad, after several players PSGHAND 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 @PSG_HANDBALL that the impact is not too harsh,” says manager Bruno Martini. VELUX EHF Champions League record Everyone within the Paris organization agrees that their group A is the “hardest MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 and strongest ever group in the history of the Champions League.” Despite all Kit colours those big names, Paris aim to repeat last season’s success, when they captured first 1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 1 0 5 131:161 –30 2:10 4th Gr. D Light position to skip the Last 16 in a nearly similar group. 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 4 1 3 212:229 -17 9:7 1/8-finals Player shirt: white 2013/14 PSG Handball FRA 14 7 1 6 429:402 +27 15:13 1/4-finals Player short: white GK shirt: green Past achievements 2014/15 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 14 8 1 5 395:367 +28 17:11 1/4-finals VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 18 14 1 3 557:496 +61 29:7 Third Place Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 5 Total: 60 34 4 22 1724:1655 +69 72:48 Player shirt: blue Semi-final (1): 2015/16 (3rd) Player short: blue Quarter-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 GK shirt: green Last 16 (1): 2005/06

Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last 16 2003/04 Playing hall Stade Pierre de Coubertin French league: 3 titles (2013, 2015, 2016) 82, Avenue Georges Lafond French cup: 2 titles 75016 Paris France Capacity: 4,012

46 47 Paris Saint-Germain Handball Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 19 FRA R i g h t W i n g 6.9.1984 Creteil, FRA 182 80 6 William Accambray FRA L e ft B a c k 8.4.1988 Cannes, FRA 194 94 88 Titouan Afanou Gatine FRA R i g h t B a c k 27.1.1995 Lyon, FRA 193 97 14 Xavier Barachet FRA R i g h t B a c k 19.11.1988 Nice, FRA 196 95 29 Djordane Bougrainville FRA L e ft B a c k 8.8.1993 Saint-Denis Reunion, FRA190 88 34 Clement Branco FRA R i g h t W i n g 25.8.1996 Perpignan, FRA 190 85 10 Adrien Chaudanson FRA L i n e P l a y e r 1.12.1998 Lyon, FRA 192 100 13 Paul Correia FRA R i g h t B a c k 12.2.1997 Nantes, FRA 185 91 2 Robin Dourte FRA L i n e P l a y e r 30.6.1998 Thionville, FRA 206 105 17 Dylan Garain FRA L e ft B a c k 22.8.1996 Les Abymes, FRA 192 86 70 Clement Gaudin FRA G o a l k e e p e r 13.3.1997 Martigues, FRA 197 87 3 Uwe Gensheimer GER L e ft W i n g 26.10.1986 Mannheim, GER 188 89 97 Andry Goujon Bellevue FRA L e ft W i n g 2.9.1999 Courtry, FRA 193 80 24 Mikkel Hansen DEN L e ft B a c k 22.10.1987 Helsingor, DEN 192 93 23 Gauthier Ivah FRA G o a l k e e p e r 6.1.1999 Saint-Denis, FRA 191 95 Noka Serdarusic 66 CRO L e ft B a c k 22.6.1998 Rijeka, CRO 200 95 coach 22 Luka Karabatic FRA L i n e P l a y e r 19.4.1988 Strasbourg, FRA 202 103 • born in Yugoslavia, became a German citizen in 2008 44 Nikola Karabatic FRA L e ft B a c k 11.4.1984 Nis, SRB 196 102 • came out of retirement in 2012 to coach Aix, then moved to 9 Adama Keita FRA L e ft W i n g 5.6.1997 Paris, FRA 183 77 PSG in 2015 20 Edouard Kempf FRA R i g h t W i n g 20.3.1998 Mulhouse, FRA 178 76 • does not speak French, only German, but since many players 11 Benoit Kounkoud FRA R i g h t W i n g 19.2.1997 Versailles, FRA 188 78 in PSG have played in Germany before it seems to be no Lapajne SLO R i g h t B a c k 3.3.1995 Sampeter pri Gorici, SLO 192 93 problem 77 Janus M’tima FRA L e ft W i n g 16.7.1991 Schlitighelm, FRA 188 80 • his previous coaching experience includes eleven seasons 90 Jeffrey with THW Kiel and three with SG Flensburg-Handewitt 5 Henrik Møllgaard Jensen DEN L e ft B a c k 2.1.1985 Bramming, DEN 195 97 • almost a honourary member of the Karabatic family 99 Dylan Nahi FRA L e ft W i n g 30.11.1999 Paris, FRA 190 90 C 25 Daniel Narcisse FRA C e n t r e B a c k 16.12.1979 St Dennis-Reunion, FRA 189 93 36 Jesper Nielsen SWE L i n e P l a y e r 30.9.1989 Norrköping, SWE 200 118 EC trophies: CL 2007, EHF Cup 1998, 2002, 2004 16 Thierry Omeyer FRA G o a l k e e p e r 2.11.1976 Mulhouse, FRA 192 93 18 Nedim Remili FRA R i g h t B a c k 18.7.1995 Creteil, FRA 195 94 Newcomers: Left the club: 12 Gorazd Skof SLO G o a l k e e p e r 11.7.1977 Novo Mesto, SLO 188 91 Luka Stepancic (Zagreb) Fahrudin Melic (Chambéry) 7 Luka Stepancic CRO R i g h t B a c k 20.11.1990 Pula, CRO 203 105 Uwe Gensheimer (Rhein Neckar Löwen) Sergiy Onufriyenko (Aix) Gorazd Skof (Nantes) Robert Gunnarsson () 21 Jonathan Troudart FRA L i n e P l a y e r 15.1.1996 Fort de France, FRA 194 82 Nedim Remili (Créteil) Patrice Annonay (Tremblay) Jesper Nielsen (Berlin) Samuel Honrubia (Tremblay) Dylan Garain (Paris Saint-Germain Youth) Igor Vori (Zagreb)

48 49 Paris Saint-Germain Handball Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Thierry Omeyer Daniel Narcisse goalkeeper centre back • crowned best goalkeeper in history by the IHF • might well go down in history as one of the most decorated French players • returned to Montpellier from Kiel for the 2013/14 season, reached the EHF Cup final • 2012 IHF World Handball Player of the Year and decided to move on to PSG in the summer of 2014 • nicknamed “Air France” because of his jumping skills • awarded the best goalkeeper and the MVP at the WCh 2015 in Qatar • after three years of absence, ended up back to Cologne with former THW Kiel • IHF Player of the Year 2008, All-star goalkeeper of OG 2008 and 2012, EURO 2006 teammate Thierry Omeyer in May 2016 EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015, B EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 2003, 2005 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2015, B 2003, 2005

Uwe Gensheimer Luka Karabatic left wing line player • after 13 seasons playing for Rhein-Neckar Löwen, the German player of the year in • was a national-level tennis player until he was 19, only then turned his back on the 2011-14, left to join PSG in the summer of 2016 yellow ball and chose handball • his talent discovered early as he became Junior European champion in 2006, one • began in Montpellier, then moved to Aix and finally to PSG in the summer of 2015 year later awarded MVP at the Junior WCh • on the CL list of Montpellier for six seasons, but did not enjoy too much playing time • top scorer of 2010/11 CL season, when he also reached his only FINAL4 (in total 22 goals) • PSG is the third club where he reunites with his brother Nikola EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2016, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015 OG: B 2016

Mikkel Hansen Luka Stepancic left back right back • 2011 & 2015 IHF World Handball Player of the Year went back to the FINAL4 in May • at 25, had been a target for PSG for years, but has just arrived in 2016 summer 2016 with PSG, after already visiting twice with FC Barcelona and AG Kobenhavn • follows the footstep of another tall Croatian right back who used to play in PSG in • son of former Danish international Flemming; having grown into a top player at GOG couple of seasons ago, Marko Kopljar • joining AG in 2011 arrived in PSG before the 2012/13 season; his headbands have now • more than 2 m tall left-hander with a great jump shot and ability to play in defence become a collector item among PSG fans • member of Croatian national team; at the 2009 Junior WCh in Tunisia won the gold • best CL scorer of the 2011/12 and 2015/16 editions WCh: B 2013 OG: G 2016, EURO: G 2012, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013

Nikola Karabatic Luc Abalo left back / centre back right wing • 2007 & 2014 World Handball Player of the Year • spectacular winger returned to France from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2012 • in his first season with PSG (2015/16), helped the club get the first taste of Cologne • immediately showed how much progress he has made during his four seasons in Spain reached the final of the CL in 2011 and 2012 • 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) • regular fixture in the national team as well • one of the most complete players with strengths both in attack and defence • 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 2003, 2007, 2015 EC trophies: CL 2009 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2003, 2005, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2009, 2011

50 51 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

GROUP A Bjerringbro- EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 23:35 (11:18) v St. Petersburg HC RUS (a), 18.11.2012 Silkeborg Biggest defeat 32:18 (18:14) v HC Metalurg MKD (a), 24.02.2013 Longest winning run 2 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012) Even before the national final had been played, it was settled that Denmark would Longest unbeaten run 2 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012) see a new champion as the successor of KIF Kolding. In the end, Bjerringbro defeat- Longest losing run 11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012) ed Holstebro to capture their first domestic trophy and thanks to the EHF ranking, MATCHES Longest run without win 11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012) they are now part of group A in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Longest winning run 2 Most goals 35 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 23:35W (a), 18.11.2012 For manager Christian Lynnerup, a dream will come true in his team’s fourth-ever Most goals opponent 37 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 37:29L (a), 23.10.2011 participation within the top flight of European club handball. “We have the great GOALS Club Address pleasure to be in the strongest group ever of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Most goals 37 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:37L (h), 19.02.2012 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg We are going to face five teams, which have a very realistic chance to win the 35 Most goals both teams 66 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 37:29L (a), 23.10.2011 Vestre Ringvej 7 VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. We are very much looking forward to playing in 8850 Bjerringbro these matches.” GOALS Fewest goals 18 v HC Metalurg MKD 32:18L (a), 24.02.2013 Most goals both teams Denmark Only one top player left the Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen’s team - Danish Olympic cham- 66 Fewest goals opponent 22 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:22W (h), 25.11.2012 Media contact pion (to Magdeburg). Bjerringbro were quarter-finalists in the Fewest goals both teams 44 v MKB Veszprém HUN 19:25L (h), 04.12.2011 Jonas Loytved previous EHF Cup season, missing the EHF Cup Final at Nantes by only one goals +45 23 323235 against Granollers (Spain). [email protected] 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 bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk some matches, our chances to gain points will be minimal, but we will enjoy every VELUX EHF Champions League record minute. Even though we will play against clubs with a more positive economic bjerringbrosilkeborg background, we will be ready to take the points when the opportunity arises and MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 we will do anything to get enough points to qualify for the Last 16.” @BSVofficiel In 2013, Bjerringbro made it to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 10 0 0 10 253:315 -62 0:20 6th Gr. B for the one and only time thus far. Experienced team captain, Michael Knudsen, is 2012/13 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 12 4 0 8 309:339 –30 8:16 1/8-finals confident they will return. “It is a very tough group with world class teams, as five Total: 22 4 0 18 562:654 -92 8:36 Kit colours of them were already part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. We will give our best in all the Light matches and we hope it will be enough to qualify for the Last 16.” Player shirt: white Player short: blue GK shirt: red Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 4 Player shirt: blue Last 16 (1): 2012/13 Player short: blue Group Phase (1): 2011/12 GK shirt: red Qualification (1): 2010/11

Other EHF Cup: quarter-finals 2002/03, 2008/09, 2015/16, Last 16 2010/11 Playing hall Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2006/07 JYSK Arena, Silkeborg Ansvej 114 Danish league: 1 title (2016) 8600 Silkeborg Denmark Capacity: 3,000

52 53 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 21 Allan Damgaard DEN C e n t r e B a c k 11.4.1986 Nysted, DEN 185 88 1 Sebastian Frandsen DEN G o a l k e e p e r 27.5.1994 Århus, DEN 204 102 10 Johan Hansen DEN R i g h t W i n g 1.5.1994 Torshavn, FAR 190 91 23 Stefan Hundstrup DEN L e ft W i n g 30.6.1986 Svendborg, DEN 193 86 29 Rasmus Jensen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 17.6.1989 , DEN 190 102 16 Tom Jensen DEN G o a l k e e p e r 31.8.1971 Hobro, DEN 190 91 34 Rasmus Kier DEN R i g h t W i n g 4.7.1996 Silkeborg, DEN 180 78 27 Kristian Klitgaard DEN L e ft W i n g 20.6.1986 , DEN 196 102 C 77 Michael V. Knudsen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 4.9.1978 Hobro, DEN 192 99 9 Jacob Lassen DEN R i g h t B a c k 11.9.1995 Randers, DEN 197 117 22 DEN L e ft B a c k 1.8.1988 Gribskov, DEN 211 106 7 Nikolaj Oris Nielsen DEN R i g h t B a c k 26.9.1986 Bjerringbro, DEN 197 100 11 Kasper Olsen DEN L e ft B a c k 1.2.1990 København, DEN 193 90 17 Kristian Orsted DEN L i n e P l a y e r 22.5.1995 Århus, DEN 210 121 39 Jens Plougstrup DEN L e ft B a c k 8.1.1999 Silkeborg, DEN 190 88 Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen 12 Sören Rasmussen DEN G o a l k e e p e r 12.8.1976 Skive, DEN 193 98 coach 11 Sebastian Skube SLO C e n t r e B a c k 3.4.1987 Novo Mesto, SLO 189 90 • head coach in Bjerringbro-Silkeborg since 2014 4 Klaus Thomsen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 26.4.1986 Haderslev, DEN 198 102 • 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: Left the club: Sebastian Frandsen (Ribe-Esbjerg) Mads Christiansen (Magdeburg) Kasper Olsen (Aarhus Haandbold) Kasper Larsen (Mors-Thy) Jacob Lassen (Randers HH) Mikkel Münter (Aarhus) Rasmus Kier (youth team) Peter Pucelj (retired)

54 55 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Sören Rasmussen Sebastian Skube goalkeeper centre back • joined the club in the summer 2014 from SG Flensburg-Handewitt after winning the • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from RK Celje in the summer of 2014 CL with the North German side • Bjerringbro-Silkeborg is his first club outside Slovenia • before going abroad to represent Flensburg in 2010, he represented Viborg HK and • has played more than a hundred internationals for Slovenia and was part of the AaB Handbold, with the latter, he won the Danish championship in 2010 Slovenian team for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland • played 35 internationals for Denmark (2000-13), most of them as substitute • his younger brother, Stas, who plays for Szeged, plays the playmaker position just • despite his age, extended his contract until the summer of 2017 like Sebastian EC trophies: CL 2014 WCh: S 2011

Sebastian Frandsen Michael V. Knudsen goalkeeper line player • joined from league rivals Ribe Esbjerg in the summer of 2016 • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the summer of 2014 • goalkeeper for the future and seen as a perfect partner for veteran Rasmussen • represented Viborg HK as well as Skjern Handbold in the Danish league before • has experience from several junior national teams, where his greatest triumph so far • strong and versatile on the line in the attack, clever and uncompromising defender, was winning the Men's U20 WCh in Hungary in 2013 his slogan “Winners never quit and quitters never win” • turned down an offer from Barca in 2014, as he preferred court time in Esbjerg • played 244 internationals for Denmark (796 goals) before saying goodbye in 2014

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

Stefan Hundstrup Nikolaj Oris Nielsen left wing right back • arrived in the summer of 2014 from KIF Kolding København • has played in Bjerringbro-Silkeborg all his career apart from being loaned out to league colleagues Lemvig Thyborøn one year • has won the Danish championship with AG København as well as with KIF Kolding København • made his break-through in the Danish national team under coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson in 2015 and took part at the EHF EURO 2016 • also represented GOG and Viborg HK in the Danish league • his older brother Mads, a former national team player, plays for Danish league rivals • he is good as the advanced player in a 5-1 defence. 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

Nikolaj Markussen Johan Hansen left back right wing • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from nearby league rivals Skjern Handbold ahead of this • born on the Faroe Islands and started his career in the Faroe Islands club Kyndil season • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from another Danish club Skanderborg in 2015 • the 213 cm tall already represented another Danish league club, Nordsjælland – the • could have played for the Faroe Islands, but has chosen the Danish national team club of his childhood – as well Atletico Madrid and the Qatari club El Jaish • over the 2015/16 season, his obvious skills has made him first choice on the right • his career has been hampered by a couple of long injury breaks, but he has been wing in the team completely fit for some time now and is back at full strength

EURO: G 2012, WCh S 2011

56 57 Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock

GROUP A Orlen Wisla EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.2004 Plock Biggest defeat 35:18 (19:4) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), 07.10.2006 34:17 (15:7) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), 12.10.2008 A new coach, players from nine nations and the aim to make another step forward Longest winning run 5 matches (29.11.2014 – 14.03.2015) in the VELUX EHF Champions League: This is the situation of Orlen Wisla Plock Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (23.11.2014 – 14.03.2015) prior to the start of their 12th Champions League season. After Manoel Cadenas MATCHES Longest losing run 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) said good-bye to the Polish runners-up and is no longer the Spanish national team Longest winning run coach, Piotr Przybecki, is in control of the Oilers. 5 Longest run without win 8 matches (25.11.2015 – 26.03.2016) Most goals 42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.2004 On a domestic level, Plock will attempt to end the chain of Kielce’s successes in the GOALS Club Address league and on route to the cup. On the international stage, Plock hopes for their Most goals Most goals opponent 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Orlen Wisła Płock first ever participation in the Champions League quarter-final. “First, we want to be 42 Most goals both teams 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Plac Celebry Papieskiej 1 a tough opponent for all teams in our group. Secondly, we want to secure a better 09-400 Płock ranking in the final group phase to have a higher chance in the knockout stage, GOALS Fewest goals 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 Poland beginning with the Last 16,” says coach Piotr Przybecki. 72 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.2006 Media contact Przybecki will steer a quiet international team, which is bolstered by the Polish 19 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.2012 Tomasz Bauman Gebala brothers and the Croats, Sime Ivić and Lovro Mihić. On the other hand, line 19 v Besiktas MOGAZ HT 28:19W (h), 27.09.2014 Tel: +48 723 100 787 player Marco Oneto, the tall Spanish shooter Angel Montoro, Serb Ivan Nikcevic Fewest goals both teams 34 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 [email protected] and Polish international Bartosz Konitz have all left Plock. In the previous two seasons, Plock lost their Last 16 matches: in 2014 against www.sprwislaplock.pl 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 sprWisla the previous years, when they have beaten teams, such as Barcelona or Flensburg, at home. VELUX EHF Champions League record @SPRWisla “It is great for us to see the best European teams return to the Orlen Arena; it is MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 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 2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 167:195 –28 2:10 3rd Gr. A Kit colours for winning the VELUX EHF Champions league title this season. 2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 159:177 -18 2:10 4th Gr. D Light 2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 2 0 4 155:182 -27 4:8 3rd Gr. E Player shirt: white, blue Player short: blue 2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 2 0 4 141:170 –29 4:8 3rd Gr. C GK shirt: yellow Past achievements 2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 0 0 6 122:188 -66 0:12 4th Gr. H VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 4 1 7 321:332 -11 9:15 1/8-finals Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 12 Player shirt: blue Last 16 (5): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 5 0 7 335:341 -6 10:14 1/8-finals Player short: blue 2014/15, 2015/16 2014/15 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 7 1 4 340:337 +3 15:9 1/8-finals GK shirt: red Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2015/16 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 16 3 3 10 426:452 –26 9:23 1/8-finals 2006/07, 2008/09 82 25 5 52 2166:2374 –208 55:109 Qualification (1): 2012/13

Other Playing hall EHF Cup: quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: Orlen Arena 2012/13 Pl. Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, Poland 2006, 2008, 2011) Capacity: 5,467 : 10 titles

58 59 Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 36 Rodrigo Corrales Rodal ESP G o a l k e e p e r 24.1.1991 Cangas, ESP 202 99 3 Michal Daszek POL R i g h t W i n g 27.6.1992 Tczew, POL 180 70 37 Jose D. De Toledo BRA R i g h t B a c k 11.1.1994 Sao Paulo, BRA 193 96 5 Gilberto Duarte POR L e ft B a c k 6.7.1990 Portimao, POR 197 96 28 Maciej Gebala POL L i n e P l a y e r 10.1.1994 Gdyna, POL 200 102 20 Tomasz Gebala POL L e ft B a c k 23.11.1995 Gdyna, POL 212 117 15 Valentin Ghionea ROU R i g h t W i n g 29.4.1984 Baia Mare, ROU 197 90 21 Sime Ivic CRO R i g h t B a c k 21.1.1993 Split, CRO 195 93 2 Zbigniew Kwiatkowski POL L i n e P l a y e r 2.4.1985 Mlawa, POL 202 120 34 Lovro Mihic CRO L e ft W i n g 25.8.1994 Zagreb, CRO 180 74 16 POL G o a l k e e p e r 17.10.1994 Ciechanów, POL 192 84 18 Mateusz Piechowski POL L i n e P l a y e r 1.3.1995 Plock, POL 210 110 33 Miljan Pusica SRB L e ft B a c k 30.6.1991 Prijepolje, SRB 199 101 7 Dan Emil Racotea ROU L e ft B a c k 21.7.1995 Brasov, ROU 202 98 17 Tiago Rocha POR L i n e P l a y e r 17.10.1985 S. Paio Oleiros, POR 196 104 Piotr Przybecki 26 Marko Tarabochia BIH C e n t r e B a c k 28.11.1988 Zagreb, BIH 192 92 coach 12 POL G o a l k e e p e r 17.2.1980 Zabrze, POL 193 100 • replaced Manuel Cadenas at the helm of Plock in the summer of 2016 C 10 Adam Wisniewski POL L e ft W i n g 24.10.1980 Plock, POL 192 100 • former centre and left back, member of Polish national team with 372 89 RUS C e n t r e B a c k 20.11.1989 Zvolen, RUS 193 90 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: Left the club: Gilberto Duarte (FC Porto) Bartosz Konitz (Pogon Szczecin) Sime Ivić (HBC Nantes) Marco Oneto (uknown) Lovro Mihić (HC PPD Zagreb) Ivan Nikcević (Sporting Lisbon) Tomasz Gębala (SC Magdeburg) Angel Montoro (Naturhouse La Rioja) Maciej Gębala (SC Magdeburg)

60 61 Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock

Rodrigo Corrales Dmitry Zhitnikov goalkeeper centre back • coming to Plock in 2014 seems to be one of the best decisions made by the Spaniard • comes from Krasnodar, and his first coach at the local school was his father who had been in the shadow of other keepers in FC Barcelona • at the age of 16, the talented boy was invited to Chekhov where he played five • taken under previous coach Manolo Cadenas wings, which soon made the experts seasons in the reserve team call him the future of Spanish handball • as he matured and experienced players left, Zhitnikov began to play a more • talented, hard-working and dynamic player soon gained hearts of the local fans with prominent role at Medvedi incredible saves in crucial moments of many games • member of the Russian national team joined Plock in the summer of 2015 and EC trophies: CL 2011 turned out to be one of the most successful recent transfers of the team

Marcin Wichary Tiago Rocha goalkeeper line player • despite his inconspicuous look, while standing in the goal he turns into a beast • first Portuguese player in Polish league • came to Plock in 2004 and since that moment he has become a true Oiler, beloved • hard-working player aware of his physical assets, despite his huge dimensions by the local fans possesses a good coordination • in his WCh debut in 2013 impressed with a 50% save efficiency in the group phase • after spending 12 years in FC Porto made his first step abroad joining Płock in 2014 • his best achievement to date remains the 5th place in the Olympic Games 2008 in • after the departure of Kamil Syprzak to Barcelona in 2015 he became the main line Beijing and the bronze medal from the WCh 2015 in Qatar player of Płock WCh: B 2015

Adam Wisniewski Jose Guilherme de Toledo left wing right back • team's captain has spent all his career in Płock and wants to finish it there as well • surprisingly joined Plock in November 2015 after Nemanja Zelenovic’s transfer to Magdeburg • was about to finish his career after rapturing his knee ligaments three times but he came back in 2009 after a three-year break • top scorer of the Men’s U-19 World Championship in 2013 • due to serious injuries missed the biggest success of the Polish national team to • already during his first months in Plock he became an important part of the finally win a bronze medal on WCh in Qatar in 2015 club in both domestic and European context • his nickname “Gadżet” is a reference to popular cartoon “Inspector Gadget” • talented young player will share his position with other clever youngster Sime Ivić

WCh: B 2015 • before handball he used to train football and hockey

Dan-Emil Racotea Valentin Ghionea left back right wing • reinforced the ranks of Wisla before 2014/15was his first move abroad • Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008 and two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007) • besides his shooting abilities he has a great jump and a clear view over the court • joined Wisla Plock in 2012 and already during his first season, he showed his great • playing for Wisła Płock enabled him to perform in the CL where he has been goalscoring ability improving over past years • quickly became a very important Wisla player and his team’s top scorer • 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 • in his free time he likes to play football, billiards and to fish

62 63 SG Flensburg-Handewitt SG Flensburg-Handewitt

GROUP A SG Flensburg- EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.2006 Handewitt Biggest defeat 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.2005 Before Vive Tauron Kielce leaped onto the winner’s podium in May 2016, the 24:38 (08:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.2011 Champions League triumph of SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2014 had been the big- 35:21 (19:13) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 28.09.2014 gest surprise ever at a VELUX EHF FINAL4 event. After the team of Ljubomir Vranjes Longest winning run 9 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016) 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 MATCHES Longest unbeaten run 9 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016) Longest winning run season. 9 Longest losing run 3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006) “We played a great season and we increased our consistency. From this, we will 3 matches (22.02.2015 - 22.03.2015) GOALS try everything to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. But in a group such as ours, Longest run without win 5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) Club Address the first goal is to proceed to the Last16, as even that will be anything but easy,” Most goals SG Flensburg-Handewitt 44 Vranjes said. Most goals 44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 Schiffbrücke 66 24939 Flensburg SG Flensburg finished second in the Bundesliga, below Rhein Neckar Löwen, but GOALS Most goals opponent 41 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.2006 Germany ahead of THW Kiel. For the new season, the ticket for the VELUX EHF Champions 80 Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 80 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), 31.05.2014 League is Flensburg’s main objective on domestic ground. The Vranjes’ squad Fewest goals 19 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), 22.09.2010 Media contact basically did not change at all - as only one Croatian player (Kresimir Kozina) left Sandra von Wallis and another (Ivan Horvat) arrived. The rest of the roster remains the same for Fewest goals opponent 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 +49 4611609625 the ultimate season of left winger, , in a Flensburg jersey, as he will Fewest goals both teams 43 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), 01.03.2009 s.vonwallis@sg-flensburg- handewitt.de return to Denmark in 2017. 43 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 Before SG can experience true and top handball, as manager Dierk Schmäschke 43 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), 01.05.2011 sg-flensburg-handewitt.de 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 SGFleHa percent in all the matches to be victorious.” For Schmäschke, there are no favour- @SGFleHa 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.” VELUX EHF Champions League record Similar to their group phase opponents PSG and Barcelona, Flensburg was the third MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Kit colours club to be represented on both sides in the Olympic final in Rio by silver medallist Kentin Mahe (France) and Danish Olympic champions, and 2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 10 1 3 450:401 +49 21:7 Runner-up Light Player shirt: white Lasse Svan. 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 10 7 1 2 319:270 +49 15:5 1/4-finals Player short: blue 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 12 7 0 5 372:326 +46 14:10 1/2-finals Past achievements GK shirt: black 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 8 1 5 437:398 +39 17:11 Runner-up VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 12 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 4 2 6 355:356 -1 10:14 4th MR Gr. 3 Player shirt: dark-blue Winners (1): 2013/14 2008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 8 0 4 360:329 +31 16:8 1/4-finals Player short: blue Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 11 0 3 394:354 +40 22:6 1/4-finals GK shirt: orange Semi-final (1): 2005/2006 Quarter-final (5): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 9 3 2 416:384 +32 21:7 1/4-finals 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2015/16 2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 16 12 1 3 489:441 +48 25:7 Winner Last 16 (1): 2014/15 2014/15 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 6 0 6 337:340 -3 12:12 1/8-finals Main Round (1): 2007/2008 Playing hall 2015/16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 18 12 1 5 544:494 +50 25:11 1/4-finals Flens Arena Other 148 94 10 44 4473:4093 +380 198:98 Campusallee 2 Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/2001 24943 Flensburg 2011/2012 Germany EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997 Capacity: 6,000 City Cup: Winners 1998/1999

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

64 65 SG Flensburg-Handewitt SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 1 Mattias Andersson SWE G o a l k e e p e r 29.3.1978 Malmö, SWE 185 93 42 Philipp Asmussen GER R i g h t B a c k 17.8.1996 Flensburg, GER 187 87 2 Lukas Blohme GER R i g h t W i n g 7.11.1994 Flensburg, GER 188 72 33 Robin Breitenfeldt GER L e ft W i n g 2.1.1998 Flensburg, GER 183 74 27 Morten Dibbert GER L e ft B a c k 19.10.1991 Rendsburg, GER 193 95 17 Petar Djordjic SRB L e ft B a c k 17.9.1990 Sabac, SRB 197 102 7 Anders Eggert Magnussen DEN L e ft W i n g 14.5.1982 Aarhus, DEN 179 77 9 Holger Glandorf GER R i g h t B a c k 30.3.1983 Osnabrück, GER 195 90 24 SWE C e n t r e B a c k 2.9.1992 Ystad, SWE 190 95 21 Jacob Heinl GER L i n e P l a y e r 9.10.1986 Hamburg, GER 195 101 73 Ivan Horvat CRO C e n t r e B a c k 17.2.1993 Balzano, ITA 192 97 19 Johan Mikael Jakobsson SWE R i g h t B a c k 12.2.1987 Lundby, SWE 195 89 77 Thore Jöhnck GER G o a l k e e p e r 28.7.1995 Kiel, GER 184 84 C 3 Tobias Karlsson SWE L i n e P l a y e r 4.6.1981 Karlskrona, SWE 196 102 28 Jannek Klein GER R i g h t B a c k 25.3.1999 Rendsburg, GER 197 92 Ljubomir Vranjes 26 Per Oke Kohnagel GER C e n t r e B a c k 28.5.1994 Flensburg, GER 188 83 coach 20 Johannes Krüger GER L e ft W i n g 28.6.1997 Flensburg, GER 179 76 • former Swedish national team player, still on the players’ list of 18 Toms Lielais LAT L e ft B a c k 20.5.1996 Aizkraukle, LAT 191 91 Flensburg 82 Norman Louwers GER L i n e P l a y e r 21.5.1994 Wolfsburg, GER 200 103 • became club manager in 2009 and coach in November 2010; awarded IHF coach of the Year in 2014 35 Kentin Mahe FRA C e n t r e B a c k 22.5.1991 Paris, FRA 185 81 • after winning the CL in the 2014/15 season he declined the 32 Andreas Meyer Ejlersen DEN G o a l k e e p e r 28.6.1997 Horsens, DEN 188 85 number of top offers from PSG and the German national team 37 Marcel Möller GER L i n e P l a y e r 25.7.1990 Eutin, GER 191 96 • led Serbia to the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark as a caretaker, but did not continue 10 DEN C e n t r e B a c k 30.1.1983 Odder, DEN 187 100 • highly creative photographer in his spare time and published his 16 Kevin Møller DEN G o a l k e e p e r 20.6.1989 Tondern, DEN 200 103 book of memoirs 34 Jamo Mumm GER L e ft W i n g 8.10.1997 Rendsburg, GER 185 83 41 Bogdan Radivojevic SRB R i g h t W i n g 2.3.1993 Beograd, SRB 186 84 EC trophies: CL 2014 (as coach), Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 (as coach) 36 Georg Rohwer GER C e n t r e B a c k 4.9.1997 Rendsburg, GER 183 83 OG: S 2000, WCh: G 1999, EURO: G 1998, 2000 and 2002 50 Marlon Runow GER L e ft B a c k 11.1.1997 Flensburg, GER 197 87 25 Schmidt DEN C e n t r e B a c k 20.6.1991 Randers, DEN 193 96 Newcomers: Left the club: 38 Niels-Jonas Simons GER R i g h t B a c k 12.9.1994 Flensburg, GER 179 83 Ivan Horvat (GRK Varaždin 1930) Kresimir Kozina (Füchse Berlin) 6 Janos Steidtmann GER R i g h t W i n g 8.9.1996 Flensburg, GER 194 90 11 Lasse Svan DEN R i g h t W i n g 31.8.1983 Stevns, DEN 184 84 23 Henrik Toft Hansen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 18.12.1986 Skive, DEN 200 108 40 Ljubomir Vranjes SWE C e n t r e B a c k 3.10.1973 Göteborg, SWE 168 80 14 SWE L e ft W i n g 10.12.1993 Lundby, SWE 184 84 27 Leon Witte GER L e ft W i n g 25.9.1995 Flensburg, GER 183 84 22 DEN L i n e P l a y e r 4.9.1991 Sonderborg, DEN 192 96

66 67 SG Flensburg-Handewitt SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Mattias Andersson Henrik Toft Hansen goalkeeper line player • already in the younger age categories part of all All-Star teams and became member of • whole family involved in handball: brothers Rene (also a line player of Kiel) and Allan the senior national team (Mors-Thy) and sisters Majbritt (Skive) and Jeanette players in the Danish league • played at Kiel (2001-08), TV Großwallstadt before signing in Flensburg; awarded “best • his girlfriend Ulrike Agren plays in the women's CL for Esbjerg in 2016/17 player of the Bundesliga season 2011/12” • part of AG Kobenhavn, later transferred to Aalborg, before he joined Hamburg in • his saves at the 2014 FINAL4 were key for Flensburg winning his last missing EC trophy 2013 and then Flensburg in 2015 after being part of the EHF Cup final • preparation perfectionist, no other keeper has a bigger video archive of top players

