Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2014/15 Last 16 Title sponsor

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VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPONSORS Table of contents

Foreword 4

Media contacts 5

Map of participating clubs 6

Playing system diagram - stages and dates 7

Media accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 9

Facts & Figures of the Group Phase 10

Important regulations - scoring of the Last 16 matches 11

Quarter-final draw - seeding pots 11

Naturhouse La Rioja vs MKB-MVM Veszprem 12

Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Vive Tauron Kielce 21

Aalborg vs FC Barcelona 30

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel 39

Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs PSG Handball 48

Orlen Wisla Plock vs HC Vardar 57

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged 66

HC PPD Zagreb vs KIF Kolding Köbenhavn 75

Current top scorers 84

Past winners 85

3 Foreword

Dear Media Representative,

Welcome once again to the matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League. We are down to a matter of weeks, twelve to be exact until the 2014/2015 season reaches its spectacular conclusion. But before we head to Cologne, the remaining teams in the competition face their next challenge…the Last 16.

The ten rounds of the Group Phase came to an end in February 2015, and with 120 matches now behind them, the group phase survivors stand on the eve of the Last 16. The players of KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) were the best of the 24 teams in the previous round; Kielce exited Group D with maximum points after 10 impressive victories. It will be interesting to see if their winning streak remains unbroken as they face Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA).

Enjoying their 18th season in the Champions League, the ultimate team of this elite competition, FC Barcelona will meet Aalborg Handball. The Danes are hoping to move to the next round; only in their second season in the Champions League, they are hungry and ambitious. The other Danish presence, KIF Kolding Kobenhavn takes on HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb of , who are back in the Last 16 after a two season absence. Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) have made it to the Last 16 for the first time in the history of their club, but they face a mammoth task overcoming the prowess of MKB-MVM Veszprem (HUN).

In the previous season, though they faced different teams, Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) departed the competition in the Last 16, whilst HC Vardar (MKD) went on to the quarter-finals, will the tide turn or will history repeat itself? Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) and MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) are very experienced teams, focused and determined, and both want the ticket to the next round. In the ‘clash of the titans’, the reigning Champions, SG Flensburg-Handewitt take on the former Champions, THW Kiel in a German derby. But it is not the only one, as the players of Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral meet their counterparts of Paris St. Germain – though the both teams are relative newcomers to the VELUX EHF Champions League participating for the third time, their players are world renowned, and accustomed to the action that waits in the Last 16.

As the excitement continues to build, we look forward to an exceptional round of the Last 16. With the dramatic pairings, there is no way to predict the eight teams that will cede into the quarter-finals of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Approaching the end of the 22nd season of the men’s Champions League, there is still so much more to experience.

We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media and I am sure this will continue and develop in the future. I therefore hope you consider this media guide a useful and enriching resource for your work in the upcoming weeks and months.

Should you require any further information, help or assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media and Communications Department based in our office in Vienna.

They will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have.

We look forward to working with you in the coming season!

Jean Brihault EHF President

4 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] Twitter:@ehfmedia

Media accreditation for the Last 16 matches

The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs.

TV and Radio accreditations are subjects to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán.

Clubs – Media contacts

POT 1 POT 2 POT 3 POT 4

THW Kiel (GER) PSG Handball (FRA) HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Christian Robohm Louise Cosnard Goran Roknić Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +49 1635306300 +33 (0)675 591 939 +385 95 9999 334 +34 63 77 66 107 [email protected] [email protected] glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr [email protected]

FC Barcelona (ESP) KIF Kolding København (DEN) Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Gustau Galvache Thomas Christensen Piotr Raczkowski Sandra von Wallis +34 618522789 +45 22 629062 +48-691-99881 +49 4611609625 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN) HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Zsolt Sevinger Marko Savovski Christopher Monz Suzy Demonte +36 305024547 +389 75 200 008 +491744288849 +33 499 610 358 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Aalborg Handball (DEN) Sebastian Kozubek Nandor Szögi Melanie Lefevbre Poul Madsbjerg +48 505031244 +36 70 3878234 + 33 3 28 66 91 52 +4520804976 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

5 ROU SVK MOL-Pick MOL-Pick MKB-MVM HC Motor Szeged, HUN Szeged, HC Brest Veszprem, HUN Veszprem, Chekhovski HCM Constanta, HCM Constanta, Besiktas Besiktas Medvedi, RUS Medvedi, Zaporozhye, UKR Zaporozhye, Meshkov, BLR Meshkov, Tatran Presov, Tatran HC Vojvodina HC Vojvodina Novi Sad, SRB Novi MOGAZ HT, TUR MOGAZ HT, Kielce, POL Kielce, MKD KS Vive Tauron Vive KS HC Vardar Plock, POL Plock, Orlen Wisla MKD HC Metalurg, HC Metalurg, GER THW Kiel, THW HC PPD Zagreb,CRO ZAGREB RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO I TA SG Flensburg- Handewitt, GER Handewitt, Junior Fasano Junior Fasano SWE Lasko, SLO Lasko, Alingsas HK, Alingsas RK Celje Pivo. RK Celje NOR Alpla Haslum HK, HC Hard, AUT HC Hard, Aalborg Aalborg Handbold, DEN KIF Kolding KIF Kadetten Kobenhavn, DEN Kobenhavn, Targos Targos Schaffhausen, SUI Schaffhausen, HC Bevo, NED HC Bevo, bevo hc ESP F.C. Barcelona, F.C. Hubo Initia Hubo Initia Hasselt, BEL Hasselt, VELUX EHF FINAL4 EHF FINAL4 VELUX Dunkerque HB Dunkerque G. Littoral, FRA G. Littoral, Naturhouse Host City Cologne, GER Cologne, City Host FRA La Rioja, ESP FRA Löwen, GER Löwen, Rhein-Neckar PSG Handball, Clube Futebol Montpellier HB, do Porto, POR do Porto, Teams eliminated in the Qualification in the Qualification eliminated Teams Phase in the Group eliminated Teams 16 for the Last qualified Teams 6 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VELUX Season 2014/15 Season vs. vs. vs. vs. Place Match Place rd Final Semi-nals 3 FINAL4 4 teams FINAL4 30/31.05.2015 1 2 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. 2 rst leg rst 08.04. - 12.04.2015 second leg - 19.04.2015 15.04. 8 teams Quarter-nals Quarter-nals 1 2 2 vs. vs. vs. vs. 3 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. 4 16 teams 16 Last 16 Last rst leg rst - 15.03.2015 11.03. second leg - 22.03.2015 18.03. Last 16 Last Season 2014/15 playing dates playing Season 2014/15 19. - 23.11.2014 19. - 30.11.2014 26. - 06.12.2014 03. - 15.02.2015 11. - 22.02.2015 18. VELUX EHF Champions League 2014/15 playing system playing VELUX EHF League Champions 2014/15 Home Matches Home Matches Matches Total 5 10 Group Phase Group 4 groups with 6 teams each 24. - 28.09.2014 24. - 05.10.2014 01. 08. - 12.10.2014 - 19.10.2014 15. - 16.11.2014 12. Group Phase Group Qualication Tournaments Qualication Qualication Tournaments Qualication 06. - 07.09.2014 12 teams 12 3 tournaments with semi-nals and nals

7 30 / 31 May 2015 LANXESS arena Cologne 2015 VELUX EHF FINAL4

TICKET SALE

Admission prices Category 1: € 265,- Category 2: € 195,- Category 3: € 135,- Category 4: € 65,-

Tickets are available by phone, online and at the LANXESS arena ticket shops www.ehfFINAL4.com Ticket hotline +49 221 280 288 THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE. THE ABSOLUTE THRILL. EUROPE’S BEST. Imagine your ehfFINAL4.com #EHFFINAL4 VIP experience! VIP Arrangements VIP-Hotline: +43 1 80151 – 216 [email protected] Media Accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4

With 12 weeks to go before the start of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, Requests for media accreditation could only be made online and the final round of the VELUX EHF Champions League, accreditation should be made by Monday 27 April at 15.00, almost two weeks after requests from media representatives are now being accepted. the completion of the quarter-final matches.

For the sixth time the top event of the club season will take place in Media accreditation is only open to professional media the LANXESS arena, Cologne on 30 and 31 May 2015 and will see the representatives working at the event. Freelance media continent’s best four teams battling it out over two days to lift the representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their coveted VELUX EHF Champions League trophy. work. There are limited places and it may not be possible to accept all requests for an accreditation. Journalists, photographers, TV and radio representatives can now submit their request for accreditation via an online form at www. Click here to enter the media accreditation page ehfFINAL4.com, the event’s official website.

9 Facts and figures of the group phase 6816 goals, 76 Lazarov strikes and a Kielce clean sweep

Zagreb had the best defensive record and the highest number of 19 goals was the biggest margin in one group matches, occurred spectators, Kielce took the maximum 20 points, Barcelona had in the Kiel vs Metalurg duel (35:16). the best scoring record and Kiel the clearest win of all, just a few of the facts and figures to enjoy from the VELUX EHF Champions 20 points out of a maximum 20 were won by Kielce in the group League Group Phase, which ended on Sunday night. phase. Kiel and Veszprem dropped just one match each and earned 18 points, ahead of Barcelona (17) and Vardar (15). 1 team won all ten of their group phase matches: Vive Tauron Kielce. The Polish champions achieved this feat for the second 36 goals was the lowest total score of the group phase. It came in time and it is only the third occurrence since the implementation Zagreb vs Metalurg (19:17). of the current playing system in the 2009/10 season. In 2009/10 it was Ciudad Real (ESP) and Kielce managed it the first time around 37 group matches had an attendance of 5,000 or more in the 2012/13 season. spectators.

1 point in ten matches for Russian Champions Chekhovskie 42 group matches ended with an away win. Medvedi saw them hold the weakest record of all 16 teams and the only one without a single win on their account. In contrast, +63 was the best goal difference of all 24 teams, scored by THW Schaffhausen finished sixth in their group with six points, the best Kiel, ahead of Barcelona (58) and Kielce (41). of all bottom ranked teams. 69 group matches ended with a win for the home team. 2 Last 16 debutants are on their maiden voyage in the knockout phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League: Dunkerque (FRA) and 73 goals, scored in Medvedi vs Vardar (34:39), was the highest La Rioja (ESP). scoring match.

2 nations are represented by three teams each in the Last 16: 76 goals from Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona) saw him end the group Germany and France. In the 2013/14 Last 16 four German teams phase as top scorer ahead of Timur Dibirov (Vardar, 69) and last were part of this stage, only one French side (PSG) had made it season’s overall top scorer Momir Ilic (Veszprem, 67). that far. 248 goals conceded by RK PPD Zagreb in ten group matches 3 teams managed to be part of all Last 16 rounds since the was the lowest in the competition. The Croatian champions are 2009/10 season: THW Kiel, FC Barcelona and MKB-MVM followed by THW Kiel (259) and MKB MVM Veszprem (262). Veszprem. 6,816 goals were scored in the 120 group matches, which mean 3 goals scored by Metalurg in the first half of their match at Kiel an average of 56.8 goals per match. 1,792 goals were scored in (3:17) was the worst first half scoring performance this season. Group C (average of 59.7), 1,711 in Group B (57.0), 1,665 in Group A (55.5) and 1,648 in Group D (54.9). 7 points was the lowest needed to clinch a berth for the Last 16. Two victories and three draws were enough for Aalborg to finish 9,500 spectators on average attended the home matches of RK fourth in Group D. Back in 2009/10, five points was enough for PPD Zagreb to top this ranking ahead of THW Kiel (8,491). Bosna Sarajevo to reach the Last 16. 13,000 spectators attended the match Zagreb vs Paris Saint- 8 nations are represented in the Last 16: Germany and France Germain, the highest so far this season. (three teams each), Hungary, Poland, Spain and (two each), Croatia and FYR Macedonia (one each). Rankings after the group phase 9 of the 120 group matches ended in a draw. Aalborg were involved in three tied matches. Points: 20: Vive Tauron Kielce, 18: THW Kiel, 18: Veszprem

11 teams which had been part of the Last 16 last season are back Goals scored: 338 goals: FC Barcelona, 322 goals: THW Kiel, 313 again: Kolding, Aalborg, Barcelona, PSG, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, goals: Vardar, 312 goals: Vive Tauron Kielce Flensburg, Kiel, Veszprem, Vardar, Kielce and Plock. Biggest winning margin: +19: Kiel vs Metalurg (35:16) 12 matches ended with a goal difference of +10 or more Highest goal total in a match: 73 goals: Medvedi vs Vardar (34:39) 16 times FC Barcelona were or are among the 16 best teams of the EHF Champions League. Kiel and Veszprem follow with 15 Lowest number of goals in a match: 36 goals: Zagreb vs. Metalurg participations, ahead of Zagreb’s 13. (19:17)

10 Important regulations

Scoring of the matches in the last 16 and quarter-finals

If, after completion of the two matches, both clubs have won the shall be continued until a decision is reached. In the second round, same number of points (no extra time will be played), the teams’ the other team shall start. Again five players shall be named who standings shall be determined by the following criteria: are eligible to play (the players named before may be named once again). a) goal difference b) higher number of plus goals scored in away match • In the second round, a decision is reached when a goal difference c) penalty throws arises after both teams have taken one throw each. Rules for execution of penalty throws • Eligible players are players entered in the match report that have • Prior to the penalty throws, each team shall name five players not been disqualified or suspended at the time of the final whistle. eligible to play at the end of the match by handing the referees a list of numbers. These players shall then take one throw each, • Serious infractions committed during penalty throws shall be alternating with their opponents. Each team is free to determine sanctioned by disqualification. If a thrower is disqualified or suffers the sequence in which throwers will take their throws. an injury, an eligible substitute player shall be supplementary named. • The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the match report and exchanged in accordance with the Rules of the Game. Goalkeepers • While the throws are being taken, only the player taking the throw, may take throws and throwers may perform as goalkeepers. the current goalkeeper and the referees may enter the respective half of the playing court. • The referees shall choose the goal at which throws are taken. The team taking the first penalty throw shall be determined by the • If the number of eligible players falls below five, players may be referees by drawing lots. The team winning the draw may choose named to take a second throw in the same round. whether it wishes to throw first or last. Find all the regulations here • If the scores are equal after the first round of penalty throws, it

Quarter-final draw seedings

The draw of the last eight will take place at Vienna’s Sky Studios on Tuesday 24 March

The draw of the VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-final will take Seedings place on Tuesday, 24 March, at 11:30 hrs local time at the Sky Studios in Vienna and it will be live streamed on ehfTV.com with commentary The matches of the quarter-finals shall be played as first leg (8-12 from Tom O Brannagain. April 2015) and second leg matches (15-19 April 2015).

The draw will be followed by interviews and reactions from the clubs’ The matches of the quarter-finals shall be drawn by lots. The winners representatives. of the matches 3 vs 2 of the Last 16 play the first match at home against a winner of the matches 4 vs 1 of the Last 16. The winning The live ticker of the draw will go live on Tuesday morning on teams of the quarter-finals qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. eurohandball.com and the event will also be extensively covered on the official Twitter channel of the VELUX EHF Champions League @ehfcl. Pot 1 (winners of 4vs1) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) vs MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) vsVive Tauron Kielce (POL) Aalborg Handball (DEN) vs FC Barcelona (ESP) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs THW Kiel (GER)

Pot 2 (winners of 3vs2) Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) vs PSG Handball (FRA) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs HC Vardar (MKD) RK PPD Zagreb (CRO) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)

11 Naturhouse La Rioja vs MKB-MVM Veszprem

First leg Saturday 14 March, 16:15 hrs. local time

Second leg Saturday 21 March, 16:30 hrs. local time

Last season, Veszprém made it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4, and the “We will start the preparation against them on Wednesday in order team of the traditional Hungarian club has not exactly become to make ourselves 100% ready for the weekend. I am sure it will be a weaker in the meantime. hard match,” Carlos Ortega tells efhCL.com.

The team under Spanish head coach Carlos Ortega and with three La Rioja coach Jesus Gonzalez Fernandez also sees the fast breaks as Spanish players (Chema Rodriguez, , ) a key to success for his team. proved their skills in the group phase, where they became clear winners of Group C, only losing two points along the way in a group “We will be playing against one the best defences and one of the which included teams such as Rhein-Neckar Löwen and HC Vardar. best attacks in Europe.

Over two matches against Spain’s number two who qualified from “The key for us is to play a good match in the defence, and get some fourth position in Group A, Veszprém are, of course, also favourites, fast breaks in order to get the easy goals. but the question is what La Rioja can do in the first match in the Palacio de los Deportes de la Rioja on Saturday afternoon. “Concentration in the first match can give us a chance ahead of the decisive match in Veszprém,” Jesus Gonzalez Fernandez tells ehfCL. Anyway, the Veszprém coach is cautious. com.

“La Rioja is a very fast and quick team, and one of the best teams on Before eliminating Ademar Leon in the 2012/13 Last 16 Veszprem fast breaks, so we must be very careful with them. had a horrible knockout record with the Spanish teams. In the previous seasons the perennial Hungarian champions were ousted “Another main reason why we respect them so much is that they are by ASOBAL teams four straight times (FC Barcelona twice, Ciudad tactically very clever in their offence. Real, Ademar Leon)

Head-to-head stats no previous encounters in the European Cup competitions

12 4th ranked Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)

The Spanish runners-up were something of a disappointment in the group stage and barely scraped into the last 16, needing other results to go their way in the home straight. La Rioja advanced thanks to Meshkov’s successive defeats at PSG and Kiel which left the Belarusian side devoid of any hope of leapfrogging La Rioja into fourth position, but the fashion of their progress could hardly have pleased the coaching staff and fans.

In fact, La Rioja produced their best performance of the group stage only after their last-16 ticket was booked, overcoming a five-goal deficit in their final home match against PSG to beat the French side 35:33 and instill a degree of confidence ahead of the knockout rounds.

The low point of their campaign was a 29:28 defeat at written-off HC Metalurg, which was the Macedonian side’s only win in the group stage and it exposed all the chinks in La Rioja’s fragile defensive armour. The Spanish side qualified thanks to their sound attacking, epitomised by an evenly balanced score-sheet with Juan Antonio Garcia leading the way with 46 goals to his name.

But facing one of the winners from the other three groups will by all means and purposes represent a daunting task for La Rioja, who will need to perform above their limits if they are to spring an upset and reach the quarter-finals.

Playing hall Palacio de los Deportes de la Rioja Avenida Moncalvillo 2 Logrono GROUP A Final Table: Spain Capacity: 3,500 1. THW Kiel 10 9 0 1 322:259 (63) 18 2. PSG Handball 10 6 0 4 297:266 (31) 12 3. HC PPD Zagreb 10 6 0 4 241:248 (-7) 12 4. Naturhouse La Rioja 10 4 1 5 305:305 (0) 9 Club Address: 5. HC Meshkov Brest 10 2 2 6 267:293 (-26) 6 Naturhouse La Rioja 6. HC Metalurg 10 1 1 8 233:294 (-61) 3 Avenida de Moncalvillo 2 26008 Logrono Spain Group Phase results: Media contact: Past achievements (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +34 63 77 66 107 VELUX EHF Champions League vs HC Meshkov Brest W39:31 (20:14) [email protected] Participations (including 2014/15 @ THW Kiel L32:34 (16:20) season): 2 @ PSG Handball L25:32 (9:18) Online information: Group phase (1): 2013/14 vs HC PPD Zagreb W22:21 (9:12) Website: www.cbclogrono.com vs HC Metalurg W31:27 (13:13) Facebook: Club-Balonmano-Naturhouse-La-Rioja Other @ HC Metalurg L28:29 (16:15) Twitter:@NaturhouseRioja EHF Cup: semi-final 2009/10, 2010/11, @ HC Meshkov Brest D33:33 (18:15) Group Phase 2012/13 vs THW Kiel L30:34 (11:14) @ HC PPD Zagreb L30:31 (13:16) Spanish league: - (runners-up 2014) Kit colours vs PSG Handball W35:33 (15:16) Spanish cup: - (runners-up 2013)

Light Top scorers: Player shirt: white Player short: red 1. Juanin Garcia (ESP) 46 Goalkeeper shirt: yellow 2. Fernandez Perez Angel (ESP) 34 Dark 3. Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez (ESP) 33 Player shirt: green 4. Thiagus Goncalves Dos Santos (BRA) 29 Player short: green 5. (SWE) 24 Goalkeeper shirt: grey Victor Vigo Gerpe (ESP) 24

13 Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)

Biggest win: 39:31 (20:14) v HC Meshkov Brest (h), 28.09.2014 Biggest defeat: 37:25 (19:11) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 12.02.2014 Longest winning run: 2 matches (18.10.2014 - 16.11.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (13.10.2013 – 16.11.2013) Longest losing run: 2 matches (21.09.2013 – 29.09.2013) 2 matches (23.11.2013 – 27.11.2013) 2 matches (2.10.2014 - 12.10.2014) 2 matches (3.12.2014 - 14.02.2015) Longest run without win: 4 matches (21.09.2013 – 19.10.2013) 4 matches (22.11.2014 - 14.02.2015) Most goals: 39 v HC Meshkov Brest 39:31W (h), 28.09.2014 Most goals opponent: 37 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 37:25L (a), 12.02.2014 Most goals both teams: 72 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 38:34W (h), 20.02.2014 Fewest goals: 22 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 22:21W (h), 18.10.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 21 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 22:21W (h), 18.10.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 43 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 22:21W (h), 18.10.2014

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2013/14 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8 5th Gr. D Total 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8

