Guia EHF Champions League 2018-2019

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Premium sponsor

Regional premium sponsors

Partners

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TEAMWORK, FAIRNESS & RESPECT

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Proud supporter of the VELUX EHF Champions League

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Table of contents

Table of contents Foreword Media contacts Map of participating clubs Playing system diagram Official informations List of TV stations MOTW - increasing engagement VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown/anniversary VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts & figures Important regulations Facts & Figures

6 7 8-9 10-11 13 15 16 18-19 20 23 24-27

Preview Head-to-heads in the EC HC Vadar PGE Vive Kielce Barça Lassa HC Meshkov Brest Telekom Veszprém HC Montpellier HB IFK Kristianstad Rhein-Neckar Löwen

30-31 32-35 36-41 42-47 48-53 54-59 60-65 66-71 72-77 78-83

GROUP A

GROUP B

Preview Head-to-heads in the EC Paris Saint-Germain Handball MOL-Pick Szeged SG Flensburg-Handewitt Skjern Handbold

84-85 86-89 90-95 96-101 102-107 108-113 4


Table of contents

HC PPD Zagreb HC Motor Zaporozhye RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko HBC Nantes

114-119 120-125 126-131 132-137

Preview Head-to-heads in the EC HC Metalurg Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Sporting CP Besiktas Mogaz HT Chekhovskie Medvedi Tatran Presov

138-139 140-141 142-147 148-153 154-159 160-165 166-171 172-177

Preview Head-to-heads in the EC Orlen Wisla Plock Abanca Ademar Leon Elverum Handball Wacker Thun Dinamo Bucuresti Riihimäen Cocks

178-179 180 182-187 188-193 194-199 200-205 206-211 212-217

20017/18 Top scorers All-stars team 2017/18 Past winners Timeline Summary All-time stats All-time club standings

218 219 221 222-223 224-227 228 229

GROUP C

GROUP D

HISTORY

5


Foreword

Foreword Dear handball friends, Welcome to a new season of the VELUX EHF Champions League and to the latest edition of the competition’s media guide. With extensive background information, key contacts and historical statistics in addition to team and player profiles, this is your essential guide to the 2018/19 group phase. Further updates and additional media information packs for each ‘Match of the Week’ will also be published throughout the season and will be available for download via the EHF Media Portal. Last season we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Europe’s premier club handball competition and 2018/19 marks another milestone in the competition’s history with the 10th edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to be played in the LANXESS arena. There is a long road ahead of us, but the event promises to be something very special and we are already looking forward to welcoming media colleagues from around the world to Cologne on 1/2 June 2019. We finished the 2017/18 season on a real high, with Montpellier HB returning to the throne in stunning fashion after 15 long years of waiting. Their success underlines the strengths of the competition’s playing format, with just about any team capable of picking up that coveted trophy regardless of which group they start the competition in. Standing in Montpellier’s way this season in Group A is a formidable line-up of teams including the eight-time champions from Barça Lassa, the 2017 winners HC Vardar and the 2016 trophy holders PGE Vive Kielce. In Group B, the challenge is no less daunting with two previous winners of the EHF Champions League SG Flensburg-Handewitt and Celje Pivovarna Lasko competing alongside last season’s runners-up HBC Nantes and semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain Handball as well as the brand new Hungarian champions MOL-PICK Szeged. Everything is wide open in Groups C/D as all of the 12 teams including eight national champions have a good chance of reaching the knock-out stages and following Montpellier’s example from the previous season. While Tatran Presov from Slovakia and Wacker Thun from Switzerland return to the VELUX EHF Champions League after some years, there is also a first for the competition with the addition of the Finnish champions Riihimäen Cocks to Europe’s elite. We pride ourselves at the EHF and EHF Marketing on our positive and cooperative relationship with our colleagues from the press and media and we are sure that this will continue to develop in the future. Should you require any information, help or assistance during the course of the season, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at the EHF Office in Vienna, and we will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you during the 2018/19 season!

EHF Media & Communications Team

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Media contacts

EHF/M media contacts Media matters

TV and Radio

Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation +43 1 80 151 161 brindzak@eurohandball.com

Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 224 mateo@ehfmarketing.com

Clubs media contacts

Group A

Group B

HC Vardar (MKD) Biljana Crvenkoska +38971247214 biljana@rkvardar.com

PGE Vive Kielce (POL) Magda Pluszewska +48 604 692 276 m.pluszewska@ kielcehandball.pl

Handball (FRA) Matthieu Brelle-Andrade +33 6 52 53 74 13 mbrelleandrade@psg.fr

MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Levente Juhasz +36 70 543 0979 levente.juhasz@pickhandball. hu

Barça Lassa (ESP) Pau Campana +34 683 567251

pau.campana@fcbarcelona.cat

HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Aleksandr Kulbaka +375 162 55 01 40 media@bgk-meshkova.com

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Isabel Hofmann +49 4611609625 i.hofmann sg-flensburg-handewitt.de

Skjern Handbold (DEN) Henning Kjaergaard Christensen +45 20 669374 henning@skjernhaandbold.dk

Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN) Zsolt Sevinger +36 305024547 office@handballveszprem.hu

Montpellier HB (FRA) Suzy De Monte +33 499 610 358 s.demonte@ montpellierhandball.com

HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Goran Roknić +385 95 9999 334 glasnogovornik@ rk‐zagreb.hr

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Yuriy Chorny +380 50 5946878 2207024sport@gmail.com

IFK Kristianstad (SWE) Sebastian Rosenberg +46 768 506651 sebastian.rosenberg@ ifkkristianstad.se

Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Christopher Monz +491744288849 monz@ rhein-neckar-loewen.de

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) Miha Pantelic +386 51 427 590 miha.pantelic@rk-celje.si

HBC Nantes (FRA) Kevin Morin +33 664865046 kevin.morin@hbcnantes.com

Group C

Group D

HC Metalurg (MKD) Zorica B. Molkoska +389 78 576785 zorica.blazevska@gmail.com

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) Anne Kildegaard +45 8668 0560 ak@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk

Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Tomasz Bauman +48 882 975 087 t.bauman@sprwislaplock.pl

Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) Pablo Castro Alvarez +34 699 948 179 administracion@ademar.com

Sporting CP (POR) Andre Leitao +351 914665 572 arleitao@sporting.pt

Besiktas Mogaz (TUR) Berk Karahan +90 551 7075858 berk.karahan@bjk.com.tr

Elverum Handball (NOR) Kalle Bjørkman +47 904 77605 kalle@ehh.no

Wacker Thun (SUI) Marc Santschi +41 79 310 25 12 marc.santschi@wackerthun.ch

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Olga Belysheva +7 909 6391 839 victi@bk.ru

Tatran Presov (SVK)

Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) Alexandru Enciu +40 754 929 106 sanenciu@yahoo.com

Riihimäen Cocks (FIN)

Richard Fech +421 903 662 215 everydayrf@yahoo.com

7

Jari Viita +358 500 480744 jari@viita.fi


SEASON 2018/19

SG FlensburgHandewitt, GER Elverum NOR

Groups A+B teams Groups C+D teams

BjerringbroSilkeborg, DEN

Skjern Handbold, DEN

VELUX EHF FINAL4 Cologne, GER

Rhein-Neckar Lรถwen, GER

Paris Saint-Germain Handball, FRA

HBC Nantes FRA

Abanca Ademar Leon, ESP

Sporting Lisbon, POR

Montpellier Handball, FRA

Barca Lassa, ESP

Wacker Thun, SUI

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, SLO


IFK Kristianstad SWE Orlen Wisla Plock, POL

Riihimäen Cocks, FIN

powered by

HC Meshkov Brest, BLR

PGE Vive Kielce, POL

Chekhovskie Medvedi, RUS

Tatran Presov, SVK

HC Motor Zaporozhye, UKR

Telekom Veszprém HC, HUN

MOL-Pick Szeged, HUN

Dinamo Bucuresti, ROU

Besiktas Mogaz, TUR

HC PPD Zagreb, CRO

HC Metalurg MKD

HC Vardar MKD


hase

Last

P roup

G

Place 1 directly to Quarter-ďŹ nals

A1

B1

A2

B2

A3

B3

A4

B4

A5

B5

A6

B6

M1 K1

A2

A7

B7

M2 K2

B2

A8

B8

M3 B6

A3

M4 A6

B3

Place 2 - 6 to Last 16

2 winners

Group A&B (draw)

C1

D1

C2

D2

C3

D3

C4

D4

C5

D5

C6

D6

K1 C2

D1

M5 B5

A4

K2 D2

C1

M6 A5

B4

KO Matches (no draw)

(no draw)

Group C & D (draw)

Season 2018/19 Group phase R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

12.-16.09.2018 19.-23.09.2018 26.-30.09.2018 03.-07.10.2018 10.-14.10.2018 03.-04.11.2018 07.-11.11.2018 14.-18.11.2018

Last 16 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13

16

21.-25.11.2018 28.11.-02.12.2018 06.-10.02.2019 13.-17.02.2019 20.-24.02.2019

R14 27.02.-02.03.2019

Group A&B only Group A&B only Group A&B and KO Group C&D Group A&B and KO Group C&D

1st leg 20.-24.03.2019 2nd leg 27.-31.03.2019

6 winners


nals

er-fi uart

Q

L4

FINA

powered by

M6

A1

M5

B1

M4

M1

M3

M2

4 winners

FINAL WINNER

Semi-finals (draw)

(no draw)

Quarter-finals

FINAL4

1st leg 24.-28.04.2019

01.-02.06.2019

2nd leg 01.-05.05.2019

3rd place match


Last 16

Quarter-finals

FINAL4

20.-24.03.2019 first leg

24.-28.04.2019 first leg

01./02.06.2019 tournament

06.-10.02.19 (11-A/B); 13.-17.02.19 (12-A/B)

27.-31.03.2019 second leg

01.-05.05.2019 second leg

played in semi-finals and

29 June 2018 in Vienna/AUT

no draw

no draw

07 May 2019

Group A and B (16 teams) 2 groups with 8 teams

12 teams

8 teams

4 teams

6 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16

4 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-finals

Qualification Tournament

1st placed team of Group A and B qualify directly for the quarter-finals; 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th placed team of Group A and B as well as winners of KO matches from Group C and D qualify for the Last 16

VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2018/19 Group Phase 12.-16.09.2018 (1); 19.-23.09.2018 (2); 26.-30.09.18 (3); 03.-07.10.18 (4) 10.-14.10.2018 (5); 03.-04.11.2018 (6) 07.-11.11.2018 (7); 14.-18.11.2018 (8) 21.-25.11.2018 (9); 28.11.-2.12.2018 (10) 20.-24.02.2019 (13); 27.2.-03.03.19 (14) DRAWS:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

FRA 1 MKD 1 POL 1 HUN 1 GER 1 ESP 1 DEN 1 BLR 1 CRO 1 HUN 2 UKR 1 FRA 2 SWE 1 SLO 1 GER 2 FRA 3

Paris Saint-Germain HB HC Vardar PGE Vive Kielce MOL-Pick Szeged SG Flensburg-Handewitt Barça Lassa Skjern Handbold HC Meshkov Brest HC PPD Zagreb Telekom Veszprem HC HC Motor Zaporozhye Montpellier Handball IFK Kristianstad RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Rhein Neckar Löwen HBC Nantes Group C and D (12 teams)

MKD 2 POL 2 ESP 2 DEN 2 POR 1 NOR 1 TUR 1 SUI 1 RUS 1 ROU 1 SVK 1 FIN 1

no matches

2 groups with 6 teams

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

HC Metalurg Orlen Wisla Plock Abanca Ademar Leon Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Sporting CP Elverum Handball Besiktas Mogaz Wacker Thun Chekhovskie medvedi Dinamo Bucuresti Tatran Presov Riihimäen Cocks

1st and 2nd placed teams of CL Group Phase Group C and D play Group KO matches. Winners of these matches qualify for L16

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Media information

MEDIA INFORMATION Accreditation for Group Phase 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 subject to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán (mateo@ehfmarketing.com).

Media portal All media representatives are invited to register for the EHF media portal on http://members.ehf.eu. The European Handball Federation’s media portal is a one-stop-shop for media representatives offering all the EHF’s media news such as press releases, event flash quotes directly after matches, press conference highlights, draw reactions and downloads of all relevant information including, but not limited to, media guides and event logos. Furthermore photographs that are free for editorial use will be available for download.

In addition an extended version will be used adding also the goalkeepers’ stats. EHF live on social media The EHF’s social media channels will provide a very different view of the chase for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. The social media feed with the behind the scenes look will be provided on four channels - EHF Champions League Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube account.

For further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the EHF Media and Communications Department and we will be happy to help you with any information you may require. All matches of the season live on ehfTV Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single match in the new season of both elite European club competitions. All matches starting from the VELUX EHF Champions League Qualification and the Women’s EHF Champions League Qualification are to be broadcast live on ehfTV.com and the videos of all matches will be also on demand. Furthermore, like in the past season fully produced highlights magazine - “Rewind - the handball show” will feature stories and highlights from all men´s top matches will be played out on Monday 7:00 / 8:00 GMT after each playing round. Apart from selected matches of other European Cup competitions in the new season there will also be a renewed focus on coverage of top league competitions, with all matches from both the SEHA League and Spain’s Asobal. Live ticker The EHF Live Ticker will track the scores of all matches. Every goal, missed shot and yellow card will be documented and live statistics made available online.

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Online match reports From the opening matches of the season, the complete team line-up is available online at eurohandball.com and available to download as a PDF document. The online solution introduced already in the 2015/16 season sees the EHF match delegate complete the final team line-up immediately after the technical meeting. This development means that team line-ups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each match throws-off. A short time after each match, a completed match report will also be available online with details such as goal scorers and number of spectators.

Online information www.ehfCL.com www.ehfTV.com www.ehfFINAL4.com Regulations of the VELUX EHF Champions League

@ehfcl @ehf ehf.champions.league @ehfcl /ehfTV


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Broadcasting

Broadcasting TV partners The matches of the upcoming season will be shown live or delayed almost all over the world. Over 40 TV stations will broadcast matches live or delayed. Only in Europe fans will be able to watch matches in 30 countries, but also the handball TV audience in America (USA, Canada, Argentina), Asia and Africa (countries of Middle East and North Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Macau) can look forward to a television coverage. See the list of TV stations and countries below.

TV Partners broadcasting the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 (as of 6 September 2018) •

ARG - DeporTV

MKD – Arenasport

AUT – Sky Sport

MNE – Arenasport

BIH – Arenasport

NOR – NENT Group

BLR – Belarus 5

POL – NC+ and Eleven Sports

CAN – beIN Sports

CRO – HRT and Arenasport

POR – Sport TV, Sporting TV (Including Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde)

CZE – SportTV

ROU – Digi Sport, Telekom Sports

DEN – DR and TV3 Denmark

RUS – Match TV

ESP – RTVE, TV3 Catalunya

SLO – Sport TV

FIN – YLE, TV2

SRB – Arenasport

FRA –beIN Sports (including Monaco, Andorra, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Madagascar and French overseas territories)

SUI – MySports

SVK – Sport TV

GER – Sky Sport

SWE - NENT Group

GEO – Silknet

TUR – Dsmart

GRE – OTE Sports

UKR – Xsport

HUN – Sport TV

USA – beIN Sports (Including US territories and possessions)

ISL – Sport TV

ISR – Sport1

Worldwide - ehfTV.com (geo-restrictions could apply)

KOS (Kosovo) - RTV21

MAC (Macau) - TDM

MENA Region – beIN Sports (23 terrritories in total) 15


MOTW goes far and wide in opening three rounds

MOTW goes far and wide in opening three rounds The VELUX EHF Champions League is one of the most attractive sporting competitions in Europe and during a season over 200 matches of top handball are broadcast live to handball fans from around the world on ehfTV.com. This season, the EHF Marketing GmbH will bring a greater focus and also a new approach to the MATCH OF THE WEEK (MOTW). The MOTW will not only receive more attention in terms of TV commentary, branding, half-time games and the sale of merchandise in the hall. To bring Europe’s premier handball competition to a whole new level, ties and engagement with fans through our various social media channels will increase as special content will be produced for every MOTW. Everyone can therefore look forward to extraordinary social media coverage with entertaining and most interesting behind-the-scenes content starring our very popular Faces of Champions League Markus Floth and Hannah Jackson. Together with our mobile reporters, Markus and Hannah will make sure that handball fans get remarkable insights to their favourite players and all the happenings around the MOTW. The aim of this is to make games during the whole season more accessible for handball fans and to create an arc of suspense towards the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. EHF Marketing will pick one match per round as the MOTW, as it has been custom in past seasons. The most interesting game in terms of fan’s expectations, the value of the tie and the entertainment will be selected. Whether well-known clubs compete against each other or less experienced clubs fight to get into the next round - we are sure that all the games will be captivating and thrilling. Match of the Week set for opening three rounds Three arenas known for their fantastic atmosphere will play host to Match of the Week in the first three rounds of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Tom O’Brannagain and Chris O’Reilly will be back to guide you through the highlight matches on ehfTV.com with English language commentary. Here are the first three destinations of the 2018/19 season:

Round 1 Telekom Veszprém vs PGE Vive Kielce Saturday 15 September at 18:00 hrs local time It is impossible to look beyond this clash on the opening weekend, a clash of two heavyweights in a period of transition and hoping to perform better than their quarter-final presence last season. Two of this summer’s biggest transfer coups will be on show (Arpad Sterbik for Veszprém and Luca Cindric for Kielce) and the Veszprém Arena is certain to be bouncing as both of these sides want to have a bright start to the new campaign.

