Table of contents
Foreword 5
Media contacts 6
Map of clubs 2013/14 7
Playing system diagram - stages and dates 8
Regulations – rankings of the Group Phase 9
CL information - pre-match stats, accreditation for media 10 ehfTV-com - all matches live, first two MOTW released 11
Qualification review – Boarding completed 12
Group Phase overview - expert opinion - FX Houlet 13
Group A - teams, expert opinion – Mirza Džomba 15 head-to-head stats 16
MKB Veszprem KC 18
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 22
St. Petersburg HC 26
Rhein Neckar Löwen 30
Celje Pivovarna Laško 34
HC Motor Zaporozhye 38
Group B - teams, expert opinion – Frank von Behren 42 head-to-head stats 43
THW Kiel 44
KS Vive Targi Kielce 48
Orlen Wisła Płock 52
KIF Kolding København 56
Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 60
FC Porto Vitalis 63
Group C - teams, expert opinion – Valero Rivera 67 head-to-head stats 68
FC Barcelona 69
3 Table of contents
PSG Handball 73
HC Vardar PRO Skopje 77
Wacker Thun 81
HC Dinamo Minsk 84
HC Metalurg 88
Group D - teams, expert opinion – Lars Christiansen 93 head-to-head stats 94
Aalborg Handball 95
RK Gorenje Velenje 99
SG Flensburg-Handewitt 103
Naturhouse La Rioja 107
HK DROTT Halmstad 110
HSV Hamburg 113
VELUX EHF FINAL4 118
History CL 119
Past winners 121
Past top scorers 122
2012/13 top scorers 123
All-time standings 124
Appendix 1 – Results of the Qualification
Appendix 2 – Schedule of the Group Phase matches
4 Foreword
Dear Media Representative,
Welcome to a new season of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
We are now standing on the eve of the competition’s Group Phase and when I look at the four groups that were drawn at the end of June 2013, now completed by the teams that made it through the qualification stage, I am confident the 21st season of our premier club handball competition will be no less exciting than the previous editions.
And what a promising prelude the qualification encounters already were - hotly-contested, narrow matches - which served as a fantastic appetizer of what is yet to come.
24 teams are vying for one of the 16 spots in the first knockout phase. There are newcomers among them, such as Wacker Thun from Switzerland or HK DROTT Halmstad from Sweden, and once again we welcome back well-known teams such as Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, MKB-MVM Veszprem, and the competition’s record winners, FC Barcelona.
But no matter whether it is a team’s first or twentieth season – what unites them all is the will to excel and to advance as far as possible, potentially even reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4, the EHF Champions League’s grand finale in front of 20,000 spectators at the LANXESS arena in Cologne at the end of May 2014.
To all teams, I wish them the best of luck in reaching their goals.
We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media and I am sure this will continue and develop in the future.
I therefore hope you consider this media guide a useful and enriching resource for your work in the upcoming weeks and months.
Should you require any further information, help or assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media and Communications Department based in our office in Vienna.
They will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have.
We look forward to working with you in the coming season!
Jean Brihault EHF President
5 EHF/M Media contacts
Media matters TV and Radio
Vlado Brindzak Akos Moczan Media and Communications Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 161 +43 1 80 151 226 [email protected] [email protected]
Clubs – Media contacts
Group A Group B Group C Group D
MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN) THW Kiel (GER) FC Barcelona (ESP) Aalborg Handball (DEN) Zsolt Sevinger Christian Robohm Gustau Galvache Poul Madsbjerg +36 305024547 +49 1635306300 +34 618522789 +4520804976 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) Vive Targi Kielce (POL) PSG Handball (FRA) Gorenje Velenje (SLO) Goran Roknić Sebastian Kozubek Joachim Azouze Tanija Rednak +385 95 9999 334 +48 505031244 +33 (0)7 85 57 04 55 +386 38986440 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
St. Petersburg HC (RUS) Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) RK Vardar PRO – Skopje (MKD) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Stanislav Fedorov Piotr Raczkowski Marko Savovski Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +7-905-2340000 Tel: +48-691-99881 +389 75 200 008 +34 63 77 66 107 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) KIF Kolding København (DEN) Wacker Thun (SUI) SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Ute Krebs Thomas Christensen Benedikt Anderes Sandra von Wallis +49 126 2500 933 +45 22 629062 +41 79 417 87 23 +49 4611609625 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] s.vonwallis@ sg-flensburg-handewitt.de RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) Nejc Ajdnik Melanie Lefevbre Maxim Koshkalda HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) +386 40687766 + 33 3 28 66 91 52 +375 296 477910 Ole Hagström [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] +46-705-437-020 [email protected] HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) FC Porto Vitalis (POR) HC Metalurg (MKD) Dmitriy Karpushchenko Joana Moreira Zoran Cvetanovski HSV Hamburg (GER) +380 50 5581181 Tel: +351 22 508 32 68 +389 78223505 Oliver Junggeburth [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] +49 40 30987653 [email protected]
6 HUN SVK ROU HUN HC Motor TUR Pick Szeged, Pick MKB Veszprem, Kielce, POL Kielce, Tatran Presov, Presov, Tatran Zaporozhye, UKR Zaporozhye, KS Vive Targi Vive KS HCM Constanta, Plock, POL Plock, Orlen Wisla RK Vojvodina RUS Novi Sad, SRB Novi Besiktas JK, Besiktas Minsk, BLR HC Dinamo RK Borac m:tel RK Borac Banja Luka, BIH Banja Luka, St. Petersburg HC, Petersburg St. Skopje, MKD Skopje, HC Vardar Pro HC Vardar GER MKD HC Metalurg, HC Metalurg, Füchse Berlin, Füchse GRE KIF Kolding KIF A.E.K. Athens, A.E.K. Athens, Kobenhavn, DEN Kobenhavn, HK Drott Halmstad, SWE Halmstad, RK Gorenje RK Gorenje Zagreb,CRO Velenje, SLO Velenje, HC Croatia O. O. HC Croatia Elverum HB Herrer, NOR HB Herrer, Lasko, SLO Lasko, Aalborg Aalborg RK Celje Pivo. RK Celje AUT Handbold, DEN GER Alpla HC Hard, THW Kiel, THW Montpellier GER SG Flensburg- Agglom. HB, FRA Agglom. Handewitt, GER Handewitt, HSV Hamburg, Hamburg, HSV ESP F.C. Barcelona, F.C. HV KRAS HV Volendam, NDL Volendam, Dunkerque HB Dunkerque G. Littoral, FRA G. Littoral, VELUX EHF FINAL4 EHF FINAL4 VELUX Löwen, GER Löwen, Naturhouse Rhein-Neckar LUX La Rioja, ESP Host City Cologne, GER Cologne, City Host SUI FRA FC Porto FC Vitalis, POR Handball ESCH, PSG Handball, Wacker Thun, Wacker Teams qualified for the Group Phase Group for the qualified Teams in qualification participating Teams matches VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VELUX Season 2013/14 Season
7 vs. vs. vs. vs. Place Match Place rd Final Semi-nals 3 31.05 /1.06.2014 FINAL4 FINAL4 1 2 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. 2 rst leg rst - 20.04.2014 16.04. second leg 23.04. - 27.04.2014 Quarter-nals Quarter-nals 1 2 2 vs. vs. vs. vs. 3 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. 4 Last 16 Last rst leg rst - 23.03.2014 19.03. second leg - 30.03.2014 26.03. Last 16 Last Season 2013/14 playing dates playing Season 2013/14 20. - 24.11.2013 20. - 01.12.2013 27.11 05. - 09.02.2014 - 16.02.2014 12. - 23.02.2014 19. VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14 playing system playing VELUX EHF League Champions 2013/14 Home Matches Home Matches Matches Total 5 10 Group Phase Group 18. - 22.09.2013 18. - 29.09.2013 25. 09. - 13.10.2013 - 20.10.2013 16. - 17.11.2013 13. Group Phase Group vs. vs. vs. vs. Qualication Tournaments Qualication/ Matches Wild Card Qualication Tournaments Qualication Qualication Matches and Wild Card 31.08. - 01.09.2013 31.08. - 01.09.2013 21.08.
8 Important regulations Scoring of the matches and ranking
General Group Phase
All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League shall be played in 2 If two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. The EHF reserves ranking will be determined as follows: the right to extend the half-time break in special circumstances to 15 minutes. During the Group Phase: a) higher goal difference in all matches; The matches shall be scored as follows: b) higher number of plus goals in all matches; a) win = 2 points b) draw = 1 point After completion of the Group Phase if two teams have scored the c) loss = 0 points same number of points: a) number of points in matches of the two teams directly involved; Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won. b) goal difference in matches of the two teams directly involved; c) higher number of goals scored in the away match of the two teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group;
After completion of the Group Phase if three or more teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of all teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of all teams directly involved; c) higher number of plus goals in matches of all teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group;
If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined.
If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by drawing lots. Lots shall be drawn by the EHF, if possible in the presence of a responsible of each club.
9 EHF Champions League information
Team line-ups and match reports Online information
Already with the start of the previous season, an improvement to the ehfCL.com media services offered by the EHF has come. ehfTV.com Regulations of the VELUX EHF Champions League From the opening matches of the season, the complete team line- Twitter: @ehfmedia, @ehfcl up has been available online at eurohandball.com and available to Facebook: ehf.champions.league download as a PDF document. The change has been made possible thanks to the introduction of a new online solution, which sees the EHF match delegate complete the final team line-up immediately Official name after the technical meeting. This development means that team line- ups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each The official name of the competition is: VELUX EHF Champions match throws-off. League. The full name of the competition should always be used. VELUX and the three letter abbreviation for the European Handball A further change means that a short time after each match, a Federation should always be displayed in capital letters before the completed match report will also be available online with details such name of the competition. as goal scorers and number of spectators. Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after Team line-ups and match reports can be viewed by clicking on a “Champions League” e.g. VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14. The particular match on the eurohandball.com or ehfCL.com websites. wording “Champions League” should be written with a capital letter The online system is also under further development with the at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The remaining ultimate aim being to provide live scores and statistics from EHF letters should be in lower case. The word Champions does not have competitions and available on the EHF website. an apostrophe after the ‘s’.
Accreditation for GroupPhase
The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs. TV and Radio accreditations are subjects to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH – please contact Akos Moczan.
10 ehf TV.com
All matches of new season live “The VELUX EHF Champions League is the blue riband of sporting competitions for me. I am privileged to get to watch top quality teams Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single match in the in action. This year there are so many challengers and I cannot wait new season of both elite European club competitions. All matches to see what potential shows through in promise,” said O’Brannagain starting from Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League who will also contribute with his behind-scenes blogs for ehfCL.com and Group Matches of the Women´s EHF Champions League will be this season. broadcast live on ehfTV.com and the videos of all matches will be also on demand. Furthermore, like in the past season fully produced The selection of the Match of the Week (MOTW) with English highlights magazine - “Rewind - the handball show” will feature commentary on satellite. stories and highlights from all Men´s top matches will be played out on Monday 7:00 / 8:00 GMT after each playing round. Round 1 Orlen Wisła Płock vs THW Kiel (GER) The complete coverage of all matches means that only during the Sunday 22.09.2012, 17:00 CET group stage of both competitions handball fans will be spoilt by 120 men´s and 78 women´s matches. Together with men´s knockout Round 2 stage, respectively women´s Main Round and knockout stage this is MKB Veszprém KC (HUN) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) supposed to create this season more than 226 hours of live handball Sunday 29.09.2013, 17:00 CET on ehfTV.com.
ehfTV.com relaunches ahead of new season Schedule of first 2 MOTW released Handball’s leading live streaming platform – ehfTV.com – has been Two exciting clashes in the first two rounds of the 21st season of given a new look just as the new club season throws off around Europe. the VELUX EHF Champions League will be featured as “Match of the Week” (MOTW) on ehfTV.com. These top matches will include a The redesigned platform developed by multi-media partner, LAOLA1, free of charge live web stream with English commentary by handball will continue to offer live and on-demand streaming throughout the expert Tom O’Brannagain. They also offer additional footage and season from the EHF’s leading club competitions including the VELUX special camera setups. The focus of this initiative is to offer a wide EHF Champions League and the Women’s EHF Champions League. variety of matches featuring different clubs and venues to give handball fans a real flavour of the competition. New features for viewers include a new ‘swipe’ navigation system and a complete re-development of the video player to offer all the The announcement of MOTW in later rounds will follow later. important statistics, video information and related videos alongside the video screen. The project MOTW goes into its third year on the first weekend of the new season with the match Orlen Wisła Płock against THW Kiel (Sunday 22.09.2012, 17:00 CET). Tom will travel to Poland to commentate the game between the two VELUX EHF Champions League finalists of the past season.
11 Qualification review Boarding completed!
Since early September all 24 Group Phase participants for the Big names arrive from qualification 2013/2014 season of the VELUX EHF Champions League are confirmed. Here are the main facts and figures after the qualification For the first time ever the defending champions needed to go through stage has been completed: the qualification stage, and HSV Hamburg made it by a slight one goal difference against Füchse Berlin.
New nations So, like in all previous seasons, the defending champions are part of the Group Phase. One defending champion made it to the Group The 24 teams represent 15 nations, exactly the same number as in Phase with his new club: Marcin Lijewski, who transferred from HSV the previous season. Germany have the biggest number of clubs (4), to Polish side from Płock. followed by Denmark, Spain, France, FYR Macedonia, Poland and Slovenia (each 2). Two more former Champions League winners also return with their new teams: David Davis, who joined FC Porto after the end of Atlético Belarus, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden and Madrid, and Mikkel Aguirrezabalaga, former player of FC Barcelona, Ukraine have one team each in the Group Phase. The only new nations who joined Dinamo Minsk. compared to the previous season are Portugal and Ukraine, in contrast to 2012/13, Serbia and Romania have no team in the Group Phase. Big names on the benches
New clubs Legendary Lino Červar, who led the Croatian team to gold at the Olympic Games 2004 and the World Championship 2003, arrives from Six of those 24 teams are newcomers in the competition: Naturhouse qualification with his club team Metalurg Skopje. La Rioja (Spain), Dunkerque HB (France), FC Porto (Portugal), Drott Halmstad (Sweden), Wacker Thun (Switzerland) and Motor Martin Schwalb, the only German coach to win the VELUX EHF Zaporozhye (Ukraine). Champions League, is also back with HSV Hamburg – and two current national team coaches have also made it to the Group Stage with And only 12 teams of those, who were part of the 2012/2013 Group their club teams: Boris Denič (Dinamo Minsk/Slovenia) and Manolo Phase, are back in this season: Hamburg, Flensburg, Veszprém, Kiel, Celje, Cadenas (Wisła Płock/Spain). Kielce, Metalurg, Velenje, St. Petersburg, Barcelona, Minsk and Zagreb – which means 50 percent new teams compared to one year ago. Sergii Bebeshko is the only of those coaches, who made it with two different teams in the current and the last season from Qualification to Group Phase: after Dinamo Minsk, he joined the elite now with Domestic duels Motor Zaporozhye.
All three winners of the Wild Card play-off matches will face domestic rivals in the Group Stage. Metalurg Skopje play against their Macedonian opponent Vardar Skopje in Group C like in their opener in the multi-national SEHA League.
Like in the previous season (Group Phase and later-on quarter-finals) defending champions HSV Hamburg will face their local Germans rival SG Flensburg-Handewitt in Group D and Wisła Płock will have the re- matches of the Polish league finals against Vive Targi Kielce in Group B – so only Group A will have no domestic encounters.
12 Group Phase overview
Group A Group B
Group C Group D
Expert’s view Francois Xavier Houlet
And here we go – right into the next edition of Europe’s most prestigious club handball competition.
The teams have started dreaming. And some dream big and some small. For some it is enough to reach the last 16, some want to make their way to the quarter-final, some would like to get to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne and then there are the selected few who dream of winning it.
24 teams coming from 15 different nations are taking part. Once again Europe’s best handball teams have made it. The only pity is that Chekhovskie Medvedi and Atletico Madrid aren’t among them. Especially Madrid (or Ciudad Real as they were formerly known) really made their mark on the competition.
However, four winners from the past are still among the participants. The 44-year-old has more than 20 years of handball 2004 champions Celje have been drawn to Group A alongside Veszprem and Rhein-Neckar Löwen. I experience under his belt. He consider especially the Hungarians among the favourites. They bolstered their squad and have firmly set played for ten seasons each in sight on their goal : Cologne. They surely are one of the big favourites. France (mainly at Créteil and Montpellier) and Germany The constellation in Group B, headed by triple champions THW Kiel, is very interesting. I consider Kiel and (mainly at VfL Gummersbach) Kielce the strongest in this group. Despite their transition, Kiel already showed in the German Bundesliga as well as eighty times for that they are still a force to reckon with. Kielce, third placed the past season, have continued their the French national team, development and are again among my favourites. winning several national and international titles. Following Płock and Kolding are two ambitious teams which at least want to get to the last 16. Dunkerque and Porto his active handball career, he are the underdogs, but be aware : Dunkerque know how to fight and they will prove it. And Portuguese was VfL Gummersbach’s general handball is constantly making progress : I’m curious to see how Porto will present themselves. secretary from 2008 until 2010 and now works as a players’ The match to look forward to in Group C is the clash between Skopje city rivals, Vardar and Metalurg. I consultant and TV-expert for think these two plus Minsk are most likely to fight for the two remaining spots that grant a place in the last “beIN Sport”. 16 behind Paris and Barcelona.
PSG are the reigning French champions with more than just a handful of household handball names in their team. Seeded with them is Barcelona’s’All-star team. They are my No.1 favourites for the title this season. I mean what else can a club that signed Karabatic and Lazarov be ?
In this strong group the Swiss champions from Thun will be struggling to reach one of the first four spots.
In Group D Flensburg and defending champions Hamburg once more face each other. These two teams have met no less than seven times, they probably know each other as well as a married couple. They are my two favourites to finish on top of this group.
Danish Aalborg, Swedish Halmstad, Slovenian Velenje, which played some great handball the past season, and Madrid replacement, La Rioja, complete this reasonably even group.
Well, the dice have been cast. Let’s start playing!
13
Group A preview
Expert’s view Mirza Džomba
One of the best and most famous Croatian handball players of all-time Mirza Džomba takes a closer look at the VELUX EHF Champions League Group A. His rich career has began in Zamet in his city of Rijeka. Back then he showed how great player he will be with an amazing jump shot, extremely long hangtime and fantastic finishing bringing crowd to their feet and performing his show during the game. His career led him through some of the greatest clubs in Europe like Zagreb, Veszprém, Ciudad Real and at the end Polish Kielce. Last year he was picked as the best right winger in 20 years of the European top flight. He played 14 seasons in this competition and five times he had to settle to the runner-up position until he lifted the trophy finally in the Ciudad Real’s jersey.
In my opinion, Group A is one of the hardest in this year’s edition. Veszprém and Rhein Neckar Löwen will be top two clubs in this group and Zagreb and Celje will battle for the third spot.
Veszprém are constantly showing how strong they are, playing high quality handball and last year they almost made it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. They have many great players in their team and I see Momir Ilić as a huge reinforcement for them. I believe he is a player able to make the difference during the game and help them to reach Cologne this season and once they are there everything is possible.
On the other side Rhein Neckar Löwen have changed their club policy in recent years. In the past they were buying great players but they were not a team and as a result of that they were not able to reach their goals. Now they have turned to buying younger players and keeping them for longer, they have gained a team spirit and they play fast and modern handball. They also have many quality players but I think they will miss Alexander Petersson, their right back due to his injury very much and as soon as he gets back, I believe, they will become even more dangerous for their opponents.
Zagreb and Celje have very similar young teams and their goal will be the same, to reach the third position in the group, qualify for the Last 16 and then eventually the quarter-finals which would be a fantastic achievement for both of them. They have very good teams and I assume that even in their clashes with Veszprém and Rhein Neckar Löwen everything is possible.
But on the other hand they have to be fully prepared and ready for the matches against St Petersburg and Motor Zaporozhye. Those are long journeys and I can tell from my own experience that it is very hard to play those matches. Players get tired, legs get heavy and sometimes it can really be difficult to win those games.
Zagreb are doing a great job buying young players and making them grow which will be vital not only for them and their finances but also for the national team which each year get more and more promising young players ready to show what they can do. Some products of that club policy are already visible in Filip Ivić, Stipe Mandalinić or Luka Stepančić and I really think this is the right way to go.
I am convinced, that Group A will give us European handball at its best and its matches will be very exciting to watch.
15 Group A head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 24.01.1995 Badel Zagreb CRO-Fotex Veszprem HUN EHF Champions League – Group A 30:18 (16:08) 15.02.1995 Fotex Veszprem HUN–Badel Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Group A 23:23 (11:12) 06.12.1998 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN-Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Group A 27:25 (14:14) 09.01.1999 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO-Fotex KC Veszprém HUN EHF Champions League – Group A 19:18 (14:08) 19.02.2000 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN-Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 27:25 (13:12) 27.02.2000 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO-Fotex KC Veszprém HUN EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 30:26 (16:12)
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs St. Petersburg HC No previous encounters
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 03.05.2008 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER Cup Winners’ Cup – finals 37:32 (20:20) 10.05.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-MKB Veszprém KC HUN Cup Winners’ Cup – finals 28:28 (14:14) 04.10.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-MKB Veszprém KC HUN EHF Champions League – Group B 32:29 (17:14) 21.02.2010 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group B 34:30 (17:12)
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Celje Pivovarna Laško 09.10.1994 Fotex Veszprem HUN-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 22:18 (08:09) 15.10.1994 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Fotex Veszprem HUN EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 21:24 (12:10) 29.09.2007 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Group F 24:24 (14:11) 18.11.2007 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-MKB Veszprém KC HUN EHF Champions League – Group F 28:23 (15:14) 29.09.2012 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Group B 32:22 (16:11) 01.12.2012 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-MKB Veszprém KC HUN EHF Champions League – Group B 19:24 (09:11)
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR No previous encounters
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs St. Petersburg HC 07.10.2010 St. Petersburg HC RUS-HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO EHF Champions League – Group D 28:35 (12:16) 05.03.2011 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO-St. Petersburg HC RUS EHF Champions League – Group D 31:21 (16:11)
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 04.10.2008 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group H 33:33 (16:14) 13.11.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Group H 27:27 (11:15) 27.03.2011 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 28:31 (12:15) 31.03.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 27:27 (11:09)
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Laško 27.09.1992 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-RK Zagreb CRO Champions Cup – 1/16-finals 18:17 (06:09) 03.10.1992 RK Zagreb CRO-RK Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO Champions Cup – 1/16-finals 26:17 (13:07) 11.11.1995 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:21 (11:09) 18.11.1995 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:20 (14:11) 04.01.1998 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Group A 26:21 (13:08) 31.01.1998 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Group A 26:22 (14:10) 22.03.1998 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 27:20 (14:10) 28.03.1998 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 25:24 (10:10) 26.11.2000 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Group A 29:26 (12:12) 16.12.2000 BADEL 1862 Zagreb CRO-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Group A 22:22 (12:11) 21.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 22:25 (11:16) 07.03.2009 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 31:18 (14:06)
16 Group A head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group A opponents
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters
St. Petersburg HC vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen No previous encounters
St. Petersburg HC vs Celje Pivovarna Laško No previous encounters
St. Petersburg HC vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters
Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Laško 14.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 28:34 (14:16) 26.02.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 31:26 (15:16) 02.10.2010 HC Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group A 28:32 (12:14) 04.12.2010 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-HC Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO EHF Champions League – Group A 33:32 (14:16)
Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 16.02.2013 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR EHF Cup – Group B 35:22 (18:11) 23.03.2013 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Cup – Group B 25:29 (12:13)
Celje Pivovarna Laško vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters
17 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)
The only way is up for MKB-MVM Veszprém after years of near misses. After the Hungarians were eliminated by Spanish teams four years in a row, they came close to securing a place in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season, but were denied by Kiel in the quarter-finals.
There is hope from many around Europe that the Hungarian record champions will bring their rotton form to an end and that Spanish coach Carlos Ortega can lead his team all the way to Cologne.
Ortega increased the number of Spanish players in the squad with Carlos Ruesga, arriving from Leon and added a proven champion, in the form of Momir Ilić, a two-time winner with Kiel. In 2014 his former team mate Christian Zeitz will also arrive at Lake Balaton.
Missing from the squad is their mastermind in the playmaker position, Hungarian international Gábor Császár, who transferred to PSG Handball, but with the squad now well-rehearsed, some more players should be able to carry the responsibility alongside star player László Nagy.
For Nagy, reaching Cologne is the clear objective for the international season aside winning both trophies on domestic ground.
“Last season we missed qualification for Cologne very closely. Now we hope to succeed in our plan, though we know that it will not be easy regarding the top opponents we have,” admits Nagy.
Playing hall MKB-MVM Veszprém will face Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Velenje, Zagreb, St. Petersburg and Veszprém Arena Zaporozhye in the group phase, opponents which club director Csaba Hajnal finds ideal. Külso Kadartai ut 8200 Veszprém “Very strong teams will come to Veszprém, which are highly attractive for our spectators. We Hungary are looking forward to those matches,” says Hanjal. Capacity: 5,020
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements MKB-MVM Veszprém EHF Champions League season: Marcius 15. ut 5 Hungarian champions VELUX EHF Champions League 8200 Veszprém Participations (including 2013/14 Hungary season): 19 Newcomers (including former club): Final (1): 2001/02 Media contact: Momir Ilić (THW Kiel) Semi-final (2): 2002/03, 2005/06 Zsolt Sevinger Carlos Ruesga (Ademar León) Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, +36 305024547 Seyed Alireza Mousavi (Foolad Mobarakeh 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, [email protected] Sepahan Sport Club/Iran) 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Rajko Prodanović (Pick Szeged) Last 16 (2): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 Online information: Živan Pešić Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, Website: www.mkbveszprem.eu 2007/08 Facebook: mkbveszprem Left the club (including new club): Twitter: @mkbveszpremkc Gábor Császár (PSG Handball) Other Marco Oneto (SC Magdeburg) Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Rajko Prodanović (on loan to Rhein-Neckar Runners-up 1996/97 Löwen) Hungarian league: 21 titles (1985, 1986, Kit colours 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, Light 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, Player shirt: white 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, Player short: white 2013) Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Hungarian Cup winner: 22 times Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black
18 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)
Club records – VELUX EHF Champions League
Biggest win 38:17 (18:9) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.2004 Biggest defeat 30:18 (16:8) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), 24.01.1995 Longest winning run 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest unbeaten run 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run 3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996) Longest run without win 4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999) Most goals 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), 07.10.2006 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Most goals opponent 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.2007 Most goals both teams 76 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Fewest goals 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.1995 Fewest goals opponent 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.2001 13 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 Fewest goals both teams 32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Fotex Veszprém HUN 6 2 2 2 131:147 - 16 6 3rd Gr. A 1995/96 Fotex Veszprém HUN 6 3 0 3 147:144 + 3 6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 5 1 2 228:204 + 24 11 1/4-finals 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 3 1 4 200:188 + 12 7 1/4-finals 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 4 0 4 203:202 + 1 8 1/4-finals 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 12 9 0 3 310:267 + 43 18 Runner-up 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 8 0 2 276:238 + 38 16 1/2-finals 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 306:276 + 30 14 1/4-finals 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 317:259 + 58 14 1/4-finals 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:318 + 55 18 1/2-finals 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 10 7 0 3 338:288 + 50 14 1/4-finals 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 6 2 2 2 184:171 + 13 6 3rd Gr. F 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 8 0 4 351:320 + 31 16 1/4-finals 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 419:368 + 51 22 1/4-finals 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:338 + 35 18 1/8-finals 2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 7 0 5 321:322 - 1 14 1/8-finals 2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 410:348 + 62 22 1/4-finals Total 170 112 6 52 4887:4398 +489 230
19 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
32 Mirko Alilovic CRO Goalkeeper 15 Sep 1985 110 200 16 Adam Borbely HUN Goalkeeper 22 Jun 1995 1 Nandor Fazekas HUN Goalkeeper 16 Oct 1976 92 192 Mate Gulas HUN Centre Back 28 Jun 1993 3 Peter Gulyas HUN Right Wing 4 Mar 1984 100 200 Norbert Gyene HUN Right Wing 18 Apr 1994 Daniel Horvath HUN Line Player 16 Dec 1995 31 Momir Ilic SRB Left Back 22 Dec 1981 104 200 4 Gergö Ivancsik HUN Left Wing 30 Nov 1981 87 190 9 Tamas Ivancsik HUN Right Wing 3 Apr 1983 75 179 21 Moorchegani I. Jamali IRI Left Back 11 Oct 1991 102 202 34 Otto Kancel SVK Left Back 1 Feb 1995 88 202 Bence Kisek HUN Left Wing 4 Jul 1993 Patrik Ligetvari HUN Right Back 13 Feb 1996 Seyed Alireza Mousavi Ghalehmirz IRI Line Player 27 Apr 1990 19 Laszlo Nagy HUN Right Back 3 Mar 1981 113 208 Daniel Pocz Nagy HUN Right Back 1 Jun 1995 25 Jose Maria Rodriguez Vaquero ESP Centre Back 5 Jan 1980 91 185 11 Carlos Ruesga Pasarin ESP Centre Back 10 Mar 1985 94 184 5 Istvan Timuzsin Schuch HUN Line Player 5 Jun 1985 105 197 36 Janos-Tamas Stranigg HUN Centre Back 2 Feb 1995 80 190 33 Renato Sulic CRO Line Player 12 Oct 1979 105 192 Laszlo Szeitl HUN Line Player 1 Jun 1994 30 Mirsad Terzic BIH Left Back 12 Jul 1983 103 196 23 Cristian Ugalde Garcia ESP Left Wing 19 Oct 1987 80 186
20 Carlos Antonio Ortega Mirko Alilović coach goalkeeper Six-time winner of the CL, five European Like his predecessor Dejan Perić he belongs Cup triumphs, sixtime Spanish champion, 14 to the elite class of goalkeepers who can send different cup titles in Spain, a silver medallist the audience to their feet and inspire his at the EHF EURO 1998 and Olympic bronze teammates. He is a member of the Croatian medallist in 2000 – Ortega’s cabinet of medals national team and his medal tally consists of and trophies is absolutely huge. As a player for three silver medals (WCh in 2009 and the EHF Barcelona he won every possible title at least EURO 2008 and 2010) and two bronze pieces three times. In 2005 he started his coaching (2012 Olympics and 2013 WCh). In Spain he career in Antequera, in 2012 he left Spain for the first time to take on played an important role as an attack-starter and recorded 11 goal the challenge in Veszprém. His team was stopped just in front of the assistances during the WCh. As he played for five years in Asobal he is VELUX EHF FINAL4 gates by THW Kiel in the quarter-final. very familiar with Spanish contingent in Veszprém.
Cristian Ugalde Momir Ilić left wing left back Veszprém caught a really big fish in him. He joined the THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL He is a player who was brought up by Gummersbach and won seven titles during Barcelona and who played regularly in the his four years with THW, including two CL adult team since he was 18. He excelled at titles. The Serbian left back led his country to the international level in the 2007/08 season their first handball medal as an independent with his 34 goals and the participation in nation at EHF EURO 2012 on the home court the national team. His biggest success with where he was selected as the MVP of the Barcelona was the CL title in 2011 but he won tournament. He was just one of many leaving every possible title with Barca – some of them more times. He found faces in the THW squad last summer. Veszprém expects him to prove a new challenge in Veszprém where he will alter with Gergő Iváncsik his sharpshooting skilles as he stands at the top of the top scorers’ list who is one of the best players on this position according to Ugalde. of the CL regularly.
Chema Rodríguez Vaquero Renato Sulić centre back line player Until 2012 he played only in Spain (Valladolid, This is the second stint of the robust Croatian Ciudad Real, Atlético Madrid). In 2007 he in Veszprém, but in the 2004/05 season he transferred to Ciudad Real in what was one of did not have a chance to wear their dress as the most expensive transfers of the handball he was injured in a car incident before his history. On the club level he is two-time CL first match. The world champion and EHF winner and he won the Spanish Championship EURO silver medallist came back to Veszprém and the Spanish Cup three times. His accolade after several years in Zagreb and Celje. During at the national team started with silver medal Slavko Goluža’s time at the helm he was left from the EHF EURO in 2006, followed with the third place at the WCh out of the squad for the World Championships in Spain. After the 2011 and most recently with a world champion title in January 2013. departure of Marco Oneto he will share his time on the court with the defensive specialist Timuzsin Schuh.
László Nagy Tamás Iváncsik right back right wing He started his career as a basketball player He joined his brother Gergő in Veszprém in and he was close to move to the USA at the 2007 but they had already played together age of 13. At the end he decided for handball one year earlier in the national team. He and became one of the best right backs of suffered a serious injury in January 2012 the world. He transferred from Szeged to when the ligament in his left knee was torn Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain of and his Olympic dream marred. He decided the team despite being a foreigner. He was to resign in the national team afterwards. He the captain of the national team until 2009 performed very well in his club and he was then he made a break and returned in 2012. He reached 4th place at one of the top scorers of the Hungarian Championship. Last season he the Olympics twice, he was selected in the All Star team of the last set his new personal best in the CL as he scored 37 goals. WCh and the best right back of the last CL season.
21 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Back to the roots with an all-Croatian squad: 23-time domestic champions RK Zagreb have again rejuvenated their already young squad from last season.
As Slovenian international David Špiler (together with Domagoj Sršen) left to Belarusian side Brest Meshkov, the team of the new coach Boris Dvoršek consists only of Croatian players, mainly young talents, led by the Valčić brothers and team captain Zlatko Horvat.
Zagreb added some of the most talented players, who had already been highly successful in younger age category world and European championships, like line player Teo Čorić (21), to the squad, which already is imprinted by youngsters, among them is goalkeeper Filip Ivić (21) and the back court aces Stipe Mandalinić (21) and Ante Kaleb (20).
In the group phase Zagreb will meet some well-known faces in their arena, with old rivals from Celje and Veszprém and Rhein Neckar Löwen, who they met several times in the competition, alongside Zaporozhye and St. Petersburg.
Ante Ančić, who switched from the general manager position to club director over the summer, is optimistic ahead of the campaign.
“Our goal is to be among the top four teams in Group A and to qualify for the last 16.