All stats in the media guide provided by Roy Knoppert

14 Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals

6 Juan Antonio Garcia Lorenzana ESP Left Wing 28.8.1977 176 75 46 32 Angel Fernandez Perez ESP Left Wing 16.9.1988 192 90 34 26 Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez ESP Right Wing 22.8.1990 193 75 33 4 Thiagus Petrus Goncalves Dos Santos BRA Left Back 25.1.1989 199 100 29 3 Philip Stenmalm SWE Left Back 3.3.1992 200 98 24 14 Victor Vigo Gerpe ESP Centre Back 9.5.1984 186 90 24 26 Comas ESP Right Wing 16.6.1982 188 84 23 11 Luis Felipe Jimenez Reina ESP Right Back 12.6.1989 193 94 21 89 Patrick Lykke Eilert DEN Right Back 10.4.1989 205 97 19 23 Pablo Cacheda Gonzalez ESP Centre Back 9.1.1992 180 82 15 15 Francisco Javier Garcia Rubio ESP Line Player 7.1.1990 195 120 15 2 Miguel Sanchez Migallon ESP Centre Back 8.2.1995 200 90 8 17 Ruben Garabaya Arenas ESP Line Player 15.9.1978 201 108 7 59 Angel Romero Rodriguez ESP Line Player 5.6.1984 202 121 7 24 Diego Martin Santamaria ESP Left Wing 25.7.1993 190 90 18 Javier Romeo Lopez ESP Goalkeeper 1.6.1990 192 93 12 Gurutz Aguinalde Aquizu ESP Goalkeeper 26.10.1977 201 108 1 Jorge Gomez Lite ESP Goalkeeper 6.6.1989 187 80

15 Jesús Javier González Fernández Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu coach goalkeeper • for the first time in his coaching career he led • one of the most experienced players at La a CL participant in the 2013/14 season Rioja during each of their European campaigns • awarded “best coach of the Spanish league” in • winner of the Spanish King’s Cup in 1996 and the 2012/13 season for the second time in his life the Spanish Super Cup in 1996 • in 2007 the former player took over the team • important part in the Rioja’s run in the of Logroño after being coach in Valladolid 2012/13 EHF Cup when they only narrowly missed the quarter-finals • after his arrival the club made their first steps on the European stage • brother of Spanish national team line player Julen

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 1997

Juanin Garcia Philip Stenmalm left wing left back • all-time record scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL • talented left back with the hard and versatile league and still one of the most talented wing shot players in Europe • part of the Swedish U21 national team who • joined Barcelona at the start of the 2005/06 were triumphant at the WCh in 2013 season and was part of the Spanish powerhouse • MVP of the U21 WCh in 2013 squad that won the EHF Champions League in 2011 • the second best scorer of DROTT Halmstad in • joined Rioja before the 2014/15 season the 2013/14 season before he decided to carry on in • his speed on the counterattack, his athletic the CL with Rioja game and his ability to shoot in so many different ways are fundamental aspects of his style EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 1999, 2005 OG: B 2008, WCh: G 2005, B 2011, EURO: S 2006

Víctor Vigo Gerpe Rubén Garabaya Arenas centre back line player • the 2014/15 season is his first in the CL • very experienced pivot with seven EHF CL participations • three previous experiences at European Cup level, defending the Naturhouse (1) and Bm. Aragón • for the 4th consecutive year playing for Rioja (2) shirts • 168 matches for the Spanish national team • started playing handball at the age of 12, • in the 2006/07 scored in the last seconds with because “many friends did so too” Bm. Valladolid against Montpellier to clinch the first • his abilities on the court noticed by the position in their group, which helped them reach Spanish scouts, who started calling him for the U18 semi-finals that year and Junior team EC trophies: EHF Cup 1999

Luis Felipe Jiménez Reina Albert Rocas right back right wing • the second consecutive participation of this • double world champion with the Spanish young Andalusian player with Naturhouse in the CL national team (2005 and 2013) • already scored 40 goals in the 2013/14 season • nominated as the best ASOBAL right wing in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and best right wing of the • started playing handball at the early age of six Beijing in 2008 in his hometown club (Puente Genil) • after six seasons at Barcelona, Rocas made the • Luisfe (as he prefers to be called by his move to Denmark before the 2013/14 season, his friends) was immediately brought to the U18 first to a foreign league Spanish squad by coach Juan de Dios Román • after one year with Kolding he is back in Spain

EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2004 OG: B 2008, WCh: G 2005, 2013, B 2011, EURO: S 2006, B 2014

16 1st ranked MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)

MKB-MVM Veszprém won their group in the VELUX EHF Champions League in the third year running but this time it was arguably the strongest group of the competition. Carlos Ortega’s men overan the group with only one considerable hickup (in Mannheim, where Veszprém was badly beaten) and did so with László Nagy absent from four games.

Summer signing has been outstanding and so are Christian Zeitz, who filled in for László Nagy without a problem and Máté Lékai also had some great games for the defending Hungarian champion.

Veszprém are trying to implement new offensive variations but the strength of the Hungarian outfit remains their solid defence as best seen in Skopje, where Veszprém kept Vardar on 23 goals and won thanks to a marvellous Mikler save and cheeky steal from Cristian Ugalde in the last minute.

The ageing squad of Veszprém regularly has notable sidelined players, apart from long- time absentee Chema Rodriguez missed the last two games against Celje and Montpellier.

GROUP C Final Table:

Playing hall 1. MKB-MVM Veszprém 10 9 0 1 300:262 (38) 18 Veszprém Arena 2. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 313:289 (24) 15 Külso Kadartai ut 3. Rhein-Neckar Löwen 10 6 0 4 302:282 (20) 12 8200 Veszprém 4. Montpellier Agg. HB 10 3 2 5 293:317 (-24) 8 Hungary 5. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10 3 0 7 284:293 (-9) 6 Capacity: 5,020 6. Chekhovskie Medvedi 10 0 1 9 300:349 (-49) 1

Club Address: MKB-MVM Veszprém Küldő-Kádártai út 5 Group Phase results: Past achievements 8200 Veszprém (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Hungary VELUX EHF Champions League @ Chekhovskie Medvedi W37:32 (19:17) Participations (including 2014/15 Media contact: vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W27:24 (10:11) season): 20 Zsolt Sevinger vs Montpellier Aggl. HB W30:29 (14:11) Final (1): 2001/02 +36 305024547 @ RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W24:21 (14:9) Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, [email protected] @ HC Vardar W24:23 (13:11) 2013/14 vs HC Vardar W32:24 (16:10) Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, Online information: vs Chekhovskie Medvedi W38:31 (17:16) 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, Website: www.mkb-mvmveszprem.eu @ Rhein-Neckar Löwen L25:32 (10:18) 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Facebook: mkbveszpremkc vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W29:26 (15:10) Last 16 (2): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 Twitter:@mkbveszpremkc @ Montpellier Aggl. HB W34:20 (14:9) Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08 Top scorers: Other Kit colours 1. Momir Ilic (SRB) 67 Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Light 2. Christian Zeitz (GER) 32 Runners-up 1996/97 Player shirt: white 3. Renato Sulic (CRO) 31 Player short: white 4. Gasper Marguc (SLO) 27 Hungarian league: 22 titles (1985, 1986, Goalkeeper shirt: grey 5. Andreas Nilsson (SWE) 25 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, Dark 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, Player shirt: red 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, Player short: red 2013, 2014) Goalkeeper shirt: black Hungarian cup: 23 titles

17 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)

Biggest win: 38:17 (18:9) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.2004 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) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run: 3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996) Longest run without win: 4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999) Most goals: 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), 07.10.2006 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Most goals opponent: 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.2007 Most goals both teams: 76 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Fewest goals: 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.1995 Fewest goals opponent: 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.2001 13 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 Fewest goals both teams: 32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 2 2 2 131:147 –16 6 3rd Gr. A 1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 3 0 3 147:144 +3 6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 5 1 2 228:204 +24 11 1/4-finals 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 3 1 4 200:188 +12 7 1/4-finals 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 4 0 4 203:202 +1 8 1/4-finals 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 12 9 0 3 310:267 +43 18 Runner-up 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 8 0 2 276:238 +38 16 1/2-finals 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 306:276 +30 14 1/4-finals 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 317:259 +58 14 1/4-finals 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:318 +55 18 1/2-finals 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 10 7 0 3 338:288 +50 14 1/4-finals 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 6 2 2 2 184:171 +13 6 3rd Gr. F 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 8 0 4 351:320 +31 16 1/4-finals 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 419:368 +51 22 1/4-finals 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:338 +35 18 Last 16 2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 7 0 5 321:322 -1 14 Last 16 2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 410:348 +62 22 1/4-finals 2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 11 1 4 477:410 +67 23 4th Place Total 186 123 7 56 5364:4808 +556 253

18 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

13 Momir Ilic SRB Left Back 22.12.1981 200 109 67 20 Christian Zeitz GER Right Back 18.11.1980 186 103 32 33 Renato Sulic CRO Line Player 12.10.1979 192 109 31 24 Gasper Marguc SLO Right Wing 20.8.1990 182 82 27 18 Andreas Nilsson SWE Line Player 12.4.1990 196 117 25 23 Cristian Ugalde Garcia ESP Left Wing 19.10.1987 187 82 24 3 Peter Gulyas HUN Right Wing 4.3.1984 200 106 20 19 Laszlo Nagy HUN Right Back 3.3.1981 207 117 19 11 Carlos Ruesga Pasarin ESP Line Player 10.3.1985 184 98 14 66 Mate Lekai HUN Centre Back 16.6.1988 190 89 12 25 Jose Maria Rodriguez Vaquero ESP Line Player 5.1.1980 187 98 12 4 Gergö Ivancsik HUN Left Wing 30.11.1981 190 89 11 21 Iman Jamali IRI Left Back 11.10.1991 200 102 2 5 Istvan Timuzsin Schuch HUN Line Player 5.6.1985 197 110 2 30 Mirsad Terzic BIH Left Back 12.7.1983 196 104 2 34 David Fekete HUN Left Wing 12.10.1996 180 85 35 Daniel Füzi HUN Line Player 9.8.1996 180 78 34 Otto Kancel SVK Left Back 1.2.1995 205 95 37 Peter Schmid HUN Centre Back 6.8.1996 180 75 38 Martin Varju HUN Right Wing 3.1.1996 185 82 12 Adam Borbely HUN Goalkeeper 22.6.1995 197 122 36 Gergely Rozsavölgyi HUN Goalkeeper 8.5.1996 187 93 32 Mirko Alilovic CRO Goalkeeper 15.9.1985 201 113 16 Roland Mikler HUN Goalkeeper 20.9.1984 190 102

19 Antonio Carlos Ortega Mirko Alilović coach goalkeeper • six time Spanish champion, 14 different cup • like his predecessor Dejan Perić belongs to the titles in Spain elite class of goalkeepers who can send the audience to their feet and inspire his teammates • as a player for Barcelona he won every possible title at least three times • member of the Croatian national team and his medal tally consists of three silver medals and two • in 2005 started his coaching career in bronze Antequera • in 2013 recorded 11 goal assists during the • in 2012 left Spain for the first time to take on WCh the challenge in Veszprém and in his second year he steered them to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the first • very familiar with the Spanish contingent in time Veszprém as he played for five years in the Asobal

EC trophy: CL 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, Cup Winers’ Cup 1995, EHF Cup 2003 OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, WCh: S 2009, B 2013 OG: B 2000, EURO: S 1998, B 2000

Cristian Ugalde Momir Ilić left wing left back • brought up by Barcelona and played regularly • top scorer and only player passing 100 goals in the first team since he was 18 (103) in the 2013/14 CL season • excelled at international level in the 2007/08 • joined THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL season with his 34 goals and participation in the Gummersbach and won seven titles during his four national team years with the club, including two CL titles • won every possible title with Barca – some of • led to their first medal as an them multiple times independent nation at EHF EURO 2012 • found a new challenge in Veszprém altering • MVP of the EHF EURO 2012 with Gergő Iváncsik, who is one of the best players • 2013/14 All-Star team left back in this position according to Ugalde

EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011 EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: B 2014, WCh: B 2011 EURO: S 2012

Chema Rodríguez Vaquero Renato Sulić centre back line player • until 2012 played only in Spain (Valladolid, • at his second stint of the robust Croatian in Ciudad Real, Atlético Madrid) Veszprém, but in the 2004/05 season he did not have a chance to wear their jersey as he was injured • in 2007 he transferred to Ciudad Real in what in a car incident before his first match was one of the most expensive transfers in handball history • came back to Veszprém after several years in Zagreb and Celje • won the Spanish Championship and the Spanish Cup three times • share his time on the court with the defensive specialist Timuzsin Schuh and Andreas Nilsson.

EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009 EURO: S 2008, WCh: G 2003 EURO: S 2006, WCh: G 2005, B 2011

László Nagy Gašper Marguč right back right wing • started his career as a basketball player and • took part in the WCh in Spain 2013, where was close to a move to the USA at the age of 13 Slovenia placed fourth • in the end he decided for handball and • came to Veszprem from Celje where he was became one of the best right backs of the world playing since 2009 • transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 • in the 2012/13 season played his best season and became the captain despite being a foreigner so far and became Slovenia’s top scorer in the CL, netting 72 times (10th overall) • All-Star team right back of the 2013 WCh • played two amazing matches against THW Kiel • All-Star team right back of the 2012/13 CL in 2012/13, scoring 18 times from 18 shots against season the legendary Thierry Omeyer EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003

20 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Vive Tauron Kielce

First leg Sunday 15 March, 17:00 hrs. local time

Second leg Saturday 21 March, 15:30 hrs. local time

Montpellier have at least one thing to show for them that Kielce Montpellier finished fourth in Group C with eight points, which was do not have. The French runners-up have won the EHF Champions the second lowest number of points of all the fourth placed teams in League before, while the ambitious Polish champions are still waiting the group phase. for their first title in the prestigious tournament. Still, it was behind as prominent teams as Veszprem, HC Vardar and However, Montpellier’s Champions League triumph was as far back Rhein-Neckar Löwen, so maybe it is too early to write off Montpellier, as 2003, so the current team cannot base much on that historical whose large and enthusiastic home crowd may help them get in a event when receiving Kielce in the Arena Montpellier on late Sunday good position before going to Poland next weekend. afternoon. The double-header will see an interesting reunion of Kielce’s As the only team in the group phase, Kielce went through their group playmaker Uros Zorman with five of his fellow Slovenians plying their – Group C – without losing a single point and emulating the feat from trade in the rivals’ camp - Dragan Gajic, Vid Kavticnik, Jure Dolenec, the 2012/13 season, when they reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and , Borut Mackovsek. finished third. Furthermore, Montpellier’s goalkeeper Venio Losert will meet his Furthermore, they travel to Southern France with a fresh 30:27 win former teammates as he was on board of Vive during their trip to the in the Polish league against their eternal rivals Orlen Wisla Plock from VELUX EHF FINAL4 two years ago. Tuesday.

Head-to-head stats no previous encounters in the European Cup competitions

21 4th ranked Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA)

Not only did some of the biggest names of French handball leave Montpellier in the summer, Patrice Canayer had to deal with the strongest possible group. The French outfit also had to do without a lot of sidelined players for certain periods Matej Gaber, Borut Mackovsek, Jure Dolenec than later up-and-comer Mathieu Grebille missed important matches. Montpellier struggled to maintain form the French team even let Medvedi take their first and only point at Jean-Paul Lacombe and lost away to all the qualified teams. However, when qualification for the knockout stage was at stake Montpellier showed strength and came up with a win in Celje. Despite all hardships the French side went agonisingly close to catch Veszprém away and even closer to beat Vardar at home, where a last second Sterbik save robbed Montpellier from a victory. These two games showed they are a match for any team in Europe. However, Montpellier had a terrible run-in as Veszprém imposed the heaviest home defeat on the French outfit in the last round.

GROUP C Final Table: Playing hall Arena Montpellier 1. MKB-MVM Veszprém 10 9 0 1 300:262 (38) 18 Rue de la Foire 2. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 313:289 (24) 15 34470 Pérols/Montpellier 3. Rhein-Neckar Löwen 10 6 0 4 302:282 (20) 12 France 4. Montpellier Agg. HB 10 3 2 5 293:317 (-24) 8 Capacity: 8,000 5. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10 3 0 7 284:293 (-9) 6 6. Chekhovskie Medvedi 10 0 1 9 300:349 (-49) 1

Club Address: Montpellier Agglomeration HB Centre Jean-Paul Lacombe Centre Jean Paul Lacombe - 1000 Group Phase results: Past achievements 34090 Montpellier (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) France VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 Media contact: @ Rhein-Neckar Löwen L24:35 (11:18) season): Suzy Demonte vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W35:29 (14:18) Winners: 2002/03 +33 499 610 358 @ MKB-MVM Veszprém L29:30 (11:14) Semi-final: 2004/05 [email protected] vs HC Vardar D34:34 (19:17) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi D32:32 (15:14) Quarter-final: 2000/01, 2005/06, Online information: @ Chekhovskie Medvedi W34:33 (16:17) 2009/10, 2010/11 Website: www.montpellierhandball.com vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen L29:33 (14:18) Last 16: 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, Facebook: montpellierhandball @ RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W30:27 (10:14) 2011/12 Twitter:@MAHB @ HC Vardar L26:30 (13:18) Main Round: 2007/08, 2008/09 vs MKB-MVM Veszprém L20:34 (9:14) Group Phase: 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Kit colours Top scorers: Qualification: 2013/14 Light Player shirt: white 1. Dragan Gajic (SLO) 62 Other: Player short: white 2. Vid Kavticnik (SLO) 46 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, quarter- Goalkeeper shirt: orange/light blue 3. Mathieu Grebille (FRA) 45 final 1996/97, Last 16 1993/94, 1994/95 4. Issam Tej (FRA) 31 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-final Dark 5. Diego Simonet (ESP) 30 Player shirt: blue 2001/02 Player short: blue French league: 14 titles (1995, 1998- Goalkeeper shirt: blue 2000, 2002-2006, 2008-2012) French cup: 10 titles

22 Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA)

Biggest win: 46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), 04.10.2009 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) 7 matches (18.10.2009 – 25.02.2010) 7 matches (16.10.2010 – 06.03.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 10 matches (18.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run: 3 matches (23.10.2011 – 04.12.2011) 3 matches (07.10.2012 – 18.10.2012) Longest run without win: 5 matches (25.03.2012 – 18.10.2012) Most goals: 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), 04.10.2009 Most goals opponent: 38 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), 05.12.2004 38 v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), 19.11.2011 Most goals both teams: 78 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), 09.02.2008 Fewest goals: 17 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), 03.01.1999 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), 10.12.2000 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), 07.10.2006 Fewest goals both teams: 38 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), 08.11.1998

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 134:134 0 6 3rd Gr. A 1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 139:148 -9 6 3rd Gr. A 2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA 8 4 1 3 193:193 0 9 1/4-finals 2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA 12 8 1 3 334:311 +23 17 Winner 2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA 8 6 0 2 216:199 +17 12 Last 16 2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA 12 9 0 3 375:328 +47 18 1/2-finals 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 0 4 282:272 +10 12 1/4-finals 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA 8 5 1 2 224:198 +26 11 Last 16 2007/08 Montpellier HB FRA 12 7 0 5 358:348 +10 14 3rd MR Gr. 2 2008/09 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 1 3 295:275 +20 13 4th MR Gr. 3 2009/10 Montpellier HB FRA 14 10 2 2 447:372 +75 22 1/4-finals 2010/11 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 14 10 0 4 442:379 +63 20 1/4-finals 2011/12 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 12 6 0 6 357:357 0 12 Last 16 2012/13 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 10 2 2 6 301:311 –10 6 5th Gr. A Total 142 85 8 49 4097:3825 +272 178

23 Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

30 Dragan Gajic SLO Right Wing 21.7.1984 188 83 62 23 Vid Kavticnik SLO Right Back 24.5.1984 191 90 46 10 Mathieu Grebille FRA Left Back 6.10.1991 198 93 45 6 Issam Tej FRA Line Player 29.7.1979 187 115 31 4 Diego Simonet ESP Centre Back 26.12.1989 187 87 30 14 Michael Guigou FRA Left Wing 28.1.1982 179 79 23 11 Jure Dolenec SLO Right Back 6.12.1988 190 94 17 22 Matej Gaber SLO Line Player 22.7.1991 196 116 11 51 Borut Mackovsek SLO Left Back 11.9.1992 203 99 7 24 Baptiste Bonnefond FRA Left Back 22.1.1993 193 98 5 21 Alexandre Saidani FRA Centre Back 30.7.1994 188 84 5 18 Felipe Borges Dutra Ribeiro BRA Left Wing 4.5.1985 186 88 4 19 Antoine Gutfreund FRA Right Wing 5.10.1992 195 89 4 27 FRA Line Player 1.7.1996 198 98 1 17 Balazs Laluska HUN Right Back 20.6.1981 202 100 1 3 Arthur Anquetil FRA Left Wing 23.7.1995 181 74 9 Maxime Bouschet FRA Right Back 2.4.1996 184 82 25 Jean Loup Faustin FRA Left Back 23.3.1995 185 83 2 Clement Liard FRA Right Wing 3.5.1996 191 91 20 Vincent Thouvenot FRA Line Player 30.5.1994 200 105 26 Allan Villeminot FRA Centre Back 24.5.1995 185 81 5 Iswaran Zahm FRA Left Back 23.5.1996 200 86 12 Kevin Mesnard FRA Goalkeeper 11.1.1993 191 84 95 Samir Bellahcene FRA Goalkeeper 20.2.1995 189 114 16 Arnaud Siffert FRA Goalkeeper 6.12.1978 188 94 1 Venio Losert CRO Goalkeeper 25.7.1976 190 89 1

24 Patrice Canayer Venio Losert coach goalkeeper • currently in his 21st season at the head of • at 38, he has added another stop to his Montpellier, in which he has won over 40 trophies never-ending European tour - after Croatia, Spain, Denmark and Poland he came to France • in 1994 he started his coaching career and coached players like Nikola Karabatic, Thierry • Montpellier is his twelth professionnal club Omeyer, Jerome Fernandez and Didier Dinart since the beginning of his career • reached the EHF Cup final in the 2013/14 • very easy-living but with a huge amount of season experience in his backpack • in his active career played for Bordeaux and • played at the 2013 VELUX EHF FINAL4 with Racing Paris. Kielce

EC trophies: CL 2003 OG : G 1996, 2004, B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 1995, 2005, 2009

Felipe Borges Diego Simonet left wing left back • discovered handball through beach handball, • Argentinian scored 41 goals in the 2013/14 which is played a lot in his native Sao Paulo EHF Cup campaign • played for two and a half seasons in Ademar • best centre back of the French league in the Leon before joining Montpellier in march 2013 2013/14, but shifted to left back during Grebille’s injury • considered as the most successful active Brazilian player at the moment, having won 14 • quick and with a sharp eye, able to shoot domestic titles in less than eight years through defences, to give balls to line players, much calmer than he used to be, making better choices, • best Brazilian scorer at the 2015 WCh with 31 become a key element in Canayer’s roster goals in eight games

Michaël Guigou Matej Gaber centre back line player • player with the longest history in Montpellier • rock of Montpellier’s defence, even if Tej gets since he has played there for 15 seasons in a row more playing time in attack • able to play on the left wing or on the centre • responsible to replace Wissem Hmam, who back position, very quick on fast breaks and able to left the club before the 2014/15 season play in tiny spaces inside the defences • arrived at the beginning of the 2013/14 season • over the years, he has become less of a scorer alongside his friend Jure Dolenec and has done and turned into the brain of the team everything since to justify his “hard-defending” reputation • only player of the winning CL campaign in 2003 who still plays for MAHB • should become a very important piece of Montpellier’s puzzle in the forthcoming years.

