MEDIA GUIDE Women’s EHF Champions League 2016/17 Season Quarter-finals update
Table of contents
Table of contents
Foreword 4
Media contacts 5
Map of participating clubs 6
Playing system diagrams - stages and dates 8
Road to the TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 2017 10
TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 - media accreditation 13
Facts and figures before the quarter-finals 14
FC Midtjylland vs HC Vardar 15
Metz Handball vs Györi Audi ETO KC 29
CSM Bucuresti vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 43
Buducnost vs Larvik 57
Top scorers after main round 70
All-star team vote presented by UNIQA 71
3 Foreword
Foreword Dear media representatives,
As we count down to the TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 in Budapest on 6/7 May 2016, the next exciting phase of the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League is upon us. There are 92 matches behind us and what remains is a great interfusion of contenders with eight teams from seven countries: Hungary, Romania, FYR Macedonia, Montene- gro, Norway, Denmark and France. The only hurdle standing between the teams and their ticket to Budapest is the quarter-final.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome this mix of well-rehearsed teams who all but Metz have already been amongst the top eight of the continent. It is a maiden trip for the French champions whose previous best was a final in the EHF Cup four years ago.
The constellation of the quarter-final pairings opens several interesting possibilities for the final tournament in the Budapest Papp Laszlo Sportarena as it could give us the very same four teams as the previous edition, but also a completely different quartet with only Larvik and FC Midtjylland boasting previous experience of the season-ending highlight.
Danish side Midtjylland were part of the premiere edition of the OMEN’SW EHF FI- NAL4 in 2014, while Larvik reached the event the following season, but if they want to vie for the privilege of descending upon the final venue they have to succeed in stern tests - Midtjylland face perennial bronze medal winners Vardar and Larvik take on 2012 and 2015 champions Buducnost.
On the contrary to the previous season when the two Hungarian teams met in a merciless quarter-final clash, this time around both Györ and FTC can represent the host nation in Budapest - but only if they overcome their quarter-final obstacles. While the 2013 and 2014 trophy holders from Györ lock horns with Metz, Ferenc- varos will try to eliminate defending champions CSM Bucuresti.
No matter the constellation of the remaining four teams, we dare say that handball fans, both in the arena and in front of their TV screens, are bound to witness the most exciting edition of this event yet. It gives us plenty of satisfaction to announce another strong player will enter the tournament besides the four best teams of the continent after sports betting game TIPPMIX, a product of Hungary’s national lottery, Szerencsejáték Zrt., has become the title sponsor of this year’s event.
We wish all the teams the best of luck in their upcoming quests and all fans in the arenas many exciting moments.
Sporting wishes. Michael Wiederer EHF President
4 Media contacts
EHF/M media contacts
Media matters TV and Radio Vlado Brindzak Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media and Communications Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 161 +43 1 80 151 224 [email protected] [email protected]
Clubs media contacts
FC Midtjylland (DEN) HC Vardar (MKD) Tommy Bögelund Nielsen Ana Stojkov +45 20 70 9305 +38976487779 [email protected] [email protected]
Metz Handball (FRA) Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) Estelle Vogein Tamas Szabo +33 608 258 725 +36 20 505 63 07 estelle.gauvin szabo.tamas.gyorietokc @metz-handball.fr @gmail.com
CSM Bucuresti (ROU) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Florin Sandu Andrea Pordán +40 726 777 533 +36 20 365 8263 florin.sandu@ pordan.andrea csmbucuresti.ro @ftckezilabda.hu
Buducnost (MNE) Larvik HK (NOR) Milos Pavicevic Per Christian Andersen +382 682 226 66 +47 944 39 000 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
EHF Media & Communications 06/04/17 +43 1 80 151 168 [email protected]
Contributors: Björn Pazen, Zoran Milosavljevic, Peter Bruun, Tomas Cuncik, Adrian Costeiu, Nemanja Savic, Bence Martha, Kevin Domas, Sergey Nikolaev, Jelena Bagaric, Amina Idrizi, Michal Pomorski. All stats by Roy Knoppert.
5 Györi Audi WOMEN‘S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IK Sävehof, ETO KC, HUN SWE Season 2016/17 MKS Selgros Glassverket IF, Lublin, POL Teams eliminated in qualification NOR
Teams eliminated in group matches Larvik HK, NOR HC Gomel Teams eliminated in main round BLR
Quarter-finals teams
Team Esbjerg, DEN
IUVENTA Michalovce, SVK FC Midtjylland, DEN
SERCODAK Dalfsen, NED Rostov-Don, RUS Thüringer HC, GER
HC Leipzig Astrakhanochka GER RUS
Metz Handball, FRA
WOMEN‘S EHF FINAL4 Host City Budapest, HUN Balonmano Bera Bera, ESP
CSM Bucuresti, Hypo ROU Niederösterreich, AUT
Ankara RK Krim Yenimahalle BSK, TUR Mercator, SLO
HC Podravka Vegeta, CRO FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria, HUN Indeco WHC Buducnost, HC Vardar, Conversano, ITA MNE MKD Györi Audi WOMEN‘S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IK Sävehof, ETO KC, HUN SWE Season 2016/17 MKS Selgros Glassverket IF, Lublin, POL Teams eliminated in qualification NOR
Teams eliminated in group matches Larvik HK, NOR HC Gomel Teams eliminated in main round BLR
Quarter-finals teams
Team Esbjerg, DEN
IUVENTA Michalovce, SVK FC Midtjylland, DEN
SERCODAK Dalfsen, NED Rostov-Don, RUS Thüringer HC, GER
HC Leipzig Astrakhanochka GER RUS
Metz Handball, FRA
WOMEN‘S EHF FINAL4 Host City Budapest, HUN Balonmano Bera Bera, ESP
CSM Bucuresti, Hypo ROU Niederösterreich, AUT
Ankara RK Krim Yenimahalle BSK, TUR Mercator, SLO
HC Podravka Vegeta, CRO FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria, HUN Indeco WHC Buducnost, HC Vardar, Conversano, ITA MNE MKD Women’s EHF Champions League 2016/17 playing system
Group Matches Main Round FINAL4
4 vs. 1 vs. 3 vs. 2 vs.
rd vs. 3 Place Match vs. vs.
Final Home matches 3 3 1 Total matches 6 6 2 vs.
Season 2016/17 playing dates
Group Matches Main Round FINAL4 10/11.09.2016 14.-16.10.2016 27.-29.01.2017 06.-07.05.2017 21.-23.10.2016 03.-05.02.2017 07.-09.04.2017 28.-30.10.2016 10.-12.02.2017 04.-06.11.2016 24.-26.02.2017 second leg 11.-13.11.2016 03.-05.03.2017 14.-16.04.2017 18.-20.11.2016 10.-12.03.2017 Women’s EHF Champions League 2016/17 playing system
Group Matches Main Round FINAL4
4 vs. 1 vs. 3 vs. 2 vs.
rd vs. 3 Place Match vs. vs.
Final Home matches 3 3 1 Total matches 6 6 2 vs.
Season 2016/17 playing dates
Group Matches Main Round FINAL4 10/11.09.2016 14.-16.10.2016 27.-29.01.2017 06.-07.05.2017 21.-23.10.2016 03.-05.02.2017 07.-09.04.2017 28.-30.10.2016 10.-12.02.2017 04.-06.11.2016 24.-26.02.2017 second leg 11.-13.11.2016 03.-05.03.2017 14.-16.04.2017 18.-20.11.2016 10.-12.03.2017
Women´s EHF Champions league 2016/17
WOMEN'S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016/17 Qualification Tournaments Group Matches Main Round Quarterfinals FINAL4 Tournaments 4 groups with 4 teams 2 groups with 6 teams 8 teams 4 teams 14.-16.10.2016 (1) 27.-29.01.2017 (1) 10./11.09.2016 21.-23.10.2016 (2) 03.-05.02.2017 (2) 07.-09.04.2017 06./07.05.2017 tournaments 28.-30.10.2016 (3) 10.-12.02.2017 (3) first leg tournament played in semi finals 04.-06.11.2016 (4) 24.-26.02.2017 (4) and finals 11.-13.11.2016 (5) 03.-05.03.2017 (5) 14.-16.04.2017 NATION in one venue 18.-20.11.2016 (6) 10.-12.03.2017 (6) second leg
DRAWS: 29 June 2016 in Vienna/AUT 01 July 2016 in Glostrup/DEN no draw no draw 18.4.2017
1 MNE 1 Buducnost 2 HUN 1 Györi AUDI ETO KC 3 MKD 1 HC Vardar 4 NOR 1 Larvik HK 5 ROU 1 CSM Bucuresti 6 DEN 1 Team Esbjerg
7 RUS 1 Astrakhanochka 8 GER 1 Thüringer HC 9 SWE 1 IK Sävehof 10 FRA 1 Metz HB 11 HUN 2 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria 12 DEN 2 FC Midtylland 13 RUS 2 Rostov Don 14 NOR 2 Glassverket IF 15 GER 2 HC Leipzig 16 SLO 1 RK Krim Mercator 17 AUT 1 Hypo NÖ 18 CRO 1 HC Podravka Vegeta 19 POL 1 MKS Selgros Lublin 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team of the of team placed 4th and 3rd 2nd, 1st, 20 ITA 1 Indeco Conversano 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed team from each group group each from team placed 3rd and 2nd 1st, WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Main Round Main League Champions EHF WOMEN'S
21 ESP 1 Balonmano Bera Bera tournaments 22 NED 1 Sercodak Dalfsen
23 BLR 1 HC Gomel Quarterfinals League Champions EHF WOMEN'S of Winners 4
24 TUR 1 Yenimahalle BSK Winners of the 3 Qualification 25 SVK 1 Iuventa Michalovce
3 groups with 4 teams
4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to EHF Cup Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to EHF Cup Rd 3
12 status: 5.10.2016 WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 tickets on sale
TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4
Sports betting game TIPPMIX, a product of that we acquired Szerencsejáték Zrt. as the Hungary’s national lottery, Szerencsejáték Zrt., title sponsor of this showpiece event. We have will be the title sponsor of this year’s WOMEN’S had a fruitful cooperation with the company EHF FINAL4. The event’s official name will be the in recent years and the agreement for the EHF TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 2017, with the Papp László FINAL4 marks another milestone for women’s Sportaréna in Budapest playing host on 6/7 May. club handball,” said Hungarian Handball Federation President, Máté Kocsis. The title sponsorship was announced in Budapest March at the Elek Gyula Arena ahead Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com of the Hungarian domestic league match between WOMEN’S EHF Champions League TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 Media participants FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and Győri Accreditation Audi ETO KC. The media professionals can submit their “For us, women’s handball in general, and in accreditation request for the TIPPMIX EHF particular the EHF FINAL4, has always been a FINAL4 here: safe bet when it comes to arousing sponsors’ https://accreditation.ehf.eu/clwomen/ interest. With Szerencsejáték Zrt. and TIPPMIX Requests for media accreditation should we have secured a title sponsor which is already be made by Friday 21 April 2017. Media active in the sport and we are looking forward accreditation is only open to professional to a successful cooperation,” said EHF Marketing media representatives working at the event. Managing Director David Szlezak. Freelance media representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their “2017 will be the fourth edition of the WOMEN’S work. There are limited places and it may EHF FINAL4 in Budapest, and we are very happy not be possible to accept all requests for accreditations.
13 Facts and figures
Facts and figures: Györ ahead nearly in all departments
Eight teams from seven different countries proceeded to the quarter-finals of the Women’s EHF Champions League, including four former winners and six participants of the previous TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 events. Definitely one former champion will make it to Budapest, as Buducnost face Larvik. No team is still unbeaten, but the two-time champion Györi Audi ETO KC have imprinted the main round with an unbeaten run, the second most effective attack, most effective defence, best goal difference and highest number of fans at their games.
0 points were taken by Krim Ljubljana in their six main round matches; making them the weakest of the 12 teams. 9 main round matches ended with a difference of 10 or 0 teams won all of their matches so far - including the more goals (including the respective group matches it group matches. would be 14). 0 teams have defended their title at the FINAL4 in Budapest in the three editions so far. 11 from 12 points in Györ’s six main round matches was the best outcome of all of the 12 teams 0 quarter-finals are made up by teams from the same country. 15 times in the 36 main round matches was the away team victorious (eight in Group 1, seven in Group 2). 0 teams, which entered the competition in the qualifi- Including the respective group matches, 22 times the cation, have made it to the quarter-finals. away team won. 16 main round matches were attended by 3,000 or more spectators (including the respective group 1 matches it would have been 27). club is represented both in the quarter-finals of VELUX and Women’s EHF Champions League: Macedonian 17 from 20 possible points were taken by Györ in the champions HC Vardar Skopje. six main round plus four respective group matches. 1 nation is represented by two quarter-finalists: Hun- 18 times in the 36 main round matches, was the home gary (Györ and FTC). team the winner, in each group nine times. Including the respective group matches it is 34 away wins. 3 of 36 main round matches (plus three from the group phase, which were taken to the next stage) 19 goals was the biggest final margin in the main ended with draws. round matches, when Metz beat Astrakhan 37:18. 4 former Champions League winners, with six trophies 43 goals in the match Esbjerg vs Midtjylland (22:21) between them, are still in the race for the 2016/17 was the overall lowest score of the main round. title: Bucuresti (2016), Buducnost (2012, 2015), Györ (2013, 2014) and Larvik (2011). 70 goals scored in the match Metz vs Vardar (42:28) was the highest score of the main round. 5 main round matches ended with 60 or more goals, including the respective group matches. +71 goals of Györ was the best overall goal difference of all ten respective matches 6 quarter-finalists of the previous season are back in that stage this season: Bucuresti, Györ (both finalists), 234 goals conceded by Györ in all respective ten Vardar, Buducnost (both FINAL4 participants), Larvik matches means they had the most effective defence. and FTC. Metz and Midtjylland replace last year’s quarter-finalists Rostov-Don and Baia Mare. 311 goals scored by Vardar in all respective ten match- es was the most effective attack. 6 teams, which had already qualified for the three previous FINAL4 events, have qualified for the quar- 5,173 spectators in average attended Györ’s three ter-finals: Midtjylland (2014), Vardar (2014, 2015, main round home matches. 2016), Györ (2014, 2016), Buducnost (2014, 2015, 2016), Larvik (2015) an Bucuresti (2016). 7 nations are represented by the eight quarter-fi- 5,273 nalists: Hungary (2), Romania, Norway, Macedonia, spectators were at the match Györ vs Larvik making it France, Denmark and Montenegro. While Russian the highest main round attendance. teams - compared to 2016 – have missed out on the knock-out stage; Denmark and France are in.