Round 2 HC Meshkov Brest vs Montpellier HB Saturday 22 September at 19:30 hrs local time Belarus welcomes the defending champions in Round 2. After progressing from Group D all the way to gold last season, Montpellier are certain to be Match of the Week regulars this season, but their first appearance is a very tricky trip to Meshkov Brest. Brest has proven to be a stumbling block for many big sides over the years and the home side has lofty ambitions of their own this season after solidifying their status as a top flight club.

Round 3 IFK Kristianstad vs Barça Lassa Saturday 29 September at 19:30 hrs local time The sea of orange in Kristianstad is always a welcome sight at Match of the Week and the visit of Barça Lassa in Round 3 is the perfect opportunity to see what the Swedish champions are made of this season. Two sides with attractive styles of handball will provide us with 60 minutes of entertainment, during which we will see how Barcelona’s newcomers have settled in and which young Kristianstad players will make a name for themselves with the handball world’s eyes watching?

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VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown

VELUX EHF FINAL4 counts down to its 10th edition The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club handball season. The two-day event sees the best four men’s teams in Europe playing to decide the ultimate winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League. In the 2018/19 season, this tournament is going to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2020 in the LANXESS arena, Cologne, the decision to create a new format for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League was seen as crucial for the growth of handball across Europe. The aim was to create a flagship event, one that could compete on the international sports market and make the Europe’s leading club competition even more attractive to fans, partners and sponsors. The success of all seven editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 up to date showed that this format has been the right strategy. It has set new standards in organisation and entertainment; it is not just four games played over two days but a true entertainment event.

To little surprise the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 was the season’s highlight in European handball as nearly 20,000 spectators in the LANXESS arena and millions of fans at home watched four unforgettable handball games, unique entertainment shows and Montpellier’s Cinderella story come true. Tickets for the 2019 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 went on sale on the opening day of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018. In the time of this guide’s publication, eight months before the participating teams are known, only a very limited number of tickets remain. The success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is also thanks to the commitment of a great number of volunteers who have been active on the weekend of the event. The application procedure for next edition has already started and applications are invited also in the area of media. Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com

Media Accreditation The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will start in March 2019.

Numbers from nine years of magic in Cologne Fascinating facts and figures from the previous nine editions 13 goals by Juanin Garcia in a single match, 65 in total by Kiril Lazarov, six participations of Kiel and Barcelona each and seven different winners in the past seven years – ahead of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne heads for its tenth anniversary at the end of the 2018/19 season, there are many records and numbers to reflect on and celebrate.

0

clubs managed to defend the title in nine editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 0 players or clubs have been part of all nine editions from 2010 to 2018

1 player defended the title in the nine editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4: Ivan Cupic in 2017 with Vardar after winning the trophy with Kielce in 2016 1 coach only was part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournaments with two different teams: Talant Dujshebaev - 2010-2012 with Ciudad Real/Atletico Madrid and 2016 with Kielce 1 club, Montpellier in 2018, made it all the way from Groups C/D to the top of the podium 1 time - in 2018 - three clubs from the same country qualified for a VELUX EHF FINAL4: Montpellier, Nantes and Paris from France

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VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures

1 non-European player was awarded MVP of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far: Montpellier’s Diego Simonet from Argentina in 2018

3 times clubs from the same country duelled in the final: Barcelona vs Ciudad Real in 2011, Flensburg vs Kiel in 2014 and Montpellier vs Nantes in 2018

1 goalkeeper was awarded MVP at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far: Arpad Serbik (Vardar) in 2017

3 Spanish coaches have won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 so far: besides Pascual, it was Talant Dujshebaev (2016 with Kielce) and Raul Gonzalez (2017 with Vardar)

VELUX EHF FINAL4 final needed to be decided by a penalty shootout: The 2016 edition of Kielce vs Veszprem (39:38)

4 matches so far needed to go beyond 60 minutes to find a winner, two of them even went to a penalty shootout: First Hamburg beat Barcelona in the 2013 final 30:29 after extra-time, followed by the 2014 semi shoot-out of Flensburg vs Barcelona (40:39). In 2016, first Veszprem beat Kiel after extra-time 31:28, before losing to Kielce 39:38 after penalties in the final

2

2 players have won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with two different clubs: besides Ivan Cupic, it is German Tobias Reichmann (THW Kiel 2010, 2012 and Kielce 2016)

4 times a German side won the VELUX EHF FINAL4

4

2 coaches have won twice: Alfred Gislason (Kiel 2010, 2012) and Xavi Pascual (Barcelona 2011, 2015)

4 years a German team failed to reach the final, 2015 to 2018. In the past two years no German side has even reached Cologne

2 VELUX EHF FINAL debutants were the 2018 finalists: Montpellier and Nantes 2 times the defending champions returned to Cologne: Kiel in 2013 and Vardar in 2018 2 sons of CL winning fathers rose the trophy in Cologne: Alex Dujshebaev with Vardar in 2017 and Melvyn Richardson with Montpellier in 2018. Jackson Richardson was a champion with Portland San Antonio in 2001

4 straight times, from 2014 until 2017 - Veszprem were part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, as the only team with such a series so far. But the Hungarian record champions never won the trophy

Most goals in one game

13 goals Player’s name

Goals Date

Juan Garcia (FC Barcelona Borges) Filip Jicha (THW Kiel) Filip Jicha (THW Kiel) Kiril Lazarov (BM Atletico Madrid) Domagoj Duvnjak (HSV Hamburg) Siarhei Rutenka (FC Barcelona)

Juanin Garcia FC Barcelona, Borges

19

13 11 11 11 11 11

(30.05.2010 vs THW Kiel, 34:36) (30.05.2010 vs FC Barcelona Borges, 36:34) (26.05.2012 vs Füchse Berlin, 25:24) (26.05.2012 vs AG Kobenhavn, 25:23) (01.06.2013 vs THW Kiel, 39:33) (01.06.2014 vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, 26:25)


VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures

Most matches played

14

14

14

14

Joan Canellas

Momir Ilic

Aron Palmarsson

Chema Rodriguez

(Ciudad Real, Atletico, Kiel, Vardar)

(Kiel, Veszprém)

(Kiel, Veszprém)

(Ciudad Real, Atletico, Veszprém)

4 Montpellier players were the first EHF Champions League winners from their countries in 2018: Nikola Portner (Switzerland), Diego Simonet (Argentina), Jonas Truchanovicius (Lithuania) and Ashem Mamdouh (Egypt). 5 goals is the biggest winning margin in a final: In 2012, Kiel beat Madrid 26:21, in 2015 Barcelona defeated Veszprem 28:23 and in 2018 Montpellier were 32:27 winners against Nantes

7 different clubs won the trophy in Cologne: THW Kiel (2010 and 2012) and FC Barcelona (2011, 2015) each twice, Hamburg, Flensburg, Kielce, Vardar and Montpellier each once +8 - the biggest win at the FINAL4 history was recorded in the premier edition in 2010 as Ciudad Real beat Chekhovskie Medvedi 36:28 in the third place game

10

5 different nations are represented by the nine winners so far (Germany, Spain, Poland, FYR Macedonia and France) 5 different German clubs had qualified for VELUX EHF FINAL4 events: Kiel (six times), Hamburg (two), RheinNeckar Löwen, Flensburg and Berlin (one each)

6

times each, THW Kiel and FC Barcelona were part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 - but only clashed once in the final, in 2010, won by Kiel

for the tenth straight time the four best clubs of the continent will descend upon the LANXESS Arena in Cologne on 1/2 June 2019 15 years after their first triumph in 2003, coach Patrice Canayer and left wing Michael Guigou lifted the trophy again with Montpellier HB in 2018 21 goals at one tournament is the high score - again it was Juanin Garcia in 2010, who had netted in eight times in the semi-final against Chekhovskie Medvedi. Mikkel Hansen follows with 20 in 2016

36

7 times Dominik Klein was part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, six times with Kiel, once with Nantes. The 2018 final against Montpellier was his seventh Champions League final since 2007, including three victories (2007, 2010, 2012, all with Kiel)

matches had been played at the nine VELUX EHF FINAL4 editions so far

20


VELUX EHF FINAL4 facts and figures

Most goals scored by one team

41 goals Date

Match

Final score

31.05.2014 Semi-final: FC Barcelona-SG vs Flensburg-Handewitt 39:41 a7m 01.06.2013 Semi-final: THW Kiel vs HSV Hamburg 33:39 29.05.2016 Final: KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MVM Veszprém 39:38 a7m

47 goals was the lowest score of any VELUX EHF FINAL4 match - and the spectators of the final day in 2012 even saw this low number twice in a row: First in the placement match Berlin vs Kobenhavn (21:26), then in the final Kiel vs Atletico Madrid (26:21). The 2017 final between Vardar and Paris (24:23) was the third match with the same number of goals.

251 goals were scored at the 2010 edition to top this ranking ahead of 245 goals in 2016. The lowest overall score was 191 goals in 2012

2,068

goals in total were scored in the 36 VELUX EHF FINAL4 matches so far

80 goals were scored in the record-breaking 2014 semi-final between Flensburg and Barcelona (41:39 after extra-time and penalties)

693,000 spectators in total attended the 36 matches of all editions of the FINAL4, which were all officially sold out at 19,250 fans per match

229.77 goals were scored on average at each of the nine tournaments, which means an average of 57.44

All-time topscorers Player’s name

MP

G

Kiril Lazarov (Ciudad Real, Atletico, FC Barcelona, Nantes) Filip Jicha (Kiel, Barcelona) Momir Ilic (Kiel, Veszprém) Laszlo Nagy (Barcelona, Veszprém) Mikkel Hansen (Barcelona, Kobenhavn, Paris) Aron Palmarsson (Kiel, Veszprém) Siarhei Rutenka (Barcelona) Juanin Garcia (Barcelona) Ivan Cupic (Rhein-Neckar, Kielce, Vardar) Victor Tomas Gonzalez (Barcelona) Nikola Karabatic (Barcelona, Paris)

12 12 14 12 10 14 10 8 12 12 10

65 56 56 51 48 48 47 44 41 40 38

21

65 goals

Kiril Lazarov Ciudad Real Atletico Madrid FC Barcelona Nantes


Available at salminghandball.com



20 nations, six former champions and one debutant

20 nations, six former champions and one debutant FACTS AND FIGURES: Important numbers prior to the new season

2

While Finnish side Cocks have their maiden voyage in the VELUX EHF Champions League, Zagreb have their 25th anniversary in this competition. 20 nations are represented by the 28 group phase participants in the 2018/19 season.

coaches led two different teams to CL titles: Alfred Gislason (SC Magdeburg in 2002, THW Kiel in 2010 and 2012) and Talant Dujshebaev (Ciudad Real in 2006, 2008, 2009, and Kielce in 2016).

Here are the most important Facts and Figures of the upcoming group phase and beyond:

0

for the first time under the current playing system, no qualification tournaments are carried out. 0 not a single team has successfully defended the trophy since the implementation of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010. 1 club is debutant in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase: Finnish champions Cocks. 1 coach - Patrice Canayer - has won the CL twice with the same club (Montpellier) but with a 15-year gap between the two titles. Also, he was the first ever French coach to win the CL.

4 former or current IHF World Handball Players of the Year are part of the CL this season: Arpad Sterbik (2005/Veszprém), Nikola Karabatic (2007, 2014, 2016/ PSG), Thierry Omeyer (2008/PSG) and Mikkel Hansen (2011, 2015/PSG). Compared to last season, three are missing: Daniel Narcisse (PSG) and Slawomir Szmal have retired, Domagoj Duvnjak (Kiel) is not part of the competition. 4 times has Thierry Omeyer won the CL (Montpellier 2003, Kiel 2007, 2010, 2012), the most for any active player. Andrej Xepkin is the all-time record holder with titles (six with Barcelona, one with Kiel).

1 player only won the title two years in a row since 2010: Ivan Cupic (2016 with Kielce and 2017 with Vardar).

5 former or current top scorers of the CL are still on court in the 2018/19 season: Uwe Gensheimer (2010/11 - 118 goals, Rhein Neckar Löwen, 2016/17 - 115 goals for PSG, 2017/18 - 92 goals for PSG), Momir Ilic (2014/15 - 114 goals, 2013/14 - 103 goals for Veszprém), Mikkel Hansen (2011/12 - 98 goals for AG København, 2015/16 - 141 goals for PSG), Nikola Karabatic (2006/07 - 89 goals for Kiel, now PSG).

1 player is the record three-time CL top scorer: Uwe Gensheimer (PSG: 2010/11, 2016/17, 2017/18). Eight players were top scorer twice: Perunicic, Resende, Sarazevic, Rutenka, Lazarov, Jicha, Hansen and Ilic.

6 countries are represented by the 25 EHF Champions League winners so far: Spain (14 titles), Germany (6), France (2), FYR Macedonia, Poland and Slovenia (each 1).

1 person won the CL as a player and a coach, Talant Dujshebaev: as player with Santander (ESP) in 1994, and as coach with Ciudad Real (ESP) in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and with Kielce (POL) in 2016.

6 former or current CL winners, with a total of 13 trophies, are part of the 2018/19 group phase: Vardar, Kielce, Barcelona, Flensburg, Montpellier and Celje.

2 German teams (Rhein-Neckar Löwen and SG Flensburg-Handewitt) are part of the CL this season; in the past decade usually three or even four Bundesliga sides were competing.

8 different Spanish coaches steered their teams to an overall of 16 CL trophies: Valero Rivera (5), Talant Dujshebaev (4), Xavi Pascual (2), Javier Cuesta, Julian Ruiz, Francisco Equisoain, Francesc Espar, Raul Gonzalez (each 1). 24


20 nations, 6 former champions and one debutant

14 times Spanish teams have won the CL - Barcelona (8), Ciudad Real (3), Santander, Irun and Portland (each 1).

25 CL participations in 26 years make RK Zagreb the record holders, ahead of Veszprém and Celje (24 participations each).

15 years ago, THW Kiel missed qualification for the CL for the last time. Since then, the three-time CL winners reached at least the quarter-final each year. This season, they compete in the EHF Cup.

56.40 goals were scored in average in the 204 CL matches last season, compared to 55.58 in 2016/17 and 57.03 in 2015/16.

18 is the maximum and 16 the minimum number of matches teams have to play to get to the VELUX EHF FINAL4, depending on whether they skip the Last 16 or have to go through the play-offs. 20 different nations (two more than in the previous season) are represented by the 28 group phase participants: France have three teams, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Poland two each. Finland make their debut in the group phase. Teams by age average

92 goals were scored by Uwe Gensheimer (PSG) to become top scorer of the 2017/18 season 200 matches will be carried out in the 2018/19 season 11,506 goals were scored in the previous season. In the 2016/17 season the total was 11,560 19,250 fans, the capacity crowd, are expected again for VELUX EHF FINAL4, staged for the 10th time in LANXESS arena in Cologne.