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

Jure Dolenec Dragan Gajić right back right wing • in his first season with Montpellier in 2013/14 • arrived in 2011 and turned to be very useful to had some ups and downs as he had to adapt to Montpellier, both on and off the court French defences • had his best season so far in the 2013/14, • after causing havoc when he played the CL finishing as the best scorer of the EHF Cup (72 goals) with his former team of Gorenje Velenje, ready to do and of the French league it all over again • also helped his Slovenian teammates to settle • scored 64 goals in the 2012/13 season in Montpellier, and that gave him quite a lot of work, since there were five of them in the club • 2015 WCh top scorer (71 goals) • All-Star team right wing of the 2015 WCh

25 1st ranked KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL)

The game that all Kielce supporters will remember from this season’s group phase is the Round 10 encounter against Motor Zaporozhye. Kielce were trailing 10:19 at half-time, but staged an astonishing comeback in the second half to take home a 28:27 win.

This victory saw them extending their winning streak to 10 out of 10, making Kielce the only team to reach the Last 16 with a flawless record.

In the 2012/13 season they had achieved the same and eventually reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4. However, Kielce’s streak was far from being a walk in the park.

Injuries to key players such as line player forced coach to put left back Michal Jurecki on the line, while right wing Ivan Cupic became centre back in the 27:25 away win against Aalborg in Round 5.

“It is incredible that we achieved a perfect record, I’m very happy about it, but I’m waiting for all the players to return to full fitness, as the competition is hard and we need to make changes during the games,” Dujshebaev says.

GROUP D Final Table: Playing hall Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionów 1. KS Vive Tauron Kielce 10 10 0 0 312:271 (41) 20 ul. Boczna 15A 2. MOL-Pick Szeged 10 6 1 3 276:264 (12) 13 25-093 Kielce 3. Dunkerque HB G. Littoral 10 4 0 6 257:263 (-6) 8 Poland 4. Aalborg Handball 10 2 3 5 256:269 (-13) 7 Capacity: 4,000 5. HC Motor Zaporozhye 10 3 0 7 283:284 (-1) 6 6. Kadetten Schaffhausen 10 2 2 6 264:297 (-33) 6 Club Address: KS Vive Tauron Kielce ul. Robotnicza 5 25-662 Kielce Poland Group Phase results: Past achievements (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Media contact: VELUX EHF Champions League Sebastian Kozubek @ Kadetten Schaffhausen W33:28 (15:14) Participations (including 2014/15 +48 505031244 vs MOL-Pick Szeged W37:32 (18:17) season): 12 [email protected] vs HC Motor Zaporozhye W30:26 (17:14) Semi-final (1): 2012/13 @ Dunkerque HB G. Littoral W28:25 (14:12) Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, Online information: @ Aalborg Handball W27:25 (13:12) 2011/12, 2013/14 Website: www.vivetargi.pl vs Aalborg Handball W33:26 (18:15) Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Facebook: vivetargikielce vs Kadetten Schaffhausen W33:24 (14:12) Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, Twitter:@ksvive @ MOL-Pick Szeged W27:26 (14:11) 2003/04, 2010/11 vs Dunkerque HB G. Littoral W36:32 (19:15) @ HC Motor Zaporozhye W28:27 (10:19) Kit colours Other Other EC records: 11 participations in Light Top scorers: other ECs Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue 1. (POL) 56 Polish league: 11 titles (1993, 1994, Goalkeeper shirt: blue 2. Ivan Cupic (CRO) 42 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, Dark 3. Denis Buntic (CRO) 34 2012, 2013, 2014) Player shirt: blue 4. (POL) 31 Polish cup: 11 titles Player short: blue 5. Michal Jurecki (POL) 26 Goalkeeper shirt: green

26 KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL)

Biggest win: 35:23 (16:13) v FC Porto Vitalis POR (h), 29.09.2013 Biggest defeat: 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.2003 Longest winning run: 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) 10 matches (25.09.2014 - 18.02.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) 10 matches (25.09.2014 - 18.02.2015) Longest losing run: 5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010) 5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011) Longest run without win: 6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010) Most goals: 38 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 38:30W (h), 23.02.2014 Most goals opponent: 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.2003 Most goals both teams: 72 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 40:32L (a), 27.11.1999 Fewest goals: 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.2010 21 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals opponent: 20 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals both teams: 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 6 3 0 3 173:186 –13 6 3rd Gr. B 2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 6 2 1 3 159:177 -18 5 3rd Gr. G 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 5 1 6 345:344 +1 11 Last 16 2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 10 1 2 7 276:300 -24 4 6th Gr. A 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 6 1 5 345:336 +9 13 Last 16 2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 469:400 +69 28 Third Place 2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 7 1 4 362:331 +31 15 Last 16 Total 74 38 6 30 2129:2074 +55 82

27 KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

14 Karol Bielecki POL Left Back 23.1.1982 202 101 56 27 Ivan Cupic CRO Right Wing 22.3.1986 178 78 42 21 Denis Buntic CRO Right Back 13.11.1982 199 110 34 19 Krzysztof Lijewski POL Right Back 7.7.1983 198 94 31 5 Michal Jurecki POL Left Back 27.10.1984 198 110 26 6 POL Centre Back 22.12.1980 194 94 24 17 Manuel Strlek CRO Left Wing 1.12.1988 181 79 19 23 Uros Zorman SLO Centre Back 9.1.1980 189 96 19 13 Julen Aguinagalde Akizu ESP Line Player 8.12.1982 195 110 18 19 Tobias Reichmann GER Right Wing 27.5.1988 188 85 16 10 POL Left Back 24.3.1988 202 100 9 15 POL Left Wing 27.12.1984 185 88 8 22 Zeljko Musa CRO Line Player 8.1.1986 200 114 8 24 Tomasz Rosinski POL Centre Back 24.2.1984 192 85 2 POL Line Player 31.10.1982 200 99 12 Wojciech Swiader POL Goalkeeper 18.8.1996 188 95 16 Marin Sego CRO Goalkeeper 2.8.1985 194 100 2 1 Slawomir Szmal POL Goalkeeper 2.10.1978 190 90

28 Talant Dujshebaev Sławomir Szmal coach goalkeeper • most awarded figure in the club • 2009 World Handball Player of the Year • during his longstanding player career he won • one of the key players in the Polish national plenty of trophies with three different teams (CIS, champions’ defence Russia, Spain) and a lot of individual distinctions • spent several years in German Bundesliga • since ten years he has successfully continued playing for TuS N-Lübbecke and Rhein Neckar Löwen as a coach, known for his impulsiveness • competed in two VELUX EHF FINAL4 events • joined Kielce in the half of the 2013/14 season, with Löwen in 2010/11 and Kielce in 2012/13 replacing • on the court a hardworking Titan, beyond it • changed the playing style of Kielce placing a great man always keen on handball initiatives for greater emphasis on the aggressive defence kids EC Trophies: CL 1994, 2006 (as coach), 2008 (as coach), 2009 (as coach), EHF Cup WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 1993, Cup Winners’ Cup 2002, 2003 OG: G 1992, B 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1993, EURO: S 1996, 1998, B 2000

Manuel Štrlek Michał Jurecki left wing left back • his arrival in Kielce in 2012 were his first steps • Kielce’s powerful left back returned to Poland abroad, after leaving his boyhood club Zagreb in 2010 after a three-season stint in Germany • started gathering CL experience in 2006 • had spells at HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke • together with his fellow countryman Cupic on the other side, they soon created extremely • one of the club’s most consistent scorers effective duet of wingers • under his steel covering the Polish tank hides • All-Star Team left wing at the EHF EURO 2010 a cheerful nature and a volcano of energy exploding in the most thrilling moments of the game

WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

Uroš Zorman Julen Aguinagalde centre back line player • one of the best playmakers in the game • one of the world’s top line players • on the hunt for his fourth CL success • All-Star team line player of the 2013 WCh in Spain and the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark • not known for scoring lots of goals, but his movement and passes provide ample space for his • nominated for World Handball Player of the teammates in attack Year 2012 • longstanding captain of Slovenian national • joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid in 2013 for team famous for his charisma, weakness for coffee his first foreign league experience and great approach to children, for whom he has • three VELUX EHF FINAL4 participations in been organising summer camps over past years 2010-2012

EC Trophies: CL: 2004, 2008, 2009 WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014 EURO: S 2004

Krzysztof Lijewski Ivan Čupić right back right wing • although wanted to be a basketball player, • second best goal scorer at the London 2012 luckily under the influence of his father and older Olympics brother, chose handball • named on the All-Star team at the 2009 WCh • best right back of the EHF EURO 2014 • despite losing one finger in an accident in • the most versatile player in the team, clever in 2008 remained an important player of each team he attack and vigilant in defence has played including the national team • joined Kielce in 2012 after seven successful • sharing the position with the new face in the years spent in Germany club, German Tobias Reichmann.

EC Trophies: Cup Winner’s Cup: 2007 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012 WCh: S 2007, B 2009

29 Aalborg Handball vs FC Barcelona

First leg Sunday 15 March, 16:50 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 22 March,18:50 hrs. local time

The meeting between Aalborg and Barcelona will be a remake of the “It’s always difficult to play away in Europe, especially in the Last 16. Last 16 in the Champions League last season. “We will have to be totally focused in that game. Aalborg have a On that occasion, Barcelona won both legs – 29:22 in Aalborg and different team compared to the one we met last year, but still a 31:20 in the Palau Blaugrana. strong team,” Pascual tells ehfCL.com.

Aalborg are well aware that the Spanish top team are favourites “They have played good handball during the season, and I am sure we again. will have a great team in front of us, and that it will be a tough game for FC Barcelona in Denmark,” Xavi Pascual adds. “To our young players, it will be a great chance to measure themselves against some of the best players in the world. The last 16 trip to Denmark is becoming a tradition for the record winners of the European top flight as they head for Jutland peninsula “To us, the success criteria will be to find out, of we really are as far for the third time in a row. In the 2012/13 season they eliminated from a world top team like Barcelona, as the experts say we are. Of Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. course, our mission will be to prove that we are not!” Aalborg coach Jesper Jensen tells ehfCL.com. One year earlier they were knocked out from the competition by another Danish team AG Copenhagen in the quarter-finals. Barcelona coach Xavi Pascual expresses respect for the current number two in the Danish league, though.

Head-to-head stats

FC Barcelona vs Aalborg Handball 2-0-0 (60:42) 4:0

23.03.2014 Aalborg Handball vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 22:29 (13:15) 29.03.2014 FC Barcelona vs Aalborg Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 31:20 (16:11)

30 4th ranked Aalborg Handball (DEN)

It is hard to believe that a team can make it to the Last 16 without winning a single game at home – but Aalborg did exactly this.

With a hard-fought 23:23 draw against Kadetten Schaffhausen being the only ‘prey’ at the Gigantium Hall, the Danish side heavily relied on strong away performances which they had shown early in the competition with wins at Dunkerque (21:26) and at Zaporozhye (25:28).

However, with six points after nine matches on their account, they needed at least a draw at MOL- Pick Szeged to progress to the Last 16 – and a draw was what they got.

The game was another great performance of the two Norwegians, Harvard Tvedten and , who have been the key players in Aalborg’s campaign, scoring 41 and 39 goals in the group phase respectively.

GROUP D Final Table: Playing hall 1. KS Vive Tauron Kielce 10 10 0 0 312:271 (41) 20 Gigantium Arena 2. MOL-Pick Szeged 10 6 1 3 276:264 (12) 13 Olimpiaparken 2 3. Dunkerque HB G. Littoral 10 4 0 6 257:263 (-6) 8 9220 Aalborg Ost 4. Aalborg Handball 10 2 3 5 256:269 (-13) 7 Denmark 5. HC Motor Zaporozhye 10 3 0 7 283:284 (-1) 6 Capacity: 4,666 6. Kadetten Schaffhausen 10 2 2 6 264:297 (-33) 6

Club Address: Aalborg Håndbold A/S Willy Brandts Vej 31 DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark Group Phase results: Media contact: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Poul Madsbjerg +4520804976 @ Dunkerque HB G. Littoral W26:21 (13:13) VELUX EHF Champions League [email protected] vs Kadetten Schaffhausen D23:23 (11:8) Participations (including 2014/15 vs MOL-Pick Szeged L25:28 (11:15) season): 3 Online information: @ HC Motor Zaporozhye W28:25 (13:13) Last 16 (1): 2013/14 Website: www.aalborghaandbold.dk vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce L25:27 (12:13) Group Phase (1): 2010/11 Facebook: aalborghaandbold @ KS Vive Tauron Kielce W33:26 (18:15) Twitter:AalborgHandbold vs Dunkerque HB G. Littoral L25:28 (13:15) Other @ Kadetten Schaffhausen D25:25 (14:9) Danish league: 2010, 2013 vs HC Motor Zaporozhye L30:36 (16:16) Danish cup: - (2012 Supercup winner) Kit colours @ MOL-Pick Szeged D23:23 (10:10) Light Player shirt: Lime Top scorers: Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Blue 1. Havard Tvedten (NOR) 41 2. Sander Sagosen (NOR) 39 Dark 3. Emil Berggren (SWE) 34 Player shirt: Red 4. Christian Jensen (DEN) 28 Player short: White 5. (SWE) 26 Goalkeeper shirt: Black

31 Aalborg Handball (DEN)

Biggest win: 37:23 (17:07) v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE (h), 24.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 31:20 (16:11) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 29.03.2014 Longest winning run: 3 matches (16.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (16.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest losing run: 6 matches (01.12.2013 – 29.03.2014) Longest run without win: 6 matches (01.12.2013 – 29.03.2014) Most goals: 37 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 37:23 (h), 24.11.2013 Most goals opponent: 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 Most goals both teams: 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 68 v Cuatro Rayas BM Valladolid ESP (h) 32:36L (h), 21.11.2010 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 30:38L (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals: 20 v HSV Hamburg GER 28:20L (a), 23.02.2014 20 v FC Barcelona ESP 31:20L (a), 29.03.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 21 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 26:21W (a), 28.09.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 46 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 23:23D (h), 5.10.2014 46 v MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 23:23D (a), 22.02.2015

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2010/11 AaB Handball DEN 10 2 2 6 311:339 -28 6 6th Gr. C 2013/14 Aalborg Handball DEN 12 4 0 8 317:325 -8 8 Last 16 Total 22 6 2 14 628:664 -36 14

32 Aalborg Handball (DEN) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

10 Havard Tvedten NOR Left Wing 29.6.1978 183 82 41 5 Sander Sagosen NOR Centre Back 14.9.1995 195 93 39 29 Emil Berggren SWE Left Back 3.8.1986 195 103 34 25 Christian Jensen DEN Right Wing 15.11.1995 186 83 28 26 Niclas Andreas Barud SWE Line Player 22.3.1988 196 105 26 6 Morten Andreas Slundt DEN Centre Back 26.5.1984 187 89 23 7 Martin Larsen DEN Right Back 19.9.1992 196 99 21 2 Nicolai Nygaard Pedersen DEN Left Back 15.2.1994 194 97 15 6 Isaias Guardiola Villaplana ESP Right Back 1.10.1984 200 103 9 11 Simon Hald Jensen DEN Line Player 28.9.1994 203 109 9 23 Juul-Lassen Engelbrecht DEN Left Wing 31.3.1993 197 93 6 21 Stig Bugge Jensen DEN Right Wing 9.9.1992 186 89 3 22 Olafur Gustafsson ISL Left Back 27.3.1989 196 95 1 27 Magnus Jensen DEN Line Player 12.7.1996 195 95 1 28 Joshua Krohn Grace DEN Right Back 31.1.1996 190 92 18 Marcus Mork Kristiansen DEN Left Back 20.10.1987 190 93 30 Mathias Mark Pedersen DEN Centre Back 30.7.1997 187 95 12 Marcus Molbjerg Jorgensen DEN Goalkeeper 20.5.1996 190 83 12 Soren Westphal DEN Goalkeeper 8.7.1986 200 90 16 Ole Erevik NOR Goalkeeper 9.1.1981 196 92

33 Jesper Jensen Ole Erevik coach goalkeeper • modest coaching experience, as he had only • started his career in his home town of year as a women’s coach Stavanger, Norway • enormous handball experience - from 1999 • played in Spain for Reale Ademar Leon and to 2012 was he an elegant and inventive playmaker Bidasoa Irun, in Germany for SC Magdeburg before in Skjern joining KIF Kolding in 2008 • member of the Danish national teams • moved in 2011 to Aalborg, where he won his second Danish league title • now the players in Aalborg benefit from his huge experience as well as from his many ideas and • very fast reactions and great flexibility his uncompromising will to win • first goalkeeper for the Norwegian national EHF EURO: G 2008 / WCh: B 2007 team since Steinar Ege ended his career in 2012

Havard Tvedten Olafur Gustaffson left wing left back • for the second time in his career in Aalborg • possesses the physical qualities for being a good back court player in modern handball and a • after playing in Spain with the clubs Logroño/ hard and varied right handed shot Naturhouse La Rioja and BM Valladolid – he returned in 2011 • carries experience from the German Bundesliga as well as from the CL with him from his • has not lost much of his speed, and his scoring stay in SG Flensburg-Handewitt percentage from the wing as well from the penalty line and on fast breaks is as high as ever • replaced Danish international in Aalborg before the 2014/15 season • experience from over 200 internationals for Norway EC trophies: CL 2013/14

Sander Sagosen Niclas Barud centre back line player • a bright future predicted for him by the • his greatest skills in the defence, but he has Norway’s national coach at the time, Robert Hedin also proved his values in the attack in 2013 • played 30 internationals for Sweden • remarkable playmaker and defence talent • CL experience from two years in succession • apart from being a great organiser of his with Swedish IK Sävehof team’s attacking and being a fine reader of the • joined Aalborg in 2012 and made his game despite his young age, also has an extremely comeback to the CL the following year dangerous shot

Martin Larsen Stig Bugge Jensen right back right wing • tall and physically strong left handed back • joined Aalborg before the start of the 2013/14 court player with a hard and varied shot season from fellow Danish league competitors, TMS Ringsted • celebrated his comeback to the handball court way into the 2014/15 season after being sidelined • huge talent – which he proved at the U21 for a year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament World championship in Bosnia in 2014 and in the Aalborg team for great parts of the 2013/14 season • being the son of club director Jan Larsen, he has always played for the club • stepped into the shoes of the former Swedish international Jan Lennartsson, who returned home • particularly crucial to his team lately, as the in the summer of 2013 Spanish right back Isaias Guardiola is sidelined with a long term injury

34 1st ranked FC Barcelona (ESP)

Being favourites was no new experience to Barcelona, as they started out in Group B in September. Being Barcelona will always make the pride of Catalonia favourites, and like so many times before, they lived up to that status.

An injury or two along the way as no big deal for a team who have two world class players in virtually all positions, and a few hick-ups on away ground in the form of a 27:27 draw against KIF Kolding Kobenhavn and a 34:31 defeat against Orlen Wisla Plock did not really spoil the impression of a Barca team in full control.

When they were forced into a direct show-down for the group win against Kolding on the second to last matchday, they did not stumble in the Palau Blaugrana, of course, but decided the matter already in the first half, and finally winning 33:27, leaving no doubt who was the better team in the group.