14 Group A preview
FC Midtjylland vs HC Vardar
First leg: Sunday 9 April 2017, 17:00 hrs
Second leg: Saturday 15 April 2017, 17:30 hrs
MIDTJYLLAND PUT FAITH IN HOME GROUND STATISTIC Even though HC Vardar have won their last three matches against FC Midtjylland, the home team seek confidence in their strong performances at home this season, while Vardar playmaker Andrea Lekic sees patient attacking play as a key to success for her team. The results between the two teams speak in the favour of Vardar before the first leg of the quarter-final in Ikast Sunday. The Macedonian side have won the last three matches against FC Midtjylland more or less clearly. The two teams met in the match for the third place at the very first Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest in 2014. On that occasion, Vardar won 34:31, while the Macedonian wins were considerably clearer, as the two clubs met in the group matches of the Champions League last season. Back then, Vardar won 33:24 at home and 25:15 away. However, Midtjylland find confidence in another statistic: Their fine home record in the Champions League this season, where they have won five out of six home matches. Larvik are the only team who have been able to win in Ikast, while teams such as Györi Audi ETO KC, CSM Bucuresti and Rostov-Don have all been defeated in the IBF Arena. “We have not got the best possible statistic against Vardar, but we put faith in our fine performances at home this season. Vardar are a great team, but so were Györ and CSM. This makes us confident that at home we can found the sensation it would be to eliminate Vardar,” Midtjylland coach Kristian Kristensen tells ehfCL.com. “For the moment, we focus entirely on our home match Sunday. “We only hope we can perform so well that we are not swept completely off the board before we travel to Skopje for the return match,” he adds. “You could say that we are favourites, but I still expect a tough first match anyway,” Vardar playmaker Andrea Lekic tells ehfCL.com. “Midtjylland have been very strong at home this season. They have a lot of individually highly skilled players, and they are a team who like to run a lot. If we are going to be successful in that game, we will need to play very patiently on our attack, and furthermore, we need our defensive runs to be very fast in order to stop their fast breaks. “I will not say in advance, what would be a good result for us in the first match, but of course, a win is always a good result!” adds Andrea Lekic. Peter Bruun Historic encounters of the opponents in the EC
FC Midtjylland vs HC Vardar 1-0-4 (118:140) 2:8
15.02.2014 WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 24:23 (10:12) 02.03.2014 FC Midtjylland vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 25:24 (15:9) 04.05.2014 WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 34:31 (14:12) 01.11.2015 HC Vardar vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League – Group C 33:24 (16:8) 08.11.2015 FC Midtjylland vs HC Vardar, EHF Champions League – Group C 15:25 (11:12)
15 FC Midtjylland
4th place GROUP 2 FC Midtjylland The Danish side are hoping to emulate the 2013/14 season, when they went all the way to Budapest and their start to the campaign was truly unexpected. In a loaded group alongside Györ, CSM Bucuresti and Rostov, Midtjylland were giv- en little to no chance, but the Danish side had amazing games, especially at home, where they swept the three powerhouses. Losing Eliza Buceschi and Fie Woller, who left this winter, will hurt the Danish club’s depth, as Midtjylland will rely again on their backs, with Stine Jorgensen and Club Address Veronica Kristiansen having superb appearances in the first half of the season. FC Midtjylland Midtjylland continued in their impressive domestic performances in the main Stadion Alle 2B round too as they beat Esbjerg and Krim and their only home defeat to Larvik they 7430 Ikast compensated with a win at Krim. Denmark MAIN ROUND GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS Media contact Tommy Bögelund Nielsen 1. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 8 1 1 305:234 (71) 17 +45 20 70 9305 2. Larvik 10 5 2 3 279:271 (8) 12 [email protected] 3. CSM Bucuresti 10 5 1 4 265:257 (8) 11
www.fcm-haandbold.dk 4. FC Midtjylland 10 5 0 5 250:241 (9) 10 5. RK Krim Mercator 10 3 0 7 238:290 (-52) 6 FCMHaandbold 6. Team Esbjerg 10 2 0 8 251:295 (-44) 4
GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND @ Györi Audi ETO KC L31:19 (16:7) vs Team Esbjerg W38:26 (17:19) Kit colours vs CSM Bucuresti W24:21 (9:10) @ Larvik L24:22 (9:11) @ Rostov-Don L26:20 (13:12) vs RK Krim Mercator W28:19 (13:11) Light vs Rostov-Don W25:23 (13:10) @ Team Esbjerg L22:21 (14:11) Player shirt: white vs Györi Audi ETO KC W27:23 (15:10) vs Larvik L24:28 (11:18) Player short: purple CSM Bucuresti L26:20 (12:9) @ RK Krim Mercator W21:27 (9:10) GK shirt: blue/red/yellow
Dark Past achievements Player shirt: purple Women’s EHF Champions League Player short: purple Participations (including 2016/17 season): 9 GK shirt: blue/red/yellow Semi-finals (2): 2002/03, 2013/14 Quarter-finals (2): 1998/99, 2004/05 Main Round (4): 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2015/16 Group Matches (1): 2003/04 Qualification (1): 2014/15
Playing hall Other IBF Arena Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 2003/04, 2014/15, Stadion Allé 2b semi-finals 1999/2000 7430 Ikast EHF Cup: winners 2001/02, 2010/11, run- Denmark ners-up 2006/07, semi-finals 2007/08, 2012/13 Capacity: 2,250 City Cup: winners 1997/98, runners-up 1996/97, semi-finals 1994/95
Danish league: 4 titles (1998, 2011, 2013, 2015) Danish cup: 3 titles
16 FC Midtjylland
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 34:18 (16:10) v Motor Zaporoshje UKR (h), 14.11.1998 Biggest defeat 24:38 (14:19) v Viborg HK DEN (h), 07.02.2009 Longest winning run 5 matches (22.02.2004 – 30.01.2005) Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (22.02.2004 – 12.02.2005) Longest losing run 7 matches (18.01.2009 – 21.03.2009) MATCHES Longest run without win 9 matches (03.01.2009 – 21.03.2009) Longest winning run 5 Most goals 38 v Team Esbjerg DEN 38:26W (h), 29.01.2017 Most goals opponent 38 v Viborg HK DEN 24:38L (h), 07.02.2009 GOALS Most goals Most goals both teams 67 v CBM Astroc Sagunto ESP 37:30L (a), 19.02.2005 38 Fewest goals 15 v Buducnost MNE 22:15L (a), 03.11.2013
GOALS 15 v HC Vardar MKD 15:25L (h), 08.11.2015 67 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 17 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), 01.10.2011 Fewest goals both teams 36 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), 01.10.2011
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 1998/99 Ikast FS DEN 8 4 2 2 198:173 +25 10:6 1/4-finals 2002/03 Ikast Bording EH DEN 10 5 0 5 266:266 0 10:10 1/2-finals 2003/04 Ikast Bording EH DEN 6 3 0 3 162:159 +3 6:6 3rd Gr. B 2004/05 Ikast Bording EH DEN 8 5 1 2 233:226 +7 11:5 1/4-finals 2008/09 Ikast-Brande EH DEN 12 3 1 8 325:367 -42 7:17 4th MR Gr. 1 2011/12 FC Midtjylland DEN 12 6 0 6 290:283 +7 12:12 4th MR Gr. 1 2013/14 FC Midtjylland DEN 14 8 1 5 365:349 +16 17:11 Fourth Place 2015/16 FC Midtjylland DEN 12 4 1 7 286:309 –23 9:15 5th MR Gr. 2 2016/17 FC Midtjylland DEN 6 3 0 3 135:150 –15 6:6 Total: 88 41 6 41 2260:2282 -22 88:88
17 FC Midtjylland
Kristian Kristensen coach • has been working as assistant coach in the club for two years • became temporary head coach as Helle Thomsen left in August, shortly after he was made permanent head coach for the rest of this season • has the highest coaching exam in Europe, EHF Master Coach • has experience as men’s as well as women’s coach in several clubs in Denmark as well as abroad • in between, he had found time to work as a TV commentator beside his coaching job
Late entries: Left the club: None Fie Woller (SG BBM Bietigheim) Eliza Buceschi (HC Dunarea Braila)
18 FC Midtjylland
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 24 Mie Augustesen DEN L e ft W i n g 19.7.1988 Hedensted, DEN 177 7 Linn Blohm SWE L i n e P l a y e r 20.5.1992 Stockholm, SWE 180 27 Louise Burgaard DEN R i g h t B a c k 17.10.1992 Esbjerg, DEN 178 4 Louise Hansegaard Ellebaek DEN L e ft B a c k 10.3.1998 Morsø, DEN 16 Sabine Englert GER G o a l k e e p e r 27.11.1981 Aschaffenburg, GER 185 14 Emma Friis DEN L e ft W i n g 31.10.1999 Herning, DEN 175 C 9 Sabina Jacobsen SWE Back 24.3.1989 Lund, SWE 181 11 Laura Cecilie Jensen DEN L e ft B a c k 2.5.1999 Billund, DEN 169 25 Trine Ostergaard Jensen DEN R i g h t W i n g 17.10.1991 Skanderborg, DEN 165 6 Stine Jörgensen DEN L e ft B a c k 3.9.1990 Brønderslev, DEN 180 26 Rut Jónsdóttir ISL R i g h t B a c k 21.7.1990 Reykjavik, ISL 176 10 Veronica Kristiansen NOR L e ft B a c k 10.7.1990 Stavanger, NOR 172 18 Elin Linden SWE R i g h t W i n g 29.9.1988 Arboga LF, SWE 170 2 Mette Brandt Nielsen DEN Centre Back 27.3.1998 Svendborg, SWE 12 Clara Bak Pedersen DEN G o a l k e e p e r 1.2.1999 Ikast-Brande, DEN 20 Sabine Pedersen DEN L i n e P l a y e r 5.5.1986 Aalborg, DEN 180 8 Simone Petersen DEN Centre Back 28.8.1997 Ringsted, DEN 165 1 Martina Thörn SWE G o a l k e e p e r 21.2.1991 Västerås, SWE 178
Top scorers after main round 1 Stine Jørgensen 71 2 Veronica Kristiansen 49 3 Louise Katharina Burgaard 39 4 Trine Østergaard Jensen 38 5 Sabine Pedersen 29
19 FC Midtjylland
Sabine Englert goalkeeper • former German national team player started playing at the age of 5 in Aschaffenburg, in the same mixed team with Nantes winger Dominik Klein • only a few days after signing the contract with FCM in the early spring 2008, she played in her future home, the Ikast Brande Arena, with Hypo NÖ • on the same occasion she sustained a knee injury, but since then, she has had happier memories of the hall
EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2015 EHF Cup 2011, Challenge Cup: 2005 WCh: B 2007
Mie Augustesen left wing • playing her third season with FC Midtjylland after joining from league rivals København Håndbold in 2014 • has played 69 internationals for Denmark and scored 235 goals, but has not been nominated for the national team in recent years • relatively tall for a winger in women´s handball, 1.77m, and a versatile wing with a fine variation of shots from her position
Stine Jörgensen left back • joined Midtjylland from Aalborg DH in 2013 • tall (180 cm) movable left back with a good and varied shot • key player in the Danish national team as well as with Midtjylland; awarded Danish national team player of the year 2016 • has a prominent boyfriend, Danish badminton star Jan E. Jørgensen
WCh: B 2013
Veronica Kristiansen centre back • joined Midtjylland from Glassverket in the summer of 2015 • her sister Jeanette is playing for Norwegian top club Vipers Kristiansand • versatile playmaker with a fine eye for her teammates and good at making herself dangerous too; in Midtjylland almost entirely known under her nickname Vicki • Midtjylland is her first foreign club after a career in four different Norwegian clubs
OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2014, 2016, WCh: G 2017
20 FC Midtjylland
Linn Blohm line player • joined Midtjylland in the summer of 2016 from league rivals TTH Holstebro • gained her first CL experience with IK Sävehof already in the 2010/11 season and played with the perennial Swedish champions in three more CL campaigns • made a change from the left back position in 2010 which saw her get a place in the national team
EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2016, EHF Cup 2015 EURO: B 2014
Louise Burgaard right back • made her first appearances in the Danish league at 17 with KIF Vejen; joined FCM from Viborg in the summer of 2015, played also for Team Tvis Holstebro (summer 2013) • debuted in the Denmark national team at 19, later became a regular in the squad • won her first senior Danish titles with Viborg – Danish cup and Danish championship 2013/14
EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 WCh: B 2013
Sabina Jacobsen right back • joined Midtjylland ahead of the 2014/15 season from Danish league rivals Randers • team captain of Midtjylland has been playing in Denmark since 2012, when she joined Randers from HF Lugi in Lund, the town where she was born • her greatest importance to the team is in the defence, where she is just as provident as she is uncompromising • also a fine support to the attack, she can play all three positions in the back court line
EURO: B 2014
Trine Ostergaard Jensen right wing • ever since she started playing handball at the age of nine, has been ambitious • key player for FCM, particularly after former Danish international Maibritt Kviesgaard left in the summer of 2013; in 2012 she also made her debut for Denmark • third best scorer of FCM in their successful 2013/14 campaign to the FINAL4 in Budapest and fourth best team’s scorer in the 2014/15 season crowned with the Cup Winners’ Cup trophy EC trophy: Cup Winner’s Cup 2015
21 HC Vardar
1st place GROUP 1 HC Vardar The team from Skopje qualified for Women’s EHF FINAL4 three times in a row, but have become perennial bronze medallists. Willing to finally claim the most prestigious European trophy, last summer Vardar strengthened their squad, singing a number of high-profile players such as Brazilian goalkeeper Mayssa Pessoa, Nor- way’s left wing Camilla Herrem and French right back Alexandra Lacrabere. Following the start of the season, Vardar also changed coach, replacing Indira Kas- tratovic with David Davis. His arrival gave a boost to the Macedonian side as they easily qualified for the main round. In the group phase, Vardar boasted by far the Club Address best attacking record in the competition with 220 goals and the best overall goal HC Vardar difference of +72. They maintained the best attack in the league in the main round Bul.Asnom br.1 (311 goals) and broke the club record with eight straight wins. However, they lost 1000 Skopje FYRO Macedonia two in a row afterwards, including the biggest defeat in their history (28:42 at Metz) and David Davis was replaced by Irina Dibirova. Media contact Ana Stojkov MAIN ROUND GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS +38976487779 1. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 311:279 (32) 15 [email protected] 2. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 6 2 2 290:265 (25) 14 3. Buducnost 10 7 0 3 286:248 (38) 14 www.zrkvardar.mk 4. Metz Handball 10 5 0 5 273:238 (35) 10 ZRK-Vardar-SCBT 5. Thüringer HC 10 2 1 7 257:286 (-29) 5 @zrkvardar 6. Astrakhanochka 10 1 0 9 229:330 (-101) 2
GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND Kit colours vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hung. D27:27 (17:14) @ Buducnost W28:31 (16:16) Light vs HC Leipzig W41:24 (19:14) vs Metz Handball W23:21 (13:11) Player shirt: white @ Astrakhanochka W26:31 (13:14) @ Thüringer HC W29:31 (13:18) Player short: black vs Astrakhanochka W39:25 (18:13) vs Buducnost L28:31 (16:17) GK shirt: green vs HC Vardar W24:37 (12:21) @ Metz Handball L42:28 (19:16) @ HC Leipzig W22:45 (9:22) vs Thüringer HC W36:26 (19:12) Dark Player shirt: red Past achievements Player short: red GK shirt: black Women’s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2016/17 season): 4 Semi-finals (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 (third rank at EHF FINAL4)
Other EHF Cup: Last 16: 2012/13
Macedonian league: 4 titles (2013, 2014, 2015, Playing hall 2016) Jane Sandanski Macedonian cup: 4 titles Bubl. Avnoj b.b 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,500
22 HC Vardar