Playing hall “Our opponents are attractive and considering the pretty difficult financial situation Arena Zagreb everywhere we find it great that at least two of our group opponents are coming from cities Laniste b.b., near Zagreb. Also, our opponents Celje and Veszprém are our old rivals and it will be great to 10000 Zagreb measure our strength with old friends,” said Ančić. Croatia Capacity: 15,200
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb EHF Champions League season: Veprinecka 16 Croatian champions VELUX EHF Champions League 10000 Zagreb Participations (including 2013/14 Croatia season): 20 Newcomers (including former club): Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, Media contact: Sandro Obranović (NEXE Nasice) 1998/99 Goran Roknić Teo Čorić (Porec) Semi-final (1): 1999/00 +385 95 9999 334 Leon Šušnja (Moslavina) Quarter-final (5): 2000/01, 2002/03, glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr Antonio Kovačević (Dubrava) 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12 Josip Sandrk (Balatonfüred) Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Online information: Branimir Bouček (Al-Rayyan) Main Round (1): 2007/08 Website: www.rk-zagreb.hr Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 2004/05, Facebook: RK-Zagreb Left the club (including new club): 2006/07, 2012/13 Twitter: @RKZagreb Domagoj Sršen (Brest Meshkov) David Špiler (Brest Meshkov) Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2006/07 Kit colours Light SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Player shirt: white Player short: white Croatian league: 23 titles (1991, 1992, Goalkeeper shirt: blue 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, Dark 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, Player shirt: blue 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Player short: blue 2011, 2012, 2013) Goalkeeper shirt: red Croatian Cup winner: 20 times
22 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Club records – VELUX EHF Champions League
Biggest win 34:15 (16:08) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.2010 Biggest defeat 17:29 (09:12) v FC Barcelona ESP (h), 24.02.2001 Longest winning run 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (09.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) 6 matches (30.10.1999 – 05.12.1999) 6 matches (04.10.2008 – 22.11.2008) Longest losing run 7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Longest run without win 8 matches (04.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Most goals 38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.2013 Most goals opponent 36 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 36:29L (a), 16.03.2008 36 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Most goals both teams 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Fewest goals 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.2005 Fewest goals opponent 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.2000 13 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.1999
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 0 2 4 135: 147 - 12 2 4th Gr. A 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 203: 203 0 11 Runner-up 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 2 1 3 138: 144 - 6 5 3rd Gr. B 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 6 3 3 310: 294 + 16 15 Runner-up 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 7 0 5 300: 287 + 13 14 Runner-up 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 8 1 3 288: 269 + 19 17 Runner-up 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 7 1 2 260: 230 + 30 15 1/2-finals 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 4 1 3 195: 192 + 3 9 1/4-finals 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 3 2 3 209: 216 - 7 8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 273: 258 + 15 8 1/4-finals 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 165: 170 - 5 6 3rd Gr. B 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 212: 194 + 18 11 1/8-finals 2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 153: 148 + 5 6 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 5 1 6 339: 344 - 5 11 3rd MR Gr. 3 2008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 7 3 2 357: 313 + 44 17 1/4-finals 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 6 0 6 351: 335 + 16 12 1/8-finals 2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 12 6 3 3 358: 319 + 39 15 1/8-finals 2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 9 1 4 391: 359 + 32 19 1/4-finals 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 2 1 7 266: 284 - 18 5 5th Gr. D Total 184 92 22 70 4903:4706 +197 206
23 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
Matija Babic CRO Left Wing 6 Aug 1996 70 173 17 Hrvoje Batinovic CRO Left Wing 17 Feb 1988 82 186 5 Ilija Brozovic CRO Line Player 26 May 1991 110 195 6 Bruno Butorac CRO Right Wing 1 Oct 1994 82 188 9 Teo Coric CRO Line Player 25 Mar 1992 119 198 Ivan Filetic CRO Goalkeeper 26 Sep 1994 93 182 18 Zlatko Horvat CRO Right Wing 25 Sep 1984 87 179 16 Filip Ivic CRO Goalkeeper 30 Aug 1992 95 196 Lovro Jotic CRO Centre Back 12 Nov 1994 Josip Juric Grgic CRO Left Back 4 Apr 1995 47 Ante Kaleb CRO Centre Back 9 May 1993 93 196 9 Antonio Kovacevic CRO Left Wing 21 May 1987 90 190 27 Stipe Mandalinic CRO Left Back 9 Sep 1992 93 196 3 Marino Maric CRO Line Player 1 Jun 1990 115 196 10 Marko Matic CRO Left Back 25 Jan 1988 86 202 9 Jerko Matulic CRO Right Wing 20 Apr 1990 86 187 4 Lovro Mihic CRO Right Wing 25 Aug 1994 74 180 Matej Mudrinjak CRO Goalkeeper 18 Jan 1994 90 188 37 Sandro Obranovic CRO Centre Back 18 Oct 1992 88 195 20 Josip Sandrk CRO Left Back 27 Apr 1987 100 209 14 Luka Sebetic CRO Right Back 26 May 1994 97 198 11 Lovro Sprem CRO Left Wing 26 Jan 1990 88 186 7 Luka Stepancic CRO Right Back 20 Nov 1990 104 200 12 Ivan Stevanovic CRO Goalkeeper 18 May 1982 101 193 19 Leon Susnja CRO Line Player 5 Aug 1993 113 204 Robert Tokic CRO Left Back 9 Mar 1996 85 192 22 Josip Valcic CRO Centre Back 21 Apr 1984 97 190 24 Tonci Valcic CRO Left Back 9 Jun 1978 100 194 Leon Vucko CRO Line Player 9 Jan 1994
24 Boris Dvoršek Filip Ivić coach goalkeeper In spring 2013 Boris Dvoršek took over RK He is a home-grown goalkeeper from Zagreb as the successor of Slavko Goluža, who Zagreb’s handball school. As the captain of is now fully focusing on the Croatian men’s Croatian junior national team he already won and junior’s national teams. Before, Dvoršek European gold and was fourth in the world. had been the first assistant of Goluža. But he Last season he was given a chance in Zagreb’s is not alone on the bench of the Croat record first team and he used the opportunity to champions, as he is assistant by legendary open gates of ‘big handball’ in great style Zlatko Saračević, who was the first Croatian through some great saves in the CL and to become top scorer of the Champions League – and even did it regional SEHA league. In his first senior season he also made it to the twice. The first success of this duo was winning the final of the SEHA national team and backing Mirko Alilović he won bronze at the WCh in League in Skopje against Vardar Skopje last May. Spain with Croatia.
Lovro Šprem Tonči Valčić left wing left back He has a well-known surname in Croatian With 36 years he is Zagreb’s oldest and most handball. His older brother Goran has won experienced player. He belonged to big many medals with Croatia including the gold surprises at the WCh 1999 in Egypt In 2007 from the World championship in 2003. Lovro after stints with Torrevieja, Ademar León and is Goran’s copy in speed, agresiveness and Grosswallstadt he came to Zagreb where rhytm. He won the bronze medal with the he will probably end his career. With the national team at the World championship in national team he won the gold medal at the Spain last January, in 2009 he became the 2003 WCh in Portugal and add the silver in junior world champion in Tunisia. He is very skillful at counter-attacks 2009 at the WCh in Croatia and two bronze medals at the EHF EURO and acting very often at the point of the 5-1 defence. 2008 in Norway and 2010 in Austria. This will be his eighth year in the competition (6 times with Zagreb and once with León).
Josip Valčić Marino Marić centre back line player This valuable and experienced central back, Besides Luka Stepančić and Lovro Šprem he Tonči Valčić’s brother, would probably be is another player from the generation which called Croatian golden reserve. He has won the gold medals at the Junior WCh in been Zagreb’s engine in the game for many Tunisia in 2009. Marić was also nominated years, but speaking of the national team he to the tournament’s All-star team, which has remained in the shadows of Domagoj showed his big potential. Currently he is one Duvnjak and Ivano Balić. Although, each time of Zagreb’s key players. Next season he will he got the chance in the team, he gained a join Melsungen in German bundesliga. This silver medal – first time at the EHF EURO in 2008 and second time will be his fifth season and everything shows he can prove that he at the WCh on the home court in 2009. He has played in German is the next in the line of great Croatian line players like Jović, Kljajić, Gummersbach and this will be his eight CL season with Zagreb. Sulić or Vori.
Luka Stepančić Zlatko Horvat right back right wing One of the most perspective Zagreb’s players Zagreb’s captain is currently enjoying his is one of the most wanted of the European best handball years. Speedy right wing is player’s market. More than two meters tall a counter-attack specialist, but he is an leftie with great jump shot and ability to important part of defence at the same time. play in defence embodies everything what Horvat had his debut in the team in 2006 modern handball requires. Last season was and since then he has won 4 medals – one his third in the CL, but it was actually his first bronze at each WCh, EHF EURO, and Olympics real chance to show off as he scored 51 goals. and silver at the WCh in 2009. He has played He is also member of Croatian National team and he already has a in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and this will be his 12th bronze medal from the WCh 2013 in Spain. Before that, on WC in campaign in the CL. In the 2010/11 season he was the third best Tunisia in 2009. he has won golden medal with junior team. scorer with 94 goals.
25 St. Petersburg HC (RUS)
History repeated in the past three seasons for St. Petersburg HC. First they always became runners-up of the Russian league below champions Chekhovskie Medvedi, then they tried their best but failed to reach the knockout stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Now the team of coach Dmitry Torgovanov is aiming to break this double spell in the new season, though they have lost one of their key players, Eldar Nasyrov, to Dinamo Minsk.
And after an “away season”, as they had to play their home matches in the VELUX EHF Champions League in Chekhov, they are back on the banks of the Neva river again.
The home matches will be played in the newly built arena of basketball club Spartak with a capacity of 7,000 spectators, which has been opened right for the start of the international season.
St. Petersburg’s opponents in the Group Phase are Veszprém, Zagreb, Velenje, Rhein Neckar Löwen and qualifier Zaporozhye.
Club director Sergey Zhizha is optimistic, especially due to their new arena: “This year we will play our Champions League matches at home – in St. Petersburg, and I hope we will be one of those 16 teams to proceed from the Group Phase. But it will be a very difficult goal for us.
“Our team is young, two very important players left the club, newcomers need the time to be Playing hall a real part of our game play. The quality of our opponents is very high, but I can say the same St. Petersburg Arena words about each group in the Champions League. So it will be very difficult to be one of four Futbolnaya alleya, 8 best teams in our group, but we will try to do our best.” St. Petersburg Russia Capacity: 7, 044
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements St. Petersburg HC EHF Champions League season: Dekabristov street, 35 Russian runners-up VELUX EHF Champions League 190121 St. Petersburg Participations (including 2013/14 Russia season): 4 Newcomers (including former club): Group Phase (3): 2010/11, 2011/12, Media contact: Gleb Kalarash 2012/13 Stanislav Fedorov (RGUFK-Chekhovskie Medvedi) +7 905 234 0000 Ruslan Djunisbekov Other [email protected] (RGUFK-Chekhovskie Medvedi) Russian league: 1 title (1993), Pavel Kungurov (Zarya Kaspiya) 4x runners-up (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) Online information: Eldar Nasyrov (Dinamo Minsk) Website: www.spbhandball.ru Left the club (including new club): Artem Vishnevsky (destination unknown)
Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/blue Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: red Dark Player shirt: black/blue Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green
26 St. Petersburg HC (RUS)
Club records – VELUX EHF Champions League
Biggest win 32:27 (11:12) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 22.09.2010 Biggest defeat 14:32 (10:18) v HC Metalurg MKD (h), 16.02.2013 Longest winning run 1 match (22.09.2010) 1 match (24.11.2010) 1 match (19.10.2011) 1 match (16.02.2012) 1 match (13.10.2012) Longest unbeaten run 1 match (22.09.2010) 1 match (24.11.2010) 1 match (09.10.2011) 1 match (19.10.2011) 1 match (16.02.2012) 1 match (13.10.2012) Longest losing run 7 matches (20.10.2012 – 24.02.2013) Longest run without win 7 matches (09.02.2011 - 16.10.2011) 7 matches (20.10.2012 – 24.02.2013) Most goals 32 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 32:27W (h), 22.09.2010 Most goals opponent 36 v HSV Hamburg GER 25:36L (h), 12.02.2012 Most goals both teams 63 v HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 28:35L (h), 07.10.2010 Fewest goals 14 v HC Metalurg MKD 14:32L (h), 16.02.2013 Fewest goals opponent 24 v HCM Constanta ROU 24:26W (a), 16.02.2012 Fewest goals both teams 46 v HC Metalurg MKD 14:32L (h), 16.02.2013
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2010/11 St. Petersburg HC RUS 10 2 0 8 259: 302 - 43 4 5th Gr. D 2011/12 St. Petersburg HC RUS 10 2 1 7 241: 301 - 60 5 5th Gr. C 2012/13 St. Petersburg HC RUS 10 1 0 9 225: 318 - 93 2 6th Gr. C Total 30 5 1 24 725: 921 -196 11
27 St. Petersburg HC (RUS) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
23 Dmitry Chernykh RUS Centre Back 23 Jun 1992 80 187 17 Anatolii Chezlov RUS Left Back 23 Apr 1987 91 194 50 Evgeny Dudik RUS Left Back 26 Sep 1995 79 186 11 Ruslan Junisebkov KAZ Left Back 28 Jan 1989 94 198 21 Gleb Kalarash RUS Line Player 29 Nov 1990 95 205 5 Dmitrii Kiselev RUS Right Back 15 Nov 1994 82 192 12 Aliaksei Kishou BLR Goalkeeper 23 Sep 1986 91 193 31 Victor Kovalenko UKR Centre Back 13 Jan 1982 85 184 24 Pavel Kungurov RUS Centre Back 2 Nov 1989 80 180 7 Sergey Kuzmin RUS Left Wing 2 Feb 1988 73 180 9 Dmitrii Lauzhin RUS Left Wing 4 May 1991 75 188 20 Andrei Novoselov RUS Right Wing 25 Aug 1986 70 170 22 Igor Polyakov RUS Left Wing 22 Mar 1979 95 193 98 Maksim Popov RUS Goalkeeper 6 Mar 1998 105 190 51 Evgeny Prokopyev RUS Left Back 23 Feb 1996 81 195 13 Alexander Pyshkin RUS Line Player 13 Apr 1987 107 197 94 Ivan Saltykov RUS Goalkeeper 16 Apr 1994 90 198 10 Alexander Sanashkin RUS Right Wing 18 Mar 1987 80 182 15 Yury Semenov RUS Centre Back 30 Jul 1990 103 195 1 Vitalii Shitsco RUS Goalkeeper 9 Sep 1987 92 198 52 Artemy Skulkov RUS Left Wing 9 Sep 1994 76 180 19 Gleb Smakhtin RUS Left Back 28 Jun 1995 96 200 96 Roman Snovalev RUS Goalkeeper 17 Feb 1993 90 192
28 Dmitri Torgovanov Vitalii Shitsco coach goalkeeper After a highly successful career as a For quite a long time, a native of St. player Torgovanov started coaching at St. Petersburg Shitsco played in the back court. Petersburg in 2009 – and his team became But once at some junior tournament, his four-time Russian runners-up. Torgovanov, team lost all their goalkeepers because of nicknamed Pino, is 41 years old and was injuries. It was Shitsco who was used in the Olympic champion, twice world champion goal instead, and that episode predetermined and once European champion with the his position in the professional handball. He is Russian national team. On a club level he one of those players that helped the revived played most of his career in Germany, for the clubs Essen, Wallau and St. Petersburg HC first to come back to the Russian top division Hamburg. His “coaching teacher” is Vladimir Maximov, the Russian in 2008 and then to reach the final of the national league for four legend, whose Chekhovskie Medvedi will miss the CL this time due to consecutive years. financial problems.
Igor Polyakov Eldar Nasyrov left wing left back Without exaggeration, he is the most He is one of the players that have contributed universal player at St.Petersburg HC. Normally a lot to the recent success of St. Petersburg occupying a position at the left wing, in the HC. A native of the Russian Far East, who attack he is also used as a line player, and his made the first steps in handball in St. defensive skills make him one of the most Petersburg, joined the club more than ten resilient players in the Russian league. For the years ago, and he had some good results first time, Polyakov joined the club from St. already with the junior team. And when Eldar Petersburg back in 2004 and spent there three started to play for the main team, he quickly years. After a two-year break, Igor started his second spell at the team became an indispensable part of it. Probably no other player of in 2009, and he has been playing for it ever since. St.Petersburg HC has spent so much time on court in the recent years as Nasyrov, who often plays the whole matches without substitutions.
Viktor Kovalenko Alexander Pyshkin centre back line player Together with Polyakov, Kovalenko is One of the most progressing players of St. one of the most experienced players of Petersburg HC in the recent years, he has been St. Petersburg HC. However, the interval called up to the national team of Russia for the between his two spells at the club was much last two seasons. In January, he took part in longer. Only last year, Victor came back to the the WCh, which was a tremendous experience northern Russian capital from the Ukraine, for him. At the national team, he is mostly and he immediately brought more diversity to used in the defence. But at his club, he plays the team’s playing style. That was one of the on both sides of the court. As he has many factors which contributed to another silver medal of St. Petersburg friends among the football fans of Zenit, a few years ago he invited HC in the Russian league. some of them to a handball match. Since then, their fans have been known as the most organised and prominent handball fans in Russia.
Anatolii Chezlov Alexander Sanashkin right back right wing Being right-handed, Chezlov is used at Born and raised in St. Petersburg, he is a different positions at St. Petersburg HC, graduate of the local sports academy. During including the right back. And in 2012, when a number of previous seasons, he was the the team lost half of their leading players first-choice right wing in the team. But after because of financial problems, Chezlov was the signing of Alexei Shindin, and now also employed as a central back. However, his Andrei Novoselov, Sanashin faces serious performances were so impressive that the competition, in which he participates on equal club once again won the silver medal of the terms. By the way, the two right wings from Russian league. He is among those players that debuted in the team St.Petersburg have been called up together to the national team of in the early 2000’s. In those times, he played for the junior team that Russia during the last season. But unlike Novoselov, who has already eventually became a backbone of the present main squad. debuted in an official game, Sanashkin still has to wait for his chance.
29 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)
After a two season absence, Rhein Neckar Löwen have qualified for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Every time the German side, founded in 2006 from the clubs Kronau and Österingen, were part of this stage they have progressed and made it at least to the quarter-finals. In their first EHF Champions League appearance, Löwen marched through to the semi-finals in 2009 and two years later they qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4.
Despite some financial problems, the season 2012/13 was the best in club history, as they did not only finish third in the German league to qualify for the Champions League, but also celebrated the first title in their club history, by winning the EHF Cup after beating hosts Nantes in the final.
Defensive leader Oliver Roggisch is ruled out at the moment with an elbow injury, as are back court players Alexander Petterson (shoulder) and Žarko Šešum (knee), who had to undergo surgeries, while youngster Marius Steinhauser tore his cruciate ligament for the second time within one year.
Team captain Uwe Gensheimer, who had missed six months of the previous season after a torn Achilles tendon, is looking forward to the new challenges.
Playing hall* “To be part of the Champions League again is a reward for our club – and it is a great chance SAP Arena for all players as we can face the best teams in the world. This is a huge motivation,” says the Xaver-Fuhr-Str. 150 inspirational winger. 68219 Mannheim Germany Not one key player left the Löwen squad over the summer break and the settled squad is Capacity: 12,900 looking forward to making an impact among Europe’s elite
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Rhein-Neckar Löwen EHF Champions League season: Mollstraße 49a third ranked in Germany VELUX EHF Champions League 68165 Mannheim Participations (including 2013/14 Germany season): 5 Newcomers (including former club): Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Media contact: Nikola Manojlović (RK Koper) Quarter-final (1): 2009/10 Ute Krebs Roko Peribonio (TVG Großsachsen) Qualification (1): 2011/12 +49 126 2500 933 Runar Karason (TV Großwallstadt) [email protected] Sergei Gorbok (Chekhovskie Medvedi) Other Tim Suton (HG Saarlouis) Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 Online information: Rajko Prodanović EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals Website: www.rhein-neckar-loewen.de (on loan from MKB-MVM Veszprém) 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07 Facebook: rnloewen Twitter: @RNLoewen Left the club (including new club): German league: none Jonas Maier (Kadetten Schaffhausen) German Cup winner: none Nils Kretschmer (TV Großwallstadt)
Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow *Alternative playing hall Goalkeeper shirt: white/red Harres Veranstaltungs Halle Dark An der Autobahn 60 Player shirt: black 68789 St. Leon-Rot Player short: black Germany Goalkeeper shirt: blue/green Capacity: 2,000
30 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)
Club records – VELUX EHF Champions League
Biggest win: 40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 08.03.2009 24:39 (10:20) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), 18.10.2009 37:22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 10.10.2010 Biggest defeat: 37:23 (20:08) v THW Kiel GER (a), 26.04.2009 Longest winning run: 4 matches (28.02.2010 – 04.04.2010) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010) Longest losing run: 2 matches (25.04.2010 – 02.05.2010) 2 matches (28.05.2011 – 29.05.2011) Longest run without win: 3 matches (17.10.2010 - 26.11.2010) Most goals: 40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.2009 Most goals opponent: 38 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Most goals both teams: 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals: 23 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 25:23L (a), 18.02.2009 23 v THW Kiel GER 37:23L (a), 26.04.2009 23 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010 Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 37:22W (h), 10.10.2010 Fewest goals both teams: 46 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 447:392 + 55 20 1/2-finals 2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 450:408 + 42 20 1/4-finals 2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 7 4 5 486:465 + 21 18 Fourth Place Total 44 25 8 11 1383:1265 +118 58
31 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
26 Michal Abt GER Left Back 25 Jul 1990 97 193 38 Kevin Bitz GER Centre Back 10 Mar 1993 94 189 8 Denni Djozic GER Left Wing 2 Oct 1991 75 175 60 Kim Ekdahl du Rietz SWE Left Back 23 Jul 1989 90 194 3 Uwe Gensheimer GER Left Wing 26 Oct 1986 90 188 13 Sergei Gorbok RUS Left Back 4 Dec 1982 95 198 24 Patrick Groetzki GER Right Wing 4 Jul 1989 84 189 30 Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana ESP Line Player 1 Oct 1984 103 199 6 Isaias Guardiola Villaplana ESP Right Back 1 Oct 1984 103 200 25 Runar Karason ISL Right Back 24 May 1988 104 193 20 Niklas Landin Jacobsen DEN Goalkeeper 19 Dec 1988 98 200 9 Nikola Manojlovic SRB Back 1 Dec 1981 100 196 18 Bjarte Hakon Myrhol NOR Line Player 29 May 1982 96 192 12 Roco Peribonio CRO Goalkeeper 16 Oct 1991 99 194 32 Alexander Petersson ISL Right Back 2 Jul 1980 90 186 4 Oliver Roggisch GER Line Player 25 Aug 1978 96 202 2 Andre Schmid SUI Centre Back 30 Aug 1983 90 190 77 David Schmidt GER Right Back 19 Oct 1993 86 181 5 Zarko Sesum SRB Back 16 Jun 1986 97 195 11 Stefan Rafn Sigurmannsson ISL Left Wing 19 May 1990 96 196 19 Marius Steinhauser GER Right Wing 6 Feb 1993 83 187 16 Goran Stojanovic MNE Goalkeeper 24 Feb 1977 93 192 1 Tomas Svensson SWE Goalkeeper 15 Feb 1968 90 194
32 Gudmundur Gudmundsson Niklas Landin coach goalkeeper Gudmundsson became coach of Fram The 24-year-old Dane is in the Löwen squad Reykjavik in 1995. From 2008 to 2012, He since the start of last season and is one was on the bench of the national team as of the main reasons for their success. The successor to Alfred Gislason. Gudmundsson successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt broke had a number of sport director roles before through during the 2011 WCh. Guðmundur becoming Löwen head coach in 2010. After Guðmundsson was already his coach at his the Olympic Games in 2008 he quit his former club GOG – and he gave him the chance position as Icelandic national team coach to to be number one in Svendborg already at the fully focus on his club and led Löwen to the 2011 VELUX EHF FINAL age of 20. In 2011 and 2013 Landin became runner-up at the WCh in 4 in Cologne. He also steered the Mannheim’s side to their first Sweden and Spain and was awarded as best goalkeeper for the 2013 international trophy as they won the premiere edition of the EHF Cup All-star. In 2012 he became EHF EURO champion in Serbia. Finals last May in Nantes, France.
Uwe Gensheimer Sergey Gorbok left wing left back Born in Mannheim, he is the 100 per cent He left Mannheim as Siarhei Harbok and local hero. Since 2003 he has been playing returned with “the new name” Sergey Gorbok: for “his” club. His talent was discovered The father of triplets has changed his citizenship very early as he became Junior European from Belarusian to Russian in the meantime, champion in 2006, one year later he was so his name was transcripted. Gorbok was one awarded MVP at the Junior WCh, when he of the biggest talents in the world of handball, also won the silver medal. In 2011 and 2012 when he transferred from Ukrainian side ZTR he was awarded German player of the year Zaporozhye to RK Celje in Slovenia. After two and was the top scorer of 2010/11 CL season. In November 2012 he domestic championships in Slovenia he went to Rhein Neckar Löwen for tore his Achilles tendon, but right for the EHF Cup Finals in Nantes he the first time in 2007. After three seasons Gorbok went eastwards to join was back helping Löwen to take their first title in history. Chekhovskie Medvedi, but now he is back.
Andre Schmid Bjarte Myrhol centre back line player The four-time Swiss handball player of In August 2011 his biggest fight started – not the year played for both Zürich clubs on, but off the court. After he was diagnosed Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009, with cancer, an immediate surgery and before he left his mother country for one chemo therapy changed his life. But the season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. The Norwegian international was always willing playmaker, who was twice a Swiss champion, to fight and only two and a half months after transferred to Rhein Neckar Löwen in 2010. the surgery he returned to the court. After he And in the previous season, in which Löwen left his first professional club in Sandefjord, underwent a big transition, Schmid was the key in attack – both as he joined Hungarian side Veszprém for one season, before arriving in playmaker and as shooter. Schmid is a big fan of US basketball and Nordhorn, where he became EHF Cup winner for the first time. especially Michael Jordan.
Alexander Petersson Patrick Groetzki right back right wing Born in Latvia, he took over the Icelandic He was born in Pforzheim only some citizenship and became an Olympic silver kilometres away from Mannheim. Right after medallist in 2008 and EHF EURO bronze the youth category he switched to Löwen medallist in 2010. He moved to Germany in and became part of the German younger 2003, playing for Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, age category national teams. Groetzki was Flensburg-Handewitt, and Füchse Berlin, MVP and silver medallist of the U20 EURO in before he transferred to Löwen in 2012. 2008 and crowned himself as Junior World Currently Petterson suffers from a shoulder Champion one year later. And right after surgery, but hopes to be back in October. In Flensburg and Berlin he he was nominated for the men’s national team for the first time gained the international experience, which made it so important for he has become a constant key player of Germany since then. Like the Icelandic team – where Guðmundur Guðmundsson was his former Gensheimer, Groetzki is a counter-attack specialist and one of the National Team coach. main fan favourites.
33 Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)
With victories over three-time EHF Champions League winners THW Kiel on home court and eventual champions HSV Hamburg away from home – RK Celje Pivovarna Laško were one of the big surprises in last season’s VELUX EHF Champions League.
The crops sewn three years previously had grown and been harvested. At that time the 17-time Slovenian champions made a significant change in strategy by only recruiting players from within their own youth programme.
Despite the departure of line player Alem Toskić to Vardar Skopje and the hugely talented 21-year-old Borut Mačkovšek to Hannover-Burgdorf in the German Bundesliga, Vladan Matić has kept his well-balanced team largely in shape.
The 2004 EHF Champions League winner have clearly set their goals for the season: Becoming Slovenian champion, claiming a hat-trick of Slovenian cup titles after raising the trophy in 2012 and 2013 and to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League again.
Celje hope that they will not have to cope with as many injuries as the season before, when Lekai was out for two months and Žuran and Potočnik were forced to miss the entire season.
Manager Roman Pungartnik is satisfied and pleased with the Group Stage opponents.
Playing hall “From a marketing point of view we have same the goals as last season – attracting a huge Dvorana Zlatorog number of fans. Opponents like Veszprém, Zagreb and Rhein Neckar Löwen should attract Opekarinska cesta 15 many fans – so we hope to be sold-out three times. We want to offer great fun to our fans 3000 Celje including a fan zone in front of the hall – and as our team is getting better and better – we want Slovenia to offer great handball.” Capacity: 5,830
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Celje Pivovarna Laško EHF Champions League season: Opekarniska Cesta 15 Slovenian runners-up VELUX EHF Champions League 3000 Celje Participations (including 2013/14 Slovenia season): 19 Newcomers (including former club): Winner (1): 2003/04 Media contact: Ivan Slišković (Nexe Našice/CRO) Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, Nejc Ajdnik 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05 +386 40687766 Left the club (including new club): Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06 [email protected] Alem Toskić (Vardar Skopje/MKD) Last 16 (2): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13 Borut Mačkovšek (Hannover-Burgdorf/GER) Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Online information: Dejan Perić (retired) Group Phase (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, Website: www.rk-celje.si 2010/11 Facebook: rkceljepivovarnaLaško Qualification (1): 2009/10 Twitter: @RKCPL Other Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2002/02, 2011/12 Kit colours Light Slovenian league: 18 titles (1991, 1992, Player shirt: yellow 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, Player short: blue 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, Goalkeeper shirt: blue 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) Dark Slovenian Cup winners: 17 times Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black
34 Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)
Biggest win 37:17 (16:9) v Redbergslids IK SWE (h), 18.11.2000 Biggest defeat 43:27 (23:16) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2011 Longest winning run 6 matches (23.03.1997 – 24.01.1998) 6 matches (25.03.2000 – 09.12.2000) Longest unbeaten run 8 matches (31.10.2004 – 02.04.2005) Longest losing run 4 matches (16.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) 4 matches (14.02.2009 – 07.03.2009) 4 matches (02.10.2010 – 21.11.2010) 4 matches (27.02.2011 – 06.10.2012) Longest run without win 6 matches (16.02.2008 - 05.10.2008) Most goals 44 v HC ‘Granitas-Karys’ LTU 44:27W (h), 22.11.2008 Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Most goals both teams 77 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Fewest goals 17 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 Fewest goals opponent 16 v SG Wallau-Massenheim GER 23:16L (h), 13.02.1994 16 v Redbergslids Göteborg SWE 31:16W (h), 14.11.1998 Fewest goals both teams 35 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1993/94 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 6 2 0 4 120: 116 + 4 4 4th Gr. A 1996/97 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 7 1 2 254: 213 + 41 15 1/2-finals 1997/98 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 8 0 2 268: 234 + 34 16 1/2-finals 1998/99 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 7 1 2 290: 245 + 45 15 1/2-finals 1999/00 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 7 0 3 294: 250 + 44 14 1/2-finals 2000/01 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 6 1 3 292: 254 + 38 13 1/2-finals 2001/02 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 8 6 0 2 232: 217 + 15 12 1/4-finals 2003/04 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 14 10 2 2 447: 398 + 49 22 Winner 2004/05 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 12 8 1 3 360: 327 + 33 17 1/2-finals 2005/06 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 7 0 3 311: 273 + 38 14 1/4-finals 2006/07 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 8 6 0 2 272: 237 + 35 12 1/8-finals 2007/08 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 12 4 2 6 342: 344 - 2 10 4th MR Gr. 4 2008/09 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 4 0 6 296: 287 + 9 8 4th MR Gr. 2 2010/11 HC Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 10 3 0 7 300: 332 - 32 6 5th Gr. A 2012/13 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 12 5 0 7 305: 324 - 19 10 1/8-finals Total 152 90 8 54 4383:4051 +332 188
35 Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
3 Blaz Blagotinsek SLO Line Player 17 Jan 1994 103 201 23 Stefan Cavor MNE Right Back 3 Nov 1994 91 195 8 Blaz Janc SLO Right Wing 20 Nov 1996 84 186 66 Mate Lekai HUN Centre Back 16 Jun 1988 86 189 1 Urban Lesjak SLO Goalkeeper 24 Aug 1990 99 187 4 Jaka Malus SLO Left Back 15 Jun 1996 78 185 6 Gasper Marguc SLO Right Wing 20 Aug 1990 82 180 5 Ziga Mlakar SLO Right Back 16 May 1990 94 192 12 Dejan Peric SRB Goalkeeper 22 Sep 1970 96 186 15 Vid Poteko SLO Line Player 5 Apr 1991 100 193 21 Gregor Potocnik SLO Left Back 22 Aug 1992 100 197 11 Nikola Ranevski SLO Left Wing 16 Apr 1990 76 184 9 David Razgor SLO Centre Back 13 Jul 1989 82 180 16 Matevz Skok SLO Goalkeeper 2 Sep 1986 94 188 14 Sebastian Skube SLO Centre Back 3 Apr 1987 85 189 19 Ivan Sliskovic CRO Left Back 23 Oct 1991 98 194 26 Igor Zabic SLO Line Player 15 Aug 1992 95 201 24 Nemanja Zelenovic SRB Right Back 27 Feb 1990 93 192 7 Rok Zuran SLO Left Back 7 Aug 1987 94 189 77 Luka Zvizej SLO Left Wing 9 Dec 1980 88 184
36 Vladan Matić Matevž Skok coach goalkeeper The former Yugoslavian national team player, More experienced in the Celje’s goalkeeper who was twice bronze medallist at WCh tandem is Matevž Skok, Slovenian (1999 and 2001), played for Partizan Belgrade international player at age of 27. He moved and Pick Szeged, before he became a coach in to Celje two years ago from Slovenian biggest 2006 at the Hungarian top team. His biggest rival Velenje. In Celje he has become first success in Szeged was the Hungarian title in goalkeeper choice and also cemented his 2007. He moved on and coached Hungarian position in the national team. Before this side Ferencvaros, before taking over Celje season he had several tempting offers, but in 2011, where he is forming a younger team, which already won decided to stay in Celje where he has saved 632 shots in 88 matches Slovenian cup and championship silver in 2012 and surprisingly also and has been among top saves of the round in last season of CL for reached the Last 16 in the previous season. couple of times. Urban Lesjak is the younger part of duo in Celje’s goal.
Luka Žvižej Sebastian Skube left wing left back / centre back He competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens The excellent Slovenian universal back and he was listed among the top ten goal player can play at all outer positions. He has scorers at the 2012 EHF EURO. He was also previously played in his home club Trimo and part of the national team at the WCh 2013, afterwards in Koper where he reached the where Slovenia finished just below the medal CL quarter-final in the 2010/11 season. He positions and he played a major part of that is considered as one of the best Slovenian success. In 2003 he moved from his home centre back players where his future career team to Spain – first to CB Cantabria and then will surely be in one of the top European to FC Barcelona, where he stayed for 2 years and won the CL in 2005 clubs. He already had a lot of tempting offers, but he decided to and the Spanish league in 2006. Before moving back to Celje he had accept Celje’s offer to be one of leaders of the new team. With his the second stint at Cantabria and spent three years in Pick Szeged. speed, he is a nightmare for his opponents what he proved in the last CL season with 36 goals.
Máté Lékai Vid Poteko centre back line player He has been brought in Celje before last He is a member of Celje since 2010. Since season like a top player who should carry then, he is a key part of Celje’s defence. He is a huge burden. Unfortunately, he had a lot known as a true fighter, who never gives up. of troubles with injuries in his first season He was part of the Slovenian Mediterranean and he missed all important matches. team playing in Mersin 2013 together with Nevertheless, he was one of the best players Gašper Marguč, Urban Lesjak and Borut at Slovenian Cup final tournament where Mačkovšek. After Alem Toskić left Celje for Celje managed to win this trophy for the Vardar Skopje over the summer, he will get sixteenth time. In final he scored five and played whole second half more minutes in the offensive part of play. He played in 106 matches with broken finger. He is also a member of Hungarian national team for Celje in the domestic competition, scoring 111 times. Besides him and made big impression in his former clubs Pler and Pick Szeged. Blaž Blagotinšek, one of the shiniest Slovenian talents, is expected to get some minutes on the court too.