GROUP B Final Table:

1. FC Barcelona 10 8 1 1 338:280 (58) 17 2. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 10 6 2 2 292:273 (19) 14 3. Orlen Wisla Plock 10 6 1 3 288:280 (8) 13 Playing hall 4. SG Flensburg-Handewitt 10 6 0 4 288:277 (11) 12 Palau Blaugrana 5. Alingsas HK 10 1 0 9 252:298 (-46) 2 Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n 6. Besiktas MOGAZ HT 10 1 0 9 253:303 (-50) 2 08028 Barcelona Spain Capacity: 7,250

Club Address: Group Phase results: FC Barcelona Past achievements (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n VELUX EHF Champions League 08028 Barcelona @ Alingsas HK W38:28 (21:16) Participations (including 2014/15 Spain vs Orlen Wisla Plock W30:25 (13:12) season): 18 vs Besiktas MOGAZ HT W35:25 (19:12) Winner (7): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, Media contact: @ KIF Kolding Kobenhavn D27:27 (16:14) 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11 Gustau Galvache @ SG Flensburg-Handewitt W37:33 (16:16) Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 +34 618522789 vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W36:27 (14:16) Semi-final (2): 2007/08, 2013/14 [email protected] vs Alingsas HK W42:29 (18:17) Quarter-final (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, @ Orlen Wisla Plock L31:34 (15:17) 2011/12 Online information: vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W33:27 (19:11) Last 16 (1): 2003/04 Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat @ Besiktas MOGAZ HT W29:25 (14:12) Main Round (1): 2008/09 Facebook: FCBHandbol Twitter:@FCBHandbol Top scorers: Other 1. Kiril Lazarov (MKD) 76 EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2. Nikola Karabatic (FRA) 44 2001/02 Kit colours 3. Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (ISL) 43 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, Light 4. Siarhei Rutenka (BLR) 35 1994/95 Player shirt: red and yellow 5. Jesper Brian Nöddesbo (DEN) 27 Player short: red Spanish league: 21 titles (1969, 1973, Goalkeeper shirt: green/grey 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, Dark 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, Player shirt: blue and red 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, Player short: blue 2014) Goalkeeper shirt: black/dark red Spanish cup: 18 titles Asobal cup: 9 titles

35 FC Barcelona (ESP)

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 41:31 (20:15) v THW Kiel GER (a), 06.04.2008 Longest winning run 12 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012) Longest unbeaten run 16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997) Longest losing run 2 matches (25.03.2000 – 22.04.2000) 2 matches (16.10.2004 – 23.10.2004) 2 matches (11.12.2004 – 05.03.2005) 2 matches (15.03.2008 – 06.04.2008) 2 matches (23.11.2008 – 14.02.2009) 2 matches (30.05.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest run without win 3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010) Most goals 46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Most goals opponent 41 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.2008 Most goals both teams 82 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals 21 v ABC Braga POR 21:21D (a), 09.11.1997 21 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:21L (a), 23.10.2004 21 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:21L (a), 25.02.2006 21 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 31:21L (a), 23.02.2007 Fewest goals opponent 12 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals both teams 38 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (a), 20.04.1996 38 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 2 1 213: 173 + 40 12 Winner 1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 1 1 358: 264 + 94 21 Winner 1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 12 9 1 2 358: 284 + 74 19 Winner 1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 3 1 357: 289 + 68 19 Winner 1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 0 2 345: 271 + 74 20 Winner 2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 2 2 316: 281 + 35 18 Runner-up 2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 1 2 262: 212 + 50 11 Last 16 2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 14 8 0 6 400: 360 + 40 16 Winner 2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 9 0 1 293: 244 + 49 18 1/4-finals 2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 8 0 2 314: 263 + 51 16 1/4-finals 2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 14 11 0 3 475: 407 + 68 22 1/2-finals 2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 10 6 0 4 307: 275 + 32 12 3rd MR Gr. 4 2009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 13 1 2 545: 461 + 84 27 Runner-up 2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 10 3 3 501: 451 + 50 23 Winner 2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 14 11 0 3 459: 357 +102 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 16 13 0 3 488: 404 + 84 26 Runner-up 2013/14 FC Barcelona ESP 16 12 1 3 535:426 +109 25 Third Place Total 212 156 15 41 6526:5422 +1104 327

36 FC Barcelona (ESP)

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

77 Kiril Lazarov MKD Right Back 10.5.1980 195 99 76 33 Nikola Karabatic FRA Centre Back 11.4.1984 196 102 44 9 Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson ISL Left Wing 8.8.1979 187 82 43 22 Siarhei Rutenka BLR Left Back 29.8.1981 199 109 35 3 Jesper Brian Nöddesbo DEN Line Player 23.10.1980 199 100 27 8 Victor Tomas Gonzalez ESP Right Wing 15.2.1985 178 85 26 9 Raul Entrerrios Rodriguez ESP Centre Back 12.2.1981 193 92 22 11 Daniel Sarmiento Melian ESP Centre Back 25.8.1983 186 85 22 37 Joan Saubich Mir ESP Right Wing 7.11.1989 186 88 13 10 Cedric Sorhaindo FRA Line Player 7.6.1984 192 100 13 18 Martinez ESP Right Back 8.11.1987 194 92 7 42 Wael Jallouz TUN Left Back 3.5.1991 197 92 4 27 de Argila ESP Left Back 15.12.1983 199 99 4 13 Aitor Arino Bengoechea ESP Left Wing 5.10.1992 185 75 2 20 Alberto Miralles Anguera ESP Right Wing 20.3.1990 186 84 21 Alejandro Marquez Coloma ESP Right Back 5.1.1995 24 Oriol Rey Morales ESP Back 31.3.1994 38 Francisco Revuelta Mora ESP Goalkeeper 13.4.1995 191 84 1 Gonzalo Perez de Vargas ESP Goalkeeper 10.1.1991 189 93 12 Danijel Saric BIH Goalkeeper 27.6.1977 194 93

37 Xavi Pascual Danijel Šarić coach goalkeeper • “double feature” at FC Barcelona, as the • known for his incredible quality in goal and for coaches of both the handball and the basketball the joy he brings to the team section hold the same name • Bosnian-born Qatari goalkeeper won the CL in • played for a lengthy period for Barcelona and 2011 with Barcelona some other Spanish clubs, before becoming the • best goalkeeper of the ASOBAL league in 2011 goalkeeper coach at the CL record winners in 2005 and 2012, and the best player overall in 2011 • started working with the legendary David • joined Barca in 2009, after spells with Spanish Barrufet and others clubs San Antonio, Leon, Alcobendas and Cantabria, • in 2009 he succeeded at but began his career in Serbia with Crvena Zvezda Barcelona’s helm. and RK Sintelon EC trophies: CL 2011 EC trophies: CL 2011 WCh: S 2015

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson Siarhei Rutenka left wing left back • before his arrival to Barcelona spent just one • in 2011 the Belarusian became the second season away from the Bundesliga - in 2011/12 he player to win five CL titles with three clubs after Jose played for AG Kobenhavn Javier Hombrados (with Santander, San Antonio, Ciudad Real) • former Tusem Essen, VfL Gummersbach and Rhein-Neckar Löwen player • lifted the trophy with Celje, with Ciudad Real (three times) and with Barcelona • real key player with his enormous experience from top handball and his equally large talent • top scorer of the 2006 EHF EURO, the 2003/04 and the 2004/05 CL season

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2005 EC trophies: CL 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 OG: S 2008

Nikola Karabatic Jesper Nöddesbo centre back / left back line player • 2007 and 2014 World Handball Player of the • started his career at Team Tvis Holstebro Year • started spiralling upwards when he joined KIF • one of Barcelona transfer coups with Kiril Kolding in 2004 Lazarov before the 2013/14 season • since then, he has been among Europe’s elite • won everything there is to win, as he has year after year – with Kolding from 2004 to 2007, triumphed at Olympic Games, WChs and EHF EUROs and ever since with FC Barcelona with the French national team and twice the CL • joined Barcelona in the summer of 2007 (with Montpellier and Kiel) • imposing presence on the court, not afraid • one of the most complete handball players of anything when it comes to stopping opposing with strengths in attack and defence attackers EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007 EURO: G 2008, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013 OG: G 2008, 2012, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2003, 2005 EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008

Kiril Lazarov Victor Tomas right back right wing • powerful back court shooter from FYR • following the victories in 2005 and 2011, the Macedonia Barcelona-born Tomas hopes to lift his third CL trophy at the FINAL4 in Cologne • most successful scorer at a single EHF EURO event (2012 Serbia, 61 goals) and also at WCh level • joined Barcelona’s youth team in 1998 and has (2009 Croatia, 92 goals) not played for any other club • top scorer of the CL twice (2005/06 and • his biggest assets are his great pace and his 2007/08) impressive flexibility that make him a strong player in attack but also in defence • in the 2012/13 ASOBAL season he converted 62 per cent of his shots, being particularly effective from the penalty line (76 per cent) and with counter attack (86 per cent) EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003 OG: B 2008, EURO: B 2014, WCh: G 2013

38 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel

First leg Sunday 15 March, 19:30 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 22 March, 19:30 hrs. local time

One out of two national derbies in the Last 16 is throwing off in the “Of course we are underdogs, and even more so than in the final last Flens Arena Sunday night. year. In the meantime, we have lost our goalkeeper Soren Rasmussen who played a great part in us winning the FINAL4 last year. But not just that. “Furthermore, is injured, Jacob Heinl is ill, and Jim The meeting between Flensburg and Kiel are a classic in German Gottffridsson is injured. They are all players we have lost compared to handball. A local derby between eternal rivals situated less than 90 when we won the Champions League,” Mattias Andersson tells ehfCL. kilometer from each other. com.

A tale of two cities – Kiel with a population of 243,000 and much “Kiel have a much broader team than we do, and we have the return smaller Flensburg with less than 90,000. game away, but of course nothing is impossible, and I am sure we can play two good matches against Kiel, then we will see how far it But it is even more than this. It is also a remake of the final at the reaches. VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season. An unforgettable final in the LANXESS arena of Cologne, in which Flensburg, the underdogs, defeated big “I would not say what a good result in the first match would be. We brother Kiel 30:28. are taking one match at a time, so now we will play the first match, and then we will have to see, how we get on from there,” says Mattias Now they meet again, and once again Flensburg are underdogs, as Andersson. their experienced goalkeeper Mattias Andersson realises.

Head-to-head stats

THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 4-1-3 (229:226) 9:7

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

39 4th ranked SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

Finishing fourth in their preliminary group is, of course, never good enough for a defending Champions League winner.

However, Flensburg had a troublesome group phase campaign, starting with their stunning 35:21 defeat to KIF Kolding København.

A depressingly long injury list at time did not make things easy for the otherwise tactically clever coach , but still the North German team could hope for at least second position in their group until the last match day.

However, on a day when the injury list was even longer than normal, Flensburg ran into a 31:27 away defeat to Plock in the direct duel for third position, after the second place had slipped out of their hands earlier the same day.

Flensburg’s chances of copying their triumph from last season have obviously been reduced by the fact that they will meet a group winner in the Last 16 and finish away.

Furthermore, it is a big question how many of their injured key players who will be fit in time for the Last 16.

Playing hall FLENS-ARENA GROUP B Final Table: Campusallee 2 24943 Flensburg 1. FC Barcelona 10 8 1 1 338:280 (58) 17 Germany 2. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 10 6 2 2 292:273 (19) 14 Capacity: 6,000 3. Orlen Wisla Plock 10 6 1 3 288:280 (8) 13 4. SG Flensburg-Handewitt 10 6 0 4 288:277 (11) 12 5. Alingsas HK 10 1 0 9 252:298 (-46) 2 Club Address: 6. Besiktas MOGAZ HT 10 1 0 9 253:303 (-50) 2 SG Flensburg-Handewitt Schiffbrücke 66 24939 Flensburg Germany Group Phase results: Media contact: Past achievements (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Sandra von Wallis +49 4611609625 VELUX EHF Champions League @ KIF Kolding København L21:35 (13:19) [email protected] Participations (including 2014/15 vs Alingsas HK W31:21 (19:10) season): 10 vs Orlen Wisla Plock W35:28 (21:16) Online information: Winners (1): 2013/14 @ Besiktas MOGAZ HT W27:20 (11:11) Website: www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Final (2): 2003/04, 2006/07 vs FC Barcelona L33:37 (16:16) Facebook: SGFleHa Semi-final (1): 2005/06 @ FC Barcelona L27:36 (16:14) Twitter:@SGFleHa Quarter-final (4): 2004/05, 2008/09, vs KIF Kolding København W27:20 (15:10) 2010/11, 2012/13 @ Alingsas HK W27:22 (16:14) Main Round (1): 2007/08 vs Besiktas MOGAZ HT W31:27 (15:14) Kit colours @ Orlen Wisla Plock L29:31 (13:14) Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/01, Light Top scorers: 2011/12 Player shirt: white EHF Cup: Winners 1996/97 Player short: blue 1. (DEN) 57 City Cup: Winners 1998/99 Goalkeeper shirt: yellow 2. Holger Glandorf (GER) 48 Dark 3. (DEN) 40 German league: 1 title (2004) Player shirt: blue with orange 4. Lasse Svan (DEN) 30 German cup: 3 titles Player short: blue 5. Lars Kaufmann (GER) 20 Goalkeeper shirt: black

40 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

Biggest win: 43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.2006 Biggest defeat: 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.2005 24:38 (8:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.2011 21:35 (13:19) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 28.09.2014 Longest winning run: 6 matches (13.03.2005 – 05.11.2005) 6 matches (02.12.2010 – 03.04.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (24.04.2004 – 14.11.2004) 7 matches (25.11.2012 – 23.03.2013) Longest losing run: 3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006) Longest run without win: 5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) Most goals: 44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 Most goals opponent: 41 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.2006 Most goals both teams: 80 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), 31.05.2014 Fewest goals: 19 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), 22.09.2010 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 Fewest goals both teams: 43 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), 01.03.2009 43 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 43 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), 01.05.2011 VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 10 1 3 450:401 +49 21 Runner-up 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 10 7 1 2 319:270 +49 15 1/4-finals 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 12 7 0 5 372:326 +46 14 1/2-finals 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 8 1 5 437:398 +39 17 Runner-up 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 4 2 6 355:356 -1 10 4th MR Gr. 3 2008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 8 0 4 360:329 +31 16 1/4-finals 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 11 0 3 394:354 +40 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 9 3 2 416:384 +32 21 1/4-finals 2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 16 12 1 3 489:441 +48 25 Winner Total 118 76 9 33 3592:3259 +333 161

41 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals

10 Thomas Mogensen DEN Centre Back 30.1.1983 187 100 57 9 Holger Glandorf GER Right Back 30.3.1983 195 90 48 7 Anders Eggert DEN Left Wing 14.5.1982 179 77 40 11 Lasse Svan DEN Right Wing 31.8.1983 184 84 30 18 Lars Kaufmann GER Left Back 25.2.1982 199 103 20 19 Johan Mikael Jakobsson SWE Right Back 12.2.1987 195 89 18 5 Drasko Nenadic SRB Left Back 15.2.1990 202 91 17 21 Jacob Heinl GER Line Player 9.10.1986 195 101 15 41 Bogdan Radivojevic SRB Right Wing 2.3.1993 192 80 14 14 SWE Left Wing 10.12.1993 184 84 11 22 Anders Zachariassen DEN Line Player 4.9.1991 192 96 11 66 Ahmed Elahmar EGY Right Back 27.1.1984 187 90 4 4 Maik Machulla GER Centre Back 9.1.1977 189 95 2 24 SWE Centre Back 2.9.1992 190 95 2 Lukas Blohme GER Right Wing 7.11.1994 188 72 40 Ljubomir Vranjes SWE Centre Back 3.10.1973 168 80 17 Michael Nicolaisen GER Left Back 6.5.1995 195 100 3 Tobias Karlsson SWE Line Player 4.6.1981 196 102 20 Stefan Wilhelm GER Centre Back 22.1.1996 190 93 32 Thore Jöhnck GER Goalkeeper 28.7.1995 184 84 16 Kevin Möller DEN Goalkeeper 20.6.1990 200 103 1 Mattias Andersson SWE Goalkeeper 29.3.1978 185 93

42 Ljubomir Vranjes Mattias Andersson coach goalkeeper • former Swedish national team player • awarded “best player of the Bundesliga season 2011/12” • became club manager in 2009 and coach in November 2010 • already in the younger age categories part of all All-Star teams and became member of the senior • after winning the CL in the 2014/15 season he national team declined the number of top offers like from PSG and the German national team • played at Kiel (2001-08), TV Großwallstadt before signing in Flensburg • led Serbia to the 2014 EHF EURO in Denmark in a caretaker role, but did not continue • his saves at the 2014 FINAL4 were the major keys to win his last missing EC trophy • highly creative photographer in his spare time and just started to write his memoirs EC trophies: CL 2014 (as coach), Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 (as coach) EC trophies: CL 2007, 2014, EHF Cup: 2002, 2004, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 OG: S 2000, WCh: G 1999, EURO: G 1998, 2000 and 2002 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2000

Anders Eggert Lars Kaufmann left wing left back • had to fill seriously big shoes in Flensburg as • after some injuries in the last years (including successor of legendary Lars Christiansen another surgery at the start of 2013/14 season) he • top scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 always returned to the court (248 goals) and top scorer of the 2013 WCh in Spain • important player of the 2007 WC winning (55 goals) team of Germany • started his career at Gudme, in his ninth • like Glandorf and Andersson won all three season in Flensburg after intermediately being on major ECs loan at Skjern Handball • model for men’s underwear • also famous for one of the highest percentages in the CL from the penalty throws EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup: winner 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, silver medallist 2014 WCh: G 2007

Thomas Mogensen Tobias Karlsson centre back line player • highly experienced playmaker with more than • typical powerful Scandinavian defence 1,000 goals for his club and long list of silverware specialist, who – together with - build the Swedish middle block in the last years • since 2007 playing for Flensburg – his first stop outside his home country Denmark • team captain, a great honour after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG • before played for Viborg and Svendborg, becoming Danish champion and cup winner twice • Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF • to focus only on SG he quit his career in the Danish national team after the EHF EURO 2014 • best defence player at the EHF EURO 2014

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: S 2012

Johan Jakobsson Lasse Svan right back right wing • fired the fastest shot at the EHF EURO 2014 • one of the fastest wing players in the CL (113 km/h) • same qualities as Eggert on the other side: fast • joined Flensburg in the summer of 2014 counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency • Swedish champion with Sävehof and twice • another task in his team: motivation and Danish champion with Aalborg relaxing – as his business is mental coaching • after a long-term injury has to fill the gap, • after four seasons at GOG Svendborg he which occurred after Holger Glandorf had torn his moved to Flensburg in 2008 Achilles tendon in December • in addition to all his merits and trophies in • spends his spare time with his dog Nero and handball, he was also a billiard’s champion in his like Spanish food home region Seeland

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

43 1st ranked THW Kiel (GER) The German champions cruised into the knockout stage of Europe’s premier club competition with an impressive nine wins out of 10, having suffered their only defeat in the opening round when they lost 27:25 at HC PPD Zagreb.

The upset seemed to have spurred the treble former VELUX EHF Champions League winners into action as they demonstrated trademark high-tempo handball for the remainder of the group stage campaign. Especially impressive was their double win over an expensively assembled Paris Saint-Germain Handball within a week, as they dislodged the French side despite the protracted absence of prolific left back Filip Jicha who had undergone ankle surgery before the competition started.

Icelander Aron Palmarsson, who also suffered an injury early in the campaign, initially did a good job taking over Jicha’s scoring mantle but the depth of Kiel’s roster showed when he too was sidelined, as Croatia’s , Serb Marko Vujin and Germany’s own Steffen Weinhold held the backcourt together. With Jicha and Palmarsson back to full fitness, the former scoring an impressive nine goals against HC Metalurg on his return, Kiel will be odds-on favourites to reach the quarter-finals no matter who they face in the last 16.

Such is Kiel’s strength in every department that any fourth-placed team facing them in a doubleheader whose winner will advance to the last eight is bound to be an underdog against one of the meanest and most menacing squads Europe has ever seen.