EC trophies: CL 2007, 2014, EHF Cup: 2002, 2004, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 OG: G 2016, EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2000

Anders Eggert Tobias Karlsson left wing line player • had big shoes to fill in Flensburg as successor of legendary Lars Christiansen • typical powerful Scandinavian defence specialist; best defence player at the EHF EURO 2014; awarded best Bundesliga defender in the 2015/16 season • top scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 (248 goals) and top scorer of the 2013 WCh in Spain (55 goals) • team captain, a great honour after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG • started his career at Braband, in his tenth season in Flensburg after intermediately • Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF, retired from the national team just being on loan at Skjern Handball, where he moves again in 2017 before the 2016/17 season • also famous for one of the highest percentages in the CL from the penalty throws • founded an insurance company with some other former players in Sweden EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, S 2014 OG: S 2012

Kentin Mahe Holger Glandorf centre back right back • joined Flensburg in 2015 after spells with HSV Hamburg, VfL Gummersbach and Bayer • left-handed shooter and the last remaining German 2007 world champion in the Dormagen (coached by his father Pascal in Dormagen) Flensburg roster • Men's 20 EURO 2010 MVP and top scorer (49 goals); 2015 EHF Cup Finals MVP • despite some injury breaks, always returned to a high level of performance • in 2010 a debut in the French national team, now one of the key players • has the full set of three major European Cup competitions titles on his tally, with Nordhorn and Flensburg • reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final with Gummersbach in 2011/12 and EHF Cup final with HSV in 2014/15 • in August 2014 retired from the German national team to only focus on his club OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2015 EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2008, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: G 2007

Thomas Mogensen Lasse Svan centre back right wing • experienced Danish playmaker with more than 1,000 goals for his club and long list • one of the fastest wing players in the CL; same qualities as Eggert on the other side: of silverware fast counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency • since 2007 playing for Flensburg – his first stop outside his home country • 2nd best Danish scorer at Rio Olympics 2016 another task in his team: motivation and relaxing – as his business is mental coaching • before played for Viborg and GOG, Danish champion and cup winner twice • after four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008 • to focus only on SG he quit his career in the national team after the EURO 2014 • was also a billiard’s champion in his home region Seeland EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

68 69 Kadetten Schaffhausen Kadetten Schaffhausen

GROUP A Kadetten EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 43:18 (23:8) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (h), 09.02.2012 Schaffhausen Biggest defeat 36:25 (19:13) v FC Barcelona Intersport ESP (a), 01.12.2012 After winning their third double (league and cup) in Switzerland since 2011, Kadet- Longest winning run 3 matches (25.10.2015 – 19.11.2015) ten Schaffhausen have clearly bolstered their squad to take on a tough Group A. Longest unbeaten run 3 matches (25.10.2015 – 19.11.2015) Swiss number 1 replaces between the goal posts, Longest losing run 4 matches (06.10.2011 – 17.11.2011) while Polish World Championship bronze medallist and Olympic semi-finalist MATCHES 4 matches (17.10.2012 – 01.12.2012) Michel Szyba and Swedish Kristian Bliznac will increase the squad’s international Longest winning run experience massively. 3 4 matches (18.10.2014 – 30.11.2014) Longest run without win 5 matches (25.11.2007 – 14.10.2010) Despite opponents like Barcelona, Veszprem, Kiel, Flensburg and PSG lying in GOALS Club Address wait, the Swiss champions hope to reach the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions Most goals 5 matches (18.10.2014 – 04.12.2014) Kadetten Schaffhausen League for the third time. “This is perhaps the strongest group in the history of the 43 Most goals 43 v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18W (h), 09.02.2012 Schweizersbildstrasse 10 competition,” says manager Gabor Vass. “This group will be extremely tough, but Most goals opponent 40 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.2013 8207 Schaffhausen we are ready to fight for sixth position, which will be a huge challenge,” adds team GOALS Switzerland captain David Graubner. 75 Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 75 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.2013 Media contact After German 2007 world champion Markus Baur had been coach for several years, Fewest goals 22 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:22L (a), 15.10.2005 Barbara Imobersteg Schaffhausen made a change early in 2016 by signing Lars Walther. The Dane had 22 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:23L (h), 11.11.2006 +41 787203247 been coaching several Champions League teams such as Wisla Plock (Poland) and Fewest goals opponent 17 v HC Metalurg MKD 27:17W (h), 19.11.2015 [email protected] 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 Fewest goals both teams 44 v HC Metalurg MKD 27:17W (h), 19.11.2015 tournament in Altensteig. In domestic competitions, Schaffhausen aim to win all www.kadettensh.ch possible trophies, and: “We need to be part of the Champions League to improve @kadettensh the team and to represent the club and the country,” Vass says. Graubner is looking forward to “a fantastic international season and matches kadettensh VELUX EHF Champions League record 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 MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 season is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Kit colours The Kadetten team captain expects hard fights with Plock and Bjerringbro for the 2005/06 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 1 1 4 160:181 -21 3:9 3rd Gr. G Light spot in the knock-out stage: “We can’t wait for the season to get started.” 2006/07 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 2 1 3 168:169 -1 5:7 3rd Gr. B Player shirt: orange 2007/08 Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ SUI 6 2 1 3 179:174 +5 5:7 3rd Gr. C Player short: black GK shirt: yellow Past achievements 2010/11 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 1 6 362:376 -14 11:13 1/8-finals VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 0 7 366:345 +21 10:14 1/8-finals Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 10 2012/13 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 2 0 8 284:330 –46 4:16 6th Gr. D Last 16 (2): 2010/11, 2011/12 Player shirt: black 2014/15 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 2 2 6 264:297 –33 6:14 6th Gr. D Player short: orange Group Phase (6): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, GK shirt: black 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16 2015/16 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 5 1 4 270:270 0 11:9 3rd Gr. D Qualification (1): 2009/10 72 24 7 41 2053:2142 -89 55:89

Other EHF Cup: final 2009/10 Playing hall Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final: 2007/08 BBC Arena Schweizersbildstr. 10 Swiss league: 9 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 8207 Schaffhausen 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) Switzerland : 8 titles Capacity: 3,000

70 71 Kadetten Schaffhausen Kadetten Schaffhausen

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 15 Kristian Bliznac SWE L e ft B a c k 27.5.1983 Göteborg, SWE 204 104 10 Christoffer Brännberger SWE L i n e P l a y e r 29.12.1990 Farsta, SWE 200 105 1 Aurel Bringolf SUI G o a l k e e p e r 2.11.1987 Winterthur, SUI 190 88 17 Gabor Csaszar HUN C e n t r e B a c k 16.6.1984 Celldömölk, HUN 188 98 3 Ron Delhees SUI R i g h t B a c k 28.8.1995 Zug, SUI 197 96 C 8 David Graubner SUI L e ft B a c k 29.5.1984 Moosseedorf, SUI 194 93 4 Ivan Karacic BIH C e n t r e B a c k 26.5.1985 Mostar, BIH 190 93 21 Johan Koch DEN L i n e P l a y e r 29.11.1990 Svendborg, DEN 185 91 6 Dimitrij Küttel SUI R i g h t B a c k 18.2.1994 Gersau, SUI 192 90 5 Manuel Liniger SUI L e ft W i n g 10.9.1981 Winterthur, SUI 180 76 12 Nikola Marinovic AUT G o a l k e e p e r 29.8.1976 , SRB 198 100 20 SUI L e ft B a c k 20.3.1994 Zürich, SUI 196 98 2 SUI L i n e P l a y e r 16.8.1996 Basel, SUI 197 100 22 Sergio Muggli SUI L e ft W i n g 6.7.1993 Zürich, SUI 178 78 9 Andrija Pendic SUI C e n t r e B a c k 12.3.1987 Arbon, SUI 190 90 Lars Walther 7 Markus Richwien GER R i g h t W i n g 5.7.1985 Magdeburg, GER 186 84 coach 16 Kaj Stokholm SUI G o a l k e e p e r 15.4.1995 Zürich, SUI 195 100 • arrived in spring 2016 at Schaffhausen, replacing Markus Baur, who 14 Michal Szyba POL R i g h t B a c k 18.3.1988 Lublin, POL 196 97 then only focused on the German junior national team and now is 190 85 coach of TVB Stuttgart 24 SLO R i g h t W i n g 26.3.1991 Luzern, SUI • 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: Left the club: Aurel Bringolf (Pfadi Winterthur) Aleksandar Stojanovic (SG GS Kadetten Espoir SH) Ron Delhees (GC Amicitia Zürich) Nikola Cvijetic (RTV Basel) Michal Szyba (RK Gorenje Velenje) Nikola Portner (Montpellier Handball) Kristian Bliznac (HSG Wetzlar)

72 73 Kadetten Schaffhausen Kadetten Schaffhausen

Nikola Marinovic Ivan Karacic goalkeeper centre back • for more than ten years the number 1 of the Austrian national team • arrived at Schaffhausen in spring 2016 with his new and old coach Lars Walther, being signed by Baia Mare (Romania) before • born in Belgrade, but changed his citizenship to Austrian in 2004 • number 1 playmaker of the Bosnian national team • his first CL start with Austrian side Bregenz, later transferred to various German clubs (Wetzlar, Balingen and Göppingen) • has CL experience with his former clubs Borac Banja Luka, Brest and Baia Mare • joined Kadetten before the 2015/16 season to replace Jonas Maier • national champion with his former teams in Bosnia, and Romania • Austrian handball player of the year in 2007 • 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

Manuel Liniger Johan Koch left wing line player • experienced wing player had been part of the successful Kadetten team from 2007 • had been playing for German side Emsdetten before he joined Kadetten at the start until 2010 of the 2015/16 season • twice semi-finalist of the Cup Winners’ Cup (becoming top scorer of the competition • replaces Swedish line player Anton Mansson, who left for Lemgo (Germany) in 2008/09) and finalist in the EHF Cup 2009/10 • had been teammate of Mikkel Hansen in his first club GOG Svendborg • started his career in Winterthur and also had spell at German sides Wilhelmshaven, • played three years for current Swedish champions Kristianstad until 2013, before he Lemgo and Balingen moved to Germany • one of the all-time top scorers of Swiss national team with over 800 goals

Kristian Bliznac Michal Szyba left back right back • with 2,04 m one of the tallest players in the Kadetten squad • 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 • arrived from German side HSG Wetzlar at Schaffhausen, where had played together with world stars like Jose Javier Hombrados and Ivano Balic • had played for Polish side Azoty Pulawy from 2004 to 2014 • had been signed by several Swedish clubs, before his first top side was Alingsas, • builds the left handed duo in the right back with Swiss international Dimitrij Küttel where he became Swedish champion in 2009 and later on had his first CL appearance • part of the Polish national team at the WCh at Qatar and scored the decisive goal to • later on he played for Sävehof, before he joined Wetzlar in 2014 win the bronze medal against Spain

WCh: B 2015

Gabor Csaszar Markus Richwien centre back right wing • had played professional handball in five different countries: Hungary, Denmark, • only current Kadetten player, who was part of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, Spain, France and now Switzerland playing at Cologne with Füchse Berlin in 2012 • joined Kadetten in the middle of the 2014/15 season, arriving from French • born in Magdeburg, he went through all youth teams of former CL winner SCM powerhouse PSG • in 2007 joined Füchse Berlin, where he became German international – making • the playmaker of the Hungarian national team debut against Switzerland in 2008 • part of two Olympic Games (2004, 2012) with Hungary, each time finishing fourth • 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 • national champion in Hungary and Switzerland

74 75 THW Kiel THW Kiel

GROUP A THW EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), 22.10.2006 Kiel Biggest defeat 37:27 (17:14) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 14.02.2016 Longest winning run 11 matches (02.10.2014 – 22.03.2015) 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 Longest unbeaten run 17 matches (22.10.2011 – 11.10.2012) champions are on top with six participations at seven editions. But the last time Longest losing run 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) they raised the trophy is four years ago for the three-time winners (2007, 2010, MATCHES 3 matches (30.05.2015 – 17.09.2015) 2012). Longest winning run 3 matches (30.04.2016 – 29.05.2016) And the new season is something like the start of a new era: After players like Ilic, 11 Palmarsson and now Canellas and Klein leaving, coach Alfred Gislason is building a Longest run without win 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) GOALS Club Address new squad with talented players from all over Europe like Swede Lukas Nilsson or Most goals 3 matches (30.05.2015 – 17.09.2015) THW Kiel the Austrian Nikola Bilyk. 50 3 matches (12.11.2015 – 28.11.2015) Ziegelteich 30 Having in mind the previous season, when THW were hit extremely hard by long- 3 matches (30.04.2016 – 29.05.2016) 24103 Kiel term injuries, the German side increased the number of players - and welcomes GOALS Most goals both teams Germany back a ‘forgotten son’. After two years at Veszprem, Christian Zeitz is back at Kiel to 81 Most goals 50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), 22.10.2006 Media contact be the only player in the current squad to be part of all three Champions League Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Christian Robohm titles. But the biggest signing is the one between the posts: , the Most goals both teams 81 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 +49 1635306300 German EURO hero, gold medallist and member of the All-star Team, will form the christian.robohm@thw- new goalkeeper duo with the newly crowned Olympic champion, former EURO Fewest goals 13 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000 handball.de champion and Rio All-star team goalkeeper Niklas Landin. Fewest goals opponent 15 v SKA BLR 15:27W (a), 10.11.1996 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), 12.01.1997 www.thw-provinzial.de 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 Fewest goals both teams 35 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000 thwhandball 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 @thw_handball 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record will do everything to reach the final destination in Cologne again. In the first group MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Kit colours matches, Kiel will have to replace left back after his severe 1994/95 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 137:136 +1 6:6 2nd Gr. B Light injury at Rio 2016 (compartment syndrome). Player shirt: white 1995/96 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 151:148 +3 6:6 2nd Gr. A Player short: white 1996/97 THW Kiel GER 10 6 1 3 247:211 +36 13:7 1/2-finals Past achievements GK shirt: black 1998/99 TKW Kiel GER 8 7 0 1 229:199 +30 14:2 1/4-finals VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 20 1999/00 THW Kiel GER 12 7 1 4 319:283 +36 15:9 Runner-up Player shirt: black Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 2000/01 THW Kiel GER 10 5 1 4 279:255 +24 11:9 1/2-finals Player short: black Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2002/03 THW Kiel GER 8 4 1 3 234:211 +23 9:7 1/4-finals GK shirt: red 2013/14 2004/05 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 336:274 +62 16:4 1/4-finals Semi-final (5): 1996/97, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16 2005/06 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 346:293 +53 16:4 1/4-finals Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2006/07 THW Kiel GER 14 11 1 2 517:420 +97 23:5 Winner 2005/06, 2010/11 2007/08 THW Kiel GER 16 13 0 3 533:462 +71 26:6 Runner-up Playing hall Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel 2008/09 THW Kiel GER 16 12 1 3 548:461 +87 25:7 Runner-up Europaplatz 1, Other 2009/10 THW Kiel GER 16 14 1 1 534:444 +90 29:3 Winner 24103 Kiel EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 2010/11 THW Kiel GER 14 9 2 3 456:393 +63 20:8 1/4-finals Germany Capacity: 10,000 German league: 20 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 2011/12 THW Kiel GER 16 12 3 1 496:414 +82 27:5 Winner 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2012/13 THW Kiel GER 16 11 0 5 518:457 +61 22:10 Fourth Place 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013/14 THW Kiel GER 16 13 1 2 491:427 +64 27:5 Runner-up 2013, 2014, 2015) German Cup winners: 9 times 2014/15 THW Kiel GER 16 12 0 4 498:421 +77 24:8 Fourth Place 2015/16 THW Kiel GER 20 10 1 9 579:567 +12 21:19 Fourth Place 240 168 14 58 7448:6476 +972 350:130

76 77 THW Kiel THW Kiel

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 53 Nikola Bilyk AUT L e ft B a c k 28.11.1996 Tunis, TUN 198 94 34 Ilija Brozovic CRO L i n e P l a y e r 26.5.1991 Split, CRO 195 107 23 GER L e ft W i n g 10.4.1993 Kiel, GER 190 81 15 Christian Dissinger GER L e ft B a c k 15.11.1991 Ludwigshafen, GER 202 102 C 4 Domagoj Duvnjak CRO C e n t r e B a c k 1.6.1988 Dakovo, CRO 198 100 18 SWE R i g h t W i n g 23.12.1988 Ystad, SWE 191 91 26 Lucas Firnhaber GER R i g h t B a c k 23.4.1997 Buxtehude, GER 200 93 5 Sebastian Firnhaber GER L e ft B a c k 18.4.1994 Buxtehude, GER 198 97 24 Dener Jaanimaa EST R i g h t B a c k 9.8.1989 Tallinn, EST 185 92 8 Blazenko Lackovic CRO L e ft B a c k 25.12.1980 Varazdin, CRO 197 100 16 Tom Landgraf GER G o a l k e e p e r 11.3.1996 Aschersleben, GER 198 106 1 DEN G o a l k e e p e r 19.12.1988 Soborg, DEN 200 95 65 Lukas Nilsson SWE L e ft B a c k 16.11.1996 Ystad, SWE 192 97 92 Raul Santos AUT L e ft W i n g 1.6.1992 Santo Domingo, DOM 180 75 11 Christian Sprenger GER R i g h t W i n g 6.4.1983 Ludwigsfelde, GER 190 94 Alfred Gislason 7 DEN L i n e P l a y e r 1.11.1984 Rybjerg, DEN 200 110 coach 41 SRB R i g h t B a c k 7.12.1984 Backa Palanka, SRB 200 100 • won nine German championships (with Essen, Magdeburg 13 GER R i g h t B a c k 19.7.1986 Fuerth, GER 191 100 and Kiel), four German cup titles, six European club titles; 17 GER L i n e P l a y e r 22.3.1989 Duisburg, GER 200 109 five times “coach of the year” in Germany • his first job on the bench was in his home town Akureyri, 25 Alexander Williams GER L e ft B a c k 15.8.1996 Hamburg, GER 187 95 before taking over Hameln, Magdeburg and Gummersbach 77 Andreas Wolff GER G o a l k e e p e r 3.3.1991 Euskirchen, GER 198 100 in Germany and the Icelandic national team 20 Christian Zeitz GER R i g h t B a c k 18.11.1980 Heidelberg, GER 186 103 • 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: Left the club: Raul Santos (VfL Gummersbach) (HBC Nantes) Nikola Bilyk (HC Fivers Margareten) Joan Canellas (RK Vardar Skopje) Andreas Wolff (HSG Wetzlar) Nikolas Katsigiannis (HC Erlangen) Lukas Nilsson (Ystads IF HF) Erlend Mamelund (Haslum HK) Christian Zeitz (Telekom Veszprem) 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)

78 79 THW Kiel THW Kiel

Niklas Landin Rene Toft Hansen goalkeeper line player • joined Kiel in the summer of 2015 after three seasons with Rhein-Neckar Löwen • even better in defence than on the line in attack, but after Marcus Ahlm’s departure • successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt in the Danish national team broke through in 2013, the learning period in attack was over for him during the 2011 WCh • new captain since Jicha’s departure; EHF EURO 2012 All-Star Team member • played also for Gudme in Denmark, where he was number 1 at the age of 20 • in the CL since 2007 with former clubs KIF Kolding and AG Kobenhavn • best goalkeeper at the 2013 WCh, EHF EURO 2014, 2013/14 CL and 2016 Olympics • his brother Henrik is playing for Flensburg, his brother Allan for Mors-Thy and his sister Majbritt for Skive – all four line players EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

Andreas Wolff Steffen Weinhold goalkeeper right back • German No.1 since the autumn of 2015, excelled at the EURO 2016, where he was • one of the most prominent players in current German handball awarded best goalkeeper and later also EHF Player of the Month • after the 2008 junior WCh, the Bavarian changed from Erlangen to HSG Nordhorn • in the summer of 2016 arrived in Kiel from Wetzlar, also played in Großwallstadt winning the EHF Cup in his first season • learnt a lot from his former legendary Spanish teammate Jose Javier Hombrados • 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 • 2016 “title holder” of the “German beard of the year” award; also known for his and joined THW just weeks after Flensburg beat them in the 2014 CL final blood donations OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016 EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup 2008 OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016

Rune Dahmke Marko Vujin left wing right back • only Kiel-born player in the team; when younger cheered for his idols in the stands • in 2012 the Serbian shooter arrived to fill the gap after the departure of Kim • got his first professional contract in 2012 after being part of the THW youth teams Andersson to KIF • his father Frank Dahmke was THW player and now is member of the club board • top scorer of the 2013/14 Bundesliga (248 goals) • following Dominik Klein's departure to Nantes the number 1 on the left wing • won eight consecutive national championships with Veszprém and Kiel until 2015 • youngest of the EURO gold medallists in 2016 in Krakow • started his international career in Dunaferr, then played five years in Veszprem

EURO: G 2016 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012

Domagoj Duvnjak Niclas Ekberg centre back right wing • THW’s top signing before the 2014/15 season, arrived from Hamburg, where he • tall winger from Ystad has large variety of shots, also effective on counterattacks played since 2009 • these qualities have also earned him more than 90 internationals for Sweden • 2013 IHF World Handball Player of the Year, best Bundesliga player in 2013 • joined Kiel in 2012 after after his first VELUX EHF FINAL4 with AG Kobenhavn, who • not just a typical playmaker he is also a scorer and is an essential part of defence spotted and signed him in 2010 • started his career in Dakovo • top scorer of the Olympics 2012 (50 goals), but missed the 2016 Games due to injury EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: S 2012 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2010, B 2012 B 2016

80 81 Group Bpreview Group B preview

Group B preview

EUROPEAN KINGS KIELCE LEAD STRONG FIELD 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 IN GROUP B 54:53 aggregate defeat to Zagreb in the Last 16. KS Vive Tauron Kielce, who lit up last season’s VELUX EHF Champions league when The German giants have lost iconic winger Uwe Gensheimer to PSG but Icelander they won Europe’s elite competition for the first time in the club’s history, will Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, who has arrived in from FC Barcelona Lassa, should head into the new season as the favourites in an exceptionally tough preliminary prove to be an apt replacement. section. has been hauled in to provide reliable back-up, having spent one The Polish giants will lock horns with some familiar rivals in Rhein-Neckar Löwen, season with Vardar after a long spell at their bitter Macedonian rivals Metalurg. HC Vardar and MOL-Pick Szeged, a quartet expected to finish in the top half of the table and sail into the knockout rounds. 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 With two more berths available in the Last 16, HC PPD Zagreb, RK Celje Pivovarna and netted 67 goals last term in the VELUX EHF Champions League. 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 In contrast to their heralded rivals, Szeged have a completely revamped outfit exit. with a haul of new players joining the club while just as many have left for new pastures. 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 Among those who arrived are Kielce’s Croatian duo Marin Sego and Denis Buntic promises to be a fascinating group from start to finish. to compensate for Bombac going the other way while Spaniard Antonio Garcia joined Kolding Kobenhavn. Having claimed their maiden title with an epic 39:38 win over Telekom Veszprém in May, Kielce wasted no time in boosting their impressive squad to Zoran Milosavljevic 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

82 83 Group B preview Group B preview

Group B head-to-heads Historic 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 IFK Kristianstad 1-0-1 (52:58) 2:2 08.10.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:29 (17:15) 22.10.2015 IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:29 (20:12) 13.02.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:35 (19:15) 26.11.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:20 (15:10) 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) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar 3-0-1 (102:105) 6:2 04.09.2011 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament Group W 32:30 (13:11) 11.04.2015 HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 20:22 (11:11) 22.03.2014 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:28 (17:13) 19.04.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 33:31 (16:14) 31.03.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 27:23 (16:14) 24.10.2015 HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 34:24 (18:14) 30.09.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:32 (19:15) 28.11.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 23:20 (10:6) 20.02.2016 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 28:27 (12:10) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar 1-0-3 (100:115) 2:6 No previous encounters in European competitions 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) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest 2-0-0 (65:58) 4:0 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) 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)

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 4-3-1 (233:219) 11:5 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged 4-0-2 (178:168) 8:4 04.10.2008 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:33 (16:14) 17.03.2013 Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:25 (15:14) 13.11.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group H 27:27 (11:15) 24.03.2013 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:27 (14:11) 27.03.2011 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:31 (12:15) 04.10.2014 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 37:32 (18:17) 31.03.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 27:27 (11:9) 06.12.2014 MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 26:27 (11:14) 14.11.2013 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 34:26 (21:11) 20.09.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:30 (17:14) 23.11.2013 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 24:28 (12:13) 06.03.2016 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 27:26 (12:16) 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) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0-0-4 (116:136) 0:8 30.10.1999 KS Iskra-Lider Market vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group B 25:30 (13:14) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Meshkov Brest 27.11.1999 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs KS Iskra-Lider Market, EHF Champions League – group B 40:32 (20:13) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged 3-0-3 (176:172) 6:6 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad 1-1-0 (70:62) 3:1 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) 10.10.2015 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:27 (20:12) 13.03.2015 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:34 (17:16) 11.02.2016 IFK Kristianstad vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:35 (17:19) 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) HC Vardar vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 1-1-4 (153:175) 3:9 05.12.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:24 (14:12) 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) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 7-0-1 (252:223) 14:2 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) 14.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 28:34 (14:16) 07.10.2007 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group C 28:28 (10:16) 26.02.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 31:26 (15:16) 10.11.2007 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group C 26:34 (12:16) 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) HC Vardar vs HC Meshkov Brest 20.02.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 35:25 (19:12) No previous encounters in European competitions 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)

84 85 Group A preview Group A preview

HC Vardar vs MOL-Pick Szeged 2-1-1 (100:101) 5:3 HC Meshkov Brest vs MOL-Pick Szeged 0-0-4 (93:115) 0:8 16.10.2004 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group A 24:24 (9:10) 07.10.2006 Brest HC Meshkov vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group B 24:30 (14:17) 30.10.2004 SC Pick Szeged vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group A 25:18 (13:8) 21.10.2006 SC Pick Szeged vs Brest HC Meshkov, EHF Champions League – Group B 28:23 (14:10) 27.09.2015 HC Vardar vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 27:23 (11:11) 14.10.2007 HC Meshkov Brest vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group H 22:24 (12:14) 28.02.2016 MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:31 (14:13) 24.11.2007 Pick Szeged vs HC Meshkov Brest, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:24 (12:9)

HC Vardar vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 2-0-0 (61:58) 4:0 HC Meshkov Brest vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 27.09.2014 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 26:27 (12:12) No previous encounters in European competitions 29.11.2014 HC Vardar vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 34:32 (19:17) HC Meshkov Brest vs IFK Kristianstad HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad 2-0-0 (68:61) 4:0 No previous encounters in European competitions 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) MOL-Pick Szeged vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 1-1-2 (93:98) 3:5 04.12.2004 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Last 16 23:23 (11:10) HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Meshkov Brest 1-0-1 (47:49) 2:2) 12.12.2004 SC Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Last 16 20:21 (12:9) 15.11.2014 HC Meshkov Brest vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:22 (12:7) 10.02.2008 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 35:30 (18:13) 23.11.2014 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25:23 (11:8) 08.03.2008 Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 20:19 (8:7)

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs MOL-Pick Szeged 4-2-2 (222:211) 10:6 MOL-Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad 4-0-0 (124:101) 8:0 23.11.1996 SC Pick Szeged vs Badel Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group B 22:22 (12:13) 12.02.2014 IFK Kristianstad vs Pick Szeged, EHF Cup – Group C 23:26 (12:13) 18.01.1997 Badel Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group B 29:29 (17:13) 29.03.2014 Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad, EHF Cup – Group C 29:18 (16:9) 08.11.2003 SC Pick Szeged vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group E 27:26 (15:12) 14.11.2015 MOL-Pick Szeged vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 35:28 (19:14) 30.11.2003 RK Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group E 26:25 (15:13) 18.11.2015 IFK Kristianstad vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:34 (19:16) 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) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs IFK Kristianstad 29.09.2012 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 30:27 (15:8) No previous encounters in European competitions 01.12.2012 Pick Szeged vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 26:24 (16:10)

HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 9-1-6 (380:354) 19:13 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 Kristianstad No previous encounters in European competitions

86 87 Rhein-Neckar Löwen Rhein-Neckar Löwen

GROUP B Rhein-Neckar EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 08.03.2009 Löwen 24:39 (10:20) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), 18.10.2009 37:22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 10.10.2010 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, Biggest defeat 37:23 (20:8) v THW Kiel GER (a), 26.04.2009 managing to leave THW Kiel behind. The Löwen’s final league match, after which Longest winning run 5 matches (12.10.2013 – 28.11.2013) they raised the trophy, was also a great farewell to their unique ‘son of Mannheim.’ MATCHES Longest unbeaten run 8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010) After 13 years, Olympic All-star left winger, Uwe Gensheimer, departed from the Longest winning run Löwen to accept a challenge at Paris Saint-Germain. 5 8 matches (12.10.2013 – 20.02.2014) Longest losing run 3 matches (21.02.2015 - 22.03.2015) The successor of the four-time German handball player of the year is a well-known GOALS Club Address face in the club - Icelandic Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson will be returning to the yellow Most goals Longest run without win 4 matches (28.05.2011 - 29.09.2013) Rhein-Neckar Löwen dressed from Barcelona. Goalkeeper Borko Ristovski was replaced by Andreas 40 Most goals 40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.2009 Mollstraße 49a Palicka to create an all Swedish goalkeeping duo alongside Mikkael Appelgren. At 68165 Mannheim the beginning of the new season, the Löwen captured the German Super Cup by GOALS Most goals opponent 38 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Germany defeating Magdeburg and therefore, they will be full of confidence moving for- 76 Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 ward. After an unexpected elimination against Zagreb in last season’s Last 16, the Fewest goals 19 v HC Vardar MKD 25:19L (a), 10.10.2015 Media contact international goal is set quite humble: to make it to the knockout stage. The Löwen Christopher Monz Fewest goals opponent 17 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), 17.10.2013 +491744288849 will play all their VELUX EHF Champions League matches in Frankfurt this season, Fewest goals both teams 43 v FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 22:21W (h), 20.09.2015 [email protected] after moving between different venues in past years. The preparation was not that easy, as both right backs, Alexander Petersson and , were ruled out by injuries and four players were involved with the rhein-neckar-loewen.de Olympic Games. Mads Mensa Larsen returned as a gold medallist with Denmark rnloewen and took the bronze medal with Germany. After Gensheimer’s exit, Swiss international was selected as the Löwen’s new team captain, VELUX EHF Champions League record @RNLoewen 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 MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Lars Lamade. “First we want to make it to the Last 16, then we can look ahead,” Kit colours Kettemann’s general opinion on the group phase. “After the Last 16, we will face 2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 447:392 +55 20:8 1/2-finals demanding opponents. We know some teams from the past seasons; Brest are the 2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 450:408 +42 20:8 1/4-finals Light only unknown opponent to us.” Player shirt: yellow 2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 7 4 5 486:465 +21 18:14 Fourth Place Player short: blue 2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 422:369 +53 20:8 1/4-finals Past achievements GK shirt: red/blue 2014/15 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 12 6 0 6 361:347 +14 12:12 1/8-finals VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 8 2015/16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 9 1 6 422:407 +15 19:13 1/8-finals Player shirt: blue Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 86 49 11 26 2588:2388 +200 109:63 Player short: blue Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 GK shirt: red/white Last 16 (2): 2014/15, 2015/16 Qualification (1): 2011/12

Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 Playing hall EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals Fraport Arena 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07 Silostrasse 46 65 929 Frankfurt German league: 1 title (2016) Germany Capacity: 5,000

88 89 Rhein-Neckar Löwen Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 26 Michel Abt GER L e ft B a c k 25.7.1990 Heidelberg, GER 193 97 1 Mikael Appelgren SWE G o a l k e e p e r 6.9.1989 Uddevalla, SWE 191 100 16 Rafael Baena Gonzalez ESP L i n e P l a y e r 7.11.1982 Estepa, ESP 191 128 61 Lukas Bauer GER G o a l k e e p e r 22.8.1995 Germersheim, GER 192 95 60 SWE L e ft B a c k 23.7.1989 Lund, SWE 194 100 42 Marvin Gerdon GER R i g h t W i n g 24.7.1996 Speyer, GER 179 75 24 GER R i g h t W i n g 4.7.1989 Pforzheim, GER 189 84 30 Gedeon Guardiola VillaplanaESP L i n e P l a y e r 1.10.1984 Petrer, ESP 200 103 14 Max Haider GER L i n e P l a y e r 26.4.1996 Heidelberg, GER 197 105 97 Rico Keller GER L e ft B a c k 30.7.1997 Heidelberg, GER 192 87 22 DEN C e n t r e B a c k 12.8.1991 Holbæk, DEN 188 109 11 Dejan Manaskov MKD L e ft W i n g 26.8.1992 Veles, MKD 181 78 12 SWE G o a l k e e p e r 10.7.1986 N Nöbbelöv, SWE 189 88 23 Hendrik Pekeler GER L i n e P l a y e r 2.7.1991 Itzehohe, GER 203 101 32 Alexander Petersson ISL R i g h t B a c k 2.7.1980 Riga, LAT 186 87 27 Harald Reinkind NOR R i g h t B a c k 17.8.1992 Trondheim, NOR 196 95 coach 13 Maximilian Rolka POL L e ft B a c k 21.11.1996 Bremen, GER 190 87 • arrived on the Löwen bench in 2014 as his predecessor Gud- C 2 Andre Schmid SUI C e n t r e B a c k 30.8.1983 Horgen, SUI 190 86 mundur Gudmundsson became Danish national team coach 35 Max Schwarz GER R i g h t B a c k 2.4.1993 Pforzheim, GER 190 90 • coached Viborg, Bjerringbro (both as an assistant) and Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson ISL L e ft W i n g 8.8.1979 Reykjavik, ISL 187 82 Aalborg in the past, steering Aalborg to a surprising title and 9 the CL in 2013 19 Marius Steinhauser GER R i g h t W i n g 6.2.1993 Karlsruhe, GER 187 83 • 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: Left the club: Andreas Palicka (Aalborg Handbold) Uwe Gensheimer (Paris St. Germain) Dejan Manaskov (Vardar Skopje) Stefan Kneer (HSG Wetzlar) Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (FC Barcelona) Stefan Sigurmannsson (Aalborg Handbold) Michel Abt (SG Kronau-Östringen) Borko Ristovski (FC Barcelona)