Nemanja Zelenović Gašper Marguč right back right wing He is another representative of the young He took part in the WCh in Spain 2013, where guns of Celje. He arrived at the age of 21 Slovenia placed fourth. Marguč is playing for from Red Star Belgrade. With Red Star he Celje since 2009. In the 2012/13 season he experienced the CL debut in the 2007/08 played his best season so far and became season and still as a teenager he scored Slovenian top scorer in the CL, netting in 72 18 goals next season. At the age of 23 he times (10th overall). He played amazing two is currently the first choice at right back matches against THW Kiel, scoring 18 times position and a member of Serbian national from 18 shots against the legendary Thierry team, where he also played at last WCh in Spain. Until now he played Omeyer. His goals were regularly voted by fans for one of the best shots 83 matches and scored 244 times in the CL for Celje. He is expected to in respective rounds. Marguč played so far 155 matches for RK Celje share his time at the right back position with Žiga Mlakar. Pivovarna Laško, scoring 676 times (12th overall in clubs history).
37 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)
It was their first attempt to enter the stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase – and it ended highly successful: After becoming Ukrainian champions for the first time (and leaving local rivals ZTR behind in the final series), HC MOTOR Zaporozhye managed to win their qualification tournament in Novi Sad (Serbia) beating both Banja Luka and Vojvodina by double digit difference.
Though HC MOTOR Zaporozhye are debutants in the VELUX EHF Champions League, a huge number of well-known faces will return, especially arriving from Belarusian champions Dinamo Minsk. First of all it is coach Sergey Bebeshko, who had led Dinamo to the Last 16 in the previous season, but additionally Zaporozhye signed four top players from Minsk, including stars like Vladislav Ostroushko and Sergiy Onufriyenko – who were the keys for reaching the Group Phase in the qualification.
To strengthen the defence, Zaporozhye transferred experienced Slovakian goalkeeper Richard Štochl from Russian record champions Chekhovskie Medvedi.
After qualifying for the Group Phase of the newly structured EHF Cup in the 2012/13 season, Motor Zaporozhye made another important step on international ground.
“I hope we will be able to proceed to the next stage, however every single match will be very tough and we must show all our skills like we did in qualification,” team captain Mikhail Tsap said. Playing hall Sport Complex Lokomotiv As there are currently no injured players, Zaporozhye start their campaign in a good shape. Kotlova 90/1 Motor will play their home matches in the “Lokomotiv” arena (capacity 4,500) in Kharkov – and Kharkov so also the falcon – mascot and logo of the club – will have to travel. Ukraine Capacity: 4,500
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HC Motor Zaporozhye EHF Champions League season: Ivanova Str. 24 Winners of the qualification VELUX EHF Champions League 69068 Zaporozhye tournament 3, Ukrainian champions Participations (including Ukraine 2013/14season): 1
Media contact: Newcomers (including former club): Other Dmitriy Karpushchenko Aleksandr Tsitou (HC SKA-Minsk) EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 +380 50 5581181 Oleg Skopintsev (HC Dinamo-Minsk) Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals [email protected] Vladislav Ostroushko (HC Dinamo-Minsk) 2011/12 Sergiy Onufriyenko (HC Dinamo-Minsk) Online information: Olexandr Shevelev (HC Dinamo-Minsk) Ukrainian league: 1 title (2013) Website: www.handball.motorsich.com Richard Štochl (Chekhovskie Medvedi) Ukrainian Cup winner: once
Left the club (including new club): Nikolay Sorokin (Permskie medvedi) Denis Mirzoev (SKIF Krasnodar) Evgeniy Kalinichenko (SKIF Krasnodar) Kit colours Pavel Gurkovskiy Light Oleg Gladyr (retired) Player shirt: white/red Michael Revin (Dijon Bourgogne HB) Player short: white Sergey Sulima Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/black Stanislav Zhukov (ZNTU-ZAS) Dark Yuriy Shamrylo (ZNTU-ZAS) Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red/black
38 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
13 Inal Aflitulin RUS Centre Back 22 Mar 1988 82 180 4 Andrey Bespalov RUS Left Wing 29 Jan 1991 80 184 69 Sergii Burka UKR Left Back 9 Jun 1987 110 208 15 Vitaliy Gorbachov UKR Right Wing 13 Aug 1985 75 179 14 Yevgeny Gurkovsky UKR Line Player 5 Nov 1980 100 195 17 Alexey Kamanin RUS Centre Back 6 Jun 1978 109 197 1 Valentyn Koshovy UKR Goalkeeper 5 Feb 1981 90 200 5 Iurii Kubatko UKR Right Wing 28 Aug 1988 79 183 18 Kostyantyn Kurylenko UKR Left Back 10 Jul 1980 98 193 33 Sergiy Onufryienko UKR Right Back 31 Jan 1985 95 190 32 Vladislav Ostroushko UKR Left Back 5 Mar 1986 101 202 23 Yevgen Sapun UKR Goalkeeper 11 Jun 1985 85 185 25 Alexander Semikov UKR Right Back 9 Jul 1985 90 200 3 Yuriy Shamrylo UKR Goalkeeper 5 May 1992 100 196 10 Olexandr Shevelev UKR Line Player 2 Dec 1987 125 198 9 Oleg Skopintsev RUS Right Wing 15 Apr 1984 80 180 12 Richard Stochl SVK Goalkeeper 17 Dec 1975 108 200 44 Mykhaylo Tsap UKR Centre Back 28 May 1980 83 180 55 Aliaksandr Tsitou BLR Line Player 28 Oct 1986 105 193 24 Ievgen Zhuk UKR Left Wing 4 Aug 1990 75 184 22 Stanislav Zhukov UKR Left Back 26 Mar 1992 94 198
39 Serhiy Bebeshko Richard Štochl coach goalkeeper A surprising phone call changed the life The Motor’s last moment reinforcement is of Sergij Bebeshko: In December 2009 one of the most experienced goalkeepers the former Ukrainian international, who in Europe. The eight-time player of the year was living in Ciudad Real at that time, was in Slovakia is only the second foreigner in asked on the phone to become new coach Ukraine from outside of the former Soviet of Dinamo Minsk. Bebeshko agreed and Union area. Within his over 200 international led Minsk to three straight championships matches for Slovakia he participated in two including the first ever double and to the world championships 2009 and 2011 and also Last 16 in the previous season. After 20 years in different countries – three EHF EURO tournaments (2006, 2008, 2012). At club level he mainly Spain - the 1992 Olympic champion returned to Ukraine last won seven championships in five different countries – Slovakia, Czech summer as he sign to new champions Motor Zaporozhye. Republic, Slovenia, France and Russia.
Oleg Skopintsev Sergey Burka left wing left back The Russian newcomer in Motor’s squad After four-year absence the tallest (208 arrived from Dinamo Minsk and without cm) player of the Ukrainian championship doubt he has become a key player in is finally back in the CL. He joined Motor Zaporozhye. The fast winger is technically just in 2012 from the city rivals of ZTR. He skillful and frequently used in the 5:1 defence. collected four national titles with his former Despite being just a few month in the new club ZTR and added one with Motor last year. team Skopintsev is considered as the main Burka, together with his current teammates specialist from the seven-metre spot. His first Onufryienko, Shevelev and Ostroushko, has playing season for Chekhovskie Medvedi in the CL was unforgettable been among players of the national team of Ukraine at their last as he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4. He has been a regular part of major tournament - EHF EURO 2010. Since then he has been a regular the Russian national team. fixture in the Ukrainian selection.
Alexey Kamanin Alexandr Shevelev centre back line player Motor’s Russian central defender is only There are not too many Ukrainians who one player in the team who took part in the played in the European leagues recently. But Olympic Games. In 2008 the player with a Motor’s pivot, who arrived from Dinamo fearsome nickname “Kamaz” helped Russia Minsk (BLR), has already played in the Danish to finish on the 6th place at the Beijing club Aalborg and for the former Spanish club Olympics. He is 12-time champion of Russia Ciudad Real scored his first goals in the CL in with Chekhovskie Medvedi and he scored 2011. But his premiere appearance in the CL more than 170 goals in the CL. He is also the was in the 2006/07 season with Ukrainian only player of his team who played at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 as he club Portovik. Besides he played in Russia for Astrakhan side Zarya finished fourth with Chekhov in 2010. Back in 2006 he won the Cup Kaspia. With great experience and physical strength Shevelev became Winners’ Cup with “bears”. a crucial figure in the center of defense and attack.
Sergey Onufryienko Iurii Kubatko right back right wing Previous CL experience of the Ukrainian This is the third high-level season for 25-year- national team right back dates back to his old winger who joined HC Motor in 2011 stints with ZTR Zaporozhye and HC Dinamo from the city rivals ZTR. One of the youngest Minsk. The left-hander remains one of the players in a roster managed to maintain his top-scorers in the CL among Ukrainians. He place on the court even though the team won five national championships with ZTR have been bolstered by several top signings and another four plus two domestic cups with over this summer. He showed some reliable Belarusian Dinamo alongside current Motor’s perfomrances already in the EHF Cup Group coach Sergey Bebeshko, with whom he transferred to the new club Phase last season and he has been rewarded with his first titles in over the last summer. On the national team level he was part of the domestic tournaments scoring 14 goals in one match. Physically tough EHF EURO 2010. playing winger will certainly show more of his talent in the CL now.
40
Group B preview
Expert’s view Frank von Behren
Former German national team player and the VELUX EHF Champions league TV expert Frank von Behren analyses Group B.
Frank von Behren (37) is a former German national team player, who became silver medallist at the EHF EURO event 2002 in Sweden and at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Von Behren played for the clubs Minden, Gummersbach and Flensburg-Handewitt in the German Bundesliga. After the end of his career he founded his own agency and is a TV expert for VELUX EHF Champions League matches on Eurosport.
A huge number of coaches and experts said after the draw that Group B is the toughest of all. You can agree or not, but in my opinion this group is the most equal of all, well-staffed in all departments. Maybe FC Porto Vitalis are the “great unknown” in this group and are something like an underdog, but the remaining five teams all have chances to proceed to the Last 16. So maybe a big name will not make it to the knockout stage.
Despite the major transition in the squad it is impressive with which self-confidence and winner’s mentality THW Kiel are acting on the court – regardless which names are currently playing. The newcomers need some time to be adapted, but the major advantage of THW is their coach Alfreð Gíslason. After some big names have left, Filip Jícha is much more in the focus to carry more responsibility – if he is out, it will be hard for Kiel to compensate. But I count on them as one of the main contenders for reaching the FINAL4.
It seems the Polish champions have never ending financial resources for transfers, proved by the signature of Julen Aguinagalde, who is a clear improvement for the squad. But it will be interesting to see how he will be integrated in Kielce’s playing system. At Atlético Madrid the whole attacking tactics was tailor-made for him, now we have to see whether Kielce change their system or Aguinagalde fits into this system.
By eliminating Montpellier, the Polish runners-up from Płock have already shown their abilities. They have a different strategy than Kielce, as they build-up their team mostly with Polish players. Just look at Marcin Lijewski: he will add huge experience to the squad, and his value for Hamburg is proved right now, when HSV have to deal without him. Lijewski is a clear leader. In my opinion, Płock are clear candidates for reaching the Last 16, although they have – by names – a weaker squad than Kielce. I believe, Płock will cause some surprises.
Kolding’s biggest problem is to increase the team spirit, which is hard, as some players live in the Kolding region, others in the Kobenhavn region. And KIF extremely depend on the performing level of Kim Andersson, unfortunately for KIF, he is supposed to be out until October. If he returns on the same level he had in Kiel, he will imprint the whole EHF Champions League and can lead KIF to a higher level. Thanks to their experience they should proceed to the Last 16, but nothing is guaranteed.
It was really surprising that Dunkerque left Montpellier behind in the French league. Having not any big stars in their squad, team spirit is everything for Dunkerque. They have a well-rehearsed team with minor changes – and they can fully count on their frenetic spectators and their strength in home matches. Even for THW Kiel, it will not be easy to win there. Porto do not have the international significance compared to others, but eliminating internationally experienced Constanta team in the qualification proves their qualities. But in contrast to the five other teams I rate their chances to reach the Last 16 clearly lower.
42 Group B head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC
THW Kiel vs KS Vive Targi Kielce 21.02.1998 Jskra Ceresit Kielce POL-THW Kiel GER EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 28:27 (16:12) 01.03.1998 THW Kiel GER-Jskra Ceresit Kielce POL EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 31:26 (16:11) 10.10.2010 THW Kiel GER-KS Vive Targi Kielce POL EHF Champions League – Group A 33:29 (16:13) 06.03.2011 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group A 27:36 (11:18) 02.06.2013 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – FINAL4-Place 3/4 31:30 (19:12)
THW Kiel vs Orlen Wisła Płock 08.10.2005 Wisła Płock SSA POL-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group E 32:31 (16:15) 22.10.2005 THW Kiel GER-Wisła Płock SSA POL EHF Champions League – Group E 37:22 (17:12) 14.03.2012 Orlen Wisła Płock POL-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 24:36 (12:14) 18.03.2012 THW Kiel GER-Orlen Wisła Płock POL EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 27:24 (15:10)
THW Kiel vs KIF Kolding København 16.10.2005 THW Kiel GER-KIF Kolding DEN EHF Champions League – Group E 37:34 (20:20) 13.11.2005 KIF Kolding DEN-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group E 33:35 (19:20) 07.11.2009 KIF Kolding DEN-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group D 31:31 (13:13) 27.02.2010 THW Kiel GER-KIF Kolding DEN EHF Champions League – Group D 38:23 (20:10) 26.03.2011 KIF Kolding DEN-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 29:36 (16:17) 02.04.2011 THW Kiel GER-KIF Kolding DEN EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 36:24 (20:11)
THW Kiel vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral No previous encounters
THW Kiel vs FC Porto Vitalis 05.10.1997 THW Kiel GER-Futebol Clube do Porto POR EHF Cup – 1/16-finals 35:23 (18:12) 12.10.1997 Futebol Clube do Porto POR-THW Kiel GER EHF Cup – 1/16-finals 31:21 (15:14)
KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Orlen Wisła Płock No previous encounters
KS Vive Targi Kielce vs KIF Kolding København No previous encounters
KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral No previous encounters
KS Vive Targi Kielce vs FC Porto Vitalis 04.09.2009 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-FC Porto/Vitalis POR EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament 4 32:23 (14:09)
Orlen Wisła Płock vs KIF Kolding København 02.10.2005 KIF Kolding DEN-Wisła Płock SSA POL EHF Champions League – Group E 38:29 (16:14) 06.11.2005 Wisła Płock SSA POL-KIF Kolding DEN EHF Champions League – Group E 19:25 (10:12) 07.10.2006 KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN-Wisła Płock SA POL EHF Champions League – Group C 35:18 (19:04) 19.10.2006 Wisła Płock SA POL-KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN EHF Champions League – Group C 25:31 (13:13)
Orlen Wisła Płock vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA No previous encounters
Orlen Wisła Płock vs FC Porto Vitalis POR No previous encounters
KIF Kolding København vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral No previous encounters
Orlen Wisła Płock vs FC Porto Vitalis No previous encounters
43 THW Kiel (GER)
They are the second most successful club in the history of the EHF Champions League behind record winners FC Barcelona. THW Kiel won the trophy three times (2007, 2010, 2012) and were at least in the semi-finals six times in the last seven years.
But a major transition is lying ahead of the German record champions and record cup winners, who finished fourth at the last VELUX EHF FINAL4, beaten by Hamburg and Kielce.
Four world class players left THW, including a former and the current world handball player of the year - goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer to Montpellier, the back court aces Daniel Narcisse to Paris and Momir Ilić to Veszprém and long-term team captain Marcus Ahlm, who finished his successful career.
On the other hand, the team of coach Alfreð Gíslason signed only young guns. Swedish goalkeeper Johan Sjöstrand shall replace Omeyer, Dane Rasmus Lauge and Tunisian Wael Jalouz are supposed to enter the footprints of Ilić and Narcisse.
So THW are confident, but humble, as manager Klaus Elwardt underlines. “It is one of our major objectives to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again, like in 2010, 2012 and 2013. But to fulfil this task it will be much harder than in the previous seasons, as we are in the middle of a huge transition and the competition has clearly improved.”
Playing hall Despite the transition, Kiel still can count on international top level players like the new team Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel captain Filip Jícha or Icelandic playmaker Aron Pálmarsson, who suffered from a knee injury Europaplatz 1, and will be back for the start of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. So the club 24103 Kiel message to their opponents is clear: “As usual, we want to fight for all possible titles, including Germany the VELUX EHF FINAL4.” Capacity: 10,000
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements THW Kiel EHF Champions League season: Ziegelteich 30 German champions VELUX EHF Champions League 24103 Kiel Participations (including 2013/14 Germany season): 17 Newcomers (including former club): Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 Media contact: Wael Jallouz (AS Hammamet, TUN) Runners-up (3): 1999/2000, 2007/08, Christian Robohm Rasmus Lauge-Schmidt (BSV Bjerringbro- 2008/09 +49 1635306300 Silkeborg, DEN) Semi-final (3): 1996/1997, 2000/01, [email protected] Johan Sjöstrand (Aalborg Handbold, DEN) 2012/13 Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, Online information: Left the club (including new club): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11 Website: www.thw-provinzial.de Marcus Ahlm (end of career) Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Facebook:thwhandball Daniel Narcisse (Paris St. Germain, FRA) Twitter: @thw_handball Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier AHB, FRA) Other Momir Ilić (MKB-MVM Veszprém, HUN) EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 German league: 18 titles (1957, 1962, Kit colours 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, Light 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, Player shirt: white 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) Player short: white German Cup winners: 9 times Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: red
44 THW Kiel (GER)
Biggest win 26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), 22.10.2006 Biggest defeat 22:13 (12:8) v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO (a), 25.03.2000 Longest winning run 10 matches (21.02.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest unbeaten run 17 matches (22.10.2011 – 11.10.2012) Longest losing run 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Longest run without win 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Most goals 50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), 22.10.2006 Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Most goals both teams 81 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Fewest goals 18 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 25:18L (a), 18.01.1995 Fewest goals opponent 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 15:27W (a), 10.11.1996 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), 12.01.1997 Fewest goals both teams 35 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 137: 136 + 1 6 2nd Gr. B 1995/96 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 151: 148 + 3 6 2nd Gr. A 1996/97 THW Kiel GER 10 6 1 3 247: 211 + 36 13 1/2-finals 1998/99 TKW Kiel GER 8 7 0 1 229: 199 + 30 14 1/4-finals 1999/00 THW Kiel GER 12 7 1 4 319: 283 + 36 15 Runner-up 2000/01 THW Kiel GER 10 5 1 4 279: 255 + 24 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 THW Kiel GER 8 4 1 3 234: 211 + 23 9 1/4-finals 2004/05 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 336: 274 + 62 16 1/4-finals 2005/06 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 346: 293 + 53 16 1/4-finals 2006/07 THW Kiel GER 14 11 1 2 517: 420 + 97 23 Winner 2007/08 THW Kiel GER 16 13 0 3 533: 462 + 71 26 Runner-up 2008/09 THW Kiel GER 16 12 1 3 548: 461 + 87 25 Runner-up 2009/10 THW Kiel GER 16 14 1 1 534: 444 + 90 29 Winner 2010/11 THW Kiel GER 14 9 2 3 456: 393 + 63 20 1/4-finals 2011/12 THW Kiel GER 16 12 3 1 496: 414 + 82 27 Winner 2012/13 THW Kiel GER 16 11 0 5 518: 457 + 61 22 Fourth Place Total 188 133 12 43 5880:5061 +819 278
45 THW Kiel (GER) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
15 Rune Dahmke GER Left Wing 10 Apr 1993 80 189 18 Niclas Ekberg SWE Right Wing 23 Dec 1988 79 191 22 Wael Jallouz TUN Left Back 3 May 1991 92 197 39 Filip Jicha CZE Centre Back 19 Apr 1982 105 201 33 Dominik Klein GER Left Wing 16 Dec 1983 85 190 16 Moritz Krieter GER Goalkeeper 5 Feb 1994 89 193 19 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt DEN Centre Back 20 Jun 1991 101 196 4 Tjark Müller GER Centre Back 2 Jun 1993 90 188 12 Andreas Palicka SWE Goalkeeper 10 Jul 1986 88 189 24 Aron Palmarsson ISL Centre Back 19 Jul 1990 100 193 6 Fynn Ranke GER Line Player 5 Jan 1993 106 201 9 Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson ISL Left Wing 8 Aug 1979 82 187 1 Johan Sjöstrand SWE Goalkeeper 26 Feb 1987 95 195 11 Christian Sprenger GER Right Wing 6 Apr 1983 90 190 7 Rene Toft Hansen DEN Line Player 1 Nov 1984 103 200 41 Marko Vujin SRB Right Back 7 Dec 1984 100 200 17 Patrick Wiencek GER Line Player 22 Mar 1989 110 200 20 Christian Zeitz GER Right Back 18 Nov 1980 95 186
46 Alfreð Gíslason Johan Sjöstrand coach goalkeeper The Icelander is the only current coach, who Swedish is the new language between has won the CL with two different clubs - in the THW goalposts. After Thierry Omeyer 2002 with SC Magdeburg and in 2010 and returned to Montpellier, Sjöstrand was 2012 with THW Kiel. His current team have brought in to replace the legend together become five-time German champions, four- with close friend and international colleague time German cup winners, five-time German Andreas Palicka. Although Sjöstrand is only supercup winner, two-time EHF Trophy 26, he has already got a journey through winners, collected an EHF Cup along with an European handball behind him, with spells IHF Super Globe title. THW missed only one edition of the VELUX EHF at Skövde, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Barcelona and then Danish side FINAL4 under his leadership. In his active career Gislason played 190 Aalborg before his latest move. matches for Iceland and became German champion twice with Essen.
Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson Filip Jícha left wing left back After only one year away from the Bundesliga, The left and centre back was the first Czech the 2011/12 season was spent at AG player to be World Handball Player of the København, Sigurdsson returned to Germany Year in 2010. Jícha, two time VELUX EHF again before the start of last season. The Champions League winner in 2010 and 2012 former Tusem Essen, VfL Gummersbach and was twice top scorer of the competition and Rhein-Neckar Löwen player had some as well. He is a danger to all defences with his outstanding performances in Europe and one-against-one action and tough shots, but really appeared to have got the joy of playing he is also a strong defender. Jícha was in the handball back. With his enormous experience from top handball and only active VELUX EHF FINAL4 participant on Ultimate Selection from his equally large talent, 2008 Olympic silver medallist Sigurdsson is a 20 years of the EHF Champions League named in June 2013. real key player.
Aron Pálmarsson Rene Toft Hansen centre back line player Despite his young age, this versatile and The Danish international is even better in tactically as well as technically skilled defence than on the line in attack, but after playmaker has actually been with Kiel for four Marcus Ahlm’s departure, the learning period years now. In competition with so many world in attack is over for Toft Hansen, who will class backcourt players, match practice was share the position with Patrick Wiencek. Rene scarce in his first years. However, after the Toft Hansen is a regular in the competition, departure of Momir Ilic and Daniel Narcisse, where he has been playing every year since Palmarsson will be more in focus. Palmarsson 2007, with former clubs KIF Kolding and AG is expected to become the mastermind of the THW attack with his København. His greatest personal achievement is an EHF EURO 2012 well-known array of passing and his powerful shots. gold, a tournament in which he was part of the All-Star Team.
Marko Vujin Christian Sprenger right back right wing One year ago the Serbian shooter arrived in 30-year-old Sprenger worked under coach Kiel to fill the gap after the departure of Kim Alfred Gislason at former club SC Magdeburg Andersson to KIF Kolding. After an uneasy and after seven years, including one EHF Cup beginning, he grew and grew and the two- title in 2007, the former German international metre tall right back from Bačka Palanka transferred to THW Kiel in 2009. Since then, (Serbia) scored 76 goals in Europe, scoring Sprenger has won eleven titles: two CL over 0 for the third year running. Vujin has trophies, three German championships, three won six consecutive national championships German cup titles, the Super Globes and the with Veszprém and Kiel. In the Serbian national team he is one of the German super cup twice. His international achievements include stalwarts who were key to winning a silver medal at the EHF EURO 2012. selection on the EHF EURO 2012 All-Star team.
47 KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
From nearly zero to become the big hero: This was the way Vive Targi Kielce excited their fans in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season.
After a clean sweep with ten victories in the Group Phase, the Polish champions marched through the knockout stages too to become the first team from their country ever to play a handball Champions League semi-final by reaching their final destination Cologne. At the end Kielce finished third after a historic victory against Kiel.
Now the expectations have grown, but everybody in Kielce hits the break, warning that it is hard to continue like in the previous season – especially as their opponents in the Group Phase are much tougher than in 2012/13.
In Group B Kielce will face THW Kiel again, additionally they play against Płock, Kolding, Dunkerque and the winner of Qualification Tournament 4. But Kielce made one of the major transfers in the season break, signing Spanish world champion Julen Aguinagalde as new line player until 2018.
Besides the successful team – Polish champions and cup winners – remained nearly the same, a mixture of Polish internationals and high class foreigners like the Croatian wings Ivan Čupić and Manuel Štrlek.
Playing hall So the mission is clear: Defending all titles in Poland and trying to get as far as possible in the Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionów VELUX EHF Champions League – as coach Bogdan Wenta already said after the closing ceremony ul. Boczna 15A of the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 in 2013: ”Once you have been here, you always want to return.” 25-093 Kielce Poland Capacity: 4,000
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements KS Vive Targi Kielce EHF Champions League season: ul. Robotnicza 5 Polish champions VELUX EHF Champions League 25-662 Kielce Participations (including 2013/14 Poland season): 11 Newcomers (including former club): Semi-final (1): 2012/13 (third ranked in Media contact: Piotr Chrapkowski (Orlen Wisła Płock) VELUX F4) Sebastian Kozubek Julen Aginagalde (Atlético Madrid) Last 16 (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, +48 505031244 2011/12 [email protected] Left the club (including new club): Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Rastko Stojković (destination unknown) Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, Online information: 2003/04, 2010/11 Website: www.vivetargi.pl Facebook: vivetargikielce Other Twitter: @vivetargikielce Other EC records: 11 participations in other ECs
Polish league: 10 titles (1993, 1994, Kit colours 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, Light 2012, 2013) Player shirt: yellow Polish Cup winners: 10 times Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: green
48 KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
Biggest win 26:37 (12:17) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (a), 19.02.2012 26:15 (12:8) v HC Metalurg MKD (h), 28.04.2013 Biggest defeat 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.2003 Longest winning run 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) Longest unbeaten run 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) Longest losing run 5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010) 5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011) Longest run without win 6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010) Most goals 37 v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 37:29W (h), 23.10.2011 37 v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN 26:37W (a), 19.02.2012 Most goals opponent 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.2003 Most goals both teams 72 v Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 40:32L (a), 27.11.1999 Fewest goals 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.2010 21 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals opponent 20 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals both teams 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 6 3 0 3 173: 186 - 13 6 3rd Gr. B 2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 6 2 1 3 159: 177 - 18 5 3rd Gr. G 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 5 1 6 345: 344 + 1 11 1/8-finals 2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 10 1 2 7 276: 300 - 24 4 6th Gr. A 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 6 1 5 345: 336 + 9 13 1/8-finals 2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 469: 400 + 69 28 Third Place Total 62 31 5 26 1767:1743 + 24 67
49 KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
13 Julen Aguinagalde Akuizu ESP Line Player 8 Dec 1982 116 195 14 Karol Bielecki POL Left Back 23 Jan 1982 101 202 21 Denis Buntic CRO Right Back 13 Nov 1982 93 198 3 Piotr Chrapkowski POL Left Back 24 Mar 1988 100 202 27 Ivan Cupic CRO Right Wing 22 Mar 1986 75 178 2 Piotr Grabarczyk POL Line Player 31 Oct 1982 99 200 15 Mateusz Jachlewski POL Left Wing 27 Dec 1984 88 185 5 Michal Jurecki POL Left Back 27 Oct 1984 110 198 19 Krzysztof Lijewski POL Right Back 7 Jul 1983 94 198 20 Venio Losert CRO Goalkeeper 25 Jul 1976 90 191 22 Zeljko Musa CRO Line Player 8 Jan 1986 103 200 9 Thorir Olafsson ISL Right Wing 28 Nov 1979 78 189 24 Tomasz Rosinski POL Centre Back 24 Feb 1984 85 192 17 Manuel Strlek CRO Left Wing 1 Dec 1988 84 182 12 Slawomir Szmal POL Goalkeeper 2 Oct 1978 90 190 6 Grzegorz Tkaczyk POL Left Back 22 Dec 1980 94 194 4 Bartlomiej Tomczak POL Left Wing 7 Sep 1985 90 186 23 Uros Zorman SLO Centre Back 9 Jan 1980 96 189
50 Bogdan Wenta Sławomir Szmal coach goalkeeper The 51-year-old Wenta was a player in Spain, The former World Handball Player of the Year Germany and even played for the German is one of the key players in the Polish national national team after changing his citizenship. champions’ defence. The goalkeeper played Directly after finishing his active career he several years for Rhein Neckar Löwen. His became assistant coach in Flensburg, and biggest success so far was a silver medal at become Polish national team coach in 2004 the 2007 World Championship and a bronze then acted as head coach at Magdeburg at the 2009 tournament. Szmal has competed from 2006 onwards. Since 2008 he is coach in two VELUX EHF FINAL4 events with Rhein- in Kielce and last season he steered his team to new heights as Neckar Löwen and Kielce last season. they reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and also beat the defending champions THW Kiel in the 3rd place match.
Manuel Štrlek Michał Jurecki left wing left back After a successful first season abroad for Kielce’s powerful left back Michał Jurecki the 24-year-old, who started gathering returned to Poland in 2010 after a three EHF Champions League experience with season stint in Germany, which included his boyhood club Zagreb in 2006, much is spells as HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke, expected from the left winger. His excellent and has been one of the club’s most performance at the EHF EURO 2010 earned consistent scorers since. 28-year-old Jurecki him a place on the All-star team. A hand injury reached the 2007 WCh final with Poland in January caused him to miss two months of and has made over 100 appearances for his action, but he regained his flying form with nine goals in the VELUX EHF country. Jurecki scored 77 goals in last season’s competition and will FINAL4 and is set for more of the same in the season ahead. be looking to repeat that form on another journey to Cologne.
Uroš Zorman Julen Aguinagalde centre back line player One of the best playmakers in the game is on He is one of the world’s top line players the hunt for his fourth EHF Champions League and his presence on the line will be a key success. He has already won the trophy with for Kielce. He proved that last season with Celje Pivovarna Laško from his native Slovenia in his nomination for World Handball Player 2004 and Spain’s Ciudad Real (2008, 2009). He of the Year 2012 and being named on the is not known for scoring lots of goals, 28 in last 2013 World Championship All-Star team. He season’s VELUX EHF Champions League, but his joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid during movement and passes provide ample space for the summer for his first foreign league his teammates in attack, which he proved throughout last season. experience. His older brother Gurutz is a goalkeeper for another side in the competition, Naturhouse La Rioja.
Krzysztof Lijewski Ivan Čupić right back right wing If it was not for the influence of his father The Croatian right wing was the second best and oldest brother, he would be probably goal scorer at the London 2012 Olympics. His a basketball player, but he chose handball reputation has been growing ever since he and it turned out to be a very wise decision. was named on the All-Star team and won a Lijewski lifted Cup Winner’s Cup in 2007 with silver medal at the 2009 World Championship HSV Hamburg. After winning the Bundesliga at home. Despite losing one finger in an in 2011, his next club was Rhein-Neckar accident in 2008 he continued his excellent Lowen, where he remained for just one form and won silver at the EHF EURO 2010 season before moving to Kielce, where scored 43 times in Europe and bronze at London and the 2013 World Championship. during his debut season with the club.
51 Orlen Wisła Płock (POL)
It is a clear trend in this season of the VELUX EHF Champions League to sign new coaches, who are also responsible for national teams. In most of the cases the National Team job was first, then the club was added.
Orlen Wisła Płock are an exception: They had signed Spanish coach Manolo Cadenas as an successor for Danish Lars Walther (after missing the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup in April 2013), before Cadenas was also appointed as new Spanish national team coach as successor of Valero Rivera.
And in contrast to other Spanish coaches, who made it to Hungary for example, Cadenas had not been accompanied by a huge number of Spanish players. Cadenas and the club preferred to sign top Polish players – including one arriving from Spain: Mariusz Jurkiewicz, who played for Atletico Madrid before. But the biggest name among the newcomers is a current VELUX EHF Champions League champion: Marcin Lijewski, who returned to his home-country after nearly a decade in Germany, where his last club was HSV Hamburg.
And also thanks to those experienced newcomers, “the Oilers” managed to end their one year absence from the Champions League. After they were beaten by Vive Targi Kielce in the Polish league finals, they had a high hurdle ahead in their Champions League qualification wild card play-offs, but managed to stand strong against French record champions MAHB Montpelier.
Playing hall And after this successful start Orlen Wisła Płock including the new manager Piotr Robert Orlen Arena Raczkowski are aiming for the biggest international success in club history, as the goal is set for Pl. Celebry Papieskiej 1 “Champions League quarter-finals”. 09-400 Płock Poland Capacity: 5,467
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Orlen Wisła Płock EHF Champions League season: Plac Celebry Papieskiej 1 Winners of the wild card matches VELUX EHF Champions League 09-400 Płock against MAHB Montpellier (FRA); Polish Participations (including 2013/14 Poland runners-up season): 9 Last 16 (2): 1995/96, 2011/12 Media contact: Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, Piotr Raczkowski Newcomers: 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 Tel: +48-691-99881 Marcin Lijewski Qualification (1): 2012/13 [email protected] Mariusz Jurkiewicz Zbigniew Kwiatkowski Other Online information: Mateusz Góralski EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Website: www.sprwislaplock.pl Mateusz Piechowski Phase: 2012/13 Facebook: sprWisla Adam Morawski Twitter: @SPRWisla Ivan Milas Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Left the club: Polish Cup winner: 10 times Michał Kubisztal Kit colours Piotr Chrapkowski Light Christian Spanne Player shirt: blue Adam Twardo Player short: blue Michał Zołoteńko Goalkeeper shirt: lemon green Dark Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange
52 Orlen Wisła Płock (POL)
Biggest win 42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.2004 Biggest defeat 35:18 (19:4) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), 07.10.2006 34:17 (15:7) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), 12.10.2008 Longest winning run 2 matches (08.10.2005 – 15.10.2005) Longest unbeaten run 2 matches (08.10.2005 – 15.10.2005) 2 matches (03.12.2011 – 09.02.2012) Longest losing run 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Longest run without win 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Most goals 42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.2004 Most goals opponent 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Most goals both teams 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Fewest goals 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 Fewest goals opponent 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.2006 19 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.2012 Fewest goals both teams 34 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2002/03 Wisła Płock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 167: 195 - 28 2 3rd Gr. A 2004/05 Wisła Płock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 159: 177 - 18 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Wisła Płock SSA POL 6 2 0 4 155: 182 - 27 4 3rd Gr. E 2006/07 Wisła Płock SA POL 6 2 0 4 141: 170 - 29 4 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Wisła Płock SA POL 6 0 0 6 122: 188 - 66 0 4th Gr. H 2011/12 Orlen Wisła Płock POL 12 4 1 7 321: 332 - 11 9 1/8-finals Total 42 10 1 31 1065:1244 –179 21
53 Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
24 Nikola Eklemovic HUN Centre Back 8 Feb 1978 100 193 15 Valentin Marian Ghionea ROU Right Wing 29 Apr 1984 90 197 17 Mateusz Goralski POL Right Wing 17 Jan 1994 73 175 19 Mariusz Jurkiewicz POL Left Back 3 Feb 1982 103 199 14 Bostjan Kavas SLO Right Back 13 Sep 1978 90 191 2 Zbigniew Kwiatkowski POL Line Player 2 Apr 1985 120 202 22 Marcin Lijewski POL Right Back 21 Sep 1977 102 197 26 Ivan Milas BIH Left Back 15 Oct 1992 97 202 16 Adam Morawski POL Goalkeeper 17 Oct 1994 90 190 13 Petar Nenadic SRB Left Back 28 Jun 1986 80 198 77 Ivan Nikcevic SRB Left Wing 11 Feb 1981 80 182 23 Pawel Paczkowski POL Right Back 14 Jun 1993 90 192 18 Mateusz Piechowski POL Left Back 1 Mar 1995 110 210 1 Marin Sego CRO Goalkeeper 2 Aug 1985 100 194 21 Kamil Syprzak POL Line Player 23 Jul 1991 120 206 20 Muhamed Toromanovic BIH Line Player 9 Apr 1984 110 194 12 Marcin Wichary POL Goalkeeper 17 Feb 1980 100 193 10 Adam Wisniewski POL Left Wing 24 Oct 1980 100 192
54 Manolo Cadenas Marin Sego coach goalkeeper Before he signed to Orlen he had made a When he came to Wisła from Zagreb in 2012, short return to León, where he was the coach Marin Sego had strong competition in goal, from 1995 to 2007, in the “golden era” of the in the form of Polish international, Marcin club. He led Ademar to their only national Wichary. Sego soon began to adapt to his championship title in 2001, two cup titles new and has become a major presence in and two titles in the Cup Winners’ Cup. He the team. Before joining Płock, he spent half also coached in Santander, where he won the of his career in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Spanish cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup, and half in Croatia. He was most successful with Valladolid (1991 – 1995). After his first stint at Leon he changed to Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, where he helped his club to progress twice Barcelona and Granollers. Besides Polish runners-up he also took over to the EHF Champions League quarter-finals (2008/09 and 2011/12). the Spanish national team.