Playing hall Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel Europaplatz 1, 24103 Kiel GROUP A Final Table: Germany Capacity: 10,000 1. THW Kiel 10 9 0 1 322:259 (63) 18 2. PSG Handball 10 6 0 4 297:266 (31) 12 3. HC PPD Zagreb 10 6 0 4 241:248 (-7) 12 Club Address: 4. Naturhouse La Rioja 10 4 1 5 305:305 (0) 9 THW Kiel 5. HC Meshkov Brest 10 2 2 6 267:293 (-26) 6 Ziegelteich 30 6. HC Metalurg 10 1 1 8 233:294 (-61) 3 24103 Kiel Germany Group Phase results: Past achievements Media contact: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Christian Robohm VELUX EHF Champions League +49 1635306300 @ HC PPD Zagreb L25:27 (13:9) Participations (including 2014/15 [email protected] vs Naturhouse La Rioja W34:32 (20:16) season): 18 @ HC Meshkov Brest W25:24 (11:11) Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 Online information: @ HC Metalurg W 42:27 (22:15) Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, Website: www.thw-provinzial.de @ PSG Handball W27:25 (12:13) 2008/09, 2013/14 Facebook: thwhandball vs PSG Handball W33:29 (14:15) Semi-final (3): 1996/1997, 2000/01, Twitter:@thw_handball vs HC PPD Zagreb W34:27 (16:16) 2012/13 @ Naturhouse La Rioja W34:30 (14:11) Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, vs HC Metalurg W35:16 (17:3) 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11 vs HC Meshkov Brest W33:22 (17:11) Kit colours Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Light Top scorers: Other Player shirt: white 1. Marko Vujin (SRB) 45 EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, Player short: white 2. Joan Cañellas Reixach (ESP) 43 2003/04 Goalkeeper shirt: green 3. Domagoj Duvnjak (CRO) 40 Dark 4. Steffen Weinhold (GER) 32 German league: 19 titles (1957, 1962, Player shirt: black 5. (GER) 28 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, Player short: black Aron Palmarsson (ISL) 28 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, Goalkeeper shirt: red 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) German cup: 9 titles

44 THW Kiel (GER)

Biggest win: 26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), 22.10.2006 Biggest defeat 22:13 (12:8) v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO (a), 25.03.2000 Longest winning run 10 matches (21.02.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest unbeaten run 17 matches (22.10.2011 – 11.10.2012) Longest losing run 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Longest run without win 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Most goals 50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), 22.10.2006 Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Most goals both teams 81 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Fewest goals 13 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000 Fewest goals opponent 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 15:27W (a), 10.11.1996 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), 12.01.1997 Fewest goals both teams 35 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1994/95 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 137: 136 + 1 6 2nd Gr. B 1995/96 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 151: 148 + 3 6 2nd Gr. A 1996/97 THW Kiel GER 10 6 1 3 247: 211 + 36 13 1/2-finals 1998/99 TKW Kiel GER 8 7 0 1 229: 199 + 30 14 1/4-finals 1999/00 THW Kiel GER 12 7 1 4 319: 283 + 36 15 Runner-up 2000/01 THW Kiel GER 10 5 1 4 279: 255 + 24 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 THW Kiel GER 8 4 1 3 234: 211 + 23 9 1/4-finals 2004/05 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 336: 274 + 62 16 1/4-finals 2005/06 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 346: 293 + 53 16 1/4-finals 2006/07 THW Kiel GER 14 11 1 2 517: 420 + 97 23 Winner 2007/08 THW Kiel GER 16 13 0 3 533: 462 + 71 26 Runner-up 2008/09 THW Kiel GER 16 12 1 3 548: 461 + 87 25 Runner-up 2009/10 THW Kiel GER 16 14 1 1 534: 444 + 90 29 Winner 2010/11 THW Kiel GER 14 9 2 3 456: 393 + 63 20 1/4-finals 2011/12 THW Kiel GER 16 12 3 1 496: 414 + 82 27 Winner 2012/13 THW Kiel GER 16 11 0 5 518: 457 + 61 22 Fourth Place 2013/14 THW Kiel GER 16 13 1 2 491:427 +64 27 Runner-up Total 204 146 13 45 6371:5488 +883 305

45 THW Kiel (GER)

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

41 Marko Vujin SRB Right Back 7.12.1984 201 104 45 21 Joan Cañellas Reixach ESP Centre Back 30.9.1986 198 95 43 4 Domagoj Duvnjak CRO Centre Back 1.6.1988 198 100 40 13 Steffen Weinhold GER Right Back 19.7.1986 191 100 32 33 Dominik Klein GER Left Wing 16.12.1983 190 86 28 24 Aron Palmarsson ISL Centre Back 19.7.1990 193 95 28 17 GER Line Player 22.3.1989 200 108 25 11 Christian Sprenger GER Right Wing 6.4.1983 190 94 22 18 SWE Right Wing 23.12.1988 191 91 17 39 Filip Jicha CZE Left Back 19.4.1982 201 103 13 19 DEN Centre Back 20.6.1991 196 96 10 7 DEN Line Player 1.11.1984 200 106 9 23 Rune Dahmke GER Left Wing 10.4.1993 190 81 7 25 Alexander Williams GER Back 15.8.1996 187 95 2 6 Fynn Ranke GER Line Player 5.1.1993 201 106 1 26 Lukas Wucherpfennig GER Right Wing 23.8.1995 184 81 16 Kim Sonne-Hansen DEN Goalkeeper 23.6.1992 200 87 12 SWE Goalkeeper 10.7.1986 189 90 1 Johan Sjöstrand SWE Goalkeeper 26.2.1987 195 94

46 Alfred Gislason Johan Sjöstrand coach goalkeeper • earned nine German championships (with • brought in to replace the legendary Thierry Magdeburg and Kiel), four German cup titles, five Omeyer together with a Sweden’s teammate European club titles Andreas Palicka • five times “coach of the year” in Germany • former junior world champion • his first job on the bench was in his home • already got a journey through Europe behind town Akureyri, before taking over Hameln, him, with spells at Skövde, Flensburg, Barcelona and Magdeburg and Gummersbach in Germany Aalborg • joined Kiel in 2008 as the successor of Noka • horse racing is another passion of him, just Serdarusic – to lead THW to 15 trophies by now one look at his Instagram account will tell you that

EC trophies: CL 2002, 2010, 2012 (as coach), EHF Cup 2001 (as coach) EC trophies: CL 2011 OG: S 2012

Filip Jícha Joan Canellas left back centre back • 2010 World Handball Player of the Year as the • scored 50 goals in eight matches on the way to first Czech the top goal scorer title of the EHF EURO 2014 • twice top scorer of the CL, top scorer and MVP • fits perfectly with Domagoj Duvnjak, with at the EHF EURO 2010 whom he played in Hamburg since summer 2013 • captain of the THW squad since 2013 • with Barcelona and Ciudad Real Spanish champion and cup winner • one-against-one ability and tough shots make him feared by defences, also a strong defender • twice (2011, 2012) CL finalist with Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid – the club with which he also • only active player in the CL’s 20-year Ultimate won the IHF Super Globe twice (2010, 2012) Selection and Czech player of the year seven times EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2006 WCh G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014

Domagoj Duvnjak Rene Toft Hansen centre back line player • top signing of THW before the 2014/15 season • even better in defence than on the line in attack, but after Marcus Ahlm’s departure in 2013, • 2013 IHF World Handball Player of the Year the learning period in attack is over for him • arrived from Hamburg, where he played since • EHF EURO 2012 All-Star Team member is 2009 • in the CL since 2007 with former clubs KIF • not just a typical playmaker he is also a scorer Kolding and AG København and is an essential part of defence • his brother Henrik is playing for Hamburg, his • best Bundesliga player in 2013 brother Allan for Mors-Thy and his sister Majbritt for • started his career in Zagreb Skive – and all four are line players

EC trophies: CL 2013 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2010, B 2012

Marko Vujin Christian Sprenger right back right wing • in 2012 the Serbian shooter arrived to fill the • worked under coach Alfred Gislason also at gap after the departure of to KIF former club SC Magdeburg • top scorer of the 2013/14 Bundesliga (248 • after seven years, including one EHF Cup goals) title in 2007, the former German international transferred to Kiel in 2009 • won seven consecutive national championships with Veszprém and Kiel • won twelve titles with THW • in the national team he is one of the stalwarts • member of the EHF EURO 2012 All-Star team who were key to silver at the EHF EURO 2012 • started his sportive career in judo, before • started his international career in Dunaferr joining the Magdeburg handball team. (Hungary), then played five years in Veszprem

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008 EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2007 EURO: S 2012

47 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs PSG Handball

First leg Saturday 14 March, 17:00 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 22 March, 17:30 hrs. local time

The odds will be stacked against Dunkerque in this all-French clash, In Thierry Omeyer they still have one of the best goalkeepers in the with an expensively assembled PSG side the clear favourites to world while Dane is the pack leader in attack and his go through although the two teams’ track record might suggest shooting prowess will be essential for PSG’s bid to reach the last eight otherwise. and thus at least emulate last season’s accomplishment.

Paris Saint-Germain Handball have won 21 games against Dunkerque, If current domestic form is anything to go by, Dunkerque will need who were victorious 18 times while one game ended in a draw when a massive improvement as they are fifth in the French first division these two clashed since PSG started competing in the 1996-97 seven points behind second-placed PSG and 10 adrift of leaders season. Montpellier.

Although PSG qualified comfortably from Group A, it was not all Most certainly, they will hope to reproduce some of their Champions plain sailing for them as a rampant start of four successive wins was League group stage performances where they finished third after an followed by several hick-ups. almighty dogfight in the home straight with also qualified Aalborg Handball as well as eliminated HC Motor Zaporozhye and Kadetten They lost both games to THW Kiel and were also stunned by HC PPD Schaffhausen. Zagreb, with the three defeats underlining the defensive weaknesses of a squad packed with attacking talent. Dunkerque clinched their berth with a pivotal 29:25 win over Schaffhausen in the final round. A balanced effort in which eight Given that Dunkerque boast the fourth-strongest defence in the players shared the attacking workload fairly evenly will once again VELUX EHF Champions League this season, PSG will need to come be required if they are to upset PSG and give themselves a fighting out with all guns blazing if they are to justify their billing of being one chance in the return leg in Paris. of the competition’s favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne.

Head-to-head stats no previous encounters in the European Cup competitions

48 3rd ranked Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA)

Erratic performances at the start of the season saw Dunkerque losing five of their first six matches, had put the French champions in a must-win situation before the last round, when still four teams in Group D eyed the two remaining tickets.

If they wanted to reach the Last 16 they had to beat Kadetten Schaffhausen. And when it mattered, they delivered.

With an exciting mix of perfectly designed plays, from the back court as well as from the wings, the French side won 29:25, reaching the knockout stages of the VELUX EHF Champions League for the first time the team’s history.

GROUP D Final Table:

1. KS Vive Tauron Kielce 10 10 0 0 312:271 (41) 20 Playing hall 2. MOL-Pick Szeged 10 6 1 3 276:264 (12) 13 Stades de Flandres 3. Dunkerque HB G. Littoral 10 4 0 6 257:263 (-6) 8 Avenue de Rosendael 4. Aalborg Handball 10 2 3 5 256:269 (-13) 7 59240 Dunkerque 5. HC Motor Zaporozhye 10 3 0 7 283:284 (-1) 6 France 6. Kadetten Schaffhausen 10 2 2 6 264:297 (-33) 6 Capacity: 2,500

Club Address: Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral Avenue de Rosendael - B.P. 4197 Group Phase results: Past achievements 59378 Dunkerque cedex 1 (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) France VELUX EHF Champions League vs Aalborg Handball L21:26 (13:13) Participations (including 2014/15 Media contact: @ HC Motor Zaporozhye W23:21 (9:10) season): 3 Melanie Lefevbre @ Kadetten Schaffhausen L23:25 (10:12) Group Phase (1): 2013/14 + 33 3 28 66 91 52 vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce L25:28 (12:14) Qualification (1): 2011/12 [email protected] @ MOL-Pick Szeged L21:23 (10:11) vs MOL-Pick Szeged L24:25 (12:15) Other Online information: @ Aalborg Handball W28:25 (15:13) EHF Cup: Finals 2011/12, Quarter-final Website: www.usdk.fr vs HC Motor Zaporozhye W31:29 (17:17) 2006/07, 2007/07, 2009/10 Facebook: DunkerqueHandball @ KS Vive Tauron Kielce L32:36 (15:19) Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2003/04 Twitter:@USDKDunkerque vs Kadetten Schaffhausen W29:25 (14:14) City-Cup: Quarter-final 1998/99, 1999/2000 Top scorers: Kit colours French league: 1 title (2014) Light 1. Baptiste Butto (FRA) 47 French Champions Trophy: 1 title (2012) Player shirt: yellow 2. Kornel Nagy (HUN) 36 French cup: 1 title Player short: yellow 3. Julian Emonet (FRA) 34 French League cup: 1 title Goalkeeper shirt: black/red 4. Theophile Causse (FRA) 20 Romain Guillard (FRA) 20 Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red

49 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA)

Biggest win: 30:25 (12:15) v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL (h), 30.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 33:23 (15:11) v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL (a), 22.09.2013 Longest winning run: 2 matches (30.11.2014 - 6.12.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (30.11.2014 - 6.12.2014) Longest losing run: 6 matches (22.09.2013 – 20.11.2013) Longest run without win: 6 matches (22.09.2013 – 20.11.2013) Most goals: 32 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 32:36L (a), 14.02.2015 Most goals opponent: 36 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 32:36L (a), 14.02.2015 Most goals both teams: 68 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 32:36L (a), 14.02.2015 Fewest goals: 18 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 20 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 38 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2013/14 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 10 1 1 8 237:268 -31 3 6th Gr. B Total 10 1 1 8 237:268 -31 3

50 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals

57 Baptiste Butto FRA Left Wing 13.2.1987 187 86 47 6 Kornel Nagy HUN Left Back 21.11.1986 195 98 36 17 Julian Emonet FRA Left Wing 4.1.1992 182 91 34 19 Romain Guillard FRA Centre Back 14.1.1986 190 100 20 9 Theophile Causse FRA Right Wing 12.10.1992 179 72 20 15 Pierre Soudry FRA Right Back 27.3.1988 183 82 18 7 Jalleledine Touati TUN Right Wing 12.7.1982 179 78 17 46 Mohamed Mokrani FRA Line Player 31.1.1981 186 97 15 3 Benjamin Afgour FRA Line Player 1.4.1991 195 106 13 23 Zarko Pejovic MNE Left Back 25.1.1986 191 96 10 4 Bastien Lamon FRA Centre Back 18.7.1981 186 80 8 32 Pawel Paczkowski POL Right Back 14.6.1993 195 93 6 25 Tom Pelayo FRA Right Back 23.2.1997 189 88 5 5 Sebastien Joumel FRA Centre Back 6.1.1995 3 20 Nicolas Nieto FRA Line Player 6.4.1994 3 2 Florian Billant FRA Right Wing 7.7.1996 1 26 Roman Scattolari FRA Centre Back 11.2.1994 18 Vincent Bello FRA Right Wing 8.7.1996 187 84 8 Sebastien De Cocker FRA Line Player 15.4.1995 190 97 21 Mickael Grocaut FRA Line Player 26.4.1980 194 105 11 Jerome Hoarau FRA Left Back 4.8.1995 12 Julien Gardenat FRA Goalkeeper 4.11.1995 190 97 1 Vincent Gerard FRA Goalkeeper 16.12.1986 188 97 16 William Annotel FRA Goalkeeper 29.3.1983 195 93 1

51 Patrick Cazal Vincent Gérard coach goalkeeper • head coach of USDK since 2011 • in 2014 finally got his first title with his club, three seasons after arriving in Dunkirk • took him only two seasons to be voted as the best coach in the first French league and three to • the French championship crown came along give his club its first french championhip title with his second “best goalkeeper of the league” award in a row • as a player became double world champion under coach Daniel Costantini in 1995 and 2001 and • regular fixture in the national team won two WCh bronze medals in 1997 and 2003 • expert at stopping penalty throws and wing • played for Paris, Montpellier, Irun and Essen shots before ending his career in 2008 with Dunkerque, where he became the assistant coach EC trophies: EHF Cup 2007 (as player) EURO: G 2014 WCh: G 1995, 2001, B 1997, 2003 (as player)

Baptiste Butto Kornél Nagy left wing left back • after learning his trade in Selestat arrived in • no connection to Laszlo Nagy, still a very good Dunkerque in 2009 talent for handball • has been in the top 10 scorers of the French • arrived in Dunkerque from Hungary in 2011 league ever since then and immediately received praise both from coaches and teammates • known for his great speed on fast breaks and is very effective with penalties • hard-working, very good defender, he is able to shoot from outside the 9m line as well as scoring • his previous best in the CL was 30 goals in the from inside the defence 2013/14 season • very complete player and a key element in the • his EC record is 57 goals, set in the EHF Cup squad, also able to play on the centre back position campaign back in 2012

Bastien Lamon Mohammed Mokrani centre back line player • first signed to Dunkerque at 18 and never left • international player with Algeria, the line the club since player is always battling on the court • symbol of what this team is about: not over- • key element in the French side’s defence talented, but very hard-working and ready to give and although he is relatively small, he has got the everything on the court for his partners capacity to sneak behind defenders on offence • part of the club’s rise, and the 2013/14 • met again with the CL in the 2013/14 season season’s CL participation, as well as the French after playing with another French club, US Ivry championship, came as consecrations to him Handball, back in the 2007/08 season • not really the player to score goals, he is a lot better at putting his teammates in the best position

Pierre Soudry Jaleleddine Touati right back right wing • the 2013/14 season’s revelation in Dunkerque • another player who arrived in Dunkerque a long time ago and remained faithful to the club • since Rambo left the club in January 2014, he has had to play 60 minutes per game for six months, • first signed in 2006 and climbed every step since, playing the EHF Cup final in 2012 • relatively small but incredibly quick on his feet, he took many defenders by surprise • shy in everyday’s life, he becomes someone else on the court, often encouraging his own fans to • in his first season in the CL scored 34 goals increase their support to his team • didn’t play much in the CL in the 2013/14 season, but with Joli’s departure in the 2014 summer, he should see his playtime increase

52 2nd ranked PSG Handball (FRA)

As expected, one of the most expensively assembled outfits in the history of club handball progressed to the Last 16 without too much fuss but their tally of 12 points from a possible 20 in the group phase is a modest one given the resources poured into the star-studded outfit.

PSG made a ferocious start by winning their opening four games, but the first real test of their credentials – a double-header against THW Kiel – exposed all the chinks in a glittering armour and highlighted defensive weaknesses that coach Philippe Gardent will want to address urgently. Apart from losing twice to Kiel, PSG were also beaten by HC PPD Zagreb and in the last round by modest Naturhouse La Rioja, albeit with a makeshift outfit as Gardent rested several key players.

PSG are a side packed with attacking talent but lack of defensive steel was clearly seen in most of their group matches, as they also ground out a somewhat fortuitous 29:28 win at eliminated Meshkov Brest before the sharp dip in form.

Hence, their Last 16 clash with one of the third-placed teams from the other three groups is likely to be a thrilling and high-scoring affair. With Thierry Omeyer between the posts and a myriad of fellow Frenchmen who covered themselves in glory when they won the country’s fifth world championship title in Qatar last month, PSG should be able to overcome the challenge and reach the quarter-finals.

Playing hall GROUP A Final Table: Halle Georges Carpentier 81 boulevard Massena 1. THW Kiel 10 9 0 1 322:259 (63) 18 75013 Paris 2. PSG Handball 10 6 0 4 297:266 (31) 12 France 3. HC PPD Zagreb 10 6 0 4 241:248 (-7) 12 Capacity: 4,800 4. Naturhouse La Rioja 10 4 1 5 305:305 (0) 9 5. HC Meshkov Brest 10 2 2 6 267:293 (-26) 6 6. HC Metalurg 10 1 1 8 233:294 (-61) 3 Club Address: PSG Handball 82 avenue Georges Lafont 75016 Paris France Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Media contact: Louise Cosnard @ HC Metalurg W27:22 (11:11) VELUX EHF Champions League +33 (0)675 591 939 vs HC PPD Zagreb W27:22 (11:9) Participations (including 2014/15 [email protected] vs Naturhouse La Rioja W32:25 (18:9) season): 3 @ HC Meshkov Brest W29:28 (15:12) Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Online information: vs THW Kiel L25:27 (13:12) Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Website: www.psghand.fr @ THW Kiel L29:33 (15:14) Facebook: PSGHand vs HC Metalurg W35:24 (19:10) Other Twitter:@psghand HC PPD Zagreb L24:25 (13:14) EHF Cup: quarter-final 2006/07, Last 16 vs HC Meshkov Brest W36:25 (18:14) 2003/04 @ Naturhouse La Rioja L33:35 (16:15) Kit colours French league: 1 title (2012/13) Light Top scorers: French cup: 2 titles Player shirt: white Player short: white 1. Mikkel Hansen (DEN) 61 Goalkeeper shirt: grey 2. William Accambray (FRA) 30 Dark 3. Fahrudin Melic (MNE) 28 Player shirt: blue 4. Narcisse Daniel (FRA) 27 Player short: blue 5. (CRO) 26 Goalkeeper shirt: grey

53 PSG Handball (FRA)

Biggest win: 38:24 (22:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (h), 23.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 44:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.2005 Longest winning run: 4 matches (17.11.2013 – 08.02.2014) 4 matches (28.09.2014 - 19.10.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (17.11.2013 – 08.02.2014) 4 matches (28.09.2014 - 19.10.2014) Longest losing run: 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Longest run without win: 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Most goals: 38 v Wacker Thun SUI 38:24W (h), 23.11.2013 Most goals opponent: 44 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Most goals both teams: 72 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Fewest goals: 20 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.1997 20 v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams: 39 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 1 0 5 131:161 –30 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 4 1 3 212:229 -17 9 Last 16 2013/14 PSG Handball FRA 14 7 1 6 429:402 +27 15 1/4-finals Total 28 12 2 14 772:792 –20 26

54 PSG Handball (FRA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

24 Mikkel Hansen DEN Back 22.10.1987 192 93 61 6 William Accambray FRA Left Back 8.4.1988 194 104 30 4 Fahrudin Melic MNE Right Wing 22.7.1984 183 90 28 25 Daniel Narcisse FRA Back 16.12.1979 189 93 27 9 Igor Vori CRO Line Player 20.9.1980 203 114 26 35 CRO Right Back 12.2.1986 210 108 24 18 Robert Gunnarsson ISL Line Player 22.5.1980 191 100 19 34 Samuel Honrubia FRA Left Wing 5.7.1986 180 75 19 90 Jeffrey M’tima FRA Left Wing 16.7.1991 188 80 18 19 Luc Abalo FRA Right Wing 6.9.1984 182 80 15 14 Xavier Barachet FRA Right Back 19.11.1988 195 95 10 13 Zacharia N’diaye FRA Back 2.6.1984 194 90 7 15 CRO Line Player 18.4.1986 204 110 5 11 Benoit Kounkoud FRA Right Wing 19.2.1997 188 78 3 17 Dylan Garain FRA Left Back 22.8.1996 192 86 1 91 Mladen Bojinovic SRB Line Player 17.1.1977 202 101 20 Ludwig Appolinaire FRA Back 27.5.1994 190 97 48 Clement Branco FRA Right Wing 25.8.1996 190 85 95 Kevin Durosier FRA Line Player 14.5.1994 187 90 32 Ulysse Fodor FRA Right Wing 3.4.1995 180 80 5 Steve Marie Joseph FRA Left Wing 3.1.1994 185 90 3 Axel Rosier FRA Centre Back 20.2.1994 192 90 33 Julio Rupaire FRA Line Player 1.3.1995 195 102 92 Boubou Toure FRA Left Wing 29.1.1994 186 76 21 Jonathan Troudart FRA Line Player 15.1.1996 194 82 94 Bryan Jabea Njo FRA Goalkeeper 28.6.1992 193 103 39 Jordy Jacoby FRA Goalkeeper 8.2.1995 191 91 1 Patrice Annonay FRA Goalkeeper 17.5.1979 192 96 16 Thierry Omeyer FRA Goalkeeper 2.11.1976 192 93