90 91 Rhein-Neckar Löwen Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Mikael Appelgren Mads Mensah Larsen goalkeeper centre back • awarded best goalkeeper of the Swedish league 2011/12, when he played for Skövde • started his international career at AG Kobenhavn & made it to the 2012 FINAL4 • then transferred to German club Melsungen, where he made it twice to the German • became Danish champion for the second time at Aalborg, where he firstly was coached cup final tournament and played in the group phase of the EHF Cup by Nikolaj Jacobsen, when Jacobsen became Löwen coach in 2014, he followed him to Mannheim • was signed by Löwen in 2015 to become the successor of Niklas Landin • was U20 EHF EURO champion with Denmark • 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 • his father is from Ghana, his mother Danish • since 2016/17 shares his time with Andreas Palicka (former Kiel and Aalborg keeper) OG: S 2016, WCh: S 2013, EURO: S 2014

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana left wing line player • after two seasons at FC Barcelona the Icelander returned to Bundesliga and Löwen, • defence boss of Löwen as the successor of Oliver “The Rogg” Roggisch where he was until 2012 • arrived in Mannheim in 2012 with his twin brother Isaias, who then left to Aalborg in • before his stay in Barcelona spent just one season away from Germans sides- in 2014; played at Logrono and San Antonio before he joined Löwen 2011/12 he played for AG Kobenhavn, also former Essen, Gummersbach and Kiel player • had been a karateka in his younger days • all-time top scorer of the Icelandic national team, reached 500 CL goals in 2015/16 • when scores for Löwen, the whole arena shouts “Ole!” • his fifth trip to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 brought him the CL title 2015 with Barcelona EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: CL 2015, EHF Cup 2005 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014, S 2016 OG: S 2008

Kim Ekdahl Durietz Harald Reinkind left back right back • despite the huge competition at left back in the past, the Swede became No 1, • had his debut in the Norwegian league at 16 already, playing for Fyllingen Bergen important part of the defence as well, but famous for his long-range shots • played EHF Champions League already at the age of 18 • arrived in Mannheim in 2012 from Nantes after beginning his career at Lugi Lund • was awarded best right back at the U21 World Championship in 2013 • made his first league debut at the age of 16 • had his debut in the Norwegian men’s team at the age of 19, part of the successful • particularly large shoe size of 51 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 Icelandic Alexander Petersson OG: S 2012

Andre Schmid Patrick Groetzki centre back right wing • seven-time Swiss handball player of the year • born in Pforzheim only a few kilometres away from Mannheim • played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009, joined • right after ending his youth career he switched to Löwen and became part of the Löwen after one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 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 in attack – both as playmaker and as shooter, awarded best Bundesliga player in the previous three seasons • 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 • new team captain after Uwe Gensheimer's departure to PSG OG: S 2012 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: B 2016

92 93 KS Vive Tauron Kielce KS Vive Tauron Kielce

GROUP B KS Vive EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 35:23 (16:13) v FC Porto Vitalis POR (h), 29.09.2013 Tauron Kielce Biggest defeat 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.2003 It was the biggest surprise in the history of the VELUX EHF FINAL4; after going Longest winning run 11 matches (25.09.2014 – 15.03.2015) down by eight goals in the middle of the second half of the final against Veszprém, Longest unbeaten run 14 matches (15.11.2015 – 29.05.2016) Kielce turned the match around and became the first team to win the trophy after Longest losing run 5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010) a penalty shoot-out. MATCHES 5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011) Now the Polish champions and their coach Talant Dujshebaev & Co. are the hunt- Longest winning run ed. Dujshebaev is only the second ever coach to win the Champions League with 11 Longest run without win 6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010) two different clubs (Ciudad Real/Kielce) after Alfred Gislason (Magdeburg/Kiel). Most goals 39 v MVM Veszprém HUN 39:38Wa7m (a), 29.05.2016 GOALS The squad had changed a little, but mainly the new arrivals Darko Djukic (Besiktas) Most goals opponent 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.2003 Club Address and Filip Ivic (Zagreb) have already proved during the IHF Super Globe in Doha Most goals KS Vive Tauron Kielce 39 Most goals both teams 77 v MVM Veszprém HUN 39:38Wa7m (a), 29.05.2016 ul. Robotnicza 5 (third place for Kielce) that they fit well in the team. 25-662 Kielce The only question mark sits over their top signing Slovenian Dean Bombac (coming GOALS Fewest goals 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.2010 Poland from Szeged), who returned from the Olympic Games in Rio with a shoulder injury. 77 Most goals both teams 21 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Media contact On the other hand, three Croats (Buntic and Sego to Szeged, Cupic to Vardar) have Fewest goals opponent 20 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Sebastian Kozubek left Kielce, while long term team captain has retired. 20 v HC Vardar MKD 20:22W (a), 11.04.2015 +48 505031244 His successor is EURO 2016 All-star left back Michal Jurecki; one of half a dozen 20 v HC Vardar MKD 23:20W (h), 28.11.2015 [email protected] of Polish national team players, who made it to the Olympic semi-final, under the helm of their ‘double coach’ Dujshebaev. Fewest goals both teams 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 www.vtkielce.pl 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 kielcehandball a lot of top teams in our group, all of them we came up against last season. Thus, VELUX EHF Champions League record @ksvive 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.” MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 For manager Radoslaw Wasiak, the home matches in the Hala Legionów are “the Kit colours most important games of the season due to the huge fan interest”. In general, 1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 6 3 0 3 173:186 –13 6:6 3rd Gr. B Wasiak (a former Kielce player) expects a “very exciting season for our team after 2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 6 2 1 3 159:177 -18 5:7 3rd Gr. G Light that magic final against Veszprem.” Player shirt: yellow 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 5 1 6 345:344 +1 11:13 1/8-finals Player short: blue 2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 10 1 2 7 276:300 -24 4:16 6th Gr. A Past achievements GK shirt: blue 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 6 1 5 345:336 +9 13:11 1/8-finals VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 14 2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 469:400 +69 28:4 Third Place Player shirt: blue Winners (1): 2015/16 2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 7 1 4 362:331 +31 15:9 1/8-finals Player short: blue Semi-final (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 (third ranked 2014/15 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 483:439 +44 28:4 Third Place GK shirt: green in VELUX F4) Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2015/16 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 20 14 4 2 614:577 +37 32:8 Winner 2011/12, 2013/14 110 66 10 34 3226:3090 +136 142:78 Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, Playing hall 2010/11 Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionów ul. Boczna 15A Other 25-093 Kielce 11 participations in other ECs Poland Capacity: 4,000 Polish league: 13 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) Polish cup: 13 titles

94 95 KS Vive Tauron Kielce KS Vive Tauron Kielce

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 13 Akizu ESP L i n e P l a y e r 8.12.1982 Irun, ESP 195 110 14 POL L e ft B a c k 23.1.1982 Sandomierz, POL 202 101 18 Bartlomiej Bis POL L i n e P l a y e r 25.3.1997 Kielce, POL 198 98 44 Dean Bombac SLO R i g h t W i n g 4.4.1989 Koper, SLO 188 92 3 Jakub Bulski POL L i n e P l a y e r 29.4.1998 Kielce, POL 195 96 10 POL R i g h t W i n g 24.3.1988 Goreczno, POL 202 100 45 Darko Djukic SRB R i g h t W i n g 11.12.1994 Nis, SRB 191 78 4 Michal Grabowski POL R i g h t W i n g 28.11.1997 Kielce, POL 188 87 16 Filip Ivic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 30.8.1992 Zagreb, CRO 195 95 15 POL L e ft B a c k 27.12.1984 Gdynia, POL 185 88 C 5 Michal Jurecki POL L e ft B a c k 27.10.1984 Koscian, POL 198 110 20 POL C e n t r e B a c k 3.2.1982 Lubin, POL 199 103 11 POL R i g h t B a c k 14.7.1987 Piekary SL, POL 200 110 19 POL R i g h t B a c k 7.7.1983 Ostrów Wlkpl., POL 198 94 Krzysztof Markowski POL G o a l k e e p e r 5.8.1997 Kielce, POL 185 82 Talant Dujshebaev 22 Pawel Paczkowski POL R i g h t B a c k 14.6.1993 Swiecie, POL 192 90 coach 9 Tobias Reichmann GER R i g h t W i n g 27.5.1988 Berlin Ost, GER 188 85 • most awarded figure in the club; during his longstanding playing career won plenty of trophies with three different national teams (CIS, Russia, 17 Manuel Strlek CRO L e ft W i n g 1.12.1988 Zagrzeb, CRO 181 79 Spain) 1 Slawomir Szmal POL G o a l k e e p e r 2.10.1978 Strzelce Opolskie, POL 190 90 • voted twice as the IHF World Player of the Year, in 1994 and in 1996 2 Branko Vujovic MNE R i g h t B a c k 20.4.1998 Niksic, MNE 194 99 • has successfully continued as a coach for the last 10 years L i n e P l a y e r 29.7.1992 Szczecin, POL 198 108 • joined Kielce in the half of the 2013/14 season, replacing 7 Patryk Walczak POL • changed the playing style of Kielce placing emphasis on the aggressive 23 Uros Zorman SLO C e n t r e B a c k 9.1.1980 Kranj, SLO 189 96 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: Left the club: Darko Djukic (Besiktas Mogaz HT) Denis Buntic (MOL-Pick Szeged) Dean Bombac (MOL-Pick Szeged) Ivan Cupic (HC Vardar) Filip Ivic (HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb) Marin Sego (MOL-Pick Szeged) Patryk Walczak (Pogon Szczecin) Grzegorz Tkaczyk (retired)

96 97 KS Vive Tauron Kielce KS Vive Tauron Kielce

Slawomir Szmal Uros Zorman goalkeeper centre back • 2009 World Handball Player of the Year; one of the key players in the Polish national • one of the best playmakers in the game and one of only two players (with Thierry champions’ defence Omeyer) who has ever managed to win four CL titles • spent several years in Germany playing for TuS N-Lübbecke and Rhein-Neckar • not known for scoring lots of goals, but his movement and passes provide ample space for his teammates in attack • competed in three VELUX EHF FINAL4 events with Löwen in 2010/11 and thrice with Kielce in 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17 • 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 • on the court a hardworking Titan, beyond it always keen on initiatives for kids past years EC Trophies: CL 2016 EC Trophies: CL: 2004, 2008, 2009, 2016 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 EURO: S 2004

Manuel Strlek Julen Aguinagalde left wing line player • his arrival in Kielce in 2012 were his first steps abroad, after leaving his boyhood club • All-Star team line player of the 2013 WCh in Spain, EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark and Zagreb EHF EURO 2016 in Poland • started gathering CL experience in 2006 • nominated for World Handball Player of the Year 2012 • very fast player, scoring a lot of goals on the counterattacks • joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid in 2013 for his first foreign league experience • All-Star team left wing at EHF EURO 2010, EHF EURO 2016 and CL 2015/16 • five times participated in VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010-16, scored the deciding penalty throw in the 2015/16 shootout against Veszprem EC Trophies: CL: 2016 EC Trophies: CL: 2016 OG: B 2012, WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2012, 2016 WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016

Michal Jurecki Krzysztof Lijewski left back right back • Kielce’s powerful left back returned to Poland in 2010 after a three-season stint in • wanted to be a basketball player, but under the influence of his father and older Germany and spells at HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke brother Marcin, he chose handball • All-Star Team Left back of the EHF EURO 2016 • joined Kielce in 2012 after seven successful years spent in Germany with Hamburg and Rhein-Neckar Löwen • 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 • best right back of EHF EURO 2014; most versatile player in the team, clever in attack and vigilant in defence • since 2015/16 a new captain of the team EC trophies: CL: 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007 EC Trophies: CL: 2016 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

Karol Bielecki Tobias Reichmann left back right wing • Poland’s biggest handball icon • 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 • spent eight seasons in the Bundesliga playing for Magdeburg and Rhein-Neckar • All-Star team right winger of the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland • 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 • his development in Kielce amplified his position in German national team • known for his ability to score from long-range • winner of the IHF Super Globe in 2011 as part of THW Kiel

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, 2016 EC trophies: CL: 2016, EHF Cup 2007 OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2016 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

98 99 HC Vardar HC Vardar

GROUP B HC EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 24:37 (11:19) v Wacker Thun SUI (a), 19.10.2013 Vardar Biggest defeat 41:19 (19:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.2003 Longest winning run 4 matches (26.04.2014 – 12.10.2014) In three consecutive years, from 2014 to 2016, Vardar failed to make it to Cologne 4 matches (29.11.2014 – 21.02.2015) and after those quarter-final eliminations, the Macedonians now hope for an 4 matches (20.09.2015 – 10.10.2015) improvement this season. “The last three years have been a major success for our MATCHES Longest unbeaten run 5 matches (26.04.2014 – 19.10.2014) club, but now we want to improve, as we believe that our team can accomplish Longest winning run our highest expectations,” says manager Davor Stojanovski. “All our fans and 4 5 matches (20.02.2016 – 26.03.2016) everyone in the club would be overjoyed, if we could finally make it to the FINAL4 Longest losing run 7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004) GOALS in Cologne. Achieving the top results is always difficult in a competition like the Longest run without win 8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004) Club Address Champions League, but we are ready for the challenge.” Most goals HC Vardar 39 8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) Marko Savovski The new team captain, Macedonian international Stojanche Stoilov, fully agrees BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 and emphasizes the importance of competing in the VELUX EHF FINAL4. “Vardar GOALS Most goals 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:28W (h), 04.10.2014 FYR Macedonia has continuously proven that this is a serious project with high goals. Our clear pri- 74 Most goals both teams 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 34:39W (a), 06.12.2014 ority for this season is to qualify for the FINAL4 in Cologne. We showed continuity Most goals opponent 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.2003 Media contact by qualifying for the top 8 within Europe three times and now, I hope we can make Biljana Crvenkoska Most goals both teams 74 v IFK Kristianstad SWE 38:36W (h), 20.02.2016 +38971247214 this one final step further. I cannot guarantee that we will make it, but I hope to Fewest goals 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 [email protected] fulfil our wishes.” Vardar signed some big names, such as Joan Canellas (Kiel) and Ivan Cupic (Kielce). Fewest goals opponent 19 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 25:19W (h), 10.10.2015 On the other hand, some key players left the team coached by Raul Gonzalez, Fewest goals both teams 38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 www.rkvardar.com.mk including Sergej Harbok. In group B, Vardar will face some well-known compet- rkvardar 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 @HCVardar 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record Kit colours top two spots in the group. We will not surrender in any game and we will not MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Light under-estimate any opponent.” Player shirt: white 2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 1 4 152:175 –23 3:9 4th Gr. D Player short: white 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 2 0 4 152:181 –29 4:8 4th Gr. D Past achievements GK shirt: red 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 157:210 -53 0:12 4th Gr. B VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 11 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 2 3 124:153 -29 4:8 3rd Gr. A Player shirt: black/red Quarter-final (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 6 2 1 3 161:180 -19 5:7 4th Gr. C Player short: black Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 10 1 1 8 253:316 -63 3:17 5th Gr. D GK shirt: green, black Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 2013/14 HC Vardar – Skopje MKD 14 6 3 5 376:369 +7 15:13 1/4-finals 2014/15 HC Vardar MKD 14 8 1 5 421:396 +25 17:11 1/4-finals Other 2015/16 HC Vardar MKD 18 10 2 6 527:486 +41 22:14 1/4-finals Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, Playing hall 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals 2006/07 86 31 11 44 2323:2466 –143 73:99 Jane Sandanski Skopje SEHA league: 1 title (2012) FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,000 Macedonian league: 10 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016) Macedonian cup: 11 titles

100 101 HC Vardar HC Vardar

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 20 Ilija Abutovic SRB L e ft B a c k 2.8.1988 Vrbas, SRB 202 99 26 Petar Angelov MKD G o a l k e e p e r 8.3.1977 Kavadarci, MKD 185 90 34 Vuko Borozan MNE L e ft B a c k 9.4.1994 Cetinje, MNE 203 105 21 Joan Cañellas Reixach ESP C e n t r e B a c k 30.9.1986 St. Maria de Palau, ESP 198 100 25 Luka Cindric CRO C e n t r e B a c k 5.7.1993 Ogulin, CRO 185 92 27 Ivan Cupic CRO R i g h t W i n g 27.3.1986 Metkovic, CRO 178 78 17 Alexander Dereven RUS L e ft B a c k 26.3.1992 Toliatti, RUS 199 85 31 RUS L e ft W i n g 30.7.1983 Petrozavodsk, RUS 180 74 22 Ivan Dimitrovski MKD L e ft W i n g 2.4.1998 Bitola, MKD 185 75 19 ESP R i g h t B a c k 17.12.1992 Santander, ESP 187 88 6 Rogerio Ferreira Moraes BRA L i n e P l a y e r 11.1.1994 Abaetetuba, BRA 204 118 18 Igor Karacic CRO C e n t r e B a c k 2.11.1988 Mostar, BIH 189 87 15 Pena ESP R i g h t B a c k 6.2.1988 Toledo, ESP 197 105 93 Mijajlo Marsenic SRB L i n e P l a y e r 9.3.1993 Berane, MNE 202 107 12 Strahinja Milic SRB G o a l k e e p e r 22.12.1990 Pristina, SRB 200 132 Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez 77 Vlado Nedanovski MKD L e ft W i n g 23.6.1985 Resen, MKD 187 90 coach 33 Daniil Shishkarev RUS R i g h t W i n g 6.7.1988 Kustanay, RUS 190 85 • former stalwart of BM Valladolid and a member of the Span- 1 Arpad Sterbik Capar ESP G o a l k e e p e r 20.11.1979 Senta, SRB 200 119 ish national team C 5 Stojanche Stoilov MKD L i n e P l a y e r 30.4.1987 Skopje, MKD 191 110 • 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: Left the club: Joan Canellas (THW Kiel) Dejan Manaskov (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Rogerio Moraes (THW Kiel) Matjaz Brumen (Gorenje Velenje) Vuko Borozan (TuS N-Lübbecke) Alem Toskic (Gorenje Velenje) Ivan Cupic (Vive Tauron Kielce) Sergei Gorbok (Pick Szeged) (HC Timisoara)

102 103 HC Vardar HC Vardar

Arpad Sterbik Stojance Stoilov goalkeeper goalkeeper • one of the best goalkeepers who holds Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish citizenship • first choice on the line player position in the Macedonian national team • after ten seasons spent in Spain moved from Barcelona in 2014 and signed a four- • joined Vardar in 2010 from city rivals Metalurg (after a brief spell in with Odorheiu year contract with Macedonian powerhouse Secuiesc) - a step that saw his career spiralling upwards • dozens of international awards incl. 2005 IHF World Handball Player of the Year • played a brilliant tournament at the EHF EURO 2012 when FYR Macedonia finished 5th • voted as the best goalkeeper of the Spanish league five times • had to share his playing time with Alem Toskic in the 2015/16 season EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009 WCh: B 1999, B 2001, B 2011, G 2013, EURO: S 2016

Timur Dibirov Alex Dujshebaev left wing right back • in 2013 he joined Vardar as just the second club in his career • son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar at the beginning of the 2013/14 season • first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with whom he reached the FINAL4 in 2010 • voted best right back at the 2012 Men’s 20 EHF EURO and the 2013 Junior WCh • key player of the Russian national team; voted best left wing of at the 2013 WCh • top scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL with BM Aragon in 2011/12 and 2012/13 • fast breaks specialist and also key in defence • voted best young player of the CL in 2014/15 • married to one of the greatest Russian players - Irina Poltoratskaya • will join his father as he has signed with KS Vive Tauron Kielce from 2017

EC trophies: Cup Winners' Cup 2006 EURO: S 2016

Alexander Dereven Jorge Maqueda left back right back • started playing handball in Togliatti Handball School • arrived in Skopje at the beginning of the 2015/16 season and signed a two-year • played in all age categories of Chekhovskie Medvedi contract • his personal best 62 goals in the CL 2014/15 • before his arrival in Vardar he played for Barcelona, Alcobendas, Aragon and Nantes • won three titles in the Russian championship 2013, 2014, 2015 • the world class defender is gold medalist from the World Championship 2013 in Spain and bronze holder from EHF EURO 2011 • joined Vardar in 2015 but missed the biggest part of 2015/16 due to injury

WCh: G 2013, EURO: S 2016

Joan Canellas Ivan Cupic centre back right wing • top scorer of the EHF EURO 2014 (50 goals in eight matches) • second top goal scorer at the London 2012 Olympics • with Barcelona and Ciudad Real Spanish champion and cup winner • named on the All-Star team at the 2009 WCh • twice (2011, 2012) CL finalist with Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid – the club with • despite losing one finger in an accident in 2008 remained an important player of which he also won the IHF Super Globe twice (2010, 2012) each team he has played for including the national team • came in 2016 from Kiel and signed a three-year contract • 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, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016 EC trophies: CL 2016 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, 2016

104 105 HC PPD Zagreb HC PPD Zagreb

GROUP B HC PPD EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 34:15 (16:8) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.2010 Zagreb Biggest defeat 43:21 (23:10) v FC Barcelona ESP (h), 18.04.2015 Longest winning run 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) 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- Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (09.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) ing the berth for the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals twice in 2015 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) and 2016, now the four-time finalists have the dream of making it to the VELUX MATCHES 6 matches (30.10.1999 – 05.12.1999) EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. Their historic elimination of Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the Longest winning run previous season boosts the hopes of the team of legendary coach Veselin Vujovic. 6 6 matches (04.10.2008 – 22.11.2008) Longest losing run 7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Another reason for the huge confidence is the homecoming of one of the most GOALS Club Address successful Croatian handball players ever: Igor Vori. And he is back in Zagreb, Most goals Longest run without win 8 matches (04.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) HC PPD Zagreb where it all started. The World and Olympic champion and 2013 VELUX EHF Cham- 38 Most goals 38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.2013 Veprinecka 16 pions League winner returns home from Paris, while back court ace Luka Stepancic 10000 Zagreb has gone in the opposite direction to the French capital. GOALS Most goals opponent 43 v FC Barcelona ESP 43:21L (a), 18.04.2015 Most goals both teams Croatia Like Stepancic, another top talent of the Croatian record champions has made it to 69 Most goals both teams 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Media contact a top club abroad, goalkeeper Filip Ivic signed for the Champions League winners Fewest goals 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.2005 Goran Roknić Kielce; he was replaced by Slovenian international Matevz Skok. His fellow country- Fewest goals opponent 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.2000 +385 95 9999 334 man Darko Cingesar (Maribor) is another top PPD signing. 13 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.2005 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr But the preparation for the new season was anything but easy for the Croats. Five Fewest goals both teams 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.1999 players - Cingesar, David Miklavcic, Skok, and Ivan Stevanovic – as 36 v HC Metalurg MKD 19:17W (h), 11.10.2014 www.rk-zagreb.hr 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- RK-Zagreb 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record @RKZagreb November. MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 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 1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 0 2 4 135:147 –12 2:10 4th Gr. A Kit colours for us; to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 would be a dream come true,” says club 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 203:203 0 11:5 Runner-up Light director Ante Ancic. 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 2 1 3 138:144 -6 5:7 3rd Gr. B Player shirt: white 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 6 3 3 310:294 +16 15:9 Runner-up Player short: white 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 7 0 5 300:287 +13 14:10 Runner-up Past achievements GK shirt: blue 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 8 1 3 288:269 +19 17:7 Runner-up VELUX EHF Champions League Dark 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 7 1 2 260:230 +30 15:5 1/2-finals Participations (including 2016/17 season): 23 Player shirt: blue Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 4 1 3 195:192 +3 9:7 1/4-finals Player short: blue Semi-final (1): 1999/00 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 3 2 3 209:216 -7 8:8 1/4-finals GK shirt: yellow Quarter-final (7): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 273:258 +15 8:12 1/4-finals 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 165:170 -5 6:6 3rd Gr. B Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 212:194 +18 11:5 1/8-finals Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 153:148 +5 6:6 3rd Gr. D Playing hall 2012/13 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 5 1 6 339:344 -5 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 3 2008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 7 3 2 357:313 +44 17:7 1/4-finals Laniste b.b., Other 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 6 0 6 351:335 +16 12:12 1/8-finals 10000 Zagreb EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 12 6 3 3 358:319 +39 15:9 1/8-finals Croatia Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2006/07 Capacity: 15,200 2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 9 1 4 391:359 +32 19:9 1/4-finals SEHA League: 1 title (2013) 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 2 1 7 266:284 –18 5:15 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 267:282 -15 8:12 5th Gr. A Croatian league: 26 titles (1991-2016) 2014/15 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO 14 7 0 7 328:356 -28 14:14 1/4-finals Croatian Cup winner: 23 times 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

106 107 HC PPD Zagreb HC PPD Zagreb

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 13 Darko Cingesar SLO L e ft W i n g 25.7.1990 Ljubljana, SLO 183 85 3 Josip Eres BIH R i g h t W i n g 19.3.1995 Ljubuski, BIH 185 78 C 18 Zlatko Horvat CRO R i g h t W i n g 25.9.1984 Zagreb, CRO 179 86 23 Lovro Jotic CRO C e n t r e B a c k 12.11.1994 Zagreb, CRO 191 86 51 Arijan Jovic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 18.6.1996 Zagreb, CRO 184 90 9 Tin Kontrec CRO L i n e P l a y e r 9.9.1989 Nasice, CRO 191 89 83 Mateo Lukacec CRO C e n t r e B a c k 24.1.1995 Ivanic Grad, CRO 180 85 27 Stipe Mandalinic CRO L e ft W i n g 9.9.1992 Split, CRO 195 90 64 Velko Markoski MKD L e ft B a c k 5.4.1986 Struga, MAD 194 100 15 Dobrivoje Markovic SRB L e ft W i n g 22.4.1986 Teslic, SCG 188 81 48 Petar Medic CRO C e n t r e B a c k 12.6.1996 Zagreb, CRO 190 85 28 David Miklavcic SLO R i g h t B a c k 29.1.1983 Ljubljana, SLO 195 98 94 Domagoj Pavlovic CRO L e ft B a c k 21.3.1993 Zagreb, CRO 189 82 17 Luka Rakovic CRO R i g h t W i n g 6.6.1988 Zagreb, CRO 179 86 14 Luka Sebetic CRO R i g h t B a c k 26.5.1994 Bjelovar, CRO 198 97 Veselin Vujovic 16 Matevz Skok SLO G o a l k e e p e r 2.9.1986 Celje, SLO 189 96 coach 11 Lovro Sprem CRO L e ft W i n g 26.1.1990 Zagreb, CRO 186 88 • hired by Zagreb right before the beginning of the 2014/15 CL 12 Ivan Stevanovic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 18.5.1982 Rijeka, CRO 193 101 campaign 19 Leon Susnja CRO L i n e P l a y e r 5.8.1993 Siroki Brijeg, CRO 204 113 • one of the best players ever, worked as a head-coach in Ciudad 190 97 Real, Vardar, Yugoslavian national team, Serbia and 22 Josip Valcic CRO C e n t r e B a c k 21.4.1984 Zadar, CRO (fourth place the OG in Sydney 2000) and is in charge of Slovenia 24 Tonci Valcic CRO L e ft B a c k 9.6.1978 Zadar, CRO 194 100 now 10 Igor Vori CRO L i n e P l a y e r 20.9.1980 Zagreb, CRO 203 114 • with Vardar won the regional SEHA League title in its first season 6 Stefan Vujic CRO C e n t r e B a c k 6.7.1991 Rijeka, CRO 192 91 • 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: Left the club: Darko Cingesar (Maribor) Filip Ivic (Vive Tauron Kielce) David Miklavcic (HC Tremblay) Luka Stepancic (PSG) Matevz Skok (HC Lübbecke) Antonijo Kovacevic (HC Dubrava) Josip Eres (HC Izvidac Ljubuski) Lovro Mihic (Orlen Wisla Plock) Igor Vori (PSG) Stanko Sabljic (HC Erlangen) Lovro Jotic (HC Dubrava)

108 109 HC PPD Zagreb HC PPD Zagreb

Ivan Stevanovic Josip Valcic goalkeeper centre back • one of the oldest and most experienced Zagreb players • co-captain of Zagreb plays together with brother Tonci Valcic on the team • had amazing 2015/16 season that earned him place in Croatian national team at • started in Split, played in Gummersbach but spent most of his career in Zagreb the age 33, originally wanted to quit handball at the age of 29 • in his 11th season has to step in for injured Domagoj Pavlovic, who is out until the • his first sport was swimming, started handball at the end of primary school end of 2016 • played in Trsat, Pecine, Zamet, Porec, Krsko

EURO: B 2016 EURO: S 2008, WCh: S 2009

Darko Cingesar Igor Vori left wing line player • newcomer to Zagreb made his first international move, played only in Slovenia • played handball in five countries so far, including, France (PSG), Spain (Barcelona), before (Skofja Loka, Gorenje Velenje, Branik Maribor) Germany (Hamburg) and, more strangely, Italy • played CL with Gorenje, known for efficient shooting • returning to Zagreb after seven years • expected to make excellent pair on left wing side with Dobrivoje Markovic • great defensive player who will enforce Zagreb's defence and be a mentor to • Veselin Vujovic made him a national team player in 2016 when he got invited for younger players EURO in Poland • started playing handball in Zagreb

EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: G 2004, B 2012; EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009, B 2013

Stipe Mandalinic Luka Sebetic left back right back • voted MVP of Men's 20 EHF EURO 2012, where he also won a silver medal with his team • holds gold medal from Men's EHF EURO 2010 • his best season in the CL was 2013/14 when he scored 43 goals • scored his first goal in the CL when he was 17 • nicknamed “Little Lackovic” (or “Little Lac”) because of similar style of shooting and • season 2016/17 will be his seventh in the CL playing • scored 52 CL goals in 2015/16 • 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 WCh: B 2013 EURO: B 2016

Velko Markoski Zlatko Horvat left back right wing • Macedonian defence specialist arrived in Zagreb in 2015 • captain and speedy wing is a counter-attack specialist, but he is an important part • came from Metalurg where he was coached by former Croatian national team coach of defence at the same time Lino Cervar • had his debut in the national team in 2006 and since then he has won four medals • coached by Vujovic as a junior in 2007 when he was at the helm of the Macedonian • played in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and has already 13 campaigns in junior team the CL under his belt • in the 2010/11 season the third top scorer with 94 goals OG B 2012, EURO B 2012, B 2016, WCh S 2009, B 2013

110 111 HC Meshkov Brest HC Meshkov Brest

GROUP B HC Meshkov EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 34:22 (15:14) v Vojvodina SRB (h), 19.09.2015 Brest Biggest defeat 36:17 (16:8) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), 09.10.2004 Longest winning run 5 matches (24.10.2015 – 05.12.2015) 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 Longest unbeaten run 7 matches (24.10.2015 - 05.03.2016) handball coach Anatoly Meshkov, who died in 1994. The whole club in Brest will Longest losing run 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) celebrate its 80th anniversary in February 2017. MATCHES 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007) Longest winning run When the time rolls around, everybody at Meshkov hopes to still be part of the -VE 5 Longest run without win 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) LUX EHF Champions League. In the 2015/16 season, Brest made it through to the 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007) Group C+D playoffs, but were eliminated by eventual Champions League winners GOALS Club Address Vive Tauron Kielce in the Last 16. Proceeding to the knockout stage is again one Most goals Most goals 35 v Vojvodina SRB 26:35W (a), 14.11.2015 HC Meshkov Brest major goal of Brest, besides taking all domestic titles and qualifying for the final 35 Most goals opponent 39 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), 11.11.2006 Leningradskaya 4 tournament of the SEHA Liga. The squad of coach Sergej Bebeshko did not change 224028 Brest that much, compared to the previous season. The biggest names among the new GOALS 39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), 28.09.2014 Belarus arrivals are Rajko Prodanovic (MOL-Pick Szeged), Vladislav Ostroushko (HCM Baia 70 Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 70 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), 28.09.2014 Mare) and (IFK Kristianstad). Besides those newcomers, Dzianis Ruten- Fewest goals 17 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), 09.10.2004 Media contact ka is back after injury. Maksim Baranau is the only key player who left. In addition, Ivan Karaitschev 17 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004 +375 529 3101161 Dzmitry Kamyshyk will miss the whole 2016/17 season after a serious injury during Fewest goals opponent 20 v TATRAN Presov SVK 20:30W (a), 26.09.2015 [email protected] pre-season. This year, Meshkov had been seeded among the 16 top teams in Group B. Thus, Fewest goals both teams 44 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004 manager Pavel Bashkin expects great matches for his side: “The strongest teams in bgk-meshkova.com our group are Kielce and Rhein-Neckar Löwen. All other teams are almost equal. So bgkmeshkova it is our main goal is to finish this stage among the first six teams, preferably to be in top four of the group.” bgk_meshkova 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- VELUX EHF Champions League record try Nikulenkau is looking forward to this development: “We would like to take the Kit colours next step and qualify for the quarter-finals. But first of all, we need to be among MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Light first six teams of the group.“ 2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 6 1 0 5 143:184 -41 2:10 4th Gr. C Player shirt: red 2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 1 0 5 165:183 -18 2:10 4th Gr. E Player short: red 2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 0 0 6 146:189 –43 0:12 4th Gr. B GK shirt: yellow Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League 2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 6 1 0 5 154:182 -28 2:10 4th Gr. H Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 8 2014/15 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 10 2 2 6 267:293 –26 6:14 5th Gr. A Player shirt: blue Last 16 (1): 2015/16 2015/16 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 14 9 1 4 437:383 +54 19:9 1/8-finals Player short: blue Group Phase (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, GK shirt: black 2007/08, 2014/15 48 14 3 31 1312:1414 -102 31:65 Qualification (1): 2008/09

