EHF Cup Finals 2014 /15 Media Information

Saturday 16 May 2015 Semi-final 2 14:30 Skjern Handbold vs. HSV Hamburg :

Semi-final 1 17:30 Rk Gorenje Velenje vs. Füchse Berlin :

Sunday 17 May 2015 3/4 Placement match 14:30 vs :

Final 17:30 vs : Tickets unter:

01806 999 | 60 Ct./Anruf 000 aus dem Mobilfunknetz350 20 Ct./Anruf aus dem Festnetz www.fuechse-berlin.de

FINALS DAS EHF-CUP-FINALTURNIER IN BERLIN 16. – 17. MAI 2015 MAX-SCHMELING-HALLE

SPONSOREN: AUSRICHTER: Table of contents

- Foreword 5

1. Introduction 6

- Welcome 6 - EHF / EHFM / Füchse Berlin Media Team 6

2. Media timetable 7

3. Essential media information 8

- Accreditation collection 8 - Photographers/TV bibs 8 - Official event name/hastags 8 - Media Centre opening times 8 - Media seats 8 - WLAN access 8 - Video recording 8 - Opening Press conference / Post-match press conference 8 - Opening training 9 - EHF Cup Finals Online 9 - Television and live streaming 9 - Invitation to Media Get Together 9

4. Media rules and guidelines 10

- Rules for ENG crews 10 - Rules for photographers 11

5. Event information 12

- Important regulations – extra-time and penalty throws 12 - EHF CUP / EHF Cup Finals 13 - New trophy 13 - Map of participating clubs 16 - Playing system 17 - Facts & Figures 18 - Semi-final 2 Preview 19 - Skjern Handbold () 20 - HSV Hamburg (Germany) 23 - Semi-final 1 Preview 26 - Rk Gorenje Velenje (Slovenia) 27 - Füchse Berlin (Germany) 30 - Potential Head-to-heads 33 - Top scorers of the EHF Cup Finals history 33 - Top scorers 2014/15 34 - Previous winners 35

3 NEW SPORTSBRAND BY JACK & JONES Foreword

Dear Friends in Sport,

Welcome to the third edition of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals; we are now just moments away from the matches that will determine the new champion of the 2014/15 Men’s EHF Cup. It has been a very interesting journey for a competition that continues to grow and gain momentum since undergoing a facelift in 2013.

In September 2014, 34 teams played the first qualification round and 17 teams advanced to the second qualification round where they joined 23 teams. Following the end of the qualification round 2 in October 2014, 20 teams moved into the third and final qualification stage; this was where every match mattered and the race was on to become one of the last sixteen teams standing in order to play the six-round group phase that commenced in February 2015.

Over the course of season 69 teams have now been whittled down to four. And I congratulate each and every team for their valiant athletic efforts. For the remaining teams, one more challenge awaits - the semi-finals of the 2014/15 Men’s EHF Cup; and with the reigning champion out of the picture, the artisanal sculpted trophy will find a new home on 17 May 2015.

The EHF Cup Finals have returned to Germany, and once again we look forward to an impressive weekend of . On behalf of the European Handball Federation, I welcome the delegations of RK Gorenje Velenje, Füchse Berlin, Skjern Handbold, and HSV Hamburg to Berlin where in front of a 10,000 strong capacity crowd in the Max- Schmeling Halle located at the heart of city, a new champion will be crowned.

The teams are ready to compete and as they take to the court, I wish them all the very best of luck. May the best team win!

Yours,

Jean Brihault EHF President

5 1. Introduction

Welcome to the EHF Cup Finals/Berlin

It is a great pleasure to welcome all media representatives to Berlin for the third edition of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals.

We look forward to two days of top class handball in the sold-out Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin as Skjern Handbold, HSV Hamburg, Rk Gorenje Velenje as well as the hosts of the event, Füchse Berlin compete for the EHF Cup title.

Up to 150 media representatives are expected in Berlin to cover the event, and we expect extensive local, regional and national coverage of the EHF Cup Finals.

If you require any help or assistance during your time in Berlin, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the media team from the EHF, EHFM and Füchse Berlin.

EHF Cup Finals Media Team

Andre Tzschaschel Vlado Brindzak Füchse Berlin EHF Media Manager Media Manager Tel. +43 1 80151 161 Tel: +49 30 20916 876 Mob: +421 908 721 328 Mob: +49 172 31 884 41 [email protected] [email protected]

Miguel Mateo Marcellan Chris O’Reilly EHFM Media Manager EHF Website / (TV/Radio) Social Media Editor Tel: +43 1 80151 224 Tel. +43 1 80151 168 Mob: +43 676 740 78 16 Mob: +43 660 579 6544 [email protected] [email protected]

6 2. Media Timetable

Friday, 15 May 2015

11:45 – 12:45 Training Füchse Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle 13:30 – 14:00 Media Call Füchse Berlin Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle (coach Dagur Sigurdsson, Iker Romero, , , Fredrik R. Petersen, Konstantin Igropulo) 13:30 – 14:30 Training Skjern Handbold Max-Schmeling-Halle 14:00 – 14:30 Media Call HSV Hamburg Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle (coach Jens Häusler, , , Kentin Mahe, Matthias Flohr, Adrian Pfahl) 14:30 – 15:00 Media Call Skjern Handbold Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle (coach Ole Norgaard, , Thomas Klitgaard, Henrik Möllgaard, Sören Pedersen, Daniel Svensson) 14:30 – 15:30 Training HSV Hamburg Max-Schmeling-Halle 15:00 – 15:30 Media Call Rk Gorenje Velenje Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle (coach Gregor Cvijic, Stas Skube, Niko Medved, Klemen Ferlin, Mario Sostaric, Michal Szyba) 15:30 – 16:30 Training Rk Gorenje Velenje Max-Schmeling-Halle (Only first 15 minutes of each training is open for media.)

Saturday, 16 May 2015 14:00 Photographers’ briefing Media Centre 14:30 Semi-final Skjern Handbold vs HSV Hamburg Max-Schmeling-Halle 15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle 17:30 Semi-final Rk Gorenje Velenje vs Füchse Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle 15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle 20:00 Media Get Together Restaurant Meta, Am Falkplatz 1, 10437 Berlin

Sunday, 17 May 2015 14:30 3 / 4 Place Max-Schmeling-Halle 15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle 17:30 Final Max-Schmeling-Halle 15 minutes after winners’ ceremony Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle

7 3. Essential media information

Accreditation collection Your accreditation can be collected from the accreditation desk at the Max-Schmeling-Halle from Friday, 15 May 2015, 13:00 hrs. Please bring an official form of identification – your press card or passport – and your official confirmation. Accreditations will not be issued without these.

Media parking No media parking in the arena will be available, media are advised to use the adjacent regular parking slots at the Max-Schmeling-Halle.

Photographer bibs Bibs for photographers will be issued at the accreditation desk at the Max-Schmeling-Halle from Friday, 15 May 2015. All photographers/TV will be required to pay a returnable deposit of €20 upon collection of their respective bibs. This deposit will be returned at the end of the event when the bib is returned to the Media Centre.

Official event name/official hashtag The official name of the final event is the ‘Men’s EHF Cup Finals’ or simply the ‘EHF Cup Finals’. An official hashtag has also been announced, this is: ‘#ehfcupfinals’. Please use these official terms in your reports and communications.

Media Centre Opening Times The Media Centre is located in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. Opening hours for accredited media representatives are as follows: Friday, 15 May 2015 (VIP Room) 13:00 – 17:00 hrs Saturday, 16 May 2015 13:00 – 21:00 hrs Sunday, 17 May 2015 13:00 – 21:15 hrs

Media seats Media representatives will be allocated a specific media seat in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. There will be media volunteers available to show you the way to your seat.

WLAN access There will be wireless internet access for all media representatives in the arena free of charge. A password for internet access will be provided on arrival. As the arena wireless internet has only a limited capacity all media are advised to secure their own internet connection. A direct line from Deutsche Telekom can be ordered at the hot-line 0800 33 03000.

Video recording Video in the arena, mixed zone and press conference room may only be recorded with the express permission of EHF Marketing GmbH. Please contact EHFM Media Manager, Miguel Mateo for further information in advance of the event. Equipment used for video recording without permission will be removed.

Press conferences The press conference room is located a three-minute walk away from the mixed zone, sign posting will be provided. The post-match press conferences will take place 15 minutes after each match/winners’ ceremony

8 and will be attended by the head coaches and key players. Press conferences will be conducted in English, any questions in your native language should be directed following the completion of the press conference.