55 Philippe Gardent Thierry Omeyer coach goalkeeper • joined PSG in 2012 after coaching Chambéry • crowned best goalkeeper of history by the IHF for 16 years (head coach and before assistant coach) • played in one of the most prestigious clubs in • right in his first season, the former line player the world, Kiel, and achieved more than any other of the French national team took the French title goalkeeper • played for several clubs in Paris winning two • returned to Montpellier for the 2013/14 champion and two cup titles season, reached the EHF Cup Final and decided to move on to PSG in the summer of 2014 • 298 caps in 13 years with France • awarded the best goalkeeper and the MVP at • as Chambéry coach won the league in 2001 the WCh 2015 in Qatar and cup in 2002. OG: B 1992, WCh: G 1995, B 1993 (all as player) EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008 WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2003, B 2005 Samuel Honrubia Mikkel Hansen left wing left back • joined PSG at the start of the 2012/13 season • 2011 IHF World Handball Player of the Year after having played in Montpellier for more than a • reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with AG decade Kobenhavn in 2012 • immediately showed what he is capable of and • son of former Danish international Flemming why is he is regarded as one of the best left wings Hansen in Europe • having grown into a top class player at GOG, • very efficient at scoring from fast breaks and played for Barcelona for two seasons before joining at one-on-one situations on limited space AG in 2011 • arrived in PSG before the 2012/13 season

OG: G 2012, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2011, 2015 EURO: G 2012, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013

Daniele Narcisse Igor Vori centre back line player • might well go down in history as one of the • at 203 cm a pillar in any team’s defence most decorated French players • won nearly every title the sport has on offer • 2012 IHF World Handball Player of the Year and PSG recruited him to bring some CL experience to his position • nicknamed “Air France” because it looks like he’s flying when he’s jumping • played handball in five countries so far, including Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Hamburg) • now reunited with former Kiel teammate and, more strangely, Italy Thierry Omeyer to fulfill his goal of winning the CL title • had some troubles adapting to his new team in his first season with PSG (2013/14) EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008 EC trophies: CL 2013 WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2015, B 2003, 2005 OG: G 2004, B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009, B 2013

Xavier Barachet Luc Abalo right back right wing • returned to France in the 2013/14 season • spectacular right wing returned to France to play with Saint Raphaël after playing only one from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2012 season in Spain • immediately showed how much progress he • moved on to PSG before the 2014/15 season has made • formed in Chambéry, the left-hander has • during his four seasons in Spain reached the already an impressive CL experience final of the CL in 2011 and 2012 • injured a lot over the past seasons and due to • regular fixture in the national team as well a shoulder injury, has only focused on defending • with his high jumps and all the tricks a winger • thanks to surgery, he has now recovered and must have in his bag, he is one of the best at his should be able to bring danger in the attack too position

OG: G 2012, EURO: G 2010, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015 EC trophies: CL 2009 OG: 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: 2009, 2011

56 Orlen Wisla Plock vs HC Vardar

First leg Saturday 14 March, 20:45 hrs. local time

Second leg Saturday 21 March, 20:15 hrs. local time

This is probably one of the most evenly balanced last 16 ties as Wisla Wisla’s dress rehearsal for the match with Vardar was a 30:27 defeat and Vardar had similar paths into the knockout stage. at traditional rivals Kielce in their Polish league derby.

Wisla enjoyed an impressive home straight in their section, having Although they suffered yet another loss to their bitter foes, Wisla will earned successive wins over Besiktas MOGAZ HT, Barcelona, Alingsas be encouraged by a decent performance and a 12:11 first-half lead. HK and finally Flensburg to finish third and secure an intriguing clash with Vardar. Vardar’s Spanish coach Raul Gonzalez said he was looking forward to locking horns with his compatriot and close friend Manuel Cadenas. The Macedonian side were comfortable runners-up in Group C with 15 points from 10 games, behind MKB-MVM Veszprem and “He is a very good friend of mine and I am sure there can be no somewhat surprisingly ahead of Rhein-Neckar Löwen. secrets between the two teams because we know each other so well,” Gonzalez told Macedonian newspaper Utrinski Vesnik in an Boasting a myriad of imports from across Europe, Wisla will interview shortly before the first leg. undoubtedly also rely on some of their Polish stalwarts who impressed with a third-place finish in January’s world championship in “Unlike in the group stage, there is no room for error in the knockout Qatar, notably line player . rounds and we know that it’s going to be a delicately balanced tie. Backed by our fantastic home fans though, anything is possible.” The robust 23-year old is a handful for any defence and apart from scoring 37 goals in the group stage, he keeps creating space for the In Timur Dibirov Vardar have the third-highest scorer in the backcourt and wingers with his quick and unpredictable movement. competition with 69 goals and there is no doubt the bulk of their hopes will rest on the speedy Russian left wing.

Head-to-head stats no previous encounters in the European Cup competitions

57 3rd ranked Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)

This season actually meant a small promotion for the almost eternal runners-up in Poland.

Wisla Plock managed to change the fourth place in their group last season into a third place this year.

The third position was secured in the very last match of the group phase, as reigning Champions League winners SG Flensburg-Handewitt were defeated 31:27 in the Orlen Arena in the direct duel for the third position.

The Spanish coach Manuel Cadenas, who manages to be Spanish national coach beside being in charge of Wisla has created a solid and consistent team who lives for a great part from the fantastic support they are getting in the Orlen Arena, where they collected the vast majority of their points in the group phase once again.

Actually, KIF Koldign Kobenhavn were the only away team who were able to win in that venue – an achievement which neither group winners Barcelona nor defending champions Flensburg managed to copy.

GROUP B Final Table:

1. FC Barcelona 10 8 1 1 338:280 (58) 17 Playing hall 2. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 10 6 2 2 292:273 (19) 14 Orlen Arena 3. Orlen Wisla Plock 10 6 1 3 288:280 (8) 13 Pl. Celebry Papieskiej 1 4. SG Flensburg-Handewitt 10 6 0 4 288:277 (11) 12 09-400 Płock 5. Alingsas HK 10 1 0 9 252:298 (-46) 2 Poland 6. Besiktas MOGAZ HT 10 1 0 9 253:303 (-50) 2 Capacity: 5,467

Club Address: Orlen Wisła Płock Plac Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Group Phase results: Poland (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Media contact: vs Besiktas MOGAZ HT W28:19 (13:7) Piotr Raczkowski VELUX EHF Champions League @ FC Barcelona L25:30 (12:13) Tel: +48-691-99881 Participations (including 2014/15 @ SG Flensburg-Handewitt L28:35 (16:21) [email protected] season): 10 vs Alingsas HK W28:25 (15:9) Last 16 (3): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14 vs KIF Kolding København L28:29 (15:14) Online information: Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, @ KIF Kolding København D30:30 (14:14) Website: www.sprwislaplock.pl 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 @ Besiktas MOGAZ HT W35:30 (15:14) Facebook: sprWisla Qualification (1): 2012/13 vs FC Barcelona W34:31 (17:15) Twitter:@SPRWisla @ Alingsas HK W23:22 (9:8) Other vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W31:29 (14:13) EHF Cup: quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Kit colours Phase: 2012/13 Light Top scorers: Player shirt: blue Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, Player short: blue 1. Nemanja Zelenovic (SRB) 41 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Goalkeeper shirt: lemon green 2. Kamil Syprzak (POL) 37 Polish cup: 10 titles 3. Valentin Marian Ghionea (ROU) 35 Dark Tiago Rocha (POR) 35 Player shirt: white 5. Alexander Tioumentsev (ESP) 31 Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange

58 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)

Biggest win: 42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.2004 Biggest defeat: 35:18 (19:04) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), 07.10.2006 34:17 (15:07) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), 12.10.2008 Longest winning run: 4 matches (29.11.2014 – 22.02.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (23.11.2014 – 22.02.2015) Longest losing run: 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Longest run without win: 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Most goals: 42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.2004 Most goals opponent: 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Most goals both teams: 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Fewest goals: 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 Fewest goals opponent: 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.2006 19 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.2012 19 v Besiktas MOGAZ HT TUR 28:19W (h), 27.09.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 34 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 167:195 –28 2 3rd Gr. A 2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 159:177 -18 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 2 0 4 155:182 -27 4 3rd Gr. E 2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 2 0 4 141:170 –29 4 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 0 0 6 122:188 -66 0 4th Gr. H 2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 4 1 7 321:332 -11 9 Last 16 2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 5 0 7 335:341 -6 10 Last 16 Total 54 15 1 38 1400:1585 –185 31

59 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

24 Nemanja Zelenovic SRB Right Back 27.2.1990 194 93 41 21 Kamil Syprzak POL Line Player 23.7.1991 206 120 37 15 Valentin Marian Ghionea ROU Right Wing 29.4.1984 197 94 35 17 Tiago Rocha POR Line Player 17.10.1985 196 104 35 9 Alexander Tioumentsev Barabash ESP Centre Back 4.10.1983 185 85 31 19 POL Left Back 3.2.1982 199 103 26 77 Ivan Nikcevic SRB Left Wing 11.2.1981 182 80 26 25 Angel Montoro Cabello ESP Right Back 10.4.1989 213 105 19 7 Dan Emil Racotea ROU Left Back 21.7.1995 202 97 18 3 Michal Daszek POL Right Wing 27.6.1992 180 70 9 10 Adam Wisniewski POL Left Wing 24.10.1980 192 100 6 13 Miljan Pusica SRB Left Back 30.6.1991 199 101 4 2 Zbigniew Kwiatkowski POL Line Player 2.4.1985 202 120 1 5 Lukasz Calujek POL Left Back 25.7.1994 202 104 18 Mateusz Piechowski POL Line Player 1.3.1995 210 110 16 Adam Morawski POL Goalkeeper 17.10.1994 193 94 36 Rodal ESP Goalkeeper 24.2.1991 202 99 12 POL Goalkeeper 17.2.1980 193 100

60 Manolo Cadenas Marcin Wichary coach goalkeeper • before he signed to Orlen in 2013 he made a • depite his inconspicuous look, while standing short return to León, where he was the coach from between the posts he turns into a beast 1995 to 2007, in the “golden era” of the club • came to Płock in 2004 and since that moment • led Ademar to their only national he has become a true Oiler, beloved by the local fans championship title in 2001, two cup titles and • in his WCh debut in 2013 he impressed with a victories in the European arena 50% save efficiency in the group phase • joined Płock in a difficult period facing a • his best achievement to date remains the 5th challenge of building the team from the scratch place in the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing and the • besides Plock also coaches the Spanish bronze medal from the WCh 2015 in Qatar national team EC Trophies: Cup Winner’s Cup 1989, 1999, 2005 WCh: B 2015 EURO: B 2014

Ivan Nikcević Miljan Pušica left wing left back • experienced winger with many titles • among six new faces that reinforced the ranks of Wisła before the 2014/15 season • raised in Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, he moved to Spain in 2005 where he played for the likes of San • in 2014 replaced his countryman, Petar Antonio and Cuatro Rayas Valladolid Nenadic, who walked out to Füchse Berlin on the left side in the summer • achieved his best European performance with San Antonio in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final in • with his previous team, RK Vojvodina, he fell in 2010 the Qualification Tournament in the 2013/14 season • also an important Serbian national team player scoring over 450 goals

EURO: S 2012

Mariusz Jurkiewicz Kamil Syprzak left back/centre back line player • club’s 2013 top signing will leave the club for • with his height of 206 cm nicknamed the Kielce in the summer of 2015 Polish Tower by the domestic media • transformed from the typical defender into • even though he plays on the line, sometimes comprehensive player able to threaten his rivals he surprises his opponents with a jump throw from with the distance throw the distance • after long time spent in Spain, he returned • from the beginning connected with Płock, to his homeland and soon became the Oilers’ key debuted in the Polish first league in the age of 17 player and a pillar of the Polish national team • since 2011 part of the national team • his best European achievement was the CL • besides handball he has got a talent for final in 2012 with Cuidad Real drawing WCh: B 2009, 2015 WCh: B 2015

Nemanja Zelenovic Valentin Ghionea right back right wing • another representative of the young guns of • Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008 and Płock two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007) • arrived in the summer of 2014 from Celje • joined Wisła Płock in 2012 and during his first season, he showed his great goalscoring ability • with Serbian Red Star, his first club, he experienced the CL debut in the 2007/08 season and • quickly became a very important Wisła player still as a teenager he scored 18 goals next season and his team’s top scorer • currently the first choice at right back position • in the 2013/14 season he scored 226 goals in and a member of Serbian national team 43 appearances including 48 goals in the CL • with his speed he is an important part of Manolo Cadenas’s philosophy of the game

61 2nd ranked HC Vardar Skopje (MKD)

Just like the other hot shots of the group, the Macedonian team also had their ups and downs but Vardar’s otherwise smooth run to the second spot only saw one notable hickup: their defeat in Veszprém (32-24).

The off-day in Veszprém was made up for one in Mannheim, where the Skopje outfit put up a near-perfect performance. It is not such a great surprise from a Spanish coach to built his team around defense and Raúl Gonzalez has a hugely effective wall backed by the ever excellent .

With the occasional injuries of , Matjaz Brumen and Sterbik and long-term absentee Blazenko Lackovic the burden of scoring falls mainly on Timur Dibirov and Igor Karacic, who both have outstanding seasons.

Vardar’s main strength is their defence, however, the Skopje outfit are also prolifiic in attack: Gonzalez’s men scored the most goals in Group C.

While last year Vardar tended to lose focus away from their passionate crowd this year they only lost once on the road and beat Löwen, Medvedi and Celje away.

Playing hall GROUP C Final Table: Jane Sandanski Skopje 1. MKB-MVM Veszprém 10 9 0 1 300:262 (38) 18 FYR Macedonia 2. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 313:289 (24) 15 Capacity: 5,000 3. Rhein-Neckar Löwen 10 6 0 4 302:282 (20) 12 4. Montpellier Agg. HB 10 3 2 5 293:317 (-24) 8 5. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10 3 0 7 284:293 (-9) 6 6. Chekhovskie Medvedi 10 0 1 9 300:349 (-49) 1 Club Address: HC Vardar - Skopje Marko Savovski BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 FYR Macedonia

Media contact: Group Phase results: Past achievements Marko Savovski (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) +389 75 200 008 VELUX EHF Champions League [email protected] @ RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W27:26 (12:12) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi W39:28 (24:12) Participations (including 2014/15 season): 9 Online information: vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W28:25 (13:13) Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Website: www.rkvardar.com.mk @ Montpellier Aggl. HB D34:34 (19:17) Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Facebook: rkvardar vs MKB-MVM Veszprém L23:24 (11:13) Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, Twitter:HCVardar @ MKB-MVM Veszprém L24:32 (10:16) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W34:32 (19:17) 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 @ Chekhovskie Medvedi W39:34 (19:16) vs Montpellier Aggl. HB W30:26 (18:13) Other Kit colours @ Rhein-Neckar Löwen W35:28 (20:13) Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 1998/99, Light 2004/05, 2010/11, quarter-final Player shirt: red/white 2006/07 Player short: red/white Top scorers: SEHA league: 2 titles (2012, 2014) Goalkeeper shirt: red/black/yellow Dark 1. Timur Dibirov (RUS) 69 Macedonian league: 8 titles (1999, Player shirt: black/Red 2. Igor Karacic (CRO) 52 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, Player short: red/white 3. Alex Dujshebaev (ESP) 43 2013) Goalkeeper shirt: black/grey 4. Alem Toskic (SRB) 29 Macedonian cup: 8 titles 5. Sergei Gorbok (RUS) 26

62 HC Vardar Skopje (MKD)

Biggest win: 37:24 (19:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (a), 19.10.2013 Biggest defeat: 41:19 (19:08) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.2003 Longest winning run: 4 matches (29.11.2014 – 21.02.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (29.11.2014 – 21.02.2015) 4 matches (28.09.2014 - 19.10.2014) Longest losing run: 7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004) Longest run without win: 8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004) 8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) Most goals: 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:28W (h), 04.10.2014 Most goals opponent: 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.2003 Most goals both teams: 73 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:34W (a), 06.12.2014 Fewest goals: 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals opponent: 22 v HCM Constanta ROU 22:22D (h), 13.11.2004 22 v GC Amicitia Zürich SUI 22:22D (h), 07.11.2009 22 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:27W (a), 14.11.2013 22 v HC Dinamo Minsk BLR 30:22W (h), 09.02.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 1 4 152:175 –23 3 4th Gr. D 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 2 0 4 152:181 –29 4 4th Gr. D 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 157:210 -53 0 4th Gr. B 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 2 3 124:153 -29 4 3rd Gr. A 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 6 2 1 3 161:180 -19 5 4th Gr. C 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 10 1 1 8 253:316 -63 3 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Vardar – Skopje MKD 14 6 3 5 376:369 +7 15 1/4-finals Total 54 13 8 33 1375:1584 –209 34

63 HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

31 Timur Dibirov RUS Left Wing 30.7.1983 180 74 69 18 Igor Karacic CRO Centre Back 2.11.1988 189 87 52 19 Alex Dujshebaev ESP Right Back 17.12.1992 187 88 43 10 Alem Toskic SRB Line Player 12.2.1982 190 108 29 32 Sergei Gorbok RUS Left Back 4.12.1982 196 98 26 33 Daniil Shishkarev RUS Right Wing 6.7.1988 190 85 22 7 Matjaz Brumen SLO Right Wing 23.12.1982 190 90 17 5 Stojanche Stoilov MKD Line Player 30.4.1987 191 110 13 80 Mikhail Chipurin RUS Line Player 17.11.1980 190 110 11 8 Nemanja Pribak MKD Centre Back 26.3.1984 190 103 9 23 Filip Lazarov MKD Left Back 21.4.1985 199 100 8 6 Blazenko Lackovic CRO Left Back 25.12.1980 197 99 7 15 Dobrivoje Markovic SRB Left Wing 22.4.1986 188 81 4 9 Stefan Terzic SRB Right Back 17.5.1994 195 93 2 20 Ilija Abutovic SRB Left Back 2.8.1988 202 99 1 25 Alexei Rastvortsev RUS Left Back 8.8.1978 200 128 13 Vladimir Petric SRB Right Back 5.8.1975 189 98 26 Petar Angelov MKD Goalkeeper 8.3.1977 192 103 12 Strahinja Milic SRB Goalkeeper 20.12.1990 198 135 1 Arpad Sterbik ESP Goalkeeper 20.11.1979 200 119

64 Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez Arpad Sterbik coach goalkeeper • stalwart of BM Valladolid and a member of the • one of the best goalkeepers who holds there Spanish national team during his playing career different citizenship Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish • started his coaching carrier in Atletico Madrid • after ten seasons spent in Spain moved from and Ciudad Real working in team with Talant Barcelona in 2014 and signed a four-year contract Dujshebaev with Macedonian runners-up • replaced Zoran Kastratovic early in the • dozens of international awards including the 2013/14 season at Vardar 2005 IHF World Handball Player of the Year • steered the team to a historical success the • voted as the best goalkeeper of the Spanish quarter-finals of the CL for the first time and was league five times just one goal shy of the FINAL4 OG: B 1996 (as player) EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009 WCh: B 1999, B 2001, B 2011, G 2013

Timur Dibirov Sergey Gorbok left wing left back • in 2013 he joined Vardar as just the second • started his carrier in Minsk, played in several club in his career countries (Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Germany) • the first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with • took Russian citizenship and started playing whom he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010 for Russia after playing three seasons in Chekov • voted best left wing of at the 2013 WCh • in the 2013/14 season with Rhein-Neckar Löwen he was step close to the FINAL4 • fast breaks specialists also valid in defence • joined the Russian “colony” of Vardar in 2014

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006

Igor Karacic Stojance Stoilov centre back line player • voted into the 2012/13 SEHA League All-Star • not only Vardar’s first choice line player, but team occupies the same position in the Macedonian national team • regarded as a fast and tough player who is brilliant when it comes to ‘one-on-one’ situations • joined Vardar four seasons ago from city rivals Metalurg – a step that saw his career spiralling • scored 62 goals on the way to the last 16 in the upwards 2010/11 CL season with Bosna Sarajevo • played a brilliant tournament at the EHF EURO • born in Mostar he plays for the Croatian 2012 when FYR Macedonia finished 5th national team, while his brother Ivan plays for Bosnia-Herzegovina

Alex Dujshebaev Matjaz Brumen right back right wing • son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar at the • only Vardar player with a European Cup title beginning of the 2013/14 season under his belt • played for Spain at the Junior World • won the EHF Champions League with Celje and Championship in 2013 and helped his team to win the Challenge Cup with Koper silver • played for Slovenian clubs Prule 67, Celje and • best right back of the All-star team at the 2012 Koper, Vardar is his first foreign club Men’s 20 EHF EURO and the 2013 Junior WCh • played for Slovenia at several major • top scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL with BM tournaments and was part of the team which only Aragon in 2011/12 and 2012/13 narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2013 WCh

EC trophies: CL 2004, Challenge Cup 2011

65 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MOL-Pick Szeged

First leg Friday 13 March, 19:00 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 22 March, 17:15 hrs. local time

Although they secured a third-place finish in their section quite will not miss only the injured Spanish playmaker Nico Mindegia, but comfortably, Rhein-Neckar Lowen flattered to deceive as they in the first leg also Vladimir Vranjes, who has to serve out the second suffered four defeats suggesting that they face a tough task against game of his two-match ban. Szeged in the last 16. The last two were a 32:29 defeat at eventually eliminated Kadetten Two losses to second-placed HC Vardar indicated RNL’s frailties Schaffhausen and a 23:23 home draw with Aalborg Handball which against top quality opposition, while they managed a win and a defeat allowed the Danish outfit to squeeze into the last 16 as the group’s against group winners MKB-MVM Veszprem. fourth-placed team.