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 22:45 (9:22) v HC Leipzig GER (a), 19.11.2016 Biggest defeat 42:28 (19:16) v Metz Handball FRA (a), 05.03.2017 Longest winning run 8 matches (29.10.2016 – 12.02.2017) Longest unbeaten run 10 matches (8.5.2016 – 12.02.2017) Longest losing run 2 matches (22.11.2014 – 30.01.2015) MATCHES 2 matches (10.04.2016 – 07.05.2016) Longest winning run 8 2 matches (26.02.2017 – 05.03.2017) Longest run without win 3 matches (16.11.2014 – 30.01.2015) GOALS Most goals Most goals 47 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015 47 Most goals opponent 42 v Metz Handball 42:28L (a), 05.03.2017
GOALS Most goals both teams 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015 76 Most goals both teams Fewest goals 17 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014 17 v Buducnost MNE 27:17L (a), 09.05.2015 Fewest goals opponent 17 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 17:35W (a), 03.11.2013 Fewest goals both teams 40 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 2013/14 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 14 9 3 2 393:333 +60 21:7 Third Place 2014/15 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 16 9 2 5 435:403 +32 20:12 Third Place 2015/16 HC Vardar MKD 16 11 0 5 456:399 +57 22:10 Third Place 2016/17 HC Vardar MKD 6 5 1 0 220:148 +72 11:1 Total: 52 34 6 12 1504:1283 +221 74:30
23 HC Vardar
Irina Dibirova (Poltoratskaya) coach • legendary Russian handball player with numerous trophies • retired from handball in 2010 • made her coaching debut in the last match of the CL main round 2016/17 against Thüringer • becames Vardar’s fourth coach in the single season 2016/17 • her husband is Timur Dibirov who is currently playing in Vardar’s men squad
EC trophies: CL 2005,2008, EHF Cup 2007, Cup Winners’ Cup 2002 OG: S 2008, WCh: G 2001,2005,2007, EURO: S 2006, B 2008 (all as player)
Late entries: Left the club: Marija Petrovic (SRB) Alena Ikhneva (RUS)
24 HC Vardar
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 20 Anja Althaus GER L i n e P l a y e r 3.9.1982 Magdeburg, GER 177 27 Andrea Covic CRO L i n e P l a y e r 9.10.1993 Sinj, CRO 174 11 Sanja Damnjanovic SRB L e ft B a c k 25.5.1987 Beograd, SRB 182 7 Camilla Herrem NOR L e ft W i n g 8.10.1986 Sola, NOR 166 30 Alena Ikhneva RUS L e ft B a c k 30.7.1995 Orenburg, RUS 183 21 Dziyana Ilyina BLR Centre Back 4.1.1996 Gomel, BLR 172 71 Tatiana Khmyrova RUS R i g h t B a c k 6.2.1990 Volgograd, RUS 180 5 Andrea Klikovac MNE R i g h t B a c k 5.5.1991 Podgorica, MNE 174 64 Alexandra Lacrabere FRA R i g h t B a c k 27.4.1987 Pau, FRA 177 15 Barbara Lazovic SLO R i g h t B a c k 4.1.1988 Brezice, SLO 183 77 Andrea Lekic SRB Centre Back 6.9.1987 Beograd, SRB 178 12 Amandine Leynaud FRA G o a l k e e p e r 2.5.1986 Aubenas, FRA 178 8 Tamara Mavsar SLO L e ft W i n g 1.4.1991 Ljubljana, SLO 173 23 Andrea Penezic CRO L e ft B a c k 13.11.1985 Zagreb, CRO 186 84 Mayssa Raquel Pessoa De Oliveira BRA G o a l k e e p e r 11.9.1984 Joao Pessoa, BRA 177 4 Jovanka Radicevic MNE R i g h t W i n g 23.10.1986 Podgorica, MNE 169 91 Sara Ristovska MKD R i g h t W i n g 9.9.1996 Skopje, MKD 169 C 31 Inna Suslina RUS G o a l k e e p e r 5.1.1979 Tashkent, RUS 188
Top scorers after main round 1 Andrea Penezic 74 2 Jovanka Radicevic 53 3 Andrea Lekic 43 4 Alexandra Lacrabere 40 5 Camilla Herrem 31
25 HC Vardar
Amandine Leynaud goalkeeper • played the CL for seven years straight with the club she began handball with, Metz • moved to Valcea, Romania in 2012, where she suffered a knee injury • “Doudou” has been one of the crucial players in Vardar’s squad in 2015/16 • CL All-star team nominee in 2015/16 • in the three seasons she spent with Vardar won three bronze medals in the CL OG: S 2016, WCh: S 2009, S 2011, EURO: B 2016
Camilla Herrem left wing • started her career in Sola and also played for Team Tvis Holstebro, Byåsen HE and HCM Baia Mare • at the beginning of the 2016/17 season joined HC Vardar and became the first Norwegian player that moved to Macedonia • best left wing in the WCh 2009 and EHF EURO 2016 All-star Teams • her husband Steffen Stegavik plays the CL for Elverum
OG: G 2012, B 2016, WCh: G 2011, 2015, B 2009, EURO: G 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, S 2012
Andrea Penezic left back • extended her contract with Vardar until 2017 • raised the Slovenian title and cup four times with Krim Mercator • best left back in the All-Star Team at the WCh 2011 • became Croatian player of the year six times with Lokomotiva and Podravka • together with Cristina Neagu the top scorer of the 2014/15 season with 102 goals • EHF Player of the Month in March 2016 and CL All-star team nominee in 2015/16
Andrea Lekic centre back • competed in karate and reached the blue belt before moving on to ball sports including volleyball, basketball, football and tennis • 2013 World Handball Player of the Year, All-star team at the EHF EURO 2012 • organises her own handball camp every other year • her only CL title is from her time with Györ in 2012/13 • won three consecutive bronze medals in the CL; extended her contract until 2017
EC trophies: CL 2013, WCh: S 2013
26 HC Vardar
Anja Althaus line player • first German player to play in FYR Macedonia • switched from being a designer in advertising to a hairdresser, and is known as stylist to her teammates in both her club and the national team • won two CL titles with Viborg (2009, 2010) • one of the most famous German players with over 200 caps for Germany and more than 500 goals; best defensive player of the EHF EURO 2012 EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010 WCh: B 2007, Junior WCh: B 2001
Alexandra Lacrabere right back • in 2016 signed one-year contract with Vardar, the club number 10 in her career • best player of the French championship in the 2011/12 season • best scorer in the French championship in 2011/12 (125 goals) and in 2013/14 (129) • besides France, spent one season in Russia – Zvezda Zvenigord and Spain - Akaba Bera Bera
OG: S 2016, WCh: S 2011, EURO: B 2006, 2016
Barbara Lazovic right back • arrived from Krim together with Andrea Penezic in the summer of 2014 • before she joined Vardar she played only for Krim besides a year-long stint with Zajecar, Serbia • married to Vuk Lazovic, a handball player from Serbia • contemplated a switch to Serbia, but remained loyal to the Slovenian national team • won two bronze medals with Vardar in the CL and became CL All-Star nominee in the 2015/16 season
Jovanka Radicevic right wing • as the daughter of a handball player, started playing handball at the age of 12 • best right wing at the EHF EURO 2012 and at the WCh 2015 • voted for the 2015/16 CL All-Star Team as the best right wing • won the CL title with Györ together with Andrea Lekic in 2012/13 • with Buducnost, she won seven championships and cup titles in Montenegro (2005- 2011), two regional league titles (2010, 2011) and two titles in the Cup Winners’ Cup OG: S 2012 EC trophies: CL 2013, Cup Winners’ Cup 2006, 2010 OG: S 2012, EURO: G 2012
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140917_UNQ_Handball_A5.indd 1 9/18/14 14:29 PM Group A preview
Metz Handball vs Györi Audi ETO
First leg: Sunday 9 April 2017, 17:00 hrs
Second leg: Saturday 15 April 2017, 19:00 hrs
METZ FEEL NO PRESSURE BEFORE FIRST LEG AGAINST GYÖR For the first time ever, Metz Handball managed to reach the quarter finals of the EHF Champions League and they’re about to face Györ a club that has won the competition twice in the recent years and that’s made of the Final Four the ultimate goal to reach in its season. Put it like that, and you wouldn’t give the French side many chances to make it to Budapest, but trainer Manu Mayonnade feels relatively confident. “The pressure will be on them, and they sure have watched our large win against Vardar Skopje. This game gave us confidence but I think it also acted as a warning for our opponents. Anyone who’ll come to Metz will be in danger of losing,” he says. In fact, Metz has been one of the strongest teams at home this season. If Vardar was reduced to pieces (42:28) in Les Arènes, 2015 winner Buducnost met the same fate (25:28) and so did Thüringer (18:25). The only team who came back home from Metz with a win were FTC-Rail Cargo (25:28). But that was at the beginning of the season and it seems like the Metz ship is now cruising at full speed, following Ana Gros’ trail. With 70 goals scored, the Slovenian right back is the seventh best scorer of the competition at the moment and has played two years with Györ in the past. And while she thinks that the Hungarian side remains favourite, she’s confident Metz could cause it some trouble: “This will be very tough, for sure, Györ is the best team in Europe in my opinion. But this confrontation is only two games, and the key will be to win at home. If we do, then anything’s possible in the return leg. But the key for us will be to gain a win as large as possible in Metz.” Thinkonepassion In Hungary, the mood is cautious, because everybody know that a Final Four ticket will not be given away by Metz. The girls will have to fight for it. “Metz might be newcomer at this level, but they’ve shown this season that they were able to beat everyone at home. Beating Vardar and Buducnost was no accident, there’s quality in every position and they have made much progress lately. They’re, in my opinion, stronger can reach than the team we met two seasons ago,” said coach Ambros Martin. Strong enough to defeat Györ, a team that has lost only game since the beginning of the Champions League many campaign, against FC Midtjylland. The Hungarian side has beaten along the way CSM Bucuresti, the title holder, Rostov-Don and had secured its quarter-finals ticket two games before the end of the main round. Even the statistics are going Györ’s way, since it has beaten Metz five times in as many Champions League countries. games since 2007. The UNIQA Group is one of Kevin Domas the leading insurance groups Historic encounters of the opponents in the EC in its core markets of Austria Metz Handball vs Györi Audi ETO KC 0-0-5 (121:149) 0:10 and Central and Eastern Europe 30.09.2007 Györi Audi ETO vs HB Metz Moselle Lorraine, EHF Champions League – Qualification 2 30:27 (15:12) with over 40 companies in 09.10.2011 Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Metz Handball, EHF Champions League – Group C 28:23 (16:13) 19 countries and more than 30.10.2011 Metz Handball vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Group C 24:33 (7:17) 14.02.2015 Györi Audi ETO KC vs Metz Handball, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 31:27 (15:11) 9.3 million customers. 15.03.2015 Metz Handball vs Györi Audi ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 20:27 (8:12) www.uniqagroup.com
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140917_UNQ_Handball_A5.indd 1 9/18/14 14:29 PM Metz Handball
4th place GROUP 1 Metz Handball The French team are in their 18th season in Europe’s top flight, yet they have never made it past the main round, so reaching the quarter-finals has become an import- ant milestone in club history. Their capability to upset favourites has been proven when they sensationally beat Buducnost at home. It was a peak of the team’s performance which was not always consistent but generally marked with an excellent defence. Just 133 conceded goals in six games was the best result among all 16 participants Club Address of the group matches stage. In the main round their quarter-final hopes were en- Metz Handball dangered only after the opening defeats with FTC and Vardar, but Metz won three 20 Rue des Mirabelles out of their four last games and easily reached the berth among top eight. 57050 Metz France MAIN ROUND GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS Media contact 1. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 311:279 (32) 15 Estelle Vogein +33 608 258 725 2. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 6 2 2 290:265 (25) 14 estelle.gauvin@ 3. Buducnost 10 7 0 3 286:248 (38) 14 metz-handball.fr 4. Metz Handball 10 5 0 5 273:238 (35) 10 metz-handball.com 5. Thüringer HC 10 2 1 7 257:286 (-29) 5 MetzHandballOfficiel 6. Astrakhanochka 10 1 0 9 229:330 (-101) 2 @MetzHandball GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND @ Buducnost L21:19 (11:10) vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria L25:28 (14:13) vs Thüringer HC W25:18 (11:10) @ HC Vardar L23:21 (13:11) Kit colours @ Glassverket W22:24 (8:15) vs Astrakhanochka W37:18 (17:10) Light vs Glassverket W25:19 (12:10) @ FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria L29:23 (15:10) Player shirt: yellow vs Buducnost W28:25 (14:16) vs HC Vardar W42:28 (19:16) Player short: blue @ Thüringer HC L28:25 (15:11) @ Astrakhanochka W20:28 (13:11) GK shirt: red
Dark Past achievements Player shirt: black Women’s EHF Champions League Player short: black Participations (including 2016/17 season): 18 GK shirt: blue Main Round (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 Last 16 (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Matches (8): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2013/14 Qualification (4): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, Playing hall 2007/08 “Les Arenes” Metz Other 5 av. Rue Louis le Debonnaire EHF Cup: Runners-up 2012/13, quarter-final 57000 Metz 2000/01, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08 France Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 1998/99, Capacity: 4,500 2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11 French league: 20 titles (1989, 1990, 1993- 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004-2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016) French cup: 7 titles
30 Metz Handball
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 37:18 (17:10) v Astrakhanochka RUS (h), 11.02.2017 Biggest defeat 34:17 (13:10) v Mar El Osito L’Eliana ESP (a), 25.01.1998 Longest winning run 4 matches (22.10.2016 – 11.11.2016) Longest unbeaten run 4 matches (22.10.2016 – 11.11.2016) Longest losing run 6 matches (11.01.2003 – 01.11.2008) MATCHES Longest run without win 8 matches (10.11.1996 – 15.11.1997) Longest winning run 4 8 matches (04.02.2012 – 12.10.2013) Most goals 42 v HC Vardar MKD 42:28W (h), 05.03.2017 GOALS Most goals Most goals opponent 37 v Viborg HK DEN 24:37L (h), 01.11.2008 42 37 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 30:37L (h), 24.10.2009
GOALS Most goals both teams 70 v HC Vardar MKD 42:28W (h), 05.03.2017 70 Most goals both teams Fewest goals 14 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 27:14L (a), 17.11.1996 Fewest goals opponent 17 v Byasen Trondheim NOR 16:17L (h), 10.11.1996 Fewest goals both teams 33 v Byasen Trondheim NOR 16:17L (h), 10.11.1996
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 1996/97 ASPTT Metz FRA 6 0 2 4 108:137 –29 2:10 4th Gr. C 1997/98 ASPTT Metz HB FRA 6 1 1 4 135:166 –31 3:9 4th Gr. B 1999/00 ASPTT Metz FRA 6 3 0 3 130:121 +9 6:6 3rd Gr. A 2002/03 Handball Metz Metropole FRA 6 1 0 5 142:176 –34 2:10 4th Gr. D 2008/09 Metz Handball FRA 6 2 0 4 173:188 -15 4:8 3rd Gr. D 2009/10 Metz Handball FRA 6 2 1 3 163:174 -11 5:7 3rd Gr. B 2011/12 Metz Handball FRA 12 3 1 8 298:322 -24 7:17 4th MR Gr. 2 2013/14 Metz Handball FRA 6 3 0 3 149:144 +5 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2014/15 Metz Handball FRA 12 3 1 8 305:318 –13 7:17 5th MR Gr. 2 2016/17 Metz Handball FRA 6 4 0 2 146:133 +13 8:4 Total: 72 22 6 44 1749:1879 –130 50:94
31 Metz Handball
Emmanuel Mayonnade coach since 2016 • the youngest coach in the 2016/17 CL season (33 years) • started coaching at 23 in Mios Biganos, a club he left last winter for Metz when it suffered bankruptcy • before leaving, he had won two Challenge Cups with Mi- os-Biganos • very appreciated by his players for his closeness and his ability to understand their problems
EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2011 & 2015