Open training for the media Team training on Friday, 15 May 2015 will be open to the media for the first 15 minutes, for TV footage to be filmed and teams to be photographed. Media interviews are possible only at the media call.

EHF Cup Finals Online The event will be covered extensively online by both the EHF Media and Communications Department and Füchse Berlin. The event can be followed on the EHF Cup and EHF Cup Finals websites: www.eurohandball.com and www.berlinfinals.com.

Live Blog There will be a live blog available at www.eurohandball.com starting from Friday afternoon.

Live ticker Even fans unable to watch the matches on the TV or on the ehfTV live streaming can follow the up-to-second updates of the matches’ scoreline at the live ticker, which was already available over the group phase and the quarter-finals. All handball lovers can check not only the running score, but also the scorers, fouls, two-minutes suspensions, missed shots or saves. The live ticker will be provided both in the HTML and Flash version here: http://ticker.ehf.eu/

Television and live streaming Coverage of the event will be shown on television by the following confirmed TV stations (at the time of publication): Sky Sports GER, beIN Sports FRA, Dolce Sport ROU, TV3 Sports DEN. ehfTV coverage and English commentary All four matches will also be streamed live and on-demand around the world at ehfTV.com, the European Handball Federation’s online streaming platform. For the second time in the Men’s EHF Cup the matches will be also broadcast with a live English commentary of Tom O‘ Brannagain. Visit ehfTV.com for more details and to watch games not only from the Men’s EHF Cup Finals, but also from the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and on demand from the recent MVM EHF FINAL4.

Invitation to Media Get Together All accredited media representatives are invited for a Media Get Together on Saturday 16 May at 20:00 hrs local time at Restaurant Meta, Am Falkplatz 1, 10437 Berlin which is situated conveniently just across the street from the Max-Schmeling-Halle.

9 4. Media rules and guidelines

Official EHFM Rules of Conduct for ENG Crews The following guidelines and rules of conduct for ENG Crews have been developed to make the job of ENG crews easier at EHF events. Upon receiving an accreditation and signing for an ENG bib, TV crews automatically agree to follow the EHFM Rule of Conduct for TV ENG crews. Bibs do NOT need to be returned at the end of the event.

1. ENG crews are obliged to produce a media identification card upon request. 2. The Host Broadcaster acts on behalf of the European Handball Federation/EHF Marketing GmbH 3. ENG personnel are requested to wear the bib and accreditation at ALL times. 4. All ENG crews must use the stickers provided on their camera equipment. 5. The bib and the accreditation are only valid for the EHF Cup Finals. 6. Only the Host Broadcaster is permitted onto the playing court. 7. Right holders have to stay in the positions designated to them during the games 8. Non-rights holders are not permitted to film during the matches. 9. The guidelines and instructions of the Host Broadcasters MUST be followed at all time 10. At no time, before, during or after the match are ENG crews permitted to stay in the area behind the players‘seats or behind the official table. They must place themselves in the position advised by the EHFM. 11. ENG crews are only permitted in the TV area of the mixed zone 12. ENG crews are not permitted to interfere/obstruct in the work of the Host Broadcaster.

10 Official EHF Rules of Conduct for Photographers The EHF has developed the following guidelines to make the job of photographers at its events easier. Upon receiving the accreditation and bib the photographer automatically agrees to follow the EHF guidelines of conduct for photographers.

1. Photographers must attend the photographer briefing in the Media Centre on Saturday 16 May at 14:00 hrs 2. Photographers are only allowed to enter the court following the match for 3/4 place and final when permitted to do so. There will be a roped off area clearly marked for photographers in front of the timekeepers’ table. 3. Photographs can be taken during the player line-up. An area will be defined before the match for this purpose. Photographers may stand in this position until the pre-match procedure is over. They must then return to their designated position behind the advertising boards at the ends of the court. 4. Photograph bibs should be worn at all times. These will be issued as part of the accreditation process and are available from the Media Info Desk 5. During the match all photographers should be at the ends of the court where seats are available behind the advertising boards. Photographers will be advised before the match of an additionally designated areas where they may take photos looking down on the court. 6. It is not allowed to change ends during the game. This has to be done at the half-time or at the end of the match. If a photographer wishes to change ends during the half-time break, he/she must follow the routing system 7. Photographers are not allowed to stand behind the players’ seats or on the opposite side of the court. 8. Photographers have to remain seated and cannot change seats during the match. 9. Photographers are allowed to sit in front of the nets after the point where it is fixed to the advertising borders (fixed 3 metres each side of the goal). 10. Photographers are not allowed sit or stand in front of or to obstruct the view of the advertising boards. 11. Strobe light photography is not permitted. 12. Photographers are not allowed to enter the court during the celebration and awarding ceremony which follows final. During the celebration and awarding ceremony there will be a clearly marked area reserved for photographers in front of the timekeepers’ table.

Upon collection of your accreditation you are obliged to follow the above-listed rules.

11 Important regulations Extra-time and penalty throws All matches of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes. If a semi-final match or the final ends in a draw, there will be a five minutes break followed by one extra time of 2 x 5 minutes, there will be a one minute half-time break at half-time for the changeover of teams. If the extra-time ends in a draw, the match will be decided by penalty throws.

If the placement match 3/4 ends in a draw, there shall be no extra time, the match will be decided directly by penalty throws.

If penalty throws are needed to decide the match, the procedure is as follows:

• At the Technical Meeting the teams will be • In the second round, a decision is reached when informed at which goal the penalty throws will a goal difference arises after both teams have be taken. The team taking the first penalty throw taken one throw each. shall be determined by the referees by drawing • Eligible players are players entered in the match lots. The team winning the draw may choose report that have not been disqualified or whether it wishes to throw first or last. suspended at the time of the final whistle. • Prior to the penalty throws, each team shall • Serious infractions committed during penalty name five players eligible to play at the end of the throws shall be sanctioned by disqualification. match by handing the referees a list of numbers. If a thrower is disqualified or suffers an injury, These players shall then take one throw each, an eligible substitute player shall be additionally alternating with their opponents. Each team is named. free to determine the sequence in which throwers will take their throws. • While the throws are being taken, only the player taking the throw, the current goalkeeper and the • The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the referees may enter the respective half of the match report and exchanged in accordance playing court. with the Rules of the Game. Goalkeepers may take throws and throwers may perform • If the number of eligible players falls below five, as goalkeepers. players may be named to take a second throw in the same round. • If the scores are equal after the first round of penalty throws, it shall be continued until a decision is reached. In the second round, the other team shall start. Again five players shall be named who are eligible to play (the players named before may be named once again).

12 EHF Cup The new Men’s EHF Cup was formed at the beginning of the 2012/13 season following the merging of the Men’s EHF Cup and the Men’s Cup Winners’ Cup. The competition forms the second tier of competition after the VELUX EHF Champions League and above the Men’s Challenge Cup.

The new competition also brought with it a new format, with three qualification rounds, a Group Phase, Quarter-finals and a final tournament – the EHF Cup Finals.

EHF Cup Finals in Berlin The event will be held in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, with the capacity of up to 10,000 spectators, over two days with semi-finals to be played on Saturday, 16 May, the match for third/fourth place and the final on Sunday, 17 May. More than 100 volunteers, 150 media representatives, 20,000 spectators, and up to 80 players will take part in the two-day tournament.

New trophy With ten days to go to the 2015 EHF Cup Finals the new trophy was unveiled by Füchse Berlin, the tournament’s organisers.

Exactly as the last year, the art workshop Feuergestaltung Fritz from Sonthofen, Germany has produced the hand-made trophy, which is a modified version of the last year’s model.

The seven players of the winning team are represented by seven steles that strech from the base of the cup to the rim. Halfway a garland represents the team finishing second.

Broading at the bottom the steles give the trophy – that is made out of bronze - stability. The rim depicts one half of a ball labeled with the competition’s logo.

This year’s trophy of the EHF Cup is lighter and handier than last year’s model that Pick Szeged won in Berlin’s Max-Schmeling-Halle in 2014.