Other Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-final 2011/12 Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Belarusian league: 8 titles (2004-08, 2014-16) Leningradskaya 4 : 10 titles 224028 Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500

112 113 HC Meshkov Brest HC Meshkov Brest

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 20 RUS L e ft B a c k 25.5.1987 Volgograd, RUS 190 94 6 Maxim Babichev BLR L i n e P l a y e r 7.3.1986 Minsk, BLR 200 100 21 Vitali Charapenka BLR G o a l k e e p e r 27.1.1984 Brest, BLR 194 86 22 Iman Jamali HUN L e ft B a c k 11.10.1991 Esfahan, IRI 202 102 10 Dainis Kristopans LAT R i g h t B a c k 27.9.1990 Ludza, LAT 213 135 7 Artsiom Kulak BLR C e n t r e B a c k 23.2.1996 Brest, BLR 190 75 30 Rade Mijatovic MNE G o a l k e e p e r 30.6.1981 Sombor, SRB 192 98 C 17 Dzmitry Nikulenkau BLR C e n t r e B a c k 12.7.1984 Minsk, BLR 188 90 32 Vladislav Ostroushko UKR L e ft B a c k 5.3.1986 Cherkasy, UKR 202 101 1 Ivan Pesic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 17.3.1989 Rijeka, CRO 194 112 22 Rajko Prodanovic SRB R i g h t W i n g 24.4.1986 Beograd, SRB 186 87 31 Simon Razgor SLO L e ft W i n g 18.9.1985 Celje, SLO 183 84 3 Dzianis Rutenka BLR R i g h t W i n g 14.2.1986 Minsk, BLR 187 85 22 Viachaslau Shumak BLR L i n e P l a y e r 22.12.1988 Brest, BLR 204 116 88 Siarhei Shylovich BLR R i g h t B a c k 16.5.1986 Bobrujsk, BLR 198 95 Sergey Bebeshko 18 Rastko Stojkovic SRB L i n e P l a y e r 12.7.1981 Belgrad, SRB 191 110 coach 19 Alexander Tioumentsev ESP C e n t r e B a c k 4.10.1983 Ajtubinsk, RUS 185 85 • was appointed the new head coach of Brest in June 2015 replacing Zel- 23 Ljubo Vukic CRO L e ft W i n g 3.8.1982 Split, CRO 192 96 jko Babic who concentrated on his job with Croatia national team then 7 Andrei Yashchanka BLR L e ft B a c k 7.1.1992 , BLR 194 85 • 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 14 Andrei Yurynok BLR L e ft W i n g 21.9.1996 Brest, BLR 179 70 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: Left the club: Andrei Yashchanka (HC Gomel) Maksim Baranau (Odorhei) Andrei Yurynok (SKA Minsk) Artsiom Selvasiuk (Mezökövesdi KC) Rajko Prodanovic (MOL-Pick Szeged) Rade Mijatovic (Grundfos Tatabanya KC) Vladislav Ostroushko (HCM Baia Mare) Iman Jamali (IFK Kristianstad)

114 115 HC Meshkov Brest HC Meshkov Brest

Rade Mijatovic Rastko Stojkovic goalkeeper line player • vetran Montenegrin goalkeeper arrived in Brest in the summer of 2016, moving from • joined Brest in December 2013 after spending a few months in Qatar Hungary's Tatabanya • the native of Belgrade started his career at RK Crvena Zvezda and moved abroad at • Belarus is not a new country for him as he played for Dinamo Minsk in 2012-13, the age of 24, spent four seasons at Pfullingen and Nordhorn winning the title of a national champion in that season • played for Kielce in 2009-13 and won three titles of Polish champion as well as four • also won the with RK Vojvodina Novi Sad in 2005 and RK Red Star Polish Cups, also reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2013 Belgrade in 2008, as well as the Macedonian league with Metalurg Skopje in 2014 • became the top scorer of Brest in 2015/16 CL with 89 goals and All-star line player • regularly plays for the Montenegro national team EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012

Simon Razgor Dainis Kristopans left wing right back • Slovenian is beginning his third season in Brest • born in a small Latvian town Ludza and started his career in the local club Latgols • before joining the Belarusian team, he spent his entire career at home playing for • at the age of 18, moved to Tatran Presov and stayed almost six years in Slovakia, Celje and RK Maribor having won the national league five times • top all-time scorer of RK Maribor with 1,052 goals • left Tatran in February 2015 and spent a few months in Qatar before joining Brest • his father was also a handballer who played for Celje as well as for the Yugoslavia • with the height of 213 cm, he is the tallest handball player not only in Brest but junior national team and later became a coach together with Angel Montoro in the whole CL

Pavel Atman Rajko Prodanovic left back right wing • the blonde Russian international is going to play his second season in Brest • Serb is a new player in Brest since the summer of 2016 • this is his second time in Belarus — between 2010 and 2013, he played for Dinamo • moved to Brest from Pick Szeged where he had two spells, in 2011-13 and 2014-16, Minsk, coached by Bebeshko at that time, and won three titles of Belarusian and won silver medals of the Hungarian league in all four seasons champion • also played for Serbia's Jugovic as well as Spain's BM Antequera, Macedonia's Vardar • in 2013 moved from Minsk to Metalurg Skopje where he quickly became one of the and Germany's Rhein-Neckar Löwen fans’ favorites and won the national league in 2014 • regular member of Serbia national team, he played at the 2012 Olympics • left Metalurg before the end of the 2014/15 season and spent the rest of the season playing for Al-Jaish in Qatar EURO: S 2012

Dzmitry Nikulenkau Dzianis Rutenka centre back right wing • native of Minsk is a national player of Belarus and a well-respected figure • younger brother of Siarhei Rutenka, the famous left back • during a number of years, he played a key role at Dinamo Minsk where he was the • unlike his brother, Dzianis has spent most of his career at home — he became a five- captain time Belarusian champion with Dinamo Minsk and then added three more titles with HC Meshkov Brest • 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 • moved to Brest in March 2014 immediately after Dinamo Minsk had gone bankrupt and ceased to exist • had some offers from abroad but preferred to move to Brest where he won the Belarusian league three more times • sidelined for a big part of the 2015/16 season due to a severe knee injury

116 117 MOL-Pick Szeged MOL-Pick Szeged

GROUP B MOL-Pick EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 07.10.2007 Szeged Biggest defeat 40:17 (19:5) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 15.02.1997 Longest winning run 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) 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 Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) 2014 EHF Cup winners MOL-Pick Szeged for the upcoming season. 6 matches (24.10.2015 – 14.02.2016) Big names such as playmaker and top scorer Dean Bombac (to Kielce) and Spanish MATCHES Longest losing run 6 matches (17.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) Longest winning run World Champion Antonio Garcia (to Kolding Kobenhavn) have said farewell to Hun- 6 6 matches (06.03.2011 – 15.10.2011) gary, while other big names such as Sergei Gorbok (Vardar), two recent champions Longest run without win 7 matches (17.10.2009 – 27.02.2010) from Kielce Marin Sego and Denis Buntic as well as Velenje stars Stas Skube and GOALS Club Address Mario Sostaric came to the Hungarian runners-up. Most goals Most goals 39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), 07.10.2007 MOL-Pick Szeged “We must learn to play together, to play as a team, to improve and to get to know 39 Most goals opponent 40 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Deák Ferenc u. 28-30. each other,” details Pastor as his main tasks. Already in their season of transition 6720 Szeged GOALS Most goals both teams 73 v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 38:35W (h), 19.11.2011 Szeged hope to snatch away at least one title from the hands of their domestic Most goals both teams Hungary arch rivals Telekom Veszprem, though they estimate the Balaton-based champions 73 Fewest goals 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Media contact as the favourites again. Fewest goals opponent 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), 05.10.2008 Levente Juhasz “In the VELUX EHF Champions League our philosophy is to go step by step, from Fewest goals both teams 39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), 08.03.2008 +36 70 543 0979 match to match; we have to prepare against each opponent very thoroughly. The [email protected] 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 www.pickhandball.hu the quarter-finals. This year, each match, even in the group phase, will be like a final to everyone,” says Pastor. VELUX EHF Champions League record pickszeged For club CEO Nándor Szögi, it is “a big honour being among big teams such as last MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 @pickhandball 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. 1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 205:216 –11 8:8 1/4-finals “We are going to have minimum of 14 matches against the best handball teams, 2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN 10 4 0 6 269:262 +7 8:12 1/4-finals which is a big challenge for MOL-Pick Szeged. We are really proud of being in this Kit colours 2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 4 2 2 190:187 +3 10:6 1/8-finals top competition and we do hope that our team can achieve the quarter-final like Light we did two seasons ago.” 2005/06 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 0 5 219:218 +1 6:10 1/8-finals Player shirt: orange 2006/07 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 202:203 -1 8:8 1/8-finals Player short: black GK shirt: white or red Past achievements 2007/08 Pick Szeged HUN 12 9 0 3 361:310 +51 18:6 3rd MR Gr. 4 VELUX EHF Champions League 2008/09 Pick Szeged HUN 6 2 0 4 159:161 -2 4:8 3rd Gr. H Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 15 2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN 10 2 2 6 287:307 -20 6:14 5th Gr. A Player shirt: blue Quarter-final (3): 1996/1997, 2003/2004, 2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN 12 5 0 7 336:351 -15 10:14 1/8-finals Player short: blue 2014/15 GK shirt: black Last 16 (6): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2011/12 Pick Szeged HUN 10 3 0 7 285:316 -31 6:14 5th Gr. D 2010/2011, 2012/13, 2015/16 2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN 12 4 0 8 313:350 –37 8:16 1/8-finals Main Round (1): 2007/2008 2014/15 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 14 9 1 4 395:383 +12 19:9 1/4-finals Group Phase (3): 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012 2015/16 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 16 8 1 7 466:455 +11 17:15 1/8-finals Playing hall Qualification (1): 2013/14 134 59 10 65 3687:3719 -32 128:140 Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt.33 Other 6726 Szeged EHF Cup: Winners 2014/15, Quarter-final: Hungary 2000/01 Capacity: 3,200 Last 16: 1994/95, 1999/2000 Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-final: 1993/94 Quarter-final: 2002/03, 2008/09 Hungarian league: 2 titles (1996, 2007) Hungarian cup: 6 titles

118 119 MOL-Pick Szeged MOL-Pick Szeged

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 91 Patrik Arpasi HUN L i n e P l a y e r 17.9.1996 Orosháza, HUN 197 110 19 HUN R i g h t B a c k 29.3.1989 Orosháza, HUN 189 98 27 Bence Banhidi HUN L i n e P l a y e r 9.2.1995 Gyor, HUN 206 123 99 Denes Benak HUN L i n e P l a y e r 20.10.1998 Szeged, HUN 188 95 21 Alen Blazevic CRO L e ft B a c k 29.3.1986 Nasice, CRO 201 115 9 Richard Bodo HUN L e ft B a c k 13.3.1993 Mateszalka, HUN 204 114 77 Bendeguz Boka HUN L e ft W i n g 2.10.1993 Veszprem, HUN 194 90 34 Denis Buntic CRO R i g h t B a c k 13.11.1982 Ljubuski, BIH 199 110 93 Adam Dimovics HUN L e ft B a c k 23.1.1999 Szeged, HUN 187 83 95 Karoly Doleszal HUN C e n t r e B a c k 1.12.1995 Székesfehérvár, HUN 190 85 15 Balint Fekete HUN R i g h t B a c k 27.6.1995 Gyula, HUN 195 95 22 SLO L i n e P l a y e r 22.7.1991 Kranj, SLO 198 110 88 Bence Götz HUN L e ft B a c k 25.11.1998 Sárospatak, HUN 192 85 14 Thiagus Goncalves Dos SantosBRA L e ft B a c k 25.1.1989 Juiz de Fora, BRA 199 100 13 Sergei Gorbok RUS L e ft B a c k 4.12.1982 Minsk, BLR 196 102 Juan Carlos Pastor 98 Gergö Haszillo HUN C e n t r e B a c k 30.9.1996 Székesfehérvár, HUN 192 92 coach 8 Jonas Källman SWE L e ft W i n g 17.7.1981 Växjö, SWE 201 100 • one of the masterminds of contemporary handball with an 94 Richard Mezei HUN R i g h t B a c k 28.11.1996 Szeged, HUN 189 96 incredible amount of silverware in his career 52 Martin Nagy HUN G o a l k e e p e r 9.1.1999 Szeged, HUN 202 88 • Szeged found him fit for the job of rebuilding their team in Sandro CRO C e n t r e B a c k 18.10.1992 Karlovac, CRO 195 98 order to be able to challenge for the Hungarian title against 7 Obranovic Veszprém 12 Imre Pasztor HUN G o a l k e e p e r 23.7.1996 Szolnok, HUN 193 115 • won the EHF Cup in his first year at the helm 81 Zoltan Peter Patyi HUN C e n t r e B a c k 18.2.1995 Szeged, HUN 182 90 • became also the sporting director after Szeged legend 26 Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez ESP R i g h t W i n g 22.8.1990 Vigo, ESP 192 84 Richárd Mezei resigned 16 Marin Sego CRO G o a l k e e p e r 2.8.1985 Mostar, BIH 194 99 82 Roland Selmeczi HUN R i g h t W i n g 14.3.1997 Szeged, HUN 189 70 1 Jose Manuel Sierra Mendez ESP G o a l k e e p e r 21.5.1978 Moguer, ESP 194 91 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014 20 Stas Skube SLO C e n t r e B a c k 15.11.1989 Novo Mesto, SLO 176 80 WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B 2008 24 Mario Sostaric SLO R i g h t W i n g 25.11.1992 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 192 93 Newcomers: Left the club: 18 Stefan Sunajko SRB L e ft W i n g 10.4.1998 Zombor, SRB 190 80 Bence Banhidi (Balatonfüredi KSE) Gabor Ancsin (Telekom Veszprem) 83 Mate Szabo HUN R i g h t W i n g 27.1.1997 Szeged, HUN 190 75 Richard Bodo (Grundfos Tatabanya) Antonio Garcia (KIF Kolding Kobenhavn) Bendeguz Boka (Balatonfüredi KSE) Dean Bombac (Vive Tauron Kielce) C 17 Szabolcs Zubai HUN L i n e P l a y e r 31.3.1984 Mezokövesd, HUN 193 98 Denis Buntic (Vive Tauron Kielce) Ferenc Ilyes (Grundfos Tatabanya) Marin Sego (Vive Tauron Kielce) Marko Curuvija (unknown) Mario Sostaric (Gorenje Velenje) Niko Mindegia (KIF Kolding Kobenhavn) Matej Gaber (Montpellier Handball) Piotr Wyszomirski (TBV Lemgo) Pedro Rodriguez Alvares (Naturhouse La Rioja) Rajko Prodanovic (Meshkov Brest) Sandro Obranovic (RK PPD Zagreb, on loan) Roberto Garcia Parrondo (CYEB Budapest) Sergei Gorbok (Vardar Skopje) Vladimir Vranjes (Grundfos Tatabanya) Stas Skube (Gorenje Velenje) Vladan Loncar (Naturhouse La Rioja, on loan)

120 121 MOL-Pick Szeged MOL-Pick Szeged

Marin Sego Matej Gaber goalkeeper line player • signed in 2016 to replace Polish international Wyszomirski, who left Szeged • signed by Szeged at the beginning of the 2016/17 season and has done everything since to justify his “hard-defending” reputation • 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 • should become a very important piece of coach Juan Carlos Pastor's puzzle in the forthcoming years • before his first FINAL4 was most successful with Zagreb, where he helped his club to progress twice to the CL quarter-finals • Slovenian rock is a regular at the national team having represented his country for more than 100 times

EC trophies: CL 2016 • has played for Montpellier, where he already gained considerable CL experience EURO: S 2010

Jonas Källman Denis Buntic left wing right back • signed in the winter of 2013/14 and showed his ability to defend in 3 positions • born in Ljubuski, traditional handball city of Bosnia and Herzegovina • vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor’s defensive variatons and Szeged’s • played for Izvidac, Zagreb, Koper, Ademar Leon and Kielce before joining Szeged attacking edge • set his scoring record in the EC in 2009/10 with Ademar (57 goals) • spent more than a decade in Spain with Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid before • the Croatian arrived in Szeged as Champions League's defending champion 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 EC trophies: CL 2016 OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2010, B 2012, WCh: S 2005, 2009 EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012

Sergei Gorbok Zsolt Balogh left back right back • started his career in Minsk, also played in Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Germany • joined Pick Szeged from Braun Gyöngyös in 2012, by 2014 overtook Gábor Ancsin in the Pick roster in his poition • took Russian citizenship, started playing for Russia after three seasons in Chekhov • not as tall as one would expect from a backcourt player but has outstanding • in the 2013/14 season with Rhein-Neckar Löwen he was close to the FINAL4 dribbling skills and a sharp eye for passing • joined the Russian “colony” of Vardar in 2014 and left for Szeged in 2016, where a lot • coach Pastor gave him more time and he grabbed his chance, he is one of the few is expected from him who remained in Szeged from the 2015/16 team

EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012

Sandro Obranovic Mario Sostaric centre back right wing • having started handball as a member of RK Karlovac youth squad, working his way • spent his latest years away from Champions League action but has more than 50 up to the first team and the Challenge Cup berth goals in the competetion from 2014 with Velenje. • joined Szeged in 2016 from PPD Zagreb • the 1,92 m tall winger is unlucky to have such competition as Gajic and Marguc in the • flourished under guidance of Veselin Vujovic in the 2014/15 season, he will be a Slovenian national team clutch 7th field player in Szeged • was voted to the All Star team in the junior ECh and WCh (2011, 12) • awarded best left back of the 2015 SEHA League Final tournament • Juan Carlos Pastor asked for Sostaric personally, he signed a three-year contract with the club

122 123 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

GROUP B RK Celje EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 37:17 (16:9) v Redbergslids IK SWE (h), 18.11.2000 Pivovarna Lasko Biggest defeat 43:27 (23:16) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2011 Longest winning run 6 matches (23.03.1997 – 24.01.1998) For the past 70 years, handball has been played in Celje. During that period, RK Piv- 6 matches (25.03.2000 – 09.12.2000) 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. Longest unbeaten run 8 matches (31.10.2004 – 02.04.2005) To celebrate their accomplishments, RK have produced and new club anthem. MATCHES Longest losing run 7 matches (26.09.2015 – 21.11.2015) Longest winning run Celje aims high in all competitions they play. The main goals of Branko Tamse team 6 Longest run without win 9 matches (26.09.2015 – 06.12.2015) are to defend their domestic titles (league and cup) and to proceed to the Last 16 Most goals 44 v HC ‘Granitas-Karys’ LTU 44:27W (h), 22.11.2008 of the VELUX EHF Champions League. GOALS Club Address Most goals Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Celje Pivovarna Lasko One key player left (Blaz Blagotinsek to Telekom Veszprem), one retired (Luka 44 Most goals both teams 77 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Opekarniska Cesta 15 Dobelsek) and one returned back to the club where he started (Borut Mackovsek). 3000 Celje With this nearly equal squad, Celje will additionally begin in the multi-national GOALS Fewest goals 17 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 Slovenia SEHA Liga for the first time. 77 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 16 v SG Wallau-Massenheim GER 23:16W (h), 13.02.1994 Media contact With that, the Slovenian record champions want to use this international experi- 16 v Redbergslids Göteborg SWE 31:16W (h), 14.11.1998 Nejc Ajdnik ence to accomplish a mission they did not fulfil in the 2015/16 season. “We missed Fewest goals both teams 35 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 +386 40687766 the Last 16 by an inch in the last round; now, we want to fight until the end this [email protected] 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 www.rk-celje.si the top level and a packed Zlatorog Arena with an average of 4000 spectators per VELUX EHF Champions League record rkceljepivovarnaLasko 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 MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 @RKCPL event and we are going to deliver that to them.” Experienced team captain, Luka Zvizej, shares the hopes and expectations of Celje 1993/94 Celje ‘Pivovarna Lasko’ SLO 6 2 0 4 120:116 +4 4:8 4th Gr. A proceeding to the knockout stage. “We know that this will be very hard task. Clubs 1996/97 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 254:213 +41 15:5 1/2-finals Kit colours like Kielce, Zagreb, Pick Szeged, Löwen and Vardar are always hard to beat. So, we 1997/98 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 8 0 2 268:234 +34 16:4 1/2-finals Light hope to cause some upsets in a full Zlatorog arena.” 1998/99 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 290:245 +45 15:5 1/2-finals Player shirt: yellow-blue 1999/00 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 294:250 +44 14:6 1/2-finals Player short: blue GK shirt: black Past achievements 2000/01 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 6 1 3 292:254 +38 13:7 1/2-finals VELUX EHF Champions League 2001/02 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 232:217 +15 12:4 1/4-finals Participations (including 2016/17 season): 21 Dark 2003/04 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 14 10 2 2 447:398 +49 22:6 Winner Player shirt: blue Winner (1): 2003/04 Player short: blue Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2004/05 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 8 1 3 360:327 +33 17:7 1/2-finals GK shirt: red 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05 2005/06 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 311:273 +38 14:6 1/4-finals Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06 2006/07 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 272:237 +35 12:4 1/8-finals Last 16 (3): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 2007/08 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 4 2 6 342:344 -2 10:14 4th MR Gr. 4 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 2008/09 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 4 0 6 296:287 +9 8:12 4th MR Gr. 2 Playing hall Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11, 2010/11 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 0 7 300:332 -32 6:14 5th Gr. A Dvorana Zlatorog 2014/15 Opekarinska cesta 15 Qualification (1): 2009/10 2012/13 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 0 7 305:324 –19 10:14 1/8-finals 3000 Celje Other 2013/14 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 1 6 322:327 -5 11:13 1/8-finals Slovenia Cup Winners‘ Cup: semi-finals 2002/02, 2014/15 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 0 7 284:293 -9 6:14 5th Gr. C Capacity: 5,830 2011/12 2015/16 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 1 10 385:398 –13 7:21 7th Gr. A Slovenian league: 20 titles (1992-2001, 2003, 184 101 10 77 5374:5069 +305 212:164 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015) Slovenian cup: 19 times

124 125 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 7 Povilas Babarskas LTU L e ft B a c k 13.12.1988 Kaunas, LTU 200 90 80 Kristian Beciri CRO L i n e P l a y e r 14.6.1994 Heppenheim, GER 202 120 66 Gasper Dobaj SLO G o a l k e e p e r 13.11.1998 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 184 84 26 Lucijan Fizuleto SLO C e n t r e B a c k 23.2.1994 Celje , SLO 186 84 16 Ivan Gajic SRB G o a l k e e p e r 17.5.1979 Nis, SRB 191 105 14 Matic Groselj SLO R i g h t B a c k 22.9.1997 Trbovlje, SLO 193 90 8 Blaz Janc SLO R i g h t W i n g 20.11.1996 Brezice, SLO 185 85 13 Teo Jezernik SLO R i g h t W i n g 29.8.2000 Celje, SLO 180 70 25 SLO L e ft W i n g 14.5.1994 Celje, SLO 190 89 3 Matevz Kunst SLO L e ft B a c k 25.3.1998 Celje, SLO 184 79 1 SLO G o a l k e e p e r 24.8.1990 Celje, SLO 188 95 51 Borut Mackovsek SLO L e ft B a c k 11.9.1992 Koper, SLO 203 100 4 Domen Makuc SLO C e n t r e B a c k 1.7.2000 Postojna, SLO 189 83 29 Arthur Malburg Patrianova BRA L e ft B a c k 22.4.1993 Itajausc, BRA 188 97 5 Jaka Malus SLO C e n t r e B a c k 15.6.1996 Celje, SLO 190 90 Branko Tamse 11 Gal Marguc SLO R i g h t W i n g 16.11.1996 Celje, SLO 177 72 coach 55 Ziga Mlakar SLO R i g h t B a c k 16.5.1990 Celje, SLO 192 95 • former player and coach of Celje’s arch rivals from Velenje 15 SLO L i n e P l a y e r 5.4.1991 Celje, SLO 193 94 • took over the club in December 2014, just 48 hours after 9 David Razgor SLO C e n t r e B a c k 13.7.1989 Celje, SLO 181 82 Vladan Matic and Celje announced the termination of their contract 6 Luka Savanovic BIH R i g h t B a c k 16.1.2001 Banja Luca, BIH 186 82 • major task of the former youth and junior national team 12 Luka Simonic SLO G o a l k e e p e r 27.8.1999 Leoben, AUT 197 92 player was to rebuild a young team with talents and create 2 Jan Sivka SLO L e ft W i n g 12.7.1997 Celje, SLO 183 76 a competitive force to keep up with the pace of the more 10 Matic Suholeznik SLO L i n e P l a y e r 2.5.1995 Celje, SLO 202 121 renowned rivals in the group 17 Stefan Zabic SLO L i n e P l a y e r 17.2.1999 Celje, SLO 202 100 23 Miha Zarabec SLO C e n t r e B a c k 12.10.1991 Novo Mesto, SLO 174 72 C 77 Luka Zvizej SLO L e ft W i n g 9.12.1980 Celje, SLO 185 88

Newcomers: Left the club: Borut Mackovsek (ThSV Eisenach) Blaz Blagotinsek (Telekom Veszprem)

Kristian Beciri (RK Maribor Branik) Luka Dobelsek (career end) Marko Dujmovic (unknown)

126 127 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Ivan Gajic Miha Zarabec goalkeeper centre back • started his handball career in his birthplace with RK Zeleznicar Nis in 1997 • 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 • played five seasons (2008-2013) for Celje’s biggest rival RK Gorenje Velenje, under current Celje coach Branko Tamse, won three Slovenian champions titles • after Sebastian Skube and Mate Lekai left the club, Zarabec took over attacking duties • vast club-level experience playing at Hannover, Frisch Auf Göppingen, Silkeborg, • his main strenghts are speed, explosivity and his vision of play Tremblay as well as for a season each • in his first season in the CL he became the top scorer of his team with 54 goals • expected share his playing time with Slovenian international Urban Lesjak

Luka Zvizej Vid Poteko left wing line player • competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens • member of Celje since 2010, now a key part of Celje’s defence, known as a true fighter, who never gives up • 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 • part of the Slovenian team playing in Mersin at the Mediterranean games 2013 together with Gasper Marguc, Urban Lesjak and Borut Mackovsek • 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 • 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 • before moving back had a second stint at Cantabria and spent 3 years with Szeged EC trophies: CL 2005

Arthur Malburg Patrianova Ziga Mlakar left back right back • signed for Celje in the summer of 2015 • started playing handball when 12-year-old, has never played for a foreign club yet • despite his young age has been member of the Brazilian national team for some • apart from the 2014/15 season, when he wore the Branik Maribor jersey, played his years and played both at the WCh 2013 in Spain and WCh 2015 in Qatar entire career in Celje • came from Villa de Aranda, ASOBAL team, before he played in Naturhouse la Rioja, • one of the main figures of the successful 1990 generation but longed for more minutes on the court • recorded his best season in 2015/16 scoring 60 goals in the CL • can play in the centre back position too • in March 2015 suffered a knee injury and had to undergo a surgery

Borut Mackovsek Blaz Janc left back right wing • returned to Celje in the summer of 2016 after two years with Montpellier • one of the biggest talents in history of Slovenian handball • played for three different clubs in the 2013/14 season: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, then • already in his 5th season in the first team making his debut in the CL at 15 years old Dinamo Minsk, then RK Celje and scoring over 100 goals in the CL still as a teenager • famous for scoring 10 goals in a Last 16 CL match against Hamburg in 2013/14 • 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) • reached his personal best in the CL in 2012/13 scoring 62 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)

128 129 IFK Kristianstad IFK Kristianstad

GROUP B IFK EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 21:30 (13:11) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 06.03.2016 Kristianstad Biggest defeat 29:20 (15:10) v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER (a), 26.11.2015 First they had to wait for more than 50 years - from 1953 until 2015 - to become Longest winning run 1 match (16.09.2015) Swedish champions again, and then IFK Kristianstad took their second straight 1 match (22.10.2015) league title in Sweden. ’s team had not only been successful in 1 match (06.03.2016) domestic competition, but set showed signs of brilliance in the previous VELUX MATCH Longest unbeaten run 1 match (16.09.2015) EHF Champions League season. Lindgren announced that he has resigned from his Longest winning run position as Swedish national team coach to focus on IFK. 1 1 match (22.10.2015) Kristianstad beat Kolding twice, Löwen once and tied with eventual Champions 1 match (11.02.2016) League winners Kielce in their first ever appearance in the group phase. Due to GOALS Club Address Most goals 1 match (06.03.2016) being drawn into a tough group, even those results were not enough to make it to IFK Kristianstad 36 Longest losing run 4 matches (26.09.2015 – 17.10.2015) Västra Storgatan 69 the Last 16. 4 matches (14.11.2015 – 05.12.2015) 29154 Kristanstad Such outstanding performances made other clubs sit up and take notice of GOALS Sweden Kristianstad’s players: Thus, and have left 74 Most goals both teams Longest run without win 7 matches (14.11.2015 – 25.02.2016) for France, top star Kristian Björnsen signed for German side Wetzlar, while his Media contact Most goals 36 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 Norwegian teammate Christian O’Sullivan joined Magdeburg (Germany). Lindgren’s Anders Hallengren Most goals opponent 38 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 +46 734 33 11 88 job now is to cope with this transitional phase. It’s the club’s goal not only to take Most goals both teams 74 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 anders.hallengren@ the treble in Sweden but also to go a step further in the VELUX EHF Champions ifkkristianstad.se League in the upcoming year. Fewest goals 20 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 29:20L (a), 26.11.2015 “We are aiming to continue our great performances in our home arena with a fan- Fewest goals opponent 21 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 21:30W (a), 06.03.2016 www.ifkkristianstad.se tastic atmosphere and we will try to make it to the Last 16,” club manager Nikolas Fewest goals both teams 49 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 29:20L (a), 26.11.2015 IFKKristianstad 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 @IFKKristianstad 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- Kit colours witt - expects an “inspiring challenge from which I hope to proceed to the knock- VELUX EHF Champions League record out stage; Kielce, Löwen and Vardar will be the top three favourites in our group, Light but we will try to match the rest in our home arena.” MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Player shirt: orange Player short: white 2015/16 IFK Kristianstad SWE 14 3 1 10 409:437 –28 7:21 7th Gr. B GK shirt: red/yellow/ Past achievements 14 3 1 10 409:437 –28 7:21 black/white VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2016/17 season): 2 Dark Group Phase (1): 2015/16 Player shirt: white Player short: white Other GK shirt: red/yellow/ EHF Cup: Group Phase 2013/14 black/white Swedish league: 6 titles (1941, 1948, 1952, 1953, 2015, 2016) Playing hall Kristianstad Arena Västra Storgatan 1 29154 Kristianstad Sweden Capacity: 4,800

130 131 IFK Kristianstad IFK Kristianstad

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 5 Arnar Freyr Arnarsson ISL L i n e P l a y e r 14.3.1996 Reykjavik, ISL 200 110 33 Inge Aas Eriksen NOR B a c k 25.4.1994 Stord, NOR 193 101 C 13 Olafur Gudmundsson ISL B a c k 13.5.1990 Hafnarfjarðar, ISL 194 96 14 Viktor Hallen SWE L e ft W i n g 1.2.1994 Kungsholmen, SWE 188 84 29 Richard Hanisch SWE B a c k 2.6.1990 Eskilstuna, SWE 190 90 6 SWE B a c k 14.6.1995 Hörby, SWE 197 100 27 Gunnar Jonsson ISL B a c k 4.5.1987 Akureyri, ISL 193 95 10 SWE B a c k 11.9.1992 Varberg, SWE 187 90 12 Fredrik Landin SWE G o a l k e e p e r 2.6.1996 Göteborg, SWE 182 83 36 Jesper Larsson SWE G o a l k e e p e r 27.7.1973 Kristianstad, SWE 190 95 11 Johannes Larsson SWE R i g h t W i n g 9.8.1991 Kristianstad, SWE 182 78 1 Leo Larsson SWE G o a l k e e p e r 16.10.1990 Ystad, SWE 187 93 4 Mario Lipovac SWE L i n e P l a y e r 2.11.1991 Karlstad, SWE 198 112 31 Filip Moberg Andersson SWE B a c k 12.8.1997 Kungälv, SWE 189 98 Ola Lindgren 9 Stig Tore Moen Nilsen NOR B a c k 9.8.1994 Alta, NOR 193 93 coach 35 Anton Persson SWE L e ft B a c k 5.6.1998 Kristianstad, SWE 180 85 • head coach in Kristianstad since 2012, celebrated his greatest triumph as 32 Emil Schuster SWE B a c k 21.5.1997 Kristianstad, SWE 192 82 a coach by leading them to their first Swedish championship title in 62 16 Nebojsa Simic MNE G o a l k e e p e r 19.1.1993 Cetinje, MON 194 115 years in 2014/15 82 • before returning home was coach at HSG Nordhorn and Rhein-Neckar 7 Tim D. Sörensen DEN R i g h t W i n g 10.2.1992 Skive, DEN 178 Löwen 28 Alexander Tatarintsev RUS B a c k 13.3.1990 Stavropol, RUS 208 106 • apart from being head coach in Kristianstad, in 2008-16 was in charge of 17 SWE L e ft W i n g 13.9.1995 Norrtälje, SWE 182 81 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: Left the club: Gunnar Steinn Jonsson (Gummersbach) Johan Jepson (retired) Mario Lipovac (Redbergslid IK) Fredric Pettersson (Toulouse) Alexander Tatarintsev (Gornik Zabrze) Andreas Cederholm (Toulouse) Stig Tore Moen (Bodö HK) Kristian Björnsen (Wetzlar) Philip Henningsson (IFK Ystad) (Wetzlar) Tim Sörensen (Skanderborg) Christian O’Sullivan (Magdeburg) Marcus Dahlin, (Mors-Thy) Oskar Cosmo (O/V Helsingborg)