Teams by height average

Teams by weight average

Riihimäen Cocks Dinamo Bucuresti Telekom Veszprém HC HC Motor Zaporozhye PGE Vive Kielce Besiktas Mogaz TATRAN Presov Sporting CP HC Meshkov Brest Bjerringbro-Silkeborg HC Vardar 26.70 Skjern Handbold SG Flensburg-Handewitt Orlen Wisla Plock HBC Nantes Montpellier HB MOL-Pick Szeged Abanca Ademar Leon Paris Saint-Germain HB Wacker Thun Rhein-Neckar Löwen HC PPD Zagreb Barça Lassa Chekhovskie Medvedi IFK Kristianstad Elverum Handball RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko HC Metalurg

30,11 28,56 28,30 27,88 27,54 27,30 27,03 27,02 26,81 26,71 26,70 26,51 26,37 26,33 25,98 25,87 25,32 25,18 24,98 24,81 24,79 24,49 24,17 23,17 22,92 22,77 21,94 20,53

MOL-Pick Szeged Telekom Veszprém HC Bjerringbro-Silkeborg SG Flensburg-Handewitt HC PPD Zagreb HC Meshkov Brest Orlen Wisla Plock TATRAN Presov Barça Lassa Montpellier HB HC Vardar HC Motor Zaporozhye Rhein-Neckar Löwen Dinamo Bucuresti Elverum Handball Chekhovskie Medvedi Paris Saint-Germain HB HBC Nantes PGE Vive Kielce Besiktas Mogaz IFK Kristianstad Riihimäen Cocks RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Sporting CP Skjern Handbold HC Metalurg Wacker Thun Abanca Ademar Leon

195,15 193,80 193,27 193,15 192,90 192,44 192,18 192,00 191,91 191,90 191,90 191,90 191,83 191,75 191,75 191,60 191,56 191,30 191,11 191,11 191,04 190,89 190,79 190,04 189,38 188,85 188,26 187,55

Telekom Veszprém HC MOL-Pick Szeged Orlen Wisla Plock Elverum Handball Riihimäen Cocks HC Vardar SG Flensburg-Handewitt IFK Kristianstad Dinamo Bucuresti Bjerringbro-Silkeborg PGE Vive Kielce Barça Lassa Rhein-Neckar Löwen Skjern Handbold Montpellier HB HC Motor Zaporozhye TATRAN Presov Besiktas Mogaz HC PPD Zagreb Paris Saint-Germain HB HBC Nantes HC Meshkov Brest Sporting CP RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Chekhovskie Medvedi Wacker Thun Abanca Ademar Leon HC Metalurg

99,00 97,38 96,64 95,95 94,50 93,65 93,40 93,32 93,06 93,00 93,00 92,59 92,59 92,42 91,95 91,95 91,86 91,79 91,71 91,56 91,22 91,04 88,75 88,42 88,05 87,96 87,00 85,65

CL average

25,52

CL average

191,51

CL average

92,16

25


Facts and figures - max and min

Facts and figures - max and min Youngest

Age: 15 ½ Stefan Dodic HC Metalurg

Stefan Dodic Nik Cirovic Gökay Bilim Milosz Walach Filip Rakita Marcell Lörincz Salvador Salvador Jernej Mlakar Tim Cokan Andrej Petkovski Bruno Bajusz Barnabas Marczika Tadej Kljun Rune Bergmann Lovschall Anze Blagotinsek

SRB SLO TUR POL SLO HUN POR SLO SLO MKD HUN HUN SLO DEN SLO

15,5 16,5 16,7 16,8 16,8 16,9 17,1 17,2 17,3 17,3 17,3 17,3 17,4 17,4 17,4

HC Metalurg HC Metalurg HC PPD Zagreb Abanca Ademar Leon Skjern Handbold Abanca Ademar Leon Riihimäen Cocks Sporting CP HC Vardar Riihimäen Cocks Abanca Ademar Leon Rhein-Neckar Löwen Abanca Ademar Leon Wacker Thun HC Vardar

SLO MKD CRO ESP DEN ESP UKR POR MKD RUS ESP GER ESP SUI CRO

173,0 175,0 175,0 175,0 176,0 176,0 177,0 177,0 177,0 177,0 177,0 178,0 178,0 178,0 178,0

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Meshkov Brest PGE Vive Kielce Abanca Ademar Leon Abanca Ademar Leon Elverum Handball Abanca Ademar Leon HC Vardar Montpellier HB Sporting CP HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Vardar Sporting CP HC PPD Zagreb

SLO UKR BLR BLR ESP ESP NOR ESP SRB FRA POR RUS RUS POR CRO

67,0 68,0 70,0 70,0 70,0 72,0 72,0 72,0 72,0 73,0 73,0 73,0 74,0 74,0 74,0

HC Metalurg RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Besiktas Mogaz PGE Vive Kielce RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko MOL-Pick Szeged Sporting CP RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko HC Vardar MOL-Pick Szeged MOL-Pick Szeged RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Bjerringbro-Silkeborg RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Shortest

173 cm Tadej Matijasic HC Metalurg

Tadej Matijasic Mice Shilegov David Mandic Gonzalo Perez Arce Rene Rasmussen Jaime Fernandez Oleksandr Kyrylenko Nuno Reis Martin Popovski Andrei Novoselov Juanin Garcia Mattes Meyer Rodrigo Perez Arce Luca Linder Ivan Cupic

Lightest

67 kg Filip Rakita

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Filip Rakita Artem Kozakevych Andrei Yurynok Artsem Karalek Gonzalo Perez Arce Mario Lopez Alvarez Stian Mogen Jaime Fernandez Janja Vojvodic Theophile Causse Nuno Reis Igor Soroka Timur Dibirov Goncalo Gracio David Mandic

26


Facts and figures - max and min

Oldest

Age: 47 ½ Maros Kolpak TATRAN Presov

Maros Kolpak Alexandr Radcenko Thierry Omeyer Juanin Garcia Michael V. Knudsen Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson Gonzalo Carou Marcel Renato Sulic Arpad Sterbik Uros Zorman Marcin Wichary Alexander Petersson Jesper Brian Nöddesbo Ivan Nikcevic Raul Entrerrios

TATRAN Presov TATRAN Presov Paris Saint-Germain HB Abanca Ademar Leon Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Rhein-Neckar Löwen Abanca Ademar Leon Orlen Wisla Plock Telekom Veszprém HC PGE Vive Kielce Orlen Wisla Plock Rhein-Neckar Löwen Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Sporting CP Barça Lassa

SVK CZE FRA ESP DEN ISL ESP CRO ESP SLO POL ISL DEN SRB ESP

47,5 45,2 41,9 41,0 40,0 39,1 39,1 38,9 38,8 38,7 38,6 38,2 37,9 37,6 37,6

HC Vardar Orlen Wisla Plock Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Orlen Wisla Plock Elverum Handball HC PPD Zagreb TATRAN Presov HC Meshkov Brest MOL-Pick Szeged Telekom Veszprém HC Chekhovskie Medvedi Sporting CP Paris Saint-Germain HB Barça Lassa MOL-Pick Szeged

LAT POL DEN POL DEN CRO CZE BLR HUN HUN RUS CRO FRA POL HUN

215,0 212,0 211,0 210,0 210,0 210,0 209,0 208,0 207,0 207,0 207,0 206,0 206,0 206,0 205,0

LAT HUN DEN SLO SWE POL POL CRO DEN ESP SLO FRA SWE BRA HUN

135,0 126,0 125,0 122,0 121,0 120,0 120,0 120,0 120,0 119,0 119,0 118,0 118,0 118,0 118,0

Tallest

215 cm Dainis Kristopans HC Vardar

Dainis Kristopans Tomasz Gebala Nikolaj Markussen Mateusz Piechowski Kristian Krag Örsted Josip Vekic Michal Kasal Pavel Darafeyeu Bence Banhidi Laszlo Nagy Evgeny Dzemin Matej Asanin Robin Dourte Kamil Syprzak Richard Bodo

Heaviest

135 kg Dainis Kristopans HC Vardar

Dainis Kristopans Bence Banhidi Kristian Krag Örsted Blaz Blagotinsek Andreas Nilsson Tomasz Gebala Kamil Syprzak Kristian Beciri Emil Nielsen Arpad Sterbik Matej Gaber Robin Dourte Ludvig Jurmala Aström Rogerio Ferreira Moraes Richard Bodo

27

HC Vardar MOL-Pick Szeged Elverum Handball Telekom Veszprém HC Telekom Veszprém HC Orlen Wisla Plock Barça Lassa RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Skjern Handbold Telekom Veszprém HC MOL-Pick Szeged Paris Saint-Germain HB IFK Kristianstad HC Vardar MOL-Pick Szeged


Player s list by countries

PLAYERS LIST by countries

ROU:

FRA:

11

65

SVK:

ESP:

50

10

DEN:

BIH:

CRO:

CZE:

SLO:

FIN:

RUS:

BRA:

SWE:

MNE:

MKD:

TUN:

NOR:

LTU:

GER:

NED:

SUI:

EGY:

BLR:

IRI:

HUN:

CUB:

POL:

MDA:

SRB:

ARG:

POR:

GEO:

TUR:

ITA:

UKR:

LAT:

8

49

7

45

6

45

5

37

4

35

4

27

3

26

2

25

2

24

2

24

2

22

1

21

1

20

1

15

1

13

1

12 ISL:

11 28



Group A preview

Group A preview A TRUE GROUP OF DEATH It could sound like a cliché, but every top competition must provide its fans with the so-called “group of death.” It’s not like for the VELUX EHF Champions League to disappoint, therefore there are only few who will not count down the days for the start of a star-studded group which boasts the current title holders, Montpellier, a hugely ambitious Rhein-Neckar Löwen, last year’s semifinalists, HC Vardar, and Barca Lassa, the most decorated team in the competition’s history, who are gunning for their ninth title. A longshot to win the title before the throw off of the competition, Montpellier flew under the radar last season and their approach worked wonders. The French side won Group C, eliminated Ademar Leon in the subsequent play-off game, and ran riot against Barca Lassa and Flensburg-Handewitt, all the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 in Cologne. This time, their antics will not be repeated, as the path to the business end of the competition is harder. The title holders are to play once again against their Spanish rivals, whom they eliminated by the smallest of margins (56:55 agg.) in the Last 16 phase, but will also face tough challenges against Vardar, Löwen or Telekom Veszprem. Their core has remained more or less the same, with only one high-profile player who left the club, Ludovic Fabregas, who will meet his team when Barcelona host Montpellier in the fourth matchday. One of their earliest exits in the VELUX EHF Champions League in the past two decades has shown that not even powerhouses like Barca Lassa are unbeatable in certain situations. The Spanish side did not have the best preseason one year ago and that is exactly what they are looking to strengthen this time around. Having Aron Palmarsson from day 1 of the season will surely help the Catalan side this time around, as their newfound motivation to come back to the top can boost their challenge. Another wounded beast is Telekom Veszprem, yet one more powerhouse who saw their ambitions cut short in the 2017/18 season. Likewise Barcelona, the Hungarian team had a season to forget, being eliminated in the Last 16 phase of the European premium competition by Skjern. Moreover, their 17-year title winning streak in Hungary has been snapped by archrivals MOL-Pick Szeged, leaving Veszprem’s fans and coach Ljubomir Vranjes dumbfounded. Veteran Arpad Sterbik will reinforce the goalkeeper area, while Kentin Mahe will bring much needed flair and creativity to a team that desperately needed it. Another disappointing season will surely not be tolerated in Veszprem. A schedule conflict saw Rhein-Neckar Löwen’s title hopes go up in smoke last season, but the Lions are eager to bounce back. Kim Ekdahl du Rietz came back after a sabbatical only to leave for PSG, while the German side will rely once again on the Swedish pair of goalkeepers of Mikael Appelgren and Andreas Palicka, but also on the veteran Andy Schmid.

30


Group A preview

It looks like the battle for the top spot will feature at least three of the aforementioned four teams, but the quality is so outrageous, that anyone could surprise. While Vardar may have been a constant threat for the top teams, qualifying between the top eight teams for the past five seasons in a row, including winning the competition in the 2016/17 season, it looks like the Macedonian side is currently in a rebuild mode. Star playmaker Luka Cindric bolted for PGE Vive Kielce, one of Vardar’s opponents in the group. Roberto Garcia Parrondo has been promoted from the defunct Vardar women’s team to replace another Spanish coach, Raul Gonzalez, as his departure prompted a mass Spanish exodus, with Arpad Sterbik, Joan Canellas and Jorge Maqueda opting to leave Skopje. There is still talent in Vardar’s squad, but their depth and overall quality looks subpar of their standards right now. A turbulent summer saw PGE Vive Kielce nearly conclude their dream of winning the VELUX EHF Champions League, yet players and staff accepted pay cuts in order to fight for achieving the objective. The Polish side added serious power in bringing Uladislau Kulesh from SKA Minsk, but it will be delightful to see Luka Cindric adapt to his new role. As Manuel Strlek departs for Veszprem, Kielce lose a steady and critical left wing, as they will experience, as Karol Bielecki, Slawomir Szmal and Uros Zorman retire from handball. There seems to be an obvious gap in talent and experience between these six sides and the other two in the group, Meshkov Brest and IFK Kristianstad. However, trips to Belarus can be excruciating, with teams of the likes of Vardar, Löwen, last year finalists HBC Nantes or PSG failing to win against Meshkov on their home court. On the other side, Kristianstad only managed to progress to the next phase last season, finishing 6th in a group that also featured Vardar, Barcelona, Nantes or Löwen, but they only managed nine wins in 42 games in the European premium competition in the last three seasons. The Swedish side will also have to cope with five high-profile players leaving, a tough ask in what their manager says it will be their toughes challenge up to date. Adrian Costeiu

31


Group A preaview

Group A head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC HC Vardar vs PGE Vive Kielce 2-0-4 (169:163) 4:8 11.04.2015 19.04.2015 24.10.2015 28.11.2015 12.11.2016 04.12.2016

HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

20:22 (11:11) 33:31 (16:14) 34:24 (18:14) 23:20 (10:6) 40:34 (18:18) 27:24 (15:12)

HC Vardar vs Barça Lassa 2-1-10 (324:398) 5:21 18.10.2003 16.11.2003 09.10.2004 06.11.2004 11.11.2009 21.11.2009 21.09.2013 30.11.2013 14.11.2015 22.11.2015 03.06.2017 14.10.2017 10.02.2018

FC Barcelona vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group B Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group B FC Barcelona vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group A Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group A HC Vardar PRO – Skopje vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Group D FC Barcelona Borges vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D HC Vardar – Skopje vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C FC Barcelona vs HC Vardar – Skopje, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C FC Barcelona Lassa vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final HC Vardar vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A FC Barcelona Lassa vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

41:19 (19:8) 27:35 (16:14) 31:22 (16:12) 12:26 (8:15) 28:35 (17:16) 35:28 (15:13) 29:29 (15:19) 30:23 (14:11) 31:30 (16:13) 25:27 (15:12) 26:25 (13:12) 27:24 (16:12) 29:28 (15:14)

HC Vardar vs HC Meshkov Brest 1-0-1 (57:57) 2:2 01.10.2016 04.03.2017

HC Vardar vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Meshkov Brest vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

31:27 (13:13) 30:26 (15:13)

HC Vardar vs Telekom Veszprém HC 0-1-5 (149:169) 1:11 10.11.2001 08.12.2001 15.11.2014 22.11.2014 23.04.2016 30.04.2016

Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group D Fotex KC Veszprém vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D HC Vardar vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Vardar vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final MVM Veszprém vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final

24:27 (11:10) 27:22 (14:10) 23:24 (11:13) 32:24 (16:10) 26:29 (9:12) 30:30 (12:14)

HC Vardar vs Montpellier HB 3-1-1 (155:139) 7:3 19.10.2014 14.02.2015 20.09.2015 05.03.2016 26.05.2018

Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Vardar vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Montpellier HB vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final

34:34 (19:17) 30:26 (18:13) 25:30 (12:9) 34:26 (17:17) 27:28 (11:14)

HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad 6-0-0 (185:151) 12:0 04.10.2015 20.02.2016 25.09.2016 12.03.2017 04.11.2017 02.12.2017

IFK Kristianstad vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A HC Vardar vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

32

25:30 (13:15) 38:36 (21:19) 23:28 (12:15) 32:29 (17:13) 23:26 (10:15) 31:15 (14:8)


Group A preview

HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 5-1-2 (225:203) 11:5 12.10.2014 21.02.2015 10.10.2015 11.02.2016 17.11.2016 26.11.2016 18.11.2017 26.11.2017

HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

28:25 (13:13) 28:35 (13:20) 25:19 (11:10) 28:27 (14:15) 27:33 (16:17) 26:29 (15:15) 30:26 (17:13 21:21 11:11)

PGE Vive Kielce vs Barça Lassa 1-2-3 (168:183) 4:8 20.11.2010 27.11.2010 01.06.2013 30.05.2015 17.10.2015 05.12.2015

KS Vive Targi Kielce vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26:33 (11:18) FC Barcelona Borges vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:28 (15:12) KS Vive Targi Kielce vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 23:28 (10:13) FC Barcelona vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 33:28 (16:14) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:30 (14:17) FC Barcelona Lassa vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:33 (19:16)

PGE Vive Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest 5-0-1 (187:165) 10:2 19.03.2016 26.03.2016 24.09.2016 11.03.2017 16.09.2017 03.03.2018

HC Meshkov Brest vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 HC Meshkov Brest vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Meshkov Brest vs PGE Vive Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B PGE Vive Kielce vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

28:32 (14:12) 33:30 (14:14) 24:29 (14:11) 35:27 (15:16) 28:25 (15:11) 33:28 (20:17)

PGE Vive Kielce vs Telekom Veszprém HC 2-1-6 (255:288) 5:13 18.10.2003 15.11.2003 17.10.2009 06.03.2010 02.10.2011 11.02.2012 29.05.2016 15.10.2017 02.12.2017

Fotex KC Veszprém vs KS ‘Vive’ Kielce, EHF Champions League – Group G 31:24 (21:12) KS ‘Vive’ Kielce vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group G 30:41 (19:19) MKB Veszprém KC vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, EHF Champions League – Group B 33:26 (16:11) KS Vive Targi Kielce vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Group B 29:32 (14:14) KS Vive Targi Kielce vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 25:29 (10:17) MKB Veszprém KC vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 21:24 (13:12) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF FINAL4 – Final 39:38 (13:17, 29:29, 35:35) PGE Vive Kielce vs Telekom Veszprém HC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:32 (16:15) Telekom Veszprém HC vs PGE Vive Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:26 (15:15)

PGE Vive Kielce vs Montpellier HB 3-0-3 (176:169) 6:6 15.03.2015 21.03.2015 26.09.2015 28.02.2016 26.03.2017 02.04.2017

Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champi-ons League – Last 16 25:29 (13:16) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champi-ons League – Last 16 31:33 (14:15) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:23 (12:11) Montpellier HB vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 27:32 (16:17) Montpellier HB vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 33:28 (14:16) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:28 (15:11)

PGE Vive Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 5-3-5 (386:369) 13:13 08.10.2009 13.02.2010 17.10.2010 27.02.2011 04.09.2011 22.03.2014 31.03.2014 30.09.2015 20.02.2016 23.10.2016 09.02.2017 24.03.2018 01.04.2018

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Gr. W KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B PGE Vive Kielce vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs PGE Vive Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16

33

29:29 (17:15) 32:35 (19:15) 23:23 (12:12) 29:27 (11:13) 32:30 (13:11) 32:28 (17:13) 27:23 (16:14) 32:32 (19:15) 28:27 (12:10) 26:34 (15:16) 28:25 (16:13) 41:17 (21:8) 30:36 (18:16)


Group A preview

PGE Vive Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad 2-1-1 (133:119) 5:3 10.10.2015 11.02.2016 01.10.2016 04.03.2017

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

35:27 (20:12) 35:35 (17:19) 38:28 (18:13) 29:25 (15:13)

Barça Lassa vs HC Meshkov Brest No previous encounters in European competitions

Barça Lassa vs Telekom Veszprém HC 13-1-5 (543:501) 27:11 13.04.1986 19.04.1986 21.02.1998 01.03.1998 31.01.1999 07.02.1999 14.11.1999 04.12.1999 13.12.2003 20.12.2003 25.04.2010 01.05.2010 27.03.2011 02.04.2011 01.06.2014 31.05.2015 22.10.2016 11.02.2017 04.06.2017

VAEV Epitök SC vs FC Barcelona, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final FC Barcelona vs VAEV Epitök SC, Cup Winners’ Cup – Semi-final Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group D FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group D FC Barcelona vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Last 16 Fotex KC Veszprém vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Last 16 FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final FC Barcelona Borges vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 MKB Veszprém KC vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Final FC Barcelona Lassa vs Telekom Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Telekom Veszprém vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Telekom Veszprém vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4

27:25 (13:12) 29:19 (13:10) 33:28 (19:13) 32:27 (13:15) 29:29 (14:15) 29:24 (16:11) 23:31 (13:16) 25:21 (13:13) 33:29 (18:15) 31:26 (16:14) 33:27 (17:15) 33:34 (19:15) 28:21 (14:13) 30:26 (15:8) 26:25 (9:10) 28:23 (14:10) 26:23 (16:11) 22:25 (14:13) 34:30 (18:17)

Barça Lassa vs Montpellier HB 6-1-3 (290:249) 13:7 11.11.2000 10.12.2000 03.12.2006 09.12.2006 18.03.2012 25.03.2012 10.10.2015 14.02.2016 25.03.2018 31.03.2018

Montpellier HB vs FC Barcelona, EHF Champions League – Group B 25:25 (11:13) FC Barcelona vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group B 24:17 (13:8) Montpellier HB vs FC Barcelona-Cifec, EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:25 (13:10) FC Barcelona-Cifec vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Last 16 29:23 (15:9) Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs FC Barcelona Intersport, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:28 (17:11) FC Barcelona Intersport vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Cham-pions League – Last 16 36:20 (17:8) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 37:27 (19:12) Montpellier HB vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 23:31 (11:15) Montpellier HB vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:25 (13:13) FC Barcelona Lassa vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 30:28 (15:14)

Barça Lassa vs IFK Kristianstad 4-0-0 (122:106) 8:0 26.09.2015 25.02.2016 23.09.2017 24.02.2018

FC Barcelona Lassa vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B FC Barcelona Lassa vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A IFK Kristianstad vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

34:32 (17:16) 24:31 (12:19) 31:29 (15:12) 21:26 (8:11)

Barça Lassa vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 3-3-3 (264:258) 9:9 25.09.2010 20.02.2011 28.05.2011 20.04.2014 26.04.2014 20.09.2015 05.03.2016 17.09.2017 12.11.2017

FC Barcelona Borges vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final FC Barcelona vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B FC Barcelona Lassa vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona Lassa, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A FC Barcelona Lassa vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

34

30:31 (13:14) 38:38 (22:17) 28:30 (12:12) 38:31 (22:14) 31:24 15:11) 22:21 (10:9) 26:20 (11:10) 31:31 (12:18) 26:26 (13:13)


Group A preview

HC Meshkov Brest vs Telekom Veszprém HC 0-0-2 (48:63) 0:4 30.09.2017 17.02.2018

HC Meshkov Brest vs Telekom Veszprém HC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Telekom Veszprém HC vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

26:29 (12:14) 34:22 (20:11)

HC Meshkov Brest vs Montpellier HB No previous encounters in European competitions

HC Meshkov Brest vs IFK Kristianstad 1-1-0 (61:56) 3:1 12.11.2016 30.11.2016

HC Meshkov Brest vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

32:27 (17:13) 29:29 (15:17)

HC Meshkov Brest vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 1-0-1 (54:53) 2:2 08.10.2016 22.02.2017

HC Meshkov Brest vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Meshkov Brest, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

30:28 (17:12) 25:24 (11:12)

Telekom Veszprém HC vs Montpellier HB 8-0-4 (314:283) 16:8 08.11.1998 03.01.1999 26.02.2006 04.03.2006 22.02.2009 07.03.2009 09.10.2010 06.03.2011 12.10.2014 22.02.2015 22.04.2017 30.04.2017

Montpellier HB vs Fotex KC Veszprém, EHF Champions League – Group A Fotex KC Veszprém vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Group A Montpellier HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Montpellier HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 3 MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 3 MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Telekom Veszprém vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Montpellier HB vs Telekom Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final

21:17 (12:10) 26:17 (9:8) 23:21 (11:10) 27:22 (14:11) 24:30 (11:14) 22:23 (11:10) 27:26 (13:15) 30:24 (13:11) 30:29 (14:11) 20:34 (9:14) 26:23 (13:10) 25:30 (15:11)

Telekom Veszprém HC vs IFK Kristianstad No previous encounters in European competitions

Telekom Veszprém HC vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 4-2-2 (235:232) 10:6 03.05.2008 10.05.2008 04.10.2009 21.02.2010 29.09.2013 09.02.2014 04.10.2014 06.12.2014

MKB Veszprém KC vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Cup Winners’ Cup – Final Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MKB Veszprém KC, Cup Winners’ Cup – Final Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MKB Veszprém KC, EHF Champions League – Group B MKB Veszprém KC vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League – Group B MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

37:32 (20:20) 28:28 (14:14) 32:29 (17:14) 34:30 (17:12) 30:29 (17:14) 25:25 (12:13) 27:24 (10:11) 32:25 (18:10)

Montpellier HB vs IFK Kristianstad 2-0-0 (60:55) 4:0 17.10.2015 05.12.2015

Montpellier HB vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

30:26 (13:14) 29:30 (15:15)

Montpellier HB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 1-0-5 (157:185) 2:10 24.04.2011 30.04.2011 27.09.2014 29.11.2014 15.11.2015 18.11.2015

Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 27:29 (12:09) Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 26:35 (17:15) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 35:24 (18:11) Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 29:33 (14:18) Montpellier HB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 28:30 (15:16) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 25:21 (16:10)

IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 1-0-5 (161:186) 2:10

22.10.2015 26.11.2015 12.10.2016 19.02.2017 07.10.2017 18.02.2018

IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B IFK Kristianstad vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs IFK Kristianstad, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

35

32:29 (20:12) 29:20 (15:10) 30:29 (17:13) 29:31 (16:15) 22:35 (12:18) 32:29 (16:14)


HC Vardar

GROUP A

Club Address

HC Vardar blvd. ASNOM num.1 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Media contact

Biljana Crvenkoska +38971247214 biljana@rkvardar.com www.rkvardar.com

rkvardar @HCVardar @rkvardar

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: red

HC Vardar In 2017, HC Vardar claimed their historic first title in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Last season, even though they did not repeat the result, they travelled to Cologne to play their second consecutive FINAL4. Now, with plenty of changes in the playing roster and a new head coach, the team from Skopje hope to maintain their position among the top handball clubs. Roberto Garcia Parrondo has succeeded Raul Gonzalez at the helm of the Macedonian champion. Before taking over as coach of Vardar, Parrondo was Gonzalez assistant in the Macedonian national squad and assistant coach for Vardar’s women’s team. This season, Vardar faced many challenges after some significant changes to the roster and Parrondo will face some difficulty coping with the loses of Arpad Sterbik, Spanish back-court players Joan Canellas and Jorge Maqueda, Luka Cindric, Mijajlo Marsenic and defence specialist Ilija Abutovic. Arpad Sterbik and Strahinja Milic both left the Macedonian champions ahead of this season, which means Vardar have two options between the posts: Dejan Milosavljev and Daniel Gjorgjevski. With two quarter-finals and two consecutive participations at the FINAL4 behind them, Vardar are again aiming high. On the way to the FINAL4, they will first face strong opponents in Group A. “We are familiar with the qualities of our rivals in the group stage. Vardar’s best chance is to fight to be at the top of the group. We don’t underestimate any of the opponents and we are go-ing fight for first place,” says the team captain Stojanche Stoilov, who will miss the first part of the season due to an injury. Often compared to Ljubomir Vranjes, Stas Skube is considered one of Slovenia’s best playmakers. With a height of 176 cm, Skube joins Vardar as Luka Cindric’s replacement and will have big responsibility on his shoulders, as he will be orchestrating his new team’s attacking play. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 13 Winners (1): 2016/17 Semi-final (1): 2017/18 (4th at the FINAL4) Quarter-final (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10

Dark Player shirt: black/red Player short: black GK shirt: green, black

Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals 2006/07

Playing hall Jane Sandanski blvd. ASNOM num.1 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,000

SEHA league: 4 titles (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018) Macedonian league: 12 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015-18) Macedonian cup: 13 titles

36


HC Vardar

EHF Champions League club records

8 40 74

MATCHES

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

31:15 (14:8) v IFK Kristianstad SWE (h), 02.12.2017 41:19 (19:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.2003 8 matches (12.03.2017 – 01.10.2017) 15 matches (12.03.2017 – 02.12.2017) 7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004) 8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004) 8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) 40 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 40:34W (h), 12.11.2016 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.2003 74 v IFK Kristianstad SWE 38:36W (h), 20.02.2016 74 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 40:34W (h), 12.11.2016 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 15 v IFK Kristianstad SWE 15:31W (h), 02.12.2017 38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 2013/14 HC Vardar – Skopje MKD 2014/15 HC Vardar MKD 2015/16 HC Vardar MKD 2016/17 HC Vardar MKD 2017/18 HC Vardar MKD Total

6 1 1 4 6 2 0 4 6 0 0 6 6 1 2 3 6 2 1 3 10 1 1 8 14 6 3 5 14 8 1 5 18 10 2 6 18 14 0 4 18 10 3 5 122 55 14 53

W

T

37

L

GF GA

GD

152:175 –23 152:181 –29 157:210 -53 124:153 -29 161:180 -19 253:316 -63 376:369 +7 421:396 +25 527:486 +41 523:477 +46 501:454 +47 3347:3397 –50

PTS

Stage1994/95

3:9 4:8 0:12 4:8 5:7 3:17 15:13 17:11 22:14 28:8 23:13 124:120

4th Gr. D 4th Gr. D 4th Gr. B 3rd Gr. A 4th Gr. C 5th Gr. D 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Winner Fourth Place


HC Vardar

Roberto Garcia Parrondo coach • • • • •

former player of Ciudad Real, Valladolid, Ademar Leon, Atletico Madrid and two Hungarian teams, Pick Szeged and Budakalasz as a player won the CL twice, in 2008 and 2009 arrived in Skopje as the assistant coach of the Macedonian men’s national team joined Vardar women’s team as Irina Dibirova’s assistant and reach the final of the CL last season succeed Raul Gonzales at the helm of Vardar in the summer of 2018

EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009, Cup Winners’ Cup 2005, EHF Cup 2014(as player) EC trophies: CL 2017 @robertogparrondo

Newcomers: Stas Skube (MOL-Pick Szeged/HUN) Sergei Gorbok (MOL-Pick Szeged/HUN) Dmitrii Kiselev (St. Petersburg/RUS) Dejan Milosavljev (HC Partizan/SRB) Gleb Kalarash (Magdeburg/GER)

Left the club: Joan Canellas (MOL-Pick Szeged/HUN) Jorge Maqueda (MOL-Pick Szeged/HUN) Luka Cindric (Kielce/POL) Mijajlo Marsenic (Füchse Berlin/GER) Arpad Sterbik (Veszprém/HUN) Ilija Abutovic (Rhein-Neckar Löwen/GER)

38


HC Vardar

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

34 Vuko

Borozan

MNE

Left Back

09.04.1994

Cetinje, MNE

203

105

27 Ivan

Cupic

CRO

Right Wing

27.03.1986

Metkovic, CRO

178

78

31 Timur

Dibirov

RUS

Left Wing

30.07.1983

Petrozavodsk, RUS

180

74

13 Rogerio

Ferreira Moraes

BRA

Line Player

11.01.1994

Abaetetuba, BRA

204

118

16 Daniel

Gjorgjeski

MKD

Goalkeeper

03.12.1993

Gostivar, MKD

189

84

32 Sergei

Gorbok

RUS

Left Back

04.12.1982

Minsk, BLR

196

98 95

No. First Name Surname

21 Gleb

Kalarash

RUS

Line Player

29.11.1990

Moscow, RUS

205

18 Igor

Karacic

CRO

Centre Back

02.11.1988

Mostar, BIH

198

87

50 Dmitrii

Kiselev

RUS

Right Back

15.11.1994

Voronezhskaya obl., RUS

193

98

98 Marko

Kizic

MKD

Goalkeeper

22.01.2001

Skopje, MKD

190

89

10 Dainis

Kristopans

LAT

Right Back

27.09.1990

Ludza, LAT

215

135

96 Dejan

Milosavljev

SRB

Goalkeeper

16.03.1996

Panchevo, SRB

196

110

97 Marko

Mishevski

MKD

Left Back

23.08.1999

Skopje, MKD

199

92

Nedanovski

MKD

Left Wing

23.06.1985

Resen, MKD

187

93 90

7

Vlado

99 Andrej

Petkovski

MKD

Goalkeeper

30.05.2001

Skopje, MKD

188

Martin

Popovski

MKD

Right Wing

26.08.1994

Stip, MKD

177

75

33 Daniil

Shishkarev

RUS

Right Wing

06.07.1988

Kustanay, KAZ

190

85

20 Stas

Skube

SLO

Centre Back

15.11.1989

Novo Mesto, SLO

179

85

Stoilov

MKD

Line Player

30.04.1987

Skopje, MKD

191

110

Vojvodic

SRB

Centre Back

31.05.1995

Vrbas, SRB

180

72

9

C 5

Stojanche

37 Janja

39


HC Vardar

Dejan Milosavljev goalkeeper • started career ar RK Jugovic, just like Arpad Sterbik, whom is now replacing at Vardar • member of Serbian national team who signed with Vardar for three years • spent two seasons with Partizan and joined Lekhwiya in Qatar on loan

Timur Dibirov left wing

@timurdibirov31

• in 2013 he joined Vardar as just the second club in his career • first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with whom he reached the FINAL4 in 2010 • key player of the Russian national team; voted best left wing of at the 2013 WCh • fast breaks specialist and also key in defence; married to one of the greatest Russian players - Irina Poltoratskaya, who steered Vardar’s women’s team to the CL final in 2017 as coach EC trophies: CL 2017, Cup Winners' Cup 2006

Vuko Borozan left back • went through the youth ranks of RK Lovcen, which bred some of Montenegro’s finest • made senior debut in 2012 for Croatian side HRK Karlovac, before rising to acclaim at (then) Bundesliga outfit TuS N-Lübbecke • towering sharpshooter widely regarded among the finest Montenegrin talents ever; made his EURO debut in 2014, aged only 20 (the youngest Montenegro player) • as one of the first names on Lino Červar’s list, he spent the 2014/15 season at Vardar’s bitter rivals Metalurg; won the CL in his first season at Vardar EC trophies: CL 2017

Stas Skube centre back • made his first team debut in 2006, for his boyhood club RK Rrimo Trebnje aged 17, playing alongside his older brother, Sebastian • despite his height (176 cm), he is one of Slovenia’s best playmakers • won bronze with Slovenia at the under-21 WCh in 2009 • played in the CL 2013/14 Last 16 with Velenje, topping the club scorers’ list with 72 goals, and in his first season with Szeged (2016/17) he scored 52 times

40


HC Vardar

Igor Karacic centre back

@igorkaracicc

• voted in the SEHA League All-star team in 2012/13 • a speedy and tough player, excelling in one-on-one situations • won the CL with Vardar in 2017 • born in Mostar, he plays for the Croatian national team, while his brother Ivan plays for Bosnia-Herzegovina EC trophies: CL 2017 EURO: B 2016