Ivan Nikcević Mariusz Jurkiewicz left wing left back Wisła’s experienced left winger has many Wisła Płock 2013 signing spent most of his titles to his name. Raised in Crvena Zvezda career in Spain playing for BM Ciudad Real, Belgrad, he moved to Spain in 2005 where he JD Arrate, Portland San Antonio and Atletico played for the likes of Portland San Antonio, Madrid. Since his international debut in 2002, Reyno de Navarra San Antonio and Cuatro he played 102 games in the national team, Rayas Valladolid, achieving his best European and won a bronze medal at the 2009 World performance with Navarra in the EHF Cup Championship. He was more successful in Winners’ Cup semi-final in 2010. Nikcević is club competitions, playing in the VELUX EHF also an important Serbian national team player, winning an EHF EURO Champions League Final in 2012 and later that year becoming Super silver medal and scoring 377 goals in 77 international appearances. Globe champion.
Nikola Eklemović Muhamed Toromanović centre back line player Born in Belgrade and former Serbia The Bosnian line player joined Wisła in 2011 international, Eklemović has played with after spending three seasons with Danish side Hungary since 2008. With the latter he played KIF Kolding and quickly became a consistent at two EHF EURO events (2008 and 2010), starter for the team. Toromanović is very and once at the World Championship in 2009. important in Wisła’s offensive play and has In the club competitions Nikcević was a Cup scored 237 goals in 85 appearances over his Winners’ Cup finalist with MKB Veszprém two seasons at the club. In Bosnia he won (2007/08). With the same club he played in three domestic championships with HC Bosnia the EHF Champions League semi-final (once) and quarter-finals (three Sarajevo and played in the semi-final of Cup Winners’ Cup in 2007. times), before joining Wisła two seasons ago.
Marcin Lijewski Valentin Ghionea right back right wing The extremely experienced player returned to Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008, and Wisła Płock over the summer as a VELUX EHF two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007), Champions League winner with HSV Hamburg. joined Wisła Płock in 2012 and during his Lijewski left Wisła in 2001 after spending one first season, he showed his great goalscoring season and winning a Polish championship ability. Ghionea quickly became a very with the club. Since then he played with important Wisła Player and his team’s top German side SG Flensburg-Handewitt (2002- scorer. In the 2012/13 season he scored 215 2008) and HSV Hamburg (2008-2013). He goals in 41 appearances. In the two-legged played twice in the EHF Champions League final with Flensburg (2004 VELUX EHF Champions League Wild Card tie against Montpelier, and 2007), and won the competition with HSV in June. Ghionea was Wisła’s top scorer with 17 goals over the two games.
55 KIF Kolding København (DEN)
Take a traditionally strong club and add top players of a club which came to an end due to a bankruptcy – this was the recipe, how the new Danish powerhouse KIF Kolding København was founded in 2012.
After AG København was out, some players like Kasper Hvidt, Joachim Boldsen and others decided that this should not have been the end of successful handball in the Danish capital. So they joined forces with Danish record champions KIF Kolding – and right in their first season they set some signs.
Kolding København finished the regular season of the Danish league on top, qualifying for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. In the finals of the league they were – surprisingly clearly – beaten by Aalborg and became runners-up.
Now – and after signing the two former Champions League winners Albert Rocas (Barcelona) and Torsten Laen (Füchse Berlin) as newcomers, the aims are high - reaching the final tournament of the Danish cup, the final of the league and at least the first part of the knockout stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Legendary goalkeeper Kasper Hvidt hopes: “The ambition of the KIF Kolding København project was to have a team which is supposed to be among the top 5 to 8 in Europe, and with new players like Laen and Rocas we have a chance to fulfil that ambition.” Playing hall* TRE-FOR Arena Three-time Champions League winner Kim Andersson (formerly THW Kiel) is out until the Ambolten 2-6 beginning of October – and the same is expected for Simon Jensen. Boris Schnuchel, the club 6000 Kolding record holder with almost 600 club matches, is out until Christmas. Denmark Capacity: 2,800
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements KIF Kolding København EHF Champions League season: Ambolten 2-6 Danish runners-up VELUX EHF Champions League 6000 Kolding Participations (including 2013/14 Denmark season): 11 Newcomers (including former club): Semi-final (1): 2001/02 Media contact: Torsten Laen (Füchse Berlin) Quarter-final (1): 2002/03 Thomas Christensen Albert Rocas (FC Barcelona) Last 16 (6): 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, +45 22 629062 Lasse Andersson (TMS Ringsted) 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11 [email protected] Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Left the club (including new club): Group Phase (1): 1994/95 Online information: Frederik Børm (Skjern Håndbold) Website: www.kif.dk Other Facebook: KIFKBH Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals Twitter: @KifKoldingKBH 1999/2000, Quarter-finals 2007/08 EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2012/13
Danish champions: 12 times (1987, Kit colours 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, Light 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009) Player shirt: white Danish Cup winners: 7 times Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue *Alternative playing hall Brøndby Hallen Dark Brøndby Stadion 20 Player shirt: black 2605 Brøndby Player short: black Denmark Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue Capacity: 5,000
56 KIF Kolding København (DEN)
Biggest win 35:18 (19:4) v Wisła Płock SA POL (h), 07.10.2006 Biggest defeat 38:23 (20:10) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2010 40:25 (19:10) v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA (a), 28.11.2010 Longest winning run 4 matches (16.11.2002 – 08.12.2002) 4 matches (30.09.2006 – 19.10.2006) Longest unbeaten run 6 matches (30.09.2006 – 12.11.2006) Longest losing run 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Longest run without win 4 matches (17.10.2009 – 22.11.2009) 4 matches (27.02.2010 – 03.04.2010) 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Most goals 42 v RK Partizan Belgrad SCG 42:26W (h), 12.10.2003 42 v Prule 67 Ljubljana SLO 42:31W (h), 30.11.2003 Most goals opponent 46 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Most goals both teams 82 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals 16 v TEKA Santander ESP 28:16L (a), 25.01.1995 Fewest goals opponent 18 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001 18 v Wisła Płock SA POL 35:18W (h), 07.10.2006 Fewest goals both teams 38 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Kolding IF DEN 6 1 0 5 140: 163 - 23 2 4th Gr. A 2001/02 Kolding IF DEN 10 5 1 4 263: 256 + 7 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 Kolding IF DEN 8 5 0 3 235: 215 + 20 10 1/4-finals 2003/04 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 1 3 253: 239 + 14 9 1/8-finals 2004/05 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 0 4 279: 267 + 12 8 1/8-finals 2005/06 KIF Kolding DEN 8 4 0 4 251: 240 + 11 8 1/8-finals 2006/07 KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN 8 6 1 1 252: 213 + 39 13 1/8-finals 2009/10 KIF Kolding DEN 12 4 4 4 336: 342 - 6 12 1/8-finals 2010/11 KIF Kolding DEN 12 5 0 7 349: 388 - 39 10 1/8-finals Total 80 38 7 35 2358:2323 + 35 83
57 KIF Kolding København (DEN) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
5 Kim Andersson SWE Right Back 21 Aug 1982 104 200 3 Lasse Boesen DEN Left Back 18 Sep 1979 100 192 23 Joachim Boldsen DEN Centre Back 30 Apr 1978 103 187 Thorsten Friis DEN Goalkeeper 22 Jan 1993 20 Stefan Hundstrup DEN Lef Wing 30 Jun 1986 86 193 1 Kasper Hvidt DEN Goalkeeper 6 Feb 1976 96 192 18 Kasper Irming Andersen DEN Right Wing 12 Mar 1986 80 188 17 Rasmus Jensen DEN Line Player 17 Jun 1989 90 189 21 Simon Edelberg Jensen DEN Right Wing 2 Jun 1984 85 185 24 Lars Krogh Jeppesen DEN Left Back 5 Mar 1979 110 201 8 Lars Troels Jorgensen DEN Centre Back 3 Feb 1978 102 192 2 Lukas Karlsson SWE Centre Back 21 May 1982 83 180 4 Torsten Laen DEN Line Player 26 Nov 1979 96 198 16 Mikkel Drud Nielsen DEN Goalkeeper 14 Mar 1991 Jacob Vinholt Pedersen DEN Left Wing 18 Jul 1993 14 Rolf Ravn DEN Right Back 10 Oct 1992 26 Albert Rocas Comas ESP Right Wing 16 Jun 1982 80 189 10 Boris Schnuchel DEN Left Wing 15 Mar 1975 90 190 8 Bo Spellerberg DEN Left Back 24 Jul 1979 95 195 13 Thomas Björn Theilgaard DEN Right Wing 13 Jan 1993 19 Cyril Viudes FRA Line Player 6 Feb 1982 110 198 1 Soren Westphal DEN Goalkeeper 8 Jul 1986 90 200
58 Henrik Kronborg Kasper Hvidt coach goalkeeper He is still assistant coach of Ulrik Wilbek The 37-year-old is still considered to be in the Danish men’s team continuing the among the five or six best goalkeepers in successful work decorated by several medals the world. After being awarded MVP as in recent years. He was also the coach of Denmark won the EHF EURO 2008 in Norway, Danish juniors until the WCh in Bosnia and he retired from international handball in Herzegovina. Kronborg was successfully 2010. After a career in Germany and Spain, coaching Nordsjaelland, before joining the including a successful spell in FC Barcelona, federation. It is interesting enough that Hvidt returned home to Denmark in 2009 Kronborg succeeded Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen at KIF, who was also to play for first FCK Håndbold, then AG København, with whom he one of his forerunners as assistant coach of the Danish national team. reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2012. Since August last year he Since the season’s start he changed to the daily work at KIF. has been with KIF Kolding København, the team which he put a lot of effort in creating.
Stefan Hundstrup Bo Spellerberg left wing left back Just like Joachim Boldsen, Kasper Hvidt and Spellerberg has been a KIF Kolding player for Lars Jørgensen, Hundstrup joined KIF Kolding ten years, since he joined the club from FIF København after AG København´s bankruptcy Copenhagen in 2003. He has won the Danish in the summer of 2012. The tall winger, who is championship four times with the club. He on the periphery of the Danish national team, has been in the EHF Champions League with has an impressive scoring percentage from the club five times, and during his entire time the left wing and due to his speed, Hundstrup in the club, he has been a key player to the is also an important figure in the fast breaks. team. Being an elegant and hard-shooting As KIF´s other left winger Boris Schnuchel is sidelined for the rest playmaker as well as left back, he has constantly been a leader in the of the autumn after knee surgery, Stefan Hundstrup is an especially team´s attacking play. Spellerberg is a double EHF EURO champion important figure in the KIF team. and World Championship silver medallist.
Lukas Karlsson Torsten Laen centre back line player The Swedish international joined KIF Kolding After celebrating several triumphs with from Viborg HK in 2009. The elegant and top Danish side GOG, the former Danish inventive playmaker was bothered by international went abroad in 2007. First stop shoulder problems for a long time, but thanks was to Ciudad Real, with whom he won the to a lot of physical therapy he seems to be EHF Champions League in 2008 and then on back to his best. Apart from orchestrating to the Bundesliga and Füchse Berlin, with KIF´s attacking play, he has also turned into a place in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2012 one of the team´s most dangerous shooters, the major achievement. The 33-year-old proving that fact with 33 goals in the EHF Cup last season. He is joined KIF Kolding København in the summer of 2013 and will be an married to Norwegian international Ida Bjørndalen. important player in all aspects of the club’s play.
Kim Andersson Albert Rocas right back right wing Was nominated for the World Handball Double world champion with the Spanish Player of the Year 2012, finishing joint-third national team (2005 and 2013), Rocas is place behind winner Daniel Narcisse. The only missing an EHF EURO crown from nomination capped a brilliant year for the his collection. He was nominated as the right back which included Olympic Silver best ASOBAL right wing in 2004, 2007 and with Sweden and winning the VELUX EHF 2008, and best right wing of the Beijing Champions League with THW Kiel for a third Olympic Games in 2008. After six seasons at time. His first season with KIF was disrupted Barcelona, Rocas made the move to Denmark with a shoulder injury in April, but after having consulted specialists in over the summer, his first to a foreign league. Always considered Sweden and Spain he is now on his back to the court and is expected as a specialist with spin shots, the seven metre spot is one of his back in action in October. favourites on the court.
59 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA)
It was one of the narrowest margins of qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League anywhere in Europe last season: at the final whistle Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral turned the final league match in France against St. Raphaël around to win 26:25, after they were down by 11:17 at the break.
This victory meant that Dunkerque finished second in France below PSG Handball, but one point ahead of MAHB Montpellier – and qualified for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League directly.
The Dunkerque squad, coached by former French international Patrick Cazal, has remained nearly the same compared to last season, with only Sébastien Bosquet leaving the club – so the goals are set high: qualifying for the European Cup competitions again and reaching the Last 16 in the VELUX EHF Champions League, even though they are debutants in the competition, after failing in qualification back in 2011.
One major setback for the team is the injury to left back Erwan Siakam (broken radius), who recently underwent surgery and is set to miss three months while recovering.
Team captain Mohamed Mokrani is relishing the chance to test himself against the best players in the world.
Playing hall “Playing in the most prestigious competition is something exceptional for a handball player. It Stades de Flandres is the first time the club has achieved it. We really want to do our best and we aim to qualify Avenue de Rosendael for the last 16, it is a nice goal for the club.” 59240 Dunkerque France Capacity: 2,500
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral EHF Champions League season: Avenue de Rosendael - B.P. 4197 runners-up in France VELUX EHF Champions League 59378 Dunkerque cedex 1 Participations (including 2013/14 France season): 2 Newcomers (including former club): Qualification (1): 2011/12 Media contact: Romain Guillard (Tremblay en France Melanie Lefevbre Handball) Other + 33 3 28 66 91 52 Théophile Causse (Dunkerque youth team) EHF Cup: Finals 2011/12, Quarter-finals [email protected] 2006/07, 2007/07, 2009/10 Left the club (including new club): Challenge Cup: Finals 2003/04 Online information: Sébastien Bosquet (Tremblay en France City-Cup: Quarter-finals 1998/99, Website: www.usdk.fr Handball) 1999/2000 Facebook: DunkerqueHandball Twitter: @USDKDunkerque French league: - French Champions Trophy: 1 title (2012) French Cup winner: once French League Cup winner: once Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: black/red Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red
60 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
3 Benjamin Afgour FRA Line Player 1 Apr 1991 106 195 16 William Annotel FRA Goalkeeper 29 Mar 1983 93 195 57 Baptiste Butto FRA Left Wing 13 Feb 1987 86 185 9 Theophile Causse FRA Right Wing 12 Oct 1992 72 179 8 Sebastien De Cocker FRA Line Player 15 Apr 1995 97 190 17 Julian Emonet FRA Left Wing 4 Jan 1992 91 182 12 Julien Gardenat FRA Goalkeeper 4 Nov 1995 97 190 1 Vincent Gerard FRA Goalkeeper 16 Dec 1986 97 188 21 Mickael Grocaut FRA Line Player 26 Apr 1980 105 194 19 Romain Guillard FRA Centre Back 14 Jan 1986 100 190 89 Espen Lie Hansen NOR Left Back 1 Mar 1989 103 196 11 Jerome Hoarau FRA Left Back 4 Aug 1995 81 192 26 Guillaume Joli FRA Right Wing 27 Mar 1985 80 178 5 Sebastien Joumel FRA Left Back 6 Jan 1995 97 191 4 Bastien Lamon FRA Centre Back 18 Jul 1981 80 186 23 Clement Lhuillier FRA Right Wing 9 Feb 1995 76 187 18 Theo Michel FRA Right Wing 18 Jan 1994 72 179 46 Mohamed Mokrani FRA Line Player 31 Jan 1981 97 186 6 Kornel Nagy HUN Left Back 21 Nov 1986 95 195 20 Nicolas Nieto FRA Line Player 6 Apr 1994 105 194 13 Christoffer Rambo NOR Right Back 18 Nov 1989 92 199 25 Roman Scattolari FRA Centre Back 11 Feb 1994 89 190 10 Erwan Siakam Kadji FRA Left Back 10 Sep 1987 90 186 15 Pierre Soudry FRA Right Back 27 Mar 1988 82 183 7 Jalleledine Touati TUN Right Wing 12 Jul 1982 78 179 14 Clement Vanquatem FRA Left Wing 1 Mar 1995 68 180
61 Patrick Cazal Vincent Gérard coach goalkeeper Since 2011 he has been the head coach of He arrived two seasons ago in Dunkirk and USDK and it took him only two seasons to be immediately showed his potential. Being one voted as the best coach in the first French of the club’s few players to have played in the league. As a player he became double world CL, a couple of seasons ago with Montpellier, champion under coach Daniel Costantini in his experience will be much needed. Crowned 1995 and 2001 and won two WCh bronze best goalkeeper of the French league last medals in 1997 and 2003. He played for Paris, year, he’s the one that made the most saves Montpellier, Irun and Essen. In 2005 he moved and deserved his few caps with the national to Dunkerque, where he had finished his career, before he became the squad at the end of the season. Excellent against penalties and assistant coach. Aside reaching the CL for the first time this season, his the wing, he gives confidence to his teammates with his exuberant biggest coaching success was the EHF Cup final in 2012. gestures after every one of his saves.
Baptiste Butto Espen Lie Hansen left wing left back After learning his trade in Selestat, he arrived The 24-year old started his career with home in Dunkirk in 2009 and has been in the top 10 town club Drammen HK in Norway. It was scorers of the French league ever since. Butto also in Drammen where celebrated his first is known for his great speed on fast breaks major achievements, including reaching and is very effective with penalties, but has the EHF Champions League in 2007/08 and never been drafted in the national team, due 2008/09. His first foreign adventure was to the huge amount of good left wingers in with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg in neighboring France. His last European campaign with the Denmark. With Bjerringbro-Silkeborg he club was extremely successful as the club’s top scorer with 57 goals experienced another European campaign, before his one year stay on their way to the EHF Cup Final in 2012. with the Danes ended. He forms a deadly Norwegian back court duo with Rambo and will be looking to show that off against Europe’s best.
Erwann Siakam Mohammed Mokrani left back line player Erwann Siakam is a very talented player. His An international player with Algeria, the ability to shoot from long range as well as line player is always battling on the court. very strong in one vs. one situations and his Mokrani is a key element in the French side’s changes of direction can be compared to defence and although he relatively small, Daniel Narcisse. At 26 years old, last season he has got the capacity to sneak behind was a real breakthrough year for him, as he defenders on offense to create space and finally confirmed the faith that trainer Patrick score goals. The 32-year-old has already Cazal had in him. Playing in Europe might played in the EHF Champions League back in finally propel him into the national team, a slot that many specialists the 2007/08 season with another French club US Ivry Handball. think he deserves, but will miss the beginning of the campaign due to an arm injury.
Christoffer Rambo Guillaume Joli right back right wing At 199 cm tall and 92 kg, Rambo is also According to his coach, Guillaume Joli’s a rather lethal weapon in the attack for experience has been a key element in Dunkerque. After impressing at home club Dunkirk’s qualification for the Champions IL Runar in Sandefjord, Norway, his talent League. Joli has experienced everything, from earned him a contract with Spanish BM EHF EURO’s to Olympic Games and has won Valladolid in 2010. After a one year spell in many medals along the way. This will be the Spain, he moved to Elverum HH in his home former Chambéry player’s sixth time playing country. From Elverum he went abroad in Europe’s top club competition. His skills again, this time to his current club Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral, from the penalty line will be a huge advantage for his team, as will his where he will be a crucial asset to the club´s European hopes. speed on fast breaks and defensive presence.
62 FC Porto Vitalis (POR)
It was a short, but successful stay of David Davis in Portugal. Also thanks to the help of the Spanish international and former EHF Champions League winner, the 18-time Portuguese champions made it to the Group Phase for the first time in history.
After a double strike against Elverum (Norway) and Romanian side Constanta in the final within 24 hours, Porto – host of the tournament – ended an unlucky series of failing six times in qualification for the EHF Champions League.
Now the handball section of the famous football club will face big names in the Group Phase; Kiel, Kielce, Płock, Dunkerque and Kolding-København. Of course Porto will play the underdog role in this group, but aside short-term transfer David Davis, who quit his career after the qualification, they signed a big name from Spain: Álvaro Ferrer from Atlético Madrid.
In the last 12 years they are the first Portuguese team to qualify for the Group Phase – which was one of their main season goals. And now they want to be a successful representative of their handball nation – and maybe surprise some teams in their group to finally have the chance to pass this stage.
Team captain Ricardo Moreira is looking forward to the big challenge: “I just hope this season will be the first of many years of FC Porto in the Champions League. We play in a difficult group, two of our five opponents were part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season. So we know it’s a Playing hall hard group.” Dragao Caixa Via Futebol Clube do Porto, 4350419 Porto, Portugal Capacity: 2,225
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements FC Porto Vitalis EHF Champions League season: Estadio do Dragao vi FC Porto Winners of the qualification VELUX EHF Champions League Entrada Poente, Piso 3 tournament 4, Portuguese champions Participations (including 2013/14 4350-451 Porto season): 7 Portugal Last 16 (1): 1999/2000 Qualification (5): 2004/2005, Media contact: Newcomers (including former club): 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, Joana Moreira Vasco Santos (ISMAI) 2012/2013 Tel: +351 22 508 32 68 Álvaro Ferrer (Atlético Madrid) [email protected] João Moniz (Belenenses) Other Miguel Sarmento (ABC) Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals Online information: 2000/2001, 2001/2002 Website: www.fcporto.pt Left the club (including new club): Facebook: FC-Porto João Ramos (Hurry Up/NED) Portuguese league: 17 titles (1954, Twitter: @FCPortoAndebol Filipe Mota (Győr/HUN) 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, Sérgio Rola (Madeira SAD) 1968, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, Elias Nogueira (ISMAI) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) Kit colours Portuguese Cup winner: seven times Light Player shirt: white/blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey/blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: Dark blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey/blue
63 FC Porto Vitalis (POR) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
11 Belmiro Alves POR Left Back 2 Jan 1994 94 194 15 Daymaro Amador Salina CUB Line Player 1 Sep 1987 105 200 55 Miguel Baptista POR Right Back 26 Oct 1995 98 197 1 Alfredo Bravo CUB Goalkeeper 20 Mar 1988 97 201 2 Nuno Carvalhais POR Left Back 23 Aug 1994 91 197 14 David Davis Camara ESP Line Player 25 Oct 1976 85 185 23 Wilson Davyes POR Centre Back 7 Sep 1988 93 192 5 Gilberto Duarte POR Left Back 6 Jul 1990 96 197 9 Joao Ferraz POR Right Back 8 Jan 1990 90 196 8 Alvaro Ferrer Vecilla ESP Centre Back 17 Mar 1982 95 190 16 Hugo Laurentino POR Goalkeeper 22 Jul 1984 88 188 12 Joao Moniz POR Left Wing 1 May 1995 97 190 19 Ricardo Moreira POR Right Wing 28 Apr 1982 82 185 13 Miguel Pereira POR Right Wing 7 Feb 1990 79 185 3 Joao Ramos POR Left Wing 6 Jul 1991 89 194 17 Tiago Rocha POR Line Player 17 Oct 1985 104 196 27 Hugo Rosario POR Left Back 8 Mar 1991 94 194 24 Hugo Santos POR Left Wing 2 Mar 1992 70 178 7 Vasco Santos POR Left Back 25 Jun 1993 93 199 88 Mick Schubert DEN Left Wing 17 Mar 1988 82 193 13 Pedro Spinola POR Right Back 20 Aug 1983 88 187
64 Ljubomir Obradović Hugo Laurentino coach goalkeeper Those were huge footprints to fill, when he The experienced goalkeeper (29) has been became head coach of Porto in 2009, as his of most importance to the Dragons since forerunner Carlos Resende is the handball he joined the club in 2005/06, winning five legend in Portugal. Serbian born has a huge championships. He might not be from the coaching experience on club side and with north of Portugal (born in Évora), but he national teams. Before moving to Porto he certainly carries the northern spirit. The led Montenegrin side Lovćen Cetinje to the 29-year-old has had a distinguished career EC and he also won the EURO title with the with FC Porto, but has also played for clubs in Serbian-Montenegrin juniors in 2000 and was assistant coach of the the south of the country, such as Vitória de Setubal and Évora AC, as senior national team, winning the bronze at the WCh 2001. He also well as being a regular on the Portugal national team. coached the Serbian women, CZ Beograd and Pančevo.
Mick Schubert Gilberto Duarte left wing left back The only northern European player in Standing at 1.97, Duarte is one of FC Porto’s the FC Porto squad has got international towers and one of the most important achievements to his name, such as the Men’s players in the squad; he was already a force 20 EHF EURO title and finished third with to be reckoned with when joining the club in Denmark in this summer’s European Beach 2007. He has won five national championships Handball Championship. Schubert is taller since his arrival and individual prizes are a than your average winger at 1.93m and has regular occurrence to the 23-year-old. He was made the left wing his own at Porto. Mick awarded best player of the league in 2011/12 left Ajax Kobenhavn, from the second Danish division, to sign with and was honored with the FC Porto’s Golden Dragon in that same the Portuguese Champions and will be making his first European season, an award that rewards the best athlete of each sport. campaign of his career.
Wilson Davyes Tiago Rocha centre back line player Talent, intelligence and athleticism. Wilson Tiago joined the club back in 1997 and is holds the key to the whole game of FC Porto, now one of the longest serving players at dictating the plays himself. Born and raised in the club. After three years away on loan Lisbon, before joining the blues, the 25-year- spells, he finally made it in to the first team old played in one of their rivals, Sporting in 2002. The line player is one of the most CP. He arrived to the north in 2008 and has successful players of the club with six national been a crucial part of the Dragons’ game championships, three Portuguese cups, two since then. He might not be as experienced Super Cups and two league cups. Known for as some of his colleagues, but he certainly makes the attack run his precise and strong shot, intelligent positioning and quick turns smoothly and creates plenty of fast breaks in defence. on the 6m line, he is definitely one of the Portuguese champions strongest points offensively.
João Ferraz Ricardo Moreira right back right wing His powerful left handed shot has earned Captain of the side, he is the soul of the him a number of All-Star awards in underage Dragons. He was an FC Porto Player from international tournaments and led the 1997 to 2001 and returned to the club three Portuguese champions signing him last years later to become the most influential season. He won a Portuguese league and cup player in the dressing room. Moreira also double last season with FC Porto and gained played in Vitória de Setubal, CPN and his first CL experience in the qualification Belenenses. Besides being the starting right tournament. The 23-year-old has had a wing, he usually takes the penalties. He is distinguished youth national team career and has EHF Cup experience known by keeping a cool head when things are going wrong for FC with former club Madeira. Porto, putting his teammates’ minds in place.
65
Group C preview
Expert’s view Valero Rivera
Valero Rivera (60) crowned himself in his hometown with the biggest of all titles he has ever won. Last January he led the Spanish team in Barcelona to the world championship trophy after a brilliant final against Denmark. Before Rivera had already been the most successful club team coach in the history of handball by winning more than 70 titles with FC Barcelona, including five straight trophies in the EHF Champions League from 1996 to 2000. Since 2008 he was Spanish national team coach. Four months after winning the World Championship Rivera announced his departure and now is the coach of the Qatar national team, preparing them for the World Championship on home court in 2015.
Strong, tough, a clear favourite not only for topping the first stage – this is my opinion of Group C of the upcoming Champions League season. And my clear favourite is the club, which imprinted all my life as a player, coach or sports director: FC Barcelona. When we won five straight times from 1996 to 2000, we had nine to eleven players on a high level.
Looking upon the current squad my friend Xavi Pascual can count on at least 16 players on world class level. So in my opinion Barcelona have the best team ever in club history, not only because of the transfers of Nikola Karabatic and Kiril Lazarov, but also because of players like Rutenka, Entrerrios, Tomas and the best goalkeepers in the world, Sterbik and Šarić.
After Barcelona had lost the last season’s final against Hamburg, everybody could recognise: They want more next season, not ‘only’ reaching the final. So I am absolutely convinced that Barcelona will make it again to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 this season. But Cologne is something completely different to the rest of the season – you face two world class opponents within only 24 hours, and like it was proven in June, one player, who did not even enter the court in the semi-final can decide the final, like Michael Kraus did.
There are some teams, which have the strength to beat them in Cologne like Veszprém, Kiel or Flensburg, teams which I expect to be highly strong this season.
By looking at the Group Phase opponents of Barcelona Paris Handball are the toughest contender in the fight for the group victory. By improving the team with players like Vori, Császár or Narcisse they made a huge step forward. But one thing is missing in Paris: All players are world class, all players are experienced, but they are still in the process of getting team experience – and this might be the great advantage for Barcelona in those direct duels. In the VELUX EHF Champions League experience means everything.
Regarding the remaining opponents, I am really curious which Macedonian team will be better. Metalurg’s best weapon is their coach Lino Červar, a real mastermind. Vardar signed top players including my former Spanish national team youngster Alex Dujshebaev or a wide range of experienced Russians. Both are highly strong at home – and together with Dinamo Minsk they will fight for third place.
The Belarusian team from Minsk are growing year by year, making one step ahead every season. With their highly skilled new coach Boris Denič they might be the one to top Metalurg and Vardar in the end.
Unfortunately for them, I do not estimate Wacker Thun to play a dominant role in this tough group. The Swiss champions will have the chance to learn and to gain experience against some of the best teams of the world.
67 Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC
FC Barcelona vs PSG Handball No previous encounters
FC Barcelona vs HC Vardar – Skopje 18.10.2003 FC Barcelona ESP-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group B 41:19 (19:08) 16.11.2003 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD-FC Barcelona ESP EHF Champions League – Group B 27:35 (16:14) 09.10.2004 FC Barcelona ESP-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group A 31:22 (16:12) 06.11.2004 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD-FC Barcelona ESP EHF Champions League – Group A 12:26 (08:15) 11.11.2009 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD-FC Barcelona Borges ESP EHF Champions League – Group D 28:35 (17:16) 21.11.2009 FC Barcelona Borges ESP-HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group D 35:28 (15:13)
FC Barcelona vs Wacker Thun No previous encounters
FC Barcelona vs HC Dinamo Minsk 13.10.2012 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP-HC Dinamo Minsk BLR EHF Champions League – Group D 25:24 (12:13) 21.02.2013 HC Dinamo Minsk BLR-FC Barcelona Intersport ESP EHF Champions League – Group D 28:30 (13:18)
FC Barcelona vs HC Metalurg 12.10.2008 FC Barcelona Borges ESO-HC Metalurg MKD EHF Champions League – Group C 30:19 (14:11) 08.11.2008 HC Metalurg MKD-FC Barcelona Borges ESP EHF Champions League – Group C 22:29 (14:17)
PSG Handball vs HC Vardar – Skopje No previous encounters
PSG Handball vs Wacker Thun No previous encounters
PSG Handball vs HC Dinamo Minsk No previous encounters
PSG Handball HC Metalurg 14.02.2009 HC Metalurg MKD-Paris Handball FRA Cup Winners’ Cup – 1/8-finals 27:18 (16:12) 21.02.2009 Paris Handball FRA-HC Metalurg MKD Cup Winners’ Cup – 1/8-finals 27:21 (16:11)
HC Vardar PRO - Skopje vs Wacker Thun No previous encounters
HC Vardar PRO - Skopje vs HC Dinamo Minsk 06.09.2009 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD-HC Dinamo-Minsk BLR EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament 1 34:24 (14:14)
HC Vardar PRO - Skopje vs HC Metalurg No previous encounters
Wacker Thun vs HC Dinamo Minsk No previous encounters
Wacker Thun vs HC Metalurg No previous encounters
HC Dinamo Minsk vs HC Metalurg 03.09.2010 HC Metalurg MKD-HC DINAMO-Minsk BLR EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament 2 21:27 (10:12) 14.03.2013 HC Dinamo Minsk BLR-HC Metalurg MKD EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 23:26 (12:14) 23.03.2013 HC Metalurg MKD-HC Dinamo Minsk BLR EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 24:22 (11:12)
68 FC Barcelona (ESP)
2 June 2013 was a historic date for the EHF Champions League: For the first time in 21 years, extra-time was needed to separate the teams and while HSV Hamburg celebrated their surprising trophy on the podium, record champions FC Barcelona were the unlucky losers.
Right after the final coach Xavi Pascual stated his mission for next season: “We will be back and we want to win next year.”
In the meantime FCB have bolstered their squad with two of the best handball players in the world: Nikola Karabatic (arriving from Aix-en-Provence) and Kiril Lazarov from Atlético Madrid. As for the rest of their well-balanced squad, it remained almost the same.
Barca are again among the main contenders for going all the way to Cologne, where they are still the only non-German team to win the trophy (in 2011) and have been in the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 three times in three participations.
Despite the clear season goal “try to achieve all possible titles” club manager Xavier O’Callaghan is humble going into the new campaign. “Our main objective is to proceed to the Last 16 in the best possible position,” said O’Callaghan.