13 EHF Cup Finals Programme

Saturday, 16 May 2015 14:30 hrs Semi-final 2: Skjern Handbold (DEN) vs HSV Hamburg (GER) Referees: Evgeny Zotin and Nikolay Volodkov / RUS Delegates: Dragan Nachevski (MKD) and Stevan Popov (SRB) 17:30 hrs Semi-final 1: Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs Füchse Berlin (GER) Referees: Andreu Marin Lorente and Ignacio Garcia Serradilla / ESP Delegates: Panos Antoniou (CYP) / Marek Szajna (POL)

Sunday, 17 May 2015 14:30 hrs 3/4 Placement match: Loser SF 1 vs. Loser SF 2 Referees: Duarte Santos and Ricardo Fonseca / POR 17:30 hrs Final: Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2 Referees: Jonas Eliasson and Anton Palsson / ISL

Tournament Management Arne Elovsson, EHF Vice President Ole R. Jorstad, EHF EXEC Member Predrag Boskovic, EHF EXEC Member Alexander Gehrer EHFM EHF CUP Finals Manager

Tickets The tickets are available in the ticket shop: http://www.ticketmaster.de/event/ehf-finalturnier-tickets/126199?brand=de_fuechse&camefrom=de_ fuechse_hp_newsehfcup

Ticket prices range from 49 to 129 euros.

VIP Packages: purchase directly from Füchse Berlin and via the club’s website http://www.fuechseberlin.de. VIP ticket for both days and the 4 games 299 Euro. Contact person Michael Sturm from UFA Sports - [email protected]

Club tickets: 250 tickets have been reserved for the fans of each of the participating teams, these tickets will be available directly from each of the participating clubs themselves. Any remaining tickets from the club allocations will be released for sale back into the ticket shop.

Media Hotel Füchse Berlin have made a special arrangement with a selection of Berlin hotels for media representatives, please refer to www.berlinfinals.de. Contact the EHF Media and Communications department for full details [email protected].

14

MEN‘S EHF CUP

Haslum HK, Eskilstuna Season 2014/15 NOR Guif, SWE Team Tvis Holstebro, DEN Eliminated teams

Teams qualified for the EHF Cup Finals St. Petersburg HC, RUS 2015 EHF Cup Finals host

Skjern Handbold, DEN

Füchse Berlin, GER

HSV Hamburg, GER

Balatonfüredi KSE, HUN

MT Melsungen, GER

HCM Constanta, ROU

Futebol Clube do Porto, POR

BM Fraikin HC Vojvodina Granollers, ESP Novi Sad, SRB

Pfadi RK Nexe, Winterthur, SUI Gorenje Velenje, SLO CRO vs. vs. vs. vs. Place Match Place rd Final Semi- nals 3 16 /17.05.2015 16 EHF Cup Finals EHF Cup EHF Cup Finals EHF Cup 4 winners 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. 2 rst leg rst 11/12.04.2015 second leg 18/19.04.2015 Quarter- nals Quarter- nals 8 teams 07/08.03.2015 14/15.03.2015 21/22.03.2015 Home Matches Home Matches Matches Away 3 3 Group Phase Group 14/15.02.2015 21/22.02.2015 28.02/1.03.2015 Group Phase Group 16 winners Total number of matches: number 166 Total Season 2014/15 playing dates playing Season 2014/15 Men’s EHF Cup 2014/15 playing system playing EHF 2014/15 Cup Men’s vs. 16 vs.16 Quali cation Round 3 Round Quali cation rst leg rst 22/23.11.2014 second leg 29/ 30.11. 2014 Quali cation Round 3 Round Quali cation 20 winners vs. vs. 17 winners 17 vs.17 20 vs. 20 20 vs. Quali cation Round 1 Round Quali cation 2 Round Quali cation rst leg - 11/12.10.2014 second leg - 18/19.10.2014 rst leg - 06/07.09.2014 second leg - 13/14.09.2014 Quali cation Round 1 Round Quali cation 2 Round Quali cation

17 Facts & Figures Slovenia’s maiden voyage amid German dominance Only four matches remain in the Men’s EHF Cup, which will decide the winner and Hungarian side Pick Szeged’s 5 players can complete their EHF European Cup successor. Besides hosts Berlin, Hamburg, Skjern competition cabinet. Pascal Hens, Matthias Flohr, Torsten and Velenje have reached the final destination of the Jansen, Stefan Schröder had been part of the HSV squad competition. to win the Cup Winners‘ Cup in 2007 and the Champions league in 2013. 0 former winners, neither of the old nor the new version of the EHF Cup, are among the four participants of the 5 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals 2015 EHF Cup Finals. ended in a draw.

0 Danish or Slovenian men’s team has ever won the EHF 6 nations have been represented by the clubs in all EHF Cup of the forerunners EHF Cup (old version) and Cup Cup Finals: Germany (5 teams including 2015), France (2), Winners’ Cup. Denmark (2), Hungary (1), Romania (1) and Slovenia (1).

0 national champions arriving from the VELUX EHF 12 matches were played by Skjern on their journey Champions League qualification made it to the group to Berlin. The Danes started their mission already in phase or the quarter-finals. Qualification Round 2.

1 team was part of the 2014 EHF Cup Finals: hosts Füchse 13 nations represented by the players on court of the Berlin. 2015 EHF Cup Finals: SLO, MNE, BIH, CRO, GER, SRB, SWE, FRA, DEN, ROU, CZE, RUS, ESP. Berlin have eight nations 1 team – Füchse Berlin – have the full selection of trophies on their squad, Hamburg (7), Velenje (5) and Skjern (1). represented in their squad: Konstantin Igropoulo has won the Champions League with Barcelona (alongside 15 times a German team has won the old (and once the Iker Romero) and the Cup Winners’ Cup with Chekhovkie new) version of the EHF Cup since the implementation Medvedi, while Silvio Heinevetter has won the EHF Cup of the competition in the 1993/94 season – but neither with Magdeburg. In addition, Frederik Petersen was a Hamburg, nor Berlin have lifted the trophy. Champions League winner with Hamburg. 19 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals 1 coach of the four participants, Dagur Sigurdsson ended with a win for the away team. (Füchse), is also coach of a national team: Germany (since September 2014) 30 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals ended in victory for the home team. 1 player who has won the EHF Cup before: Silvio Heinevetter (Berlin) in 2007 with SC Magdeburg. 37 goals was the highest number a team scored in a single match: Berlin, when beating Vojvodina by 37:22 in the 2 – like in 2013 (Göppingen and eventual winners Rhein- group phase. Neckar Löwen) Germany is represented by two teams at the EHF Cup Finals. 44 goals were scored in the match Granollers vs Constanta (23:21) in the lowest scoring match. 2 – for the second time a former EHF CL winner is part of the EHF Cup Finals. After finalist Montpellier in 2014 (CL 68 goals were scored in the match Constanta vs Holstebro winner 2003), now it is HSV Hamburg (winner in 2013). (34:34) in the highest scoring match of the season so far.

2 for the second straight time, Max-Schmeling-Halle in 339 goals were scored by Skjern in 12 matches to have the Berlin is the venue for the EHF Cup Finals. best attacking record of all teams.

3 nations are represented by the four teams: Germany (2), 5,894 fans in average saw the group matches of Füchse Slovenia and Denmark. Berlin in the Max-Schmeling-Halle, the venue of the EHF Cup Finals. 3 (all) hosts of EHF Cup Finals have skipped the quarter- finals and qualified directly from their ranking in the group 6,453 fans saw the match Füchse vs Vojvodina to make it phase: HBC Nantes (2013), Füchse Berlin (2014, 2015) the one with the highest attendance in the group phase.

18 Semi-final 2 Skjern Handbold vs HSV Hamburg

Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin Saturday 16 May, 14:30 hrs. local time

Head-to-head stats: No previous encounters in European competitions

History at stake for both sides

Will Skjern reach their first European final since 2003 or will “Only a rare number of clubs have the triple trophy in their Hamburg collect the only trophy missing from their cabinet? cabinet, so this is an even higher motivation for us,” said team captain Pascal Hens, who was part of both winning squads in Saturday’s first EHF Cup Semi-Final in Berlin will go some way 2007 and 2013. to answering the big question heading into the EHF Cup Finals. But HSV have been hit hard by injuries in the lead up to the The Danish side will be full of confidence, boasting a positive EHF Cup Finals, particularly in the wing positions. record against German clubs in this season’s competition, having been the only team to defeat EHF Cup Finals hosts has been ruled out after he suffered a serious Berlin before overcoming Melsungen in the quarter-final. kidney injury following a collision with Berlin goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter. In addition, 2007 World Champion Stefan “It is a nice habit, we hope that this sequence will continue in Schröder is also out for several weeks with a rupture in the the semi against Hamburg,” said Skjern coach Ole Norgaard. sole of his foot.