Stojanche Stoilov line player

@stoilov_89

• first choice on the line player position in the Macedonian national team • joined Vardar in 2010 from city rivals Metalurg (after a brief spell in with Odorheiu Secuiesc) - a step that saw his career spiralling upwards • played a brilliant tournament at the EURO 2012 when his team finished 5th • shares his playing time with Rogeiro Ferreira Moraes EC trophies: CL 2017

@dainiskristopans

Dainis Kristopans right back

• born in small Latvian town, Ludza, and started his career at local club Latgols • moved to Tatran Presov at age 18 and stayed almost six years in Slovakia, winning the national league five times • left Tatran in February 2015 and spent a few months in Qatar before joining Brest • at 2.15 metres, he is the tallest player not only for Vardar but in the entire CL

Danil Shishkarev right wing • with his first club Zarja Kaspija Astrakhan he played in three different club competitions: EHF Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and CL • the Russian national team player arrived in Skopje in 2014. • played for Chekovskie Medvedi between 2009 and 2014, winning numerous titles in Russia • has played more than 80 matches for the Russian national team EC trophies: CL 2017

41


PGE Vive Kielce

GROUP A

Club Address

PGE Vive Kielce ul. Robotnicza 5 25-662 Kielce Poland Media contact

Magda Pluszewska +48 604 692 276

m.pluszewska@kielcehandball.pl

www.kielcehandball.pl kielcehandball @kielcehandball @kielcehandball

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue GK shirt: blue

PGE Vive Kielce This season Kielce write a real multi-layered story. A lot of questions were posed in the summer, and even more will be asked when the VELUX EHF Champions League finally begins. How serious are the reported financial problems? How to make up for the loss of Uros Zorman and Dean Bombac? How much time will the team need to get in sync with six new players? How will hot-headed handball icons Talant Dujshebaev and Uros Zorman get along? What can team captain Michal Jurecki do in his final season before leaving to Flensburg? “The club has some financial problems, controlled enough not to endanger participation in all the contests in the 2018/19 season and noticeable enough to start worrying about the development in upcoming years,” the club’s board of directors said in an official statement. The club received a lot of support from their fans and partners, and even acquired new sponsors. Players’ salaries got reduced by 25 percent, and only Dean Bombac left the club for Szeged. The others claim that the situation is not going to influence their engagement. “I’m very happy that our team showed that we still want to play for Kielce, for the region and for the people who live here,” right back Krzysztof Lijewski says. Losing two such great players could mean a disaster for the club, especially as one departure was unexpected. However, Kielce are able to fill the gap with an extremely talented and still young playmaker, Luka Cindrić, who has won the Champions League in 2017 already. “He has got a motor engine in his legs,” says Lijewski with a laugh. “He is fast and able to end the most complicated court situations on his own.” How will the coaching duo of Talant Dujshebaev and Uros Zorman cooperate? It is a huge change for Zorman, who gets another place in the team’s hierarchy. “Now he is our coach, not a teammate,” says team captain Michal Jurecki, “When we drink a coffee somewhere in town, we are friends, but on the court our relation isn’t the same.” Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 16 Winners (1): 2015/16 Semi-final (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 (third ranked in VELUX F4) Quarter-final (1): 2017/18 Last 16 (6): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17 Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: green

Playing hall Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionów ul. Boczna 15A 25-093 Kielce Poland Capacity: 4,000

Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1997/98, 2005/06 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 1995/96 Polish league: 15 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012-18) Polish cup: 15 titles

42


PGE Vive Kielce

EHF Champions League club records

18 41 41

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run MATCHES Longest unbeaten run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals opponent

Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

41:17 (21:8) v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER (h), 24.03.2018 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.2003 11 matches (25.09.2014 – 15.03.2015) 18 matches (15.11.2015 – 15.10.2016) 5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010) 5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011) 6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010) 41 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 41:17 (h), 24.03.2018 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.2003 77 v MVM Veszprém HUN 39:38Wa7m (a), 29.05.2016 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.2010 21 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 17 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 41:17 (h), 24.03.2018 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012

VELUX EHF Champions League record 1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 2014/15 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 2015/16 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 2016/17 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 2017/18 PGE Vive Kielce POL Total

MP W T L 6 3 0 3 6 2 1 3 12 5 1 6 10 1 2 7 12 6 1 5 16 14 0 2 12 7 1 4 16 14 0 2 20 14 4 2 16 9 0 7 18 8 3 7 144 83 13 48

43

GF GA GD 173:186 –13 159:177 -18 345:344 +1 276:300 -24 345:336 +9 469:400 +69 362:331 +31 483:439 +44 614:577 +37 469:451 +18 555:524 +31 4250:4065 +185

PTS 6:6 5:7 11:13 4:16 13:11 28:4 15:9 28:4 32:8 18:14 19:17 179:109

Stage1994/95 3rd Gr. B 3rd Gr. G Last 16 6th Gr. A Last 16 Third Place Last 16 Third Place Winner Last 16 1/4-finals


PGE Vive Kielce

Talant Dujshebaev coach • • • • •

most awarded person in the club; won many trophies during his playing career with three different national teams: CIS, Russia, Spain voted twice as the IHF World Player of the Year, in 1994 and in 1996 has a successful coaching career spanning well over a decade, which saw him win the CL four times joined Kielce halfway through 2013/14, replacing Bogdan Wenta changed the playing style of Kielce placing emphasis on the aggressive defence

EC Trophies: CL 1994 (as player), 2006, 2008, 2009, 2016 (as coach), EHF Cup 1993, Cup Winners’ Cup 2002, 2003 OG: G 1992, B 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1993, EURO: S 1996, 1998, B 2000

Newcomers: Luka Cindric (HC Vardar/MKD) Vladimir Cupara (Abanca Ademar Leon/ESP) Angel Fernandez Perez (Naturhause La Rioja/ESP) Arciom Karalok (Saint-Raphael Var Handball/FRA) Uladzislau Kulesh (SKA Minsk/BLR) Arkadiusz Moryto (Zaglebie Lubin/POL)

Left the club: Tomasz Strzabala (MMTS Kwidzyn, coach/POL) Mateusz Kus (Motor Zaporozhye/UKR) Slawomir Szmal (retired) Karol Bielecki (retired) Manuel Strlek (Telekom Veszprém) Darko Djukic (HC Meshkov Brest)

44


PGE Vive Kielce

Team roster No. First Name Surname 13 Julen 9

Aguinagalde

Bartlomiej Bis

Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

ESP

Line Player

08.12.1982

Irun, ESP

195

110

POL

Line Player

25.03.1997

Kielce, POL

190

95

25 Luka

Cindric

CRO

Centre Back

05.07.1993

Ogulin, CRO

182

90

16 Vladimir

Cupara

SRB

Goalkeeper

19.02.1994

Belgrade, SRB

198

105

10 Alex

Dujshebaev

ESP

Right Back

17.12.1992

Santander, ESP

187

88

32 Angel

Fernandez

ESP

Left Wing

16.09.1988

Santander, ESP

193

88

30.08.1992

Zagreb, CRO

195

95

16 Filip

Ivic

CRO

Goalkeeper

15 Mateusz

Jachlewski

POL

Left Wing

27.12.1984

Gdynia, POL

185

88

18 Blaz

Janc

SLO

Right Wing

20.11.1996

Brezice, SLO

185

85

Jurecki

POL

Left Back

27.10.1984

Koscian, POL

198

110

20 Mariusz

Jurkiewicz

POL

Centre Back

03.02.1982

Lubin, POL

199

103

50 Artsem

Karalek

BLR

Line Player

20.02.1996

Grodno, BLR

187

70

22 Uladzislau Kulesh

BLR

Left Back

28.05.1996

Gomel, BLR

189

84

POL

Right Back

07.07.1983

Ostrรณw Wielkopolski, POL 198

94

Mamic

CRO

Back

06.03.1994

Zagreb, CRO

201

96

C 5

Michal

19 Krzysztof 24 Marko

Lijewski Moryto

POL

Right Wing

31.08.1997

Krakow, POL

181

87

12 Milosz

Walach

POL

Goalkeeper

23.11.2001

Kielce, POL

188

90

23 Uros

Zorman

SLO

Centre Back

09.01.1980

Kranj, SLO

189

96

Arkadiusz

45


PGE Vive Kielce

Filip Ivic goalkeeper

@filipivic16

• spent entire career in native Zagreb before coming to Kielce in 2016 • was part of the Croatian national junior team which won the European title • was second best goalkeeper at WCh 2015 in Qatar with save percentage of 37 • got injured twice in the 2017/18 season (knee and elbow) and missed many Kielce matches as well as the EHF EURO in his home country WCh: B 2013

Mateusz Jachlewski left wing • longest-serving player in the current squad after joining Kielce in 2006 • runs summer handball camps for kids together with Michal Jurecki • nicknamed ‘Siwy’ (grey-haired) since his younger years, referring to his dyed blond hair

EC trophies: CL 2016 WCh: S 2007

Michal Jurecki left back

@michal_jurecki

• Kielce’s powerful left back returned to Poland in 2010 after a three-season stint in Germany and spells at HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke • All-star Team Left back of the EHF EURO 2016 • after his 10th year in Kielce, leave for SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2019 • since 2015/16 captain of the team EC Trophies: CL: 2016 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

Luka Cindric centre back

@luka_cindric25

• son of a handball coach, he played football until he was 15 as he turned down an offer from top club Dinamo Zagreb and started playing handball • earlier played for Ogulin (his hometown), Senj, Karlovac, Metalurg and Vardar • with Vardar he won the first CL trophy in the history of the club in 2017 • joined Kielce in 2018/2019 after the departures of Uros Zorman and Dean Bombac EC trophies: CL: 2017 EURO: B 2016

46


PGE Vive Kielce

@julenaginagalde

Julen Aguinagalde line player

• All-star Team line player of WCh 2013 in Spain, EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark and EHF EURO 2016 in Poland • joined Kielce from Atlético Madrid in 2013 for his first foreign league experience

• participated in FINAL4 five times between 2010 and 2016, and scored decisive penalty in shootout against Veszprém in 2016 • set up international camps for kids in the summer of 2018 with his brother, Gurutz EC trophies: CL: 2016

WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: G 2018, S 2016, B 2014

Alex Dujshebaev right back

@alexdujshebaev

• son of coach Talant Dujshebaev, joined Kielce at the beginning of the 2017/18 season • had a four-year stay in Vardar, winning first CL trophy in club’s history in 2017 • best right back at the M20 EURO 2012 and Junior WCh 2013; best young player of t he CL in 2014/15 and the best right back of the CL in 2016/17 • his younger brother, Daniel, also signed a contract with Kielce in 2017, but he is on a loan with Celje for two years EC trophies: CL: 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007 EURO: G 2018, S 2016, WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

Krzysztof Lijewski right back • wanted to be a basketball player, but chose handball under the influence of his father and older brother, Marcin • joined Kielce in 2012 after seven years in Germany with Hamburg and RN Löwen • best right back of EHF EURO 2014 • extremely versatile player, clever in attack and vigilant in defence, famous for his no-look passes and surprising steals EC trophies: CL 2016, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015

Blaz Janc right wing

@janc8

• one of the biggest talents of Slovenian handball; top scorer for Slovenia at the Rio 2016 Olympics, with 28 goals in six matches • joined Kielce for 2017/18, replacing Tobias Reichmann, who returned to the Bundesliga after three successful years in Vive • playing his seventh season in the CL, after debuting at just 15 and scoring over 100 goals in the competition when he was still a teenager • best right back at M20 EHF EURO 2014 (alongside players two years older than him) WCh: B 2016

47


Barça Lassa

GROUP A

Club Address

FC Barcelona Lassa Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain Media contact

Pau Campana +34 683 567251 pau.campana@fcbarcelona.cat www.fcbarcelona.cat FCBHandbol @FCBHandbol @FCBHandbol

Barça Lassa Last season has not been a fantastic one by Barça’s own standards, irrespective of the Catalan club completing a domestic treble for the fifth year in a row. Barça have seen their 146-game unbeaten streak in the Liga ASOBAL snapped by Granollers, but the most painful moment was the loss against Montpellier in the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16. Montpellier went on to win the European premium competition, but Barça felt like they could have been in the French team’s shoes. A new challenge is looming, however, and there is no time for resentment. “Of course, as every year, we want to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 and win the competition,” Barça captain Victor Tomas says. “We need to fight hard to secure the best possible position before the Last 16 draw.” While Xavi Pascual has been in charge for the past nine seasons in Palau Blaugrana, the side from Barcelona have never exited the Champions League earlier than last season. There have been plenty of reasons for Barca’s demise last season, but the Spanish champions should have learnt what went wrong and fine-tuned the issues. It will help having Aron Palmarsson from the start of the training camp, while future superstar Dika Mem extended his contract with the Spanish outfit until 2024. With the addition of Ludovic Fabregas and Casper Mortensen, Barça look stronger than last season, at least on paper. Barça’s undoing last season was not the attack, which thrived even without Kiril Lazarov and Filip Jicha, but an underwhelming defence. The Spanish champions dozed off at times, which also happened in the games against Montpellier, which saw Barça out of contention in the Last 16 phase. The transfer of Gilberto Duarte is clearly a statement of intent in this direction, as Xavier Pascual pointed out the defensive versatility of the Portuguese player.

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: light green Player short: light green GK shirt: blue or yellow

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 22 Winner (8): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11, 2014/15 Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 Semi-final (3): 2007/08, 2013/14, 2016/17 Quarter-final (4): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2015/16 Last 16 (2): 2003/04, 2017/18 Main Round (1): 2008/09 Other EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95 (IHF) European Champions Cup: 1990/91 IHF Super Globe: 2013, 2014, 2017 Spanish league: 25 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988-92, 1996-2000, 2003, 2006, 2011-18) Spanish Cup winner: 22 titles Asobal Cup winner: 13 titles

Dark Player shirt: blue and red Player short: blue GK shirt: green or black Playing hall Palau Blaugrana Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain Capacity: 7,250

48


Barça Lassa

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat

12 46 11

MATCHES

Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run

Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Fewest goals opponent

Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals

Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

17:43 (9:21) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (a), 19.11.2011 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 12 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012) 16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997) 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) 2 matches (03.06.2017 – 04.06.2017) 3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010) 3 matches (03.06.2017 – 17.09.2017) 46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 41 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.2008 41 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41L (a), 31.05.2014 82 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 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 21 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 22:21L (a), 20.09.2015 11 v Aalborg Handball DEN 11:31W (a), 15.03.2015 38 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (h), 20.04.1996 38 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004

VELUX EHF Champions League record 1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 2009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 2013/14 FC Barcelona ESP 2014/15 FC Barcelona ESP 2015/16 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 2016/17 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 2017/18 FC Barcelona Lassa ESP Total

MP 8 12 12 12 12 12 8 14 10 10 14 10 16 16 14 16 16 16 16 18 16 278

W T 5 2 10 1 9 1 8 3 10 0 8 2 5 1 8 0 9 0 8 0 11 0 6 0 13 1 10 3 11 0 13 0 12 1 14 1 12 1 13 1 10 2 205 20 49

L 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 6 1 2 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 1 3 4 4 53

GF GA GD 213:173 +40 358:264 +94 358:284 +74 357:289 +68 345:271 +74 316:281 +35 262:212 +50 400:360 +40 293:244 +49 314:263 +51 475:407 +68 307:275 +32 545:461 +84 501:451 +50 459:357 +102 488:404 +84 535:426 +109 527:408 +119 480:431 +49 517:460 +57 463:433 +30 8513:7154 +1359

PTS 12:4 21:3 19:5 19:5 20:4 18:6 11:5 16:12 18:2 16:4 22:6 12:8 27:5 23:9 22:6 26:6 25:7 29:3 25:7 27:9 22:10 430:126

Stage1994/95 Winner Winner Winner Winner Winner Runner-up Last 16 Winner 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/2-finals 3rd MR Gr. 4 Runner-up Winner 1/4-finals Runner-up Third Place Winner 1/4-finals Fourth Place Last 16


Xavi Pascual coach • • • •

played for Barça and other Spanish clubs, before becoming goalkeeper coach at the record CL winners in 2005 in 2009 he succeded Manolo Cadenas at Barça’s helm in June 2016 he signed a four-year contract with the Romanian national team in a historic season 2014/15 season won all the titles with Barça emulating Valero Rivera’s (7 out of 7) success in 1999/00

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015

Newcomers: Ludovic Fabregas (Montpellier/FRA) Thiagus Petrus (SC Pick Szeged/HUN) Casper Mortensen (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf/GER) Kevin Möller (SG Flensburg-Handewitt/GER) Gilberto Duarte (Orlen Wisla Plock/POL)

Left the club: Viran Morros (PSG) Valero Rivera (HBC Nantes) Borko Ristovski (Benfica) Alexis Borges (tbc) Wael Jallouz (Füchse Berlin)