Team captain Víctor Tomás is more optimistic about his team’s chances. “Our objective is to show good handball, reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again and to win the final tournament this time. Playing hall We are in a very competitive group and in Europe it is always very difficult to win away games. Palau Blaugrana The appearance of Paris Handball on the top stage is very good news for handball,” he said. Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain Capacity: 7,250
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements FC Barcelona Intersport EHF Champions League season: Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n Spanish champions VELUX EHF Champions League 08028 Barcelona Participations (including 2013/14 Spain season): 17 Newcomers (including former club): Winner (7): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, Media contact: Nikola Karabatic (Pays d’Aix Handball) 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11 Gustau Galvache Kiril Lazarov (BM Atlético de Madrid) Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 +34 618522789 Joan Saubich (NaturHouse La Rioja) Semi-final (1): 2007/08 [email protected] Quarter-final (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, Left the club (including new club): 2011/12 Online information: Magnus Jernemyr (Lugi HF) Last 16 (1): 2003/04 Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat Mikel Aguirrezabalaga (Dinamo Minsk) Main Round (1): 2008/09 Facebook: FCBHandbol Ángel Montoro (Fenix Toulouse) Twitter: @FCBHandbol Albert Rocas (KIF Kolding) Other EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, Kit colours 1994/95 Light Player shirt: red and yellow Spanish league: 20 titles (1969, 1973, Player short: red 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, Goalkeeper shirt: green/grey 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, Dark 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013) Player shirt: blue and red Spanish Cup winner: 17 times Player short: blue Asobal Cup winner: 8 times Goalkeeper shirt: black/dark red
69 FC Barcelona (ESP)
Biggest win 17:43 (9:21) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (a), 19.11.2011 Biggest defeat 31:21 (13:10) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 23.02.2007 41:31 (20:15) v THW Kiel GER (a), 06.04.2008 Longest winning run 12 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012) Longest unbeaten run 16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997) Longest losing run 2 matches (25.03.2000 – 22.04.2000) 2 matches (16.10.2004 – 23.10.2004) 2 matches (11.12.2004 – 05.03.2005) 2 matches (15.03.2008 – 06.04.2008) 2 matches (23.11.2008 – 14.02.2009) 2 matches (30.05.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest run without win 3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010) Most goals 46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Most goals opponent 41 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.2008 Most goals both teams 82 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals 21 v ABC Braga POR 21:21D (a), 09.11.1997 21 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:21L (a), 23.10.2004 21 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:21L (a), 25.02.2006 21 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 31:21L (a), 23.02.2007 Fewest goals opponent 12 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals both teams 38 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (a), 20.04.1996 38 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 2 1 213: 173 + 40 12 Winner 1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 1 1 358: 264 + 94 21 Winner 1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 12 9 1 2 358: 284 + 74 19 Winner 1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 3 1 357: 289 + 68 19 Winner 1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 0 2 345: 271 + 74 20 Winner 2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 2 2 316: 281 + 35 18 Runner-up 2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 1 2 262: 212 + 50 11 1/8-finals 2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 14 8 0 6 400: 360 + 40 16 Winner 2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 9 0 1 293: 244 + 49 18 1/4-finals 2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 8 0 2 314: 263 + 51 16 1/4-finals 2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 14 11 0 3 475: 407 + 68 22 1/2-finals 2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 10 6 0 4 307: 275 + 32 12 3rd MR Gr. 4 2009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 13 1 2 545: 461 + 84 27 Runner-up 2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 10 3 3 501: 451 + 50 23 Winner 2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 14 11 0 3 459: 357 +102 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 16 13 0 3 488: 404 + 84 26 Runner-up Total 196 144 14 38 5991:4996 +995 302
70 FC Barcelona (ESP) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
13 Aitor Arino Bengoechea ESP Left Wing 5 Oct 1992 81 18400 34 David Balaguer Romeu ESP Right Wing 17 Aug 1991 83 184 40 Ignacio Biosca Garcia ESP Goalkeeper 17 Jul 1995 95 200 9 Raul Entrerrios Rodriguez ESP Centre Back 12 Feb 1981 89 195 6 Juan Garcia Lorenzana ESP Left Wing 28 Aug 1977 74 176 18 Eduardo Gurbindo Martinez ESP Right Back 8 Nov 1987 89 195 22 Nikola Karabatic FRA Left Back 11 Apr 1984 102 196 14 Michal Kasal CZE Left Back 3 Apr 1994 100 207 77 Kiril Lazarov MKD Right Back 10 May 1980 99 195 27 Viran Morros de Argila ESP Left Back 15 Dec 1983 92 197 3 Jesper Brian Nöddesbo DEN Line Player 23 Oct 1980 101 199 22 Siarhei Rutenka BLR Left Back 29 Aug 1981 109 199 12 Danijel Saric BIH Goalkeeper 27 Jun 1977 93 194 11 Daniel Sarmiento Melian ESP Centre Back 25 Aug 1983 85 188 36 Joan Saubich Mir ESP Right Wing 7 Nov 1989 10 Cedric Sorhaindo FRA Line Player 7 Jun 1984 100 192 1 Arpad Sterbik ESP Goalkeeper 20 Nov 1979 119 200 24 Martin Stranovsky SVK Left Wing 12 Sep 1985 78 187 8 Victor Tomas Gonzalez ESP Right Wing 15 Feb 1985 89 178
71 Xavi Pascual Arpad Sterbik coach goalkeeper The name is a “double feature” at FC The two-metre tall 2005 World Handball Barcelona, as the coaches of both the Player of the Year was part of the famous handball and the basketball section hold the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper duo together with same name. Handball’s Xavi Pascual played Jose Hombrados. Having joined Barcelona in for a lengthy period Barcelona and some September 2012, he is now aiming to become other Spanish clubs, before becoming the equally as good together with his teammate goalkeeper coach at the EHF Champions Danijel Šarić. He won the EHF Champions League record winners in 2005, where he League three times with Ciudad Real (2006, started working with the legendary David Barrufet and others. In 2008 and 2009) and, being a Spanish citizen since 2008, also bronze 2009 he succeeded Manolo Cadenas at Barcelona’s helm and led the at the 2011 World Championship and gold at the 2013 World team to the Champions League victory in 2011. Championship with Spain.
Juanin Garcia Siarhei Rutenka left wing left back The all-time record scorer of the Spanish In 2011 the Belarusian became the second ASOBAL league is still one of the most player to win five EHF Champions League talented wing players in Europe. He joined titles with three clubs after Jose Javier the Spanish powerhouse at the start of Hombrados (with Santander, San Antonio, the 2005/06 season and was part of the Ciudad Real) completed this feat as the first Barcelona squad that won the EHF Champions one. After lifting the trophy in 2004 with League in 2011. He also won gold with the Celje, Rutenka won three titles with Ciudad Spanish national team at the 2005 World Real, followed by the victory with Barcelona. Championship. His speed on the counterattack, his athletic game and No matter what competition, Rutenka is among the top scorers, e.g. his ability to shoot in so many different ways are both fundamental at the 2006 EHF EURO and in 2003/04 and the 2004/05 Champions aspects of Juanin Garcia’s style. League season.
Nikola Karabatić Jesper Nøddesbo centre back / left back line player The former World Handball player of the Year Noddesbo started his career at Team Tvis has been one of Barcelona transfer coups Holstebro – long before the Danish club this summer, with Kiril Lazarov being another made it as far as the EHF Cup semi-final in the one. Karabatic has already won everything 2012/13 season. His career started spiralling there is to win, as he has triumphed at upwards when he joined KIF Kolding in 2004. Olympic Games, World Championships and Since then, he has been among Europe’s elite EHF European Championships with the French year after year – with Kolding from 2004 national team. The left back is one of the to 2007, and ever since with FC Barcelona, most complete handball players with strengths in attack and defence. whom he joined in the summer of 2007. He is an imposing presence He has also won the EHF Champions League twice – in 2003 with on the court and is not afraid of anything when it comes to stopping Montpellier and 2007 with THW Kiel. opposing attackers.
Kiril Lazarov Victor Tomas right back right wing The powerful back court shooter from FYR Following the victories in 2005 and 2011, the Macedonia is the most successful scorer at a Barcelona-born Tomas will be hoping to lift single EHF EURO event (2012 Serbia, 61 goals) his third EHF Champions League trophy at and also at World Championship level (2009 the FINAL4 in Cologne. He joined Barcelona’s Croatia, 92 goals). He was also top scorer of youth team in 1998 and has not played for the EHF Champions League twice (2005/06 any other club. In fact he is that loyal to and 2007/08) – but still this title is missing in Barça, he has always stated that if he were his trophy cabinet. In the 2012/13 ASOBAL to leave the Catalan club he would only season he converted 62 per cent of his shots, being particularly play outside of Spain. He biggest assets are his great pace and his effective from the penalty line (76 per cent) and with counter impressive flexibility that make him a strong player in attack but also (86 per cent). in defence.
72 PSG Handball (FRA)
The new look PSG Handball are set for their first appearance in the VELUX EHF Champions and are aiming to go all the way to Cologne in their first attempt. The club, which was given a massive boost in early 2012 by Qatari investors QSI (Qatar Sport Investment), signed a number of big names in the summer of 2012 – and became French champions for the first time in the club’s history.
The current squad contains both the reigning World Handball Player of the Year Daniel Narcisse, who signed this summer, and his predecessor Mikkel Hansen, who transferred to Paris in 2012. Alongside Narcisse, PSG signed top stars like the Croats Igor Vori and Jakov Gojun and Hungarian playmaker Gábor Császár.
Manager Bruno Martini, a former French international goalkeeper, is optimistic that the newly built team of coach Philippe Gardent have the opportunity to finish on top.
“We will tackle this competition with the goal of doing our best, even though we lack the experience of other teams like Barcelona. In this rather challenging group, the Catalans are the obvious favorites. Last season our club had two encounters with them, but in football. So it will be an honour to meet them this time on the handball court.”
Daniel Narcisse, who arrived from Kiel and won Europe’s premier club competition twice with the German side, is excited about the new challenge in Paris. “This year it will be the first time Playing hall that we will participate in the Champions League. We will try to reach the FINAL4 and if we Stade Pierre de Coubertin have the chance to be there in the first year, we will play our best,” he said. 82, Avenue Georges Lafond 75016 Paris France Capacity: 4,012
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements PSG Handball EHF Champions League season: 82 avenue Georges Lafont French champions VELUX EHF Champions League 75016 Paris Participations (including 2013/14 France season): 2 Newcomers (including former club): Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Media contact: Daniel Narcisse (THW Kiel) Joachim Azouze Jakov Gojun (Atlético Madrid) Other +33 (0)7 85 57 04 55 Fahrudin Melić (RK Gorenje Velenje) EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last [email protected] Igor Vori (HSV Hamburg) 16 2003/04 Gábor Császár (MKB Veszprém KC) Online information: French league: 1 title (2012/13) Website: www.psghand.fr Left the club (including new club): French Cup winner: once Facebook: PSGHand Didier Dinart (retired) Twitter: @PSG_HANDBALL Said Ouksir Samuel Clementia (Nanterre) Rok Praznik Mathias Ortega (Angers) Kit colours Nicolas Claire (Nantes) Light Rudy Nivore Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey
73 PSG Handball (FRA)
Biggest win 32:23 (15:11) v Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.2005 Biggest defeat 44:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.2005 Longest winning run 2 matches (01.10.2005 – 09.10.2005) 2 matches (06.11.2005 – 13.11.2005) Longest unbeaten run 3 matches (23.10.2005 – 13.11.2005) Longest losing run 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Longest run without win 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997)
Most goals 33 v SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 33:31W (h), 13.11.2005 Most goals opponent 44 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Most goals both teams 72 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Fewest goals 20 v Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.1997 20 v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.1997 Fewest goals opponent 18 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams 39 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 1 0 5 131: 161 - 30 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 4 1 3 212: 229 - 17 9 1/8-finals Total 14 5 1 8 343: 390 - 47 11
74 PSG Handball (FRA) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
18 Luc Abalo FRA Right Wing 6 Sep 1984 80 182 1 Patrice Annonay FRA Goalkeeper 17 May 1979 92 192 Ludwig Appolinaire FRA Right Back 27 May 1994 77 Mladen Bojinovic SRB Centre Back 17 Jan 1977 101 202 7 Gabor Csaszar HUN Centre Back 16 Jun 1984 98 188 8 Ibrahim Diaw FRA Left Back 28 Nov 1979 Kevin Durosier FRA Left Back 14 May 1994 Dylan Garain FRA Left Back 22 Aug 1996 9 Antonio Garcia Robledo ESP Left Back 6 Mar 1984 95 191 25 Jakov Gojun CRO Left Back 18 Apr 1986 112 203 10 Robert Gunnarsson ISL Line Player 22 May 1980 100 191 4 Asgeir Örn Hallgrimsson ISL Right Back 17 Feb 1984 99 193 24 Mikkel Hansen DEN Left Back 22 Oct 1987 96 196 34 Samuel Honrubia FRA Left Wing 5 Jul 1986 75 180 Bryan Jabea Njo FRA Goalkeeper 28 Jun 1992 Jordy Jacoby FRA Left Wing 8 Feb 1995 35 Marko Kopljar CRO Right Back 12 Feb 1986 108 210 90 Jeffrey M’tima FRA Left Wing 16 Jul 1991 80 188 Steve Marie Joseph FRA Left Wing 3 Jan 1994 4 Fahrudin Melic MNE Right Wing 22 Jul 1984 90 183 15 Zacharia N’diaye FRA Left Back 2 Jun 1984 90 194 25 Daniel Narcisse FRA Centre Back 16 Dec 1979 92 189 Jordan Nonone FRA Left Back 15 Nov 1993 Axel Rosier FRA Centre Back 20 Feb 1994 Julio Rupaire FRA Line Player 1 Mar 1995 1 Jose Manuel Sierra Mendez ESP Goalkeeper 21 May 1978 88 193 Boubou Toure FRA Centre Back 29 Jan 1994 9 Igor Vori CRO Line Player 20 Sep 1980 114 203
75 Philippe Gardent José Manuel Sierra Méndez coach goalkeeper After coaching Chambéry Savoie for 16 years Born in 1978, Sierra is a top Spanish (head coach and before assistant coach) he goalkeeper with fantastic positioning in the joined PSG in 2012 with a mission to build-up goal and great reflexes. Started playing in his a team capable of reaching the top of Europe. local city of Moguer, as it was the sport all his And right in his first season, the former pivot friends practised. Soon FC Barcelona took him of the French national team (Olympic bronze in and from there onwards he’s collected but medallist) took the French title with PSG. He titles: 1 in the EHF Cup, 5 ASOBAL leagues, played for several clubs in Paris winning two 1 French league, 5 Spanish cups, and many champion and two cup winner titles. He had 298 caps in 13 years with other minor titles. Also he won the gold medal at the WCh held in France and became world champion in 1995. As Chambéry coach he Spain last January. He has already played 90 games with the Spanish won the league in 2001 and cup in 2002. national team.
Samuel Honrubia Mikkel Hansen left wing left back After having played in Montpellier for more The 25-year-old was awarded World Handball than a decade, Samuel Honrubia joined PSG Player in 2011, the year he reached the VELUX at the start of the 2012/13 season. Once EHF FINAL4 with AG Kobenhavn. He is the he had arrived at the French capital he son of former Danish international Flemming immediately showed what he is capable of Hansen. Having grown into a top class player and why is he is regarded as one of the best at Danish side GOG, he played for Barcelona left wings in Europe. He is very efficient when for two seasons before joining AG Kobenhavn it comes to scoring from fast breaks and in 2011. He then joined PSG Handball at he also has the capacity to make a difference, due to his fast-pace the start of the 2012/13 season and after Paris claimed the national changing of directions, when it comes to one-on-one situations on championship, Hansen and his teammates are now ready to conquer limited space. the EHF Champions League.
Daniel Narcisse Igor Vori centre back line player Daniel Narcisse might well go down in history At 2,03 metres, the tall Croatian line player as one of the most decorated French handball is a pillar in any team’s defence. He has won players. Being voted 2012 World Handball nearly every title the sport (including Olympic Player of the Year seems very to be the right gold in 2004 and the first place at the 2003 award for a player who has won two Olympic World Championship) has on offer, adding the golds, two World Championship titles and VELUX EHF Champions League trophy to his two EHF EURO titles in the past decade. His impressive tally at the end of the past season, incredible speed and jumping abilities are when he won the competition’s final with well to known to any of his opponents. Before joining Paris he played HSV Hamburg against FC Barcelona. The move from the eventual EHF for THW Kiel with whom he won the EHF Champions League in 2010 Champions League winners to the French capital had already been as well as in 2012. confirmed in January.
Asgeir Örn Hallgrimsson Luc Abalo right back right wing After having reached the group phase of the The spectacular right wing returned to France EHF Champions League with his Icelandic the past season from Spanish side Atletico club Haukar Hafnafjördur in the 2004/05 Madrid and immediately showed how much season, the Icelandic international with the progress he made. During his four seasons hard and versatile left-hand shots transferred in Spain, he learned to channel his energy to German Bundesliga side TBV Lemgo. Two and reached the final of the EHF Champions seasons later he joined Danish side GOG League in 2011 and 2012. With the French Svendborg for three seasons and now plays national team he won gold at the 2008 and for the team from the French capital. With Iceland’s national team he 2012 Olympic Games and the EHF EURO in 2006 and 2010. With his won silver at the 2008 Olympic Games and bronze at the 2010 EHF high jumps and all the tricks a winger must have in his bag, he is one EURO in Austria. of the best on his position
76 HC Vardar PRO - Skopje (MKD)
After a four year absence HC Vardar are back – and the new Macedonian champions have renewed everything since then. Eight new players arrived, a new coach was installed, they have a new president and a new sports director and they they will even enter a new arena.
One of the main keys for all of those renewals is Russian Sergei Samsonenko, who is the main sponsor and the new sports director of Vardar. The new president is Gordana Naceva, who succeeded Mihajlo Mihajlovski, now appointed as honorary president of the club. The new club manager is Marko Savovski and the new coach is Zoran Kastratović, who is also coaching the Montenegrin men’s national team and whose wife Irina is coaching the rising Vardar women’s team.
Vardar broke the dominance of their local rivals Metalurg in the Macedonian league by winning the decisive last match. But as Metalurg made it to the group phase as winner of the wild card qualification matches against Pick Szeged (Hungary), the arch rivals will face in the same group – together with Barcelona, Paris, Thun and Minsk.
The matches against FC Barcelona will be very special for team captain Filip Lazarov, who will face his brother Kiril and he hopes to finish the group below the two main contenders.
“I consider FC Barcelona as the main favourites for finishing on top of our group, while Paris are the contenders for the runners-up position. The remaining four teams are expected to Playing hall compete on an equal level for the remaining two places to the next stage. The Last 16 is our Boris Trajkovski goal for this season,” said Lazarov. bul. 8 Septemvri bb Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HC Vardar - Skopje EHF Champions League season: Marko Savovski Macedonian champions VELUX EHF Champions League BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 Participations (including 2013/14 FYR Macedonia season): 8 Newcomers (including former club): Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Media contact: Timur Dibirov (Chekhovskie Medvedi) Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, Marko Savovski Mikhail Chipurin (Chekhovskie Medvedi) 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 +389 75 200 008 Alexei Rastvortsev (Chekhovskie Medvedi) [email protected] Alem Toskić (Celje Pivovarna Laško) Other Stefan Terzić (HSV Hamburg) Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, Online information: Matjaž Brumen (Cimos Koper) 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals Website: www.rkvardar.com.mk Alex Dujshebaev (BM Atlético Madrid) 2006/07 Facebook: rkvardar Mitko Stoilov (HC Metalurg) SEHA league: 1 title (2012) Twitter: @RK_Vardar Iñaki Malumbres (Reale Ademar León) Macedonian league: 8 titles (1999, Petar Angelov 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013) Left the club (including new club): Macedonian Cup winner: 8 times Kit colours Vuk Lazović Light Nikola Markoski (HC Metalurg) Player shirt: red/white Goce Ojleski (HC Metalurg) Player short: red/white Milorad Kukoski (HC Zomimak-M) Goalkeeper shirt: red/black/yellow Dark Player shirt: black/Red Player short: red/white Goalkeeper shirt: black/grey
77 HC Vardar PRO - Skopje (MKD)
Biggest win 24:31 (18:15) v GC Amicitia Zürich SUI (a), 27.02.2010 Biggest defeat 41:19 (19:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.2003 Longest winning run 1 match (15.12.2001) 1 match (01.12.2002) 1 match (15.12.2002) 1 match (23.10.2004) 1 match (29.09.2007) 1 match (24.11.2007) 1 match (27.02.2010) Longest unbeaten run 3 matches (13.11.2004 – 07.10.2007) Longest losing run 7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004) Longest run without win 8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004) 8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) Most goals 33 v Haukar Hafnarfjördur ISL 34:33L (a), 09.11.2003 Most goals opponent 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.2003 Most goals both teams 67 v Haukar Hafnarfjördur ISL 34:33L (a), 09.11.2003 Fewest goals 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals opponent 22 v HCM Constanta ROU 22:22D (h), 13.11.2004 22 v GC Amicitia Zürich SUI 22:22D (h), 07.11.2009 Fewest goals both teams 38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 1 4 152: 175 - 23 3 4th Gr. D 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 2 0 4 152: 181 - 29 4 4th Gr. D 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 157: 210 - 53 0 4th Gr. B 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 2 3 124: 153 - 29 4 3rd Gr. A 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 6 2 1 3 161: 180 - 19 5 4th Gr. C 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 10 1 1 8 253: 316 - 63 3 5th Gr. D Total 40 7 5 28 999:1215 -216 19
78 HC Vardar PRO - Skopje (MKD) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
20 Ilija Abutovic SRB Left Back 2 Aug 1988 99 202 77 Matjaz Brumen SLO Right Wing 23 Dec 1982 90 190 32 Gradimir Chanevski MKD Goalkeeper 4 Mar 1988 88 199 80 Mikhail Chipurin RUS Line Player 17 Nov 1980 105 190 16 Zlatko Daskalovski MKD Goalkeeper 8 Dec 1984 93 195 31 Timur Dibirov RUS Left Wing 30 Jul 1983 74 180 9 Milos Dragas SRB Left Back 11 Jun 1990 93 200 14 Vlatko Jovchevski MKD Right Wing 20 Sep 1986 80 180 18 Igor Karacic CRO Centre Back 2 Nov 1988 91 191 23 Filip Lazarov MKD Left Back 21 Apr 1985 100 199 15 Dobrivoje Markovic SRB Left Wing 22 Apr 1986 81 188 12 Strahinja Milic SRB Goalkeeper 20 Dec 1990 132 200 7 Vlado Nedanovski MKD Left Wing 23 Jun 1985 90 187 13 Vladimir Petric SRB Right Back 5 Aug 1975 98 189 8 Nemanja Pribak SRB Centre Back 26 Mar 1984 100 190 11 Luka Rakovic CRO Right Wing 6 Jun 1988 86 179 25 Alexey Rastvortsev RUS Left Back 8 Aug 1978 118 200 19 Mitko Stoilov MKD Back 4 Feb 1983 107 195 5 Stojanche Stoilov MKD Line Player 30 Apr 1987 110 191 24 Stefan Terzic SRB Right Back 17 May 1994 93 195 10 Alem Toskic SRB Line Player 12 Feb 1982 104 190
79 Zoran Kastratović Strahinja Milic coach goalkeeper It is a family affair at Vardar Skopje since The 22-year-old Serbian is regarded as one this season: As Irina Kastratović, the most the biggest talents in Serbian handball. Being famous Macedonian player ever, took over two metres tall and weighing more than 130 Vardar women already in the previous season kg, some might tongue-in-cheek say that he (crowned with a league title) her husband resembles a ‘small fortress’. However, his followed one year later. As former coach range and his reflexes are impeccable. At the Veselin Vujović was suspended for one year, end of the past season he was voted Most Vardar signed Kastratović who has two jobs Valuable Player at the SEHA League Final currently: Vardar and the Montenegrin national team, with whom he Four Tournament. This is his second VELUX EHF Champions League qualified for the 2013 WCh after eliminating Sweden and also for the appearance after he had reached the group phase with Partizan in the 2014 EHF EURO after beating (and ousting) Germany. 2011/2012 season.
Timur Dibirov Alexey Rastvortsev left wing left back Vardar Skopje is just the second club in Together with his fellow countrymen Timur the career of Dibirov who only played for Dibirov, Alexey Rastvortsev joined Vardar at Chekhovskie Medvedi before with whom he the start of the season. For 13 years he had reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010. At been playing for Russian side Chekhovski the 2013 World Championship the Russian Medvedi, winning the Russian national international was voted best left wing of the championship ten times, playing the EHF tournament and it can be expected that the Champions League Group equally as often Vardar fast breaks will be more threatening and reaching the 2010 FINAL4. He is regarded and the team’s defence will more aggressive with Dibirov on the as a challenging opponent whose most threatening weapon is his court. In 2006 Dibirov won the EHF Cup with Chekhov, beating CMB powerful shot. At the Athens 2004 Olympic Games he won bronze Valladolid in the final. with the Russian national team.
Igor Karačić Stojance Stoilov centre back line player The 24-year-old Croatian was voted into the Stojance Stoilov is not only Vardar’s first SEHA League All-star team at the end of the choice line player, but occupies the same 2012/13 season. He is regarded as a fast and position in the Macedonian national team. tough player who is brilliant when it comes He joined Vardar three seasons ago from city to ‘one-on-one’ situations. With his former rivals Metalurg – a step that saw his career club, HC Bosna BH Gas from Sarajevo, he spiralling upwards. The spotlight was on him reached the last 16 in the 2010/11 VELUX EHF at the EHF EURO 2012 when FYR Macedonia Champions League season, scoring 62 goals finished 5th and Stoilov played a brilliant on the way. Born in Mostar in 1988, he plays for the Croatian national tournament. In May 2013 he was selected for the All-star team of team, while his brother Ivan Karacic plays for Bosnia- Herzegovina. SEHA League Final-Four tournament at which Vardar finished second.
Alex Dujshebaev Matjaz Brumen right back right wing The son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar The 30-year-old Slovenian is the only Vardar at the beginning of the season. Playing for player with a European Cup title under his Spain at the Junior World Championship this belt. He won the EHF Champions League summer, Dujshebaev was one of the best with Celje in 2004 and the Challenge Cup players, helped his team to win silver and was with Koper in 2011. He has been playing for selected for the All-star team as best right Slovenian clubs Prule 67, Celje and Koper, back. He had achieved the same honours at but this is the first time he plays outside of the 2012 Men’s 20 EHF EURO at which Spain his home country. He played for Slovenia topped the podium. In the two previous seasons during which he at several major tournaments and was part of the team which only played for BM Aragon Dujshebaev became the Spanish ASOBAL’s top narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth at the 2013 World scorer on both occasions. Championship in Spain.
80 Wacker Thun (SUI)
The German word ‘wacker’ means ‘brave’, and the newly crowned Swiss champions Wacker Thun are aiming to show brave performances in their very first season of the VELUX EHF Champions League, though they know, that they are ‘absolute beginners’.
After beating Kadetten Schaffhausen in the final series of the Swiss league, the gate was open to the big stage for the squad of coach Martin Rubin, who is part of the club since 1990 (since 2007 as coach).
The only foreigners are experienced Greek Georgios Chalkidis, Croat Borna Franić and Serb Nikola Isailović – the rest of the team is Swiss born.
In 2011/12 season Wacker Thun were close to take their second international trophy after winning the Challenge Cup in 2005, but they failed against Greek side Diomidis Argous in the Challeng Cup Final. But on domestic ground the time had come for Thun to finish the best season of their club history as Swiss double winners in cup and league.
In their first appearance in the VELUX EHF Champions League Thun face big guns like both clubs from Skopje, Minsk and as the icing of the cake FC Barcelona and the uprising stars of Paris Handball in their group.
So the international aim of the Swiss club is quite realistic, named as “grab every opportunity Playing hall to grab some points”. The squad nearly remained the same, as Wacker is the only of all 24 Sporthalle Wankdorf teams without a single player, who left after the last season. Papiermühlestr.91 3014 Bern Team captain Roman Caspar is full of hope: “We’re very excited to play the Champions League Switzerland for the first time in the history of the club. It’s our goal to establish that it’s a hard time when Capacity: 2,516 playing against Wacker Thun.”
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Wacker Thun EHF Champions League season: Geschäftsstelle Swiss champions VELUX EHF Champions League 3600 Thun Participations (including 2013/14 Switzerland season): 1 Newcomers (including former club): Media contact: Stefan Huwyler (TV Endingen, NLB) Other Benedikt Anderes Remy Bhend (Juniors) Cup Winners’ Cup: Last 16 2006/07 +41 79 417 87 23 EHF Cup: Last 16 2005/06 [email protected] Left the club (including new club): Challenge Cup: Winners 2004/05, Runners-up 2011/12 Online information: City Cup: Quarter-finals 1998/99 Website: www.wackerthun.ch Facebook: wackerthun Swiss champions: 1 title (2013) Twitter: @wackerthun Swiss Cup winners: four times
Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: green Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black
81 Wacker Thun (SUI) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
15 Remy Bhend SUI Centre Back 29 Aug 1992 86 178 11 Roman Caspar SUI Centre Back 16 Apr 1986 95 187 17 Georgios Chalkidis GRE Line Player 13 May 1977 110 196 6 Jonas Dähler SUI Right Wing 22 Jun 1989 83 193 20 Nick Eggenberger SUI Goalkeeper 27 Mar 1994 86 188 8 Borna Franic CRO Left Back 3 May 1975 98 193 13 Reto Friedli SUI Line Player 20 Oct 1988 95 188 21 Markus Hüsser SUI Right Wing 22 Jan 1986 86 185 19 Stefan Huwyler SUI Left Back 24 Feb 1993 98 195 7 Nikola Isailovic SRB Right Back 13 May 1986 98 196 10 Thomas Matthias Lanz SUI Left Wing 18 Sep 1994 76 184 3 Luca Linder SUI Left Wing 23 Nov 1988 78 178 1 Andreas Merz SUI Goalkeeper 24 Nov 1985 82 188 18 Thomas Rathgeb SUI Centre Back 17 Nov 1989 86 192 23 Fabian Studer SUI Right Back 12 Jul 1990 95 195 14 Lukas Von Deschwanden SUI Left Back 5 Jun 1989 89 189 16 Marc Winkler SUI Goalkeeper 2 Jan 1988 85 185
82 Martin Rubin Andreas Merz coach goalkeeper Nearly a decade he was the most successful The best Swiss goalkeeper of the 2012/13 player of the Swiss league, scoring 2172 goals season, who was one of the key factors for in 446 matches, now he is “only” number the Swiss team’s victories in the national three. 1,98 metre tall leftie, who played on championship as well as the national cup, the right back position, was Swiss national now wants to prove his strength in the VELUX team player for many years and played in the EHF Champions League. Andreas Merz joined German Bundesliga for Bayer Dormagen. His Wacker Thun in 2003, arriving from TV Suhr. biggest successes as a player were the fourth Only two years later Thun succeeded in the rank at the 1993 WCh and qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics in Challenge Cup, beating ABC Braga with an aggregate score of 55:53. Merz 1984. In 2007 he became coach of Wacker – and just finished his most also has 40 international appearances for Switzerland under his belt. successful season as a coach, winning the Swiss double.
Lukas von Deschwanden Borna Franić left wing left back Like goalkeeper Andreas Merz, Lukas von The 38-year Croatian is one of the most Deschwanden did not only win two titles experienced players in the Wacker Thun squad with Thun the past season, but received as he played 23 internationals for his home and additional honours by being awarded country. He arrived at Thun in 2010, having the Swiss League’s MVP. The 24-years-old previously played for Moslavina Kutina and left back is still waiting for his debut with Rijeka in Croatia, Valnacia in Spain as well for the Swiss national team, but courtesy of his Swiss clubs Zofingen and Endingen. He is nearly goals and consistent performances it can be two metres tall and feared by his opponents expected that the wait will not be too long. He has been playing for for his powerful game. With 51 goals he was Wacker Thun’s second Wacker Thun since 2008, arriving from HC Kriens-Luzern. best scorer when they reached the Challenge Cup Final in 2011.
Roman Caspar Georgios Chalkidis centre back line player The playmaker and centre back already plays He is the only Olympian in the Wacker Thun in his eighth season for Wacker Thun, wearing squad. The line player was part of the Greek the Swiss team’s jersey since 2006. Roman team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Casper is the mastermind in the Wacker Thun at which his team finished sixth. Chalkidis attack, always being full of inspiring ideas is the Greek record international with 220 how to score. He started playing handball at international matches. He is a three-time Lyss and has been summoned for the Swiss Greek champion and four-time cup winner national team on two occasions. He was part with Panellios Athens and was awarded four of all Swiss younger age category national teams and has won two times the Greek league’s best line player. He played for Melsungen Swiss cup titles and one national championship in his career to date. and Wetzlar in Germany and is part of Thun since the 2012/13 season.
Nikola Isailović Markus Hüsser right back right wing 27-year-old Nikola Isailovic started his career Like many of his teammates, Markus Hüsser at one of the biggest names of European club started playing handball at TV Suhr. He then handball: Metaloplastika Sabac, the club that transferred to Swiss sides Amicitia Zürich dominated Yugoslav handball in the 1980 and and TV Zofingen before joining Wacker Thun also won the Champions Cup, predecessor of in 2012. In his first season with the club the EHF Champions League, on two occasions. he straight away won the ‘Swiss double’, Following a journey through Europe which pocketing the national championship victory saw him play for Italian as well as French as well as the national cup. This is his first clubs he joined Wacker Thun for the 2011/12 season. Due to his appearance in the VELUX EHF Champions League. The left-handed height and his powerful shots he is a danger for any team’s defence. player has 38 appearances for the Swiss national team under his belt.
83 HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
It is a full team transition Belarusian champions Dinamo Minsk are going through before the new season. Nine players and coach Sergiy Bebeshko left, eight new players and coach Boris Denič arrived. And Denič, who remains parallel Slovenian national team coach, brought a huge variety of nations to Minsk – Slovenians, Russians, Croats, Spaniards and Bosnians.
And the newly built team mastered their first task, to proceed from qualification to the Group Phase. The team of Boris Denič first beat AEK Athens in the semi-final of qualification tournament 2 and then left host Tatran Prešov behind in the final to be part of the Group Phase for the third time.
They want to prove that their newly created logo has also an international significance. After becoming Belarusian champions for the fifth straight time at their fifth club anniversary Dinamo added five stars to their club logo.
And also the newcomers are “five stars” like former Croatian Füchse wing Ivan Ninčević, Spanish former Champions League winner Mikel Aguirrezabalaga, Russian international Sergej Shelmenko or Slovenian international Dean Bombac.
Regarding those new faces the goals are highly set by reaching all domestic titles and arriving among the best 16 teams of the VELUX EHF Champions League again.