His team’s success this term has not been limited to European HSV reacted swiftly in signing Swedish World Champion Johan competition, however. Petersson, who had come out of retirement, but insists, “I am fit for this adventure”. Skjern have enjoyed a great domestic season too, having already won the Danish cup before moving within touching The Swede boasts valuable experiences too, having won this distance of the league final following a 31:25 semi-final first competition with THW Kiel in 2003. leg victory against Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. Hamburg were somewhat fortunate to progress as far as the Norgaard added: “Besides those national competitions it was group phase this season, only advancing on the away goals one of our major goals to qualify for the EHF Cup Finals. rule from their qualification round 3 meeting with Swedish side Kristianstad. “Now we are in Berlin for the second time this year and having confidence and strength, we hope to take another The German side fell to two more Scandinavian clubs, Haslum, step.” in the group phase, and Guif, in the first leg of the quarter- final – perhaps a good omen for Skjern. Skjern’s only previous European success came in the Challenge Cup, which they won in both 2002 and 2003. However, the Danish side’s only defeats have come against German opposition, Berlin, in the group phase, and Hamburg meanwhile have the same number of European Melsungen in their quarter-final first leg, so something has to trophies to their name, although their triumphs came in the give on Saturday 2007 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 2013 VELUX EHF Champions League.

19 SKJERN HANDBOLD (DEN) Skjern Handbold take part in the EHF Cup Group Phase for the second time in a row after winning all four of their qualification games. The Danish club maintained a perfect record through four contests with Bregenz (AUT) in round 2 and Oroshaza (HUN) in round 2.

Skjern boast impressive EHF Cup pedigree having reached the semi-finals in 2007, but faced a tough test to reach at least the quarter-finals this time around. Ole Nørgaard’s men were drawn in a strong Group C alongside EHF Cup Finals hosts Berlin (GER) and two national champions - Vojvodina from Serbia and Porto from Portugal. Skjern’s top signing prior to the start of the season was the towering Danish international Nikolaj Markussen, who stands at 2.11m tall and returned to his home country after playing for Atletico Madrid and Qatar side El-Jaish. And he proved his scoring reputation with 33 goals in the group phase, tied with Morten Balling Christensen for the top position in the team.

The Danish team laid the foundation of their quarter-final appearance already in the first half of the group phase winning all three games including a defeat of Füchse at home. Berlin spoiled their record in the fourth round, but by adding two more wins Playing hall against Porto and Vojvodina Skjern easily reached the top seven of the tournament Skjern Bank Arena and nearly took the group’s top spot. What they have not achieved against Füchse in Ranunkelvej 1 the group, they managed in the quarter-finals against Melsungen and after a thrilling 6900 Skjern second leg in Germany they qualified on the away goals rule. Denmark Capacity: 2,400

Road to the EHF Cup Finals: Club Address: Past achievements Skjern Handbold VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-finals: Ostergade 40 Last 16 (1): 2003/2004 vs MT Melsungen W25:20 (12:12) 6900 Skjern Main Round (1): 1999/2000 Denmark @ MT Melsungen L23:28 (12:15) Aggregate score: 48:48 EHF Cup Media contact: Semi-final (1): 2006/07 Group Phase: Lone Jörgensen Group Phase (1): 2013/14 @ HC Vojvodina W25:23 (13:14) +45 91 89 21 30 Last 16 (1): 2011/12 vs Futebol Clube do Porto W27:21 (13:11) [email protected] Round 3 (1): 2004/05 vs Füchse Berlin W32:28 (17:12) @ Füchse Berlin L24:29 (14:14) Online information: Other vs HC Vojvodina W32:23 (14:9) Website: www.skjernhaandbold.dk Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2005/06 @ Futebol Clube do Porto W24:23 (14:13) Facebook: skjernhaandbold Challenge Cup: Winners 2001/02, 2002/03 Twitter: SkjernHaandbold@ Qualification Round 3 Danish champions: 1 title (1999) 1st leg: vs Oroshazi Linamar (HUN) W40:20 Danish cup winners: 2 titles 2nd leg: @ Oroshaza W25:32 Kit colours Aggregate score: 72:45 Light Player shirt: green Qualification Round 2 Player short: black 1st leg: @ Bregenz Handball (AUT) W36:27 Goalkeeper shirt: red 2nd leg: vs Bregenz W36:32 Dark Aggregate score: 72:59 Player shirt: red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: gray

20 SKJERN HANDBOLD (DEN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals 34 Emil Siersbæk Bergholt DEN Line Player 25.8.1997 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 190 85 3 5 Frederik Børm DEN Line Player 12.8.1988 Aarhus, DEN 195 107 6 19 Bjarke Fredsted Christensen DEN Left Wing 26.1.1992 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 188 87 27 9 Morten Balling Christensen DEN Left Wing 12.8.1987 Skive, DEN 189 88 39 31 Jacob Lyhne Hansen DEN Left Back 4.5.1995 Esbjerg, DEN 200 94 8 32 Kristian Hedall Hansen DEN Line Player 14.4.1994 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 191 93 Mathias Gliese Jensen DEN Right Wing 5.3.1997 Lemvig, DEN 182 82 Christian Jepsen DEN Line Player 19.6.1995 Varde, DEN 189 89 20 Jesper Dahl Jørgensen DEN Right Back 23.3.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 190 87 17 7 Thomas Klitgaard DEN Line Player 10.12.1977 Aalborg, DEN 195 98 30 11 Nikolaj Rømer Markussen DEN Left Back 1.8.1988 Gribskov, DEN 211 95 40 15 Lasse Mikkelsen DEN Line Player 19.5.1988 Brønderslev-Dr. Lund, DEN 197 96 33 6 Henrik Møllgaard Jensen DEN Back 2.1.1985 Bramming, DEN 195 97 37 Simon Opstrup DEN Left Wing 5.1.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 180 70 21 Rene Toft Rasmussen DEN Right Wing 29.8.1989 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 176 83 22 33 Mathias Skræddergaard DEN Left Back 1.8.1994 Holstebro, DEN 206 97 22 Kasper Søndergaard DEN Right Back 9.6.1981 Skive, DEN 192 95 13 25 Daniel Svensson DEN Left Back 3.4.1982 Copenhagen, DEN 190 101 9 12 Kristoffer Laursen DEN Goalkeeper 8.5.1989 Odder, DEN 196 95 1 Søren Pedersen DEN Goalkeeper 20.8.1986 Thisted, DEN 191 98 30 Mikkel Arndal DEN Goalkeeper 14.10.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 188 93

21 Coach and key players profiles Ole Norgaard Bjarke Christensen coach left wing • joined Skjern in the summer of 2012 debuting as • playing his 9th successive season in Skjern after the coach of a senior team joining from nearby Tarm Foersom IF • previously head of development of talents under • total of 67 junior internationals for Denmark, the Danish Handball Federation but still none at senior level • in his first season he led Skjern to the bronze • good from the wing in the established attacking medals in the Danish league and a ticket in the EHF play, but his greatest strength is the counter-attack Cup • turned down an offer from Flensburg in 2013 to • a calm and analysing coach who is good at making extend his contract with Skjern instead his players understand his plans and ideas

Nikolaj Markussen Henrik Möllgaard left back left back • his enormous height, 211 cm, gives him a huge • started his career in Ribe HK, once a traditional advantages club in the Danish top flight • at the age of 21, then playing for Danish league • joined KIF Kolding in 2005 and won the Danish club Team Helsinge, his was spotted by BM Ciudad championship twice and the Danish Cup once before Real, later BM Atlético Madrid, where he played for moving on to AaB Håndbold in 2009 nearly three years • added another league title with Aalborg, moved • in 2013 he signed for Qatar top club El Jaish. to Skjern in 2012 • before joining Skjern he tore his Achilles tendon • strong and experienced defender valuable also to which made him miss the EURO 2014 in Denmark the Danish national team EHF EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013