Late entries: Left the club: None None
32 Metz Handball
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 31 Camille Aoustin FRA L e ft W i n g 13.2.1990 Cherbourg, FRA 169 66 Lindsay Burlet FRA R i g h t B a c k 6.6.1994 Villepinte, FRA 180 21 Ornella Dos Reis FRA L e ft B a c k 3.1.1997 Verdun, FRA 181 3 Beatrice Edwige FRA L i n e P l a y e r 3.10.1988 Paris, FRA 182 8 Laura Flippes FRA R i g h t W i n g 13.12.1994 Strasbourg, FRA 171 1 Laura Glauser FRA G o a l k e e p e r 20.8.1993 Besancon, FRA 178 6 Ana Gros SLO R i g h t B a c k 21.1.1991 Ljubiljana, SLO 186 11 Tamara Horacek FRA Centre Back 5.11.1995 Pozega, CRO 178 18 Laura Kanor FRA Back 16.6.1997 Les Abymes, FRA 175 9 Orlane Kanor FRA L e ft B a c k 16.7.1997 Les Abymes, FRA 179 30 Jurswailly Luciano NED R i g h t W i n g 25.3.1991 Curacao, NED 171 27 Marion Maubon FRA L e ft W i n g 27.7.1989 Bordeaux, FRA 165 15 Hawa N’Diaye FRA L i n e P l a y e r 24.7.1995 Strasbourg, FRA 176 10 Meline Nocandy FRA Centre Back 25.2.1998 Saint-Claude, FRA 172 20 Sladana Pop-Lazic SRB L i n e P l a y e r 26.7.1988 Belgrade, SRB 178 12 Marina Rajcic MNE G o a l k e e p e r 24.8.1993 Podgorica, MNE 178 25 Helene Sajka FRA R i g h t B a c k 13.9.1997 Nancy, FRA 185 22 Xenia Smits GER L e ft B a c k 22.4.1994 Wilrijk, BEL 182 16 Ophelie Tonds FRA G o a l k e e p e r 10.7.1998 Metz, FRA 178 C 7 Grace Zaadi Deuna FRA Centre Back 7.7.1993 Courcouronnes, FRA 171
Top scorers after main round 1 Ana Gros 70 2 Xenia Smits 41 2 Grace Zaadi Deuna 41 4 Jurswailly Luciano 36 5 Sladana Pop-Lazic 35
33 Metz Handball
Laura Glauser goalkeeper • having joined in 2011 is now the longest serving Metz player alongside Luciano • one of the few who have ever played in the CL • always in the happy mood, always says yes to autograph hunters • with 41 % saving efficiency one of the key French players at the Rio 2016 Olympics leading the team all the way to the final
OG: S 2016, EURO: B 2016
Marina Rajcic goalkeeper • followed her sister Olivera Vukcevic (right wing who left to Erd, Hungary, in 2016) to Metz in the summer of 2015 after lifting the CL trophy with Buducnost • made a debut at Buducnost’s goal at only 16; voted best young player of Montenegro in 2010; youngest player at the London 2012 Olympics (18 years) • named best goalkeeper of the tournament at 2010 IHF Junior WCh in South Korea, where she won a bronze medal with Montenegro EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EURO: G 2012
Marion Maubion left wing • one of the players that used to play in Mios-Biganos under Mayonnade • former Challenge Cup winner enters her maiden CL season in 2016/17 • arrived in Metz with the desire to “get out of her comfort zone” in 2015, surprised with her ability to adapt to a bigger club • shares the position with Camille Aoustin
EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2015
Xenia Smits left back • born in Belgium, raised in Germany and now playing in France, she still has a German passport • her and Isabell Klein are the first two German players to ever play in the French first league • arrived in the summer of 2015 after three seasons in HSG Blomberg-Lippe • already a regular fixture in the German national team
34 Metz Handball
Grace Zaadi centre back • one of the products of the local handball school in Metz • playing in the centre back position, but also able to move to the left back • enjoyed her first international game with France in 2013, when she was just 20 • social networks fan, often seenr on twitter sporting crazy hats and original outfits
OG: S 2016, EURO: B 2016
Beatrice Edwige right back • only signing of the 2016 summer, she arrived from Nice, where she had played for two seasons • mainly focused on defence, while Sladjana Pop-Lazic usually attacks • being branded by Olivier Krumbholz, the national team coach, as one of the five best defenders in the world
OG: S 2016, EURO: B 2016
Ana Gros right back • after playing for European powerhouses Györ, Krim Mercator and Thüringer HC, she landed in Metz in the winter of 2014 • was only meant to stay in France for six months, but has proved her value as best scorer in the French league 2014/15 and 2015/16 • after playing the CL final in 2012 with Györ, she dreams of making it again with Metz • being watched by many of the best clubs in Europe
Jurswailly Luciano right wing • the speedy Dutch winger joined Metz in 2011 • did not have the chance to play in the WCh final 2015, but went to the Olympics in Rio • played the EHF Cup final with Metz in 2013, but lost against Holstebro • one of the ten players from the roster to have been brought up in Metz
35 Györi Audi ETO KC
1st place GROUP 2 Györi Audi ETO KC Besides one late slip against FC Midtjylland, Györ’s European season has been nothing but perfect, with thorough wins against CSM Bucuresti and Rostov, as two of the most powerful opponents for the Hungarian powerhouse being totally outplayed by Martin Ambros’ side. Heidi Løke’s pregnancy meant that the Hungarian champions had to make a move and in turn signed Tunisian line player Asma Elghaoui for the rest of the season. Nora Mørk has been nothing short of spectacular this season, scoring 65 times, Club Address while the Hungarian side is also relying on Anita Görbicz and Eduarda Amorim Győri Audi ETO KC for goals. They dropped just on point (at home against Larvik) and comfortably Kiskutliget entered the quarter-finals as the main round group winners. 92027 Győr Hungary
Media contact MAIN ROUND GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS Tamas Szabo 1. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 8 1 1 305:234 (71) 17 +36 20 505 63 07 szabo.tamas.gyorietokc 2. Larvik 10 5 2 3 279:271 (8) 12 @gmail.com 3. CSM Bucuresti 10 5 1 4 265:257 (8) 11 www.gyorietokc.hu 4. FC Midtjylland 10 5 0 5 250:241 (9) 10
Győri-Audi-ETO-KC 5. RK Krim Mercator 10 3 0 7 238:290 (-52) 6
@GyoriaudiETO 6. Team Esbjerg 10 2 0 8 251:295 (-44) 4 GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND vs FC Midtjylland W31:19 (16:7) vs RK Krim Mercator W39:22 (20:9) Kit colours @ Rostov-Don W27:28 (14:12) @ Team Esbjerg W26:32 (12:14) @ CSM Bucuresti W24:27 (13:9) vs Larvik T27:27 (9:11) Light vs CSM Bucuresti W33:25 (11:13) @ RK Krim Mercator W17:34 (10:18) Player shirt: white @ FC Midtjylland L27:23 (15:10) vs Team Esbjerg W33:22 (17:11) Player short: white vs Rostov-Don W32:25 (15:12) @ Larvik W25:26 (12:14) GK shirt: red
Dark Past achievements Player shirt: green/black Women’s EHF Champions League Player short: green/black Participations (including 2016/17 season): 14 GK shirt: blue, black Winners (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Runners-up (3): 2008/09, 2011/12, 2015/16 Semi-finals (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11 Quarter-finals (1): 2014/15 Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06 Qualification (1): 2004/05 Playing hall AUDI Arena Györ Other Toth Laszlo utja Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2005/06, 9027 Györ Semi-final 2002/03 Hungary EHF Cup: Runners-up 1998/99, 2001/02, Capacity: 5,000 2003/04, 2004/05 Hungarian league: 12 titles (1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) Hungarian cup: 12 titles
36 Györi Audi ETO KC
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 37:16 (17:9) v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT (h), 08.11.2015 Biggest defeat 39:28 (20:12) v Spartak Kiev UKR (a), 17.02.2001 Longest winning run 13 matches (13.10.2012 – 06.04.2013) Longest unbeaten run 22 matches (05.05.2013 – 23.11.2014) Longest losing run 3 matches (11.02.2001 – 07.01.2006) MATCHES Longest run without win 4 matches (28.01.2001 – 07.01.2006) Longest winning run 13 4 matches (20.03.2011 – 02.10.2011) Most goals 41 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 41:22W (h), 05.10.2013 GOALS Most goals Most goals opponent 39 v Spartak Kiev UKR 39:28L (a), 17.02.2001 41 Most goals both teams 73 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:40W (a), 13.01.2008
GOALS Fewest goals 18 v Larvik NOR 18:24L (h), 20.03.2011 73 Most goals both teams 18 v WHC Vardar SCBT 24:18L (a), 04.04.2015 Fewest goals opponent 14 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009 Fewest goals both teams 34 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 2000/01 Györi Graboplast ETO HUN 6 1 2 3 156:168 –12 4:8 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Györi ETO Kezilabda Club HUN 6 3 0 3 154:169 -15 6:6 3rd Gr. D 2006/07 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 10 6 0 4 291:267 +24 12:8 1/2-finals 2007/08 Györi Audi ETO HUN 14 11 0 3 415:366 +49 22:6 1/2-finals 2008/09 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 11 1 4 454:415 +39 23:9 Runner-up 2009/10 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 8 2 4 355:337 +18 18:10 1/2-finals 2010/11 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 387:334 +53 21:7 1/2-finals 2011/12 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 16 10 1 5 472:422 +50 21:11 Runner-up 2012/13 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 15 0 1 435:346 +89 30:2 Winner 2013/14 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 12 2 0 408:337 +71 26:2 Winner 2014/15 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 385:313 +72 21:7 1/4-finals 2015/16 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 12 1 3 436:357 +79 25:7 Runner-up 2016/17 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 6 5 0 1 174:147 +27 10:2 Total: 162 114 11 37 4522:3978 +544 239:85
37 Györi Audi ETO KC
Ambros Martín coach • born in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, joined Győr in 2012 • previously coached top Spanish side Estrella Itxako for seven years, winning the EHF Cup in 2009 • also eliminating Györ in the semi-final on the way to the CL final in 2010/11 during that spell • in his first season with Győr he won their first European trophy
EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014, EHF Cup 2009
Late entries: Left the club: Asma Elghaoui (Siófok KC) None
38 Györi Audi ETO KC
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 4 Sara Afentaler HUN Back 8.12.2000 Siklós, HUN 178 18 Eduarda IdalinaAmorim Taleska BRA Back 23.9.1986 Blumenau, BRA 186 1 Boglarka Bino HUN G o a l k e e p e r 11.10.1999 Szombathely, HUN 185 33 Bernadett Bodi HUN W i n g 9.3.1986 Szeged, HUN 175 31 Yvette Broch NED L i n e P l a y e r 21.12.1990 Monster, NED 185 12 Angyalka Büki HUN G o a l ke e p e r 1.5.2000 Sárvár, HUN 175 66 Asma Elgahaoui TUN L i n e P l a y e r 29.8.1991 Monastir, Tunisia 174 7 Beatrix Elö HUN Back 28.1.1997 Gyor, HUN 182 C 13 Anita Görbicz HUN Centre Back 13.5.1983 Veszprem, HUN 173 85 Kari Aalvik Grimsbø NOR G o a l k e e p e r 4.1.1985 Bergen, NOR 180 27 Cornelia Nycke Groot NED Centre Back 4.5.1988 Alkmaar, NED 175 9 Julia Harsfalvi HUN W i n g 12.11.1996 Zalaegerszeg, HUN 165 8 Anette Emma Hudak HUN Back 25.3.1998 Bratislava, SVK 178 73 Eva Kiss HUN G o a l k e e p e r 10.7.1987 Debrecen, HUN 189 3 Jana Knedlikova CZE W i n g 22.6.1989 Praha, CZE 167 11 Dorina Korsos HUN W i n g 3.9.1995 Kecskemét, HUN 168 17 Rita Lakatos HUN Centre Back 6.7.1999 Dunajska Streda, SVK 174 5 Heidi Loke NOR L i n e P l a y e r 12.12.1982 Tonsberg, NOR 177 15 Vivien Moharos HUN W i n g 9.6.1999 Tatabánya, HUN 157 10 Nora Mørk NOR Back 5.4.1991 Oslo, NOR 167 22 Adrienn Orban HUN W i n g 1.10.1986 Györ, HUN 168 14 Tamara Pal HUN Centre Back 1.9.2000 Debrecen, HUN 173 57 Szidonia Puhalak HUN L e ft W i n g 5.7.1996 Szeged, HUN 177 2 Fanni Szilovics HUN Back 18.2.2000 Pécs, HUN 180 23 Zsuzsanna Tomori HUN Back 18.6.1987 Budapest, HUN 187 96 Gabriella Toth HUN Centre Back 23.9.1996 Berettyóújfalu, HUN 175 6 Emöke Varga HUN L i n e P l a y e r 9.3.2000 Csorna, HUN 181
Top scorers after main round 1 Nora Mørk 65 2 Anita Görbicz 61 3 Eduarda Amorin Taleska 54 4 Yvette Broch 36 5 Nycke Groot 31
39 Györi Audi ETO KC
Kari Aalvik Grimsbo goalkeeper • joined Györ from Danish Team Esbjerg during the 2014/15 season, as Croatian Jelena Grubisic, a replacement for pregnant Katrine Lunde, got injured; before joining Esbjerg, had a long career in Byasen • due to injury in the 1st match at the EURO 2014 missed the Norwegian triumph • started her career at the age of 5, had her debut for Byasen in the Norwegian league at the age of 17 OG: G 2008, 2012, B 2016, WCh: G 2011, 2015, S 2007, B 2009, EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016
Dorina Korsos left wing • only 17-year-old when she made her debut in the CL • despite her young age a key player for Ambros Martin playing on the top of the 5+1 defence • CL All-star defender in the 2014/15 season • her serious injury in January 2016 kept Korsos out of action for most of the second half of the season EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012
Eduarda Amorim Taleska left back • 2014 IHF Player of the Year • Brazilian international arrived in Europe in 2006 first joining Kometal Skopje in FYR Macedonia, transferred to Györ in 2009 • most important defensive player of her team • All-star left back at the WCh 2013 and the CL 2013/14 and All-star defender in 2015/16 in the CL EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 WCh: G 2013, Pan-American Games: G 2003, 2007, 2011
Zsuzsanna Tomori left back • 2012/13 CL top scorer with 95 goals joined Györ for the second time in her career in the summer of 2015 from arch rivals Ferencvaros • previous Hungarian clubs included Dunaferr, Vasas and Győr, but her biggest successes came with FTC, where she won the Cup Winners’ Cup • her injuries meant she missed parts of the previous season and currently recovering from the latest setback EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012 EHF EURO: B 2012
40 Györi Audi ETO KC
Nycke Groot centre back • Dutch playmaker made an immediate impact in Györ becoming the focal point of the team’s attacks in the 2015/16 season, when Györ finished as runners-up in the CL • has had her entire career at top level in Denmark until she joined Györ in the summer of 2015 (started in Team Tvis Holstebro and since 2011 in FC Midtjylland) • helped FCM reach the FINAL4 in 2014 and was the tournament’s top scorer (20 goals) • CL All-star centre back 2015/16 , player of the year in the Danish league in 2014, EHF Player of the Month for December 2016, EHF EURO 2016 All-star centre back and MVP EURO: S 2016, WCh: S 2015
Yvette Broch line player • joined Györ in the summer of 2015 from Metz, also played in her native Netherlands for Ansterdam and for Alcobendas in Spain • EHF EURO 2016 All-star Team line player as she helped Netherlands reach the final • Dutch international also known for being the runner-up in Holland’s Next Top Model in 2008
EURO: S 2016, WCh: S 2015
Nora Mork right back • best scorer of the Norwegian team at the EHF EURO 2014 (41 goals); voted the best right back of the EHF EURO 2014, EHF EURO 2016 and the CL 2015/16 season • her twin sister and former Larvik teammate Thea plays on the left wing • joined Larvik in the 2009/10 season and debuted in the national team in 2010 as 19-year-old, in 2016 she transferred to Györ • in 2015/16 had her record-breaking CL season with 93 goals EC trophies: CL 2011 OG: B 2016, EURO: G 2010, 2014, 2016, WCh: G 2015
Bernadett Bognar-Bodi right wing • debuted for Györ in the 2002/03 season • returned in 2013 after spending time with Randers in Denmark and various Hungarian teams • injury-crisis in Győr hit the right back, too, she is currently regaining form after a serious knee injury. • her personal best in the CL is 30 goals she recorded in the 2014/15 season
EC trophies: CL 2014
41 OFFICIAL EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH BALL New SELECT Ultimate. Completely controlled bounce. Extreme durability. Optimal roundness. Perfect grip and soft feel.