Playing hall Team captain Dzmitry Nikulenkau hopes that history will repeat itself: “Last season Dinamo Palace of Sport appeared in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time, and now we would Pobeditelev ave. 4 like to repeat this achievement, and maybe go further. Barcelona and Paris are outstanding Minsk contenders in our group, aside we will have to fight with two strong Macedonian clubs.” Belarus Capacity: 3,400
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HC Dinamo Minsk EHF Champions League season: Daumana str. 23-59 winner of qualification tournament 2, VELUX EHF Champions League 220002 Minsk Belarusian champions Participations (including 2013/14 Belarus season): 5 Last 16 (1): 2012/13 Media contact: Newcomers (including former club): Group Phase (1): 2010/11 Maxim Koshkalda Ivan Ninčević (Füchse Berlin) Qualification (2): 2009/10, 2011/12 +375 296 477910 Uroš Bundalo (RK Cimos Koper) [email protected] Mikel Aguirrezabalaga (FC Barcelona) Other Eldar Nasyrov (St.Petersburg HC) EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12 Online information: Damir Doborac (RK Gradačac) Belarusian league: 5 titles (2009, 2010, Website: www.dinamohandball.by Sergei Shelmenko (Chekhovskie Medvedi) 2011, 2012, 2013) Twitter: @dinamohandball David Miklavčić (Gorenje Velenje) Belarusian Cup winner: twice Dean Bombac (RK Cimos Koper) Baltic League Champion: 1 title (2009) Mikita Vailupau
Left the club (including new club): Kit colours Rade Mijatović Light Oleg Skopintsev (HC Motor Zaporozhye) Player shirt: white Andrei Khapal (HC Viktoria Regia Minsk) Player short: white Ratko Nikolić Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Olexandr Shevelev (HC Motor Zaporozhye) Dark Vladislav Ostroushko (HC Motor Zaporozhye) Player shirt: blue Sergiy Onufriyenko (HC Motor Zaporozhye) Player short: blue Vasko Ševaljević (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf) Goalkeeper shirt: green Pavel Atman (HC Metalurg)
84 HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Biggest win 31:24 (16:15) v Füchse Berlin GER (h), 02.12.2012 Biggest defeat 27:34 (18:18) v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS (h), 07.10.2010 Longest winning run 5 matches (18.10.2012 – 09.02.2013) Longest unbeaten run 5 matches (18.10.2012 – 09.02.2013) Longest losing run 4 matches (07.10.2004 – 04.12.2010) 4 matches (16.02.2013 - 23.03.2013) Longest run without win 4 matches (07.10.2004 – 04.12.2010) 4 matches (03.03.2011 – 13.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 - 23.03.2013) Most goals 35 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 30:35W (a), 09.02.2011 Most goals opponent 37 v Pick Szeged HUN 37:34L (a), 04.12.2010 Most goals both teams 71 v Pick Szeged HUN 37:34L (a), 04.12.2010 Fewest goals 21 v Pick Szeged HUN 26:21L (a), 16.02.2013 Fewest goals opponent 23 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 33:23W (h), 15.11.2012 23 v HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 23:25W (a), 09.02.2013 Fewest goals both teams 46 v HC Metalurg MKD 24:22L (a), 23.03.2013
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2010/11 HC DINAMO-Minsk BLR 10 3 2 5 307: 316 - 9 8 5th Gr. C 2012/13 HC Dinamo Minsk BLR 12 5 1 6 321: 309 + 12 11 1/8-finals Total 22 8 3 11 628: 625 + 3 19
85 HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
21 Mikel Aguirrezabalaga Garcia ESP Left Back 8 Apr 1984 89 194 6 Maxim Babichev BLR Line Player 7 Mar 1986 97 196 12 Vadim Bogdanov RUS Goalkeeper 26 Mar 1986 98 196 9 Dean Bombac SLO Centre Back 4 Apr 1989 92 188 80 Ivan Brouka BLR Left Wing 20 Apr 1980 78 182 33 Uros Bundalo SLO Line Player 29 Apr 1989 108 198 20 Damir Doborac BIH Centre Back 5 Oct 1980 90 186 14 Dmytro Doroshchuk UKR Line Player 29 Sep 1986 115 198 32 Hleb Harbuz BLR Centre Back 17 Mar 1994 82 191 16 Aliaksandr Markelau BLR Goalkeeper 5 Apr 1994 87 193 18 David Miklavcic SLO Right Back 29 Jan 1983 98 195 39 Stanislav Nakhaenko BLR Line Player 20 Apr 1993 113 209 2 Eldar Nasyrov RUS Left Back 14 Jul 1986 92 188 17 Dzmitry Nikulenkau BLR Centre Back 12 Jul 1984 87 187 27 Ivan Nincevic CRO Left Wing 27 Oct 1981 82 185 1 Dimitrije Pejanovic SRB Goalkeeper 9 Jul 1974 97 200 3 Dzianis Rutenka BLR Right Wing 14 Feb 1986 85 187 11 Sergiy Shelmenko RUS Right Back 5 Apr 1983 98 195 22 Mykola Stetsyura UKR Right Wing 20 Jul 1986 96 195
86 Boris Denič Vadim Bogdanov coach goalkeeper Former goalkeeper started a highly successful The Russian goalkeeper started his second project in December 2010. To lead the very season in Minsk quite well. Courtesy of his young but highly talented Slovenian men’s brilliant saves, he became one of the Dinamo national team back to the top, where they heroes during the EHF Champions League were in 2004 as European runners-up. At Qualification Tournament in Presov. The the EHF EURO 2012 the harvest could start, 27-year-old moved to the Belarusian club when Slovenia finished sixth and surprised all at the start of the 2012/13 season from experts by their modern way of playing. But St.Petersburg HC, the club of his native city. the way to the top had not ended - at the 2013 WCh Slovenia managed Before that, he had also played for Chekhovskie Medvedi. Thanks to to reach the semi-final for the first time, only to finish fourth. Besides his visible progress in recent years, Bogdanov is regularly invited to his new job in Minsk, he carries on acting as Slovenia’s coach. the Russian national team.
Ivan Nincevic Mikel Aguirrezabalaga left wing left back The 31-year-old left wing was one of the The 29-year-old joined Dinamo Minsk this biggest signings of Dinamo Minsk ahead of summer with the experience of seven EHF this season. The Croatian with good scoring Champions League seasons under his belt. skills can boast rich international experience, With his previous club, FC Barcelona, he won having won three bronze and one silver medal the Spanish national championship as well with his national team at major international as the league cup event in 2012 as well as in tournaments — Olympic Games as well as 2013. Minsk is the first club outside of Spain European and World Championships. On the that Aguirrezabalaga plays for. The left back club handball level, Nincevic has spent the past three seasons in the was part of the Spanish squad at the 2012 London Olympic Games at German Bundesliga, where he was a prominent figure at capital side which Spain lost to France in the competition’s quarter-finals. Füchse Berlin.
Dzmitry Nikulenkau Uros Bundalo centre back line player The captain of both Dinamo Minsk and the The 24-year-old Slovenian line player is one of Belarus national team is a natural leader on the players that were asked to join Minsk by and off the court, a person who is respected new head coach Boris Denic. ‘Bunda’ moved to by everyone at the club. The centre back, who Dinamo Minsk from Cimos Koper together with played for Arkatron Minsk and Polish side Vive his fellow countryman Dean Bombac. Bundalo Targi Kielce in the past, is a pillar of the Minsk is a native from Ljubljana, the capital of defense. He is one of only three players who Slovenia. The 1,98-metre tall player has been have been with Dinamo since the foundation a regular with the Slovenian national team. of the club in 2008 — together with Maxim Babichev and Dzianis In particular, he played a key role in the squad that participated at the Rutenka. Dzmitry is a five-time Belarus champion with Dinamo Minsk. 2013 World Championship in Spain where Slovenia finished fourth.
Sergiy Shelmenko Dzianis Rutenka right back right wing The experienced 30-year-old right back is He has not won as many titles and awards a newcomer to Dinamo. For the past four as his older brother, the famous Barcelona seasons, Shelmenko was one of the leading left back Siarhei Rutenka. However, Dzianis players at Russian side Chekhovskie Medvedi. Rutenka, who is already a five-time Belarusian Shelmenko played for two different national champion with Dinamo, plays an important role teams during his career: first for his native in the team. And not only on the court – when Ukraine, and since 2011 for Russia, where he played in Slovenia, he learned the local he obtained a citizenship. His career also language and now helps Slovenian head coach includes a long spell at ZTR Zaporozhye and three years in Germany, Boris Denic to communicate with his teammates. Just like his brother, where Shelmenko played for Rhein-Neckar Löwen. the 27-year-old is a regular member of the Belarus national team.
87 HC Metalurg (MKD)
For the first time two clubs from one city have qualified for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League – and to make the dream of all Macedonian handball fans come true, both city rivals Vardar and Metalurg even face in the same group.
After Vardar took the championship in the final match against Metalurg, the team of coach Lino Červar needed to make their way through the qualification – but easily defeated Hungarian runners-up Pick Szeged in the wild card play-off.
Besides some young talented players from the Balkan region, Metalurg managed to transfer a famous shooter with Champions League experience: Russian Pavel Atman, arriving from Minsk.
A major key to success is the return of Dejan Manaskov, who was out with a long-lasting knee injury. With his six goals in the first leg against Szeged he already proved his significance for the team.
Červar, who also acts a manager, is looking forward to a tough group, as not only Vardar but the two powerhouses Barcelona and Paris, and additionally Minsk and Thun are their opponents in the Group Phase: “This season our group is much stronger than the year before with the two giants Barcelona and PSG and our local opponent Vardar as our competitors. I believe we can reach the third place in this strong group and to show again that HC Metalurg is rising year by year.”
Playing hall Team captain Naumče Mojsovski is also ready to rumble: “We have a good team, and Boris Trajkovski newcomer Pavel Atman made us stronger. I believe that we can reach the third place in this bul. 8 Septemvri bb group of death.” Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HC Metalurg EHF Champions League season: ul. Jane Lukroski 6 Winner of the wild card matches VELUX EHF Champions League 1000 Skopje against Pick Szeged (HUN), Macedonian Participations (including 2013/14 FYR Macedonia runners-up season): 6 Quarter-final (1): 2012/13 Media contact: Last 16 (1): 2011/12 Zoran Cvetanovski Newcomers (including former club): Group Matches (2): 2006/07, 2008/09 +389 78223505 Pavel Atman (Dinamo Minsk/BLR) Qualification (1): 2010/11 [email protected] Nikola Markovski Goce Ojleski (Vardar Skopje) Other Online information: Dejan Pecakovski (Strumica) 9 participations in other EC Website: http://www.rkmetalurg.mk/ Petar Topić (Kaštela/CRO) Macedonian league: 5 titles (2006, Facebook: rkmetalurgofficial Nikola Kedžo (Csurgói KK/HUN) 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) Twitter: @RKMetalurg Rade Mijatović Macedonian Cup winner: 5 times
Left the club (including new club): Miladin Kozlina (destination unknown) Kit colours Tihomir Doder (Hapoel/ISR) Light Mladen Rakčević (AEK Athens/GRE) Player shirt: white David Koražija (destination unknown) Player short: black Damir Batinović (Cesson-Rennes/FRA) Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/orange/white Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue
88 HC Metalurg (MKD)
Biggest win 32:18 (18:14) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (h), 24.02.2013 Biggest defeat 43:24 (23:12) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 19.10.2006 Longest winning run 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) Longest unbeaten run 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) Longest losing run 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) Longest run without win 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) Most goals 37 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 Most goals opponent 43 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 Most goals both teams 67 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 67 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 Fewest goals 15 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:15L (a), 28.04.2013 Fewest goals opponent 14 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 14:32W (a), 16.02.2013 Fewest goals both teams 37 v Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 19:18W (h), 18.03.2012
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 148: 206 - 58 0 4th Gr. D 2008/09 HC Metalurg MKD 6 2 0 4 157: 172 - 15 4 3rd Gr. C 2011/12 HC Metalurg MKD 12 6 2 4 294: 275 + 19 14 1/8-finals 2012/13 HC Metalurg MKD 14 9 0 5 361: 313 + 48 18 1/4-finals Total 38 17 2 19 960: 966 - 6 36
89 HC Metalurg (MKD) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
20 Petar Angelov MKD Goalkeeper 8 Mar 1977 103 192 19 Pavel Atman RUS Centre Back 25 May 1987 94 190 4 Vancho Dimovski MKD Line Player 4 Apr 1979 110 187 9 Goce Georgievski MKD Right Wing 12 Feb 1987 83 185 29 Ace Jonovski MKD Left Back 29 Dec 1980 104 200 13 Nikola Kedzo CRO Right Back 12 Aug 1988 109 204 8 Nikola Kosteski MKD Right Wing 22 Aug 1992 74 183 27 Bojan Madjovski MKD Left Wing 8 May 1994 80 184 5 Borjan Madjovski MKD Centre Back 8 May 1994 88 198 11 Dejan Manaskov MKD Left Wing 26 Aug 1992 78 181 10 Martin Manaskov MKD Left Back 7 Jun 1994 83 190 39 Igor Mandic BIH Left Back 16 Oct 1991 101 196 17 Nikola Markoski MKD Line Player 22 May 1990 110 195 14 Velko Markoski MKD Left Back 5 Apr 1986 100 194 13 Filip Mirkulovski MKD Centre Back 14 Sep 1983 91 189 16 Nikola Mitrevski MKD Goalkeeper 3 Oct 1985 84 188 15 Zlatko Mojsoski MKD Right Wing 15 Nov 1981 81 180 18 Naumce Mojsovski MKD Centre Back 17 Jun 1980 92 187 24 Marko Nelovski MKD Left Back 6 Jun 1996 92 199 3 Goce Ojleski MKD Left Wing 10 Oct 1989 75 180 6 Dejan Pecakovski MKD Left Back 12 Jan 1986 93 193 44 Zharko Peshevski MKD Line Player 11 Apr 1991 110 195 1 Darko Stanic SRB Goalkeeper 8 Oct 1978 102 191 28 Filip Talevski MKD Left Back 28 Mar 1996 83 198 25 Petar Topic CRO Line Player 30 Dec 1991 98 204 7 Renato Vugrinec SLO Right Back 9 Jun 1975 101 196 22 Serghei Zhedik RUS Left Back 24 Jun 1990 90 197
90 Lino Červar Darko Stanić coach goalkeeper He was the most successful coach of the Courtesy of his excellent skills Serbian Croatian men’s national team, becoming goalkeeper Darko Stanić, who joined Olympic gold medallist in 2004 and world Metalurg in 2011, is referred to as ‘Minister champion in 2003. Furthermore he collected of Defence’. Immediately he won the hearts several more medals like two WCh silver of the fans and coach Lino Červar. At the end medals in 2005 and 2009 and EHF EURO of the 2012/13 season Stanić was voted into silver 2008 and 2010. Parallel to his work the VELUX EHF Champions League All-star for the Croatian federation, he was coach of team, the same award he received at the end RK Zagreb for a long time. In 2009 he started coaching Metalurg – a of the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, where he won the silver medal with job he focuses on completely since resigning from the helm of the the hosts Serbia. While still playing for Koper he won the Challenge Croatian national team. Cup in 2011.
Dejan Manaskov Pavel Atman left wing left back The 21-year-old is the son of Macedonian The arrival of left-back Pavel Atman was handball legend Pepe Manaskov. He missed a massive transfer coup for Metalurg in half of the 2012/13 season, including summer 2013. Together with Naumce Metalurg’s Champions League quarter-finals Mojsovski and and Renato Vugrinec the against Kielce, due to a knee injury. However, 26-year-old Russian will build the Macedonian he has now fully recovered and is well on his team’s first back court line-up. Atman way to again reach his full potential. Before played for Russian side Kaustik Volgograd playing at the World Championship in Spain for and Belarusian team Dinamo Minsk before FYR Macedonia, Manaskov extend his contract with Metalurg until June and now signed a two-year contract with Metalurg. As a national 2016. And this season he will be joined by his younger brother Martin. team player for Russia he participated at the 2009 and 2013 World Championships as well as at the EHF EURO 2012.
Naumce Mojsovski Vancho Dimovski centre back line player The 33-year-old centre back has turned into Vancho Dimovski is one of the most a true team leader in recent years, and the experienced players, not only because success of Metalurg’s game depends on his of his age (34), but also because of his performance. He reached the quarter-finals experience of 10 EHF Champions League of the VELUX EHF Champions League with seasons. Apart from Metalurg he played Metalurg last season, becoming his team’s for Vardar and Slovenian side RK Gold Club top scorer with 77 goals. Since he joined Kozina and reached Europe’s premier club Metalurg in 2009 he has won three national competition with all three of them. He has championships. He reached the Challenge Cup final with Pelister won the Macedonian national championship 11 times and finished Bitola in 2002, but lost against Danish side Skjern. He was named the past eight seasons with winning at least one title. He was part of 2012 Macedonian Athlete of the Year. Macedonian team that finished 5th at the EHF EURO 2012.
Renato Vugrinec Goce Georgievski right back right wing Renato Vugrinec is the only Metalurg player Together with Dejan Manaskov, Goce who has won a European Cup title to date Georgievski is part of a new generation of as he was a Celje player when they won the young players who come from the Metalurg EHF Champions League in 2004. During the handball school. The 26-year-old played a ten seasons he played for the Slovenian side successful 2012/13 VELUX EHF Champions (interrupted by stints at SC Magdeburg and League season, scoring 38 goals overall. He Portland San Antonio) he won eight national only started playing handball at the age of 16, championships and five times the national cup, but quickly improved his skills and has been scoring 1,465 goals on the go. With the Slovenian national team he won part of Metalurg’s senior team from 2006 onwards. He was part of the silver at the 2004 EHF European Championship in his home country. Macedonian national team that finished 14th at the 2013 WCh in Spain.
91
Group D preview
Expert’s view Lars Christiansen
Lars Christiansen (41) played 338 international matches for Denmark which is a Danish record and he scored 1,503 goals for his country which is another record. European champions with Denmark in 2008 and 2011. He started his career at club level in the Vidar in his native town Sønderborg, where his uncle was inspector in the local hall. Moved on to Ribe HK, and in 1992 to KIF Kolding, with whom he became Danish champion twice. In 1996 he joined SG Flensburg-Handewitt, with whom he stayed for 14 years before moving back to Kolding in 2010. He ended his career in 2012 and is now working as a lecturer and as expert host by the Danish TV station DR TV.
I see Flensburg, Hamburg and Aalborg as three certain teams to proceed to the knockout rounds. I expect the two German teams to be the strongest teams in the group, and the battle for the first place between them will probably be tight. Flensburg are a bit stronger, though. Previously, I have predicted Flensburg to reach the FINAL4 this season, and I stick to that prophecy. Of course, I have a heart for Flensburg, but even when I put that heart away, I still see them as having a very strong team this season.
Furthermore, I expect them to have Lars Kaufmann back from injury before Christmas which will make things look really good for them, as the left back is the only position, where they may have some shortcomings. Their new Serbian player (Draško Nenadić) is obviously a man for the future, but he still needs some experience, so Kaufmann‘s return will be needed.
However, you also have to consider Hamburg, being reining Champions League winners and having been reinforced for this season.
I still see a certain distance between those two teams and Aalborg. There is still a distance between the top of the Bundesliga and the top of the Danish league, but Aalborg are doing really well, and their coaches (Nikolaj Jacobsen and Morten Bjerre) both have Bundesliga experience, so I will not rule out their chance of taking a home win against one of the German teams. However, the German teams are favourites in the group, and I would not be surprised to see both of them at the FINAL4.
I see Gorenje Velenje as the fourth team to advance from the group. I realise that they have undergone a lot of changes, but it is a club with a long tradition of playing in Europe, and that is an aspect you should never ignore. I expect they may have to fight with Naturhouse La Rioja for fourth position, though, as you should not underestimate the third ranked team in Spain last season. After all, there are still several pretty strong teams in Spain, and when you can finish third in that league, you definitely possess some potential.
Finally, I think that DROTT Halmstad are only there for their experience. They should be happy for every point they can get, and I do not expect them to get anywhere near qualification for the round of the last 16.
Maybe Gorenje Velenje and La Rioja can challenge Aalborg for the third place, so that those three teams get into a battle for the last two positions in the knockout rounds and I still see the German teams as pretty untouchable. So, if I should predict the final order of the teams in the group, it would be 1. Flensburg, 2. Hamburg, 3. Aalborg, 4. Velenje, 5. La Rioja and 6. Halmstad.
93 Group D head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC
Aalborg Handball vs RK Gorenje Velenje No previous encounters
Aalborg Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt No previous encounters
Aalborg Handball vs Naturhouse La Rioja No previous encounters
Aalborg Handball vs HK DROTT Halmstad No previous encounters
Aalborg Handball vs HSV Hamburg GER No previous encounters
RK Gorenje Velenje vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 08.02.1997 Gorenje Velenje SLO-SG Flensburg Handewitt GER EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 19:28 (12:15) 15.02.1997 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER-Gorenje Velenje SLO EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 29:17 (18:07) 17.03.2013 Gorenje Velenje SLO-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 25:28 (14:16) 23.03.2013 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-Gorenje Velenje SLO EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 27:25 (13:14)
RK Gorenje Velenje vs Naturhouse La Rioja No previous encounters
RK Gorenje Velenje vs HK DROTT Halmstad No previous encounters
RK Gorenje Velenje vs HSV Hamburg No previous encounters
SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Naturhouse La Rioja No previous encounters
SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HK DROTT Halmstad No previous encounters
SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HSV Hamburg 10.02.2008 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-HSV Hamburg GER EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 3 33:33 (17:13) 08.03.2008 HSV Hamburg GER-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 3 32:30 (20:14) 25.03.2009 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-HSV Hamburg GER EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 25:28 (12:14) 03.04.2009 HSV Hamburg GER-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 29:31 (13:15) 18.11.2012 HSV Hamburg GER-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – Group A 31:28 (13:15) 25.11.2012 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-HSV Hamburg GER EHF Champions League – Group A 29:26 (14:12) 21.04.2013 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-HSV Hamburg GER EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 26:32 (14:15) 28.04.2013 HSV Hamburg GER-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 23:25 (10:13)
Naturhouse La Rioja vs HK DROTT Halmstad No previous encounters
Naturhouse La Rioja vs HSV Hamburg No previous encounters
HK DROTT Halmstad vs HSV Hamburg No previous encounters
94 Aalborg Handball (DEN)
After overcoming the challenge of KIF Kolding in the finals of the Danish league, Aalborg Handball will get their second taste of handball at the highest level in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. Formerly known as AaB Handbold, the two time Danish champions competed at this level in the 2010/11 season.
It is the clear objective of the club and coach Nicolaj Jacobsen to proceed to the Last 16 in Group D, where they will face Flensburg, La Rioja, Velenje, Hamburg and Halmstad.
“We are really looking forward to playing in the Champions League again and we have great expectations.
“We are going to meet exciting teams, not at least two from Germany,” says manager Jan Larsen.
“It is a dream come true to play in this competition. We will have to play our very best to earn those victories needed to proceed to the knockout stage,” admits team captain Jacob Bagersted.
Two key players in Aalborg’s championship winning team have departed during the summer: goalkeeper Johan Sjöstrand, who moved to THW Kiel after arriving in Aalborg at the beginning of the previous season, and Norwegian back court player Kristian Kjelling, who will replace Playing hall Rasmus Lauge (also left to Kiel) at Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. Gigantium Arena Olimpiaparken 2 “We are going for the Last 16. The two German teams are the favourites in our group, but we will 9220 Aalborg Ost do the best we can to take the third or fourth place in our group,” said head coach Nikolaj Jacobsen. Denmark Capacity: 4,666
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Aalborg Håndbold A/S EHF Champions League season: Willy Brandts Vej 31 Danish Champion VELUX EHF Champions League DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Participations (including 2013/14 Denmark season): 2 Newcomers (including former club): Group Phase (1): 2010/11 Media contact: Stig Bugge (TNS Ringsted) Poul Madsbjerg Marcus Mörk (NORS-Thy Handbold) Other +4520804976 Nicolai Pedersen (Nordsjaelland Handbold) Danish league: 2010, 2013 [email protected] Richard Kappelin (Al-Gharafa, Qatar) Danish Cup winner: 2012 Super-Cup Buster Jüül (Skanderborg Handbold) winner Online information: Website: www.aalborghaandbold.dk Left the club (including new club): Facebook: aalborghaandbold Johan Sjöstrand (THW Kiel) Kristian Kjelling (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Jan Lennartsson (end of career) Rune Spliid (Ajax Kobenhavn)
Kit colours Light Player shirt: Lime Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Blue Dark Player shirt: Red Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Black
95 Aalborg Handball (DEN)
Biggest win 33:29 (11:16) v HC DINAMO-Minsk BLR (h), 17.10.2010 34:30 (17:19) v Pick Szeged HUN (h), 06.03.2011 Biggest defeat 39:29 (20:14) v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS (a), 23.09.2010 Longest winning run 1 match (17.10.2010) 1 match (06.03.2011) Longest unbeaten run 1 match (03.10.2010) 1 match (17.10.2010) 1 match (27.11.2010) 1 match (06.03.2011) Longest losing run 3 matches (05.12.2010 – 27.02.2011) Longest run without win 5 matches (21.11.2010 – 27.02.2011) Most goals 34 v Pick Szeged HUN 34:30W (h), 06.03.2011 Most goals opponent 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 Most goals both teams 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 68 v Cuatro Rayas BM Valladolid ESP (h) 32:36L (h), 21.11.2010 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 30:38L (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals 28 v Pick Szeged HUN 37:28L (a), 10.10.2010 Fewest goals opponent 29 v HC DINAMO-Minsk BLR 33:29W (h), 17.10.2010 Fewest goals both teams 60 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 30:30D (h), 03.10.2010
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2010/11 AaB Handball DEN 10 2 2 6 311: 339 - 28 6 6th Gr. C Total 10 2 2 6 311: 339 - 28 6
96 Aalborg Handball (DEN) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
15 Tobias Aren SWE Left Back 16 Mar 1989 93 189 14 Jacob Bagersted DEN Line Player 25 Mar 1987 109 196 26 Niclas Barud SWE Line Player 22 Mar 1988 105 196 1 Ole Erevik NOR Goalkeeper 9 Jan 1981 Casper Lindgaard Holmen DEN Left Back 16 Apr 1995 24 Johan Jakobsson SWE Right Back 12 Feb 1987 89 195 Christian Jensen DEN Right Wing 15 Nov 1995 Simon Jensen DEN Line Player 28 Sep 1994 Stig Bugge Jensen DEN Right Wing 9 Sep 1992 Buster Juul Lassen DEN Left Wing 31 Mar 1993 1 Richard Kappelin SWE Goalkeeper 30 Sep 1983 96 191 Jeppe Green Krejberg DEN Right Wing 19 Dec 1992 Marcus Daniel M. Kristiansen DEN Left Back 20 Oct 1987 22 Mads Mensah Larsen DEN Centre Back 12 Aug 1991 105 188 5 Martin Larsen DEN Right Back 19 Sep 1992 84 194 Nicolaj Lund Nielsen DEN Left Wing 23 Apr 1992 21 Rasmus Norgaard Haagensen DEN Right Back 18 Oct 1976 95 193 Nicolai Nygaard Pedersen DEN Left Back 15 Feb 1994 6 Morten Andreas Slundt DEN Centre Back 26 May 1984 88 187 Frederik Fuglsang Torp DEN Goalkeeper 9 May 1995 Havard Tvedten NOR Left Wing 29 Jun 1978
97 Nicolaj Jakobsen Ole Erevik coach goalkeeper Six times national champion and seven times Erevik started his career in his home town of cup winner in Denmark and Germany, CL Stavanger, and has played in Spain for Reale finalist and twice EHF Cup winner with THW Ademar Leon and Bidasoa Irun, in Germany Kiel were his biggest successes as a player. for SC Magdeburg before joining KIF Kolding The former left wing (Danish player of the in 2008. He moved in 2011 to Aalborg, where year 1993 and 1999) still holds the goal he won his second Danish league title. The record in an international match of Denmark temperamental Norwegian goalkeeper has scoring 15 times against Greece in 1998. very fast reactions and great flexibility. He After he had finished his career in 2007 he first became an TV expert has been the first choice goalkeeper for the Norwegian national and assistant coach in Viborg and Bjerringbro. In 2012 he took over team since Steinar Ege ended his career in 2012. He has played 147 Aalborg steering them to a surprising title. internationals for his country.
Håvard Tvedten Marcus Mørk left wing left back Norwegian international Tvedten is in Aalborg When Aalborg defeated Mors Thy narrowly for the second time. After playing in Spain in the Danish championship semi-finals with no fewer than three clubs - Logroño, last season, they had particular problems Naturhouse La Rioja and BM Valladolid - he with the opponents´ left back, Marcus returned to Aalborg in 2011. Despite being Mørk. He became a target for the club, as a 35, Tvedten has not lost much of his speed, replacement for the departing Norwegian and his scoring percentage from the wing as international Kristian Kjelling. Mørk was well from the penalty line and fast breaks is signed shortly before the start of the season. as high as ever. Despite his long previous stay in Aalborg he has never He is currently recovering from shoulder injury, but is expected to be played in the Champions League for the club before, but he brings back by October, at which time his shooter power is likely to add extra experience from his time with Valladolid. danger to Aalborg´s attacking play.
Mads Mensah Larsen Jacob Bagersted centre back line player Mads Mensah Larsen is considered one of When 111 kg heavy Bagersted joined Denmark´s greatest back court talents. He Aalborg in 2011, it was his first stay outside joined Aalborg in the summer of 2012 after Copenhagen, where he started his career in AG København´s bankruptcy. In Copenhagen Ajax, then moved on to FCK Håndbold and he mainly played at left back, but this finally to AG København. The 194 cm tall meant reduced court time due to a certain line player has 28 internationals on his CV, Mikkel Hansen. For parts of his time with and through his experience and high scoring AGK, Mensah was loaned out Nordsjælland percentage from the line he is one of Aalborg´s Håndbold but this season he will undoubtedly be a key player for most important key players. He has found a fine partner in the line Aalborg. He can also play left back, which will help cover the loss of position in Niclas Barud who joined Aalborg in the summer of 2012. Norwegian star Kristian Kjelling to Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.
Johan Jakobsson Stig Bugge Jensen right back right wing After a career in the Swedish clubs HP Warta Bugge joined Aalborg before the start and IK Sävehof, Aalborg is the Swedish of the season from fellow Danish league international´s first club outside his native competitors, TMS Ringsted, and is a huge country. Jakobsson joined Aalborg in 2011 talent – which he proved at the U21 World and became a key player right from the championship in Bosnia this summer. He has start. This versatile left-handed player, stepped into the shoes of the former Swedish played a big role in Aalborg winning the international Jan Lennartsson, who returned Danish championship last season. During Kim home at the end of last season. An injured Andersson´s and Oscar Carlén´s injury breaks, Jakobsson´s skills have foot has troubled him at the start of the season, but once he is fully fit also made him first choice on the right back position in the Swedish and in shape, he will be a valuable asset to the team. national team.
98 RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
After winning the Slovenian league in 2012 and 2013 and reaching the Last 16 in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season, Velenje have undergone major changes in their squad.
A total of eight top players, such as Jure Dolenec, Matej Gaber (both Montpellier) and Fahrudin Melić (Paris) left the club, while young talents like Slovenian junior team players Mario Šoštarič and Nejc Cehte joined the team.
A new coach has also taken the reins. Branko Tamše, who had been in charge since 2008 made way for Ivan Vajdl. Despite the major transition, the Slovenian champions are confident of maintaining their level.
In the Group Phase Velenje will face defending champions HSV Hamburg, their German neighbours SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Aalborg, La Rioja and Halmstad.
Manager Tomaž Juršič rate those opponents as “a difficult group”, but believes that “our team will finish the Group Phase among the four best teams and progress to the next round.”
In general the transition for Juršič is more a challenge than pressure situation.
“The tradition of handball in Velenje goes a long way back and therefore we are delighted to be a part of this competition,” said Juršič. Playing hall Rdeca Dvorana New captain Niko Medved sets his hopes high to reach their goals on the support of their fans. Saleska cesta 3 3320 Velenje “I think that we have an interesting group from which, if we will play how we should, we can Slovenia proceed to the Last 16,” he said. Capacity: 3,100
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements RK Gorenje Velenje EHF Champions League season: Saleska Cesta 3 Slovenian champions VELUX EHF Champions League 3320 Velenje Participations (including 2013/14 Slovenia season): 7 Newcomers: Last 16 (3): 2005/2006, 2009/2010, Media contact: Jernej Papež 2012/13 Tanija Rednak Staš Skube Main Round (1): 2007/2008 +386 38986440 Mario Šoštarič Group Phase (1): 2004/2005 [email protected] Benjamin Burić Qualification (1): 2010/2011 Senjamin Burić Online information: Nejc Cehte Other Website: www.rk-gorenje.com Maric Vrečar EHF Cup: Runners-up 2008/2009 Facebook: rkgorenjevelenje Mitja Nosan Slovenian league: 3 titles (2009, 2012, Twitter: @Rk_Gorenje_V Marko Oštir 2013), runners-up: 2003, 2005, 2010, Kristian Bećiri 2011 Slovenian Cup winner: once Left the club: Kit colours Matej Gaber Light Fahrudin Melić Player shirt: yellow Marko Bezjak Player short: black Jure Dolenec Goalkeeper shirt: red Dino Bajram Dark Peter Pucelj Player shirt: black Ivan Gajić Player short: black David Miklavčič Goalkeeper shirt: blue/black
99 RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
Biggest win 40:17 (17:8) v Torggler Group Meran ITA (h), 06.11.2005 Biggest defeat 17:29 (4:14) v Pick Szeged HUN (h), 03.10.2007 Longest winning run 5 matches (17.10.2012 – 09.02.2013) Longest unbeaten run 5 matches (17.10.2012 – 09.02.2013) Longest losing run 4 matches (02.03.2008 - 03.10.2009) 4 matches (18.10.2009 – 22.11.2009) 4 matches (17.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) Longest run without win 5 matches (18.10.2009 – 13.02.2010) Most goals 40 v Torggler group Meran ITA 40:17W (a), 06.11.2005 Most goals opponent 37 v Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 37:33L (a), 06.11.2004 37 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 29:37L (h), 22.11.2009 Most goals both teams 71 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 36:35W (h), 17.02.2010 Fewest goals 17 v Pick Szeged HUN 17:29L (h), 03.10.2007 Fewest goals opponent 17 v Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 27:17W (h), 30.10.2004 17 v Torggler group Meran ITA 40:17W (a), 06.11.2005 Fewest goals both teams 44 v Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 27:17W (h), 30.10.2004
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2004/05 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 6 2 0 4 166: 170 - 4 4 3rd Gr. C 2005/06 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 8 5 0 3 256: 204 + 52 10 1/8-finals 2007/08 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 12 5 0 7 329: 349 - 20 10 4th MR Gr. 2 2009/10 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 12 3 1 8 335: 365 - 30 7 1/8-finals 2012/13 Gorenje Velenje SLO 12 6 0 6 331: 305 + 26 12 1/8-finals Total 50 21 1 28 1417:1393 + 24 43
100 RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
16 Nejc Brglez SLO Goalkeeper 28 Feb 1993 107 189 12 Benjamin Buric BIH Goalkeeper 20 Nov 1990 95 197 8 Senjamin Buric BIH Line Player 20 Nov 1990 100 198 17 Klemen Cehte SLO Left Back 10 May 1986 100 195 3 Nejc Cehte SLO Right Back 4 Sep 1992 94 196 13 Darko Cingesar SLO Centre Back 25 Jul 1990 97 187 30 Luka Dobelsek SLO Centre Back 12 Jan 1983 90 191 77 Marko Dujmovic SLO Left Back 16 Sep 1985 94 191 31 Janez Gams SLO Left Wing 8 Nov 1985 83 180 23 Rok Golcar SLO Right Wing 23 Dec 1985 87 189 71 Tine Marusic SLO Centre Back 23 Jun 1994 80 185 5 Niko Medved SLO Left Back 26 Mar 1990 83 184 44 Mitja Nosan SLO Left Back 9 Jan 1990 102 193 52 Marko Ostir SLO Line Player 7 Jun 1977 100 194 55 Rok Ovnicek SLO Centre Back 29 Jan 1995 70 175 25 Jernej Papez SLO Right Back 29 Jan 1991 94 190 60 Jaka Poznic SLO Line Player 30 Mar 1993 90 190 20 Stas Skube SLO Centre Back 15 Nov 1989 83 176 24 Mario Sostaric SLO Right Wing 25 Nov 1992 87 193 1 Emir Taletovic SLO Goalkeeper 9 Jan 1990 91 189 28 Matic Vrecar SLO Line Player 28 Feb 1989 114 195
101 Ivan Vajdl Benjamin Burić coach goalkeeper He was a goalkeeper in his player’s career. He The 197-cm high Bosnia and Herzegovina started playing for the club Šoštanj, which national team player arrived from Izvidjač now is his old and new club, called Gorenje Ljubuški together with his twin brother Velenje. In 2003, Vajdl became coach on top Senjamin, who is one centimeter taller than level for the first time, starting at Gorenje, him. He has taken over the burden of the first where he was responsible for two runners-up choice goalkeeper, following the departure of positions in the Slovenian league below Celje. Ivan Gajić, who left to French Tremblay. The In 2005 he switched to Prevent and later to 23-year old will have to adapt quickly, given Slovenj Gradec and Trimo Trebnje, before he returned where it all his lack of EHFCL experience. This will be his maiden season in the top started before this season as successor of Branko Tamše, who had tier of European handball. coached Velenje since 2008.