Lasse Mikkelsen Thomas Klitgaard centre back line player • joined Skjern from league rivals KIF Kolding in the • in his seventh season in Skjern a key player in summer of 2011 the central defence as well as on the line in the attack • 29 junior internationals, but the senior debut is still waiting • having started his career in Aalborg, he has had foreign adventures in Spanish CBM Galdar and • his 197 cm make him a tall playmaker, and beside German MT Melsungen setting up his team’s attacking play, he is also dangerous himself with a variety of shots • his skills have earned one international for Denmark as well as one junior international • like with so many other back court players, his biggest idol is Nikola Karabatic • not only his age (37), but also his 248 league matches for Skjern make him one of the most experienced players in the team

Daniel Svensson Rene Rasmussen back right wing • originally a left back and playmaker, but can play • playing his 7th season in succession for Skjern all three positions in the back court line after joining from third league club Raekker Moelle • playing his second season in Skjern after joining • highly reliable wing with a great take-off from the from Bundesliga side TUS-N-Lübecke in 2013 right wing position, fast in counter attacks • has also a career in Spanish handball behind him, • total of 33 junior internationals for Denmark. in Toledo Balonmano • his twin brother Joergen is also a handball player, • physically strong and a passionate fighter who is but on the opposite wing, playing for league rivals not afraid of taking risks in his way of playing and neighbours HC Midtjylland • got cancer in the spring 2013, but managed to be back on the handball court seven months later, fully cured

22 HSV HAMBURG (GER)

2013 VELUX EHF Champions League winners HSV Hamburg faced tough times in 2014. Due to financial reasons it was even unclear if the club would manage to play in the first German league. A huge number of top stars like Canellas, Duvnjak, Nilsson, Lackovic and Markovic left the club and the new arrivals are from a complete different level than the previous signings. But the club managed to survive, as president and main sponsor Andreas Rudolph stepped in again, also installing a new club management headed by former German national team player Christian Fitzek.

After French Christian Gaudin had taken over the coaches’ position from Schwalb in summer 2014, he was already replaced in December by assistant coach Jens Häussler. HSV played seven straight times in the VELUX EHF Champions League and made it twice to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne and they want to complete their collection of silverware after winning the former Cup Winners’ Cup in 2007.

After eliminating Swedish side Kristianstad in a highly close manner in the Qualification Round 3, HSV faced Winterthur, Velenje and Haslum in the group phase. They suffered a shocking defeat at Haslum, but avoid more stumbles in the other matches and comfortably sealed their quarter-final passage. Playing hall Sporthalle Hamburg The French centre back Kentin Mahé led the team scoring with 39 goals in the group Krochmannstrasse 55 phase followed by the 2013 VELUX EHF Champions League best scorer Hans Lindberg, 22297 Hamburg who, however missed the quarter-final action due to injury. Hamburg suffered their Germany third Scandinavian defeat of the season, but regrouped before the second leg and Capacity: 4,200 turned the tables in the return match at home.

Just before the late entry deadline HSV signed Swedish right winger and former THW Club Address: Kiel player Johan Petersson. HSV Hamburg Hellgrundweg 50 22525 Hamburg Germany Road to the EHF Cup Finals: Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Media contact: Quarter-finals: Participations: 7 Michael Freitag @ Eskilstuna Guif L26:29 (13:12) Winners (1): 2012/2013 +49 172 4001940 vs Eskilstuna Guif W27:22 (13:11) Semi-final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, [email protected] Aggregate score: 53:51 2010/2011 Quarter-final (1): 2009/2010 Online information: Group Phase: Last 16 (1): 2011/2012, 2013/14 Website: www.hsvhandball.com vs Gorenje Velenje W33:28 (15:14) Facebook: HSVHandball @ Pfadi Winterthur W26:22 (14:9) Other Twitter: @hsvhandball @ Haslum Handballklubb L32:34 (16:17) Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2006/2007 vs Haslum Handballklubb W36:26 (17:8) German champion: 1 title (2011) @ Gorenje Velenje W32:31 (13:15) German Cup winner: twice Kit colours vs Pfadi Winterthur W30:28 (12:13) German Super-Cup winner: four times Light Qualification Round 3 Player shirt: white 1st leg: @ IFK Kristianstad (SWE) W29:27 Player short: white 2nd leg: vs Kristianstad L26:28 Goalkeeper shirt: orange/yellow/green Aggregate score: 55:55, Hamburg qualified Dark on away goals Player shirt: red Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/yellow/green

23 HSV HAMBURG (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals 21 Tim-Oliver Brauer GER Line Player 15.5.1992 Hamburg, GER 195 115 17 Petar Djordjic SRB Left Back 17.9.1990 Sabac, SRB 197 102 3 24 Davor Dominikovic CRO Left Back 7.4.1978 Metkovic, CRO 203 106 1 43 Alexander Feld GER Back 15.6.1993 Krefeld, GER 188 86 6 7 Matthias Flohr GER Left Wing 19.3.1982 Aachen, GER 187 93 10 20 Richard Hanisch SWE Centre Back 1.6.1990 Eskilstuna, SWE 185 93 10 23 Pascal Hens GER Left Back 26.3.1980 Daun, GER 203 103 20 11 Kevin Herbst GER Right Wing 7.5.1994 Hamburg, GER 189 88 1 5 Torsten Jansen GER Left Wing 23.12.1976 Adenau, GER 185 90 16 18 Hans Lindberg DEN Right Wing 1.8.1981 Höje Taastrup, DEN 188 88 38 22 Kentin Mahé FRA Centre Back 22.5.1991 Paris, FRA 185 83 53 25 Felix Mehrkens GER Back 20.9.1994 Lüneburg, GER 183 87 27 Finn Nowacki GER Back 23.11.1996 Hüttblek, GER 186 86 26 Adrian Pfahl GER Right Back 30.7.1982 Bietigheim-Bis., GER 192 92 46 3 Johan Petersson SWE Right Wing 29.3.1973 Karlshamn, SWE 181 82 2 Kevin Schmidt GER Left Wing 20.4.1988 Gießen, GER 183 81 19 3 Stefan Schröder GER Right Wing 17.7.1981 Schwerin, GER 183 88 8 4 Alexandru Simicu ROU Left Back 8.10.1988 Timisoara, ROU 202 103 39 9 Tim Stefan GER Back 3.7.1995 Hamburg, GER 195 90 15 DEN Line Player 18.12.1986 Skive, DEN 200 108 27 19 Lennard Max Danielsen GER Goalkeeper 5.1.1996 Eutin, GER 190 93 16 Justin Merlin Rundt GER Goalkeeper 14.11.1994 Elmshorn, GER 195 95 12 Max Henri Herrmann FRA Goalkeeper 24.2.1994 Bonn, GER 195 98 1 Johannes Bitter GER Goalkeeper 2.9.1982 Oldenburg, GER 205 104

24 Coach and key players profiles Jens Häusler Johannes Bitter coach goalkeeper • a player at the Bundesliga clubs Wuppertal, • arrived as World Champion in 2007 in Hamburg Wallau, Nordhorn, Hameln and Kronau-Östringen • one of the tallest goalkeepers (2,05 metres) in • started his coaching career in 2007, when he took this competition over German second division team Altenholz • has played for SC Magdeburg, in his last match • came to Hamburg in 2011, first coaching the for them he won the EHF Cup U23 team, then became assistant coach of Martin • nicknamed Jogi Schwalb, Per Carlen and Christian Gaudin • extended his contract at Hamburg despite a • will be replaced by Michael Biegler after the huge number of other offers 2014/15 season • has a huge selection of oldtimer cars at home

EC trophies: EHF CL 2013 EC trophies: EHF CL 2013, EHF Cup 2007 WCh: G 2007

Torsten Jansen Pascal Hens left wing left back • playing for HSV since 2003 and has been part of • discovered by former HSV coach Martin Schwalb all titles in the club history • nicknamed “Pommes” (French fries) • had been coached by Füchse manager Bob • retired from the German national team in 2012 Hanning in his early days at Solingen • started his career at SG Wallau-Massenheim and • has scored more than 1,500 goals in Bundesliga plays for HSV since 2003 • has been invited by German Chancellor Angela • supposed to remain in the club after his active Merkel to her residence as part of the 2007 World career Champions’ team

EC trophies: CL 2013, Cup Winners‘ Cup 2007 EC trophies: EHF CL 2013, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007 EURO: G 2004, S 2002 OG: S 2004, EHF EURO: G 2004, S 2002, WCh: G 2007, S 2003