The German side will be buoyed by their current domestic form, as In Zsolt Balogh and Slovenian Dean Bombac, Szeged have a reliable they are tied at the top of the Bundesliga with defending champions scoring duo who have netted 104 goals between them, while RNL’s THW Kiel on 44 points from 25 games each. top scorers and Alexander Petersson combined for a total of 88. RNL enjoyed a sound introduction to their clash with Szeged as they celebrated a 31:23 German league win at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, Lions have totalled more goals than Szeged (302:276) in the 10 group having turned around an early 7:5 deficit into an unassailable 28:21 matches while the Hungarian side boasts a tougher defence, having lead with 10 minutes left. conceded 264 to the German side’s 282.

Szeged, who finished a distant second in their section behind KS Vive But stats may not count for much when these two teams take centre Tauron Kielce but well ahead of third-placed Dunkerque HB Grand stage, hence their fans can expect a close double-header likely to go Littoral, will be concerned with their recent form as they scraped only down to the wire. one point from their last three matches in Group D. Furthermore they

Head-to-head stats

MOL-Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 0-0-2 (52:63) 0:4

12.10.2008 Pick Szeged vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group H 24:28 (17:13) 09.11.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group H 35:28 (15:13)

66 3rd ranked Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)

Löwen are having a roller-coaster season: the Mannheim team are joint leaders of the Bundesliga and flattened the seemingly unbeatable Veszprém in the eight round of Group C but in the same time could only win once away from home (at Medvedi) and even relegated Celje beat them at Zlatorog.

Nikolaj Jacobsen’s team might have played some helter-skelter games but the core of the great team is intact: Löwen are best when the Landin directed wall takes up formation and have a chance to score easy goals from fast breaks – usually done by the two excellent wings, and Uwe Gensheimer.

The foundations are solid, however, if some bricks are removed Löwen can become shaky, which happened in the last round, when Vardar pointed out each and every problem Löwen had without Gedeon Guardiola in defence.

With sidelined, too Löwen rely more on goals from backroom players, where Jacobsen have an international dream team to choose from. Löwen are no lucky pick for any of the 2nd placed teams for sure.

GROUP C Final Table: Playing hall 1. MKB-MVM Veszprém 10 9 0 1 300:262 (38) 18 SAP Arena 2. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 313:289 (24) 15 Xaver-Fuhr-Str. 150 3. Rhein-Neckar Löwen 10 6 0 4 302:282 (20) 12 68219 Mannheim 4. Montpellier Agg. HB 10 3 2 5 293:317 (-24) 8 Germany 5. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10 3 0 7 284:293 (-9) 6 Capacity: 12,900 6. Chekhovskie Medvedi 10 0 1 9 300:349 (-49) 1

Club Address: Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mollstraße 49a 68165 Mannheim Group Phase results: Germany (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements

Media contact: vs Montpellier Aggl. HB W35:24 (18:11) VELUX EHF Champions League Christopher Monz @ MKB-MVM Veszprém L24:27 (11:10) Participations (including 2014/15 [email protected] @ HC Vardar L25:28 (13:13) season): 6 +491744288849 vs Chekhovskie Medvedi W34:29 (16:16) Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W31:27 (13:15) Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 Online information: @ RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko L28:32 (11:16) Qualification (1): 2011/12 Website: www.rhein-neckar-loewen.de @ Montpellier Aggl. HB W33:29 (18:14) Facebook: rnloewen vs MKB-MVM Veszprém W32:25 (18:10) Other Twitter:@RNLoewen @ Chekhovskie Medvedi W32:26 (18:14) Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 vs HC Vardar L28:35 (13:20) EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, semi-final 2011/12, quarter-final 2006/07 Kit colours Top scorers: Light Player shirt: yellow 1. Uwe Gensheimer (GER) 45 Player short: yellow 2. Alexander Petersson (ISL) 43 Goalkeeper shirt: white/red 3. Andre Schmid (SUI) 41 4. (SWE) 37 Dark 5. Patrick Groetzki (GER) 36 Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/green

67 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)

Biggest win: 40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 08.03.2009 39:24 (20:10) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), 18.10.2009 37:22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 10.10.2010 Biggest defeat: 37:23 (20:8) v THW Kiel GER (a), 26.04.2009 Longest winning run: 5 matches (12.10.2013 – 28.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010) 8 matches (12.10.2013 – 20.02.2014) Longest losing run: 2 matches (25.04.2010 – 02.05.2010) 2 matches (28.05.2011 – 29.05.2011) Longest run without win: 4 matches (28.05.2011 - 29.09.2013) Most goals: 40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.2009 Most goals opponent: 38 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Most goals both teams: 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals: 23 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 25:23L (a), 18.02.2009 23 v THW Kiel GER 37:23L (a), 26.04.2009 23 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010 Fewest goals opponent: 17 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), 17.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 46 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 447:392 +55 20 1/2-finals 2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 450:408 +42 20 1/4-finals 2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 7 4 5 486:465 +21 18 4th Place 2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 422:369 +53 20 1/4-finals Total 58 34 10 14 1805:1634 +171 78

68 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Heigh Weight Goals

3 Uwe Gensheimer GER Left Wing 26.10.1986 188 90 45 32 Alexander Petersson ISL Right Back 2.7.1980 186 87 43 2 Andre Schmid SUI Centre Back 30.8.1983 190 90 41 60 Kim Ekdahl du Rietz SWE Left Back 23.7.1989 194 100 37 24 Patrick Groetzki GER Right Wing 4.7.1989 189 84 36 18 Bjarte Hakon Myrhol NOR Line Player 29.5.1982 192 96 24 22 Mads Mensah Larsen DEN Centre Back 12.8.1991 188 109 19 11 Stefan Rafn Sigurmannsson ISL Left Wing 19.5.1990 197 101 17 30 Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana ESP Line Player 1.10.1984 200 103 18 27 NOR Right Back 17.8.1992 195 95 16 4 Stefan Kneer GER Left Back 19.12.1985 194 98 3 72 David Ganshorn GER Line Player 27.5.1989 191 99 2 10 Tim Suton GER Centre Back 8.5.1996 191 91 1 26 Michal Abt GER Line Player 25.7.1990 193 97 9 Lukas Sauer GER Left Wing 25.10.1995 183 83 77 David Schmidt GER Right Back 19.10.1993 181 86 19 Marius Steinhauser GER Right Wing 6.2.1993 187 83 6 Roy James GER Left Wing 12.12.1995 190 96 42 Marvin Gerdon GER Right Wing 24.7.1996 179 75 83 Marco Bitz GER Goalkeeper 9.11.1995 189 89 23 Bastian Rutschmann GER Goalkeeper 30.12.1982 195 94 12 Roko Peribonio CRO Goalkeeper 16.10.1991 194 99 20 DEN Goalkeeper 19.12.1988 200 95

69 Nikolaj Jacobsen Niklas Landin coach goalkeeper • new face on the Löwen bench since 2014 as • joined Löwen in 2012, but to leave in the his predecessor Gudmundur Gudmundsson became summer of 2015 for THW Kiel Danish national team coach • successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt in the • coached Viborg, Bjerringbro (both as an Danish national team broke through during the 2011 assistant) and Aalborg in the past, steering Aalborg WCh to a surprising title and the CL in 2013 • played also for Gudme in Denmark, where he • six league titles and seven cup titles in was number 1 already at the age of 20 Denmark and Germany during his playing career • best goalkeeper at the 2013 WCh, the EHF • TV expert in 2007 EURO 2014 and the 2013/14 CL

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004 (as player) EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

Uwe Gensheimer Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz left wing left back • born in Mannheim, he is the 100% local hero • despite the huge competition at left back in the previous seasons, the Swede became number 1 • playing for “his” club since 2003 • arrived in Mannheim in 2012 from Nantes • his talent discovered early as he became after beginning his career at Lugi Lund Junior European champion in 2006, one year later awarded MVP at the Junior WCh • made his first league debut at the age of 16 • in 2011 and 2012 German player of the year • important part of the Löwen defence as well, but famous for his long-range shots in the attack • top scorer of 2010/11 CL season • particularly large shoe size of 51 • declined offers from Kiel and Barcelona

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2012

Andre Schmid Bjarte Myrhol centre back line player • five-time Swiss handball player of the year • in August 2011 diagnosed with cancer, a surgery and chemo therapy changed his life • played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009 • always willing to fight and only two and a half months after the surgery he returned to the court • joined Löwen after one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg • after leaving first club in Sandefjord, he joined Veszprem, before arriving in Nordhorn and later • key in attack – both as playmaker and as Mannheim shooter • Norwegian international will leave in the • best Bundesliga player in the 2013/14 season summer of 2015 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008, 2013

Alexander Petersson Patrick Groetzki right back right wing • born in Latvia, took over Icelandic citizenship • born in Pforzheim only a few kilometres away and became an Olympic silver medallist in 2008 and from Mannheim EHF EURO bronze medallist in 2010 • right after ending his youth career he switched • moved to Germany in 2003, playing for to Löwen and became part of the German younger Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, Flensburg-Handewitt, age category national teams and Füchse, before transferring to RNL in 2012 • MVP and silver medallist of the Men’s 20 EHF • more a playmaker on the right back position EURO in 2008 and junior world champion in 2009 but is also strong in man-to-man-actions • key player right after he was nominated for • member of the 2011 WCh All Star Team and the men’s national team for the first time the most experienced player of Löwen

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2008, EURO: B 2010

70 2nd ranked MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)

The reigning Men’s EHF Cup champions enjoyed a bright start to the group phase, losing just one of their first seven matches (32:37 against Kielce).

Backed by their Spanish quintet – four players and coach Juan Carlos Pastor stem from Spain – the Hungarian side secured their spot at the Last 16 already after Round 7.

But neither Jose Manuel Sierra’s heroic saves in goal nor top scorer Zsolt Balogh’s thunderous strikes were enough to overcome the injuries the team suffered from at the start of 2015.

A 23:23 draw against Aalborg in Round 10 stopped Szeged’s two-game losing streak who nevertheless finished second in Group D.

GROUP D Final Table: Playing hall Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged 1. KS Vive Tauron Kielce 10 10 0 0 312:271 (41) 20 Temesvari Krt.33 2. MOL-Pick Szeged 10 6 1 3 276:264 (12) 13 6726 Szeged 3. Dunkerque HB G. Littoral 10 4 0 6 257:263 (-6) 8 Hungary 4. Aalborg Handball 10 2 3 5 256:269 (-13) 7 Capacity: 3,200 5. HC Motor Zaporozhye 10 3 0 7 283:284 (-1) 6 6. Kadetten Schaffhausen 10 2 2 6 264:297 (-33) 6

Club Address: Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u. 28-30. 6720 Szeged Hungary Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Media contact: Nandor Szögi vs HC Motor Zaporozhye W27:26 (13:11) VELUX EHF Champions League +36 70 3878234 @ KS Vive Tauron Kielce L32:37 (17:18) Participations (including 2014/15 [email protected] @ Aalborg Handball W28:25 (15:11) season): 13 vs Kadetten Schaffhausen W34:24 (16:13) Quarter-final (2): 1996/97, 2003/04 Online information: vs Dunkerque HB G. Littoral W23:21 (11:10) Last 16 (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, Website: www.pickhandball.hu @ Dunkerque HB G. Littoral W25:24 (15:12) 2010/11, 2012/13 Facebook: pickszeged @ HC Motor Zaporozhye W29:25 (16:12) Main Round (1): 2007/08 Twitter:@pickhandball vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce L26:27 (11:14) Group Phase (3): 2008/09, 2009/10, @ Kadetten Schaffhausen L29:32 (15:19) 2011/12 vs Aalborg Handball D23:23 (10:10) Qualification (1): 2013/14 Kit colours Light Top scorers: Other Player shirt: orange EHF Cup: quarter-final 2000/01, Last 16 Player short: silver 1. Zsolt Balogh (HUN) 56 1994/95, 1999/2000 Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green 2. Dean Bombac (SLO) 48 Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 1993/94, 3. Ferenc Ilyés (HUN) 25 Dark quarter-final 2002/03, 2008/09 Jonas Källman (SWE) 25 Player shirt: blue or red 5. Niko Mindegia Elizaga (ESP) 23 Player short: blue or red Rajko Prodanovic (SRB) 23 Hungarian league: 2 titles (1996, 2007) Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green Hungarian cup: 6 titles

71 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)

Biggest win: 39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 07.10.2007 Biggest defeat: 40:17 (19:05) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 15.02.1997 Longest winning run: 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) Longest losing run: 6 matches (17.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) 6 matches (06.03.2011 – 15.10.2011) Longest run without win: 7 matches (17.10.2009 – 27.02.2010) Most goals: 39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), 07.10.2007 Most goals opponent: 40 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Most goals both teams: 73 v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 38:35W (h), 19.11.2011 Fewest goals: 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), 05.10.2008 Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), 08.03.2008

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 205:216 –11 8 1/4-finals 2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN 10 4 0 6 269:262 +7 8 1/4-finals 2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 4 2 2 190:187 +3 10 Last 16 2005/06 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 0 5 219:218 +1 6 Last 16 2006/07 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 202:203 -1 8 Last 16 2007/08 Pick Szeged HUN 12 9 0 3 361:310 +51 18 3rd MR Gr. 4 2008/09 Pick Szeged HUN 6 2 0 4 159:161 -2 4 3rd Gr. H 2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN 10 2 2 6 287:307 -20 6 5th Gr. A 2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN 12 5 0 7 336:351 -15 10 Last 16 2011/12 Pick Szeged HUN 10 3 0 7 285:316 -31 6 5th Gr. D 2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN 12 4 0 8 313:350 –37 8 Last 16 Total 104 42 8 54 2826:2881 -55 92

72 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

19 Zsolt Balogh HUN Right Back 29.3.1989 189 96 56 44 Dean Bombac SLO Centre Back 4.4.1989 188 92 48 18 Ferenc Ilyés HUN Left Back 20.12.1981 198 103 25 8 Jonas Källman SWE Left Wing 17.7.1981 200 100 25 5 Niko Mindegia Elizaga ESP Centre Back 19.7.1988 184 87 23 22 Rajko Prodanovic SRB Right Wing 24.4.1986 188 87 23 90 Gabor Ancsin HUN Right Back 27.11.1990 202 97 17 51 Roberto Garcia Parrondo ESP Right Wing 12.1.1980 187 86 16 77 Vladimir Vranjes BIH Line Player 14.12.1988 200 107 13 17 Szabolcs Zubai HUN Line Player 31.3.1984 193 93 12 21 Alen Blazevic CRO Left Back 29.3.1986 200 110 7 23 Márk Hegedüs HUN Line Player 14.09.1992 190 103 5 7 Attila Vadkerti HUN Left Wing 22.2.1982 182 88 3 9 Antonio Jesus Garcia Robledo ESP Left Back 6.3.1984 191 93 3 15 Balint Fekete HUN Right Back 27.6.1995 190 80 11 Mate Gidai HUN Right Wing 18.1.1994 180 75 98 Gergö Haszillo HUN Left Back 30.9.1996 192 92 88 Bence Molnar HUN Centre Back 7.3.1994 186 85 24 Vladan Loncar BIH Left Back 25.01.1997 201 93 94 Richard Mezei HUN Right Back 28.11.1996 189 96 89 Lenard Nagy HUN Centre Back 8.5.1997 182 72 87 Gabriel Papp SVK Line Player 18.12.1995 197 92 20 Patrik Arpasi HUN Line Player 17.9.1996 190 100 31 Nikola Stojanov HUN Left Wing 28.10.1993 192 85 91 Bence Szabo HUN Left Back 11.8.1994 200 111 96 Egon Urban HUN Right Wing 12.12.1996 180 75 10 Peter Velky HUN Left Wing 25.4.1992 186 82 97 Peter György Matrai HUN Goalkeeper 17.4.1996 190 80 12 Imre Pasztor HUN Goalkeeper 23.7.1996 190 120 16 Piotr Wyszomirski POL Goalkeeper 6.1.1988 194 95 1 Jose Manuel Sierra Mendez ESP Goalkeeper 21.5.1978 194 92

73 Juan Carlos Pastor José Manuel Sierra coach goalkeeper • one of the masterminds of contemporary • together with Piotr Wyszomirski supposed to handball with an incredible amount of silverware in fill in for Hungarian international Roland Mikler, who his career joined Veszprém • Szeged found him fit for the job of rebuilding • one of the most influential goalkeepers in the their team in order to be able to challenge for the world, the Valladolid legend has won an enormous Hungarian title against Veszprém amount of trophies through his almost two decades long career • won the EHF Cup in his first year at the helm • signed from PSG, has done a grand slam of • became also the sporting director after Szeged great Spanish teams (Barcelona, Ciudad Real and legend Richárd Mezei resigned Valladolid) in the past EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: CL 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2009 WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B 2008 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014

Jonas Källman Ferenc Ilyés left wing left back • signed in the winter of 2013/14 and showed • one of the most influential Hungarian players his unique ability to defend in three positions at both club and international level • vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor’s • one of the many who played both for Szeged defensive variatons and Szeged’s attacking edge and Veszprém • spent more than a decade in Spain with • defensive specialist can also be an impact Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid before returning player at left back as shown by his marvellous home (IFK Skövde) and finally signing a three-and-a- performance in the 2014 EHF Cup Finals half year contract with Pick • great talisman for his team as won three international trophies with three different clubs

EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008, EHF Cup: 2010, 2014 OG: S 2012

Antonio García Robledo Szabolcs Zubai left back line player • without a doubt the biggest name the EHF Cup • one of the most technically gifted in his winner signed in the summer of 2014 position in Hungary • won a great deal of both individual, club and • coming from the famous Dunaferr school national team silverware and a lot is expected from • U2 fan signed a contract with Pick Szeged the Granollers-raised shooter in Szeged in 2008 and has been the focal point of both the • former Spanish player of the year team’s attacks and defence • Szeged is his third team in the CL having tried • well over his 100th cap and a decade in the his luck with Leon and PSG before grinder of opponents’ walls finally managed to get a grip on a trophy, which came in 2014

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

Zsolt Balogh Roberto García Parrondo right back right wing • joined Pick Szeged from Braun Gyöngyös in • brought by coach Pastor when he took the 2012 Szeged hotseat • by 2014 overtook Gábor Ancsin in the Pick • the two won an incredible amount of trophies roster at his poition together • not as tall as one would expect from a • Madrid-born played for seven Spanish backcourt player but has outstanding dribbling skills teams before he decided to bring his talents to and a sharp eye for passing international courts • new coach Pastor gave him more time and he • one of the few players to have literally won all grabbed his chance international trophies EHF had to offer

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009, Cup Winners’ Cup 2005, EHF Cup 2013 WCh: G 2005, EURO: B 2011

74 RK PPD Zagreb vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn

RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO ZAGREB First leg Saturday 14 March, 18:00 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 22 March, 16:50 hrs. local time

Having seen Zagreb beat the likes of Kiel and PSG in their impressive although captain and Tonci Valcic were rested. group stage campaign on home court, KIF will need no further warning how big a challenge they face when they visit the Croatian Kobenhavn, who lived up to their fans’ expectations as they side in the first leg of what should be an absorbing last 16 tie. comfortably clinched a last 16 berth by finishing runners-up behind their section’s winners Barcelona in the group stage, also displayed Zagreb warmed up for the clash with a 45:29 whitewash of Serbian strength in all departments. rivals Radnicki Kragujevac in the regional SEHA League, with the venue switched to the Croatian capital so that Veselin Vujovic’s They had the second-highest scoring record and the second-best youthful outfit had more time to prepare for the clash against defence in Group B, having blown away holders Flensburg 35:21 on Kobenhavn. home court and also held Barcelona to a 27:27 draw.

“We wish to thank Radnicki for agreeing to play in Zagreb instead Buoyed by the arrival of Icelandic handball icon Olafur Stefansson, of Kragujevac, the venue change was very important for us in order Kobehavn will start as favourites and their coach Aron Kristjansson to get ready for the last 16 VELUX EHF Champions League meeting made it no secret he was delighted with his new acquisition. with Kobenhavn,” Vujovic told Croatian media ahead of his team’s emphatic win against Radnicki. “We are extremely pleased that Stefansson will be available for the first leg against Zagreb on Saturday,” Kristjansson told the club’s Right back Luka Stepancic added: “We spent a lot of energy travelling official website (www.kif.dk). to Skopje recently and playing two SEHA league matches there in a space of just a couple of days so this venue change has been a “He has an incredible routine to his game which will be much-needed welcome course of events for us.” in Zagreb, where we face a very tough match. Olafur can make a huge difference.” Stipe Mandalinic topped Zagreb’s chart with 6 goals among a plethora of scorers, as three other players netted five apiece while five of their Goalkeeper Kasper Hvidt added: “It took him no time to understand team mates chipped in with four each. how we play because he knows his handball and that was so obvious in training.” It underlined Zagreb’s potent attack which fired on all cylinders

Head-to-head stats

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs HC PPD Zagreb 1-0-3 (96:105) 2:6

11.04.1992 RK Zagreb vs Kolding IF, Champions Cup – Semi Final 26:17 (14:7) 20.04.1992 Kolding IF vs RK Zagreb, Champions Cup – Semi Final 26:20 (10:8) 18.01.1995 Kolding IF vs Badel Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 31:36 (14:18) 16.03.1995 Badel Zagreb vs Kolding IF, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 23:22 (9:12)

75 3rd ranked HC PPD Zagreb (CRO)

Having advanced to the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 for the first time since the RUKOMETNI KLUB 2011/12 season, a fired-up Zagreb will want to go a step further and emulate the success of PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO three years ago when they reached the quarter-finals. Zagreb could not have qualified in more ZAGREB dramatic fashion, with their Bosnian acquisition Dusko Celica scoring a last-gasp winner from almost the halfway line in a 31:30 defeat of Naturhouse La Rioja which sealed the Croatian side’s passage with a match to spare.