132 133 IFK Kristianstad IFK Kristianstad

Nebojsa Simic Mario Lipovac goalkeeper line player • joined in the summer of 2015 from HC Lovcen in his homeland Montenegro • joined this summer from Swedish league rivals Redbergslids, where he was captain • advanced to being first choice as goalkeeper during the 2015/16 season, for a great • played in Redbergslids from 15 and had had his league debut at the age of 17 part due to some stellar performances in the VELUX EHF Champions League • has some kind of a challenge filling out the line player position after Swedish • part of the Montenegrin national team at the EHF EURO 2014 and has played 15 international Anton Lindskog who has left for HSG Wetzlar internationals for his country • can play at both ends of the court • 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 Arnar Freyr Arnarsson left wing line player • joined from league colleagues Rimbo HK in the summer of 2014 • joined in the summer of 2016 from Icelandic league club Fram Reykjavik • signed as substitute to experienced Johan Jepson in the left wing position, but his • has signed a three-year contract with Kristianstad, his first foreign adventure skills soon made him first choice on the left wing • with his two meters and 110 kilos, he has the size and physical strength to make an • his club performance in the 2015/16 season paved his way to the Swedish national impact on the line, where he is always easy to find for his back court players team at the EHF EURO in Poland and also at the Rio Olympics • part of the Icelandic team for the M 20 EURO 2016 in Denmark and was also in the • his sister Cassandra plays on a centre back position in H65 Höör 28 players squad for the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland back in January

Olafur Gudmundsson Albin Lagergren left back right back • returned to IFK from German Bundesliga club TSV Hannover-Burgdorf in the summer • one of the few IFK players, who were also in the club in the 2015/16 season mostly of 2015 substituting for Andreas Cederholm, who has left for French Toulouse • also represented IFK from 2012-14, and has represented Danish league clubs AG • had several great performances last season already, not least in the VELUX EHF Kobenhavn and Nordsjælland Håndbold as well Champions League • can look forward to more court time in the 2016/17 season after several key players • extended his contract with IFK as far as until the summer of 2018 having left the club • had played two internationals for Sweden up until the summer 2016, but was • has played over 70 internationals for Iceland nominated for the Swedish squad for the Rio Olympics 2016

Gunnar Steinn Jonsson Tim Sörensen centre back right wing • joined this summer from German Bundesliga club VfL Gummersbach • joined this summer on a two-year contract from Danish league club Skanderborg • succeeding Norwegian international Christian O'Sullivan who has left for another • was actually under contract with Skanderborg this season too, but had an option to Bundesliga club, SC Magdeburg get out of that contract, if he got an offer from a foreign club – which he did • no stranger to Sweden as he played for HK Drott Halmstad from 2009 to 2012 • will be trying to fill out the gap after Norwegian international Kristian Bjørnsen who • complete playmaker with cleverness and ability to read the game as his biggest has left for German Bundesliga club HSG Wetzlar strengths • top scoring player in Skanderborg and number two on the top scorers' list in the • has played 30 internationals for Iceland Danish league for large parts of the 2015/16 season

134 135 Group C preview Group C preview

Group C preview

MONTPELLIER TO PROVE THEIR ELITE STATUS CHALLENGING qualification tournament 1 at home by beating Gorenje Velenje in the deciding SPANISH CROWNED PRINCES 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 Group C gets underway with a replay of the opening match from last season in Sporting Lisabon. Russia, where Chekhovskie Medvedi met Spanish runners-up Naturhouse La Rioja. Elverum, led by Michael Apelgren won the Norwegian Championship for the third Three of the six teams in Group C came across each other last season, also in time. And the side from Norway signed Tamas Ivancsik from Baia Mare but had to Group C. La Rioja beat Presov twice, and the rest of the ties were very close, Presov omit Steffen Stegavik, one of the key players last year. and La Rioja both came out on top at home against Medvedi. The cards are set for Montpellier to fight for the first spot. Naturhouse La Rioja, Metalurg and Elverum also won their home head-to-head matches in Group D last ambitious club from Logrono should make the bid for second place in the group. term, so expect teams in this group to heavily count on their home advantage. 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 Montpellier, who was seeded in Group B last time out, are considered the big number of changes made in the club and how the return to SEHA League will favourite to take the top spot. The only French EHF Champions League winners affect also their Champions League performances. Tatran Presov hope they can from 13 years ago, with long serving coach Patrice Canayer, have been reinforced improve their last season’s bad record of two wins, finishing bottom of Group C, by All-star right back from the 2016 Rio Olympics Valentin Porte. Montpellier still yet they have to show their young squad can match the European powerhouses. have two members of the 2003 winning squad – coach Patrice Canayer and team Elverum, debutants from last season, were seeded directly into the group phase captain Michael Guigou. for the first time. Their ambition is focused on building on their record from last season of three wins. 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 Tomas Cuncik 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

136 137 Group C preview Group C preview

Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC 16.11.2014 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 32:32 (15:14) Naturhouse La Rioja vs HC Metalurg 1-0-1 (59:56) 2:2) 22.11.2014 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 33:34 (17:16) 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) Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Elverum Handball No previous encounters in European competitions Naturhouse La Rioja vs Chekhovskier Medvedi 1-0-1 (53:56) 2:2 17.09.2015 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Naturhouse La Rioja, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 27:26 (13:13) Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Tatran Presov 3-0-1 (115:110) 6:2 14.11.2015 Naturhouse La Rioja vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 30:26 (14:14) 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) Naturhouse La Rioja vs Montpellier HB 18.10.2015 TATRAN Presov vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 27:21 (12:12) No previous encounters in European competitions 22.10.2015 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:28 (15:15)

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Elverum Handball Montpellier HB vs Elverum Handball No previous encounters in European competitions No previous encounters in European competitions

Naturhouse La Rioja vs Tatran Presov 2-0-0 (58:48) 4:0 Montpellier HB vs Tatran Presov 2-0-0 (73:56) 4:0 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) 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) HC Metalurg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 0-0-2 (53:72) 0:4 30.09.2006 Chehovskie Medvedi vs RK Metalurg Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D 40:25 (22:9) Elverum Handball vs Tatran Presov 04.11.2006 RK Metalurg Skopje vs Chehovskie Medvedi, EHF Champions League – Group D 28:32 (12:16) No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Metalurg vs Montpellier HB No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Metalurg vs Elverum Handball 1-0-1 (45:48) 2:2 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)

HC Metalurg vs Tatran Presov No previous encounters in European competitions

Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB 3-3-10 (446:467) 9:23 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)

138 139 Naturhouse La Rioja Naturhouse La Rioja

GROUP C Naturhouse EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 31:22 (15:9) v Vojvodina SRB (h), 24.10.2015 La Rioja Biggest defeat 37:25 (19:11) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 12.02.2014 Longest winning run 6 matches (26.09.2015 – 14.11.2015) Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (26.09.2015 – 14.11.2015) Longest losing run 3 matches (14.03.2015 – 17.09.2015) For the third straight time, the Logrono based team of Naturhouse La Rioja finished MATCHES Longest run without win 4 matches (21.09.2013 – 19.10.2013) second in the Spanish league, only topped by FC Barcelona Lassa. Longest winning run 6 4 matches (22.11.2014 – 14.02.2015) After qualifying for the Last 16 in 2015 and missing the knockout stages narrowly in Most goals 39 v Meshkov Brest BLR 39:31W (h), 28.09.2014 the playoffs against Zaporozhye in 2016, the Spanish runners-up are out looking for GOALS Club Address another spot among the best 16 teams in Europe once again. Most goals Most goals opponent 39 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 39:37L (a), 05.03.2016 Naturhouse La Rioja 39 While Swedish back court ace left for Kolding (Denmark), La Rioja Most goals both teams 76 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 39:37L (a), 05.03.2016 Avenida de Moncalvillo 2 managed to sign the tall right back Angel Montoro from Plock (Poland) and the GOALS Fewest goals 21 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.2015 26008 Logrono Egyptian Mohamed Sanad from Hungary. Spain Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 19 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.2015 Like their Brazilian player Vincius Langaro, Sanad was part of his national team at 76 Fewest goals both teams 40 v TATRAN Presov SVK 19:21W (a), 05.12.2015 Media contact the Olympic Games in Rio. Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +34 63 77 66 107 “Proceeding to the Last 16 would be a major success for us,” coach and manager naturhouselarioja.ehf Jesus Javier Gonzalez Fernandez adds: “We play in a tough group. The big favourite @gmail.com 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- www.cbclogrono.com national Julen Aguinagalde - expects a tough fight for the two top positions: “Our VELUX EHF Champions League record Club-Balonmano- opponents are big teams and a few of them are leaders in their domestic league, Naturhouse-La-Rioja so I am sure they will be tough teams to beat. I think the best team is Montpellier, MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 @NaturhouseRioja they are on a higher level compared to the rest of our group.” 2013/14 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8:12 5th Gr. D In general, the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League is something 2014/15 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 12 4 1 7 359:373 –14 9:15 1/8-finals great for Gonzalez Fernandez: “For a small club like us, playing in the best club 2015/16 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 12 7 0 5 365:340 +25 14:10 Elimination C+D Kit colours competition in the world is important keeping and reaching new sponsors.” 34 14 3 17 1016:1033 -17 31:37 Light Player shirt: white Player short: red GK shirt: yellow Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 4 Player shirt: black Group Phase (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 Player short: black GK shirt: blue Other EHF Cup: Semi-finalists 2009/10, 2010/11, Group Phase 2012/13

Spanish league: no titles Playing hall Spanish Cup winners: - (runners-up in 2013, Palacio de los deportes 2014, 2015, 2016) de la Rioja Avenida Moncalvillo 2 Logrono Spain Capacity: 3,500

140 141 Naturhouse La Rioja Naturhouse La Rioja

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight C 12 Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu ESP G o a l k e e p e r 26.10.1977 Irun, ESP 201 110 11 Pablo Cacheda Gonzalez ESP C e n t r e B a c k 9.1.1992 Lalín, ESP 180 82 33 Eduardo Cadarso Caballero ESP L e ft W i n g 13.2.1999 Logroño, ESP 190 71 32 Angel Fernandez Perez ESP L e ft W i n g 16.9.1988 Santander, ESP 192 90 17 Ruben Garabaya Arenas ESP L i n e P l a y e r 15.9.1978 Aviles, ESP 201 110 22 Francisco Garcia Rubio ESP L i n e P l a y e r 7.1.1990 Bolanos, ESP 196 115 41 Imanol Garciandia Alustiza ESP R i g h t B a c k 30.4.1995 Urretxu, ESP 201 98 91 Mohamed Hisham Sanad EGY R i g h t W i n g 16.1.1991 El Cairo, EGY 186 86 23 Haniel Inoue Langaro BRA L e ft B a c k 7.3.1995 Umuarama, BRA 196 100 13 Luis Felipe Jimenez Reina ESP R i g h t B a c k 12.6.1989 Puente Genil, ESP 193 90 1 Richard Kappelin SWE G o a l k e e p e r 30.9.1983 Irsta, SWE 191 96 18 Carlos Molina Cosano ESP L e ft B a c k 31.5.1991 Barcelona, ESP 202 90 25 Angel Montoro Cabello ESP R i g h t B a c k 10.4.1989 Toledo, ESP 213 105 24 Javier Munoz Cabezon ESP R i g h t W i n g 22.5.1992 Madrid, ESP 192 86 5 Inaki Pecina Tome ESP L i n e P l a y e r 31.5.1988 Irún, ESP 200 104 Jesús Javier González Fernández 4 Comas ESP R i g h t W i n g 16.6.1982 Palafrugell, ESP 188 84 coach 90 Javier Romeo Lopez ESP G o a l k e e p e r 1.6.1990 Logroño, ESP 195 95 • for the first time in his coaching career he led a CL participant in 2 Miguel Sanchez Migallon ESP L e ft W i n g 8.2.1995 Ciudad Real, ESP 200 96 the 2013/14 season 14 Victor Vigo Gerpe ESP C e n t r e B a c k 9.5.1984 Camariñas, ESP 186 90 • 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: Left the club: Angel Montoro Cabello (Orlen Wisla Plock) Alberto Val Sancho (Bada Huesca) Javier Munoz Cabezon (BM Villa De Aranda) Cristian Malmagro (Saudi Arabia) Mohamed Hisham Mohamed Anis Aly Sanad (Sport 26 Philip Stenmalm (KIF Kolding) Kolmo) Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez (MOL Pick Szeged)

142 143 Naturhouse La Rioja Naturhouse La Rioja

Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu Pablo Cacheda goalkeeper centre back • one of the most experienced players at La Rioja during each of their European • played for SD Octavio and Valladolid before he decided to transfer to La Rioja campaigns in 2014 • winner of the Spanish King’s Cup in 1996 and the Spanish Super Cup in 1996 • U20 World champion with Spain in 2012 and MVP of that tournament's final • important part in the Rioja’s run in the 2012/13 EHF Cup when they only narrowly • troubled by some long injures, but regained consistency in the 2015/16 season missed the quarter-finals • still a young talented player with a potential to grow • brother of Spanish national team line player Julen EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 1997

Richard Kappelin Francisco Javier Garcia goalkeeper line player • joined La Rioja ahead of the 2015/16 season from French Selestat Alsace Handball • in the past played for Barcelona and Aragon • has previous CL experience from another Spanish club, Aragon as well as from Danish • spent the 2013/14 season in the French club Nantes, but returned to Spain in the Aalborg summer of 2014 to join La Rioja • has been a bit around in his career, which also took him to Al Gharafa in Qatar for six • strong line player, defensive specialist, expected to share his duties with a veteran months before he joined Aalborg in 2013 Ruben Garabaya • represented the Swedish league clubs IK Sävehof and Alingsas HK before • played for the young categories on the national team • has not played any senior internationals, won the Junior WCh with Sweden in 2003

Angel Fernandez Perez Angel Montoro left wing right back • playing in Naturhouse La Rioja since the 2013/14 season • with 2,13 meters one of the tallest players in CL • replacement for Juanin Garcia who left for Ademar • played football and basketball, before he switched to handball • in the 2014/15 season he played more minutes in left back • started with Ademar Leon, later joined FC Barcelona, which opened the door to the national team for him • called up by Manolo Cadenas for the Spanish national team, played two games against Germany in 2015 • after two foreign stints with Tolouse and Wisla Plock, he returned to Spain in 2016 and joined La Rioja WCh: G 2013

Carlos Molina Albert Rocas left back right wing • his speciality has always been defence, but gradually he has been taking more • double world champion with the Spanish national team (2005 and 2013) responsibility in attack • nominated as the best ASOBAL right wing in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and best right • studies nursing wing of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 • born in South Spain, joined young age categories in FC Barcelona • after six seasons at Barcelona, Rocas made the move to Kolding before the 2013/14 season, his first to a foreign league • was in Aragon and Huesca before he arrived in La Rioja in 2014 • in 2015/16 he was hit by a knee injury which sidelined him for a major part • 6 caps for Spain and 11 times with the beach handball national team, also played for the U20 and U18 national teams

144 145 HC Metalurg HC Metalurg

GROUP C HC EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 32:18 (18:14) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (h), 24.02.2013 Metalurg Biggest defeat 43:24 (23:12) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 19.10.2006 35:16 (17:3) v THW Kiel (a), 15.02.2015 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 Longest winning run 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) exodus prior to this season, coach Lino Cervar is implementing a new, young team 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) in the Macedonian capital. MATCHES Longest unbeaten run 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) Longest winning run While on the domestic front their clear target is to remain second in the ranking 7 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) chasing champions Vardar, the aim for the Champions League is to simply win 4 matches (16.02.2014 – 30.03.2014) more than last season. Some young Macedonian and Serbian players have arrived GOALS Club Address at Metalurg, but some big names such as Janko Bozovic (now in Lisbon) have left. Most goals Longest losing run 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) HC Metalurg For Cervar, who steered the Croatian national team to several trophies and medals, 37 Longest run without win 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) ul. Jane Lukroski 6 including the Olympic triumph in 2004, building a new team is a major challenge: 1000 Skopje “We have plenty of potential among our young players, who are the future of GOALS Most goals 37 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 FYR Macedonia Macedonian men’s handball.” 69 Most goals both teams Most goals opponent 43 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 Media contact Facing teams like Montpellier, La Rioja or Medvedi, Cervar expects a tough race Most goals both teams 69 v THW Kiel 27:42L (h), 18.10.2014 Ana Neloska for the playoffs: “This season we will play in a much stronger group than last time. Fewest goals 15 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:15L (a), 28.04.2013 +389 723 103 98 Thus, it will be very difficult to snatch victories. Montpellier are very experienced, Fewest goals opponent 14 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 14:32W (a), 16.02.2013 [email protected] but we can learn a lot from them. La Rioja are well-known in Skopje, but we will be competitive in both matches.” Fewest goals both teams 36 v HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 19:17L (a), 11.10.2014

www.rkmetalurg.mk

rkmetalurgofficial 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 @RKMetalurg the world. Currently, we are far away from the level we had when we saw major VELUX EHF Champions League record Champions League success, but we are working hard to get back to where we were.” MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Kit colours Metalurg started their preparation in the Macedonian ski region Mavrovo, and Light then they played two big tournaments in Struga (FYR Macedonia) and Kanjiza 2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 148:206 –58 0:12 4th Gr. D Player shirt: white (Serbia). After a one-year absence the Macedonian runners-up are back in the 2008/09 HC Metalurg MKD 6 2 0 4 157:172 -15 4:8 3rd Gr. C Player short: black SEHA Liga, and their first matches against Vardar, TATRAN Presov and Brest will be 2011/12 HC Metalurg MKD 12 6 2 4 294:275 +19 14:10 1/8-finals GK shirt: yellow/ perfect tests ahead of their Champions League opener against Elverum. 2012/13 HC Metalurg MKD 14 9 0 5 361:313 +48 18:6 1/4-finals black/red 2013/14 HC Metalurg MKD 14 7 2 5 356:373 -17 16:12 1/4-finals Dark Past achievements 2014/15 HC Metalurg MKD 10 1 1 8 233:294 –61 3:17 6th Gr. A Player shirt: blue VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 HC Metalurg MKD 10 2 0 8 219:241 –22 4:16 6th Gr. D Player short: blue Participations (including 2016/17 season): 9 72 27 5 32 1768:1874 -106 59:85 GK shirt: yellow/black/ Quarter-final (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 red Last 16 (1): 2011/12 Group Phase (4): 2006/07, 2008/09, 2014/15, 2015/16 Qualification (1): 2010/11

Other Playing hall 9 participations in other EC Boris Trajkovski Macedonian league: 6 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, bul. 8 Septemvri bb 2011, 2012, 2014) Skopje Macedonian cup: 5 titles FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000

146 147 HC Metalurg HC Metalurg

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 99 Filip Arsenovski MKD L i n e P l a y e r 30.7.1998 Skopje, MKD 193 97 16 Darko Arsic SRB G o a l k e e p e r 20.1.1989 Vranje, SRB 195 95 34 Vojislav Brajovic SRB R i g h t B a c k 7.11.1994 Sarajevo, SRB 193 94 88 Darko Dimitrievski MKD C e n t r e B a c k 16.5.1993 Veles, MKD 194 90 33 Milos Dragas SRB L e ft B a c k 11.6.1990 Priboj, SRB 201 110 5 Stefan Drogrishki MKD C e n t r e B a c k 9.9.1994 Bitola, MKD 192 92 10 Daniel Dupjacanec MKD G o a l k e e p e r 15.7.1983 Prilep, MKD 190 95 22 Tomislav Jagurinoski MKD R i g h t W i n g 19.8.1998 Skopje, MKD 188 81 8 Nikola Kosteski MKD R i g h t W i n g 22.8.1992 Struga, MKD 183 74 25 Goran Krstevski MKD C e n t r e B a c k 29.3.1996 Resen, MKD 197 88 18 MKD L e ft B a c k 3.7.1996 Bitola, MKD 198 103 73 Martin Marcec CRO L e ft W i n g 24.11.1992 Varazdin, CRO 180 80 17 Tadej Matijasic SLO L e ft W i n g 22.1.1994 Ljubljana, SLO 173 76 3 Nemanja Mladenovic SRB C e n t r e B a c k 4.1.1994 Sid, SRB 193 90 24 Marko Neloski MKD L e ft B a c k 6.6.1996 Struga, MKD 200 100 Lino Cervar 14 Nemanja Obradovic SRB C e n t r e B a c k 8.1.1991 Krusevac, SRB 200 105 coach 71 Davor Palevski MKD L e ft W i n g 26.2.1997 Skopje, MKD 182 75 • most successful coach of the Croatian men’s national team, becoming 23 Goran Pecenkovski MKD C e n t r e B a c k 21.6.1988 Resen, MKD 180 78 Olympic gold medallist in 2004 and world champion in 2003 C 44 Zharko Peshevski MKD L i n e P l a y e r 11.4.1991 Skopje, MKD 195 110 • collected several more medals like two WCh silver medals in 2005 and L i n e P l a y e r 30.3.1992 Veles, MKD 190 105 2009 and EURO silver 2008 and 2010 3 Kostadin Petrov MKD • parallel to his work for the Croatian federation, was coach of Zagreb for 28 MKD L e ft B a c k 28.3.1996 Krusevo, MKD 200 86 a long time 12 Martin Tomovski MKD G o a l k e e p e r 10.7.1997 Skopje, MKD 192 88 • in 2009 he started coaching Metalurg – a job he focuses on completely 30 Martin Velkovski MKD R i g h t B a c k 10.3.1997 Skopje, MKD 191 93 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: Left the club: Vojislav Brajovic (RK Maribor) Janko Bozovic (Sporting Lisbon) Darko Dimitrievski (Csurgoi KK) Marko Buvinic (Handball Bregenz) Nemanja Obradovic (Valence Handball) Milorad Kukoski (Odorhei)

Darko Arsic (Metaloplastika Sabac) Milos Vukovic (Spartak Subotica) Milos Dragas (Bergischer HC) Bojan Madzovski (Pelister Bitola) Martin Marchec (Varazdin) Marko Matic, Stevan Vujovic Stefan Drogriski (Pelister Bitola) Luka Mrakovcic Goran Pecenkovski (HC Ohrid) Milan Sajin (all unknown) Martin Tomovski (HC ) Tomislav Jagurinovski (Vardar Skopje II) Filip Arsenovski (Vardar Skopje II)

148 149 HC Metalurg HC Metalurg

Darko Arsic Nemanja Obradovic goalkeeper centre back • signed a two-year contract with Metalurg • before his transfer to Metalurg he played in the 2nd French league for Valence • part of Metaloplastika Sabac for many years handball • in the last three seasons he played with Metaloplastika in the Challenge cup • in Metalurg he will play with his former teammate from Metaloplastika – Darko Arsic • has also been member of RK Jagodina and RK Napredak

Martin Marcec Zharko Peshevski left wing line player • has been member of the Croatian U20 national team • current Macedonian national team member, having played in all the youth selection • arrived in Macedonia from Varazdin where he played in the last three seasons for his country • previously played for Varteks Di Caprio and Vidovec • 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

Filip Taleski Filip Kuzmanovski left back left back • considered one of the biggest talents in Macedonian handball • started his career in Pelister Bitola and moved in Metalurg in 2015 where he signed • made his first team debut for Metalurg at the age of 17 three year contract • scored 27 goals in three matches at the Men’s 20 EURO qualification, has made 16 • debuted for the senior Macedonian national team at the EHF EURO 2016 caps for all Macedonian youth selections before called up for the senior team • with his first club Pelister Bitola played in the Challenge Cup • his debut for Macedonian national team came in 2014 in the WCh 2015 play-off • scored 11 goals in his debut CL season 2015-2016 against Greece • made his CL debut in a match against THW Kiel

Nemanja Mladenovic Nikola Kosteski left back right wing • one of the most promising Serbian young players • started his career in Struga and moved to Metalurg in 2015 • after two years in VfL Gummersbach youth academy was promoted to the first • makes his debut in the Champions League in the 2014/2015 season team • scored 17 goals in his premiere CL season • shortly after his promotion to VfL Gummbersbach was sent on loan to the second team HC Empor Rostock • member of the wider squad of the Macedonian national team • before his arrival in Metalurg, part of the French team Cesson-Rennes Métropole

150 151 Chekhovskie Medvedi Chekhovskie Medvedi

GROUP C Chekhovskie EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 22:46 (12:24) v AC PAOK GRE (a), 03.03.2010 Medvedi Biggest defeat 38:24 (20:15) v HSV Hamburg GER (a), 23.04.2011 Longest winning run 5 games (29.11.2003 – 06.11.2004) Longest unbeaten run 8 games (18.10.2012 – 14.03.2013) Can you think of clubs in the VELUX EHF Champions League with the strength and tradition to win 15 consecutive national titles? Longest losing run 5 games (10.11.2001 – 08.12.2001) Barcelona perhaps; maybe Kiel or Veszprem? MATCHES 5 games (24.03.2013 – 19.10.2014) Longest winning run No, Only Croatian side RK Zagreb have matched the phenomenal feat of Russian 5 5 games (22.11.2014 – 21.02.2015) powerhouse Chekhovskie Medvedi. Longest run without win 11 games (24.03.2013 – 21.02.2015) GOALS Club Address The team of coaching legend Vladimir Maximov took their 15th straight title in the Most goals Most goals 46 v AC PAOK GRE 22:46W (a), 03.03.2010 Chekhovskie Medvedi 2015/16 season. Since 2002, no team could beat the “Bears of Chekhov”, despite 46 Most goals opponent 45 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 Poligrafistov str. 30 the best efforts of the likes of St. Petersburg and Perm. GOALS Most goals both teams 77 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 142300 Chekhov, Mosk. oblast Chekhov have come close in recent years to replicate their success internationally, Most goals both teams Russia winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2006 and being part of the very first VELUX EHF 77 Fewest goals 19 v Montpellier HB FRA 27:19L (a), 12.10.2003 Media contact FINAL4 in 2010. 19 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006 Olga Belysheva 71-year-old coach Maximov’s main task is to develop Russian youngsters in his Fewest goals opponent 17 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 30:17W (h), 31.03.2011 +7 909 6391 839 team. “As the Russian championship is a weak competition, it is highly important Fewest goals both teams 45 v TBV Lemgo GER 23:22W (h), 11.12.2004 [email protected] for us and mainly the players to have international opponents in the Champions League. 45 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006 www.ch-medvedi.ru 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. VELUX EHF Champions League record 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 MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Kit colours for a spot in the knockout stages. 2001/02 CSKA Moskau RUS 6 1 0 5 155:181 –26 2:10 4th Gr. C Light Player shirt: white 2002/03 Chehovski Medvedi. Moskau RUS 6 2 0 4 182:170 +12 4:8 3rd Gr. C Player short: white 2003/04 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 3 0 3 166:165 +1 6:6 3rd Gr. D Past achievements GK shirt: yellow 2004/05 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 8 6 0 2 252:246 +6 12:4 1/8-finals VELUX EHF Champions League 2005/06 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 6 3 0 3 192:184 +8 6:6 3rd Gr. A Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 16 Player shirt: purple Semi-final (1): 2009/10 2006/07 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 8 4 0 4 242:233 +9 8:8 1/8-finals Player short: purple Quarter-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 2007/08 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 1 4 369:331 +38 15:9 2nd MR Gr. 1 GK shirt: black Last 16 (3): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13 2008/09 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 0 5 387:370 +17 14:10 1/4-finals Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (8): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2009/10 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 16 9 2 5 529:476 +53 20:12 Fourth Place 2003/04, 2005/06, 2010/11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 14 8 3 3 437:396 +41 19:9 1/4-finals 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16 Playing hall 2011/12 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 3 4 3 291:276 +15 10:10 5th Gr. B Sport Hall “Olimpiyskiy” Other 2012/13 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 12 6 4 2 373:347 +26 16:8 1/8-finals Chekhov Cup Winners’ Cup: Winner 2005/06 2014/15 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 0 1 9 300:349 –49 1:19 6th Gr. C Poligrafistov Str. 30 2015/16 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 4 0 6 271:292 –21 8:12 4th Gr. C 142300 Chekhov Russian league: 15 titles (2002-2016) Russia : 14 titles 136 63 15 58 4146:4016 +130 141:131 Capacity: 3,000

152 153 Chekhovskie Medvedi Chekhovskie Medvedi

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 11 Pavel Andreev RUS L i n e P l a y e r 19.7.1992 Saint Petersburg, RUS 195 85 Nikita Avtonomov RUS G o a l k e e p e r 8.4.1998 Samarkand, UZB 196 97 10 Alexander Chernoivanov RUS L i n e P l a y e r 13.2.1979 Krasnodar, RUS 202 105 Evgeny Dzemin RUS L e ft B a c k 30.8.1997 Ussuriysk, RUS 207 90 31 Victor Furtsev RUS L i n e P l a y e r 17.6.1996 Belgorod, RUS 198 95 1 Oleg Grams RUS G o a l k e e p e r 20.2.1984 Krasnodar, RUS 200 103 36 Artem Grushko RUS G o a l k e e p e r 20.6.1993 Odessa, UKR 193 91 23 Alexander Izmailov RUS C e n t r e B a c k 30.10.1995 Astrakhan, RUS 185 85 30 Alexey Karibov RUS R i g h t B a c k 3.5.1996 Astrahan, RUS 192 93 6 Dmitriy Kornev RUS R i g h t W i n g 16.6.1992 Vologda, RUS 186 75 17 Alexander Kotov RUS R i g h t B a c k 11.7.1994 Volgograd, RUS 198 97 9 Kirill Kotov RUS C e n t r e B a c k 23.5.1992 Moscow, RUS 185 75 C 7 Dmitry Kovalev RUS R i g h t W i n g 15.5.1982 Omsk, RUS 180 80 14 Maxim Kuretkov RUS R i g h t B a c k 16.11.1994 Maykop, RUS 191 87 13 Timofei Maslennikov RUS R i g h t W i n g 10.3.1997 Chekhov, RUS 185 88 Vladimir Maximov Viktor Miller RUS L e ft W i n g 16.4.1999 Kaluga, RUS 175 90 coach 19 Roman Ostashchenko RUS L e ft W i n g 26.9.1992 Moscow, RUS 184 83 • handball legend is still the only person who has become an 12 Dmitry Pavlenko RUS G o a l k e e p e r 1.1.1991 Zaporoje, UKR 190 76 Olympic champion both as a coach and as a player 18 Evgeny Prokopyev RUS L e ft B a c k 23.2.1996 Tolyatti, RUS 198 99 • led the Russian national team to a number of big titles but L e ft B a c k Blagoveshensk, RUS 196 87 resigned from that job in 2012 to fully concentrate on his 3 Dmitrii Santalov RUS 7.4.1996 club duties at Medvedi Fedor Selin RUS R i g h t B a c k 1.6.1998 Belorechensk, RUS 195 88 • joined the club in 2001 and has led the team to the title of 34 Dmitry Shelestyukov RUS L e ft B a c k 29.7.1992 Volgograd, RUS 185 74 the Russian champion every year since that time 20 Oleg Skopintsev RUS L e ft W i n g 15.4.1984 Krasnodar, RUS 184 80

EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006 OG: G 1976 (as player), 2000, B 2004, WCh: G 1993, 1997, S 1978 (as player), 1999, EURO: G 1996, S 1994, 2000

Newcomers: Left the club: Evgeni Prokopiev (St. Petersburg) Anton Otrezow (Dinamo Victor Stavropol)

Evgeni Dzemin (UOR Moscow)

154 155 Chekhovskie Medvedi Chekhovskie Medvedi

Oleg Grams Alexander Chernoivanov goalkeeper line player • born and raised in Krasnodar moved to Chekhov at a very young age • veteran was elected the MVP, the best defensive player and the best line player of • has been a member of Medvedi since the club foundation in 2001 the Russian league in the 2015/16 season • during this time, he has become a 15-time Russian champion • born in Krasnodar and started his career at the local club SKIF • gained a lot of experience on the international stage, competing both for Medvedi • joined Chekhov in 2004 but needed two years to move up from the reserve to the and for the Russian national team at he EURO, WCh and the Olympics first team • ten-time Russian champion EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006 EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006