Alexandru Simicu Kentin Mahé left back centre back • his imposing physique has recommended him • joined Hamburg in 2013 after spells with VfL straight away for handball, started playing at 12 Gummersbach and Bayer Dormagen • immediately scouted by Politehnica Timișoara • coached by his father Pascal in Dormagen • in 2011, he signed for HCM Constanța, winning • MVP and top scorer (49 goals) of the Men’s 20 two championships, two Romanian Cups and one EHF EURO 2010 in Bratislava Romanian Supercup with the ”sailors” • made a debut in national team of France in 2010 • reached the 2014 EHF Cup Finals with Constanta • reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final with • Romanian player of the year in 2013 Gummersbach in 2011/12

WCh: G 2015

Henrik Toft Hansen Adrian Pfahl line player right back • his girlfriend Ulrike Agren is playing for the • had a quite late debut in the German national Swedish national team and German club Buxtehude team, at the age of 28 • his whole family is involved in handball: brother • has already three EC trophies on his tally (all with Rene (also a line player) is playing for THW Kiel, his VfL Gummersbach) brother Allan (Mors-Thy) and his sisters Majbritt • arrived at Hamburg in 2013, right after HSV (Skive) and Jeanette top players in the Danish league became Champions League winner • part of AG Kobenhavn, which eliminated • his nickname is “Adi” Barcelona on the way to 2012 VELUX EHF FINAL4 • transferred to Aalborg, before he joined Hamburg in 2013, will leave for Flensburg in the summer EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2009, Cup Winners‘ Cup 2010, 2011

25 Semi-final 1 Rk Gorenje Velenje vs Füchse Berlin

Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin Saturday 16 May, 17:30 hrs. local time

Head-to-head stats: No previous encounters in European competitions

Fast wasps or snappy foxes

Never before have the hosts of the EHF Cup Finals gone on with the EHF Cup Finals set to mark the end of their time with to lift the trophy. But Füchse Berlin’s ambition is to buck that Füchse. trend. Igropoulo is due join to Danish side KIF Kolding while Romero “We are obliged to end this series,” said Füchse manager Bob is calling time on his career and Sigurdsson will focus solely on Hanning prior to his club hosting the event for a second time. his job as German national team coach.

In 2013, HBC Nantes lost in the final against Rhein Neckar “We are ready to win the trophy,” said Romero, a Champions Löwen, before the Foxes were beaten semi-finalists against League winner with Barcelona in 2005 and 2011. Pick Szeged a year later. In contrast to Berlin, Velenje have already been part of an This year, Gorenje Velenje, nicknamed the Wasps, stand EHF Cup final, in its previous format. In 2009, they gave VfL between Berlin and that elusive, historic prize. Gummersbach a tough fight before eventually losing both matches, 28:29 and 22:26. The only Velenje player remaining “Füchse are the favourites, but we like to be in this underdog from those matches is right wing Rok Golcar. role and we are eagerly looking forward to facing top teams in Berlin,” said Gorenje coach Gregor Cvijic, who only succeeded On their way to Berlin, Gorenje were the only team to win Ivan Vaidl in the job last month. both legs of their quarter-final (28:27, 31:30), and lost only twice in 10 matches – both defeats came at the hands of their Cvijic’s side must first overcome their injury problems before potential opponents in Sunday’s final, HSV Hamburg. they can think about taming the Foxes, however. Klemen Ferlin, Stas Skube and Jernej Papez have all missed matches in But the Slovenian side’s plan for reaching Sunday’s showpiece recent weeks due to injury is clear.

EHF Cup top scorer Skube (75 goals) was back on track again “It is all about speed, as we do not have those tall shooters,” last weekend – although Velenje, like Berlin, failed in their said Gregor Cvijic. domestic dress rehearsal for the EHF Cup Finals. Berlin will be without long-term injury absentees Bartlomiej Gorenje lost the first leg of their play-off semi-final in Slovenia Jaska and Denis Spoljaric. against Maribor Branik, while Berlin’s defence of the German cup ended in the semi-final against Magdeburg. But for Hanning, history is the motivation.

Velenje are still in the race for the Slovenian title, but Berlin’s He said: “We all hope to go all the way to the biggest success last chance to end this season with a trophy is the EHF Cup. in the history of our club. Never before have we won an international trophy. Iker Romero, Konstantin Igropoulo and coach Dagur Sigurdsson will come under close scrutiny during the event, “I hope the time has come for it.”

26 RK GORENJE VELENJE (SLO)

As finalists in the old format of the EHF Cup, two Slovenian championships in the past three seasons and two consecutive appearances at the Last 16 stage of of the VELUX EHF Champions League, Gorenje Velenje are without a doubt among the most experienced sides in the EHF Cup Group Phase.

Already in the qualification Ivan Vajdl’s team proved their strengths and ambitions, beating Russian side Permskie Medvedi twice in a clear way. In Group A Velenje faced Hamburg, Haslum and Winterthur.

Only Hamburg seemed to be a different weight class for Velenje in the group phase, but the German team could decide both encounters only late in the second half. In the remaining four matches Velenje left no doubt on who will take both points after the final whistle.

They won both matches against against Haslum by 10+ goals and also Pfadi could not stop them on the way to claim the second best place in the second ranked teams table. Playing hall Centre back Stas Skube scored 62 goals for Velenje in those six matches claiming the Rdeca Dvorana top scorer title in the group phase. Skube remained instrumental for his club also in Saleska cesta 3 the quarter-finals as he orchestrated his team’s attack steering them to two narrow 3320 Velenje wins against Holstebro. Slovenia Capacity:2,700 Road to the EHF Cup Finals: Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Club Address: Quarter-finals: Participations: 7 Gorenje Velenje vs Team Tvis Holstebro W28:27 (13:14) Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2012/13, Saleska Cesta 3 @ Team Tvis Holstebro W31:30 (18:16) 2013/14 3320 Velenje Aggregate score: 59:57 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Slovenia Group Phase (1): 2004/05 Group Phase: Qualification (1): 2010/11 Media contact: @ HSV Hamburg L28:33 (14:15) Tanija Rednak vs Haslum Handballklubb W34:21 (18:13) EHF Cup +386 38986440 @ Pfadi Winterthur W35:26 (16:12) Runners-up (1): 2008/09 [email protected] vs Pfadi Winterthur W30:26 (15:11) Semi-final (1): 1994/95 vs HSV Hamburg L31:32 (15:13) Quarter-final (3): 1996/97, 2010/11, 2011/12 Online information: @ Haslum Handballklubb W22:34 (11:17) Round 3 (1): 2002/03 Website: www.rk-gorenje.com Facebook: rkgorenjevelenje Qualification Round 3 Other Twitter: Rk_Gorenje_V@ 1st leg: @ Permskie Medvedi W34:37 Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 2003/04, 2nd leg: vs Perm W39:29 quarter-final 2004/05 Aggregate score: 76:63 Slovenian league: 3 titles (2009, 2012, Kit colours 2013) Light Slovenian cup: 1 title Player shirt: yellow Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: red Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue

27 RK GORENJE VELENJE (SLO) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals 80 Kristian Beciri CRO Line Player 14.6.1994 Heppenheim, GER 201 124 5 2 Milos Bozovic MNE Left Back 10.12.1994 Podgorica, MNE 199 97 14 8 Senjamin Buric BIH Line Player 20.11.1990 Maglaj, BIH 198 100 33 3 Nejc Cehte SLO Right Back 4.9.1992 Brezice, SLO 196 94 7 30 Luka Dobelsek SLO Centre Back 12.1.1983 Celje, SLO 191 90 5 77 Marko Dujmovic SLO Left Back 16.9.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 190 95 36 31 Janez Gams SLO Left Wing 8.11.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 180 83 6 23 Rok Golcar SLO Right Wing 23.12.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 189 87 3 27 Blaz Klec SLO Line Player 26.3.1986 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 183 95 12 5 Niko Medved SLO Left Wing 26.3.1990 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 182 83 29 44 Mitja Nosan SLO Left Back 9.1.1990 Ljubljana, SLO 198 98 9 52 Marko Ostir SLO Line Player 7.6.1977 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 194 100 25 Jernej Papez SLO Right Back 29.1.1991 Novo Mesto, SLO 190 94 3 20 Stas Skube SLO Centre Back 15.11.1989 Novo Mesto, SLO 176 79 75 24 Mario Sostaric SLO Right Wing 25.11.1992 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 193 87 49 21 Aleksander Spende SLO Left Back 24.7.1993 Ljubljana, SLO 200 85 18 Michal Szyba POL Right Back 18.3.1988 Lublin, POL 195 92 40 28 Matic Vrecar SLO Line Player 28.2.1989 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 195 114 1 32 Rok Zaponsek SLO Goalkeeper 30.10.1992 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 192 85 12 Benjamin Buric BIH Goalkeeper 20.11.1990 Maglaj, BIH 197 97 22 Klemen Ferlin SLO Goalkeeper 26.6.1989 Novo Mesto, SLO 192 95