Zagreb advanced to the last 16 on the back of their effervescent home form, winning all five games in the Croatian capital and two of those highlighted the abundance of talent and ability within the youthful roster. Their opening 27:25 victory over group winners THW Kiel sent shockwaves throughout Europe and Zagreb followed up with a 25:24 success against runners- up Paris Saint-Germain Handball.

Although they missed versatile left back Stipe Mandalinic through injury early on, Zagreb shone on home court thanks to inspired and masterful guidance by new coach Veselin Vujovic, who took over shortly before the competition started but missed the first few games due to a suspension dating back to when he coached Macedonian giants Vardar Skopje.

However, Zagreb’s away form has been a worrying aspect for Vujovic, as illustrated by tame defeats even against the likes of fifth-placed Meshkov Brest of Belarus. A third-place finish in Group A means Zagreb will face one of the runners-up from the other three groups with a fair chance of progressing to the last eight, which would exceed the club’s expectations in a transitional season. Playing hall Arena Zagreb GROUP A Final Table: Laniste b.b., 10000 Zagreb 1. THW Kiel 10 9 0 1 322:259 (63) 18 Croatia 2. PSG Handball 10 6 0 4 297:266 (31) 12 Capacity: 15,200 3. HC PPD Zagreb 10 6 0 4 241:248 (-7) 12 4. Naturhouse La Rioja 10 4 1 5 305:305 (0) 9 5. HC Meshkov Brest 10 2 2 6 267:293 (-26) 6 6. HC Metalurg 10 1 1 8 233:294 (-61) 3 Club Address: HC PPD Zagreb Veprinecka 16 Group Phase results: Past achievements 10000 Zagreb (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Croatia VELUX EHF Champions League vs THW Kiel W27:25 (9:13) Participations (including 2014/15 Media contact: @ PSG Handball L22:27 (9:11) season): 21 Goran Roknić vs HC Metalurg W19:17 (10:8) Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, +385 95 9999 334 @ Naturhouse La Rioja L21:22 (12:9) 1998/99 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr @ HC Meshkov Brest L22:26 (7:12) Semi-final (1): 1999/00 vs HC Meshkov Brest W25:23 (11:8) Quarter-final (6): 1995/96, 2000/01, Online information: @ THW Kiel L27:34 (16:16) 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12 Website: www.rk-zagreb.hr vs PSG Handball W25:24 (14:13) Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Facebook: RK-Zagreb vs Naturhouse La Rioja W31:30 (16:13) Main Round (1): 2007/08 Twitter:@RKZagreb @ HC Metalurg W22:20 (12:10) Group Phase (5): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 Top scorers: Other Kit colours 1. Zlatko Horvat (CRO) 48 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 Light 2. Luka Stepancic (CRO) 28 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-final 2006/07 Player shirt: white 3. Josip Valcic (CRO) 28 Player short: white 4. Sandro Obranovic (CRO) 22 SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Goalkeeper shirt: blue 5. Ilija Brozovic (CRO) 21 Dark Croatian league: 24 titles (1991, 1992, Player shirt: blue 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, Player short: blue 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, Goalkeeper shirt: red 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Croatian cup: 22 titles

76 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Biggest win 34:15 (16:8) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.2010 RUKOMETNI KLUB Biggest defeat: 17:29 (9:12) v FC Barcelona ESP (h), 24.02.2001 PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Longest winning run: 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) ZAGREB Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (09.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) 6 matches (30.10.1999 – 05.12.1999) 6 matches (04.10.2008 – 22.11.2008) Longest losing run: 7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Longest run without win: 8 matches (04.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Most goals: 38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.2013 Most goals opponent: 36 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 36:29L (a), 16.03.2008 36 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Most goals both teams: 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Fewest goals: 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.2005 Fewest goals opponent: 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.2000 13 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams: 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.1999 36 v HC Metalurg MKD 19:17W (h), 11.10.2014

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 0 2 4 135:147 –12 2 4th Gr. A 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 203:203 0 11 Runner-up 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 2 1 3 138:144 -6 5 3rd Gr. B 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 6 3 3 310:294 +16 15 Runner-up 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 7 0 5 300:287 +13 14 Runner-up 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 8 1 3 288:269 +19 17 Runner-up 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 7 1 2 260:230 +30 15 1/2-finals 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 4 1 3 195:192 +3 9 1/4-finals 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 3 2 3 209:216 -7 8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 273:258 +15 8 1/4-finals 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 165:170 -5 6 3rd Gr. B 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 212:194 +18 11 Last 16 2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 153:148 +5 6 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 5 1 6 339:344 -5 11 3rd MR Gr. 3 2008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 7 3 2 357:313 +44 17 1/4-finals 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 6 0 6 351:335 +16 12 Last 16 2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 12 6 3 3 358:319 +39 15 Last 16 2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 9 1 4 391:359 +32 19 1/4-finals 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 2 1 7 266:284 –18 5 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 267:282 -15 8 5th Gr. A Total 194 96 22 76 5170:4988 +182 214

77 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

18 Zlatko Horvat CRO Right Wing 25.9.1984 179 80 48 7 Luka Stepancic CRO Right Back 20.11.1990 201 97 28 22 Josip Valcic CRO Centre Back 21.4.1984 190 96 28 37 Sandro Obranovic CRO Centre Back 18.10.1992 194 83 22 5 Ilija Brozovic CRO Line Player 26.5.1991 195 110 21 74 Mario Vuglac CRO Right Back 30.1.1992 191 92 17 11 Luka Rakovic CRO Right Wing 6.6.1988 179 86 12 14 Luka Sebetic CRO Right Back 26.5.1994 197 93 12 4 Lovro Mihic CRO Left Wing 25.8.1994 180 74 11 94 Domagoj Pavlovic CRO Left Back 21.3.1993 190 85 11 19 Leon Susnja CRO Line Player 5.8.1993 204 113 7 77 Antonijo Kovacevic CRO Left Wing 21.5.1987 190 90 6 11 Lovro Sprem CRO Left Wing 26.1.1990 185 85 6 27 Stipe Mandalinic CRO Left Back 9.9.1992 195 90 5 10 Dusko Celica BIH Left Back 16.8.1986 190 90 4 13 Teo Coric CRO Line Player 25.3.1992 197 120 2 24 Tonci Valcic CRO Left Back 9.6.1978 194 100 1 45 Jakov Vrdoljak CRO Left Back 1.11.1996 189 85 43 Marko Sehic CRO Line Player 21.8.1996 188 84 48 Petar Medic CRO Left Back 12.6.1996 187 80 36 Robert Tokic CRO Left Back 9.3.1996 190 85 35 Bruno-Vili Zobec CRO Left Back 29.1.1996 185 78 83 Mateo Lukacec CRO Centre Back 24.1.1995 51 Arijan Jovic CRO Goalkeeper 18.6.1996 184 82 41 Matej Mudrinjak CRO Goalkeeper 18.1.1994 188 90 12 Ivan Stevanovic CRO Goalkeeper 18.5.1982 193 101 16 Filip Ivic CRO Goalkeeper 30.8.1992 195 96

78 Veselin Vujovic Filip Ivic coach goalkeeper • hired by Zagreb right before the beginning of • home-grown goalkeeper from Zagreb’s school the 2014/15 CL campaign • won European gold and was fourth in the • one of the best players ever worked as a head- world as the captain of Croatian junior national team coach in Ciudad Real, Vardar, Yugoslavian national • in the 2013/14 season he was given a chance team, Serbia and Montenegro (fourth place the OG in Zagreb’s first team in Sydney 2000) • used the opportunity to open gates of senior • with Vardar won the regional SEHA League handball in great style through some great saves title in its first season • in his first senior season he also made it to the • known as an outstanding specialist but also as national team and backed Mirko Alilović on the way an impulsive coach to bronze at the 2013 WCh EC: Champions Cup 1985, 1986, 1991 (as player) WCh: B 2013 OG: G 1984, WCh: G 1986 (as player)

Lovro Sprem Stipe Mandalinic left wing left back • well-known surname in Croatian handball, his • one of the surprises in the 2013/14 season but older brother Goran won many medals with Croatia a knee injury has slowed down his development • Goran’s copy in speed, aggresiveness and • impressive at all junior selections, especially rhythm due to his extraordinary jump shot • became the junior world champion in Tunisia • played all matches in the 2013/14 season in 2009 reaching his personal best of 43 goals in total • very skillful at counter attacks and playing on top of the 5-1 defence

WCh: B 2013 WCh: B 2013

Josip Valcic Ilija Brozovic centre back line player • valuable and experienced centre back would • Croatian national team player probably be called Croatian “golden reserve” • started playing in Metkovic, a big city for • Zagreb’s engine in the game for many years Croatian handball • in the national team remained in the shadows • first choice among line players after Igor Vori of Domagoj Duvnjak and Ivano Balic, but still got a left Zagreb to join HSV chance and won two medals with Croatia • strong, tall, important both in attack and • played nine seasons in Gummersbach in the defence often taking responsibility in decisive past moments • ninth CL season with Zagreb. • cousin with Kielce’s Ivan Cupic and former Zagreb’s player Domagoj Srsen EURO: S 2008, WCh: S 2009

Luka Stepancic Zlatko Horvat right back right wing • one of the most exciting of Zagreb’s players • captain and speedy wing is a counter-attack and one of the most wanted on the European specialist, but he is an important part of defence at player’s market the same time • more than two meters tall leftie with a great • had his debut in the national team in 2006 and jump shot and ability to play in defence since then he has won four medals • member of Croatian national team and • played in Zagreb from the beginning of his already has a bronze medal from the WCh 2013 in career and has already 13 campaigns in the CL under Spain his belt • at the 2009 Junior WC in Tunisia won the gold • in the 2010/11 season the third best scorer with 94 goals WCh: B 2013 OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013

79 2nd ranked KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)

For the second year in succession, KIF Kolding København managed to finish second in their group, and the Danish champions can only hope for more success in the Last 16 this season than last year, where two clear defeats to HC Metalurg marked a surprisingly early end for the ambitious Scandinavian side.

This season, their stunning opening 35:21 win against reigning Champions League winners SG Flensburg-Handewitt made KIF rolling from the start, and the 27:27 draw against Barcelona soon after also raised an eyebrow or two in handball Europe.

After new year, an increasing list of injuries made things a bit harder for Kolding who could consider themselves lucky that eight of the ten rounds of the group phase were played before Christmas this season.

KIF did not stand a chance, as the group win was decided in Barcelona, and they only just managed to defend their second place through a narrow 34:33 home win against Alingsas HK.

GROUP B Final Table:

1. FC Barcelona 10 8 1 1 338:280 (58) 17 2. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 10 6 2 2 292:273 (19) 14 Playing hall 3. Orlen Wisla Plock 10 6 1 3 288:280 (8) 13 Broendby Hallen 4. SG Flensburg-Handewitt 10 6 0 4 288:277 (11) 12 Broendby Stadion 20 5. Alingsas HK 10 1 0 9 252:298 (-46) 2 2605 Brondby 6. Besiktas MOGAZ HT 10 1 0 9 253:303 (-50) 2 Denmark Capacity: 5,000 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Club Address: VELUX EHF Champions League KIF Kolding København vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W35:21 (19:13) Participations (including 2014/15 Ambolten 2-6 @ Besiktas MOGAZ HT W33:24 (16:11) season): 12 6000 Kolding @ Alingsas HK W23:19 (15:13) Semi-final (1): 2001/02 Denmark vs FC Barcelona D27:27 (14:16) @ Orlen Wisla Plock W29:28 (15:14) Quarter-final (1): 2002/03 Last 16 (7): 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, Media contact: vs Orlen Wisla Plock D30:30 (14:14) 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2013/14 Thomas Christensen @ SG Flensburg-Handewitt L20:27 (10:15) Last 32 (1): 1993/94 +45 22 629062 vs Besiktas MOGAZ HT W34:31 (19:16) Group Phase (1): 1994/95 [email protected] @ FC Barcelona L27:33 (11:19) vs Alingsas HK W34:33 (16:15) Other Online information: Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-final Website: www.kif.dk Top scorers: 1999/2000, Quarter-final 2007/08 Facebook: KIFKBH EHF Cup: Quarter-final 2012/13 Twitter:@KifKoldingKBH 1. Bo Dybdal Spellerberg (DEN) 59 2. Kim Andersson (SWE) 44 3. (SWE) 37 Danish league: 13 titles (1987, 1988, 4. Torsten Laen (DEN) 29 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, Kit colours 5. Kasper Ryan Irming Andersen (DEN) 25 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014) Light Danish cup: 8 titles Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue

80 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)

Biggest win: 35:18 (19:4) v Wisla Plock SA POL (h), 07.10.2006 Biggest defeat: 38:23 (20:10) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2010 40:25 (19:10) v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA (a), 28.11.2010 Longest winning run: 4 matches (16.11.2002 – 08.12.2002) 4 matches (30.09.2006 – 19.10.2006) 4 matches (13.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (30.09.2006 – 12.11.2006) 6 matches (28.9.2014 - 23.11.2014) Longest losing run: 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Longest run without win: 4 matches (17.10.2009 – 22.11.2009) 4 matches (27.02.2010 – 03.04.2010) 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Most goals: 42 v RK Partizan Belgrad SCG 42:26W (h), 12.10.2003 42 v Prule 67 Ljubljana SLO 42:31W (h), 30.11.2003 Most goals opponent: 46 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Most goals both teams: 82 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals: 16 v TEKA Santander ESP 28:16L (a), 25.01.1995 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001 18 v Wisla Plock SA POL 35:18W (h), 07.10.2006 18 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 18:20W (a), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 38 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001 38 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 18:20W (a), 13.10.2013

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

1994/95 Kolding IF DEN 6 1 0 5 140:163 –23 2 4th Gr. A 2001/02 Kolding IF DEN 10 5 1 4 263:256 +7 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 Kolding IF DEN 8 5 0 3 235:215 +20 10 1/4-finals 2003/04 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 1 3 253:239 +14 9 Last 16 2004/05 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 0 4 279:267 +12 8 Last 16 2005/06 KIF Kolding DEN 8 4 0 4 251:240 +11 8 Last 16 2006/07 KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN 8 6 1 1 252:213 +39 13 Last 16 2009/10 KIF Kolding DEN 12 4 4 4 336:342 -6 12 Last 16 2010/11 KIF Kolding DEN 12 5 0 7 349:388 -39 10 Last 16 2013/14 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 12 7 0 5 292:293 -1 14 Last 16 Total 92 45 7 40 2650:2616 +34 97

81 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight Goals

8 Bo Dybdal Spellerberg DEN Left Back 24.7.1979 192 84 59 5 Kim Andersson SWE Right Back 21.8.1982 200 104 44 2 Lukas Karlsson SWE Centre Back 21.5.1982 180 83 37 4 Torsten Laen DEN Line Player 26.11.1979 198 96 29 18 Kasper Ryan Irming Andersen DEN Right Back 12.3.1986 188 80 25 7 Lasse Bredekjaer Anderson DEN Left Back 11.3.1994 197 100 21 11 Martin Per Dolk SWE Left Wing 25.3.1990 180 85 21 17 Magnus Landin Jacobsen DEN Left Wing 20.8.1995 190 80 19 19 Cyril Viudes FRA Line Player 6.2.1982 198 110 17 21 Simon Edelberg Jensen DEN Right Wing 2.6.1984 185 85 15 3 DEN Left Back 18.9.1979 192 100 4 6 Lars Troels Jorgensen DEN Left Back 3.2.1978 192 102 1 22 Sebastian Augustinussen DEN Right Back 6.5.1996 192 90 29 Mikel Dalby Christensen DEN Left Back 19.6.1995 180 90 28 Daniel Jörgensen DEN Centre Back 22.4.1993 180 80 15 Kristian Stoklund Larsen DEN Centre Back 12.4.1994 180 85 9 Jacob Vinholt Pedersen DEN Left Wing 18.7.1993 180 80 14 Rolf Schwartz Ravn DEN Right Back 10.10.1992 190 93 10 Boris Schnuchel DEN Left Wing 15.3.1975 190 90 23 Olafur Stefansson ISL Right Back 3.7.1973 197 94 13 Thomas Björn Theilgaard DEN Right Wing 13.1.1993 188 78 27 Morten Ankersen DEN Goalkeeper 25.11.1994 180 85 16 Mikkel Drud Nielsen DEN Goalkeeper 14.3.1991 191 85 20 Marcus David Cleverly DEN Goalkeeper 15.6.1981 188 90 1 Kasper Hvidt DEN Goalkeeper 6.2.1976 192 96

82 Aron Kristjansson Kasper Hvidt coach goalkeeper • Danish handball is no stranger to him, as he • still considered to be among the best played for Skjern Håndbold from 1998 to 2001 and goalkeepers in the world also for Team Tvis Holstebro • retired from international handball in 2010 • won the club’s only Danish championship so after being awarded MVP as Denmark won the EHF far, in 1999 EURO 2008 in Norway • as a coach he was back in Skjern from 2004 • after a career in Germany and Spain, including to 2006, and since February 2014 has he been head a successful spell in FC Barcelona, returned home in coach in KIF along with national coach in Iceland 2009 to play for FCK Håndbold, AG København, with whom he reached the FINAL4 in 2012 • with KIF since August 2013

WCh: S 2011 / EHF EURO: G 2008

Magnus Landin Bo Spellerberg left wing left back • younger brother of world class goalkeeper • KIF Kolding player for 11 years, since he joined Niklas Landin the club from FIF Copenhagen in 2003 • got his handball upbringing in the club GOG – • reached 500 games for the team before the the talent factory par excellence in Danish handball 2014/15 season, won the Danish title five times • joined KIF in the 2014 summer from • during his entire time in the club, he has been Nordsjaelland Handbold a key player to the team • one of Denmark’s currently greatest talents • elegant and hard-shooting playmaker as well in the left wing position, but also a qualified as left back supplement to the back court line of KIF hit by numerous injuries EHF EURO: G 2008, 2012

Lukas Karlsson Torsten Laen centre back line player • joined KIF Kolding from Viborg HK in 2009 • after celebrating several triumphs with GOG, former Danish international went abroad in 2007 • elegant and inventive playmaker bothered by shoulder problems for a long time • won the CL with Ciudad Real in 2008 and reached the FINAL4 in 2012 with Füchse Berlin • apart from orchestrating KIF’s attacking play, he has also turned into one of the team´s most • experienced pivot and defence specialist dangerous shooters joined KIF in the summer of 2013 • married to Norwegian international Ida • proved to be just as important a player in all Bjørndalen aspects of the club’s play as expected

EC trophies: EHFCL 2007/08

Kim Andersson Kasper Irming Andersen right back right wing • nominated for the World Handball Player of • joined KIF Kolding from Aarhus in 2011 the Year 2012, finishing joint-third place behind winner Daniel Narcisse • can play the right wing as well as the right back, where his speed and movability compensate • 2012 was a brilliant year with Olympic silver for his modest height with Sweden and winning the CL with THW Kiel for a third time • able to play the right back position, when the Swedish star Kim Andersson has been injured • his first two seasons with KIF disrupted with a shoulder injury • completely fit in the 2014/15 season after being haunted by injury over the previous three years EC trophies: EHFCL 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 OG: S 2012

83 Current top scorers 2014/15

1 Kiril Lazarov (MKD) FC Barcelona (ESP) 76 2 Timur Dibirov (RUS) HC Vardar (MKD) 69 3 Momir Ilic (SRB) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 67 4 Alexander Dereven (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 62 Dragan Gajic (SLO) Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) 62 6 Mikkel Hansen (DEN) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 61 7 Bo Dybdal Spellerberg (DEN) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) 59 Dmitry Zhitnikov (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 59 9 Manuel Liniger (SUI) Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) 57 Thomas Mogensen (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 57 11 Zsolt Balogh (HUN) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) 56 Karol Bielecki (POL) KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 56 13 Sergiy Onufryienko (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 55 14 (SLO) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) 54 15 Igor Karacic (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) 52 16 Sergii Burka (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 51 17 Rastko Stojkovic (SRB) HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) 49 18 Dean Bombac (SLO) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) 48 Holger Glandorf (GER) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 48 Zlatko Horvat (CRO) HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb (CRO) 48

Bold text indicates players of teams still in the competition.

84 Past Winners

2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER

2013 HSV Hamburg (GER)

2012 THW Kiel (GER)

2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP)

2010 THW Kiel (GER)

2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2008 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2007 THW Kiel (GER)

2006 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP)

2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)

2003 Montpellier HB (FRA)

2002 SC Magdeburg (GER)

2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP)

2000 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1999 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1998 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1997 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1996 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)

1994 TEKA Santander (ESP)

2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 Media Guide by

EHF Media & Communications, 11/03/2015

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Bence Martha, Zoran Milosavljevic, Adrian Costeiu, Magda Pluszewska, Kevin Domas, Amina Idrizi,

Bruno Pinevic, Francisco Miranda, Adria Barrio, Grega Sever, all stats by Roy Knoppert

85 For further information please contact: Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media & Communications +43 1 80151 161 [email protected] Twitter: @ehfmedia

European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH Hoffingergasse 18 Hoffingergasse 18 1120 Vienna 1120 Vienna Austria Austria

Tel +43 1 80151 0 Tel +43 1 80151 200