select-sport.com 42 Group A preview CSM Bucuresti vs FTC-Rail OFFICIAL EHF Cargo Hungaria
First leg: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Friday 7 April 2017, 20:00 hrs Second leg: MATCH BALL Saturday 15 April 2017, 16:45 hrs New SELECT Ultimate. Completely controlled bounce. NEW CHALLENGE FOR CSM Extreme durability. Optimal roundness. Perfect grip and soft feel. Current title holders CSM Bucuresti were in less-than-perfect form during both the Women’s EHF Cham- pions League Group Phase and main round, but found a new solution to their problem, replacing Aurelian Rosca only seven days before the first leg of the quarter-final against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria with former Sweden national team coach Per Johansson. On the other hand, their opponents from Hungary are in great form and have a strong chance to qualify for their maiden FINAL4 in Budapest, after snatching the Hungari- an Cup against their biggest rivals on Sunday. Only seven days before the first game against FTC-Cargo Rail Hungaria, CSM Bucuresti took an unexpect- ed step by replacing coach Aurelian Rosca with Per Johansson. “It is a big task, it is thrilling, but I would not say it’s the toughest challenge in my career,” said Johansson. The Hungarian team will therefore walk into the unknown, as all their previous plans to stop their counterparts must be scratched. “This will be only one of the surprises we have prepared for our opponents. You must take a calculated risk in order to achieve greatness,” said CSM President Bogdan Vasiliu. The Romanian side have been one of the main underachievers of the season, as the title holders were fighting for their lives as early as the group phase – though they recorded an excellent win against Rostov when it mattered the most. But the main round was another letdown. While CSM lost only one game, against Larvik, the Romanian side could not climb higher than third place, and as a result will play the crucial second-leg quarter-final away in Budapest. “Personally, I like to play the first game of a two-legged tie at home. I know it is a difficult task for us, but we are the title holders, so we have to defend our title and this can bring extra motivation,” said CSM’s Isabelle Gullden, with line player Oana Manea adding: “I have seen positive things in the last days, both in the spirit of the team and tactically. We know this game is important and it seems we clicked on at the proper time. This also happened last season and I find a lot of similarities between what happened then and what is happening now.” The Hungarian side will be one of the toughest opponents CSM has encountered this season – and it looks like they are also peaking at the right time. Coach Gabor Elek’s side won the Hungarian Cup on Sunday, after a thrilling final against their huge rivals, Györ. FTC-Rail Cargo claimed the trophy with a 34:32 win, but it came down to a penalty shoot-out to break the 29:29 stalemate. “It is a great win, but in my head there is only one thing: The game against CSM Bucuresti,” said Elek. “I need to find a way to keep the players motivated for Friday. This is the most important thing and our main objective.” Adrian Costeiu Historic encounters of the opponents in the EC
CSM Bucuresti vs FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria
No previous encounters in European competitions select-sport.com 43 CSM Bucuresti
3rd place GROUP 2 CSM Bucuresti The Romanian side’s honeymoon period is over, as the defending champions came precariously close to an early elimination. Marred by injuries and with a coaching change already under their belt, with Aurelian Rosca coming in for Jakob Vestergaard, Bucharest were last in the main round group, but their ambitions remained high. Reaching the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest is a priority for the Romanian powerhouse, as CSM were active on the transfer market this winter, shopping for a Club Address right wing to replace Cristina Varzaru, inactive due to a knee injury. Simone Böhme Calea Victoriei Street no 126 was deemed the perfect fit and made the move from Viborg. District 1 Despite an impressive main round with only one defeat (at Larvik), which propelled 010094 Bucharest Romania CSM to the third place in the standings, the club management decided for a sur- prising move as they appointed Per Johansson as their new head coach. Media contact Florin Sandu MAIN ROUND GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS +40 726 777 533 1. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 8 1 1 305:234 (71) 17 [email protected] 2. Larvik 10 5 2 3 279:271 (8) 12
www.csmbucuresti.ro 3. CSM Bucuresti 10 5 1 4 265:257 (8) 11 4. FC Midtjylland 10 5 0 5 250:241 (9) 10 CSM-Bucuresti-Oficial 5. RK Krim Mercator 10 3 0 7 238:290 (-52) 6 6. Team Esbjerg 10 2 0 8 251:295 (-44) 4
Kit colours GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND vs Rostov-Don W24:21 (12:10) vs Larvik T26:26 (12:13) Light @ FC Midtjylland L24:21 (9:10) @ RK Krim Mercator W21:24 (9:14) Player shirt: white vs Györi Audi ETO KC L24:27 (13:9) vs Team Esbjerg W33:25 (17:13) Player short: black @ Györi Audi ETO KC L33:25 (11:13) @ Larvik L35:33 (18:18) GK shirt: orange @ Rostov-Don W20:22 (11:10) vs RK Krim Mercator W28:26 (14:12) vs FC Midtjylland W26:20 (12:9) @ Team Esbjerg W20:25 (7:12) Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Past achievements GK shirt: green Women’s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2016/17 season): 2 Winners (1): 2015/16
Other EHF Cup: Last 16 2011/12
Romanian league: 3 titles (2015, 2016, 2017) Romanian cup: 1 title Playing hall Sala Polivalenta Ioan Kunst Ghermanescu Calea Piscului Nr. 10, sector 4 Bucharest Romania Capacity: 5,000
44 CSM Bucuresti
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 33:21 (14:13) v MKS Selgros Lublin POL, 16.10.2015 Biggest defeat 33:25 (11:13) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN, 04.11.2016 28:22 (12:10) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN, 06.02.2016 Longest winning run 5 matches (31.03.2016 – 16.10.2016) Longest unbeaten run 5 matches (31.03.2016 – 16.10.2016) MATCHES Longest losing run 3 matches (22.10.2016 – 04.11.2016) Longest winning run 5 Longest run without win 3 matches (22.10.2016 – 04.11.2016) Most goals 33 v MKS Selgros Lublin POL 33:21W (h), 16.10.2015 GOALS Most goals 33 v Team Esbjerg DEN 33:25W (h), 12.02.2017 33 Most goals opponent 33 v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 33:25L (a), 04.11.2016
GOALS Most goals both teams 58 v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 33:25L (a), 04.11.2016 58 Most goals both teams 58 v Team Esbjerg DEN 33:25W (h), 12.02.2017 Fewest goals 21 v HC Vardar MKD 22:21L (a), 09.01.2016 21 v FC Midtjylland DEN 24:21L (a), 22.10.2016 Fewest goals opponent 17 v IK Sävehof SWE 17:28W (a), 23.10.2015 Fewest goals both teams 42 v Rostov-Don RUS 20:22W (a), 11.11.2016
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 2015/16 CSM Bucuresti ROU 16 10 1 5 416:387 +29 21:11 Winner 2016/17 CSM Bucuresti ROU 6 3 0 3 142:145 -3 6:6 Total: 22 13 1 8 558:532 +26
45 CSM Bucuresti
Per Johansson coach • took over as head coach in CSM late March 2017, assigned for the rest of the season • played for the Swedish clubs Uddevalla HK and GF Kroppskultur in his active days • started his coaching career as junior coach in Kroppskultur in 1993 • as national coach, led Sweden’s women to the silver at the EURO 2010 • ended his career as national coach with the unsuccessful participation at the 2012 London Olympics, has been working as an expert commen- tator at the Swedish TV since 2012
EURO: S 2010 (as coach)
Late entries: Left the club: Simone Böhme Kristensen (Viborg HK) None
46 CSM Bucuresti
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 11 Camille Ayglon Saurina FRA R i g h t B a c k 21.5.1985 Avignon, FRA 180 14 Bianca Bazaliu ROU L e ft B a c k 30.7.1997 Slatina, ROU 181 91 Simone Böhme Kristensen DEN Right Wing 17.8.1991 Randers, DEN 169 15 Aurelia Bradeanu ROU L e ft B a c k 5.5.1979 Slatina, ROU 179 5 Iulia Vasilica Curea ROU L e ft W i n g 8.4.1982 Bacau, ROU 172 7 Elena Dache ROU Centre Back 24.3.1997 Galati, ROU 177 87 Jelena Grubisic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 20.1.1987 Zagreb, CRO 184 4 Isabelle Gulldén SWE Centre Back 29.6.1989 Sävedalen, SWE 178 12 Alina Iordache ROU G o a l k e e p e r 22.3.1982 Bucuresti, ROU 177 10 Line Jörgensen DEN R i g h t B a c k 31.12.1989 Hvidovre, DEN 186 71 Anastasiya Lobach BLR L i n e P l a y e r 25.6.1987 Minsk, BLR 182 C 22 Oana Andreea Manea ROU L i n e P l a y e r 18.4.1985 Bucharest, ROU 176 20 Carmen Martin Berenguer ESP R i g h t W i n g 29.5.1988 Almeria, ESP 169 77 Majda Mehmedovic MNE L e ft W i n g 25.5.1990 Bar, MNE 169 18 Maria Cristina Nan ROU L i n e P l a y e r 19.5.1990 Bucuresti, ROU 178 25 Elena Nicula ROU Centre Back 2.8.1986 bucharest, ROU 165 29 Gnonsiane Niombla FRA L e ft B a c k 9.7.1990 Villeurbanne, FRA 172 17 Linnea Torstensson SWE L e ft B a c k 30.3.1983 Stockholm, SWE 186 30 Paula Claudia Ungureanu ROU G o a l k e e p e r 30.3.1980 Brasov, ROU 181 13 Cristina Varzaru ROU R i g h t W i n g 5.12.1979 Bucharest, ROU 167
Top scorers after main round 1 Isabelle Gulldén 66 2 Carmen Martin 46 3 Majda Mehmedovic 39 4 Gnonsiane Niombla 33 4 Linnea Torstensson 33
47 CSM Bucuresti
Paula Ungureanu goalkeeper • twice named the “best handball player in Romania”, in 2012 and 2014 • after Luminita Hutupan retired in 2009, became Romania’s first choice in the goal • after a ligament tear in 2010 shetook a two-year hiatus and had a baby, Paul, in January 2012; her husband is a football goalkeeper, and has followed Paula almost everywhere she played
WCh: S 2005, B 2015, EURO: B 2010
Jelena Grubisic goalkeeper • played with Lokomotiva Zagreb for eight seasons and five seasons for Krim; joined Györ shortly before the 2014/15 season to replace pregnant Katrine Lunde, but got injured shortly after • had her EC debut (Cup Winner’s Cup 2002/03) when she was 15 with Lokomotiva; her national team debut was at the World Championship 2007 • MVP of the EHF FINAL4 in 2016 EC trophies: CL 2016
Majda Mehmedovic left wing • her mother played handball as a goalkeeper; started handball in Bar at the age of 12 with her brother Musa and immediately loved it • it took her two years to get into the first team after being signed by Buducnost • voted for the 2013/14 CL All-star Team as the best left wing
EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012
Linea Torstensson left back • Bucharest’s leader, a force to be reckoned with both in defence and in attack • most experienced player and also the most decorated player from CSM’s roster • named the “best Swedish handball player” three times in a row (2010-12) • MVP of the EHF EURO 2010, being the second top scorer, with 48 goals, five less than Cristina Neagu EC trophies: CL 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2014, EHF Cup 2011 EURO: S 2010, B 2014
48 CSM Bucuresti
Isabelle Gullden centre back • played for three clubs in her whole career: Sävehof, Viborg and CSM Bucuresti • her uncle, Christer, was an Olympic wrestler, who came close to the bronze medal in 1988, her boyfriend, Swedish goalkeeper Linus Persson plays in CSM’s men’s team • scored all 27 goals from as many penalty throws at the EHF EURO 2014 • EHF Player of the Month for April and May 2016 • MVP & top scorer (58 goals) of the EURO 2014; top scorer of the CL 2015/16 (108) EC trophies: CL 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 EURO: S 2010, B 2014 Oana Manea line player • in 2008 diagnosed with ventricular extrasystole and stopped playing for 6 months • can gather the team behind her, one of the reasons she has been also named captain both at clubs (Oltchim, CSM) or the national team • her father, Dumitru, was a football coach at Sportul Studentesc, a 1st league team • considers to become a full-time make-up artist after finishing her career
EC trophies: CL 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007 EURO: B 2010, WCh: B 2015
Aurelia Bradeanu right back / centre back • versatile veteran is in her 17th CL season being one of the most experienced players and a regular part of the Romanian national teams • her nickname, “Mika”, is the name of the EURO 2000 mascot, a handball-loving squirrel; during her time in Györ, when she was pregnant, the fans came at her door and offered cookies and one even made a bed for her newborn son • scored the trophy-clinching penalty in the shootout of the 2015/16 CL final EC trophies: CL 2016 WCh: S 2005, B 2015, EURO: B 2010
Carmen Martin right wing • Spanish player started handball when she was only 7 years old, in Roquetas del Mar, her hometown • All-star Team right wing at both EHF EURO 2014 and EHF EURO 2016 • reached the CL final in 2011 with Itxako and the semi-final in 2013 with Krim • loves drama movies, her favourite being “The Notebook”, also listens to a lot of Spanish movies, her favourite song being “Ojitos rojos” by the Spanish band Estopa EURO: S 2008, S 2014, WCh: B 2011, OG: B 2012
49 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
2nd place GROUP 1 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria Last season, the Hungarian team managed to make it to the EHF Champions League quarter-finals and they are striving to at least repeat that achievement this year. FTC have enough experience as this is already their 17th season in the continental top flight. In summer, the team of coach Gabor Elek underwent some changes, yet the new players Blanka Biro and Dannick Snelder have adjusted smoothly and contributed to some impressive results. FTC began their campaign with a surprise point against Vardar in Skopje and de- Club Address spite the defeat in the return leg in Hungary; they did not drop another point and FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria went through to the main round with five points in hand. They added four more nd Kobanyai ut 47/a. wins in the main round and their clear success in Podgorica sealed their 2 place. 1101 Budapest Hungary MAIN ROUND GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS
Media contact 1. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 311:279 (32) 15 Andrea Pordán 2. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 6 2 2 290:265 (25) 14 +36 20 365 8263 pordan.andrea 3. Buducnost 10 7 0 3 286:248 (38) 14 @ftckezilabda.hu 4. Metz Handball 10 5 0 5 273:238 (35) 10 kezilabda.fradi.hu 5. Thüringer HC 10 2 1 7 257:286 (-29) 5 ftckezilabda 6. Astrakhanochka 10 1 0 9 229:330 (-101) 2 GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND @ HC Vardar D27:27 (17:14) @ Metz Handball W25:28 (14:13) vs Astrakhanochka W32:23 (15:10) vs Thüringer HC W32:24 (15:10) vs HC Leipzig W26:22 (12:11) @ Buducnost W25:33 (9:19) Kit colours @ HC Leipzig W17:30 (8:14) vs Metz Handball W29:23 (15:10) Light vs HC Vardar L24:37 (12:21) @ Thüringer HC T29:29 (15:17) Player shirt: white @ Astrakhanochka W28:33 (14:14) vs Buducnost L23:24 (8:9) Player short: white GK shirt: red Past achievements Dark Women’s EHF Champions League Player shirt: green Participations (including 2016/17 season): 17 Player short: green Runners-up (1): 2001/02 GK shirt: blue/black Semi-finals (2): 1996/97, 2000/01 Quarter-finals (4): 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2015/16 Main Round: 2012/13 Group Matches/Champions League (6): Playing hall 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2006/07, 2007/08, Syma Sport and Event Centre 2013/14 Dozsa György ut 1 Qualification (2): 2009/10, 2014/15 1146 Budapest, Hungary Other Capacity: 3,000 EHF Cup: winners 2005/06, semi-finals 2004/05 Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 2010/11, 2011/12, semi-finals 2006/07, 2014/15 Hungarian league: 12 titles (1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2015) Hungarian cup: 13 titles
50 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 42:16 (19:7) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), 18.01.1997 Biggest defeat 40:23 (22:10) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN (a), 09.04.2016 Longest winning run 5 matches (14.10.2012 – 11.11.2012) 5 matches (20.11.2016 – 25.02.2017) Longest unbeaten run 8 matches (09.11.2013 – 22.11.2015) MATCHES Longest losing run 4 matches (12.01.2007 – 17.02.2007) Longest winning run 5 4 matches (27.10.2007 – 16.11.2007) 4 matches (02.03.2013 – 06.10.2013) GOALS Most goals Longest run without win 5 matches (04.01.1998 – 31.10.1999) 42 Most goals 42 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997
GOALS Most goals opponent 40 v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 40:23L (a), 09.04.2016 70 Most goals both teams Most goals both teams 70 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 34:36L (h), 10.02.2007 Fewest goals 17 v Volgograd AKVA RUS 22:17L (a), 03.03.2001 Fewest goals opponent 16 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997 16 v TUS Walle Bremen GER 27:16W (h), 25.01.1997 16 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 28:16W (h), 18.10.2015 Fewest goals both teams 36 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 18:18D (h), 31.03.1996
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 1994/95 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 1 2 135:129 +6 7:5 3rd Gr. B 1995/96 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 2 1 145:137 +8 8:4 2nd Gr. B 1996/97 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 10 6 1 3 264:208 +56 13:7 1/2-finals 1997/98 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 6 1 1 4 147:159 –12 3:9 3rd Gr. B 1999/00 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 4 0 4 204:201 +3 8:8 1/4-finals 2000/01 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 10 5 0 5 264:232 +32 10:10 1/2-finals 2001/02 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 12 6 2 4 348:341 +7 14:10 Runner-up 2002/03 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 6 0 2 252:228 +24 12:4 1/4-finals 2003/04 FTC Budapest HUN 8 5 0 3 220:221 -1 10:6 1/4-finals 2006/07 FTC Budapest HUN 6 2 0 4 177:188 -11 4:8 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 Budapest Bank-FTC HUN 6 1 0 5 165:192 –27 2:10 4th Gr. D 2012/13 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 12 8 0 4 346:336 +10 16:8 3rd MR Gr. 2 2013/14 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 6 3 0 3 162:161 +1 6:6 3rd Gr. B 2015/16 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 14 7 2 5 378:383 -5 16:12 1/4-finals 2016/17 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 6 4 1 1 172:154 +18 9:3 Total: 124 64 10 50 3379:3270 +109 138:110
51 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
Gabor Elek coach • son of legendary Ferencváros coach, who led the team for almost three decades, now plays in the arena that is named after his father, Gyula Elek • has been at the helm in Ferencváros since 2008 but he won his first domestic gold medal in 2015 having already won an enermous amount of silvers behind Györ • won back-to-back Cup Winners’ Cups with his team in 2011 and 2012 • respected member of the Ferencváros family, apart from his father his mother also played for the club • zlaty ramcek: EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012
Late entries: Left the club: Marija Jovanovic (MNE) None
52 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 12 Blanka Biro HUN G o a l k e e p e r 22.9.1994 Vac, HUN 185 48 Dorottya Faluvegi HUN R i g h t W i n g 31.3.1998 Budapest, HUN 170 92 Dora Hornyak HUN R i g h t B a c k 24.1.1992 Debrecen, HUN 176 14 Aniko Kovacsics HUN Centre Back 29.8.1991 Nagyatad, HUN 170 22 Viktoria Lukacs HUN R i g h t W i n g 31.10.1995 Budapest, HUN 165 21 Greta Marton HUN L e ft W i n g 3.10.1999 Mohacs, HUN 175 14 Rea Reka Meszaros HUN L i n e P l a y e r 14.4.1994 Vac, HUN 172 29 Noemi Mod HUN Centre Back 20.4.1997 Mohacs, HUN 175 40 Orsolya Monori HUN L e ft B a c k 3.7.1997 Miskolc, HUN 178 25 Nerea Pena Abaurrea ESP Centre Back 13.12.1989 Pamplona, ESP 175 6 Nadine Schatzl HUN L e ft W i n g 19.11.1993 München, GER 173 14 Danick Snelder NED L i n e P l a y e r 22.5.1990 Pijnacker, NED 178 99 Sara Suba HUN G o a l k e e p e r 11.6.1999 Debrecen, HUN 178 4 Adrienn Szarka HUN L e ft W i n g 28.6.1991 Kiskunhalas, HUN 176 10 Klára Szekeres HUN R i g h t B a c k 1.12.1987 Békéscsaba, HUN 186 12 Melinda Szikora HUN G o a l k e e p e r 19.11.1988 Kiskunhalas, HUN 69 2 Szandra Szollosi-Zacsik HUN R i g h t B a c k 22.4.1990 Komarno, SVK 183 C 8 Zita Szucsanszki HUN Centre Back 22.5.1987 Budapest, HUN 172
Top scorers after main round 1 Nerea Pena 51 1 Zita Szucsanszki 51 3 Nadine Schatzl 40 4 Aniko Kovacsics 37
5 Viktoria Lukacs 34
53 FTC-Rail Cargo Hunagria
Blanka Bíró goalkeeper • born and raised in Vác, where she played there for eight years • after stints at the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup she was first capped at the age of 18 and made her debut in the EURO held in Hungary in 2014 • the 1,86 m tall goalkeeper is one of the hottest up-and-comer in Hungarian handball as Bíró is expected to be the first choice goalie of the national team. • one of her saves was voted Save of the Round by EHF in the 2014 EURO
Adrienn Szarka left wing • has been with the club since 2010 and despite her young age made her 100th appearance in the green jersey in the Cup Winners’ Cup final against Viborg • niece of Ferencváros legend, Éva Szarka, whose number 4 jersey had been retired by the club but upon request from the now youth coach Adrienn wears the number • rising from a small provincial club Kiskunhalas she made her debut in the Hungarian national team at the age of 19 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012
Nerea Pena left back • Spanish international signed from Itxako in 2012 and has been a clutch player for Elek ever since • injury-prone sharp shooter has been through difficult times injuring the same knee twice but when fit she is the focal point of FTC’s attacks • finished as runner-up in the CL with Itxako in 2011; voted to the All-stars of the EURO 2010 EURO: S 2014, WCh: B 2011
Szandra Szöllösi-Zácsik left back • back in business for 2015/16 after two serious shoulder injuries, which saw her out of action for almost two years after a maternity leave • Ferencváros and national team teammate Mónika Kovacsicz is Zácsik’s niece, her husband, Szabolcs Szöllősi is also a member of the Hungarian men’s national team as line player • won both Hungarian and Slovenian titles; scored a last-second penalty against then CL holders Viborg, which saw FTC triumph on away goals in 2011 Cup Winners’ Cup EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012
54 FTC-Rail Cargo Hunagria
Zita Szucsanszki centre back • versatile player, who can also play in middle and left back positions. • despite her young age part of the old guard at Ferencváros, she was only 17 when debuted in the green jersey ten years ago • voted player of the year in Hungary in 2011 • the 1,75 tall brunette was voted the Hottest Player in the EHF EURO 2014, which was held in Hungary and Croatia EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012
Anikó Kovacsics centre back/left wing • the 24-year-old made her CL debut at 16 and is already in her ninth season • had enough of the strong competition in Györ, due to which she could not play in her favoured position, and decided to joing her foster club’s arch rival Ferencváros • also able to play left wing and was deployed in that position by Hungary during EHF EURO 2014 • awarded best young player of the 2012/13 CL season
EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012
Danick Snelder line player • member of the Dutch national team with more than 100 caps to her name, Snelder was a vital part of the Dutch team that won silver in the WCh 2015 • made it to the All-star team at the U19 EHF EURO 2009 in Hungary • having won four German championship titles with Thüringer she decided to relocate to Hungary in 2016 • voted best Dutch line player in the 2009/10 season, when playing for Hellas EURO: S 2016, WCh: S 2015
Dóra Hornyák right back • the two-time CL winner joined Ferencváros in 2015 • despite not being a left-hander has been playing as a right back for club and country. • great traveller, Ferencváros is her sixth team in Hungary • was part of the Hungarian junior national team that finished as runner-up at the 2009 EURO
EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014
55 Official Partner of the EHF and the EHF Champions League
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salminghandball.com Group A preview
Buducnost vs Larvik
First leg: Sunday 9 April 2017, 19:00 hrs
Second leg: Saturday 15 April 2017, 17:00 hrs
FORMER CHAMPIONS CLASH FOR A TICKET TO BUDAPEST Norway and Montenegro imprinted the European women’s handball in the previous years – either on na- tional team level or on the club stage. Now the two powerhouses of both countries – Buducnost and Larvik – face each other in the quarter-final. In 2015, they met in the final at Budapest, in 2017 only one of those former EHF Champions League winners will make it to the TIPPMIX FINAL4 again: Which of the outgoing stars of both sides will be part of the pinnacle event? – this is one of the most important questions: Larvik’s Norwegian EURO and World champions Amanda Kurtovic and Marit Malm Frafjord will join Györ after this season, goalkeeper Sandra Toft will leave to Esbjerg, while current World Handball Player Cristina Neagu (Bucuresti) and Serbian World Championship silver medallist Dragana Cvijic (Vardar) will depart from the Montenegrin powerhouse. Two years ago, Buducnost took their second Champions League trophy by a 26:22 in the final at Budapest against Larvik – and the team of Dragan Adzic hope to continue their series of success, as they (and Vardar) are the only teams, which had been part of all three FINAL4 events in the Hungarian capital so far. Larvik, EHF Champions League winners in 2011, had made it to Budapest only once in 2015, but had been finalist in the last season prior to the implementation of the FINAL4 in 2013 (losing against Györ). Larvik had been part of so far six Champions League semi-finals, while no team had made it more often to this stage of the competition than Buducnost: ten times so far. In 2011 and 2012, the pairing of those powerhouses even had been the setting in the semis, both times won by Podgorica. Besides, a huge number of those players face with the Norwegian and Montenegrin national teams in major encounters like the 2012 Olympic final (won by the Scandinavians) and the 2012 EHF EURO final (won by Montenegro). The current main round was something like a roller-coaster ride for Buducnost, as their fortress Moraca Arena had been conquered twice in a row, by Vardar and FTC. But by winning the away re-matches, Podgorica turned the tide and is ready to rumble, though they “only” finished on the third rank in their group. Björn Pazen
Historic encounters of the opponents in the EC
Buducnost vs Larvik 5-1-7 (291:305) 11:15
08.11.1997 Buducnost Podgorica vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Group C 27:26 (10:13) 24.01.1998 Larvik HK vs Buducnost Podgorica, EHF Champions League – Group C 32:29 (20:8) 24.10.2009 Buducnost T-Mobile vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Group D 23:27 (10:16) 10.01.2010 Larvik HK vs Buducnost T-Mobile, EHF Champions League – Group D 29:22 (15:8) 09.04.2011 Larvik vs ‘Buducnost’, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 25:20 (13:10) 17.04.2011 ‘Buducnost’ vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 24:27 (10:15) 31.03.2012 Larvik vs Buducnost, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 20:22 (12:12) 08.04.2012 Buducnost vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 23:13 (10:7) 10.02.2013 Buducnost vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 18:20 (9:8) 16.03.2013 Larvik vs Buducnost, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 28:16 (13:5) 16.02.2014 Buducnost vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 19:19 (8:7) 01.03.2014 Larvik vs Buducnost, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 17:22 (8:9) 10.05.2015 Larvik vs Buducnost, MVM EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final 22:26 (8:14)