28 Coach and key players profiles Gregor Cvijic Benjamin Buric coach goalkeeper • former Slovenian national team member, scoring • the 197-cm tall Bosnia and Herzegovina national 89 goals in 75 caps and reaching the fifth place at team player arrived from Izvidjac Ljubuski together the EHF EURO 2000 in Croatia with his twin brother Senjamin • started coaching career in 2006, aged 34, as an • taken over the burden of the first choice assistant coach at RD Slovan, later won promotion goalkeeper, following the departure of Ivan Gajic to the Slovenian top tier in 2013 as the head coach in 2013 • participated in the CL Group phase as the head • the 2013/14 season in the CL was his maiden in coach of RK Bosna Sarajevo in the 2008/09 season the top tier of European handball • joined Velenje in April 2015, after Ivan Vajdl’s resignation

Niko Medved Milos Bozovic left wing left back • a fast player on the left wing • current Montenegrin national team member • in the 2013/14 season he also assumed a new role • born in 1994, as a son of Brano Bozovic, coach of of the club captain, despite being only 23 his boyhood club HC Budvanska rivijera, and former assistant coach of Montenegrin national team • he also scored his personal best of 40 goals in that season • one of greatest talents in Monetengrin handball, captaining the junior national team • a Gorenje player all of his senior career and already played four CL seasons • signed for BM Valladolid aged 18, scoring six goals against FC Barcelona in his first season with the club • joined Velenje in 2014

Stas Skube Luka Dobelsek centre back centre back • made his first team debut in 2006, for his • one of the most experienced players of the squad boyhood club RK Rrimo Trebnje aged 17, playing • played abroad in Germany (Lübbecke, Emsdetten) alongside his older brother, Sebastian and Poland (Wisła Płock) before returning to his • despite his height (176 cm) one of the Slovenia’s boyhood club in 2013 replacing Nikola Manojlovic best playmakers often compared to Ljubomir Vranjes • coach Vajdl also counts on his 12-year European • won the bronze medal with the Slovenian national experience team at the Under 21 Wch in 2009, soon becoming a • played his first international matches with Velenje regular member of the senior national team already in 2001. • played in the 2013/14 CL Last 16, with Velenje topping the club scorers’ list with 72 goals • this season has already surpassed his EC goal scoring record with 75 goals

Michal Szyba Mario Sostaric right back right wing • awarded the Silver Cross of Merit in 2015 by the • promising right winger is widely regarded one of president of Poland for his sporting achievements the brightest prospects in Slovenian handball • in the WCh 2015 bronze medal match scored the • went trough all of the youth ranks in Slovenian decisive goal, that lead Poland to extra time and an national team, winning bronze at the Men’s 20 EHF eventual win against Spain EURO 2013 (44 goals) • joined Velenje in 2014, after nine seasons at • product of Velenje handball school made a debut Azoty-Pulawy where he made his debut for the for senior national team in 2013 senior team aged 17 • spent two seasons away at RK Maribor Branik and in 2013 he narrowly missed the first EHF Cup Finals

29 FÜCHSE BERLIN (GER)

Before this season’s start Füchse Berlin aimed to continue their impressive recent record in European competition. The first real test of their ambitions came early enough having only squeezed through to the EHF Cup Group Phase. Dagur Sigurdsson’s men required the away goals rule to come through their qualification tie with HBC Nantes.

They were more convincing in the group phase having lost just one game away at Skjern and won all other five games.

The German cup winners made it all the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in their maiden Champions League campaign back in 2012 before reaching the EHF Cup Finals in the German capital last season. Berlin lost to eventual winners Pick Szeged (HUN), but will hope to go one better this term with the final tournament returning to the Max- Schmeling Halle.

Füchse’s desire to take the title is heightened by the fact that captain Iker Romero and coach Sigurdsson will leave the club at the end of the campaign and Konstantin Igropulo will follow the steps of former Füchse captain Thorsten Laen to KIF Kolding Playing hall Kobenhavn. Romero is set to retire in June while Sigurdsson will focus on his work Max-Schmeling-Halle as German national team coach with his successor, Erlingur Richardsson, already Falkplatz 1 identified. 10437 Berlin Germany Capacity: 8,521

Road to the EHF Cup Finals Club Address: Past achievements Füchse Berlin VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase Markgrafenstraße 34 Participations (2) @ Futebol Clube do Porto W26:20 (14:12) 10117 Berlin VELUX EHF FINAL4: fourth place vs HC Vojvodina W37:22 (18:11) Germany 2011/12 @ Skjern Handbold L28:32 (12:17) Last 16: 2012/13 vs Skjern Handbold W29:24 (14:14) Media contact: vs Futebol Clube do Porto W25:20 (7:8) Andre Tzschaschel EHF Cup @ HC Vojvodina W30:25 (17:11) +49 172 3188441 EHF Cup Finals: third place 2013/14 [email protected] Qualification Round 3 Other 1st leg: Füchse vs HBC Nantes (FRA) 23:18 Online information: 2nd leg: Nantes vs Füchse 28:23 Website: www.fuechse-berlin.de German cup: 1 title (2014) Aggregate score: 46:46, Füchse qualified on Facebook: fuechseberlin away goals Twitter: FuechseBerlin@

Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue/red/white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow

30 FÜCHSE BERLIN (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals 29 Max Bauer GER Right Wing 29.10.1995 Berlin, GER 189 94 95 Paul Drux GER Left Back 7.2.1995 Gummersbach, GER 192 92 19 34 Fynn Ole Fritz GER Left Back 3.5.1997 Berlin, GER 194 91 16 Angelo Grunz GER Goalkeeper 11.5.1994 Berlin, GER 194 92 33 Nils Gugisch GER Right Wing 17.5.1997 Berlin, GER 183 75 28 Pavel Horak CZE Left Back 28.11.1982 Prerov, CZE 198 112 28 35 Konstantin Igropulo RUS Right Back 14.4.1985 Stawropol, RUS 189 97 22 24 Bartlomiej Jaszka POL Centre Back 16.6.1983 Ostrow, POL 185 85 2 19 Julian Kassler GER Line Player 31.7.1994 Berlin, GER 196 90 6 Narita Kohei JPN Left Back 15.6.1989 Kyoto, JPN 187 90 2 Colja Löffler GER Left Wing 8.5.1989 Lübeck, GER 187 86 13 Petar Nenadic SRB Centre Back 28.6.1986 Beograd, SRB 198 98 23 36 SWE Line Player 30.9.1989 Norrköping, SWE 200 118 21 26 DEN Line Player 9.6.1975 Hillerod, DEN 194 95 83 Fredrik R. Petersen SWE Left Wing 23.8.1983 Ystad, SWE 188 81 36 14 Evgeni Pevnov GER Line Player 13.2.1989 Taschkent, RUS 200 106 16 30 Christoph Reißky GER Right Back 11.8.1995 Freiberg, GER 187 80 18 Iker Romero Fernandez ESP Centre Back 15.6.1980 Vitoria, ESP 196 100 16 23 Moritz Schade GER Line Player 10.1.1996 Schutterwald, GER 191 96 1 25 Max Scheithauer GER Left Back 13.5.1995 Rotenburg, GER 190 87 94 Jaron Siewert GER Centre Back 31.1.1994 Berlin, GER 182 90 22 Tom-Luick Skroblien GER Left Wing 19.4.1993 Schwerin, GER 186 87 3 9 Denis Milan Spoljaric CRO Centre Back 20.8.1979 Zagreb, CRO 196 96 10 Dominik Steinbuch GER Right Back 9.6.1995 Berlin, GER 193 99 7 Kevin Struck GER Right Back 31.12.1996 Berlin, GER 193 83 5 Jonas Thümmler GER Line Player 21.8.1993 Berlin, GER 192 87 31 Konstantin Werner GER Left Wing 25.9.1997 Berlin, GER 182 74 20 Willy Weyhrauch GER Right Wing 14.3.1994 Belzig, GER 185 73 5 3 GER Right Back 8.2.1994 Belzig, GER 192 89 17 21 SWE Right Wing 22.8.1990 Huddinge, SWE 178 86 12 97 Sebastian Brand GER Goalkeeper 13.5.1997 Eisenach, GER 196 85 71 Petr Stochl CZE Goalkeeper 24.4.1976 Pilsen, CZE 195 93 1 Konstantin Straßburg GER Goalkeeper 28.1.1995 Potsdam, GER 190 88 12 Silvio Heinevetter GER Goalkeeper 21.10.1984 Bad Langensalza, GER 194 92