Roman Ostashchenko Alexander Kotov left wing right back • born in Moscow and started to play handball at Kuntsevo • born in Volgograd and started his career at Kaustik • joined the reserve team of Medvedi in 2007 and was promoted to the main team in • moved to Chekhov together with his teammate from Kaustik Dmitri Shelestyukov 2013 • in the summer of 2015, he has played for the Russia U-21 team at the Junior WCh in • elected the best left wing of the Russian league in the 2015/16 season Brazil • member of the Russia national team • not a relative of his teammate Kirill Kotov

Dmitriy Santalov Dmitry Kornev left back right wing • born and raised in Blagoveshchensk, a town in the Russian Far East • born in Moscow and started to play handball in the Russian capital • at the age of 16 he moved to Chekhov, which is about 7,700 km from his home town, • two-time Russian champion with Medvedi and joined the handball academy of Medvedi • used to play for the Russian U-21 national team in the 2013 WCh in Bosnia • promoted to the main team of Medvedi in 2014 and at first was the youngest player • in April 2016 made his debut in the Russia senior national team in the squad • studies at the university in Moscow and is expected to get a diploma in ecology

Kirill Kotov Dmitry Kovalev centre back right wing • started to play handball in Dolgoprudny, a small town near Moscow • captain of Medvedi and one of the key figures both on and off the court • joined Medvedi in 2007 at the age of 15 and became a member of the main team in • born in Omsk, he played a few seasons at Sungul Snezhinsk before moving to 2013 Chekhov in 2003 • last spring, he won the Russian league for the 13th consecutive time • three-time Russian champion is already a member of the Russia national team • with the Russia national team he participated in a number of major international • was elected the best playmaker of the Russian league in the 2015/16 season tournaments including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2006

156 157 Montpellier HB Montpellier HB

GROUP C Montpellier EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), 04.10.2009 HB Biggest defeat 37:20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), 06.11.1999 Longest winning run 7 matches (21.12.2003 – 14.11.2004) 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 7 matches (18.10.2009 – 25.02.2010) finals, and two of those heroes are still part of the current squad: Team captain 7 matches (16.10.2010 – 06.03.2011) Michael Guigou and coach Patrice Canayer, who has been at the helm since 1994. MATCHES Longest unbeaten run 10 matches (18.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) In the 2015/16 season, Montpellier finished up as runners-up of the French league, Longest winning run Longest losing run 6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016) but managed to snatch away two trophies from PSG by winning the French cup and 7 the French league cup. To take at least one domestic title is one for the objectives Longest run without win 6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016) GOALS Club Address for the upcoming season. In addition, the 2014 EHF Cup finalist want to go one Most goals Most goals 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), 04.10.2009 Montpellier HB step further in the Champions League, and proceed to the quarter-finals, after 46 Most goals opponent 38 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), 05.12.2004 Centre Jean Paul Lacombe - 1000 being eliminated in the Last 16 last season. 38 v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), 19.11.2011 34090 Montpellier Canayer strengthened the squad by signing French international Valentin Porte, GOALS Most goals both teams France who was part of the Olympic Games All-star Team in Rio as best right back and 78 Most goals both teams 78 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), 09.02.2008 Media contact took home a silver medal. The Slovenian Olympian Miha Zvizej arrived in from Fewest goals 17 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), 03.01.1999 Suzy Demonte Fenix Toulouse. 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), 10.12.2000 +33 499 610 358 While one Slovenian came, two others left Montpellier: right wing Dragan Gajic Fewest goals opponent 16 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), 07.10.2006 suzy.demonte@ (now Veszprem) and powerful line player Matej Gaber, who joined another Hun- montpellier-handball.com garian side, Pick Szeged. In addition, Montpellier have changed their goalkeeper by Fewest goals both teams 38 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), 08.11.1998 signing the Swiss talent Nikola Portner, while Arnaud Siffert left to their domestic montpellierhandball.com rivals HBC Nantes. Another new arrival with Champions League experience is The- montpellierhandball ophile Causse from Dunkerque. In contrast to the previous Champions League season, Montpellier were not seed- @mhbofficiel ed in Groups A/B, but start in Group C. Canayer is aware of what is ahead: “Our VELUX EHF Champions League record 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- MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Kit colours tion for the knockout stages. We want to do better than last season and to finish 1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 134:134 0 6:6 3rd Gr. A Light amongst the best eight teams.” Player shirt: white 1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 139:148 -9 6:6 3rd Gr. A Player short: white 2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA 8 4 1 3 193:193 0 9:7 1/4-finals Past achievements GK shirt: light blue/yellow 2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA 12 8 1 3 334:311 +23 17:7 Winner VELUX EHF Champions League 2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA 8 6 0 2 216:199 +17 12:4 1/8-finals Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 19 Player shirt: blue Winners (1): 2002/03 2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA 12 9 0 3 375:328 +47 18:6 1/2-finals Player short: blue Semi-final (1): 2004/05 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 0 4 282:272 +10 12:8 1/4-finals GK shirt: purple Quarter-final (4): 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA 8 5 1 2 224:198 +26 11:5 1/8-finals 2010/11 Last 16 (6): 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2007/08 Montpellier HB FRA 12 7 0 5 358:348 +10 14:10 3rd MR Gr. 2 2011/12, 2014/15, 2016/17 2008/09 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 1 3 295:275 +20 13:7 4th MR Gr. 3 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 2009/10 Montpellier HB FRA 14 10 2 2 447:372 +75 22:6 1/4-finals Playing hall Group Phase (3): 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Park & Suites Arena Qualification (1): 2013/14 2010/11 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 14 10 0 4 442:379 +63 20:8 1/4-finals Montpellier Other 2011/12 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 12 6 0 6 357:357 0 12:12 1/8-finals Rue de la Foire EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, Quarter-final: 2012/13 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 10 2 2 6 301:311 –10 6:14 5th Gr. A 34470 Pérols/Montpellier 1996/97 France Last 16: 1993/94, 1994/95 2014/15 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 12 4 2 6 351:377 –26 10:14 1/8-finals Capacity: 8,000 Last 32: 1997/98 2015/16 Montpellier HB FRA 16 3 1 12 429:472 –43 7:25 1/8-finals Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2001/02 170 92 11 67 4877:4674 +203 195:145 French league: 14 titles (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) French cup: 13 titles

158 159 Montpellier HB Montpellier HB

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 3 Arthur Anquetil FRA L e ft W i n g 23.7.1995 Montpellier, FRA 182 78 21 Nassim Bellahcene FRA R i g h t B a c k 9.1.1998 Montpellier, FRA 190 90 12 Samir Bellahcene FRA G o a l k e e p e r 20.2.1995 Montpellier, FRA 190 116 29 Arnaud Bingo FRA L e ft W i n g 12.10.1987 Lyon, FRA 190 83 24 Baptiste Bonnefond FRA L e ft B a c k 22.1.1993 Lyon, FRA 194 99 26 Julien Bos FRA L e ft W i n g 18.8.1998 Pessac, FRA 188 76 20 Maxime Bouschet FRA R i g h t B a c k 2.4.1996 Montpellier, FRA 185 87 6 Theophile Causse FRA R i g h t W i n g 12.10.1992 Port au Prince, FRA 179 75 11 SLO R i g h t B a c k 6.12.1988 Kranj, SLO 190 95 27 Ludovic Fabregas FRA L i n e P l a y e r 1.7.1996 Perpignan, FRA 198 102 25 Jean Loup Faustin FRA C e n t r e B a c k 23.3.1995 Montpellier, FRA 185 88 1 Vincent Gerard FRA G o a l k e e p e r 16.12.1986 Woippy, FRA 189 98 10 Mathieu Grebille FRA L e ft B a c k 6.10.1991 Paris, FRA 198 98 C 14 Michael Guigou FRA L e ft W i n g 28.1.1982 Apt, FRA 179 77 30 Ilies Hakiki FRA L i n e P l a y e r 9.10.1998 Montpellier, FRA 193 90 Patrice Canayer 15 Antoine Jonnier FRA L i n e P l a y e r 18.8.1998 Libourne, FRA 197 95 coach 23 Vid Kavticnik SLO R i g h t B a c k 24.5.1984 Gradec, SLO 191 88 • currently in his 23rd season at the head of Montpellier, in 5 Samuel Paulin FRA L e ft B a c k 20.5.1998 Montpellier, FRA 202 98 which he has won over 40 trophies 28 Valentin Porte FRA R i g h t B a c k 7.9.1990 Versailles, FRA 190 93 • in 1994 he started his coaching career and coached players 16 Nikola Portner SUI G o a l k e e p e r 19.11.1993 Lyon, FRA 194 91 like Nikola Karabatic, Thierry Omeyer, Jerome Fernandez and Didier Dinart 97 Maxime Savonne FRA G o a l k e e p e r 11.1.1997 Nimes , FRA 195 100 • in his active career played for Bordeaux and Racing Paris 4 Diego Simonet ESP C e n t r e B a c k 26.12.1989 Buenos Aires, ARG 188 88 9 Aymen Toumi TUN R i g h t W i n g 11.7.1990 Sousse, TUN 184 88 7 Jonas Truchanovicius LTU L e ft B a c k 24.6.1993 Siauliai, LTU 203 105 19 Kyllian Villeminot FRA C e n t r e B a c k 20.5.1998 Lyon , FRA 189 72 2 Iswaran Zahm FRA L e ft B a c k 23.5.1996 Saint Denis, FRA 200 100 22 Miha Zvizej SLO L i n e P l a y e r 6.11.1987 Celje, SLO 193 100 EC trophies: CL 2003

Newcomers: Left the club: Valentin Porte (Fenix Toulouse) Felipe Borges (Sporting Lisbon)

Nikola Portner (Kadetten Schaffhausen) Jose Costa (Inconnus-Harnes HC) Miha Zvizej (Fenix Toulouse) Dragan Gajic (Telekom Veszprem) Jonas Truchanovicius (Union Leoben) Arnaud Siffert (HBC Nantes) Theophile Causse (Dunkerque) Matej Gaber (MOL Pick Szeged)

160 161 Montpellier HB Montpellier HB

Vincent Gerard Ludovic Fabregas goalkeeper line player • formed in Montpellier, he came back to his first club in the summer of 2015 after • at only 20 and he has already played the EURO and the Olympics, making him one of playing in Istres and Dunkerque the most promising French players of late • welcomes a new comrade between the posts this season, the promising Swiss Nikola • part of the new Golden generation of French handball, along with teammate Portner Mathieu Grébille and PSG right winger Benoit Kounkoud • his exuberant celebrations have instantly made him a fan favourite • national team coach Didier Dinart counts on him to be the foundations of defence • reached four times in a row the CL Last 16 (2x Dunkerque, 2x Montpellier) • youth European and world champion in mountain biking before definitely turning to OG: S 2016 handball at 15 OG: S 2016

Michael Guigou Valentin Porte left wing / centre back right back • player with the longest history in Montpellier since he has played there for 16 • arrived in the summer of 2016 from other French club Toulouse with the ambition of seasons in a row playing the CL • able to play on the left wing or on the centre back position, very quick on fast breaks • played on the right wing until 2014, Claude Onesta then decided to place him on the and able to play in tiny spaces inside the defences backcourt, to much success • over the years, he has become less of a scorer and turned more into a play-maker • rose to prominence during the EURO 2014 (16 goals in the semi-final and the final) • only player of the winning CL campaign in 2003 who still plays for MAHB • golf aficionado, taught a lot of his former teammates, including now FC Barcelona goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas EC trophies: CL 2003 OG : G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2005 OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2015, EURO: G 2014

Mathieu Grebille Jure Dolenec left back right back • most known figure of the new Montpellier wave, along with Ludovic Fabregas • uses his original style much to his advantage, he's very efficient in small spaces and • enjoyed his first national team appearance at only 21 likes to shoot through the defense • missed most of the last two seasons due to knee injuries • made his name in the CL with his former team of Gorenje Velenje, scoring 64 goals in the 2012/13 season • his jumps have earned him the nickname "Flying Grébille" • doesn't particularly like resting since, as he says, "the more I play, the better I am" • his great-grand father was an Olympic champion in boxing • already has nearly a hundred games with his national team OG: S 2016, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

Vid Kavticnik Aymen Toumi centre back / right back right wing • experienced Slovenian has entered his 9th season with Montpellier • 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 • played with Gorenje Velenje and THW Kiel in the past • has had a troubled relationship with his national team in the team, but everything's • used to play on the right wing when he was in Kiel, then moved to the right back a gone back to normal now couple of seasons later, before being mostly used as centre back in 2015/16 • last remaining Tunisian player in Montpellier, which counted five just a couple of • having arrived in 2009 alongside Nikola Karabatic, he was the first of many seasons ago Slovenians to join Montpellier

162 163 Elverum Handball Elverum Handball

GROUP C Elverum EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 29:23 (15:7) v HC Metalurg MKD (h), 06.12.2015 Handball Biggest defeat 23:37 (12:18) v Skjern Handbold DEN (h), 27.09.2015 Longest winning run 2 matches (29.11.2015 – 06.12.2015) In the 2015/16 season, Elverum Handball Herrer embarked on their maiden voyage Longest unbeaten run 2 matches (29.11.2015 – 06.12.2015) to the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League after they had won the Longest losing run 4 matches (18.10.2015 – 22.11.2015) 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 MATCHES Longest run without win 7 matches (27.09.2015 – 22.11.2015) Longest winning run the third time after 2013 and 2015, the team of coach Michael Apelgren won the 2 Most goals 31 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 30:31W (a), 17.09.2015 Norwegian championship. For this season the club’s aim is to continue developing Most goals opponent 37 v Skjern Handbold DEN 23:37L (h), 27.09.2015 the team on international level and edge closer to the European top clubs. GOALS Most goals both teams 63 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 33:30L (a), 24.10.2015 Club Address In 2015/16 Elverum won three of their ten matches – it should be more this Most goals Elverum Handball Herrer 31 63 v Skjern handbold DEN 34:29L (a), 22.11.2015 Postboks 295 season. In order to do so, Elverum signed the highly experienced former Hungarian 2403 Elverum international Tamas Ivancsik who arrives from Baia Mare. However, on the other GOALS Fewest goals 19 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.2015 Norway side one of last season’s key players, Steffen Stegavik, has left the club. 63 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 22 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.2015 Club manager Bjørnar Myhren hopes that participation in the VELUX EHF Champi- Fewest goals both teams 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:19L (a), 03.10.2015 Media contact ons League pushes the team’s development. Erik Henriksen +47 400 21299 “We want to get closer and closer to the level of performance the best teams in [email protected] 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 www.ehh.no Nergaard expects “a tough group with a lot of good teams. “We know we need to VELUX EHF Champions League record be at our maximum level to be able to compete with them. But it will be fun and elverumhandball challenging for our team.” MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 @ElverumHandball Most of the 20,000 inhabitants of Elverum love handball. Therefore being part of 2015/16 Elverum Handball Herrer NOR 10 3 1 6 274:289 –15 7:13 5th Gr. D1999/00 Europe’s top club competition is something very special for the entire region. 10 3 1 6 274:289 –15 7:13 “It is of great importance for the club and the town of Elverum. For us as a club it Kit colours is important to meet the best teams in Europe to develop our team and get closer Light and closer to the level they are at,” says Bjørnar Myhren. Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: yellow Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 3 Player shirt: black Group Phase (1): 2015/16 Player short: black Qualification (1): 2013/14 GK shirt: green Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2010/11 EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13

Playing hall Norwegian league: 4 titles (2009, 2013, 2015, Terningen Arena 2016) Hamarvegen 112 2418 Elverum Norway Capacity: 2,400

164 165 Elverum Handball Elverum Handball

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 7 Aleksander Borresen NOR L i n e P l a y e r 30.8.1985 Baerum, NOR 206 114 18 Jonas Burud NOR R i g h t B a c k 20.10.1993 Oslo, NOR 195 97 19 Hakon Bratvold Ekren NOR C e n t r e B a c k 10.7.1994 Elverum, NOR 186 100 3 Torbjörn Fredriksen Eide NOR L e ft B a c k 27.11.1990 Melhus, NOR 192 97 12 Emil Kheri Imsgaard NOR G o a l k e e p e r 6.3.1998 Hamar, NOR 196 92 9 Tamas Ivancsik HUN R i g h t W i n g 3.4.1983 Györ, HUN 180 78 14 Joergen Jansrud NOR L e ft B a c k 23.7.1996 Eidskog, NOR 195 98 15 Andre Lindboe NOR L e ft W i n g 24.6.1988 Tonsberg, NOR 186 80 2 Didrik W. Linderud NOR R i g h t W i n g 7.12.1995 Oslo, NOR 182 86 11 Nikolaj Mehl DEN R i g h t B a c k 3.8.1984 Struer, DEN 190 95 C 87 Morten Nergaard NOR G o a l k e e p e r 26.2.1987 Elverum, NOR 190 93 10 Lars Nordberg NOR L e ft B a c k 23.4.1982 Elverum, NOR 197 105 24 Vegard Bakken Oeien NOR G o a l k e e p e r 8.7.1994 Elverum, NOR 192 115 5 Petter Överby NOR L i n e P l a y e r 26.3.1992 Kongsvinger, NOR 200 112 10 Tine Poklar SLO L e ft B a c k 5.10.1990 Koper, SLO 190 93 Michael Apelgren 70 Josef Pujol SWE C e n t r e B a c k 19.2.1992 Stocholm, SWE 183 81 coach 17 Erik Thorsteinsen Toft NOR L e ft B a c k 14.11.1992 Elverum, NOR 192 96 • joined Elverum as playing head coach ahead of the 2014/15 6 David Wattström SWE L e ft W i n g 26.6.1993 Hägersten, SWE 190 93 season • succeeded former Norwegian international , 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: Left the club: Josef Pujol (Hammarby) Luka Mitrovic (Gorenje Velenje) Tamas Ivanscik (Baia Mare) Steffen Stegavik (uknown) Lars Nordberg (retired) Kalle Bjørkman (retired)

166 167 Elverum Handball Elverum Handball

Morten Nergaard Josef Pujol goalkeeper centre back • has spent far most of his career in Elverum, had a short foreign adventure by • joined in 2016 from Swedish league club Hammarby, where he played for 11 years Danish Aalborg in 2012 • filling out the footprints of playmakers Luka Mitrovic and Steffen Stegavik who have • played eight internationals for Norway both left the club • one of the Elverum players who has European experience from the 2012/13 CL • nominated for the All-Star team of the Swedish league in the 2015/16 season qualification and the EHF Cup Group Phase • fast-thinking playmaker with a good eye for the game and his teammates

Andre Lindboe Petter Överby left wing line player • born in the women’s handball stronghold Larvik played for four other Norwegian • joined Elverum ahead of the 2015/16 season from league rivals Notteroy signing a clubs before he joined Elverum in 2011 (Halsen, Larvik, Fram, Sandefjord) two-year contract with an option for a further year • made a debut in the national team of Norway in April 2011 against Germany • played 12 senior internationals for Norway, including the EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers • took part at the EHF EURO 2014 scoring seven goals in three matches 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.

Erik Toft Thorsteinsson Nikolaj Mehl left back right back • versatile back court player, and though being right handed, he can actually play all • playing his third season in Elverum after joining from league rivals Drammens HK in three back court positions the summer of 2014 • has always played in Elverum, the place where he was also born • has been playing in Norway since 2012 • had his debut in Elverum’s league team at the age of 16 • has a past career in the Danish league clubs Team Tvis Holstebro and Lemvig Thyboron as well as second league club Faaborg HK • is not the only famous name in his family, as his mother is in charge of a well-known Norwegian TV program • has an academy diploma in international trade and marketing • played 27 junior internationals for Norway

Jörgen Jansrud Tamas Ivancsik left back right wing • joined in the summer of 2015 from Falk Horten • Elverum's most decorated player, with seven Hungarian championships, six Hungarian Cups and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2008 • 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 • his older brother, Gergö plays for Veszprem, while younger brother Adam is in Tatabanya KC • got a taste of the CL already in the 2015/16 season, where he also gathered valuable experience in the Norwegian league • played 8 consecutive seasons in the CL (2007-14), scoring at least 11 goals in each • seen as one of the greatest back court talents in Norwegian handball • married to a successful lawyer with whom he shares the exact date of birth • part of the Norwegian team for the Men's 20 EURO in Denmark this summer EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008, Champions Trophy 2008

168 169 TATRAN Presov TATRAN Presov

GROUP C TATRAN EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 37:24 (17:11) v RK Metkovic CRO (h), 30.10.2004 Presov Biggest defeat 42:25 (22:12) v MKB Veszprém KC HUN (a), 05.11.2005 Longest winning run 2 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007) After failing four straight times in VELUX EHF Champions League qualification Longest unbeaten run 2 matches (09.10.2004 – 17.10.2004) tournaments, now TATRAN Presov broke the curse. On home court, they first beat 2 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007) champions from Luxembourg Red Boys Differdange and then left experienced Slo- MATCHES Longest losing run 7 matches (05.12.2004 – 05.11.2005) venian runners-up Velenje behind - though coach Rastistlav Trtik had to start with a Longest winning run completely new line-up. 2 7 matches (16.11.2008 – 20.11.2010) Longest run without win 16 matches (16.11.2008 – 10.10.2015) GOALS Nine players including SEHA Liga top scorer Radoslav Antl (to SBS Eger-Eszterhazy), Most goals 37 v RK Metkovic CRO 37:24W (h), 30.10.2004 Club Address Alexandr Radcenko (HCB Karvina) or Michal Kopco (Sporting Lisboa) all have left Most goals TATRAN Presov 37 Most goals opponent 42 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 42:25L (a), 05.11.2005 Holleho 3 Tatran. And the new arrivals do lack international experience. But the Slovakian 080 01 Presov champions, who won the league and the cup trophy for the tenth consecutive time GOALS 42 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.2007 Slovakia in 2016, managed to snatch a spot in Europe’s premier club competition after they Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 74 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.2007 had been granted a direct spot for the group phase last season. 74 Media contact Fewest goals 19 v Vojvodina SRB 19:27L (h), 10.10.2015 Branko Benko In the new season, Tatran will celebrate their 15th anniversary as an incorporated 19 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.2015 +421 911 620435 company, marking a new era of handball in Presov. Thus, even a new mascot (a Fewest goals opponent 18 v RK Metkovic CRO 18:29W (a), 17.10.2004 [email protected] white horse) will be presented, as the successor of Nestor. After finishing on the Fewest goals both teams 40 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.2015 bottom of their group last time out, the “new Tatran” aim to climb the ladder. www.tatranpresov.sk Their pre-season was quite successful, winning the International Memorial Cup in Mielec, Poland, and the Czecho- on home court in Presov. Besides that, TatranPresovHandball- they finished second at tournaments in Sala and before clinching a berth TeamSlovakia 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record and Medvedi in their group, and Benko has huge respect for both teams, but his Kit colours personal favourite for finishing on top of the group is French side Montpellier. MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Light In addition, Presov will face Metalurg like in SEHA Liga. 2004/05 Tatran Presov SVK 8 3 1 4 231:237 -6 7:9 1/8-finals Player shirt: white 2005/06 Tatran Presov SVK 6 1 0 5 154:201 -47 2:10 3rd Gr. F Player short: white 2007/08 Tatran Presov SVK 6 1 1 4 182:211 -29 3:9 3rd Gr. D GK shirt: green Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League 2008/09 Tatran Presov SVK 6 2 0 4 165:183 -18 4:8 3rd Gr. D Dark Participations (including 2015/16 2010/11 TATRAN Presov SVK 10 0 2 8 273:325 -52 2:18 6th Gr. B Player shirt: green season): 12 2015/16 TATRAN Presov SVK 10 2 0 8 240:279 –39 4:16 6th Gr. C Player short: green Last 16 (1): 2004/05 GK shirt: black Last 32 (1): 1993/94 46 9 4 33 1245:1436 -191 22:70 Group Matches (4): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11 Qualification (5): 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15 Playing hall Other City Hall Presov EHF Cup Jana Pavla II 2 Quarter-final 2011/12, Last 16 1994/95, 0801 Presov 1995/96, Group Phase 2012/13, Round Slovakia 4 2009/10, Round 3 2006/07 Capacity: 3,500 Cup Winners’ Cup Quarter-final 205/06, Last 16 2007/08, 2008/09, Round 4 2002/03 Slovak league: 11 titles (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Slovak cup: 12 titles

170 171 TATRAN Presov TATRAN Presov

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 20 Vadym Brazhnyk UKR G o a l k e e p e r 25.2.1975 Brovary, UKR 200 100 73 Igor Chupryna UKR G o a l k e e p e r 25.4.1990 Illychevsk, UKR 198 95 12 Juraj Cikarev SVK G o a l k e e p e r 3.10.1996 Kosice, SVK 188 87 21 Tomas Cip CZE R i g h t W i n g 5.10.1989 Zubri, CZE 189 94 6 Jakub Hrstka CZE L e ft W i n g 17.3.1990 Zubri, CZE 188 91 4 Patrik Humenansky SVK R i g h t W i n g 28.3.1997 Presov, SVK 188 81 33 Stefan Jankovic BIH C e n t r e B a c k 20.8.1992 Banja Luka, BIH 189 86 14 Martin Kriz SVK L e ft W i n g 27.7.1997 Presov, SVK 186 77 9 Dominik Krok SVK L e ft B a c k 22.1.1991 Bardejov, SVK 189 79 44 Marek Pales SVK L i n e P l a y e r 8.7.1994 Prievidza, SVK 192 100 C 19 Radovan Pekar SVK L e ft B a c k 27.12.1980 Presov, SVK 196 107 22 Alexey Peskov RUS R i g h t B a c k 16.12.1983 Moscow, RUS 199 99 2 Oliver Rabek SVK L e ft B a c k 30.9.1987 Nove Zamky, SVK 204 110 10 Tomas Recicar SVK L e ft B a c k 30.11.1998 Presov, SVK 189 82 30 Boris Resovsky SVK L i n e P l a y e r 4.10.1998 Presov, SVK 189 87 Rastislav Trtik 11 Viacheslav Sadovyi UKR L e ft B a c k 11.7.1990 Kiev, UKR 190 99 coach 13 Lubos Sarpataky SVK R i g h t W i n g 15.1.1996 Presov, SVK 185 85 • collected his first coaching experience with Banik Karvina in 3 Milos Sarpataky SVK C e n t r e B a c k 15.1.1996 Presov, SVK 185 85 the Czech Republic 77 Roman Tsarapkin RUS L e ft B a c k 9.5.1995 Moscow, RUS 197 95 • Czech Republic national team head coach for three years Lukas Urban SVK C e n t r e B a c k 22.6.1995 Presov, SVK 199 86 between 2002 and 2005 17 • in 2005, won promotion to German Bundesliga with MT 16 Matej Vernarsky SVK G o a l k e e p e r 1.3.1994 Presov, SVK 186 73 Melsungen 23 Leon Vucko CRO L i n e P l a y e r 9.1.1995 Zagreb, CRO 192 115 • 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: Left the club: Vadym Brazhnyk (AHC Dunarea Calarasi) Radoslav Antl (SBS Eger-Eszterhazy)

Stefan Jankovic (Borac Banja Luka) Andrej Petro (SBS Eger-Eszterhazy) Leon Vucko (PPD Zagreb) Alexandr Radcenko (HCB Karvina) Roman Tsarapkin (Chekhovskie Medvedi) Michal Kopco (Sporting Lisbon) Marek Pales (HKM Sala) Vasja Furlan (US Ivry Handball) Richard Wilga (Fuzesabony) Vladimir Bozic (Neusser HV) Ivan Ivkovic (Budakalasz FKC) David Pogany (unknown)

172 173 TATRAN Presov TATRAN Presov

Igor Chupryna Dominik Krok goalkeeper left back / centre back • Ukrainian national team goalkeeper moved to Presov in summer 2015 from HC • one of the players who remembers the CL group phase adventure back in 2010/2011 Portovik • joined Presov in 2009, ever since became one of the longest serving players in • 2015/16 was his first CL season current squad • supposed to back up Vladimir Bozic last season, but became number one for Trtik • known for his powerful shots from the distance, one of the favourites of fans in Presov for his friendliness and ever present smile • 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 • big fan of tennis, where he develops his skills and accuracy

Jakub Hrstka Marek Pales left wing line player • born in Zubří, Czech Republic from where he left for Presov in 2011 together with • returns back to Presov after spending two seasons on loan in HKM Sala, winning Tomas Cip bronze medals in Slovakian Championship • second best Presov scorer in the CL group phase 2015/16 with 40 goals • has very little European experience -this season will be his big test • Czech Handball talent of the year in 2010 • 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 • featured at 2014 European Championship and 2015 World Championship For Czech Republic • both Pales and Vucko got injured in pre-season but are declared to be fit • great friend with his teammate Tomas Cip, also a winger

Oliver Rabek Alexey Peskov left back right back • scored ten goals for Presov last season in CL • two-metre tall Russian international came to to replace Latvian giant Dainis Kristopans in 2015 • one of the pillars of offensive play for Presov • most experienced player from the squad, played the CL for his mother club • known for very accurate and hard shots from the distance, able to coordinate his Chekhovski Medvedi and Celje movement in the air • also played in Poland’s Wisla Plock and Ukraine’s Dinamo-Poltava, with the latter • has four league titles and Slovakian Cup wins with Presov - every season since he having won the Ukrainian league in 2012, spent three seasons in Ukrainian Zaporozhye joined in 2012 • played at EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia – his only major tournament for Slovakia EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006

Radovan Pekar Tomas Cip left back right wing • one of the most experienced players in the current Presov squad, local patriot, born • Czech international started his career in his hometown, Zubri, where he played and raised in Presov until his transfer to Presov in the summer of 2011 • captained Slovakian national team as one of the most experienced national team • one of the two players from Zubri, the other one being left winger Jakub Hrstka player • regular Czech national team starter, until now has featured in over 50 games and • played at 2008 EHF EURO in Norway and 2009 WCh in Croatia for the national team, scored more than 100 goals scored first Slovakian goal at WCh – against Argentina in 2009 • able to defend on the wing as well as attack, although he is highly rated for his • captain and defensively most important player in the squad has most domestic titles game in offence with Presov than any other player in the squad – 10

174 175 Group D preview Group D preview

Group D preview

A TALE OF NEWBIES AND COMEBACKS ended in a 2-1 win against rivals CSM Bucuresti in the Romanian League final.

Two newbies coming from France and Denmark will face long trips to the Ukraine, With no real stars in the team, Dinamo will rely on their team strength and also Romania, Turkey and Portugal in a group, which promises to provide a nail-biting on their fans --some of the best in the country -- who promise to prepare special finish. support for the team in all home games.

With only five group appearances between the six teams in their whole history, Last, but not least, ABC/UMinho will represent Portugal, after a successful qualify- Group D promises to be a battle of grit and team spirit. While HBC Nantes and TTH ing tournament, in which the Portuguese champions shocked hosts Bregenz. After Holstebro have the pedigree from their respective championships and experience taking their first European trophy in May, ABC powered past Benfica again in the from playing in Europe. Motor Zaporozhye hope to emulate last season’s heroics domestic league, in which proved to be the most important month in the club’s when they reached the Last 16. Besiktas, Dinamo Bucuresti and ABC/UMinho will history. It is a tall task, but the Portuguese side was inspired by Porto’s amazing try to establish themselves on this level and to create problems for the favourites. group phase last season and will try to emulate their counterparts’ performances.

Already having proven themselves in European competitions, and having qualified Adrian Costeiu 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

176 177 Group D preview Group D preview

Group D head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC

HBC Nantes vs TTH Holstebro 3-0-0 (86:70) 6:0 Besiktas Mogaz HT vs ABC/UMinho 18.05.2013 Team Tvis Holstebro vs HBC Nantes, EHF Cup – Semi-final 20:26 (9:11) No previous encounters in European competitions 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) Dinamo Bucuresti vs ABC/UMinho HBC Nantes vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters in European competitions No previous encounters in European competitions

HBC Nantes vs Besiktas Mogaz HT 2-0-0 (55:45) 4:0 17.02.2013 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)

HBC Nantes vs Dinamo Bucuresti No previous encounters in European competitions

HBC Nantes vs ABC/UMinho No previous encounters in European competitions

TTH Holstebro vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters in European competitions

TTH Holstebro vs Besiktas Mogaz HT No previous encounters in European competitions

TTH Holstebro vs Dinamo Bucuresti No previous encounters in European competitions

TTH Holstebro vs ABC/UMinho No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Besiktas Mogaz HT No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Dinamo Bucuresti No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs ABC/UMinho No previous encounters in European competitions

Besiktas Mogaz HT vs Dinamo Bucuresti 1-0-1 (70:76) 2:2 04.09.2005 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)

178 179 HBC Nantes

GROUP D HBC Nantes OFFICIAL EHF After hosting the EHF Cup Finals twice (in 2013 and 2016) and making it to the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 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 MATCH BALL Skof have left, coach Thierry Anti’s squad looks well-prepared for their first chal- Club Address lenge in the Champions League. New SELECT Ultimate. Completely controlled bounce. HBC Nantes Nantes have signed two new World Champions, Eduardo Gurbindo (Spain 2013) Extreme durability. Optimal roundness. Perfect grip and soft feel. 91 rue de la Trocardiere and Dominik Klein (Germany 2007) from two of the best clubs in the world, Bar- 44400 Reze celona and Kiel. The new goalkeepers are Cyril Dumoulin (Toulouse) and Arnaud France Siffert (Montpellier). Media contact Entrerrios takes over from Gregory Cojean, who now is in charge of the club’s Marina Normand youth team. Under his guidance four U18 and U20 World Champions came to +33 671 55 63 49 fruition. As Cojean needs more time for the development of talent, he resigned as marina.normand@ assistant of Anti to connect the club’s youth team and the professional team. hbcnantes.com Supported by their “Big H superhero” mascot, Nantes know how to organise great www.hbcnantes.com 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 HBCNantesOfficiel 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; HBCNantes 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.”