Niko Medved Klemen Cehte left wing left back Medved is a fast player on the left back. The bomber from Brežice will be a proverbial In the new season he has also assumed a work-horse on both sides of the pitch. His new role of the club captain, despite being goals will be vital for Gorenje,as will his only 23. He has been with Gorenje all of his defensive presence. In the previous season he senior carrer. This will be his 4th season in exploded to 48 goals in the CL and he will be the CL. In the last one he managed to set his one of the pillars of Gorenje again. A potential personal best with 13 goals in total, but now good display may even earn him a call back as an expected starter he hopes to better his to the Slovenian national team. He is entering tally again in the new campaign. Janez Gams can alternate him as a his fifth season in Velenje playing for Trimo Trebnje in the past. specialist defender from the bench.
Luka Dobelšek Marko Oštir centre back line player Another veteran of the squad, Dobelšek The experienced line-player returns to his has played abroad in Germany (Lübbecke, boyhood club after 3 seasons with Maribor. Emsdetten) and Poland (Wisła Płock) before Oštir maybe not in his prime anymore, but returning to his boyhood club before last he is expected to command defence and season replacing the Serbian back player his maturity — he has played in over 100 Nikola Manojlović. While mostly relieving matches for the national team and this will be Marko Bezjak in the last term, he will now his 14th European season — will be essential alternate with Staš Skube at the playmaker for the team with many a player yet to taste position. Coach Vajdl will also count on his 11-year European the CL. Younger line players Senjamin Burić and Kristian Bečiri are experiences. He played his first international matches with Velenje expected to alternate him in the attack. already in 2001.
Jernej Papež Mario Šoštarič right back right wing Another player, who has followed Vajdl from Given the lack of lefties in the squad, another Trebnje to Velenje. He is set to be first choice return of a “lost son” was just what the for the right back and is one of the players doctor ordered for Gorenje. The 2 years that will have to swiftly accustom themselves spent with Maribor gave him maturity and for the hard European matches. Although self confidence. He is yet to score in the CL, he played in the EHF Cup and in the Cup but given the fact that he can succesfully play Winners’ Cup for Trebnje and got his first six as a right back or as a right wing, this will be European goals on his account, this will be the mended soon enough. At the U21 WCh in maiden season in the CL for the 190 cm tall leftie from Novo Mesto. Bosnia and Herzegovina he was the top scorer of the Slovenian team netting in 46 goals and leading his tim to an impressive record of 8 victories and only one defeat.
102 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)
They know how to reach the final of the EHF Champions League, as they did it in 2004 and 2007, but they have never been to Cologne and this is the season SG Flensburg-Handewitt are planning on changing that fact.
The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the target this season, after agonisingly missing out against eventual champions HSV Hamburg in the quarter-final last season.
In contrast to their local rivals THW Kiel, the Flensburg squad has almost remained the same. Out of the top players, only Petar Djordjic left the club (to Hamburg) and they have signed highly talented young players, Bogdan Radivojevic and Jim Gottfridsson, to add depth to their squad.
Both players have already proven their value to the team in the defeat of THW Kiel in the German Super Cup, a sign that they are willing to go all the way in all competitions.
Flensburg, known for their frenetic fans in the Flens-Arena, announced their international objective of “competing at the VELUX EHF FINAL4” – a sign for the confidence in the team of coach Ljubomir Vranjes, who led SG to their last international title, the Cup Winners’ Cup, in 2012.
Flensburg open the season with only one long-term injury, German international Lars Kaufmann, but hope that he will be back soon after a knee operation. So Swedish team captain Tobias Karlsson is very optimistic for the upcoming season. Playing hall Flens Arena “We want to go all the way to Cologne and first of all our objective is to become group winners. Campusallee 2 We know that this is a hard way to go but we are very happy to take part in this competition 24943 Flensburg again. Probably the games against our German opponent will be the toughest,” he said. Germany Capacity: 6,000
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements SG Flensburg-Handewitt EHF Champions League season: Schiffbrücke 66 German runners-up VELUX EHF Champions League 24939 Flensburg Participations (including 2013/14 Germany season): 9 Newcomers (including former club): Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007 Media contact: Hampus Wanne (Önnereds HK) Semi-final (1): 2005/2006 Sandra von Wallis Bogdan Radivojević (RK Partizan Beograd) Quarter-final (4): 2004/2005, +49 4611609625 Jim Gottfridsson (Ystad IF) 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013 [email protected] Draško Nenadić (Quabit BM Guadalajara) Main Round (1): 2007/2008
Online information: Left the club (including new club): Other Website: Petar Djordjić (HSV Hamburg) Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/2001 www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Arnór Atlason (Saint-Raphaël Var Handball) 2011/2012 Facebook: SGFleHa Florian von Gruchalla (VfL Gummersbach) EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997 Twitter: @SGFleHa Morten Dibbert (HSG Tarp-Wanderup) City Cup: Winners 1998/1999 Malte Voigt (SV Henstedt-Ulzburg) Thies-Jacob Volquardsen (TSV Altenholz) German league: 1 title (2004) Kit colours German Cup winners: three times Light Player shirt: red Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black
103 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)
Biggest win 43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.2006 Biggest defeat 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.2005 24:38 (8:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.2011 Longest winning run 6 matches (13.03.2005 – 05.11.2005) 6 matches (02.12.2010 – 03.04.2011) Longest unbeaten run 7 matches (24.04.2004 – 14.11.2004) 7 matches (25.11.2012 – 23.03.2013) Longest losing run 3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006) Longest run without win 5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) Most goals 44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 Most goals opponent 41 v Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.2006 Most goals both teams 77 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 Fewest goals 19 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), 22.09.2010 Fewest goals opponent 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 Fewest goals both teams 43 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), 01.03.2009 43 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 43 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), 01.05.2011
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 10 1 3 450: 401 + 49 21 Runner-up 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 10 7 1 2 319: 270 + 49 15 1/4-finals 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 12 7 0 5 372: 326 + 46 14 1/2-finals 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 8 1 5 437: 398 + 39 17 Runner-up 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 4 2 6 355: 356 - 1 10 4th MR Gr. 3 2008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 8 0 4 360: 329 + 31 16 1/4-finals 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 11 0 3 394: 354 + 40 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 9 3 2 416: 384 + 32 21 1/4-finals Total 102 64 8 30 3103:2818 +285 136
104 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
1 Mattias Andersson SWE Goalkeeper 29 Mar 1978 93 185 2 Lukas Blohme GER Right Wing 7 Nov 1994 72 188 7 Anders Eggert Jensen DEN Left Wing 14 May 1982 79 179 9 Holger Glandorf GER Right Back 30 Mar 1983 90 195 24 Jim Gottfridsson SWE Centre Back 2 Sep 1992 95 190 22 Olafur Gustafsson ISL Left Back 27 Mar 1989 96 198 21 Jacob Heinl GER Line Player 9 Oct 1986 101 195 3 Tobias Karlsson SWE Line Player 4 Jun 1981 102 196 28 Lars Kaufmann GER Left Back 25 Feb 1982 103 199 77 Michael V. Knudsen DEN Line Player 4 Sep 1978 99 192 4 Maik Machulla GER Centre Back 9 Jan 1977 95 189 10 Thomas Mogensen DEN Centre Back 30 Jan 1983 100 187 5 Drasko Nenadic SRB Left Back 15 Feb 1990 91 202 19 Michael Nicolaisen GER Left Back 6 May 1995 100 195 41 Bogdan Radivojevic SRB Right Wing 2 Mar 1993 80 192 16 Sören Rasmussen DEN Goalkeeper 12 Aug 1976 98 193 24 Christopher Rudeck GER Goalkeeper 15 Oct 1994 98 198 11 Lasse Svan DEN Right Wing 31 Aug 1983 85 185 40 Ljubomir Vranjes SWE Centre Back 3 Oct 1973 80 168 14 Hampus Wanne SWE Left Wing 10 Dec 1993 84 184 13 Steffen Weinhold GER Right Back 19 Jul 1986 95 188
105 Ljubomir Vranjes Mattias Andersson coach goalkeeper Player, manager, coach – this the running order The Swedish was the most outstanding of the career of former Swedish international Flensburg player in the last two years, player. After retiring as a player he became including his award “best player of the club manager in 2009 and coach in November Bundesliga season 2011/12”. He won the 2010. His biggest success on the bench was CL in 2007 with THW Kiel, where he played the title in the Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 and until 2008, before leaving Northern Germany finishing second in the German league in the for three years to join TV Großwallstadt. same season. As a player he became World In 2011 he returned northwards, signing Champion in 1999 and threetimes EHF EURO champion. After his club his contract in Flensburg. Mainly thanks to his saves Flensburg won had been narrowly eliminated by HSV in the quarter-final he succesfully the Cup Winners’ Cup in the 2011/12 season. He is one of the most steered Serbia to EHF EURO 2014 last June. experienced goalkeepers in the CL and won a silver medal with Sweden at 2012 Olympics in London.
Anders Eggert Lars Kaufmann left wing left back Fast, faster, Eggert: The Dane had to fill the A man like Adonis with hammer shots and high biggest shoes ever in Flensburg as successor jumps: It is obvious that he became a model of legendary Lars Christiansen. But he coped for men’s underwear and that his favourite perfectly with this situation and was the top movie is “Gladiator”. After some injuries in scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 and the last years (including another surgery at top scorer of the 2013 world championship the start of this season) he always returned in Spain. He is two-time EHF EURO champion to the court, willing to prove why he was an (2008, 2012) and two-time runner-up of important player of the 2007 World champion the WCh (2011, 2013) with Denmark. He has just started his already team of Germany. His first first league team was Wetzlar (until 2007), eighth season in Flensburg. He is also famous being as cold as ice from then he moved to Lemgo (until 2009), before joining Göppingen. After the penalty line with one of the highest percentages in the CL. he raised the EHF Cup trophy in 2011 he arrived to SG.
Thomas Mogensen Tobias Karlsson centre back line player More than 1000 goals for his club, awarded He is the typical powerful Scandinavian 2012 EHF EURO champion and silver defence specialist, who – together with medallist at the 2011 and 2013 WCh – former Barcelona rock Magnus Jernemyr - Danish playmaker Thomas Mogensen is build the Swedish middle block in the last highly experienced. Since 2007 he plays for years. He is the team captain, a great honour Flensburg – his first stop outside his home- after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG. He country Denmark. Before he had been player became Swedish champion three times with of Viborg HK and GOG Svendborg, becoming Hammarby IF. Like Mattias Andersson, he Danish champion and Cup winner twice. His biggest success on club was part of the Swedish team which took silver at the 2012 Olympics level was winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2012. And SG will have at in London. He is the clear boss in the SG defence, the look upon least two more years of inspiration, as his contract expires in 2015. his attack statistics proves that he is rather randomly entering the opponent’s half.
Holger Glandorf Lasse Svan Hansen right back right wing Years ago it was impossible to find any One who names „roasted hot dog“ as his German stars in the Flensburg squad, which favourite dish cannot be a professional mostly had been imprinted by Scandinavian sportsmen, or? But despite his love for the players - but times have changed. One of typical Danish snack, he is one of the fastest two German 2007 world champions in the wing players in the CL. He has the same Flensburg roster is left handed shooter qualities as Eggert on the other side: fast Glandorf. Despite some injury breaks, the counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency. right back always returned to a high level of And he has another task in his team: performance. Aside winning the gold medal on home ground at the motivation and relaxing – as his business is mental coaching. After 2007 WCh in Germany, also won twice the EHF Cup (2008 and 2010) four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008. In the with Nordhorn and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2012. Danish national team he won gold at the 2012 EHF EURO and silver each at the 2011 and 2013 WCh.
106 Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)
Welcome to the next stage! After three successful participations in the EHF Cup (twice semi- finalists and in the previous season qualified for the Group Phase), Naturhouse La Rioja made the next step to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League for the first time.
As third ranked team in the Spanish league behind FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid the team of coach Jesús Javier González Fernández made it to the European top flight. By signing two stars of Atlético (Josep Masachs Gelma and Ángel Romero Rodríguez) the club from wine region of Logroño strengthened their squad and hope for the qualification for the knockout stage in their premiere season in this competition.
Naturhouse La Rioja will face much more experienced clubs in their Group Phase as Aalborg, Velenje, Flensburg, Hamburg and Halmstad will be their opponents. But in the opinion of manager Jaime Luis González Gutiérrez the team, which competes in the Spanish Supercopa for the first time in September, is ready to rumble.
“For us playing the first time in the Champions League is the biggest adventure in the short history of our club. Our target is to create a good atmosphere in our arena and to win as many matches at home as possible,” he said.
Team captain Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu, brother of Spanish world champion Julen Aguinagalde (now in Kielce), also hopes for the home strength of his team. Playing hall Palacio de los deportes de la Rioja “We want to be competitive in our arena and we want to enjoy our fans. We play in a strong Avenida Moncalvillo 2 group, especially because of two German teams, but in my opinion every team can beat Logrono everybody,” he stated. Spain Capacity: 3,500
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements Naturhouse La Rioja EHF Champions League season: Avenida de Moncalvillo 2 third ranked in Spain VELUX EHF Champions League 26008 Logrono Participations (including 2013/14 Spain season): 1 Newcomers (including former club): Media contact: Ángel Fernández Pérez (BM Torrelavega, ESP) Other Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez Arthur Malburg Patrianova (Pinheiros, BRA) EHF Cup: Semi-finalists 2009/10, +34 63 77 66 107 Aidenas Malasinskas (Fraikin BM Granollers, ESP) 2010/11, Group Phase 2012/13 [email protected] Luis Felipe Jiménez Reina (BM Palma del Río, ESP) Josep Masachs Gelma (Atletico Madrid, ESP) Spanish league: no titles Online information: Ángel Romero Rodríguez (Atletico Madrid, ESP) Spanish Cup winners: - (runners-up in Website: www.cbclogrono.com 2013) Facebook: Left the club (including new club): Club-Balonmano-Naturhouse-La-Rioja Marko Ćuruvija Twitter: @NaturhouseRioja (without new team at this moment) Niko Mindegía Elizaga (Pick Szeged, HUN) Víctor Hugo López Romero Kit colours (TV Grosswallstadt, GER) Light Pedro Rodríguez Álvarez Player shirt: white (without new team at this moment) Player short: red Ales Abrao Silva (BM Guadalajara, ESP) Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: grey
107 Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
12 Gurutz Aguinalde Aquizu ESP Goalkeeper 26 Oct 1977 108 201 6 Unai Arrieta Aizpurua ESP Left Wing 14 Jan 1981 90 184 45 Rafael Da Costa Capote CUB Left Back 5 Oct 1987 109 198 32 Angel Fernandez Perez ESP Left Wing 16 Sep 1988 90 192 17 Ruben Garabaya Arenas ESP Line Player 15 Sep 1978 108 201 4 Thiagus Petrus Goncalves Dos Santos BRA Left Back 25 Jan 1989 100 199 13 Pablo Hernandez Suarez ESP Right Wing 26 Jun 1994 63 173 11 Luis Felipe Jimenez Reina ESP Right Back 12 Jun 1989 94 193 5 Aidenas Malasinskas LTU Centre Back 29 Apr 1986 88 192 15 Arthur Malburg Patrianova BRA Left Back 22 Apr 1993 95 192 1 Jorge Martinez Martinez ESP Goalkeeper 9 Aug 1977 99 193 24 Josep Masachs Gelma ESP Right Wing 4 Jul 1983 85 181 10 Jorge Luis Pavan Lopez CUB Right Back 29 Sep 1981 102 192 19 Jon Ramiro Perez ESP Line Player 24 Feb 1993 93 184 26 Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez ESP Right Wing 22 Aug 1990 75 193 18 Javier Romeo Lopez ESP Goalkeeper 1 Jun 1990 93 192 59 Angel Romero Rodriguez ESP Line Player 5 Jun 1984 121 202 9 Alexander Tioumentsev Barabash ESP Centre Back 4 Oct 1983 85 185 22 Daniel Tolmos Rubio ESP Centre Back 30 Jun 1994 86 186 7 Miguel Angel Velasco Encinas ESP Centre Back 20 Mar 1984 86 183
108 Jesús Javier González Fernández Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu coach goalkeeper For the first time in his coaching career he will The 37-year-old goalkeeper is one of the most coach a CL participant. And he will be boosted experienced player of Naturhouse La Rioja by a very special award as he became the and he has been with them for each of their “best coach of the Spanish league” last European campaigns. He played an important season for the second time in his life after the part in the Rioja’s run in the EHF Cup where most successful season of Rioja in history. they reached the Group Phase and only In 2007 former player took over the team of narrowly missed the quarter-finals. He is the Logroño after being coach in Valladolid. And brother of Spanish national team line player right when he arrived, the club made their first steps on the European Julen Aguinagalde Aquizu who switched from Atlético to Kielce before stage. Assisted by another big name, Juan Carlos Pastor, Logroño this season. To date he has won the Spanish King’s Cup in 1996, the made it to the semi-final of the 2008/09 EHF Cup. Spanish Super Cup in 1996 and the Cup Winners’ Cup winner in 1997.
Unai Arrieta Aizurúa Rafa Da Costa Capote left wing left back He has a vast experience in European Handball is the only sport this Havana handball participating in 8 seasons of the EHF player has ever practised since the age of 9. Cup, but this will be his first time in the CL. He Shooting is undoubtely the primary weapon started playing handball at the age of 14 after of this 198 cm. tall and 105 kilos player. Loves having an argument with his football coach. to go to the cinema at least once a week, While playing in Gáldar (Canary Islands) some his idols are Denzel Washington in films and of the trips in the EHF Cup could last up to 20 LeBron James in sport. He now wears number hours. He is currently finishing psychology 45, as it was the age his mother passed away degree and as a graduated coach he is supposed to carry on in in 2012. Except for the short period in Brazil, he is been playing handball even when his playing years will be over. He loves to read together with Jorge Paván for the last 7 years in 4 different teams books in his mother language (Basque). (including Cuba) in 3 countries.
Alexander Tioumentsev Barabash Rubén Garabaya Arenas centre back line player Born in the former Soviet Union (Aytubinsk), He has had a lot of success both at club and at he moved to Spain at a very early age (6) as international level. Among other trophys the his father, the great Soviet playmaker Andrey line player won the Spanish King Cup in 2009 Tioumentsev, went to play to Granollers. He and 2010 (with Barcelona), the Asobal Cup in plays not only at the centre back position, like 2010, and the Spanish Super Cup in 2009 and his father, but he is very versatile and able to 2010 (also all with Barcelona). At European perform at left or right backs. He took part level, he won the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup in in five editions of the EHF Cup in the past. 1999 with Ademar Leon. With the Spanish Before his first ever match in Estonia he forgot his shirt in the dressing national team, Arenas won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008, room, but this could not stop him becoming one of the key players of the WCh in 2005, a bronze medal at the 2011 WCh, and a silver medal his team very soon. at the EHF EURO 2006.
Jorge Luis Paván López Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez right back right wing This experienced Cuban shooter (1981) The tall (193 cm) left hander was born in Vigo started playing handball at the late age of and joined Logrono club in 2011. Despite his 16, when he was denied to continue with young age (23) he has become one of the voleyball in the island, because he was “not best scorer of the team recording 72 goals tall enough” (194 cm). He learnt his new in ASOBAL last season and 23 goals in their art so fast that he could join the national EHF Cup campaign in the last season. In the team very quickly. His biggest success came Group Phase he was the third best scorer of with his national team at the Panamerican his team with only two Cuban back players games in Rio (2007) where Cuba clinched the third position and he scoring more goals than him. He showed his scoring appetite in the was selected as the best right back of the tournament. He has been first round of the new season and is ready to prove his skille in his wearing number 10 almost from the beginning of his career. premiere year in the CL too.
109 HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE)
The 11-year wait finally came to an end for DROTT Halmstad as they raised the Swedish league trophy for the first time since 2002 at the end of a season which they started as underdogs.
After a thrilling semi-clash against Lugi, Halmstad made it to the final against Kristianstad and even a five-goal deficit at the break did not stop them on the way to the VELUX EHF Champions League, where they will play in the Group Phase for the first time since 1999.
Halmstad, led by former KIF Kolding coach Ulf Sivertsson, finally clarified their favourites role in the qualification play-offs. After a sensational four-goal-defeat at Esch (Luxembourg), they thoroughly outclassed the Challenge Cup finalists with a 37:14 win on home court.
Being part of the competition is a great challenge for both the players and the club and they hope to perform to their capabilities in Europe and get as many points as possible, while reaching the play-offs and defending their title is the goal on the domestic front.
Halmstad, similar to RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, only consist of domestic players, among them are Philip Stenmalm and Marcus Holmén, two newly crowned junior world champions.
“We have a very young and internationally inexperienced team, but we look forward to some really nice experiences against some of the world’s leading teams. We hope to be able to surprise in a few matches and take some points, then we will have to see how far it will take Playing hall us,” head coach Sivertsson said. Halmstad Arena Växjövägen 11s, 30244 Halmstad, Sweden Capacity: 3,836
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HK DROTT Halmstad EHF Champions League season: Vaxjövägen 11 Swedish champion, winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League 30244 Halmstad qualification matches against HB Participations (including 2013/2014 Sweden Esch (LUX) season): 4 Last 16 (2): 1994/1995, 1999/2000 Media contact: Qualification (1): 2002/2003 Ole Hagström Newcomers (including former club): +46-705-437-020 Henrik Olsson (IFK Tumba) Other [email protected] Anton Andersson (new youth player) EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1996/1997 Jesper Sivertsson Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals Online information: Markus Sjöbrink 2003/2004, 2010/2011 Website: www.hkdrott.se Martin Lindell Facebook: hkdrott Said Ajkunic City Cup: Runners-up 1993/1994 Twitter: @HkDrott Left the club (including new club): Swedish league: 1975, 1978, 1979, Daniel Lindgren (IFK Kristianstad) 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1999, Diego Perez Marne (end of career) 2002, 2013 Kit colours Michael Matsson (end of career) Swedish Cup winner: four times Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green
110 HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
11 Jesper Adolfsson SWE Centre Back 7 Nov 1988 82 186 22 Said Ajkunic SWE Centre Back 17 May 1993 90 187 15 Anton Andersson SWE Right Back 23 Mar 1994 85 185 12 Robert Martin Bladh SWE Goalkeeper 24 Jan 1984 90 192 5 Martin Bystedt SWE Right Wing 9 Jan 1982 75 182 13 Anton Halen SWE Right Wing 28 Nov 1990 90 190 14 Viktor Hallen SWE Left Wing 1 Feb 1994 77 188 1 Marcus Holmen SWE Goalkeeper 10 Aug 1993 104 199 4 Hans Karlsson SWE Line Player 4 May 1981 96 199 16 Ola Lave Eberling SWE Goalkeeper 11 Feb 1990 92 190 19 Martin Lindell SWE Left Back 25 Jul 1993 91 191 18 Jesper Linnell SWE Line Player 29 Jun 1986 90 194 9 David Löfgren SWE Left Wing 24 Apr 1987 92 192 23 Mattias Mauritzson SWE Back 21 Jan 1994 75 181 2 Henrik Olsson SWE Centre Back 14 Jan 1994 82 190 10 Magnus Persson SWE Right Back 17 Dec 1990 91 190 21 Jesper Sivertsson SWE Centre Back 5 Nov 1993 67 175 Markus Sjöbrink SWE Line Player 12 Apr 1996 8 Albin Stenberg SWE Line Player 5 May 1994 95 190 3 Philip Stenmalm SWE Left Back 3 Mar 1992 92 200
111 Ulf Sivertsson Robert Martin Bladh coach goalkeeper Having been in the CL six times with KIF Through his large experience, he does not Kolding since 2000 (with a semi-final only form an almost complete goalkeeper appearance in the 2001/02 season) he has duo with young and talented Marcus Holmén more experience at this level than many by DROTT. His experience also means a lot other coaches. Now he took the chance for to the entire team, and with regards to the a comeback to the CL with Halmstad, where upcoming CL, he is the only player in the he has been head coach since leaving Kolding squad with previous CL. He reached the group in 2009. The club secured their 11th Swedish phase in the 2005/06 season with IK Sävehof, championship last May and earned a place in a play-off against from whom he joined DROTT in 2008. His skills came in particularly Luxembourg’s Esch. In his active career he had been playing for Drott useful in the second leg against Esch as he performed more than 20 from 1982 to 1993 and had been coach of Drott from 1996 to 2001. saves, only letting in 14 goals.
David Löfgren Philip Stenmalm left wing left back He joined DROTT from Eskilstuna Guif in 2006 He was part of the Swedish U21 national and is one of the experienced players in an team who were triumphant and the WCh in otherwise relatively young team. He is also Bosnia this summer. Not only was the two one of the players with previous European meter tall and 96 kg heavy backcourt player experience – from reaching the quarter- an important figure by the blue and yellow finals of the 2010/11 Cup Winners’ Cup with side. He was even considered so important Halmstad. His international experience, which to his team that he was awarded MVP of the also includes five international appearances tournament after the final. After the talented for Sweden, has been complemented by eight years in the Swedish left back with the hard and versatile shot returned home from his league. Nearly 1,400 goals in the Elitserien tell a story of his versatile duties , he was ready to contribute to DROTT qualifying for the Group shooting repertoire. Phase of the CL.
Henrik Olsson Jesper Linnéll centre back line player Young Henrik Olsson is another of the Being the son of Sweden’s former national many talents in a DROTT squad with a lot coach Ingemar Linnéll, Jesper was almost of potential. Even though the playmaker born to play handball, and just like his sisters, position is usually seen as a position which he had made to Swedish league level. The demands a certain experience, Olsson has handball life has not been easy all the time already shown a lot of flair for orchestrating for him, though. When playing in Danish KIF his team’s attacking play. He has lot of ideas Kolding, while his farther was head coach and and is a fine reader of the game already. sports director in the club, he never made it Furthermore, he is also a shooting playmaker which he proved with to the first team, but in Sweden – first with Hammarby and now with his four goals in the 37:14 win against Handball Esch. DROTT – it has been league handball for Linnéll who is one of the experienced players in the young Halmstad team.
Magnus Persson Martin Bystedt right back right wing Despite his young age (22), he is already Being the second oldest in the Halmstad in his sixth league season with DROTT. squad, Bystedt is one of the players who have Together with one year younger Philip to contribute with some experience to the Stenmalm on the opposite back position, he young team. And experience he has. Since forms a quite frightening back duo. While 2001, when he joined from HK Aranäs, has he this season will be his first in the CL, he has been with DROTT, where also his excellent previous European experience with DROTT, skills on the right wing position have been having reached the quarter-final of the Cup important to the time for now 11 years. Winners’ Cup in the 2010/11 season. Persson showed especially many Bystedt started his DROTT career with winning the Swedish examples of his dangerous left-hand shots in the qualification against championship in 2002, and this spring he could add a further Handball Esch scoring 14 goals in two matches. championship to his record list.
112 HSV Hamburg (GER)
It was the most thrilling final since the implementation of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010, the first one to be decided after extra-time – and when HSV Hamburg stood on the podium a Cinderella story had come true after beating THW Kiel and FC Barcelona in Cologne within only 24 hours.
But as Hamburg missed the direct qualification for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions, they needed to get past a strong side to qualify. In the All-German duel Füchse Berlin were in lead for nearly 90 percent of the 120 minutes playing time in the wild card play-offs. But after a draw at Berlin, Hamburg managed to win by a one goal on home court to proceed to the Champions League for the seventh straight time – and five of six previous times they at least reached the quarter-finals.
But the Hamburg squad have undergone major changes: Six players – including top guns Igor Vori, Michael Kraus or Marcin Lijewski - left, while nine newcomers arrived. Among them is Spanish world champion Joan Cañellas, who was supposed to be added to the squad in 2014, but after the Atlético Madrid financial breakdown the playmaker arrived one year earlier.
As the full right back section has left (including Oscar Carlén, who ended his career after four ruptures of the crucial ligament), HSV signed two newcomers: Žarko Marković and Adrian Pfahl.
Additionally Hamburg give the chance to promising talents like Kentin Mahé or Petar Đorđić – Playing hall* but also signed a highly experienced defence ace, the Croatian Olympic and world champion O2 World Davor Dominiković. Sylvesterallee 10, 22525 Hamburg, Germany Capacity: 13,182
Club Address: Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX Past achievements HSV Hamburg EHF Champions League season: Hellgrundweg 50 winners of the wild card matches VELUX EHF Champions League 22525 Hamburg against Füchse Berlin, fifth ranked in Participations (including 2013/2014 Germany Germany season): 7 Winners (1): 2012/2013 Media contact: Semi-final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, Oliver Junggeburth Newcomers (including former club): 2010/2011 Tel: +49 40 30987653 Marcus Cleverly (Lugi HF) Quarter-final (1): 2009/2010 [email protected] Joan Cañellas Reixach (BM Atlético Madrid) Last 16 (1): 2011/2012 Petar Đorđić (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) Online information: Davor Dominiković (US Ivry) Other Website: www.hsvhandball.com Adrian Pfahl (VfL Gummersbach) Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2006/2007 Facebook: HSVHandball Kentin Mahé (VfL Gummersbach) Twitter: @hsvhandball_tv Henrik Toft Hansen (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg) German champion: 1 title (2011) Kevin Herbst (youth team) German Cup winner: twice Žarko Marković (Frisch Auf Göppingen) German Super-Cup winner: four times
Kit colours Left the club (including new club): Light Igor Vori (Paris Saint-Germain HB) Player shirt: white Marcin Lijewski (Orlen Wisła Płock) Player short: white Fredrik Petersen (Füchse Berlin) *Alternative playing hall Goalkeeper shirt: green/yellow/red Michael Kraus (Frisch Auf! Göppingen) Sporthalle Hamburg Stefan Terzić (RK Vardar Skopje) Dark Krochmannstrasse 55 Dan Beutler (IFK Kristianstad) Player shirt: blue 22297 Hamburg Oscar Carlén (end of career) Player short: blue Germany Goalkeeper shirt: green/yellow/red Capacity: 4,200
113 HSV Hamburg (GER)
Biggest win 17:48 (10:25) v Fyllingen Handball NOR (a), 14.11.2009 Biggest defeat 35:27 (18:11) v BM Ciudad Real ESP (a), 02.05.2010 Longest winning run 9 matches (11.04.2008 – 18.02.2009) 9 matches (29.05.2011 – 12.02.2012) Longest unbeaten run 11 matches (29.05.2011 – 26.02.2012) Longest losing run 3 matches (03.04.2009 – 02.05.2009) Longest run without win 3 matches (03.04.2009 – 02.05.2009) Most goals 48 v Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48W (a), 14.11.2009 Most goals opponent 37 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 37:37D (a), 30.04.2011 Most goals both teams 74 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 37:37D (a), 30.04.2011 Fewest goals 23 v Füchse Berlin GER 23:24L (h), 25.03.2012 23 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 23:25L (h), 28.04.2013 Fewest goals opponent 17 v Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48W (a), 14.11.2009 Fewest goals both teams 47 v RK Cimos Koper SLO 23:24W (a), 23.10.2011 47 v Füchse Berlin GER 23:24L (h), 25.03.2012
VELUX EHF Champions League record
MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2007/08 HSV Hamburg GER 14 9 3 2 438: 399 + 39 21 1/2-finals 2008/09 HSV Hamburg GER 14 10 0 4 443: 383 + 60 20 1/2-finals 2009/10 HSV Hamburg GER 14 10 0 4 456: 370 + 86 20 1/4-finals 2010/11 HSV Hamburg GER 16 10 2 4 498: 448 + 50 22 Third Place 2011/12 HSV Hamburg GER 12 9 1 2 363: 301 + 62 19 1/8-finals 2012/13 HSV Hamburg GER 16 11 2 3 503: 445 + 58 24 Winner Total 86 59 8 19 2701:2346 +355 126
114 HSV Hamburg (GER) Team roster
No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height
1 Johannes Bitter GER Goalkeeper 2 Sep 1982 104 205 9 Tim-Oliver Brauer GER Line Player 15 May 1992 106 196 14 Joan Canellas Reixach ESP Centre Back 30 Sep 1986 100 198 66 Oscar Carlén SWE Right Back 11 May 1988 96 194 16 Marcus Cleverly DEN Goalkeeper 15 Jun 1981 92 188 17 Petar Djordjic SRB Left Back 17 Sep 1990 102 197 24 Davor Dominikovic CRO Left Back 7 Apr 1978 108 204 4 Domagoj Duvnjak CRO Centre Back 1 Jun 1988 100 198 7 Matthias Flohr GER Left Wing 19 Mar 1982 93 187 23 Pascal Hens GER Left Back 26 Mar 1980 103 203 11 Kevin Herbst GER Right Wing 7 May 1994 88 189 12 Max Henri Herrmann FRA Goalkeeper 24 Feb 1994 98 195 5 Torsten Jansen GER Left Wing 23 Dec 1976 90 185 13 Kristof Krohn GER Left Back 14 Jul 1992 94 194 6 Blazenko Lackovic CRO Left Back 25 Dec 1980 100 197 18 Hans Lindberg DEN Right Wing 1 Aug 1981 88 188 22 Kentin Mahe FRA Centre Back 22 May 1991 81 185 77 Zarko Markovic MNE Right Back 1 Jun 1986 103 203 19 Felix Mehrkens GER Centre Back 20 Sep 1994 87 183 33 Florian Meier GER Goalkeeper 26 Feb 1982 82 186 21 Andreas Nilsson SWE Line Player 12 Apr 1990 110 197 26 Adrian Pfahl GER Right Back 30 Jul 1982 90 192 44 Justin Merlin Rundt GER Goalkeeper 14 Nov 1994 95 195 27 Marcel Schliedermann GER Centre Back 2 Jan 1991 95 189 3 Stefan Schröder GER Right Wing 17 Jul 1981 88 183 28 Timm Schröder GER Left Back 28 May 1982 100 198 20 Robert Schulze GER Left Wing 14 Jun 1991 87 187 29 Tim Stefan GER Centre Back 3 Jul 1995 89 197 19 Henrik Toft Hansen DEN Line Player 18 Dec 1986 108 200 30 Tim Witte GER Left Back 23 Mar 1993 84 182
115 Martin Schwalb Johannes Bitter coach goalkeeper Since 2005 he has been working for HSV. He ‘Jogi’ was one of the of Hamburg’s first ever (49) also coached Wallau-Massenheim, where Champions League title. In the 2011/12 he had played before and became three-time season he tore his cruciate ligament in the German champion. In scoring 2272 goals he Last 16 match against Füchse Berlin. He was is the 4th best all time scorer in Bundesliga. back in late November 2012 and brought With the national team he became silver with him an upswing in HSV’s fortunes. He medallist at the 1984 Olympics and won won the World Championship in 2007, with bronze at the 1998 EHF EURO. His greatest HSV he won the Bundesliga title in 2011 and achievement with HSV came in June 2013 when they won the VELUX the German Cup twice. He also won the EHF Cup winner with SC EHF FINAL4. Other coaching successes were the German title in 2011, Magdeburg. He also has responsibilities off the court as spokesman of the Cup Winners’ Cup title in 2007, two German cup titles. German handball players’ union “Goal”.