31 Coach and key players profiles Dagur Sigurdsson Silvio Heinevetter coach goalkeeper • played 215 matches for Iceland, before he • goalkeeping stalwart of the German national team became a coach, played in Japan for 3 years • his former goalkeeper coach at SC Magdeburg • German national team coach in double was legendary Wieland Schmidt (Olympic champion function with Füchse until the end of the 2014/15 1980) season • famous for his unusual style of saving shots • his successor at Füchse will be also Icelandic, • liaised with a German TV star Simone Thomalla Erlingur Richardsson • extended his contract until 2018 • former Austrian national team coach, leading them to their best EHF EURO result in 2010 (9th EC trophies: EHF Cup 2007 (Magdeburg) position)

Fredrik Petersen Paul Drux left wing left back • like a lot of famous Swedish players started his • currently the biggest talent in German handball career in Ystad • born in Gummersbach, discovered by Füchse • part of the Swedish national team since 12 years Berlin, when he was 16 and since then coached by Sigurdsson in the club – and since November 2014 • played for three Danish clubs (Gudme, also in the German national team Bjerringbro, Kobenhavn) • All-star Player at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2013 • joined the CL winning Hamburg in 2012/13 before in Austria, where he led the Germans to the gold he went to Berlin medal like at the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2011 • nominated for the WCh 2015 in Qatar, but proved EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: S 2012 his high level getting in the starting seven

Petar Nenadic Iker Romero centre back centre back • signed by Füchse from Plock in September • the team captain of Füchse since 2013 will end his 2014, after playmaker Bartlomej Jaska was out for career after the 2014/15 season. months due to an injury • the biggest signing in Füchse club history arrived • currently playing in the sixth different country in 2011, right after he won his 2nd CL title with FC after Serbia, Spain, Hungary, Denmark and Poland Barcelona • married with the Serbian volleyball • 200 international matches for Spain on his tally international Jelena Nikolic, his brother Drasko plays • MVP of the 2014 EHF Cup Finals for Flensburg • played with his teammate Romero in Barcelona EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011 (Barcelona), Cup Winners’ Cup 2002, 2003 (Ciudad Real) and will leave Füchse after this season OG: B 2008, EHF EURO: S 2006, WCh: G 2005, B 2011

Pavol Horak Konstantin Igropulo left back right back • played six years for Frisch Auf Göppingen • a Russian with Greek roots also played for a club (including winning the EHF Cup twice), before he in , one of the first Russians to play for FC arrived in Berlin in 2013 Barcelona • back-up and “assistant” of captain Filip Jicha in • arrived in Berlin thanks to the praise of his former the Czech national team teammate Iker Romero • in Berlin has more playing time in defence than • European champion and silver medallist at the in attack World Championship in beach handball • has the biggest hands in the Füchse squad – 24 • married with the Russian pop singer Marina of centimetres long, 12 centimetres wide the band Blue Marine

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, 2012 EC trophies: CL 2011 (Barcelona)

32 Potential head-to-heads in the EC

Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg 2-1-1 (112:110) 5:3 18.03.2012 Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:30 (15:15) 25.03.2012 HSV Hamburg vs Füchse Berlin, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 23:24 (11:10) 21.08.2013 Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Wildcard Qualification 30:30 (18:15) 23.08.2013 HSV Hamburg vs Füchse Berlin, VELUX EHF Champions League – Wildcard Qualification 27:26 (10:14)

Füchse Berlin vs Skjern Handbold 1-0-1 (57:56) 2:2 28.02.2015 Skjern Handbold vs Füchse Berlin, EHF Cup – Group C 32:28 (17:12) 08.03.2015 Füchse Berlin vs Skjern Handbold, EHF Cup – Group C 29:24 (14:14)

HSV Hamburg vs Rk Gorenje Velenje 4-0-0 (142:120) 8:0 26.09.2013 HSV Hamburg vs RK Gorenje Velenje, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 41:32 (21:13) 05.02.2014 RK Gorenje Velenje vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 29:36 (13:19) 11.02.2015 HSV Hamburg vs Gorenje Velenje, EHF Cup – Group A 33:28 (15:14) 14.03.2015 Gorenje Velenje vs HSV Hamburg, EHF Cup – Group A 31:32 (15:13)

Skjern Handbold vs Rk Gorenje Velenje No previous encounters in European competitions

Top scorers of the EHF Cup Finals history

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Dragan Gajic Montpellier 19 2 Iuliu Csepreghi Constanta 16 3 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 13 4 Ferenc Ilyes Szeged 12 5 Alexandru Simicu Constanta 11 Holstebro 11 Bjarte Myrhol Rhein-Neckar Löwen 11 Jorge Magueda Pena Nantes 11 9 Szeged 10 Valero Rivera Nantes 10

(Bold text indicates players that are part of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals.)

33 Top scorers after quarter-finals

Rank Name & nation Club Goals

1 Skube Stas (SLO) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 75 2 Östlund Viktor (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 54

3 Mahe Kentin (FRA) HSV Hamburg (GER) 53

4 Nielsen (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 51

5 Larsen Patrick Wiesmach (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 49 Pettersson Daniel (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 49

Sostaric Mario (SLO) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 49

Tholin Mathias (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 49

9 Dryapochko Taras (RUS) St. Petersburg HC (RUS) 47 Humet Gaminde Javier (ESP) HCM Constanta (ROU) 47

Krieg Julian (GER) Pfadi Winterthur (SUI) 47

12 Bramming Magnus Grubb (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 46 Pfahl Adrian (GER) HSV Hamburg (GER) 46

14 Brännberger Christoffer (SWE) Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) 45

15 Cutura Dalibor (SRB) HCM Constanta (ROU) 44

16 Elezovic Uros (SRB) HC Vojvodina (SRB) 43

17 Larholm Jonas Erik (SWE) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 41

18 Markussen Nikolaj Rømer Berg (DEN) Skjern Handbold (DEN) 40

Roe Anders (NOR) Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) 40

Szyba Michal (POL) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 40 Toma Laurentiu Mihai (ROU) HCM Constanta (ROU) 40

(Bold text indicates players that are still active in the competition.) * Only goals starting from the Qualification Round 3 are included in the ranking.

34 Past winners

2014 Pick Szeged (HUN)

2013 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)

Previous Men’s EHF Cup winners Previous Men’s Cup Winners’ Cup winners

2012 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 2012 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 2011 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 2011 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2010 TBV Lemgo (GER) 2010 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2009 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2009 Pevafersa Valladolid (ESP) 2008 HSG Nordhorn (GER) 2008 MKB Veszprem KC (HUN) 2007 SC Magdeburg (GER) 2007 HSV Hamburg 2006 TBV Lemgo (GER) 2006 Chekhovski Medvedi (RUS) 2005 Tusem Essen (GER) 2005 C. BM Ademar Leon (ESP) 2004 THW Kiel (GER) 2004 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 2003 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2003 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP) 2002 THW Kiel (GER) 2002 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP) 2001 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER) 2001 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 2000 Metkovic Jumbo (CRO) 2000 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 1999 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER) 1999 Prosesa Ademar Leon (ESP) 1998 THW Kiel (GER) 1998 Caja Cantabria Santander (ESP) 1997 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 1997 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP) 1996 BM Granollers (ESP) 1996 TBV Lemgo (GER) 1995 BM Granollers (ESP) 1995 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1994 Aliza Avidesa (ESP) 1994 FC Barcelona (ESP)

35

2015 EHF CUP FINALS

Media Information by

EHF Media & Communications, 14/05/2015

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Nemanja Savic, Peter Bruun, Adrian Costeiu, Kevin Domas, Grega Sever, all stats by Roy Knoppert

37 For further information please contact: Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media & Communications +43 1 80 151 161 [email protected] Twitter: @ehfmedia

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