Kit colours The first goal is to reach the Last 16: “It would be a good start, if we could manage it,” says Pelletier. Light Player shirt: white/purple Player short: white GK shirt: orange or blue Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 1 Player shirt: purple/yellow Player short: purple Other GK shirt: black EHF Cup: runners-up 2012/13, 2015/16, quar- ter-finals 2013/14

French League Cup: 1 title (2015)

Playing hall Salle Sportive de la Trocardiere 91 Rue de la Trocardiere 44400 Reze France Capacity: 4,500

select-sport.com 180 HBC Nantes HBC Nantes

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 20 Lucien Auffret FRA R i g h t W i n g 25.1.1997 La Roche sur Yon, FRA 182 73 30 Valentin Bachele FRA G o a l k e e p e r 25.6.1998 FRA 190 95 19 David Balaguer Romeu ESP R i g h t W i n g 17.8.1991 Barcelona, ESP 185 93 10 Senjamin Buric BIH L i n e P l a y e r 20.11.1990 Maglaj, BIH 198 100 12 Robin Cantegrel FRA G o a l k e e p e r 13.2.1995 Nantes, FRA 194 91 7 Nicolas Claire FRA C e n t r e B a c k 10.7.1987 Saint-Denis Réunion, FRA190 91 17 Florian Delecroix FRA R i g h t B a c k 17.3.1994 Niort, FRA 197 93 14 Théo Derot FRA L e ft B a c k 17.6.1992 Nîmes, FRA 193 96 1 Cyril Dumoulin FRA G o a l k e e p e r 2.2.1984 Rillieux la Pape, FRA 200 100 C 13 Rock Feliho FRA B a c k 13.8.1982 Cotonou, BEN 192 100 5 Mahmoud Gharbi TUN L i n e P l a y e r 11.2.1982 Tunis, TUN 192 86 18 Eduardo Gurbindo Martinez ESP R i g h t B a c k 8.11.1987 Pamplona, ESP 195 92 23 Edson Imare FRA C e n t r e B a c k 9.9.1998 FRA 189 78 Nicolas Jauffrineau FRA 31.1.1997 9 Dominik Klein GER L e ft W i n g 16.12.1983 Miltenberg, GER 190 86 Thierry Anti 2 Romain Lagarde FRA L e ft B a c k 5.3.1997 Lorient, FRA 194 95 coach 27 Arthur Laugier FRA R i g h t W i n g 6.2.1998 FRA 185 80 • arrived in 2009 as they just promoted to the French first 21 Michel Junior Matiaba-Tuzolana FRA L e ft W i n g 27.5.1997 Argenteuil, FRA 188 75 league 15 Jerko Matulic CRO R i g h t W i n g 20.4.1990 Supetar, CRO 187 83 • steered them to one trophy, the League cup in 2014/15 24.12.1999 • previously coached Créteil and Paris and reached the IHF Andi Muris Houlbert FRA Cup Winners’ Cup final with Créteil in 1989 8 O’Brian Nyateu FRA C e n t r e B a c k 7.11.1992 Bordeaux, FRA 186 90 • reached EHF Cup Final twice but Nantes lost in both cases 6 Guy Olivier Nyokas FRA L e ft B a c k 28.6.1986 FRA 187 86 • trusts a lot his young players and helps them develop 22 Dragan Pechmalbec FRA L i n e P l a y e r 5.1.1996 FRA 194 94 24 James Junior Scott FRA L e ft B a c k 27.5.1996 Lens, FRA 200 83 16 Arnaud Siffert FRA G o a l k e e p e r 6.12.1978 Longjumeau, FRA 190 93 Nathan Tourancheau FRA 26.5.1997 11 Nicolas Tournat FRA L i n e P l a y e r 5.4.1994 Niort, FRA 200 116 26 Lucas Weiss FRA Left Back 4.3.1997 Colmar, FRA 189 93

Newcomers: Left the club: Senjamin Buric (Gorenje Velenje), Uros Bundalo (HC Erlangen) Eduardo Gurbindo (FC Barcelona Lassa) Matias Schulz (Pfadi Winterthur) Dominik Klein (THW Kiel) Alberto Entrerrios (ended playing career) Jerko Matulic (Chambery) Valero Rivera (FC Barcelona Lassa) Olivier Nyokas (Göppingen) Jordan Camarero (Pays d’Aix Universite Club) Arnaud Siffert (Montpellier Handball) Sime Ivic (Orlen Wisla Plock) Romain Lagarde (Nantes youth) Gorazd Skof (Paris Saint-Germain) Cyril Dumoulin (Toulouse) Vitaly Komogorov (HC Odorhei) Rodrigo Salinas (Chartres Metropole Handball 28)

182 183 HBC Nantes HBC Nantes

Cyril Dumoulin Nicolas Claire goalkeeper centre back • after playing in Chambéry and Toulouse, he arrived in Nantes • 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 • arrived at the end of the 2015/16 season, to make up for the injury of Gorazd Skof • played his first international games with France in April 2015 • with 1.99 m height, one of the tallest goalkeeper on the circuit • born on Réunion Island, where and Daniel Narcisse are from • beside his handball career, he's also published two books he wrote - a diary of his seasons and they gained much critical success • handball is a family affair for him, since his two younger brothers play in the second league in France EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015 • delighted to be able to play with Olivier Nyokas, one of his best friends

Dominik Klein Nicolas Tournat left wing line player • in 2016, after ten seasons in THW Kiel, the left winger decided to give himself a new • considered by Didier Dinart as “one of the brightest hopes in French handball” challenge by moving to France • as a consequence, he made his first national team appearance in November 2015 • his wife Isabell has moved with him and play for the women's club in Nantes • signed his first contract in the 2014/15 season and is now a regular fixture in the • scored 1,071 goals in his 15 seasons in bundesliga, won 8 bundesliga titles and 6 Nantes squad German cup trophies • without a doubt, the best player of his team during the EHF Cup Finals last season, • in his homeland played also for Obernburg, Wallau-Massenheim and Grosswallstadt where Nantes lost the final to Frisch Auf! Göppingen EC trophies : CL 2007, 2010, 2012 WCh: G 2007

Olivier Nyokas Eduardo Gurbindo left back right back • the 2016 recruit came back to France after two seasons in German Balingen • after trying his luck for two seasons, Thierry Anti finally managed to convince the Spaniard to come to Nantes in 2016 • late bloomer, he impressed at the last EURO, most notably scoring eight goals against Serbia in his first game at a major tournament • will perpetuate the tradition of Spanish players in Nantes, even though Valero Rivera made the inverse trip to Barcelona • 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 • has the advantage to be able to play both on the wing and the backcourt position • reunited with Thierry Anti, who was important to him as a young player in Paris • has taken part three times in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with FC Barcelona EC trophies : CL 2015 EURO: S 2016, B 2014

Theo Derot Jerko Matulic centre back right wing • born in a handball family, his dad was a French international player and his uncle, • young Croatian decided to try his luck in France in 2014, after waiting behind Zlatko Christian Gaudin, won the CL with SCM Magdeburg in 2002 Horvat in Zagreb for a long time • aged 25, he left his beloved club of Istres, where he was coached by his father, in the • proved to be a successful move, since a lot of teams wanted to sign him in the summer of 2015 to join Nantes summer of 2016 • immediately rewarded with a EURO participation in January 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 • still needs to toughen up physically as he is very injury-prone • played in Chambéry in 2015/16, with whom he took part in the EHF Cup Finals

184 185 TTH Holstebro

Official Partner of the EHF and the EHF Champions League GROUP D TTH Holstebro

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- Club Address served opponent. The Champions League will provide our club and the team with TTH Holstebro international experience. We will fight to make it to the next round,” says new club Hostrupsvej 27 director John Mikkelsen; a former Holstebro player, who played 404 matches for 7500 Holstebro TTH. Denmark The biggest success for the club thus far was winning the EHF Cup with their wom- Media contact en’s team and now, TTH Holstebro has high hopes in their maiden voyage in the Line Kristoffersen men’s major club competition. +45 2845 9081 The squad of Patrick Westerholm and Sören Hansen underwent some changes pri- [email protected] or to the season. In total, ten players left TTH, including cornerstones Swede and Anders Oechsler. Among the new arrivals are Swedish talent Victor teamtvisholstebro.dk Östlund, as well as Icelandic international Vignir Svavarsson. Apart from building up a new team, TTH hopes to reach the Danish league play-offs teamtvisholstebro and the Champions League Last 16. “We hope to gain some international experi- ence,” says team captain . Dinamo Bucuresti and HBC Nantes are the favourites for winning group D.

Kit colours

Light KOBRA MEN Player shirt: white Magma Red/Black Player short: black GK shirt: black Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 1 Player shirt: black Player short: black Other GK shirt: blue or green EHF Cup: semi-finals (3rd ranked) 2012/13, quarter-finals 2014/15

Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2009/10 Challenge Cup: Round 4 2002/03 Playing hall Gräkjaer Arena Danish league: -runners-up 2016 Hostrupvej 27 : 1 title (2008) 7500 Holstebro Denmark KOBRA WOMEN KOBRA MEN WATCH THE SALMING KOBRA VIDEO ON Capacity: 3,250 Diva Pink/Turquoise Black/Shocking Orange www.salminghandball.com

salminghandball.com

186 TTH Holstebro TTH Holstebro

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 16 Marcus Abildgaard DEN C e n t r e B a c k 19.7.1998 Silkeborg, DEN 192 87 6 Oliver Sommer Asmussen DEN C e n t r e B a c k 28.10.1997 Holstebro, DEN 185 82 C 26 Peter Balling Christensen DEN R i g h t B a c k 5.4.1990 Skive, DEN 188 87 23 Simon Ellersgaard BirkefeldtDEN R i g h t B a c k 22.1.1991 Århus, DEN 198 105 10 Magnus Grubb Bramming DEN L e ft W i n g 1.10.1990 Roskilde, DEN 182 80 11 Martin Lysdal Hansen DEN C e n t r e B a c k 15.9.1987 Herning, DEN 185 96 3 Jeppe Favrholt Hauskov DEN R i g h t W i n g 5.12.1998 Lemvig, DEN 189 75 16 Mads Byskov HojJensen DEN R i g h t B a c k 26.3.1998 Lemvig, DEN 196 99 8 Jac Karlsson FIN C e n t r e B a c k 16.4.1986 Karis, FIN 186 90 21 Kasper Kildelund DEN R i g h t W i n g 11.5.1994 Svendborg, DEN 183 80 12 Rasmus Schmidt Lind DEN G o a l k e e p e r 8.4.1983 Struer, DEN 192 103 18 Egill Magnússon ISL L e ft B a c k 22.2.1996 Reykjavik, ISL 200 99 5 Lars Mousing Nielsen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 4.3.1992 København, DEN 195 95 1 Shadrach-A. Nsoni CGO G o a l k e e p e r 23.1.1998 Repub. Congo, CGO 192 99 15 Viktor Östlund SWE L e ft B a c k 19.1.1992 Husby- Ärlinghndra, SWE 198 96 Patrick Westerholm 7 Anders Agger Pedersen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 20.9.1998 Holstebro, DEN 203 109 coach 25 Jonas Sogaard Porup DEN L e ft B a c k 12.2.1991 Lemvig, DEN 197 103 • Finland-born coach joined from league colleagues HC Midtjylland in 2015, 9 Toke Bjelke Schröder DEN L e ft B a c k 19.10.1998 Holstebro, DEN 193 96 replacing Klavs Bruun Jørgensen who took over as women’s national 14 Emil Sidelmann DEN L e ft W i n g 30.10.1996 Holstebro, DEN 177 70 coach • before coaching men was head coach for the women of SønderjyskE and 30 Torbjoern Sittrup Bergerud NOR G o a l k e e p e r 16.7.1994 Drammen, NOR 199 106 later assistant coach in Team Esbjerg 2 Vignir Svavarsson ISL L i n e P l a y e r 20.6.1980 Reykjavik, ISL 196 110 • former centre back celebrated his greatest triumphs as a player during his 4 Michael Krohn Thogersen DEN R i g h t W i n g 10.4.1996 Struer, DEN 186 85 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: Left the club: Martin Hansen (HC Midtjylland) Patrick Wiesmach (Aalborg) Jonas Porup (Mors-Thy) Anders Oechsler Vignir Svavarsson (HC Midtjylland) Søren Tau (Ribe-Esbjerg) Kasper Kildelund (GOG) Jonas Hansen (Ribe-Esbjerg) Anders Agger Nicolai Neupart (Odder Haandbold) Shadrach-Amie Nsoni Jonas Larholm (IK Sävehof) Viktor Östlund (Eskilstuna Guif) Sigurbergur Sveinsson (IBV Handbolti) Rasmus Lind (Ribe-Esbjerg) Mathias Bitsch (Skive) Frederik Ladefoged Simon Gade (on loan Lemvig-Thyboron)

188 189 TTH Holstebro TTH Holstebro

Torbjörn Bergerud Jac Karlsson goalkeeper centre back • joined this summer from Swedish league club Lugi HF • joined from neighbours Mors-Thy Handball in the summer of 2015 • has played 15 internationals for Norway and did particularly well in the recent WCh • started his career in BK 46 Karis in his homeland, Finland, but has played in Denmark qualifiers against Slovenia since 2010 • as a boy, he was afraid of the ball - he has certainly got over that fear over time • experienced playmaker with a good eye for his teammates and with a good shot • his girlfriend, Hege Bakken Wahlquist also joined TTH in 2016 (from Norwegian • used to be a crucial playmaker in the Finnish national team too, but he has made a league club Glassverket) break from the national team due to knee problems

Magnus Bramming Vignir Svavarsson left wing line player • fast and versatile winger with a varied shot, good on counter attacks and penalties • 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 • can also play the playmaker position and has done so several times, when the back court line was haunted by injury • also has experience from the German Bundesliga, representing TBV Lemgo before returning to Denmark and HC Midtjylland in the summer of 2014 • 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 • physically strong and with a lot of experience at high level, has played 230 internationals for Iceland and scored 261 goals • contributes a lot to the spirit in the team, is known for his changing hair styles EURO: B 2010

Viktor Östlund Simon Birkefeldt left back right back • joined this summer from Swedish Eskilstuna Guif • joined in 2013 from league rivals Aarhus Handball • one of his reasons for joining TTH was a wish to get stronger in a physically stronger • started his career in Odder outside Aarhus league at a higher level than the Swedish league • missed most of 2015/16 season due to a brain concussion, and missed also the 2nd • has played 36 internationals for Sweden and was part of the Swedish squad for the leg of the Danish championship final against Bjerringbro due to a broken hand EHF EURO 2016 in Poland this January • get a lot of extra responsibility in 2016/17 season, as the other right back, Danish • already a strong and solid back court player with a good variety of hard shots international Peter Balling is sidelined with a torn cruciate ligament

Martin Lysdal Jansen Kasper Kildelund left back / centre back right wing • joined this summer from league rivals HC Midtjylland, also had a fine career at • joined in the summer of 2016 from league rivals GOG, whom TTH defeated in the another Danish club, SønderjyskE Danish championship play-off semi-finals the season before • versatile playmaker and also a shooting playmaker with a pretty hard shot • got his handball upbringing in GOG, one of Denmark's largest talent factories • with his 186 cm, he is not the tallest among back court players these days, but he • son of one of the legends in GOG, Søren Kildelund, who was part of the team that compensates with technical skill, his hard shot and a lot of fighting spirit. won the first titles to the club on Southern Funen • many of his qualities are so different from Jac Karlsson, that those two are expected • has played in several junior national teams, will have to fill out the rather big foot to supplement each other fine as playmakers prints of Patrick Wiesmach who has returned to Aalborg Handball

190 191 HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Motor Zaporozhye

GROUP D HC Motor EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 31:23 (13:9) v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI (h), 28.11.2015 Zaporozhye Biggest defeat 44:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), 10.10.2013 Longest winning run 5 matches (18.10.2015 – 28.11.2015) Longest unbeaten run 8 matches (18.10.2015 – 05.03.2016) Like their Belarusian neighbours Meshkov Brest, Motor Zaporozhye grabbed a Last Longest losing run 6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014) 16 spot from the Group C/D play-offs of the VELUX EHF Champions League last MATCHES Longest run without win 6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014) season. Longest winning run 5 Most goals 39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.2016 The first knock-out stage against eventual finalists Veszprem was the final destina- Most goals opponent 44 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), 10.10.2013 tion for the Ukrainian champions, but this season it is their goal to make the next GOALS Club Address step to the quarter-finals. Most goals Most goals both teams 76 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.2016 HC Motor Zaporozhye In contrast to previous years, the squad remains almost the same - three new- 39 Fewest goals 21 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 21:23L (h), 04.10.2014 Ivanova Str. 24 comers arrived and three players left the club, coached by Mykola Stepanets since 69068 Zaporozhye GOALS Fewest goals opponent 18 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 2015. Just like in the previous season, the four-time consecutive domestic champi- Most goals both teams Ukraine ons will play their home matches in Kharkov. 76 Fewest goals both teams 42 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 Media contact Manager Gennady Kasay expects up to three teams with the ability to top the Dmitriy Karpushchenko group and to make it to the Last 16 playoffs. +380 50 5581181 [email protected] “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.” VELUX EHF Champions League record handball.motorsich.com 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 MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 HC-Motor opponents in the Champions League, as each team tries to show their best. It is a 2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 12 4 1 7 333:367 -34 9:15 1/8-finals matter of will when deciding which teams make it through.” 2014/15 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 10 3 0 7 283:284 -1 6:14 5th Gr. D 2015/16 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 14 9 1 4 418:414 +4 19:9 1/8-finals

Kit colours 36 16 2 18 1034:1065 -31 34:38

Light Player shirt: white/red Player short: white GK shirt: yellow/black Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participations (including 2016/17 season): 4 Player shirt: blue Last 16 (2): 2013/14, 2015/16 Player short: blue Group Phase (1): 2014/15 GK shirt: red/black Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12

Playing hall Ukrainian league: 4 titles (2013, 2014, 2015, Lokomotiv Sport Complex 2016) Kotlova 90/1 : 3 titles Kharkiv Ukraine Capacity: 4,500

192 193 HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Motor Zaporozhye

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 4 Evgeniy Buinenko UKR R i g h t B a c k 20.9.1992 Zaporozhye, UKR 201 93 69 Sergii Burka UKR L e ft B a c k 9.6.1987 Zaporozhye, UKR 208 110 11 Zakhar Denysov UKR L e ft W i n g 1.3.1990 Ilychevsk, UKR 188 82 14 Dmytro Doroshchuk UKR L i n e P l a y e r 29.9.1986 Volyn reg., UKR 198 115 99 Dmytro Gunko UKR L e ft B a c k 14.2.1992 Slavyanoserbsk, UKR 192 82 21 RUS L i n e P l a y e r 29.11.1990 Moscow, RUS 205 95 87 Victor Kireev RUS G o a l k e e p e r 5.5.1987 Penzenskaya obl., RUS 190 94 55 Gennadiy Komok UKR G o a l k e e p e r 5.7.1987 Zaporozhye, UKR 196 96 20 Artem Kozakevych UKR R i g h t W i n g 2.10.1992 Novovolynsk, UKR 182 68 5 Iurii Kubatko UKR R i g h t W i n g 28.8.1988 Zaporozhye, UKR 184 78 7 Aidenas Malasinskas LTU C e n t r e B a c k 29.4.1986 Lietuva, LTU 189 84 87 Barys Pukhouski BLR C e n t r e B a c k 3.1.1987 St.Mazorita, BLR 186 100 C 83 Sergey Shelmenko RUS R i g h t B a c k 5.4.1983 Kiev, UKR 195 98 10 Olexandr Shevelev UKR L i n e P l a y e r 2.12.1987 Zaporozhye, UKR 200 115 44 RUS L e ft B a c k 27.5.1991 Cherkessk, RUS 180 73 Nikolay Stepanets 74 Lev Tcelishchev RUS B a c k 16.4.1990 Kishtim, RUS 205 103 coach 24 Ievgen Zhuk UKR L e ft B a c k 4.8.1990 Zaporozhye, UKR 184 75 • led Motor to the three titles of the Ukrainian champion 2 Stanislav Zhukov UKR R i g h t B a c k 26.3.1992 Novovolynsk, UKR 198 94 • 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: Left the club: Lev Tselishchev (Dinamo Astrakhan) Valentin Kosovy (Azot-Pulavy) Dmitry Gunko (Dinamo Astrakhan) Konstantin Kurilenko (Calarasi) Viktor Kireev (Neva St. Petersburg) Ievgen Buinenko (GK Portovik)

194 195 HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Motor Zaporozhye

Victor Kireev Barys Pukhouski goalkeeper centre back • arrived at Motor this summer, having signed a two-year contract with the club • moved to Motor from SKA Minsk last summer and quickly established himself as one of Zaporozhye's leaders • played in his native Russia for Kaustik Volgograd, and spent the last two seasons at St.Petersburg • with 90 goals, he was the top scorer of Motor in the 2015/16 CL season • expressed desire to continue his career elsewhere in Western Europe, but eventually • also had stints at Dinamo Minsk in his native Belarus and at Csurgo in Hungary opted to move to Ukraine • one of the key players of the Belarus national team • made a very solid performance at EHF EURO 2016 which was his first big tournament with the Russia national team EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006

Igor Soroka Olexandr Shevelev left wing line player • grew up in Cherkessk, in the southern part of Russia, and his first coach was his • one of not too many Ukrainians who have played in the Western European leagues in father Yuri the recent years • in Russia he played for Dinamo-Viktor Stavropol, RGUFK-Chekhovskie Medvedi and • arrived from Dinamo Minsk (BLR), but played in Astrakhan, Aalborg and scored his Permskie Medvedi first goals in the CL for Ciudad Real in 2011 • following the 2014/15 season elected the best left wing of the Russian league • his debut appearance in the CL was in the 2006/07 season with Portovik Yuzhny • his move to Zaporozhye was initially planned for the summer of 2016, but due to • his experience and physical strength make him a crucial figure in the center of financial problems Permskie Medvedi let him go to Ukraine already in winter defence and attack

Dmytro Gunko Lev Tselishchev left back right back • Ukrainian moved back to his home country after two years spent with Dinamo • born and raised in Kyshtym, a small town in the Ural region, he played football for Astrakhan in Russia ten years before concentrating on handball • had an option to stay in Russia but preferred to move to Motor in order to play in the • started his professional career at Sungul Snezhinsk and moved to Dinamo Astrakhan VELUX EHF Champions League in 2013 • previously also played for Portovik Yuzhny and became the top scorer of the • in the summer of 2016 decided to move to Ukraine and signed a contract with Motor Ukrainian league in the 2013/14 season • the 205-cm powerful left back is a specialist on defence • will compete with Stanislav Zhukov and Sergii Burka at this position

Aidenas Malasinskas Artem Kozakevych centre back right wing • joined Motor in the summer of 2015 and quickly became a key element in the team • 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 • Lithuanian international has no problems with language barrier speaking Russian as well as the whole team at Motor • his dream was always to play in the CL, and he already took part twice in the competition with 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 • shares the position with Yuriy Kubatko and is considered as one of the main penalty takers in the team • arrived from BM Puerto Sagunto and finished third in the ASOBAL top scorers list in the 2014/15 season • in 2012, he won a silver medal with the Ukraine national team at the beach handball WCh

196 197 Besiktas Mogaz HT Besiktas Mogaz HT

GROUP D Besiktas EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 28:26 (13:15) v Alingsas HK SWE (h), 16.11.2014 Mogaz HT 32:30 (17:13) v HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO (h), 24.10.2015 It is all about establishing, developing and growing at Besiktas. Though the twelve- Biggest defeat 43:29 (21:14) v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO (a), 05.03.2016 time Turkish champions have lost their top scorer and star Darko Djukic to VELUX Longest winning run 1 match (16.11.2014) EHF Champions League winners Vive Tauron Kielce, the hopes for the Istan- MATCHES 1 match (24.10.2015) bul-based club are high as they aim to be a competitive opponent in the upcoming Longest winning run season. 5 Longest unbeaten run 1 match (16.11.2014) 1 match (24.10.2015) The squad has undergone some changes and was bolstered by two players with GOALS Club Address German Bundesliga experience: Turkish goalkeeper Yunus Özmusul (returning from Most goals Longest losing run 10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015) Besiktas MOGAZ HT TVB 1898 Bittenfeld) and Bosnian Faruk Vrazalic (Füchse Berlin). 39 Longest run without win 10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015) Suleyman Seba Cd. No. 48 With the new line-up manager Berk Karahan hopes to improve the club and raise GOALS Most goals 34 v MVM Veszprém HUN 34:38L (h), 13.02.2016 34357 Besiktas - Istanbul more interest: “The VELUX EHF Champions League is a highly competitive and Most goals both teams 43 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.2016 Turkey tough competition. It will take time to establish ourselves there, but we are sparing 76 Most goals opponent Media contact no effort. It is all about how much you fight in the matches. We have to fight until Most goals both teams 72 v MVM Veszprém HUN 34:38L (h), 13.02.2016 Berk Karahan the end. No pain, no gain is our motto.” 72 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.2016 Tel: +90 535 358 8747 With good domestic and international results, Besiktas aim to drum up interest Fewest goals 19 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 28:19L (a), 27.09.2014 [email protected] in handball: “Fans are so important. We consider ourselves new to the European Fewest goals opponent 26 v Alingsas HK SWE 28:26W (h), 16.11.2014 handball family, and if our fans want us to be successful, they should fill the stands Fewest goals both teams 47 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 28:19L (a), 27.09.2014 www.bjk.com.tr every time we come out to play,” stated Karahan. 47 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 20:27L (h), 16.10.2014 @BJKHentbol 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- Besiktas 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.” VELUX EHF Champions League record In the pre-season Besiktas were shocked by a tragic car accident where their young Kit colours right wing Kubilay Yılmaz was badly hurt. For two weeks he was in a critical condi- MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 Light tion, but the situation has recently improved. Player shirt: white 2014/15 Besiktas MOGAZ HT TUR 10 1 0 9 253:303 –50 2:18 6th Gr. B Player short: black 2015/16 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 14 1 0 13 382:487 -105 2:2 8th Gr. A GK shirt: red Past achievements Dark 24 2 0 22 635:790 –155 4:44 VELUX EHF Champions League Player shirt: black Participations (including 2016/17 season): 10 Player short: black Group Phase (2): 2014/15, 2015/16 GK shirt: green Qualification (7): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/2011, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14

Other EHF Cup: Last 16 1998/99, 2005/06, 2010/11 Challenge Cup: Semi-final Playing hall 2008/09, Quarter-final 2002/03 Kocaeli Sehit Polis Recep Topaloglu Spor Salonu Turkish league: 12 titles (1981, 1982, 2005, Yahya Kaptan Mah.Kizilay Sok 2007, 2009-2016) No: 41050 Arasta : 12 titles Izmit, Turkey Capacity: 5,000

198 199 Besiktas Mogaz HT Besiktas Mogaz HT

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 11 Josip Buljubasic CRO L e ft B a c k 11.7.1988 Metkovic, CRO 202 108 25 Predrag Dacevic SRB L e ft B a c k 21.7.1986 Belgrad, SRB 197 98 C 26 Ibrahim Demir TUR G o a l k e e p e r 4.10.1975 Eskisehir, TUR 194 105 14 Mehmet Demirezen TUR L i n e P l a y e r 3.8.1988 Ankara, TUR 193 100 53 Ramazan Döne TUR R i g h t B a c k 10.7.1981 Rize, TUR 192 106 21 Onur Ersin TUR C e n t r e B a c k 20.3.1992 Samsun, TUR 190 86 9 Ogulcan Güney TUR L e ft W i n g 3.5.1995 Istanbul, TUR 178 81 23 Jozef Holpert SRB L e ft W i n g 1.6.1988 Crvenka, SRB 190 88 1 Mehmet Karatay TUR G o a l k e e p e r 7.2.1998 TUR 197 87 36 Dogukan Keser TUR R i g h t W i n g 24.1.2000 Kars, TUR 179 82 29 Ömer Mercan TUR R i g h t B a c k 10.4.1997 Istanbul, TUR 195 93 27 Ivan Nincevic CRO L e ft W i n g 27.10.1981 Zadar, CRO 185 82 20 Tolga Özbahar TUR L i n e P l a y e r 24.4.1984 Aydın, TUR 197 118 12 Yunus Özmusul TUR G o a l k e e p e r 4.2.1989 Eskisehir, TUR 199 100 8 Nemanja Pribak MKD C e n t r e B a c k 26.3.1984 Nis, SRB 190 103 Mufit Arin 17 Mihajlo Radojkovic SRB R i g h t B a c k 5.12.1994 Smederevo, SRB 197 96 coach 7 Faruk Vrazalic BIH R i g h t W i n g 22.6.1990 Sarajevo, BIH 186 85 • had plenty of success as a coach with Besiktas JK, dominating 18 Kubilay Yilmaz TUR R i g h t W i n g 22.3.1997 Istanbul, TUR 195 90 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: Left the club: Yunus Özmusul (TVB 1898 Bittenfeld) Darko Djukic (Vive Tauron Kielce) Onur Ersin (Göztepe SK) Miroslav Kocic (Saran HB) Faruk Vrazalic (Füchse Berlin) Nikolay Sorokin (Steaua Bucuresti) Mihajlo Radojkovic (Partizan RK) Maksym Karamyshev (ZTR Zaporozhye) Jozef Holpert (Bursa Nilüfer Bel) Ömer Ozan Arifoglu (Beykoz Bel SK) Ugur Coban (Beykoz Bel SK) Senol Boyar (Izmir BSB SK) Berkay Gülyurt (Izmir BSB SK) Ercan Asıkoglu (unknown)

200 201 Besiktas Mogaz HT Besiktas Mogaz HT

Ibrahim Demir Nemanja Pribak goalkeeper centre back • won more than 15 national championships (9 times with Besiktas - 7 times in a row), • known for his excellent court vision, assists and playmaking ability and the same number of Turkish Cups and Super Cups • started playing handball in his hometown of Nis, for RK Zeleznicar before joining HC • played more than 250 games in 20 years for Turkey, retired from the national team in Vardar, following a stint at RK Trimo Trebnje 2015, still captain of beach handball national team • made a debut for Serbia at the WCh 2011, but opted to play for FYR Macedonia in • graduated from two universities as an anesthesiologist and a teacher 2013 • founding member of a sport center for disabled children • joined Besiktas in 2015 after five seasons for HC Vardar, where he is considered a club legend

Yunus Özmusul Tolga Özbahar goalkeeper line player • after spending a season in the toughest league of the world, the German Bundesliga • came to Besiktas in 2010 and is recognised as one of Turkey’s best line players with TVB 1898 Bittenfeld, returned to Besiktas in 2016 to play the CL • over 60 international matches for Turkey • bronze medallist at Mediterranean Games in 2013 • awarded the best line player in the Turkish league several times • raised in handball city Eskişehir, like teammate İbrahim Demir • in the 2012/13 season, when Besiktas reached the EHF Cup Group Phase, he was the • married to left back Ülkü Cagli of Kastamonu BGSK second best scorer (27) • first Turkish player nominated for the All-Star Team in 2014/15 (received almost 5,000 votes)

Ivan Nincevic Ramazan Döne left wing right back • Croatian national team’s left winger was a big reinforcement for Turkish champions • joined Besiktas in 2006 from Cankaya Belediyesi right before their first CL season in 2014/15 • became the top scorer of the Challenge Cup in 2005/06 (66 goals in 7 games) as well • built his name in Germany - from the second division Stralsunder, as a top scorer he as the top scorer of the Turkish league in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2009/10 has earned a transfer to Füchse Berlin • in the 2012/13 season he helped Besiktas to reach the EHF Cup Group Phase and was • played also in Dinamo Minsk and later accepted Beskitas’ call their top scorer with 30 goals • outstanding scorer and a good defensive player able to motivate the whole team • awarded the best right back in the Turkish league several times and has played over 150 international matches for Turkey so far OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013

Predrag Dacevic Faruk Vrazalic left back right wing • played for Partizan Belgrade, RK Kolubara Lazarevac, RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, MT • has CL experience with HC Bosna Sarajevo and Reale Ademar Leon Melsungen, HC Vardar, BSV Bern Muri, Ademar Leon before joining Besiktas • spent three years in the German Bundesliga at Eisenach, Balingen and German • won with RK Kolubara, national championship and Slovenian Cup with powerhouse Füchse Berlin before joining Besiktas in 2016 CL participant RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko • started to play for Bosnian national team at the age of 19 • 2 national championships, 2 Turkish Cups and 2 Super Cups with Besiktas • studying economics in Sarajevo • graduated from two universities: Banking and sports management • speaks local languages in his clubs he goes