50


Barça Lassa

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

DEN

Left Back

11.03.1994

København, DEN

195

96

Arino

ESP

Left Wing

05.10.1992

Penarth, GBR

187

80

Oriol

Blanco

ESP

Right Wing

09.03.1999

Mark Daniel

Bodor

ROU

23.02.2000

Buzle

ROU

03.05.1999 03.05.2000

No. First Name

Surname

11 Lasse Bredekjaer Andersson 13 Aitor

43 Iosif Andrei Eduardo

Calle Redondo

ESP

Mamadou

Diocou

ESP

Dolenec

SLO

Right Back

Timisoara, ROU

10.03.2000 06.12.1988

Kranj, SLO

190

90

5

Gilberto

Duarte

POR

Left Back

06.07.1990

Portimao, POR

197

96

9

Raul

Entrerrios

ESP

Centre Back

12.02.1981

Gijon, ESP

195

92

David

Estepa Ruiz

ESP

27 Ludovic

Fabregas

FRA

Line Player

01.07.1996

Perpignan, FRA

198

100

36 Gerard

Forns Galve

ESP

Goalkeeper

26.12.1994

Sant Boi de Llobregat, ESP 185

82

41 Aleix

Gomez

ESP

Right Wing

07.05.1997

Sabadell, ESP

183

79

14 Thiagus Petrus

Goncalves

BRA

Left Back

25.01.1989

Juiz de Fora, BRA

199

100

28 Jannek

Klein

GER

25.03.1999

Rendsburg, GER

197

92

Juri

Knorr

GER

09.05.2000

Lenne

FRA

Colmar, FRA

187

81

Leon

ESP

24 Dika

Mem

FRA

Right Back

31.08.1997

Paris, FRA

194

90

16 Kevin

Møller

DEN

Goalkeeper

20.06.1989

Tondern, DEN

200

103

20 Casper

Mortensen

DEN

Left Wing

14.12.1989

København, DEN

190

88

19 Timothey

N’guessan

FRA

Left Back

18.09.1992

Massy, FRA

196

105

Oliveras

ESP

Palmarsson

ISL

Reykjavik, ISL

193

100

Pascual

ESP

17.09.2000

Barcelona, ESP

182

78

10.01.1991

Toledo, ESP

190

93

188

77

La Trinite, ESP

192

110

23 Jure

32 Yanis Adria

Pau 34 Aron Alex

Perez

ESP

Gonzalo

Perez de Vargas

ESP

David

Roca

ESP

Sorhaindo

FRA

46 Jorge 1

10 Cedric Ramon

Right Wing

29.06.1996 30.12.1993

11.12.1998 Centre Back

19.07.1990 13.02.2000

Goalkeeper

09.01.2000 Line Player

07.06.1984 20.12.1990

Suarez-Pumariega ESP Syprzak

POL

Line Player

23.07.1991

Plock, POL

206

120

Victor

Tomas

ESP

Right Wing

15.02.1985

Barcelona, ESP

178

85

Joaquim

Vaillo

ESP

21 Kamil C 8

23.04.1999

15.10.1996

51


Barça Lassa

Gonzalo Perez de Vargas goalkeeper

@perezdvargas

• returned to Barça in 2014 after stints with Granollers and Tolouse to gain experience • voted best goalkeeper in CL and ASOBAL league in 2016/17 • has represented Spain in all age categories; in national team he shares the goalkeeper position with PSG’s Rodrigo Corrales

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015 EURO: G 2018, B 2014, S 2016

Casper Mortensen left wing • previously played for German and Danish teams in his career • going into his second CL season, after scoring 61 goals for BSV in 2012/13 • was top scorer in German Bundesliga, with 230 goals, in 2017/18 • his older brother, Andreas, was a football player

EURO: S 2014; WCh: S 2013; OS: G 2016

Raul Entrerrios centre back

@raulenterrios @Raul_Entrerrios

• one of the household names in Spanish handball • EHF EURO 2016 MVP and best centre back of the ASOBAL League in 2016/17 • has played for three Spanish clubs (also for Leon and Valladolid); joined Barça in 2010 and has won the CL twice (2011 and 2015)

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015, Cup Winner’s Cup 2005, 2009 OG: B 2008, EURO: G 2018, S 2006, 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2015, B 2011

Aron Palmarsson centre back •

before joining Veszprém in 2015, the versatile and tactically as well as technically skilled playmaker from Iceland was with Kiel for six years

left Veszprém early in the 2017/18 season after a complicated transfer saga

his partner is a famous Icelandic singer, Agusta Eva Erlendsdottir, and the pair has a daughter

EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: B 2010

52


Barça Lassa

@chiki_lf27

Ludovic Fabregas line player • still only 22, he is one of the key players of the golden French generation including Timothey N’guessan, Dika Mem and Yanis Lenne • out injured for three months in 2017/18 as he missed EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia, but back to his best to help Montpellier win the CL, scoring six goals in the final • CL All-star Team line player in 2016/17 • youth world champion in mountain biking before turning to handball at age 15 EC trophies: CL 2018 WCh: G 2017,; OS: S 2016 @cesorhaindo

Cedric Sorhaindo line player • key player in defence for Barça and the French national team

• arrived in Barcelona in 2010 as an unknown player and now is one of the best in the world in his position with a lot of experience • considers coach Xavi Pascual as a father and Barça as a club for life

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2015 EURO: G 2010, 2014, B 2018, WCh: G 2009, 2015, 2017, OG: G 2012, S 2016

Jure Dolenec right back

@JDolenec11

• Slovenian international, joining Barça in the summer of 2017 from Montpellier • was named best right back of the French league in the 2016/17 season • replaced top scorer Kiril Lazarov, who went in the opposite way to France (Nantes) • very efficient player in small spaces and likes to shoot through the defence

WCh: B 2017

Victor Tomas right wing • team captain, one of the most beloved players for his courage and passion • best right wing of the EHF CL 2016/17 and also in ASOBAL League • joined Barça’s youth team in 1998 and has not played for any other club • has won 50 trophies with Barça, including 3 CL titles (2005, 2011 and 2015)

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

53


HC Meshkov Brest

GROUP A

Club Address

HC Meshkov Brest Leningradskaya 4 224028 Brest Belarus Media contact

Aleksandr Kulbaka +375 162 55 01 40 media@bgk-meshkova.com bgk-meshkova.com bgkmeshkova bgk_meshkova @meshkovbrest

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: red Player short: red GK shirt: yellow

HC Meshkov Brest Consistency is the key word characterizing HC Meshkov Brest’s performances in the VELUX EHF Champions League in recent years as the Belarusian team reached the Last 16 for three straight seasons. However, the club’s ambitions go further, and Brest hope that new head coach Manolo Cadenas will use his vast experience to pave the way to new heights. Brest’s bosses dream of winning the VELUX EHF Champions League some day, and after playing in the Last 16 for three consecutive seasons, they see reaching the quarter-final as the next logical step towards the ultimate goal. It will be hard, given the level of opponents, but the Belarusian champions are certainly competitive on that level and making it beyond the Last 16 might be quite realistic. “Our group is strong, and maybe some other teams have better chances as their squads are stronger. But there is no limit to opportunities. Why can’t we reach the quarter-final? We will try,” head coach Manolo Cadenas says. While the previous Brest head coach, Sergey Bebeshko, preferred a classic style of handball, his successor has a modern approach, which implies fast and dynamic play. The team’s style is changing, which has already been visible during preseason matches. However, a learning process is never smooth and it will take time for the players to adjust to the Spaniard’s requirements. Ever since his arrival at Brest in late 2013, the powerful Serbian line player Rastko Stojkovic has played a key role in the team and scored a lot of goals. But this summer, the 37-year-old veteran opted to continue his career at Israel’s Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Without him, the position of a line player will probably be less productive – Vid Poteko and Viachaslau Shumak are good defenders, but it will be hard for them to contribute as much in attack as Stojkovic did. The 29-year-old Croatian Ivan Pesic has become almost a veteran at Brest, going into his sixth season with the club. During that period, the goalkeeper has improved a lot and become a key figure of the team. Despite the interest from Pick Szeged and Vardar, Pesic extended his contract with the Belarusian team until 2022, and his dream is to win a big trophy with Meshkov.

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: black

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 10 Last 16 (3): 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 Group Phase (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2014/15 Qualification (1): 2008/09 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2011/12 EHF Cup: Last 16 2003/04

Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Leningradskaya 4 224028 Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500

Belarusian league: 10 titles (2004-08, 2014-18) Belarusian cup: 11 titles

54


HC Meshkov Brest

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run

10 36 72

Longest run without win MATCHES

34:22 (15:14) v Vojvodina SRB (h), 19.09.2015 36:17 (16:8) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), 09.10.2004 5 matches (24.10.2015 – 05.12.2015) 7 matches (24.10.2015 - 05.03.2016) 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007) 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007)

Longest losing run

GOALS

Most goals Most goals opponent

Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

36 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 36:36D (a), 27.11.2016 39 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), 11.11.2006 39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), 28.09.2014 72 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 36:36D (a), 27.11.2016 17 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), 09.10.2004 17 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004 20 v TATRAN Presov SVK 20:30W (a), 26.09.2015 20 v Aalborg Handbold DEN 20:23W (a), 08.10.2017 42 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 21:21D (h), 18.02.2017

VELUX EHF Champions League record 2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 2014/15 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 2015/16 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 2016/17 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 2017/18 HC Meshkov Brest BLR Total

MP 6 6 6 6 10 14 16 16 80

W T L 1 0 5 1 0 5 0 0 6 1 0 5 2 2 6 9 1 4 5 4 7 4 3 9 23 10 47

55

GF GA GD 143:184 -41 165:183 -18 146:189 –43 154:182 -28 267:293 –26 437:383 +54 434:439 -5 426:466 –40 2172:2319 -147

PTS 2:10 2:10 0:12 2:10 6:14 19:9 14:18 11:21 56:104

Stage1994/95 4th Gr. C 4th Gr. E 4th Gr. B 4th Gr. H 5th Gr. A Last 16 Last 16 Last 16


HC Meshkov Brest

Manolo Cadenas coach • replaced Sergey Bebeshko as Brest’s head coach in June 2018, also works as national coach of Argentina since 2017 • between 2013 and 2016, he also combined jobs at a club (Wisla Plock) and a national team (Spain) • previously coached a number of Spanish clubs, including Valladolid, Ademar Leon, Barça and Granollers

EC trophies: Cup Winner’s Cup 1989, 1999, 2005 EHF EURO: B 2014, S 2016

Newcomers: Aliaksandr Bachko (Cocks) Darko Djukic (PGE Vive Kielce) Sandro Obranovic (Chambery Savoie) Sime Ivic (Orlen Wisla Plock)

Left the club: Aleh Astrashapkin (Csurgói KK) Dzmitry Nikulenkau (SKA Minsk) Rastko Stojkovich (Maccabi Srugo Rishon Lezion) Rade Mijatovic (Ferencvarosi) Konstantn Igropulo (tbc) Rajko Prodanovic (tbc) Ljubo Vukic (tbc)

56


HC Meshkov Brest

Team roster No. First Name Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

10 Aliaksandr Bachko

HeightWeight

BLR

Centre Back

15.08.1989

Grandichi, BLR

189

90

Baranau

BLR

Right Wing

11.04.1988

Bobruysk, BLR

188

82

Budzeika

BLR

Right Back

01.05.2000

Baranovichi, BLR

195

88

21 Vitali

Charapenka

BLR

Goalkeeper

27.01.1984

Brest, BLR

193

90

38 Pavel

Darafeyeu

BLR

Left Back

28.01.1997

Brest, BLR

208

90

55 Petar

Djordjic

SRB

Left Back

17.09.1990

Sabac, SRB

197

102

45 Darko

Djukic

SRB

Right Wing

11.12.1994

Nis, SRB

191

78

28 Pavel

Horak

CZE

Left Back

28.11.1982

Prerov, CZE

198

112

19 Sime

Ivic

CRO

Right Back

21.01.1993

Split, CRO

195

93

41 Uladzimir

Korsak

BLR

Goalkeeper

16.10.1996

Brest, BLR

195

92

Kulak

BLR

Centre Back

23.02.1996

Brest, BLR

190

88

77 Valiantsin

Kuran

BLR

Centre Back

12.02.1998

Brest, BLR

180

80

50 Mikita

Lashchakou

BLR

Left Back

28.05.1996

Brest, BLR

196

90

12 Ivan

Matskevich

BLR

Goalkeeper

08.05.1991

Lepel, BLR

190

91

Obranovic

CRO

Centre Back

18.10.1992

Karlovac, CRO

195

98 112

24 Maksim 4

7

Yahor

Artsiom

34 Sandro

Pesic

CRO

Goalkeeper

17.03.1989

Rijeka, CRO

193

15 Vid

Poteko

SLO

Line Player

05.04.1991

Celje, SLO

193

94

31 Simon

Razgor

SLO

Left Wing

18.09.1985

Celje, SLO

183

84

Rutenka

BLR

Right Wing

14.02.1986

Minsk, BLR

187

85

Selvasiuk

BLR

Line Player

08.12.1992

Brest, BLR

190

93

RUS

Left Back

11.04.1995

Krasnodar region, RUS 190

78

BLR

Line Player

22.12.1988

Brest, BLR

204

116

BLR

Right Back

16.05.1986

Bobrujsk, BLR

198

95 85 70

1

3

Ivan

Dzianis

42 Artsiom 9

Alexsander Shkurinskiy

22 Viachaslau Shumak C 88 Siarhei 5

Andrei

14 Andrei

Shylovich Yashchanka

BLR

Left Back

07.01.1992

Gomel, BLR

194

Yurynok

BLR

Left Wing

21.09.1996

Brest, BLR

179

57


HC Meshkov Brest

Ivan Pesic goalkeeper • was invited to Brest in 2013 by then coach, and fellow Croatian, Zeljko Babic • also played for RK Maribor Branik, HC Zagreb and Veszprém • had kidney removed after being stabbed in 2009 in tragic night club incident, in which teammate Marian Cozma was killed • practiced taekwondo successfully in his childhood, won several medals at junior level before focusing on handball

Andrey Yurynok left wing • born in Brest, but started career in Minsk (Vityaz, SKA) and joined Meshkov in 2016 • was a line player in his youth, but then coaches successfully put him on the left wing • best scorer of Belarus at EHF EURO 2018 with 24 goals • named the best young left wing of the world in 2017/18

Pavel Horak left back

@plonka82

• 35-year-old Czech player, joined Brest from HC Erlangen in 2017 • started career at Banik Karvina, where he won the Czech league five times • since 2006, spent 11 seasons in Germany playing for Ahlener SG, Frisch Auf Göppingen, Füchse Berlin and HC Erlangen • won EHF Cup three times - with Göppingen 2011 and 2012, with Füchse in 2015 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, 2012, 2015

Aleksander Shkurinskiy left back • the Russian player joined Brest in 2017 from SKIF Krasnodar • turned down offers from French teams as well as Chekhovskie Medvedi • despite a number of injuries, had an impressive debut season at Brest and became one of the team’s key players • member of Russia’s national team since 2015

58


HC Meshkov Brest

Artsiom Kulak centre back • moved to Brest in 2015 from Vityaz Minsk • talented playmaker who is also a good scorer • has extended his contract with Brest until 2021 • as son of a musician, he learned playing the guitar at a specialized school

Vid Poteko line player

@vpoteko

• Slovenian joined Brest in the summer of 2017 • before that, spent all his career at Celje • won Slovenian league four times, and Belarusian league once • praised for his professional attitude and care about health and nutrition

WCh: B 2017

Siarhei Shylovich right back • moved to Brest from Poland’s Pogon Szczecin in February 2014 • previously played for three Minsk-based teams: Dinamo, SKA and Arkatron • won Challenge Cup 2013 with SKA Minsk • became Brest’s captain in the summer of 2018 following Dzmitry Nikulenkau’s departure to SKA Minsk

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2013

Dzianis Rutenka right wing • younger brother of retired Siarhei Rutenka, the famous Belarusian left back • unlike his brother, Dzianis spent most of his career in his home country • a 10-time Belarusian champion, winning five titles with each Dinamo Minsk and Meshkov Brest • regular member of the Belarus national team

59


Telekom Veszprém HC

GROUP A

Club Address

Telekom Veszprém HC 5 Külső Kádártai út 8200 Veszprém Hungary Media contact

Zsolt Sevinger +36 305024547 office@handballveszprem.hu handballveszprem.hu veszpremhandballteam @mkbveszpremkc @handballveszprem

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: green

Telekom Veszprém HC Telekom Veszprém HC have to find their way back to success. The Hungarian side crashed out of the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 against Skjern Håndbold, and later lost the final for the national league title to MOL-Pick Szeged. Coach Ljubomir Vranjes and his team are motivated to regain the domestic title and get to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again. Despite the struggles of last year, Veszprém are still Veszprém, and they belong to the top teams of Europe. Maybe the pressure will be bigger but the team is eager to fight themselves back to the top. “You always want to win the Champions League. It is the main target for every club,” Vranjes says. “We played a good group phase but we played badly in the knockout stage. We are developing the team and to do so, you need the Champions League to have the best players.” Veszprém’s misery last season was a temporary period, which is over, Vranjes says. “Veszprém’s attack and defence tactics are already in my mind,” the coach says. “We combine three types of defensive formations, a closed and an opened sixwall defence, and a five-one open defence. It will depend on our opponent what formation we will play. I am optimistic and looking forward to the new season.” Mate Lekai took on the playmaker’s role after Aron Palmarsson left the club early in the pre-season last year. Lekai was the key to several wins in the Champions League, which gave Veszprém the second place in the group. For the Hungarian international, the reasons for his improvement are obvious: “I have more chances to be on the court and get more playing time. I feel more confident as Ljubomir Vranjes trusts me.” After failing to reach, at least, the quarter-final for the first time since 2012, Veszprém know the only way is up in the new season. “We would like to qualify for the FINAL4 and, of course, the dream is still to win the Champions League,” team captain László Nagy says Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 24 Final (3): 2001/02, 2014/15, 2015/16 Semi-final (4): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14, 2016/17 Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Last 16 (4): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2017/18 Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08

Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red GK shirt: black

Playing hall Veszprém Arena Külso Kadartai ut 8200 Veszprém Hungary Capacity: 5,096

Other Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Runners-up 1996/97 SEHA-league: 2 titles (2015, 2016) Hungarian league: 25 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008-17) Hungarian Cup winner: 27 times

60


Telekom Veszprém HC

EHF Champions League club records

11 46 77

MATCHES

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run

Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

38:17 (18:9) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.2004 30:18 (16:8) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), 24.01.1995 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) 3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996) 3 matches (12.11.2017 – 26.11.2017) 4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999) 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 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.2007 39 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.2016 77 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 39:38La7m (a), 29.05.2016 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.1995 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.2001 13 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002

VELUX EHF Champions League record 1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN 1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 2014/15 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 2015/16 MVM Veszprém HUN 2016/17 Telekom Veszprém HUN 2017/18 Telekom Veszprém HC HUN Total

MP 6 6 8 8 8 12 10 10 10 12 10 6 12 14 12 12 14 16 16 20 20 16 258

W T 2 2 3 0 5 1 3 1 4 0 9 0 8 0 7 0 7 0 9 0 7 0 2 2 8 0 11 0 9 0 7 0 11 0 11 1 13 1 15 2 13 2 9 2 173 14 61

L 2 3 2 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 5 3 4 2 3 5 5 71

GF GA GD 131:147 –16 147:144 +3 228:204 +24 200:188 +12 203:202 +1 310:267 +43 276:238 +38 306:276 +30 317:259 +58 373:318 +55 338:288 +50 184:171 +13 351:320 +31 419:368 +51 373:338 +35 321:322 -1 410:348 +62 477:410 +67 480:423 +57 600:539 +61 549:511 +38 466:439 +27 7459:6720 +739

PTS 6:6 6:6 11:5 7:9 8:8 18:6 16:4 14:6 14:6 18:6 14:6 6:6 16:8 22:6 18:6 14:10 22:6 23:9 27:5 32:8 28:12 20:12 360:156

Stage1994/95 3rd Gr. A 3rd Gr. A 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Runner-up 1/2-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/2-finals 1/4-finals 3rd Gr. F 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 Last 16 1/4-finals Fourth Place Runner-up Runner-up Third Place Last 16


Telekom Veszprém HC

Ljubomir Vranjes coach • former Swedish national team player, was still on the players’ list of Flensburg before he joined Veszprém in 2017 • awarded IHF coach of the Year in 2014 • after winning the CL in the 2014/15 season he declined offers from PSG and the German national team • led Serbia to the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark as a caretaker, but did not continue • creative photographer in his spare time and published his book of memoirs

EC trophies: CL 2014 (as coach), Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 (as coach) OG: S 2000, WCh: G 1999, EURO: G 1998, 2000 and 2002 @LVranjes

Newcomers: Árpád Sterbik (HC Vardar/MKD) Borut Mackovsek (RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko/SLO) Kentin Mahé (SG Flensburg-Handewitt/GER) Manuel Strlek (PGE Vive Kielce/POL) René Toft Hansen (THW Kiel/GER)

Left the club: Cristian Ugalde (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf/GER) Gábor Ancsin (FTC, on loan/HUN) Mátyás Győri (Grundfos Tatabánya, on loan/HUN) Mirko Alilovic (MOL-Pick Szeged/HUN) Renato Sulic (Wisla Plock/POL) Timuzsin Schuch (FTC/HUN)

62


Telekom Veszprém HC

Team roster Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

20 William

Accambray FRA

Left Back

08.04.1988

Cannes, FRA

194

110

31 Blaz

Blagotinsek SLO

Line Player

17.01.1994

Celje, SLO

203

122

45 Uros

Borzas

28.07.1999

Zenta, SRB

196

92

42 Aleksandar

Djurdjevic SRB

Goalkeeper

20.07.1997

Pec, SRB

193

87

48 Borisz

Dörnyei

HUN Right Wing

23.07.1999

Veszprém, HUN

183

75

49 Bence

Ernei

HUN Left Wing

29.09.1998

Veszprém, HUN

185

81

17 Dragan

Gajic

SLO

Right Wing

21.07.1984

Celje, SLO

188

84

13 Momir

Ilic

SRB

Left Back

22.12.1981

Arandjelovac, SRB

198

108

HUN Left Back

HUN Left Back

11.10.1991

Esfahan, IRI

202

108

66 Mate

Lekai

HUN Centre Back

16.06.1988

Budapest, HUN

190

87

96 Patrik

Ligetvari

HUN Left Back

13.02.1996

Várpalota, HUN

203

115

51 Borut

Mackovsek SLO

Left Back

11.09.1992

Koper, SLO

203

101

35 Kentin

Mahe

Centre Back

22.05.1991

Paris, FRA

186

93

26.08.1992

Veles, FRA

181

84

Right Wing

20.08.1990

Celje, SLO

180

84

44 Moorchegani Iman Jamali

2

Dejan

FRA

Manaskov MKD Left Wing

24 Gasper

Marguc

SLO

16 Roland

Mikler

HUN Goalkeeper

20.09.1984

Dunaujvaros, HUN

190

101

03.03.1981

Szeged, HUN

207

116

28.06.1986

Belgrade, SRB

198

93

C 19 Laszlo

Nagy

HUN Right Back

34 Petar

Nenadic

SRB

18 Andreas

Nilsson

SWE Line Player

12.04.1990

Trelleborg, SWE

197

121

Sterbik

ESP

Goalkeeper

20.11.1979

Zenta, SRB

199

119

26 Manuel

Strlek

CRO

Left Wing

01.12.1988

Zagreb, CRO

182

84

47 Lev

Szuharev

HUN Right Back

17.08.2000

Nyíregyháza, HUN

197

97

Terzic

BIH

12.07.1983

Priboj, BIH

196

105 104 104

1

Arpad

30 Mirsad 9

Rene

15 Kent Robin

Left Back Line Player

01.11.1984

Rybjerg, DEN

200

NOR Right Back

05.06.1991

Partille, SWE

194

Toft Hansen DEN Tönnesen

Centre Back

63


Telekom Veszprém HC

@miklerroland

Roland Mikler goalkeeper

• All-star goalkeeper at Junior WCh 2005, where he led Hungary to bronze • Hungarian national team member is quick, compact and excellent at directing defence • as a teenager Mikler reached the semi-final of the EHF Cup over a decade ago, with Dunaferr in 2003, and won it with Szeged in 2014 • joined Veszprém in 2014 after the EHF Cup success with Szeged EC trophy: EHF Cup 2014

Arpad Sterbik goalkeeper • among world’s best goalkeepers, holds Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish citizenship • signed with Veszprém after 10 seasons spent in Barcelona, then moving from Spain in 2014 to Vardar where he spent three years • received dozens of international awards, including 2005 IHF World Handball Player of the Year, MVP of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2017 and best goalkeeper of the Spanish league five times EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, 2017 WCh: G 2013, B 1999, B 2001, B 2011; EURO: G 2018, S 2016

Momir Ilic left back • CL top scorer in 2013/14 and 2014/15, and became first player to score more than 100 goals in three consecutive CL seasons • won seven titles during his four years with Kiel before joining Veszprém in 2013 • MVP of the EURO 2012, having led Serbia to their first medal as an independent country • CL All-star team left back in 2013/14 and 2015/16 EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: S 2012 @kentinmahe35

Kentin Mahé centre back •

joined Veszprém in 2018 after spells with Flensburg, Hamburg, Gummersbach and Dormagen, where was coached by his father Pascal

Men’s 20 EURO 2010 MVP and top scorer (49 goals); 2015 EHF Cup Finals MVP

made debut for the French national team in 2010 and now one of their key players

reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final with Gummersbach in 2011/12 and EHF Cup final with HSV in 2014/15

OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2015, 2017, EURO: B 2018

64


Telekom Veszprém HC

@lekaimate

Mate Lekai centre back •

member of Hungarian national team, impressed at former clubs PLER and Szeged

returned to Hungary from Celje where he spent two seasons

had a lot of troubles with injuries during his first season with Celje, played whole secons half of league final with broken finger

CL top scorer for the club in 2017/18 with a career-best 75 goals

René Toft Hansen line player • EHF EURO 2012 All-Star team member • in the CL since 2007 with clubs KIF Kolding, AG Kobenhavn and Kiel • one brother (Henrik) plays for PSG, his other brother (Allan) for Mors-Thy, and his sister (Majbritt) for Aarhaus – all four are line players

OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

Laszlo Nagy right back

@laszlonagy19

• started his career as a basketball player and was close to a move to the USA at 13 • decided for handball and became one of the best right backs in the world • transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain despite being a foreigner; captain of Veszprém since 2014 • All-Star right back of the 2013 WCh and the 2012/13 CL season EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003

Gasper Marguc right wing •

took part in the WCh in France in 2017, where Slovenia won bronze

came to Veszprém from Celje where he was playing since 2009

played his best season so far in 2012/13 and became Slovenia’s top scorer in the CL, netting 72 times (10th overall)

played two amazing matches against THW Kiel in 2012/13, scoring a perfect 18 from 18 attempts against the legendary goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer

WCh: B 2017

65


Montpellier HB

GROUP A

Club Address

Montpellier HB Centre Jean Paul Lacombe 1000 Av Val de Montferrand 34090 Montpellier Cedex France Media contact

Suzy De Monte +33 (0)6 87 73 58 42 s.demonte@ montpellierhandball.com montpellierhandball.com MHB - Montpellier Handball

@mhbofficiel @mhbofficiel

Kit colours

Montpellier HB For the first time a team from Groups C/D made it all the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne last season. Montpellier HB went even one step further and lifted the trophy, for the second time after their 2003 title. Now starting in Group A, can Montpellier surprise everyone again? Since the introduction of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in the 2009/10 season, no team have won the title two years in a row. Montpellier are obviously proud of their achievement but experienced coach Patrice Canayer knows that repeating the feat will be hard. “Winning the trophy is so hard for a team that has been ranked among the favourites. But we are ready to take on the task with all humility required,” the two-time Champions League winner says. “But, for a club like Montpellier, to qualify for the quarter-finals would already be a good performance.” Group A includes the last four winners of the Champions League (Barcelona, Kielce, Vardar and Montpellier) as well as the 2015 and 2016 finalists Veszprém alongside always dangerous German side Rhein-Neckar Löwen. After two seasons competing in Groups C and D, Montpellier might now have to learn how to play the Europe’s powerhouses every weekend. “All eight teams in the group are potential Champions League winners,” captain Michaël Guigou says. “It will be tough for everybody. Vardar lost some players but are still very competitive, Barcelona will be eager to come back after losing against us in the Last 16 last season. It will be very hard for us but we can also enjoy the fact that some exciting games are ahead of us.” Ludovic Fabregas was a key player on both sides of the court last season. To replace him, coach Canayer picked Swedish line player Fredric Pettersson, who played the Men’s EHF EURO 2018 Final with his national team in January. Even though the loss of the French national team player is huge, Montpellier have proven in the past that they were able to effectively replace key players, like they did with Jure Dolenec.

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: light blue/yellow

Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: purple Playing hall Sud de France Arena Montpellier Rue de la Foire 34470 Pérols/Montpellier France Capacity: 8,000

66

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 21 Winners (2): 2002/03, 2017/18 Semi-final (1): 2004/05 Quarter-final (5): 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2016/17 Last 16 (6): 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2016/17 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase (3): 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, Quarter-final: 1996/97 Last 16: 1993/94, 1994/95 Last 32: 1997/98 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2001/02 French league: 14 titles (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) French cup: 13 titles Ligue’s cup: 10 titles


Montpellier HB

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

8 46 78

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), 04.10.2009 37:20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), 06.11.1999 8 matches (15.10.2016 – 04.03.2017) 8 matches (16.09.2017 – 19.11.2017) 11 matches (15.10.2016 – 02.04.2017) 6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016) 6 matches (14.02.2016 – 27.03.2016) 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), 04.10.2009 38 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), 05.12.2004 38 v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), 19.11.2011 78 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), 09.02.2008 17 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), 03.01.1999 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), 10.12.2000 16 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), 07.10.2006 38 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), 08.11.1998

EHF Champions League record

MP

W

1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA 1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA 2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA 2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA 2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA 2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA 2007/08 Montpellier HB FRA 2008/09 Montpellier HB FRA 2009/10 Montpellier HB FRA 2010/11 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 2011/12 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 2012/13 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 2014/15 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA 2015/16 Montpellier HB FRA 2016/17 Montpellier HB FRA 2017/18 Montpellier HB FRA Total

6 6 8 12 8 12 10 8 12 10 14 14 12 10 12 16 16 18 204

3 0 3 0 4 1 8 1 6 0 9 0 6 0 5 1 7 0 6 1 10 2 10 0 6 0 2 2 4 2 3 1 11 1 14 1 117 13

T

67

L

GF GA

3 3 3 3 2 3 4 2 5 3 2 4 6 6 6 12 4 3 74

134:134 0 139:148 -9 193:193 0 334:311 +23 216:199 +17 375:328 +47 282:272 +10 224:198 +26 358:348 +10 295:275 +20 447:372 +75 442:379 +63 357:357 0 301:311 –10 351:377 –26 429:472 –43 476:425 +51 530:464 +66 5883:5563 +320

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

6:6 6:6 9:7 17:7 12:4 18:6 12:8 11:5 14:10 13:7 22:6 20:8 12:12 6:14 10:14 7:25 23:9 29:7 247:161

3rd Gr. A 3rd Gr. A 1/4-finals Winner Last 16 1/2-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 3rd MR Gr. 2 4th MR Gr. 3 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 5th Gr. A Last 16 Last 16 1/4-finals Winner


Montpellier HB

Patrice Canayer coach •

has started in his 25th season as Montpellier head coach

winning the CL 2017/18 was the 41th trophy he won with the club starting coaching career in 1994 with players like Nikola Karabatic, Thierry Omeyer, Jerome Fernandez and Didier Dinart on the team played for Bordeaux and Racing Paris in his active career named CL coach of the season in 2017/18

• • •

EC trophies: CL 2003, 2018

Newcomers: Fredric Pettersson (Toulouse/FRA)

Left the club: Ludovic Fabregas (Barça Lassa)

68


Montpellier HB

Team roster No. First Name Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Height Weight

33 Benjamin

Afgour

FRA

Line Player

01.04.1991

Rethel, FRA

195

110

29 Arnaud

Bingo

FRA

Wing

12.10.1987

Lyon, FRA

190

80

24 Baptiste

Bonnefond

FRA

Left Back

22.01.1993

Lyon, FRA

193

97

13 Julien

Bos

FRA

Right Back

18.08.1998

Pessac, FRA

188

82

Theophile

Causse

FRA

Right Wing

12.10.1992

Port au Prince, FRA

180

73

25 Jean Loup

Faustin

FRA

Centre Back

23.03.1995

Montpellier, FRA

185

85

Gerard

FRA

Goalkeeper

16.12.1986

Woippy, FRA

189

104

Paris, FRA

198

98

180

78

6 1

Vincent

10 Mathieu

Grebille

FRA

Left Wing

06.10.1991

C 14 Michael

Guigou

FRA

Centre Back

28.01.1982

Apt, FRA

15 Antoine

Jonnier

FRA

Line Player

18.08.1998

Libourne, FRA

23 Vid

Kavticnik

SLO

Right Wing

24.05.1984

Gradec, SLO

190

85

EGY

Line Player

01.04.1989

Cairo, EGY

193

100

89 Mohamed Mamdouh 18 Fredric

Pettersson

SWE Line Player

11.02.1989

Jรถnkรถping, SWE

201

115

98 Rubens

Pierre

FRA

Goalkeeper

14.05.1999

St.Hon., FRA

203

107

28 Valentin

Porte

FRA

Right Wing

07.09.1990

Versailles, FRA

190

92

Lyon, FRA

194

90

16 Nikola

Portner

SUI

Goalkeeper

19.11.1993

22 Melvyn

Richardson

FRA

Right Back

31.01.1997

Marseille, FRA

190

85

97 Maxime

Savonne

FRA

Goalkeeper

11.01.1997

Nimes , FRA

195

85

Simonet

ARG

Centre Back

26.12.1989

Buenos Aires, ARG

189

89

TUN

Left Back

17.01.1993

Nabeul, TUN

195

98

Jonas

Truchanovicius LTU

Left Back

24.06.1993

Siauliai, LTU

203

96

Giorgi

Tskhovrebadze GEO

Right Back

19.02.2001

GEO

Kyllian

Villeminot

Centre Back

20.05.1998

Lyon , FRA

189

82

4

Diego

39 Mohamed Soussi 7 5

FRA

69


Montpellier HB

Vincent Gerard goalkeeper • formed in Montpellier, he moved to Istres, Dunkerque, but returned in 2015 • will leave the club after the 2018/19 season to join Paris Saint-Germain • his exuberant celebrations have made of him a fan favourite • best goalkeeper of the WCh 2017 • France No. 1 goalkeeper after Thierry Omeyer’s international retirement EC trophies: CL 2018 OG: S 2016, WCh: G 2017, EURO B 2018