Torsten Jansen Pascal Hens left wing left back The HSV left winger played his 400th match The HSV captain is back on track following for HSV last season and has scored a total of injury problems over the past few seasons. 1444 goals for the Champions League title He was one of the main factors behind holders. He joined the squad in 2003 and is Hamburg’s VELUX EHF FINAL4 victory against one their most experienced players. In nearly FC Barcelona. The 2007 world champion, 200 matches for Germany he scored over 2004 EHF EURO champion and 2004 Olympic 500 goals. His achievements include World silver medallist now focusses only on club Championship gold in 2007, the EHF EURO handball after stepping down from the in 2004 as well as silver medals at EHF EURO 2002 and the Olympics national team in 2012. Nicknamed ‘Pommes’ he started his career in 2004. At club level, he won the Bundesliga title in 2011, EHF Cup with his current coach Martin Schwalb at SG Wallau-Massenheim, Winners’ Cup in 2007 and the German Cup twice. before joining HSV in 20033. He is now playing his 11th season.
Domagoj Duvnjak Andreas Nilsson centre back line player The Croatian is the key to the Hamburg The Swedish international was part of squad. Not just a typical playmaker, Duvnjak Sweden’s silver medal winning team at is also a scorer and is an essential part of the London Olympic Games in 2012. He the middle block in defence. He has World joined the team in the summer of 2012 from and European silver medals to his name as Swedish league club IFK Skövde, helping HSV well as bronze medals from EHF EURO 2012, to their Champions League title. Following Olympic Games in 2012 and 2013 World the departure of Igor Vori to Paris Handball, Championship. Last season he helped his HSV obviously see Nilsson as one of their key team to win the Champions League title and was also named the best players for the future in the line position, which he now shares with the player of the German Bundesliga. Duvnjak will leave HSV at the end of Danish player, Henrik Toft Hansen. Off the court, he is a keen golfer. the season to join THW Kiel.
Žarko Marković Hans Lindberg right back right wing The 27 year old Montenegrin international The 2012/13 season was personal highlight was a late arrival at HSV this summer. When for the Danish right winger. He was top it became obvious that Oscar Carlen would scorer in the Bundesliga, cup and Champions finish his career and newcomer Adrian Pfahl League, which he won for the first time. The would be out for month after a surgery, two-times EHF EURO champion (2008, 2012) Hamburg needed a replacement in the right and two-times World Championship runner- back position. The left handed started his up (2011, 2013) is the team’s highest scorer. international career at Veszprem, before In six years he has scored 689 goals just in returning to Podgorica. After one year in Dubai, he signed for one the Bundesliga. Lindberg is also a fan of beach handball – and during season at Metalurg Skopje, then joined Göppingen for one year, summer he is part of the Danish beach national team, which won the before arriving in Hamburg. bronze medal in Randers.
116
VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown
The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club It is undeniable that the 2013 VELUX EHF FINAL4 was the season’s handball season. The two-day event sees the best four men’s teams highlight in European handball – 20,000 spectators in the LANXESS in Europe playing to decide the ultimate winner of the VELUX EHF arena and millions of fans at home watched four unforgettable Champions League. handball games and a unique entertainment show.
Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2014 Tickets for the 2014 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 went on sale on in the LANXESS arena, Cologne, the decision to create a new format the opening day of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2013. Now, eight months for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League was seen as before the participating teams are known, more than 11.000 of the crucial for the growth of handball across Europe. 19.750 tickets have already been sold.
The aim was to create a flagship event, one that could compete on The success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is also thanks to the the international sports market and make the Europe´s leading club commitment of a great number of volunteers who have been active competition even more attractive to fans, partners and sponsors. on the weekend of the event. The application procedure for next edition has already started and applications are invited also in the The success of the first four editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 showed area of media. that this new format was the right strategy. It has set new standards in organisation and entertainment: it is not just four games played Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com over two days but a true entertainment event. The engagement of a top international act such as EUROPE was a sign too of the direction VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Accreditation the event is taking. The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will start early in 2014.
118 History: twenty years of EHF Champions League 1993 – 2003
1993/94 1998/99 Final: ABC Braga vs TEKA Santander 22:22/21:23 (43:45) Final: Badel Zagreb vs FC Barcelona 22:22 / 18:29 (40:51) The inaugural year of the Men’s EHF Champions League saw the Once again there were tears in Zagreb and joy in Barcelona. The classic home and away knockout matches being replaced with a Spanish team beat Zagreb in their third consecutive final and lifted totally new system. 32 teams went into two qualification rounds, the EHF Champions League trophy for the fourth time in a row. eliminating 24 clubs. The remaining eight teams were placed into Zagreb’s coach Velimir Klajic had to admit that Barcelona “at this two groups of four teams each playing in a round-robin system. TEKA moment in time, were quite simply the best club team in the world.” Santander and ABC Braga topped their respective groups and faced each other in the final. Santander narrowly kept the upper hand and started what should become an eight-year Spanish club winning 1999/00 streak in the Men’s EHF Champions League. Final: THW Kiel – FC Barcelona 28:25 / 24:29 (52:54) THW Kiel became the first German team to make it into the Final but even a 28:25-victory in the final’s first leg was not enough to end 1994/95 Barcelona’s EHF Champions League winning streak. Backed by half Final: Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun vs Badel Zagreb 30:20 / 26:27 (56:47) of the Spanish national team and international stars like Christian The final of the EHF Champions League’s second season became the Schwarzer and Tomas Svensson, Barcelona won their fifth title. match of a lifetime for Irun’s Nenad Perunicic, nicknamed “the canon” or “Il Conquistadore” by the fans. He was his team’s key player in the final and, in his first year in Spain, not only the lifted the EHF 2000/01 Champions League but also the national championship trophy with Final: Portland San Antonio – FC Barcelona 30:24 / 22:25 (52:49) Irun. For Barcelona it was a whole new feeling to watch another team celebrating at the end of the Champions League Final. Following five consecutive titles an era came to end when Spanish King Juan Carlos 1995/96 handed the huge tropy to Portland San Antonio at the end of all- Final: FC Barcelona vs Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun 23:15 / 23:23 (46:38) Spanish Final. In the season that was marked by the “Bosman decision”, which had substantial effects on transfer regulations and transfer fees in sport, FC Barcelona won their first EHF Champions League title. No other 2001/02 should be capable of dethroning the Catalan side for the next four Final: Fotex Veszprem vs SC Magdeburg 23:21 / 25:30 (48:51) years. One year after Barcelona’s dominance had ended in the EHF Champions League, the dominance of Spanish clubs also came to an end, when SC Magdeburg became the first German team to win 1996/97 the competition. And late at night, at the end of a glittering party, Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 31:22 / 30:23 (61:45) Stefan Kretzschmar and coach Alfred Gislason were still up for In their second consecutive EHF Champions League Final Barcelona jokes: “Training is on the agenda. The entire team is going to run dominated both matches against Badel Zagreb. And while the Spanish through the whole town until 08:00 tomorrow morning,” they both side celebrated their second EHF Champions League triumph, the proclaimed. Croatian side had lost their second final. Also in 1996/97 the so called “fast break” was born due to a rule change, making handball more attractive and athletic than ever before. 2002/03 Final: Portland San Antonio – Montpellier HB 27:19 / 19:31 (46:50) A new star was born during the finals of the 2002/03 EHF Champions 1997/98 League season. Montpellier’s Nikola Karabatic scored 11 goals in the Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 28:18 / 28:22 (56:40) first leg in Spain and another six in front of his home fans, enabling Barcelona beat Zagreb once more to win their third consecutive EHF his team to turn around the eight goal defeat from the first leg and to Champions League title. But at least as much news as the repeated become the first French side to win the EHF Champions League. triumph made the wedding of Barcelona player Inaki Urdangarin who married Christina, youngest daughter of Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, on 4th October 1997.
119 History: twenty years of EHF Champions League 2003 – 2013
2003/04 2008/09 Final: Celje vs Flensburg- Handewitt 34:28 / 28:30 (62:58) Final: THW Kiel vs BM Ciudad Real 39:34 / 27:33 (66:67) In March 2003 the EHF had decided on a new structure for the THW Kiel and BM Ciudad Real faced each other in the final for the competition. Three teams from Spain and Germany now had a second year in a row and even though Kiel had won the first leg of the starting slot. Two representatives from Hungary, Slovenia, Denmark final by five goals, it was Ciudad Real that won the EHF Champions and Croatia would start in the Group Phase. Overall 32 teams (8 League for a second consecutive time. Kiel were still in the lead groups of 4 teams each) made up the Group Phase. Flensburg had by 20:16 after 39 minutes but with a series of 10:3 goals within 11 profited from the new system but Slovenian side Celje was too strong minutes Ciudad Real turned the match in their favour. in the final.
2009/10 2004/05 Final: FC Barcelona Borges vs HW Kiel 34:36 Final: BM Ciudad Real vs FC Barcelona Cifec 28:27 / 27:29 (55:56) In the 2009/10 season the number of participating teams in the first Following four years without being present in the final, Barcelona Group Phase was reduced from 32 to 24. Four groups of six teams won their sixth EHF Champions League title. And while the spectator each were formed and the first four teams qualified for the knockout record for one match was 10,000 fans, the whole city celebrated phase which replaced the second group phase. For the first time the Barcelona’s victory. “We did a lap of honour in the Stadion Nou Camp VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, which combined the Semi-finals and in front of 100,000 spectators and were celebrated by the whole the Final, was held in Cologne, Germany, to decide the champion. town,” remembers Barcelona’s Dane Lars Krogh Jeppesen. THW Kiel won their second title when they beat Barcelona.
2005/06 2010/11 Final: Portland San Antonio vs BM Ciudad Real 19:25 / 28:37 (47:62) Final: FC Barcelona vs Renovalia Ciudad Real 27:24 Spanish businessman and BM Ciudad Real president, Domingo Diaz de Since 2010 the event is known as the VELUX EHF Champions League. Mera, had put together a team that proved to be unbeatable in the 40,000 fans stormed to Cologne to attend the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2005/06 Champions League season. Mera bought superstars from all weekend and TV viewing audience figures went to a new height. 310 over Europe and the team around Olafur Stefansson, Mirza Dzomba, million viewers from 76 countries worldwide watched 2,800 hours of Didier Dinart et al. paid justified Mera’s expenses when they beat TV transmissions 2010/11. Barcelona extended their lead as the most Spanish rival San Antonio in the final. successful club in EHF Champions League history when won their seventh title, beating Ciudad Real in the Final.
2006/07 Final: SG Flensburg- Handewitt vs THW Kiel 28:28 / 27:29 (55:57) 2011/12 The EHF Champions League, through the efforts of the 2005 Final: THW Kiel vs BM Atletico Madrid 26:21 founded EHF Marketing GmbH, became a unified look. Since 2006, The German powerhouse sensationally lost in their first home match TV spectators across Europe know they are watching a men’s EHF of the season against Montpellier, but no other team was able to Champions League match when they see the distinct blue lagoon overcome THW Kiel throughout the remaining of the season. Gíslason and black supplied by flooring specialists Gerfloor in addition to the led his team to the third trophy in the club’s history becoming the first season’s individual yellow and blue handball supplied by adidas. On coach who won with two different teams. Defending champions from the sport side of things, Kiel won their first EHF Champions League Barcelona were eliminated in the quarter-finals by AG København, but title, beating arch rival Flensburg-Handewitt. the Danish side was stopped in the semi-final by Atlético Madrid, who made it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the fourth time in a row.
2007/08 Final: BM Ciudad Real vs THW Kiel 27:29 / 31:25 (58:54) 2012/13 In the 2007/08 season a second Group Phase with four groups of four Final: FC Barcelona vs HSV Hamburg 29:30 AET teams each replaced the Last 16-matches and the quarter-finals. HSV Hamburg go into the new season as the defending champion. For The first teams of each group qualified for the semi-finals and in the the first time the extra-time had to decide the winner. In 20 years of final 2006 champion Ciudad Real faced 2007 champion THW Kiel. The EHF Champions League history there have only been two champions, Spanish side prevailed and could win their second EHF Champions Montpellier in 2003 and Celje in 2004, who neither came from League trophy. Spain nor from Germany. The All-Stars team of the 20 years were announced: Goalkeeper Tomas Svensson (SWE), Left Wing Stefan Kretzschmar (GER), Left Back Filip Jícha (CZE), Line Player Andrei Xepkin (ESP), Centre Back Jackson Richardson (FRA), Right Back (Oláfur Stefansson), Right Wing Mirza Džomba (CRO), Best defender Didier Dinart (FRA)
120 EHF Men’s Champions League Past Winners
2013 HSV Hamburg (GER)
2012 THW Kiel (GER)
2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP)
2010 THW Kiel (GER)
2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)
2008 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)
2007 THW Kiel (GER)
2006 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)
2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP)
2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)
2003 Montpellier HB (FRA)
2002 SC Magdeburg (GER)
2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP)
2000 FC Barcelona (ESP)
1999 FC Barcelona (ESP)
1998 FC Barcelona (ESP)
1997 FC Barcelona (ESP)
1996 FC Barcelona (ESP)
1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)
1994 TEKA Santander (ESP)
121 EHF Men’s Champions League Top Scorers
Season Player Club Goals 1993/94 Uroš Šerbec Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO 76 1994/95 Nenad Peruničić Bidasoa Irun/ESP 82 1995/96 Carlos Resende ABC Braga/POR 80 1996/97 Carlos Resende ABC Braga/POR 82 1997/98 József Éles MKB Veszprém KC/HUN 84 1998/99 Zlatko Saračević RK Zagreb/CRO 90 1999/00 Zlatko Saračević RK Zagreb/CRO 92 2000/01 Yuriy Kostetskiy ABC Braga/POR 81 2001/02 Nenad Peruničić SC Magdeburg 122 2002/03 Mirza Džomba FOTEX KC Veszprém/HUN 67 2003/04 Siarhei Rutenka Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO 103 2004/05 Siarhei Rutenka Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO 85 2005/06 Kiril Lazarov MKB Veszprém/HUN 85 2006/07 Nikola Karabatic THW Kiel/GER 89 2007/08 Kiril Lazarov MKB Veszprém/HUN 96 Ólafur Stefánsson BM Ciudad Real/ESP 96 2008/09 Filip Jícha THW Kiel/GER 99 2009/10 Filip Jícha THW Kiel/GER 119 2010/11 Uwe Gensheimer Rhein-Neckar Löwen/GER 118 2011/12 Mikkel Hansen AG København/DEN 98 2012/13 Hans Lindberg HSV Hamburg/GER 101
122 EHF Men’s Champions League Top Scorers 2012/13
1 Lindberg Hans (DEN) HSV Hamburg (GER) 101 2 Rutenka Siarhei (BLR) FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) 95 3 Eggert Jensen Anders (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 79 4 Mojsovski Naumče (MKD) HC Metalurg (MKD) 77 Nagy László (HUN) MKB Veszprém KC (HUN) 77 Jurecki Michał (POL) KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 77 7 Vujin Marko (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 76 8 Glandorf Holger (GER) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 73 Duvnjak Domagoj (CRO) HSV Hamburg (GER) 73 10 Marguč Gašper (SLO) Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) 72 11 Jícha Filip (CZE) THW Kiel (GER) 71 12 Vugrinec Renato (SLO) HC Metalurg (MKD) 70 13 Lazarov Kiril (MKD) BM Atletico Madrid (ESP) 69 14 Dolenec Jure (SLO) Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 64 Šulc František (SVK) Pick Szeged (HUN) 64 Čupić Ivan (CRO) KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 64 Lijewski Marcin (POL) HSV Hamburg (GER) 64 18 Dibirov Timur (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 62 Mačkovšek Borut (SLO) Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) 62 20 Mortensen Casper Ulrich (DEN) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) 61 21 Bezjak Marko (SLO) Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 59 Melic Fahrudin (MNE) Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 59 23 Gorbok Sergei (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 58 24 Ruesga Pasarin Carlos (ESP) Reale Ademar León (ESP) 57 25 Ilić Momir (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 56 26 Császár Gábor (HUN) MKB Veszprém KC (HUN) 55 Larholm Jonas Erik (SWE) Pick Szeged (HUN) 55 28 Atman Pavel (RUS) HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) 54 Tomas Gonzales Victor (ESP) FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) 54 30 Ševaljević Vasko (MNE) HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) 53 31 Stojković Rastko (SRB) Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 52 Vori Igor (CRO) HSV Hamburg (GER) 52 33 Horvat Zlatko (CRO) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) 51 Mogensen Thomas (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 51 Stepančić Luka (CRO) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) 51 36 Jørgensen Chris Holm (DEN) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) 50 37 Accambray William (FRA) Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) 49 Ninčević Ivan (CRO) Füchse Berlin (GER) 49 39 Cehte Klemen (SLO) Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 48 Shelmenko Sergiy (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 48 Garcia Lorenzana Juan (ESP) FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) 48 Svan Hansen Lasse (DEN) SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 48
123 EHF Men’s Champions League 1993-2013 All-time club standings
# TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA GD P NP % G 1 1 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 196 144 14 38 5991:4996 +995 302:90 (17) 77,04 C 2 2 THW Kiel GER 188 133 12 43 5880:5061 +819 278:98 (17) 74,42 B 3 3 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 170 112 6 52 4887:4398 +489 230:110 (19) 67,65 A 4 5 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 184 92 22 70 4903:4706 +197 206:162 (20) 55,98 A 5 6 Celje Pivovarna Laško SLO 152 90 8 54 4383:4051 +332 188:116 (16) 61,84 A 6 8 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 102 64 8 30 3103:2818 +285 136:68 (9) 66,67 D 7 11 HSV Hamburg GER 86 59 8 19 2701:2346 +355 126:46 (7) 73,26 D 8 14 KIF Kolding København DEN 80 38 7 35 2358:2323 +35 83:77 (10) 51,88 B 9 15 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 62 31 5 25 1767:1743 +24 67:57 (7) 54,03 B 10 17 Rhein Neckar Löwen GER 44 25 8 11 1383:1265 +118 58:30 (4) 65,91 A 11 21 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 50 21 1 28 1417:1393 +24 43:57 (6) 43,00 D 12 27 HC Metalurg MKD 38 17 2 19 960:966 -6 36:40 (5) 47,37 C 13 38 Orlen Wisła Płock POL 42 10 1 31 1065:1244 -179 21:63 (7) 25,00 B 14 41 HC Dinamo Minsk BLR 22 8 2 11 628:625 +3 19:25 (3) 43,18 C 15 42 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 40 7 5 28 999:1215 -216 19:61 (7) 23,75 C 16 51 PSG Handball FRA 14 5 1 8 343:390 -47 11:17 (3) 39,29 C 17 52 St. Petersburg HC RUS 30 5 1 24 725:921 -196 11:49 (4) 18,33 A 18 72 Aalborg Handball DEN 10 2 2 6 311:339 -28 6:14 (2) 30,00 D 19 102 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 0 (1) D Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 0 (1) B FC Porto Vitalis POR 0 (1) B Wacker Thun SUI 0 (1) C HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 0 (1) D HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 0 (1) A
^ = Excluding Qualifying matches The club name is the last used name in VELUX EHF Champions League competition TR – total ranking MP – matches played W – wins D – draws L – losses GF:GA – goals for:goals against P – points NP – number of participations % = winning percentage G - group
All stats in this guide are provided by Roy Knoppert
124
2013/14 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League
Qualification 1 MatchID: 201411020101- 001 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 002 LUX Handball Esch 63 : 44 31.08.2013 16:00 Halmstad (1185) 24.08.2013 18:00 Luxemburg (500) 37:14 (19:8) Ref.: Erdogan, Ozdeniz TUR Del.: Lauritzen NOR Ref.: Konjicanin, Konjicanin BIH Del.: Schlick AUT 26:30 (15:17) The order of matches has been changed.
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Qualification Tournaments Group 2 1 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 2 SVK TATRAN Presov 3 GRE A.E.K. Athens 4 TUR Besiktas JK MatchID: 201411020101- Cross Matches 001 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. GRE A.E.K. Athens 25 : 21 (11:13) 31.08.2013 15:30 Presov / SVK Spectators: 822 Ref.: Pavicevic, Raznatovic MNE Del.: Fegir UKR (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Burziwal AUT (EHF-Observer) 002 SVK TATRAN Presov vs. TUR Besiktas JK 32 : 30 (17:12) 31.08.2013 18:00 Presov / SVK Spectators: 1723 Ref.: Marin Lorente, Garcia Serradilla ESP Del.: Fegir UKR (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Burziwal AUT (EHF-Observer) Placement Matches 003 GRE A.E.K. Athens vs. TUR Besiktas JK 34 : 30 (21:14) 01.09.2013 15:30 Presov / SVK Spectators: 538 Ref.: Pavicevic, Raznatovic MNE Del.: Fegir UKR (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Burziwal AUT (EHF-Observer) 004 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. SVK TATRAN Presov 29 : 27 (14:13) 01.09.2013 18:00 Presov / SVK Spectators: 3072 Ref.: Marin Lorente, Garcia Serradilla ESP Del.: Fegir UKR (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Burziwal AUT (EHF-Observer)
Group 3 1 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 2 SRB RK Vojvodina 3 AUT Alpla HC Hard 4 BIH RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka MatchID: 201411020101- Cross Matches 005 BIH RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 18 : 40 (5:20) 31.08.2013 17:00 Novi Sad / SRB Spectators: 500 Ref.: Kaveshnikov, Plotnikov RUS Del.: Jaskins LAT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Vodopivec SLO (EHF-Observer) 006 SRB RK Vojvodina vs. AUT Alpla HC Hard 27 : 26 (10:12) 31.08.2013 19:30 Novi Sad / SRB Spectators: 1000 Ref.: Cohen, Peretz ISR Del.: Jaskins LAT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Vodopivec SLO (EHF-Observer) Placement Matches 007 BIH RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka vs. AUT Alpla HC Hard 17 : 25 (7:12) 01.09.2013 17:00 Novi Sad / SRB Spectators: 200 Ref.: Kaveshnikov, Plotnikov RUS Del.: Jaskins LAT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Vodopivec SLO (EHF-Observer) 008 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. SRB RK Vojvodina 36 : 24 (17:11) 01.09.2013 19:30 Novi Sad / SRB Spectators: 1200 Ref.: Cohen, Peretz ISR Del.: Jaskins LAT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Vodopivec SLO (EHF-Observer)
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Group 4 1 POR FC Porto Vitalis 2 ROU HCM Constanta 3 NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 4 NED HV KRAS/Volendam MatchID: 201411020101- Cross Matches 010 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 29 : 28 (13:13) 31.08.2013 14:00 Porto / POR Spectators: 1460 Ref.: Horváth, Marton HUN Del.: Grima MLT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Hansson SWE 009 ROU HCM Constanta vs. NED HV KRAS/Volendam 34 : 25 (19:14) 31.08.2013 16:30 Porto / POR Spectators: 530 Ref.: Eliasson, Palsson ISL Del.: Grima MLT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Hansson SWE Placement Matches 012 ROU HCM Constanta vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 22 : 26 (9:12) 01.09.2013 14:00 Porto / POR Spectators: 1704 Ref.: Horváth, Marton HUN Del.: Grima MLT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Hansson SWE (EHF-Observer) 011 NED HV KRAS/Volendam vs. NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 24 : 32 (13:18) 01.09.2013 16:30 Porto / POR Spectators: 150 Ref.: Eliasson, Palsson ISL Del.: Grima MLT (EHF-Supervisor) Del.: Hansson SWE (EHF-Observer)
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Wildcard Qualification MatchID: 201411020101- 015 MKD HC Metalurg 016 HUN Pick Szeged 45 : 39 28.08.2013 19:00 Skopje (5000) 01.09.2013 19:00 Szeged (3200) 26:16 (13:11) Ref.: Mazeika, Gatelis LTU Del.: Pavicevic MNE Ref.: Schulze, Tönnies GER Del.: Dolejs CZE 19:23 (7:11) 017 FRA Montpellier Agglomeration HB 018 POL Orlen Wisla Plock 52 : 55 29.08.2013 19:00 Montpellier (3000) 01.09.2013 16:00 Plock (5000) 29:27 (11:15) Ref.: Cacador, Nicolau POR Del.: Huelin ESP Ref.: Jurinovic, Mrvica CRO Del.: Andorka HUN 23:28 (10:13) 019 GER Füchse Berlin 020 GER HSV Hamburg 56 : 57 21.08.2013 19:00 Berlin (7128) 23.08.2013 19:00 Hamburg (6620) 30:30 (18:15) Ref.: Gousko, Repkin BLR Del.: Rudin SUI Ref.: Stark, Stefan ROU Del.: Convents BEL 26:27 (14:10)
RR_B389R1 EHF Report | 03.09.2013 12:19 | 4/4
2013/14 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase
Group A matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 2 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 3 RUS St. Petersburg HC 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 4 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 5 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 6 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 MatchID: 201411020102- 003 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 19.09.2013 19:00 St. Leon-Rot / GER Ref.: Santos, Fonseca POR Del.: Van der Helm NED 002 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 19.09.2013 20:00 Saint Petersburg / RUS Ref.: Dinu, Din ROU Del.: Arponen FIN 001 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 21.09.2013 18:00 Zagreb / CRO Ref.: Stark, Stefan ROU Del.: Bebetsos GRE 005 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 26.09.2013 19:00 Kharkov / UKR
006 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 28.09.2013 20:30 Celje / SLO
004 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 29.09.2013 17:00 Veszprem / HUN
009 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 09.10.2013 20:00 Celje / SLO
007 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 10.10.2013 19:00 Veszprem / HUN
008 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 12.10.2013 16:00 Saint Petersburg / RUS
011 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 16.-20.10.13 /
010 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 17.10.2013 19:00 Kharkov / UKR
012 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 20.10.2013 18:00 Zagreb / CRO
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013 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 13.-17.11.13 /
015 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 17.11.2013 19:00 Kharkov / UKR
014 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs. HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 17.11.2013 20:00 Celje / SLO
016 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 20.-24.11.13 /
017 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 20.-24.11.13 /
018 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 20.-24.11.13 /
019 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 27.11.-01.12.13 /
020 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 27.11.-01.12.13 /
021 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 27.11.-01.12.13 /
022 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 05.-09.02.14 /
023 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 05.-09.02.14 /
024 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 05.-09.02.14 /
025 SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 12.-16.02.14 /
026 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 12.-16.02.14 /
027 HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 12.-16.02.14 /
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028 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. HUN MKB-MVM Veszprém 19.-23.02.14 /
029 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 19.-23.02.14 /
030 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. SLO Celje Pivovarna Lasko 19.-23.02.14 /
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Group B matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 GER THW Kiel 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 2 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 3 POL Orlen Wisla Plock 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 4 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 5 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 6 POR FC Porto Vitalis 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 MatchID: 201411020102- 032 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. GER THW Kiel 22.09.2013 17:00 Plock / POL Ref.: Krstic, Ljubic SLO Del.: Djurkovic SRB 033 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 22.09.2013 17:00 Kolding / DEN Ref.: Dobrovits, Tajok HUN Del.: Gunnarsson ISL 031 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 22.09.2013 19:00 Kielce / POL Ref.: Pandzic, Mosorinski SRB Del.: Olsson SWE 036 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 28.09.2013 16:00 Dunkerque / FRA
034 GER THW Kiel vs. DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 29.09.2013 15:00 Kiel / GER
053 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 29.09.2013 15:00 Kielce / POL
058 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. GER THW Kiel 09.-13.10.13 /
039 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs. DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 13.10.2013 17:00 Dunkerque / FRA
038 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 13.10.2013 19:30 Plock / POL
040 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 16.-20.10.13 /
042 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. GER THW Kiel 16.-20.10.13 /
041 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 20.10.2013 17:00 Kolding / DEN
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044 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs. GER THW Kiel 13.-17.11.13 /
045 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 13.-17.11.13 /
043 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 17.11.2013 17:00 Brondby / DEN
046 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 20.-24.11.13 /
047 GER THW Kiel vs. FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 20.-24.11.13 /
048 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 20.-24.11.13 /
049 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 27.11.-01.12.13 /
050 GER THW Kiel vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 27.11.-01.12.13 /
051 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 27.11.-01.12.13 /
035 POR FC Porto Vitalis vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 05.-09.02.14 /
052 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs. GER THW Kiel 05.-09.02.14 /
054 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 05.-09.02.14 /
055 FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 12.-16.02.14 /
056 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 12.-16.02.14 /
057 GER THW Kiel vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 12.-16.02.14 /
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037 GER THW Kiel vs. POR FC Porto Vitalis 19.-23.02.14 /
059 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 19.-23.02.14 /
060 DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs. FRA Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 19.-23.02.14 /
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Group C matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 ESP FC Barcelona 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 2 FRA PSG Handball 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 3 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 4 SUI Wacker Thun 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 5 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 6 MKD HC Metalurg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 MatchID: 201411020102- 061 FRA PSG Handball vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 21.09.2013 16:00 Paris / FRA Ref.: Leandersson, Lindroos FIN Del.: Mulleners BEL 063 SUI Wacker Thun vs. MKD HC Metalurg 21.09.2013 16:30 Bern / SUI Ref.: Stenrand, Birch DEN Del.: Wille AUT 062 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje vs. ESP FC Barcelona 21.09.2013 18:15 Skopje / MKD Ref.: Horacek, Novotny CZE Del.: Hansson SWE 066 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 25.09.2013 19:00 Minsk / BLR
064 ESP FC Barcelona vs. SUI Wacker Thun 28.09.2013 16:15 Barcelona / ESP
065 MKD HC Metalurg vs. FRA PSG Handball 28.09.2013 18:00 Skopje / MKD
069 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. SUI Wacker Thun 10.10.2013 19:00 Minsk / BLR
067 ESP FC Barcelona vs. MKD HC Metalurg 12.10.2013 16:15 Barcelona / ESP
068 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje vs. FRA PSG Handball 13.10.2013 19:00 Skopje / MKD
072 FRA PSG Handball vs. ESP FC Barcelona 16.-20.10.13 /
071 SUI Wacker Thun vs. MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 19.10.2013 17:30 Bern / SUI
070 MKD HC Metalurg vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 20.10.2013 18:00 Skopje / MKD
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073 SUI Wacker Thun vs. FRA PSG Handball 13.-17.11.13 /
074 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. ESP FC Barcelona 14.11.2013 19:00 Minsk / BLR
075 MKD HC Metalurg vs. MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 14.11.2013 20:00 Skopje / MKD
076 FRA PSG Handball vs. SUI Wacker Thun 20.-24.11.13 /
077 ESP FC Barcelona vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 20.-24.11.13 /
078 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje vs. MKD HC Metalurg 24.11.2013 18:00 Skopje / MKD
079 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. FRA PSG Handball 27.11.-01.12.13 /
080 ESP FC Barcelona vs. MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 27.11.-01.12.13 /
081 MKD HC Metalurg vs. SUI Wacker Thun 27.11.-01.12.13 /
082 SUI Wacker Thun vs. ESP FC Barcelona 05.-09.02.14 /
083 FRA PSG Handball vs. MKD HC Metalurg 05.-09.02.14 /
084 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 05.-09.02.14 /
085 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. MKD HC Metalurg 12.-16.02.14 /
086 MKD HC Vardar - Skopje vs. SUI Wacker Thun 12.-16.02.14 /
087 ESP FC Barcelona vs. FRA PSG Handball 12.-16.02.14 /
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088 MKD HC Metalurg vs. ESP FC Barcelona 19.-23.02.14 /
089 FRA PSG Handball vs. MKD HC Vardar - Skopje 19.-23.02.14 /
090 SUI Wacker Thun vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 19.-23.02.14 /
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Group D matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 DEN Aalborg Handball 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 2 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 3 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 4 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 5 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 6 GER HSV Hamburg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 MatchID: 201411020102- 093 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. GER HSV Hamburg 21.09.2013 19:30 Logrono / ESP Ref.: Nikolic, Stojkovic SRB Del.: Goulao POR 091 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje vs. SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 21.09.2013 20:30 Velenje / SLO Ref.: Bonifert, Oláh HUN Del.: Posavec CRO 092 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. DEN Aalborg Handball 22.09.2013 15:00 Flensburg / GER Ref.: Baranowski, Lemanowicz POL Del.: Hogsnes NOR 096 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad vs. GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 25.09.2013 19:00 Halmstad / SWE
095 GER HSV Hamburg vs. SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 26.09.2013 20:00 Hamburg / GER
094 DEN Aalborg Handball vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 29.09.2013 17:00 Aalborg Ost / DEN
097 DEN Aalborg Handball vs. GER HSV Hamburg 09.-13.10.13 /
098 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 09.-13.10.13 /
099 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 13.10.2013 16:00 Halmstad / SWE
100 GER HSV Hamburg vs. SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 16.-20.10.13 /
101 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 16.-20.10.13 /
102 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje vs. DEN Aalborg Handball 16.10.2013 19:15 Velenje / SLO
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105 GER HSV Hamburg vs. GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 13.-17.11.13 /
103 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 16.11.2013 19:00 Logrono / ESP
104 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad vs. DEN Aalborg Handball 17.11.2013 15:00 Halmstad / SWE
106 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 20.-24.11.13 /
107 DEN Aalborg Handball vs. SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 20.-24.11.13 /
108 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. GER HSV Hamburg 20.-24.11.13 /
109 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad vs. SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 27.11.-01.12.13 /
110 DEN Aalborg Handball vs. GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 27.11.-01.12.13 /
111 GER HSV Hamburg vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 27.11.-01.12.13 /
112 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. DEN Aalborg Handball 05.-09.02.14 /
113 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje vs. GER HSV Hamburg 05.-09.02.14 /
114 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 05.-09.02.14 /
115 SWE HK DROTT Halmstad vs. GER HSV Hamburg 12.-16.02.14 /
116 GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 12.-16.02.14 /
117 DEN Aalborg Handball vs. SLO RK Gorenje Velenje 12.-16.02.14 /
EHF Report | 18.09.2013 15:15 | 11/12 2013/14 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase
118 GER HSV Hamburg vs. DEN Aalborg Handball 19.-23.02.14 /
119 SLO RK Gorenje Velenje vs. GER SG Flensburg-Handewitt 19.-23.02.14 /
120 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. SWE HK DROTT Halmstad 19.-23.02.14 /
RR_B389R2 EHF Report | 18.09.2013 15:15 | 12/12