57 Buducnost
3rd place GROUP 1 Buducnost
Since winning the last edition of the Women’s EHF Champions League’s old format in 2012, Buducnost have regularly reached the Women’s EHF FINAL4. However, following their victory in 2015, last year’s fourth place finish was considered quite a disappoint- ment for the ambitious club. Despite losing Majda Mehmedovic, who opted to continue her career at CSM Bucures- ti, other big names such as Katarina Bulatovic and Cristina Neagu stayed in Podgorica and helped the team to successfully overcome the group matches barrier. Club Address They were clear favourites in Group A and took the first place even despite a painful Budućnost loss in Metz. Two more defeats came in the main round and meant that Buducnost Ivana Milutinovica B.B. start their quarter-final fixture unusually on the home court. 81000 Podgorica Montenegro MAIN ROUND GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS Media contact 1. HC Vardar 10 7 1 2 311:279 (32) 15 Milos Pavicevic 2. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 6 2 2 290:265 (25) 14 +382 682 226 66 [email protected] 3. Buducnost 10 7 0 3 286:248 (38) 14 [email protected] 4. Metz Handball 10 5 0 5 273:238 (35) 10 www.zrkbuducnost.com 5. Thüringer HC 10 2 1 7 257:286 (-29) 5 ZrkBuducnost 6. Astrakhanochka 10 1 0 9 229:330 (-101) 2 GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND vs Metz Handball W21:19 (11:10) vs HC Vardar L28:31 (16:16) @ Glassverket W23:30 (11:13) @ Astrakhanochka W21:34 (9:18) Kit colours @ Thüringer HC W26:32 (11:21) vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria L25:33 (9:19) vs Thüringer HC W28:19 (17:8) @ HC Vardar W28:31 (16:17) Light @ Metz Handball L28:25 (14:16) vs Astrakhanochka W38:20 (18:11) Player shirt: blue & vs Glassverket W22:21 (14:9) @ FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria W23:24 (8:9) white stripes Player short: blue GK shirt: grey Past achievements Dark Women’s EHF Champions League Player shirt: blue Participations (including 2016/17 season): 21 Player short: blue Winners (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 GK shirt: dark blue Runners-up (1): 2013/14 Semi-finals (7): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11, 2015/16 Main Round (1): 2012/13 Quarter-final (2): 2002/03, 2003/04 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Playing hall Group Matches (6): 1996/97, 2004/05, S.C. Morača 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10 Str. Ivana Milutinovića b.b. 81000 Podgorica Other Montenegro Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2005/06, 2009/10 Capacity: 5,000 Montenegrin league: 28 titles (1985,1989,1990,1992-2016) Montenegrin cup: 21 titles
58 Buducnost
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 39:20 (19:8) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (h), 15.03.2015 Biggest defeat 36:21 (18:11) v Viborg HK DEN (a), 19.01.1997 Longest winning run 14 matches (23.11.2014 – 01.11.2015) Longest unbeaten run 22 matches (19.10.2014 – 20.11.2015) Longest losing run 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005) MATCHES Longest run without win 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005) Longest winning run 14 Most goals 40 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011 Most goals opponent 40 v Mar El Osito L’Eliana ESP 26:40L (h), 05.04.1998 GOALS Most goals Most goals both teams 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011 40 Fewest goals 16 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005
GOALS 16 v Larvik NOR 28:16L (a), 16.03.2013 76 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 14 v Thüringer HC GER 23:14W (h), 09.11.2014 Fewest goals both teams 34 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 1996/97 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 6 2 2 2 130:143 –13 6:6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 1 4 292:305 –13 11:9 1/2-finals 1998/99 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 8 1 1 297:238 +59 17:3 1/2-finals 1999/00 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 287:274 +13 12:8 1/2-finals 2000/01 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 3 2 265:246 +19 13:7 1/2-finals 2001/02 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 297:277 +20 12:8 1/2-finals 2002/03 RK Buducnost MONET YUG 8 4 0 4 215:216 -1 8:8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Buducnost MONET SCG 8 4 0 4 209:219 –10 8:8 1/4-finals 2004/05 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 1 0 5 141:165 –24 2:10 4th Gr. A 2005/06 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 3 0 3 150:154 -4 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2006/07 ZRK Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 0 0 6 141:174 -33 0:12 4th Gr. B 2007/08 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 1 1 4 153:189 –36 3:9 3rd Gr. D 2008/09 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 12 6 2 4 317:326 -9 14:10 3rd MR Gr. 2 2009/10 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 2 1 3 138:155 -17 5:7 3rd Gr. D 2010/11 ‘Buducnost’ MNE 14 10 0 4 417:360 +57 20:8 1/2-finals 2011/12 Buducnost MNE 16 14 0 2 453:385 +68 28:4 Winner 2012/13 Buducnost MNE 12 5 1 6 265:273 -8 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 1 2013/14 Buducnost MNE 14 8 3 3 349:298 +51 19:9 Runner-up 2014/15 Buducnost MNE 16 15 1 0 444:326 +118 31:1 Winner 2015/16 Buducnost MNE 16 11 1 4 433:359 +74 23:9 Fourth Place 2016/17 Buducnost MNE 6 5 0 1 158:136 +22 10:2 Total: 208 119 21 68 5551:5218 +333 259:157
59 Buducnost
Dragan Adzic coach • retired from his active playing career due to injury in 1998 • almost a decade was an assistant to many coaches in Buducnost • became head coach in 2010; in 2012 won the CL in May with Buducnost and EHF EURO in December with Montenegro • met his wife Timea after she came to the club as an interpreter to former coach, Hungarian Gyula Zsiga
EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012
Late entries: Left the club: Radmila Petrovic (out of retirement) None Sanja Premovic (Zaglebie Lubin)
60 Buducnost
Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 89 Kinga Achruk POL Back 9.1.1989 Pulawy, POL 181 14 Vanesa Agovic MNE Back 30.3.1996 Berane, MNE 182 40 Anastasia Babovic MNE G o a l k e e p e r 13.12.2000 Podgorica, MNE 180 43 Marta Batinovic CRO G o a l k e e p e r 20.4.1990 Metkovic, CRO 184 32 Katarina Bulatovic MNE R i g h t B a c k 15.11.1984 Kragujevac, SRB 186 15 Dragana Cvijic SRB L i n e P l a y e r 15.3.1990 Beograd, SRB 184 96 Itana Grbic MNE L e ft W i n g 1.9.1996 Podgorica, MNE 169 19 Neli Irman SLO R i g h t W i n g 7.4.1986 Celje, SLO 172 9 Djurdjina Jaukovic MNE L e ft B a c k 24.2.1997 Niksic, MNE 185 92 Suzana Lazovic MNE L i n e P l a y e r 28.1.1992 Podgorica, MNE 176 25 Djurdjina Malovic MNE R i g h t B a c k 5.5.1996 Niksic, MNE 182 8 Cristina Neagu ROU L e ft B a c k 26.8.1988 Bucharest, ROU 180 88 Biljana Novovic MNE L e ft W i n g 12.5.1988 Podgorica, MNE 170 55 Ivona Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 21.4.1996 Podgorica, MNE 167 2 Radmila Petrovic MNE R i g h t W i n g 19.4.1988 Niksic, MNE 174 10 Matea Pletikosic CRO Centre Back 24.4.1998 Sinj, CRO 170 17 Sanja Premovic MNE Back 27.11.1992 Berane, MNE 175 C 90 Milena Raicevic MNE Back 12.3.1990 Podgorica, MNE 178 66 Ema Ramusovic MNE L i n e P l a y e r 28.11.1996 Berane, MNE 182 4 Dijana Ujkic MNE R i g h t W i n g 5.7.1996 Podgorica, MNE 172 12 Darly Zoqbi De Paula ESP G o a l k e e p e r 25.8.1982 Ponte Nova, BRA 178
Top scorers after main round 1 Katarina Bulatovic 72 2 Cristina Neagu 61 3 Djurdjina Jaukovic 34 4 Neli Irman 26 5 Itana Grbic 21
61 Buducnost
Marta Batinovic goalkeeper • playing her 11th consecutive CL season, and her fourth with Buducnost, after she moved from Podravka in 2013 • started as a back, but soon she moved into goal • decision to use the unusual number for a goalkeeper (43) was made by her niece Lara • following Clara Woltering’s departure in 2015 she became the first goalkeeper
EC trophy: CL 2015
Biljana Novovic left wing • at 2008 Women’s Junior WCh suffered a severe knee injury followed by two operations, two years of rehabilitation, and two seasons playing in Biseri and Macedonian Zito Prilep • at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia stepped in for the game against Hungary and played very well the rest of the tournament, won by Montenegro at the end • graduated with a degree in Economics EC trophies: CL 2015 EURO: G 2012
Cristina Neagu left back • named the World Handball Player of the Year after leading Romania to bronze medals at the EHF EURO 2010 • EHF EURO 2010 top scorer (53 goals) and All-star member, EHF EURO 2016 All-star Team, 2014/15 CL top scorer (102 goals) and All-star Team, MVP of the WCh 2015 • missed nearly two years, after a shoulder injury and a torn knee ligament • lost two CL finals, one with Oltchim (2013) and one with Buducnost (2014) EC trophies: CL 2015 EHF EURO: B 2010, WCh: B 2015
Djurdjina Jaukovic left back • started with handball at nine in her home town Niksic, thanks to her father Jovo, former president of Sutjeska • joined Buducnost in 2013 at the age of 15, but was on loan two years in Danilovgrad • named best young player in Montenegro twice (2104, 2015) and considered one of the biggest talent of Montenegrin handball alongside Djurdjina Malovic • scored four goals in her debut in the CL against IK Sävehof in 2015/16 • top scorer and MVP of Women’s 19 EHF EURO 2015 in Spain (71 goals)- as a debutant in the senior national team scored 31 goals in nine games at 2015 WCh in Denmark
62 Buducnost
Milena Raicevic back • started playing handball with her sister Dragana, her brother Ivan is a professional soccer player • at 2012 EHF EURO first in assists (29) and shared second place in scoring with Anita Görbicz (41 goals) • two-time Montenegrin player of the year • voted second best young player of the CL in 2012 EC trophies: CL 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012
Dragana Cvijic line player • started handball at the age of 10, first as goalkeeper, later as a left back, in 2007 at Crvena Zvezda switched to a line player • joined Buducnost in 2011 just in time to help them on the way to the CL title • Serbian national team player voted the best line player of the WCh 2013 • expected to miss the 2016/17 group matches due to injury (Suzana Lazovic and Ema Ramusovic share their time on the line meanwhile) EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015 WCh: S 2013
Katarina Bulatovic right back • Serbia-born shooter arrived to Buducnost in 2014 after one-year stints with Oltchim and Györ • made it to the CL final for the first time in 2007 with Slagelse • won the CL title with three different clubs - Slagelse, Buducnost and Györ • key player in Montenegro’s biggest achievements, when she was the top scorer at both the London Olympics and EHF EURO in 2012 EC trophies: CL 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012
Neli Irman right wing • joined Buducnost in January 2016 from Slovenian Zagorje as a replacement for Petrovic, who missed few months due to mononucleosis • Buducnost is her third CL experience after Krim Mercator and Lokomotiva Zagreb (with Olimpija Ljubljana she was eliminated at the qualification tournament) • played the 2005/06 CL final with Krim Mercator against eventual winners Viborg • her personal best in the CL is 21 goals for Krim Mercator in the 2013/14 season
63 Larvik
2nd place GROUP 2 Larvik
Convincing wins against Sävehof and Esbjerg were cancelled out by soft losses against RK Krim Mercator, as their two defeats against the Slovenian side saw Larvik drop to third place in the Group 2. However, one of the most experienced teams in the competition have been battling to overcome Nora Mørk’s loss, boasting the Women’s EHF Champions League Group Matches top scorer, Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren, in their ranks. In the main round Larvik quickly found a new composure and only in the last round of the second stage Club Address they had to yield (to Györ after a narrow loss). Larvik HK The Norwegian side have been among the best eight teams in seven of the last eight Stavernsveien 232 years. N-3267 Larvik Norway
Media contact MAIN ROUND GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS Per Christian Andersen 1. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 8 1 1 305:234 (71) 17 +47 944 39 000 [email protected] 2. Larvik 10 5 2 3 279:271 (8) 12 3. CSM Bucuresti 10 5 1 4 265:257 (8) 11 www.larvikhk.no 4. FC Midtjylland 10 5 0 5 250:241 (9) 10
larvikhk 5. RK Krim Mercator 10 3 0 7 238:290 (-52) 6
@LarvikHK 6. Team Esbjerg 10 2 0 8 251:295 (-44) 4 GROUP MATCHES MAIN ROUND vs IK Sävehof L22:25 (15:11) @ CSM Bucuresti T26:26 (12:13) Kit colours @ RK Krim Mercator L24:22 (10:13) vs FC Midtjylland W24:22 (9:11) @ Team Esbjerg W24:31 (13:14) @ Györi Audi ETO KC T27:27 (9:11) Light vs Team Esbjerg W30:29 (15:17) vs CSM Bucuresti W35:33 (18:18) Player shirt: white @ IK Sävehof W32:38 (14:21) @ FC Midtjylland W24:28 (11:18) Player short: red vs RK Krim Mercator L31:36 (14:17) vs Györi Audi ETO KC L25:26 (12:14) GK shirt: orange
Dark Past achievements Player shirt: black Women’s EHF Champions League Player short: black Participations (including 2016/17 season): 18 GK shirt: yellow Winners (1): 2010/11 Runners-up (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 Semi-finals (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2011/12 Quarter-finals (4): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2015/16 Main Round (1): 2013/14 Playing hall Group Matches (5): 1994/95, 1997/98, Boligmappa Arena Larvik 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09 Hoffsgate 6 3262 Larvik Other Norway Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2004/05, 2007/08, Capacity: 4,000 Semi-final 1996/97, 2005/06 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2005/06 Norwegian league: 18 titles (1994, 1997, 2000- 03, 2005-2015) Norwegian cup: 16 titles