202 203 Dinamo Bucuresti Dinamo Bucuresti

GROUP D Dinamo EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 28:24 (14:14) v Tatran Presov SVK (h), 15.10.2005 Bucuresti Biggest defeat 40:17 (19:9) v BM Ciudad Real ESP (a), 06.11.2005 Longest winning run 1 match (15.10.2005) Longest unbeaten run 1 match (15.10.2005) Longest losing run 3 matches (22.10.2005 – 12.11.2005) In May 2016, handball fans in the city of Bucharest went crazy. After a thrilling final MATCHES Longest run without win 3 matches (22.10.2005 – 12.11.2005) Longest winning run win against Györi Audi ETO KC, CSM Bucuresti’s women’s team became the first 1 Most goals 28 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.2005 Romanian side to win the Women’s EHF Champions League. Most goals opponent 40 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.2005 GOALS In the 2016/17 season, Bucharest is also represented in the men’s event as Dinamo Most goals both teams 65 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 27:38L (h), 22.10.2005 Club Address Bucuresti enter the VELUX EHF Champions League in Group D. Most goals Dinamo Bucuresti 28 Fewest goals 17 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.2005 Sos.Stefan cel Mare n° 7-9 ,sec2 It is 11 years ago that Dinamo was last part of the EHF Champions league. In the Bucuresti 2015/16 season they already participated and made it to the group phase of the GOALS Fewest goals opponent 24 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.2005 Romania EHF Cup; this season the team of head coach Elionor Voica ready to make the next 65 Most goals both teams Fewest goals both teams 52 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.2005 step. Media contact Alexandru Enciu Dinamo has been a household name for Romanian handball for more than 50 +40 754 929 106 years. The club’s success story started when it won the Champions Cup, the prede- [email protected] cessor of the EHF Champions League in 1965. In their upcoming campaign the Romanian champions hope to proceed to the play- VELUX EHF Champions League record offs of Groups C and D to have a chance to fight for the Last 16. www.csdinamo.eu “Being part of the VELUX EHF Champions League means to increase the image MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 csdinamo of our club and to gain international experience on all levels,” says club manager Ovidiu Semen. 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

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: orange Past achievements Dark VELUX EHF Champions League Player shirt: red Participations (including 2016/17 season): 4 Player short: red Group Stage (1): 2005/06 GK shirt: black Qualification (2): 1995/96, 1997/98

Other EHF Cup: semi-finals 2003/04, Last 16 2001/02, 2004/05 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2002/03 Playing hall Challenge Cup: runners-up 2000/01, semi-finals Dinamo Bucuresti Arena 2007/08 Soseaue Stefan Cel Mare 7-9 City Cup: Semi-finals 1999/2000 Sector 2, 020121 Bucuresti European Champions’ Cup: 1 title (1965) Romania IHF Cup Winners’ Cup: runners-up 1983 Capacity: 2,538 Romanian league: 13 titles (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2016) Romanian cup: 3 titles (1979, 1982, 1988)

204 205 Dinamo Bucuresti Dinamo Bucuresti

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 10 Mihai Asoltanei ROU L e ft W i n g 14.9.1989 Vaslui, ROU 186 85 73 Daniel Bera ROU L e ft W i n g 26.5.1990 Fagaras, ROU 182 82 5 Cosmin Capota ROU C e n t r e B a c k 13.5.1990 Bucuresti, ROU 197 92 11 Flavius Cimpan ROU R i g h t W i n g 3.9.1988 Timisoara, ROU 184 87 1 Alin Constantinescu ROU G o a l k e e p e r 6.3.1998 Pitesti, ROU 189 86 90 Bogdan Criciotoiu ROU R i g h t B a c k 13.3.1990 Tg. Jiu, ROU 196 100 33 Allahkaram Esteki IRI C e n t r e B a c k 20.3.1988 Esfahan, IRI 195 106 6 Sajad Esteki IRI L e ft B a c k 28.4.1990 Esfahan, IRI 189 97 12 Stefan Grigoras ROU G o a l k e e p e r 18.12.1990 Bacau, ROU 194 98 16 Ionut Adrian Irimus ROU G o a l k e e p e r 22.8.1987 Baia Mare, ROU 200 118 C 15 Liviu Mironescu ROU R i g h t W i n g 15.2.1985 Vaslui, ROU 184 86 66 Marius Iulian Mocanu ROU L i n e P l a y e r 9.12.1986 Calarasi, ROU 195 106 88 Seyed Alireza Mousavi Ghalehmirz IRI L i n e P l a y e r 27.4.1990 Esfahan, IRI 197 100 18 Pierre Yves Ragot FRA C e n t r e B a c k 14.5.1986 Nancy, FRA 187 90 27 Ciprian Sandru ROU L e ft B a c k 27.2.1991 Sighisoara, ROU 194 96 Eliodor Voica 13 Alin Florin Sania ROU L e ft B a c k 11.2.1983 CRAIOVA, ROU 198 109 coach 17 Dan Andrei Savenco ROU L i n e P l a y e r 12.10.1985 Galati, ROU 197 110 • considered to be one of Dinamo’s heroes, after bringing back 77 Jakov Vrankovic CRO R i g h t B a c k 12.6.1993 Split, CRO 200 97 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: Left the club: Bogdan Criciotoiu (ThSV Eisenach) Darius Makaria (BM Sinfin) Sania Alin (Dunarea Calarasi) Adrian Balut (CSM Focsani) Daniel Bera (HC Minaur Baia Mare) Razvan Rapciuga (CSM Focsani) Cosmin Capota (CSM Ploiesti) Ciprian Vancea (unknown) Allahcaram Esteki (Montpellier HB) Ibrahima Diaw (Saran Handball) Sajad Esteki (TVB Stuttgart)

206 207 Dinamo Bucuresti Dinamo Bucuresti

Ionut Irimus Pierre Yves Ragot goalkeeper centre back • having a whooping height of 2.00m, he is the tallest goalkeeper ever to have played • journeyman, the French player has changed seven teams in 13 years, coming to in the Romanian National League Dinamo in 2014 • nicknamed “Ață” (thread), Irimuș is also a very mobile goalkeeper, who was a vital • usually deployed as a centre back, but can also play on the left wing, as his speed and piece in Dinamo’s title winning campaign last season technique are perfect for that position • having already played in Europe for UCM Reșița and Minaur Baia Mare in the Cup • has been easily adopted by Dinamo’s fans, who are calling themselves “Red Dogs” Winners’ Cup and the EHF Cup but never the CL before 2016/17 and referring to Ragot as a pitbull, a player whose tenacity can be relied upon

Alexandru Asoltanei Dan Savenco left wing line player • one of the first players that have graduated from the National Excelence Centre in • defensive specialist, Savenco rarely plays in attack, but is well-known in Romania for Sighișoara, a handball school that have provided Romania with a lot of players his power and harshness • played in the Cup Winners' Cup and the EHF Cup for Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Dinamo • one of few players that knows the taste of the VELUX EHF Champions League, having • one week after winning his maiden champion title in Romania, he got married already played there for Steaua MFA Bucuresti in 2008 • Dinamo’s left wing stated that he likes to be a journeyman and he never liked to stay • experienced line player plied his trade in Spain, at Antequera, before coming back to more than four years at a team Romania in 2014 to play for Dinamo

Ciprian Sandru Jakov Vrankovic left back right back • in 2015/16 won the title and the Romanian Supercup with Dinamo and also the gold • huge Croatian back has been in Dinamo’s roster since 2014, scoring 53 goals in the medal at the World University Games with the Romanian national team 2015/16 EHF Cup • with a powerful shot and the tactical nous on top, Sandru has been Dinamo’s top • pursued a career in modeling, winning the “Mr. Tourism” distinction in Porec in scorer last season, just four goals shy of the 200-goal mark the summer of 2016, could have represented Croatia in the “Mr Tourism World” • like Alexandru Asoltanei, one of the products of the National Excellence Center 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

Alin Sania Flavius Cimpan left back right wing • one of the most experienced players in Dinamo’s roster, playing in United Arab • born in Timișoara, played for Potaissa Turda and Dinamo, representing his teams in Emirates and the Bundesliga, for Melsungen the EHF Cup and the Challenge Cup • one of the few men to have played for both Steaua and Dinamo, the two most • never before the 2016/17 season played in the VELUX EHF Champions League successful teams in the Romanian handball’s history • considered one of the emerging players in the Romanian national team a few years • had been offered to play for Qatar’s national handball team, but refused, making his ago 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

208 209 t ABC/ UMinho

GROUP D ABC/ EHF Champions League club records Biggest win 33:24 (17:13) v Pallamano Trieste ITA (h), 16.12.2000 UMinho Biggest defeat 32:18 (18:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 24.01.1998 Longest winning run 3 matches (15.11.1997 – 11.01.1998) Only two goals were missing on 30 April 1994 from making handball history. Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (26.01.1994 – 06.04.1994) After a 22:22 draw on home court in the final of the first ever EHF Champions Longest losing run 3 matches (30.04.1994 – 24.01.1996) League season, ABC Braga travelled to Santander, but lost 21:23 in the return leg MATCHES Longest run without win 3 matches (24.01.1998 – 21.02.1998) Longest winning run against the Basque club, who became the first ever Champions League winner. 3 4 matches (23.04.1994 – 24.01.1996) Still, this is the biggest success in ABC’s club history. 22 years later, the twelve-time Most goals 33 v Pallamano Trieste ITA 33:24W (h), 16.12.2000 Portuguese champions took their first international trophy in May 2016 by beating GOALS Club Address Benfica in the Challenge Cup Final. And now - after becoming Portuguese champi- Most goals Most goals opponent 34 v FC Barcelona ESP 34:26L (a), 18.01.1997 ABC/UMinho ons for the first time again since 2007 – they have crowned 2016 by qualifying for 33 Most goals both teams 60 v FC Barcelona ESP 34:26L (a), 18.01.1997 Pavilhao Flavio sa Leite the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. In Bregenz, they beat the Apartado 2437/Parque da Ponte GOALS Fewest goals 16 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 27:16L (a), 24.01.1996 Austrian hosts in the final of the qualification tournament giving them their first Most goals both teams 4701-905 Braga, Portugal appearance in the group phase since 2001. 60 16 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:16L (a), 24.02.2001 Media contact One of the keys to success is Carlos Resende, the most popular and successful Fewest goals opponent 15 v Schachtjor Donetsk UKR 21:15W (h), 16.11.1996 Jose Carvalho handball player of all time, scoring 1,444 goals in 250 international matches. -Re Fewest goals both teams 36 v Schachtjor Donetsk UKR 21:15W (h), 16.11.1996 +351 935 156 146 sende arrived back at Braga - where he had played in the ‘golden era’ - in 2011 as [email protected] 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 www.abcdebraga.com 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 VELUX EHF Champions League record Arena, but in the Parque de Exposicao de Braga. Carlos Resende shares his high estimations for the new adventure: “After being MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 part of two straight Challenge Cup Finals, the club, and the players have the chance 1993/94 ABC Braga POR 8 3 3 2 182:180 +2 9:7 Runner-up to express themselves on the highest European level.” 1995/96 ABC Braga POR 6 2 0 4 129:153 –24 4:8 4th Gr. A Team captain Humberto Gomes calls ABC/UMinho “a modest team with a lot of Kit colours 1996/97 ABC Braga POR 8 4 0 4 187:185 +2 8:8 1/4-finals history in European Handball. We are a team that embodies the true meaning of Light the word ‘team’.” 1997/98 ABC Braga POR 8 3 2 3 190:195 -5 8:8 1/4-finals Player shirt: yellow 2000/01 ABC Braga POR 8 4 0 4 188:202 –14 8:8 1/4-finals Player short: yellow GK shirt: multicolour Past achievements 38 16 5 17 876:915 –39 37:39 VELUX EHF Champions League Dark Participation (including 2016/17 season): 9 Player shirt: black Final (1): 1993/94 Player short: black Quarter-finals (4): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, GK shirt: multicolour 2000/01 Last 32 (1): 1998/99 Qualification (2): 2006/07, 2007/08

Other Playing hall EHF Cup: semi-finals 1999/00 Parque de Exposicao de Braga Challenge Cup: winners 2015/16, runners-up Av.Dr. Francisco Pires 2004/05, 2014/15 Goncalves, Apartado 60 Portuguese league: 13 titles (1987, 1988, 1991- 4711-909 Braga, Portugal 93, 1995-98, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2016) Portuguese cup: 11 titles

210 211 ABC/UMinho ABC/UMinho

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Weight 67 Tomas Albuquerque POR C e n t r e B a c k 31.5.1993 Braga, POR 182 85 18 Dario Andrade POR L e ft W i n g 15.2.1981 Braga, POR 181 82 34 Goncalo Areias POR C e n t r e B a c k 19.4.1997 Braga, POR 180 81 8 Carlos Bandeira POR R i g h t W i n g 3.2.1998 Penedono, POR 182 80 10 Diogo Branquinho POR L e ft W i n g 25.7.1994 Aveiro, POR 185 89 48 Jose Costa POR L i n e P l a y e r 23.3.1984 Braga, POR 193 96 15 Lucas Ferrao POR C e n t r e B a c k 15.8.1998 Braga, POR 185 86 27 Andre Gomes POR L e ft B a c k 27.7.1998 Braga, POR 193 86 C 1 Humberto Gomes POR G o a l k e e p e r 1.1.1978 Braga, POR 193 101 24 Joao Pedro Goncalves POR L i n e P l a y e r 21.2.1988 Braga, POR 188 102 7 Pedro Marques POR C e n t r e B a c k 25.5.1990 Aveiro, POR 179 82 19 Carlos Martins POR R i g h t W i n g 14.6.1994 Moimenta da Beira, POR 180 77 13 Miguel Pereira POR R i g h t W i n g 7.2.1990 Braga, POR 185 82 22 Nuno Pereira POR L e ft B a c k 22.3.1987 Aveiro, POR 193 95 14 Ricardo Pesqueira POR L i n e P l a y e r 27.12.1991 Porto, POR 198 105 Carlos Resende 12 Emanuel Ribeiro POR G o a l k e e p e r 17.12.1994 Guimaraes, POR 189 80 coach 6 Hugo Rocha POR L e ft B a c k 17.12.1982 Porto, POR 201 100 • one of the most important names of contemporary Portu- 78 Claudio Silva POR G o a l k e e p e r 6.7.1996 Braga, POR 187 87 guese handball 17 Pedro Spinola POR R i g h t B a c k 20.8.1983 Funchal, POR 187 85 • 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

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016

Newcomers: Left the club: Dario Andrade (AC Fafe) Nuno Rebelo (Aguas Santas-Milaneza) Jose Costa (Montpellier HB) Fabio Vidrago (S.L. Benfica)

212 213 ABC/UMinho ABC/UMinho

Humberto Gomes Pedro Marques goalkeeper centre back • started playing handball with ABC and, in 2010, returned to the club • played for S. Bernardo and Sporting before arriving at ABC in 2011 • has two Challenge Cups in his curriculum: Sporting (2010) and ABC (2016) • at 2015 Summer Universiade won the champions’ title and was announced as the MVP • in 25 years as a handball player, played about 1,200 games, 80 of them for the • known for his technical skills and a sense for good decisions in critical moments national team • came to ABC to replace Carlos Matos • Alexander Donner was one of his great influencers

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2010, 2016 EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016

Diogo Branquinho Jose Costa left wing line player • started playing handball at 12 and made his debut in ABC’ senior team at 19 • started playing handball with ABC and returned to the club after eight years • in the last two years he developed remarkably and now is a key player for the club • last season played for Montpellier Handball and won the Coupe de la Liga • his idol is his teammate Nuno “Grilo” Pereira • Portuguese international since 2007 • has two European University titles and one World University title • experienced player known for his physical power

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016

Hugo Rocha Pedro Spinola left back right back • more known for his defensive power, can also play as a line player • arrived at ABC in January 2016 and will stay for another season • one of ABC’s top scorers in the 2015/16 season and recorded his best season so far • played the CL with FC Porto and accomplished a dream • played for ABC between 2006 and 2009 and returned to the club after some years in • was the second top scorer of 2015/16 Challenge Cup Sporting • was nominated for the best seven of the CL in 2013 • his father, his grandfather and his uncle were handball players

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2010, 2016 EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016

Nuno Pereira Miguel Pereira left back right wing • started playing handball at 13 • started playing handball with ABC and returned in 2015 • played for FC Porto and SL Benfica before arriving at ABC in 2013 • played the CL qualification stage with FC Porto in 2013 • his idols are Nikola Karabatic and Carlos Resende (his coach) • 2012/13 was the season he consolidated as a player • known for his fast transitions and determination • won a Summer Universiade title in 2015

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016 EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2016

214 215 Important regulations All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League

Important regulations All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League Scoring of the matches and ranking 31 Biggest wins General Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen 29 ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 Handball NOR 17:48 All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League After completion of the Group Phase if three (10:25), 14.11.2009 26 Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009 shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes with a half- or more teams have scored the same number 26 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011 time break of 10 minutes. The EHF reserves the of points: 26 Biggest home wins right to extend the half-time break in special a) number of points in matches of all teams Montellier HB FRA vs AC circumstances to 15 minutes. directly involved; PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 25 FC Barcelona ESP vs Hapoel Rishon Le Zion ISR 42:17 (18:10), 15.11.1997 04.10.2009 25 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI vs HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18 (23:8), 09.02.2012 The matches shall be scored as follows: b) goal difference in matches of all teams a) win = 2 points directly involved; 31 c) higher number of plus goals in matches of Biggest away wins b) draw = 1 point Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen c) loss = 0 points all teams directly involved; Handball NOR 17:48 29 ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 d) goal difference in all matches of the group; (10:25), 14.11.2009 26 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011 Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the e) higher number of plus goals in all matches number of points won. of the group; 18 Biggest lead at half-time RK Zagreb CRO vs Pelister Group Phase If the ranking of one of these teams is Bitola MKD 37:13 (23:5), 17 Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009 determined, the criteria are consecutively 16.10.2005 If two or more teams have scored the same followed until the ranking of all teams is number of points, the ranking will be determined determined. 50 Most goals as follows: THW Kiel GER @ HC Banik If no ranking can be determined, a decision 48 HSV Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009 During the Group Phase: OKD Karvina CZE 26:50 shall be obtained by drawing lots. Lots shall be (13:24), 22.10.2006 47 THW Kiel GER vs CS HCM Constanta ROU 47:31 (24:18), 12.11.2006 a) higher goal difference in all matches; drawn by the EHF, if possible in the presence of b) higher number of plus goals in all matches; a representative of each club. 82 Most goals both teams After completion of the Group Phase if two Barcelona Borges ESP vs KIF Kolding DEN 46:36 81 FC Barcelona ESP vs THW Kiel GER 44:37 (19:20), 13.04.2008 teams have scored the same number of points: Group Phase KO matches (23:19), 17.10.2009 80* FC Barcelona ESP vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41 (17:18, 32:32, 36:36), 31.05.2014 a) number of points in matches of the two If, after the completion of the two matches, teams directly involved; both clubs have won the same number of 11 Fewest goals: b) goal difference in matches of the two teams points (no extra time will be played), the teams’ Aalborg Handball DEN vs directly involved; FC Barcelona ESP 11:31 12 AS Conversano 2003 ITA vs ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 standings shall be determined by the following (5:16), 15.03.2015 12 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD vs FC Barcelona ESP 12:26 (8:15), 06.11.2004 c) higher number of goals scored in the away criteria: match of the two a) goal difference teams directly involved; 32 b) higher number of plus goals scored in away Fewest goals both teams: d) goal difference in all matches of the group; Wallau-Massenheim GER match vs UHK West Wien AUT 32 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN vs Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13 (9:7), 17.11.2002 e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of c) penalty throws 17:15 (7:6), 20.03.1994 33 Panellinios AC Athens GRE vs Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 16:17 (8:9), 30.11.2002 the group; -9 Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to win a game KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL @ HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 27:28 (19:10), 18.02.2015

-6 Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to draw a game FC Barcelona ESP @ -6 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 28:28 (10:16), 07.10.2007 GOG Gudme DEN 22:22 (16:10), 14.02.1996 -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

216 217 2015/16 Top Scorers All-star team votes

2015/16 Top Scorers All-star team votes Rank 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) 109 4 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 Season 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 Andre Schmid (SUI) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 78 Number of 20,000 20,568 43,981 81,476 Lasse Svan (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 78 votes Darko Stanic Niklas Landin Roland Niklas Landin 18 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 77 Goalkeeper (HC Metalurg) (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Mikler (MKB-MVM Veszprem) (THW Kiel) 19 Karol Bielecki (POL) KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 76 Anders Eggert Timur Dibirov Uwe Gensheimer Manuel Strlek Left wing (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) (HC Vardar) (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) (Vive Tauron Kielce) 20 Ramazan Döne (TUR) Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu (TUR) 74 Filip Jicha Momir Ilic Nikola Karabatic Momir Ilic Left back Iman Jamali Moorchegani (HUN) IFK Kristianstad (SWE) 74 (THW Kiel) (MKB-MVM Veszprem) (FC Barcelona) (MVM Veszprem) Daniel Narcisse Mikkel Hansen Mikkel Hansen Dean Bombac Centre back (THW Kiel) (PSG Handball) (PSG Handball) (MOL-Pick Szeged) Julen Aguinagalde Renato Sulic Renato Sulic Rastko Stojkovic Line player (Atletico Madrid) (MKB-MVM Veszprem) (MKB-MVM Veszprem) (HC Meshkov Brest) Laszlo Nagy Kiril Lazarov Kiril Lazarov Kiril Lazarov Right back (MKB Veszprem) (FC Barcelona) (FC Barcelona) (FC Barcelona Lassa) Ivan Cupic Luc Abalo Victor Tomas Gasper Marguc Right wing (Vive Targi Kielce) (PSG Handball) (FC Barcelona) (MVM Veszprem) Alex Dujshebaev Darko Djukic Young player N/A N/A (HC Vardar) (Besiktas JK) Timuzsin Istvan Schuh Timuzsin Istvan Schuh Rene Toft Hansen Timuzsin Istvan Schuh Defender (MKB Veszprem) (MKB-MVM Veszprem) (THW Kiel) (MVM Veszprem) Talant Dujshebaev Xavier Sabate Coach N/A N/A (Vive Tauron Kielce) (MVM Veszprem)

218 219 Past winners All-time club standings 1993 - 2016

Past winners All-time club standings 1993 - 2016 TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA GD P NP % 2016 Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 1 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 244 182 17 45 7533:6261 +1272 381:107 (19)* 78,07%

2015 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2 THW Kiel GER 240 168 14 58 7448:6476 +972 350:130 (19)* 72,92%

2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 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% 2013 HSV Hamburg (GER) 5 BM Atletico Madrid ESP 144 111 5 28 4502:3803 +699 227:61 (10) 78,82%

2012 THW Kiel (GER) 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% 2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP) 8 Montpellier Handball FRA 170 92 11 67 4877:4674 +203 195:145 (16)* 57,35%

2010 THW Kiel (GER) 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% 2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 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% 2008 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 13 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 134 59 10 65 3687:3719 -32 128:140 (13)* 47,76% 2007 THW Kiel (GER) 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% 2006 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 16 Reale Ademar Leon ESP 100 50 6 44 2875:2817 +58 106:94 (10) 53,00% 2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP) 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% 2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) 19 Chambery Savoie Handball FRA 74 29 3 42 2028:2133 -105 61:87 (8) 41,22% 2003 Montpellier HB (FRA) 20 HC Metalurg MKD 72 27 5 32 1768:1874 -106 59:85 (7)* 40,97%

2002 SC Magdeburg (GER) 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% 2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 30 ABC/UMinho POR 38 16 5 17 876:915 –39 37:39 (5)Q 48,68% 2000 FC Barcelona (ESP) 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% 1999 FC Barcelona (ESP) 36 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 48 14 3 31 1312:1414 -102 31:65 (6)* 32,29%

1998 FC Barcelona (ESP) 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% 1997 FC Barcelona (ESP) 71 Elverum Handball NOR 10 3 1 6 274:289 -15 7:13 (1)* 35,00%

1996 FC Barcelona (ESP) 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% 1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP) 105 Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 6 1 0 5 148:198 -50 2:10 (1)* 16,67%

1994 TEKA Santander (ESP) 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%

220 221 History: 23 years of EHF Champions History: 22 years of EHF Champions League League

History: 23 years of EHF Champions League 1993 - 2005 1996/97 1999/00 2002/03 Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 31:22 / Final: THW Kiel – FC Barcelona 28:25 / 24:29 Final: Portland San Antonio – Montpellier HB 1993/94 30:23 (61:45) (52:54) 27:19 / 19:31 (46:50) Final: ABC Braga vs TEKA Santander In their second consecutive EHF Champions THW Kiel became the first German team to A new star was born during the finals of the 22:22/21:23 (43:45) League Final Barcelona dominated both make it into the Final but even a 28:25-victory 2002/03 EHF Champions League season. The inaugural year of the Men’s EHF Champions matches against Badel Zagreb. And while the in the final’s first leg was not enough to end Montpellier’s Nikola Karabatic scored 11 goals League saw the classic home and away Spanish side celebrated their second EHF Barcelona’s EHF Champions League winning in the first leg in Spain and another six in front knockout matches being replaced with a Champions League triumph, the Croatian side streak. Backed by half of the Spanish national of his home fans, enabling his team to turn totally new system. 32 teams went into two had lost their second final. Also in 1996/97 the team and international stars like Christian around the eight goal defeat from the first leg qualification rounds, eliminating 24 clubs. The so called “fast break” was born due to a rule Schwarzer and , Barcelona won and to become the first French side to win the remaining eight teams were placed into two change, making handball more attractive and their fifth title. EHF Champions League. groups of four teams each playing in a round- athletic than ever before. robin system. TEKA Santander and ABC Braga 2000/01 2003/04 topped their respective groups and faced each 1997/98 Final: Portland San Antonio – FC Barcelona Final: Celje vs Flensburg- Handewitt 34:28 / other in the final. Santander narrowly kept the Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 28:18 / 30:24 / 22:25 (52:49) 28:30 (62:58) upper hand and started what should become 28:22 (56:40) For Barcelona it was a whole new feeling to In March 2003 the EHF had decided on a new an eight-year Spanish club winning streak in the Barcelona beat Zagreb once more to win their watch another team celebrating at the end of structure for the competition. Three teams Men’s EHF Champions League. third consecutive EHF Champions League title. the Champions League Final. Following five from Spain and Germany now had a starting But at least as much news as the repeated consecutive titles an era came to end when slot. Two representatives from Hungary, 1994/95 triumph made the wedding of Barcelona Spanish King Juan Carlos handed the huge Slovenia, Denmark and Croatia would start in Final: Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun vs Badel Zagreb player Inaki Urdangarin who married Christina, tropy to Portland San Antonio at the end of all- the Group Phase. Overall 32 teams (8 groups 30:20 / 26:27 (56:47) youngest daughter of Spanish King Juan Carlos Spanish Final. of 4 teams each) made up the Group Phase. The final of the EHF Champions League’s and Queen Sofia, on 4th October 1997. Flensburg had profited from the new system second season became the match of a lifetime 2001/02 but Slovenian side Celje was too strong in the for Irun’s Nenad Perunicic, nicknamed “the 1998/99 Final: Fotex Veszprem vs SC Magdeburg 23:21 final. canon” or “Il Conquistadore” by the fans. He Final: Badel Zagreb vs FC Barcelona 22:22 / / 25:30 (48:51) was his team’s key player in the final and, in 18:29 (40:51) One year after Barcelona’s dominance had 2004/05 his first year in Spain, not only he lifted the Once again there were tears in Zagreb and joy ended in the EHF Champions League, the Final: BM Ciudad Real vs FC Barcelona Cifec EHF Champions League but also the national in Barcelona. The Spanish team beat Zagreb in dominance of Spanish clubs also came to an 28:27 / 27:29 (55:56) championship trophy with Irun. their third consecutive final and lifted the EHF end, when SC Magdeburg became the first Following four years without being present Champions League trophy for the fourth time German team to win the competition. And late in the final, Barcelona won their sixth EHF 1995/96 in a row. Zagreb’s coach Velimir Klajic had to at night, at the end of a glittering party, Stefan Champions League title. And while the Final: FC Barcelona vs Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun admit that Barcelona “at this moment in time, Kretzschmar and coach Alfred Gislason were spectator record for one match was 10,000 23:15 / 23:23 (46:38) were quite simply the best club team in the still up for jokes: “Training is on the agenda. The fans, the whole city celebrated Barcelona’s In the season that was marked by the “Bosman world.” entire team is going to run through the whole victory. “We did a lap of honour in the Stadion decision”, which had substantial effects on town until 08:00 tomorrow morning,” they both Nou Camp in front of 100,000 spectators transfer regulations and transfer fees in sport, proclaimed. and were celebrated by the whole town,” FC Barcelona won their first EHF Champions remembers Barcelona’s Dane Lars Krogh League title. No other should be capable of Jeppesen. dethroning the Catalan side for the next four years.

222 223 History: 23 years of EHF Champions History: 22 years of EHF Champions League League

History: 23 years of EHF Champions League 2005 - 2016 2008/09 2011/12 Northern Germany prevailed as SG Flensburg- Final: THW Kiel vs BM Ciudad Real 39:34 / Final: THW Kiel vs BM Atletico Madrid 26:21 Handewitt took both of their opponents at the 2005/06 27:33 (66:67) The German powerhouse sensationally lost in VELUX EHF FINAL4 by surprise. In the semi-final Final: Portland San Antonio vs BM Ciudad Real THW Kiel and BM Ciudad Real faced each their first home match of the season against the “Vranjes boys” eliminated giants of FC 19:25 / 28:37 (47:62) other in the final for the second year in a row Montpellier, but no other team was able to Barcelona after a penalty-shoot-out thriller and Spanish businessman and BM Ciudad Real and even though Kiel had won the first leg of overcome THW Kiel throughout the remaining made the Cinderrella story perfect by beating president, Domingo Diaz de Mera, had put the final by five goals, it was Ciudad Real that of the season. Gíslason led his team to the their neighbours from Kiel 30:28 in the final. together a team that proved to be unbeatable won the EHF Champions League for a second third trophy in the club’s history becoming in the 2005/06 Champions League season. consecutive time. Kiel were still in the lead by the first coach who won with two different 2014/15 Mera bought superstars from all over Europe 20:16 after 39 minutes but with a series of 10:3 teams. Defending champions from Barcelona Final: FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprem and the team around Olafur Stefansson, Mirza goals within 11 minutes Ciudad Real turned the were eliminated in the quarter-finals by AG 28:23 Dzomba, Didier Dinart et al. paid justified match in their favour. København, but the Danish side was stopped in The defending champions from SG Flensburg- Mera’s expenses when they beat Spanish rival the semi-final by Atlético Madrid, who made it Handewitt were eliminated already in the Last San Antonio in the final. 2009/10 to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the fourth time in 16 as well as Rhein-Neckar Löwen. Final: FC Barcelona Borges vs HW Kiel 34:36 a row. The end of the three-year-old reign of 2006/07 In the 2009/10 season the number of Bundesliga was sealed only in Cologne as THW Final: SG Flensburg- Handewitt vs THW Kiel participating teams in the first Group Phase 2012/13 Kiel were unable to repeat their 2014 semi-final 28:28 / 27:29 (55:57) was reduced from 32 to 24. Four groups of Final: FC Barcelona vs HSV Hamburg 29:30 AET win against Veszprem. However, the effort of The EHF Champions League, through the six teams each were formed and the first four HSV Hamburg go into the new season as the Hungarian champions for their premiere trophy efforts of the 2005 founded EHF Marketing teams qualified for the knockout phase which defending champion. For the first time the were denied by FC Barcelona who rose to the GmbH, became a unified look. Since 2006, replaced the second group phase. For the extra-time had to decide the winner. In 20 throne for the eighth time in the EHF history. TV spectators across Europe know they are first time the VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, years of EHF Champions League history there watching a men’s EHF Champions League match which combined the Semi-finals and the Final, have only been two champions, Montpellier in 2015/16 when they see the distinct blue lagoon and was held in Cologne, Germany, to decide the 2003 and Celje in 2004, who neither came from KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MVM Veszprem black supplied by flooring specialists Gerfloor champion. THW Kiel won their second title Spain nor from Germany. The All-Stars team 39:38 after 7m shootout in addition to the season’s individual yellow when they beat Barcelona. of the 20 years were announced: Goalkeeper This final went down to history books of the and blue handball supplied by adidas. On the Tomas Svensson (SWE), Left Wing Stefan Champions League as a breathtaking classic. sport side of things, Kiel won their first EHF 2010/11 Kretzschmar (GER), Left Back Filip Jícha (CZE), Deep in the second half Veszprem were leading Champions League title, beating arch rival Final: FC Barcelona vs Renovalia Ciudad Real Line Player Andrei Xepkin (ESP), Centre Back by nine goals, still Kielce put up a spritid fight Flensburg-Handewitt. 27:24 Jackson Richardson (FRA), Right Back (Oláfur to force the extra-time. Even the additional Since 2010 the event is known as the VELUX Stefansson), Right Wing Mirza Džomba (CRO), ten minutes could not solve the thriller and in 2007/08 EHF Champions League. 40,000 fans stormed Best defender Didier Dinart (FRA) the 7m shootout Kielce were luckier with Julen Final: BM Ciudad Real vs THW Kiel 27:29 / to Cologne to attend the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Aguinagalde’s last effort clinched the maiden 31:25 (58:54) weekend and TV viewing audience figures went 2013/14 title for the Polish champions adding only fifth In the 2007/08 season a second Group Phase to a new height. 310 million viewers from 76 Final: SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel country to the list of winners. with four groups of four teams each replaced countries worldwide watched 2,800 hours of 30:28 the Last 16-matches and the quarter-finals. TV transmissions 2010/11. Barcelona extended For the third year in a row a team from The first teams of each group qualified for the their lead as the most successful club in EHF semi-finals and in the final 2006 champion Champions League history when won their Ciudad Real faced 2007 champion THW Kiel. seventh title, beating Ciudad Real in the Final. The Spanish side prevailed and could win their second EHF Champions League trophy.

224 225 Notes

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