64 Larvik
EHF Champions League club records
Biggest win 41:20 (24:9) v Dinamo RUS (h), 12.02.2011 Biggest defeat 34:20 (16:9) v HC Vardar MKD (a), 02.04.2016 Longest winning run 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015) Longest unbeaten run 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015) Longest losing run 4 matches (03.11.2007 – 05.01.2008) MATCHES Longest run without win 5 matches (16.11.2013 – 01.03.2014) Longest winning run 15 Most goals 41 v Dinamo RUS 41:20W (h), 12.02.2011 Most goals opponent 36 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 31:36L (h), 19.11.2016 GOALS Most goals Most goals both teams 70 v IK Sävehof SWE 39:31W (h), 13.10.2012 41 70 v IK Sävehof SWE 32:38W (a), 13.11.2016
GOALS Fewest goals 13 v Buducnost MNE 23:13L (a), 08.04.2012 70 Most goals both teams Fewest goals opponent 16 v Oltchim Valcea ROU 22:16W (h), 10.02.2001 16 v Buducnost MNE 28:16W (h), 16.03.2013 Fewest goals both teams 35 v HC Dinamo RUS 18:17W (h), 08.11.2009
Past seasons
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/95 1994/95 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 1 3 141:144 -3 5:7 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 165:150 +15 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2000/01 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 193:181 +12 10:6 1/4-finals 2001/02 Larvik HK NOR 10 7 1 2 262:253 +9 15:5 1/2-finals 2002/03 Larvik HK NOR 8 4 1 3 216:193 +23 9:7 1/4-finals 2003/04 Larvik HK NOR 10 5 1 4 287:262 +25 11:9 1/2-finals 2005/06 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 153:154 -1 6:6 3rd Gr. A 2006/07 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 236:211 +25 10:6 1/4-finals 2007/08 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 0 4 166:179 –13 4:8 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 179:169 +10 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2009/10 Larvik HK NOR 14 10 0 4 365:339 +26 20:8 1/2-finals 2010/11 Larvik NOR 16 13 0 3 469:376 +93 26:6 Winner 2011/12 Larvik NOR 14 6 2 6 336:330 +6 14:14 1/2-finals 2012/13 Larvik NOR 16 10 0 6 435:379 +56 20:12 Runner-up 2013/14 Larvik NOR 12 5 2 5 304:280 +24 12:12 3rd MR Gr. 2 2014/15 Larvik NOR 16 15 0 1 444:355 +89 30:2 Runner-up 2015/16 Larvik NOR 14 9 0 5 398:372 +26 18:10 1/4-finals 2016/17 Larvik NOR 6 3 0 3 174:170 +4 6:6 Total: 182 110 8 64 4923:4497 +426 228:136
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Tor Odvar Moen coach • has made a comeback to the job as head coach ahead of the 2015/16 season, succeeding Ole Gustav Gjekstad, to whom he was assistant coach for the previous three and a half years • has been with Larvik since 1997, taking care of several different jobs in the club • head coach in the club for the second time, as he took over at New Year 2011, as now late Karl Erik Bohn left with immediate effect • led Larvik to the club’s only CL triumph so far – in 2011 • has his strongest qualities in the tactical area and in communication with the players
Newcomers: Left the club: Kathrine Fjaere None Kristina Rosten
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Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 14 Kristine Breistøl NOR L e ft B a c k 23.8.1993 Oslo, NOR 191 8 Karoline Dyhre Breivang NOR Back 10.5.1980 Oslo, NOR 172 94 Gabriela Goncalves Dias BRA Goalkeeper 8.7.1994 BRA 190 Kathrine Fjaere NOR 1.1.1999 NOR 4 Marit Malm Frafjord NOR L i n e P l a y e r 25.11.1985 Tromso, NOR 182 3 Anja Hammerseng-Edin NOR Back 5.2.1983 Porsgrunn, NOR 179 C 10 Gro Hammerseng-Edin NOR Back 10.4.1980 Gjovik, NOR 180 12 Alma Hasanic MNE G o a l k e e p e r 13.5.1989 Sije, BIH 179 13 Vilde Ingeborg Johansen NOR L i n e P l a y e r 25.7.1994 Tønsberg, NOR 11 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth NOR R i g h t W i n g 1.8.1984 Lorenskog, NOR 178 24 Amanda Kurtovic NOR R i g h t B a c k 25.7.1991 Karlskrona, SWE 176 7 Hege Loken NOR R i g h t W i n g 31.8.1993 Stranda, NOR 168 23 Lena Lowe NOR Back 20.3.1997 Tønsberg, NOR 19 Thea Mørk NOR L e ft W i n g 5.4.1991 Oslo, NOR 168 Kristina Rosten NOR 25.5.1999 NOR 22 Sanna Solberg NOR L e ft W i n g 16.6.1990 Bærum, NOR 178 17 Tine Stange NOR Back 14.5.1986 Tonsberg, NOR 178 1 Sandra Toft Galsgaard DEN G o a l k e e p e r 18.10.1989 Gribskov, DEN 176 28 Alina Wojtas POL L e ft B a c k 21.3.1987 Nowy Sacz, POL 191
Top scorers after main round 1 Amanda Kurtovic 74 2 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth 72 3 Marit Malm Frafjord 52 4 Thea Mørk 37 5 Gro Hammerseng 26
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Sandra Toft goalkeeper • her 25th birthday on 18 October 2014 marked her debut in the CL (against Metz); 2014/15 was her 1st season outside her native Denmark after she came from Holstebro • named on the EHF EURO 2016 All-star Team as she helped Denmark reach the semi-finals of December’s event in Sweden • broke a neck vertebra in a car accident in 2009 and was close to being paralysed from the neck down – she was back on the court in five months
Thea Mørk left wing • twin sister of Györ right back and Norwegian international Nora Mørk • played in the same clubs as her twin sister, until Nora left Larvik for Györ in 2016 • in Larvik, she has been sharing the court time with Sanna Solberg, until Solberg was injured in the winter of 2016/17, leaving more responsibility on Thea’s shoulders • has played two internationals for Norway, where she has been standing in the shadow of Solberg • fast and versatile winger, good at the fast breaks that are so essential to Larvik
Tine Stange left back • has played in Larvik all her career • played for free last season, but was offered a contract again this season • has become extra important to Larvik after Alina Wojtas’ long term injury • with her experience, she is a particularly important support to her young colleague in the left back position, Kristine Breistøl • efficient left back with a hard and varied shot EC trophies : CL 2011 EURO: G 2010, WCh: B 2009
Kristine Breistol left back • been with Larvik since 2012 when joining from Baekkelaget • has played 37 junior internationals for Norway and scored 100 goals • standing 191 cm tall, she has a perfect height for a back court player in women’s handball
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Gro Hammerseng-Edin centre back • World Handball Player of the year (2007) • excluding the 2011 WCh title and the 2012 Olympic gold - she has the same medals as Riegelhuth-Koren; several times nominated for All-Star Teams at major tournaments • in 2011 she was a key part of Larvik’s CL winning team • in 2013 retired from the national team and ending her career after this season EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2004 OG: G 2008, WCh: S 2001, 2007, EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2010, S 2002 Marit Malm Frafjord line player • used to play for Larvik’s rivals Byasen, but joined Larvik in 2014 after a three - year long foreign adventure at Viborg HK • crucial in the centre of defence as well in the attack, to Larvik and the Norwegian national team • instrumental for Norway’s gold medal run at the EHF EURO 2016 in Sweden after Heidi Loke got pregnant
EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 OG: G 2008, 2012, B 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016, S 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009
Amanda Kurtovic right back • made a comeback to Larvik in summer 2015 after three years joining from league colleagues Oppsal • for a long time, seemed to be heading for Danish Nykobing, but ended in Larvik • due to injury missed the Cup Winners’s Cup triumph with Danish Viborg HK • first choice in the right back position after Nora Mørk has left for Györ
EC trophies : CL 2011 OG: G 2012, B 2016, WCh 2011, 2015, EURO: G 2016
Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren right wing • one of the most decorated players in the handball history: World Handball Player of the Year (2008), All-Star Team member at EHF EURO 2008 and WCh 2009, EHF EURO 2008 topscorer (51 goals) • scored over 950 goals for Norway’s national team • married to Norwegian international Einar Koren
EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners‘ Cup 2005, 2008 OG: G 2008, 2012, B 2016, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2012
69 Top scorers after main round Rank Player Club Goals 1 Karina Sabirova (RUS) Astrakhanochka (RUS) 78 2 Amanda Kurtovic (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 74 Andrea Penezic (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) 74 4 Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 72 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 72 6 Stine Jörgensen (DEN) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 71 7 Ana Gros (SLO) Metz Handball (FRA) 70 8 Isabelle Gulldén (SWE) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 66 9 Nora Mørk (NOR) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 65 10 Iveta Luzumova (CZE) Thüringer HC (GER) 64 11 Anita Görbicz (HUN) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 61 Cristina Neagu (ROU) Buducnost (MNE) 61 13 Jenny Alm (SWE) Team Esbjerg (DEN) 59 14 Laura Van der Heijden (NED) Team Esbjerg (DEN) 56 15 Eduarda Amorim Taleska (BRA) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 54 16 Jovanka Radicevic (MNE) HC Vardar (MKD) 53 17 Marit Malm Frafjord (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 52 18 Nerea Pena (ESP) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 51 Zita Szucsanszki (HUN) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 51 20 Veronica Kristiansen (NOR) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 49 21 Aneta Benko (CRO) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 47 22 Carmen Martin (ESP) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 46 23 Andrea Lekic (SRB) HC Vardar (MKD) 43 24 Manon Houette (FRA) Thüringer HC (GER) 41 Xenia Smits (GER) Metz Handball (FRA) 41 Grace Zaadi Deuna (FRA) Metz Handball (FRA) 41 27 Alexandra Lacrabere (FRA) HC Vardar (MKD) 40 Nadine Schatzl (HUN) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 40 29 Louise Burgaard (DEN) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 39 Majda Mehmedovic (MNE) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 39 Elizabeth Omoregie (BUL) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 39 Liudmila Postnova (RUS) Astrakhanochka (RUS) 39
70 WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 tickets on sale
All-star team 2016/17 presented by UNIQA
Left back Nerea Pena (ESP) - FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/HUN Cristina Neagu (ROU) – Buducnost/MNE Stine Jørgensen (DEN) – FC Midtjylland/DEN Andrea Penezic (CRO) – HC Vardar/MKD Jenny Alm (SWE) – Team Esbjerg/DEN
Centre back Nycke Groot (NED) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN Veronica Kristiansen (DEN) -– FC Midtjylland/DEN Anita Görbicz (HUN) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN Andrea Lekic (SRB) – HC Vardar/MKD Isabelle Gulldén (SWE) – CSM Bucuresti/ROU For the fourth time in a row the European Handball Federation is launching the All-star Line player Marit Malm Frafjord (NOR) – Larvik/NOR team vote in the Women’s EHF Champions Yvette Broch (NED) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN League. Besides the fact that for the first time Danick Snelder (NED) - FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/HUN it is presented by the European top flight’s Sladana Pop-Lazic (SRB) - Metz Handball/FRA long-standing premium sponsor UNIQA, there Anastasiya Lobach (BLR) – CSM Bucuresti/ROU is one more interesting development. The Right back final selection announced on the fringes of the Nora Mørk (NOR) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4 in Budapest (6/7 May 2017) Laura van der Heijden (NED) – Team Esbjerg/DEN will not only consist of a fan vote, but also of Amanda Kurtovic (NOR) – Larvik/NOR media professionals covering handball and an Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) – Buducnost/MNE Ana Gros (SLO) - Metz Handball/FRA expert panel. The vote will run until mindnight on Tuesday 2 May. Below you find the link to join Right wing the vote: Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren (NOR) – Larvik/NOR Carmen Martin (ESP) – CSM Bucuresti/ROU Jovanka Radicevic (MNE) – HC Vardar/MKD http://www.icy.at/ehf/CL_AllStarTeam2017Wmedia Aneta Benko (CRO) – RK Krim Mercator/SLO Luciano Jurswailly (NED) – Metz Handball/FRA It is necessary to underline that our plan is to keep the journalists’ vote strictly for the media Best defender professionals and therefore we ask you NOT to Kinga Achruk (POL) – Buducnost/MNE Eduarda Amorim Taleska (BRA) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN share the link with fans, clubs or anyone outside Beatrice Edwige (FRA) - Metz Handball/FRA of the media family. Alexandra Lacrabere (FRA) – HC Vardar/MKD Sabina Jacobsen (SWE) – FC Midtjylland/DEN Goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud (FRA) - HC Vardar/MKD Young players Sandra Toft (DEN) – Larvik/NOR Karina Sabirova (RUS) – Astrakhanochka/RUS Kari Aalvik Grimsbö (NOR) – Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN Xenia Smits (GER) - Metz Handball/FRA Laura Glauser (FRA) – Metz Handball/FRA Djurdjina Jaukovic (MNE) – Buducnost/MNE Sabine Englert (GER) – FC Midtjylland/DEN Biro Blanka (HUN) - FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/HUN Elizabeth Omoregie (BUL) – RK Krim Mercator/SLO Left wing Manon Houette (FRA) – Thüringer HC (GER) Coach Camilla Herrem (NOR) – HC Vardar (MKD) Gabor Elek (HUN) - FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/HUN Majda Mehmedovic (MNE) – CSM Bucuresti/ROU Tor Odvar Moen (NOR) – Larvik/NOR Thea Mørk (NOR) – Larvik/NOR Ambros Martin (ESP) - Györi Audi ETO KC/HUN Nadine Schatzl (HUN) – FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/HUN Emmanuel Mayonnade (FRA) - Metz Handball/FRA Dragan Adzic (MNE) – Buducnost/MNE
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