Michael Guigou left wing / centre back • player with the longest Montpellier history, currently in his 19th season with the club • has developed from a goal scorer to a playmaker in recent years as he is able to play as centre back as well • only player from CL-winning squad in 2003 who is still with the team • has suffered from various injuries in recent seasons EC trophies: CL 2003, 2018, OG : G 2008-12, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2018 WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, B 2005

Jonas Truchanovicius left back • one of very few Lithuanian players to have appeared in the CL, and the first win it • arrived in 2016 and quickly adapted to Montpellier’s demanding style of play • at his best on left back position but can also play centre back • proved his potential in 2017/18 with outstanding performances against Barça and Flensburg-Handewitt EC trophies: CL 2018

Diego Simonet centre back

@chinosimonet

• played an instrumental role in Montpellier’s race to the CL 2017/18 title, becoming MVP of the FINAL4 • his two brothers, Sebastian and Pablo, are also professional handball players. Sebastian will also play in the CL this season, with Leon • suffered a knee injury which left him on the side line for eight months in 2016/17 • has been elected Argentinian Handball Player of the Year four times EC trophies: CL 2018

70


Montpellier HB

Fredric Pettersson line player • arrived in Montpellier in 2018, after playing for two seasons in Toulouse • impressive offensive player, who was the second best scorer at Toulouse • played CL before, with Swedish side IFK Kristianstad in 2015 and 2016 • part of upcoming strong Swedish generation, alongside Hampus Wanne, Mattias Zachrisson and Jesper Nielsen EURO: S 2018

Valentin Porte right back

@valhand28

• arrived in Montpellier in 2016, reached the CL Quarter-finals in his debut season and won the CL in his second year • played on the right wing until 2014 when then national team coach Claude Onesta placed him on the back court, with great success • rose to prominence during EHF EURO 2014, scoring 16 goals in semi-final and final • golf aficionado, having learned a lot from his teammates, like Barça goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas EC trophies: CL 2018 OG: S 2016; WCh: G 2015, 2017; EURO: G 2014, B 2018

Vid Kavticnik right back

@vidko

• one of few Montpellier players who also won CL with another club - Kiel in 2007 • former right wing, evolved into a right back who can also play in the middle of the attack if needed • only player remaining from the Slovenian era at Montpellier, when he played with the likes of Dragan Gajic and Jure Dolenec EC trophies: CL 2007, 2018 WCh: B 2017, EURO: S 2004

Melvyn Richardson right back

@melvyn_richardson

• son of Jackson Richardson, who won CL in 2001 with Portland San Antonio, 17 years before Melvyn would repeat the feat with Montpellier • at his best on the back court but also able to play on the wing, from where he once scored nine times in a French league game in 2017/18 • played for the first time with the French team in June 2017 EC trophies: CL 2018

71


IFK Kristianstad

GROUP A

Club Address

IFK Kristianstad Västra Storgatan 69 29154 Kristanstad Sweden Media contact

Sebastian Rosenberg +46 768 506651 sebastian.rosenberg@ifkkristianstad.se www.ifkkristianstad.se IFKKristianstad @IFKKristianstad @ifk1899

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: orange Player short: white GK shirt: red/yellow/ black/white

IFK Kristianstad A strong finish to the group phase last season earned IFK Kristianstad a berth for the Last 16 for the first time. Having won the Swedish championship for the fourth time in a row, and entering the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase for the fourth time, Kristianstad are trying to pull another surprise this year. But the team from former ‘Bengan Boy’ Ola Lindgren will have to compensate for several key players who have left. “It will be the toughest group phase so far. Vardar, Veszprém, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Montpellier, Barcelona and Brest are all on the highest level,” team manager and former player Jesper Larsson says. “We will certainly try to surprise, but it is going to be hard. Our chance is to do something different, that the other teams not do… We have to get our seven new players into how we play and think, and that can take some time.” At home, in their Kristianstad Arena, they have always been a strong force. Larsson hopes the team will now also earn points regularly in away matches. “We are aiming to take some points away as well,” he says. “We have been close for a number of times, but this year it is about time for a couple of (big) points.” Each year, Kristianstad have to close gaps in their team from important players who have left for bigger clubs in bigger leagues. This season is no exception as they have to try to replace players like right back Albin Lagergren, right wing Tim Sørensen and playmaker Gunnar Steinn Jonsson, all internationals in their respective countries. “Once again we try to build a new team with hungry players who like to run,” team manager Larsson says. “We are optimistic about the season and it is going to be great to welcome clubs of that dignity again. The fans will surely come and again make it into an extraordinary happening.” The 23-year-old Spaniard Marc Canellas has joined IFK this summer from Granollers. He is the younger brother of Joan Canellas, and he will have to step out of his sibling’s shadow to help Kristianstad being successful in the Champions League again. Like Joan at Szeged, Marc Canellas is a playmaker, and his main tasks will be to organise Kristianstad’s attacking play and tie their new backcourt line together.

Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: red/yellow/ black/white

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 4 Last 16 (1): 2017/18 Group Phase (3): 2015/16, 2016/17 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2013/14 Swedish league: 8 titles (1941, 1948, 1952, 1953, 2015-18)

Playing hall Kristianstad Arena Västra Storgatan 69 S-29154 Kristianstad Sweden Capacity: 4,800

72


IFK Kristianstad

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

1 36 74

MATCH Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

21:30 (13:11) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 06.03.2016 31:15 (14:8) v HC Vardar MKD MKD (a), 07.12.2017 1 match (16.09.2015) 1 match (22.10.2015) 1 match (06.03.2016) 1 match (08.10.2016) 1 match (11.02.2017) 1 match (04.03.2017) 1 match (11.11.2017) 1 match (26.11.2017) 1 match (04.03.2018) 3 matches (11.11.2017 – 26.11.2017) 5 matches (23.09.2017 – 04.11.2017) 7 matches (14.11.2015 – 25.02.2016) 7 matches (12.03.2017 – 04.11.2017) 36 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 38 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 38 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 38:28L (a), 01.10.2016 74 v HC Vardar MKD 38:36L (a), 20.02.2016 15 v HC Vardar MKD 31:15L (a), 07.12.2017 21 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 21:30W (a), 06.03.2016 46 v HC Vardar MKD 31:15L (a), 07.12.2017

VELUX EHF Champions League record 2015/16 IFK Kristianstad SWE 2016/17 IFK Kristianstad SWE 2017/18 IFK Kristianstad SWE Total

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 14 3 1 10 409:437 –28 7:21 14 3 2 9 381:411 –30 8:20 16 3 2 11 401:468 –67 8:24 44 9 5 30 1191:1316 –125 23:65

73

Stage1994/95 7th Gr. B 8th Gr. B Last 16


IFK Kristianstad

Ola Lindgren coach • head coach in Kristianstad since 2012, celebrated his greatest triumph by leading them to their first Swedish title in 62 years in 2014/15 • before returning home was coach at HSG Nordhorn and Rhein-Neckar Löwen • apart from being head coach in Kristianstad, was in charge of the Sweden national team, together with Staffan Olsson, from 2008 to 2016 • was a great line player in his days on court, winning two World Championships and four European titles, among other medals, during the golden age of Swedish handball • with 376 matches for Sweden, he has the second most caps in the national team OG: S 1992, 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1990, 1999, S 1997, 2001, B 1993, 1995, EURO: G 1994, 1998, 2000

Newcomers: Alfred Ehn (IFK Skövde/SWE) Marc Canellas Reixach (Granollers/ESP) Teitur Einarsson (Selfoss/ICE) Anton Halén (Göppingen/GER) Adam Nyfjäll (Sönderjyske/DEN) Emil Hansson (Ystad/SWE) Ludvig Jurmala (Tyresö/SWE)

Left the club: Albin Lagergren (SC Magdeburg/GER) Tim Sörensen (Göppingen/GER) Gunnar Steinn Jonsson (Ribe/Esbjerg/DEN) Mario Lipovac (Ystad/SWE) Inge Aas Eriksen (Fyllingen/NOR)

74


IFK Kristianstad

Team roster Height Weight

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Arnarsson

ISL

Line Player

14.03.1996

Reykjavik, ISL

200

114

12 Gustaf

Banke

SWE

Goalkeeper

07.01.1999

Kristianstad, SWE

191

100

39 William

Bengtsson

SWE

Left Back

20.06.2000

Kristianstad, SWE

195

96

37 Zoran

Bozic

SWE

Centre Back

03.04.2001

Kristianstad, SWE

188

78

14 Marc

Cañellas

ESP

Centre Back

21.07.1995

St. Maria de Palaut., ESP 191

88

Chrintz

SWE

Right Wing

26.04.2000

Kristianstad, SWE

185

84 83

No. First Name 5

Arnar Freyr

26 Valter 40 Christian

Cosmo

SWE

Centre Back

25.05.1998

Kristianstad, SWE

182

21 Alfred

Ehn

SWE

Left Wing

22.10.1994

Lidköping, SWE

188

88

24 Teitur Örn

Einarsson

ISL

Right Back

23.09.1998

Selfoss, ISL

190

90

17 Helge

Freiman

SWE

Centre Back

26.02.1992

Lidingö, SWE

188

94

13 Olafur Andres

Gudmundsson ISL

Left Back

13.05.1990

Hafnarfjarðar, ISL

193

94

C 30 Anton

Halen

SWE

Right Wing

28.11.1990

Helgum, SWE

192

90

14 Viktor

Hallen

SWE

Left Wing

01.02.1994

Kungsholmen, SWE

189

86

Hansson

SWE

Centre Back

07.05.1995

Ystad, SWE

198

98

196

104

2 6

Emil Philip

Henningsson

SWE

Left Back

14.06.1995

Hörby, SWE

Jurmala

SWE

Line Player

29.12.1999

Tyreso, SWE

196

118

16 Richard Carl Johan Kappelin

SWE

Goalkeeper

30.09.1983

Irsta, SWE

191

98

11 Johannes

Larsson

SWE

Right Wing

09.08.1991

Kristianstad, SWE

183

76

Leo

Larsson

SWE

Goalkeeper

16.10.1990

Ystad, SWE

188

92

Mohlin

SWE

Left Back

30.11.2000

Kristianstad, SWE

199

89

Nilsen

NOR

Right Back

09.08.1994

Alta, NOR

193

91

Nilsson

SWE

Line Player

04.05.1998

Kristianstad, SWE

188

102

196

101

25 Ludvig

1

35 Evon 9

Stig Tore Moen

38 Marten 4

Adam

20 Anton 3

Hugo

Nyfjäll

SWE

Line Player

29.07.1992

Lysekil, SWE

Persson

SWE

Left Wing

05.06.1998

Kristianstad, SWE

183

85

Svensson

SWE

Left Back

12.06.2000

Kristianstad, SWE

193

94

75


IFK Kristianstad

Richard Kappelin goalkeeper • returned to Sweden in 2017 from Spanish Logronos, where he arrived ahead of the 2015/16 season from French Selestat Alsace Handball • also has previous CL experience from another Spanish club, Aragon as well as from Danish Aalborg • has been a bit around in his career, which also took him to Al Gharafa in Qatar for six months before he joined Aalborg in 2013 • represented the Swedish league clubs IK Sävehof and Alingsas HK before • has not played any senior internationals, won the Junior WCh with Sweden in 2003

Alfred Ehn left wing • joined IFK from another traditional Swedish club, IFK Skövde • was signed as a back-up for long-term injured Viktor Hallen • made his debut in Sweden’s national league team last season • a fast and flexible wing, who is good on fast breaks and capable of covering both the wing and left back in defence

Philip Henningson left back

@philiphenningsson6

• playing his fourth season in Kristianstad after joining from second tier club IFK Ystad in 2015 • had his breakthrough in CL Group Phase in the 2016/17 season • only 21 years old, and expected to have a great future in handball • mainly characterised by his shot and his physical strength EURO: S 2018

Marc Canellas centre back • joined IFK in the summer of 2018 from Spanish Fraikin BM. Granollers • signed as replacement for Icelandic international Gunnar Stein Jonsson, who has left for Danish Ribe Esbjerg • a tall and versatile playmaker with plenty of international experience

76


IFK Kristianstad

Arnar Freyr Arnarsson line player • joined in the summer of 2016 from Icelandic league club Fram Reykjavik • on a three-year contract with Kristianstad, his first foreign adventure • at two metres and 110 kg, he has the size and physical strength to make an impact on the line, where he is always easy to find for his back court players • part of the Icelandic team for the EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia

Adam Nyfjäll line player • arrived at IFK from Danish league club Sønderjyske in the summer of 2018 • moved abroad at the age of 18 for a career in Norwegian handball and later in Denmark • seen as a supplement for Arnar Freyr Arnarsson on the line and in the centre of the defence • physically strong with an outspoken winner mentality

Teitur Örn Einarsson right back • arrived from Icelandic club UMF Selfoss in the summer of 2018 as replacement for Swedish international Albin Lagergren • started his sports career in javelin • an explosive back with a strong shot, and has a lot of potential at just 19 years of age

Anton Halen right wing • joined IFK on a three-year contract from Göppingen in the summer of 2018 • was signed as replacement for Danish international Tim Sörensen • missed a lot of last season due to injury, but arrived completely fit at IFK • is good on fast breaks and has a rich variety of shots from his position at right wing

77


Rhein-Neckar Löwen

GROUP A

Club Address

Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mollstraße 49a 68165 Mannheim Germany Media contact

Christopher Monz +491744288849

monz@rhein-neckar-loewen.de

rhein-neckar-loewen.de rnloewen @RNLoewen @rnloewen

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue GK shirt: red/blue

Rhein-Neckar Löwen The previous national and international season was like a roller coaster ride for Rhein-Neckar Löwen: First, they were eliminated in the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 for the fourth time in a row, then took the German Cup for the first time ever and finally let the Bundesliga trophy slip from their hands in the last four rounds of competition. In the new season – the last with Dane Nikolaj Jacobsen as coach – Löwen want more stability and hope to “survive” at least one more stage of the Champions League. In the previous four seasons, Rhein-Neckar Löwen always failed in the Last 16 – against Szeged, Zagreb, Kiel and, in the last season, Kielce. “ However, this season, it is even harder to make it to the Last 16, as Löwen will face the Champions League winners from 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as three-time finalists Veszprém in the group phase. The squad seems to be strong enough to take on these opponents, but you never know the injury situation and the burden from the Bundesliga. “We are definitely not the favourites in our group, as teams such as Veszprém and Barcelona do not play in such strong domestic competitions – they are supposed to have more power when it counts,” says team captain Andy Schmid. As Hendrik Pekeler left for Kiel, Kristian Bliznac ended his career and Kim Ekdahl du Rietz joined Paris, Löwen’s Spanish defence boss Gedeon Guardiola will have some new neighbours in the new middle block. Physically, Serbian Ilija Abutovic (Champions League winner with Vardar in 2017) is the new Pekeler, but new Swede Jesper Nielsen is also expected to play a core role in defence. Both new arrivals are experienced enough to understand Löwen’s defensive system quickly. Therefore, the middle block might even be stronger than last season. Welcome back to where it all started – this is the situation for Steffen Fäth. The EHF EURO 2016 champion and Olympic bronze medallist’s first professional contract was with Rhein-Neckar Löwen at the age of 18. After only one year, he left for Gummersbach, then played for Wetzlar and Berlin, and now arrives in Mannheim as EHF Cup winner to play the first Champions League season in his career.

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red/white

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 10 Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 (4th at the FINAL4) Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 Last 16 (4): 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Other EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07 Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08

Playing hall SAP Arena An der Arena 1 68163 Mannheim Germany Capacity: 13,200

German league: 2 titles (2016, 2017) German cup: 1 title

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Rhein-Neckar Löwen

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat

5 40 76

MATCHES

Longest losing run Longest run without 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 41:17 (21:8) v PGE Vive Kielce POL (a), 24.03.2018 5 matches (12.10.2013 – 28.11.2013) 8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010) 8 matches (12.10.2013 – 20.02.2014) 3 matches (21.02.2015 - 22.03.2015) 5 matches (12.11.2017 – 11.02.2018)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.2009 41 v PGE Vive Kielce POL 41:17L (a), 24.03.2018 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 17 v PGE Vive Kielce POL 41:17L (a), 24.03.2018 17 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), 17.10.2013 42 v HC Vardar MKD 21:21D (h), 26.11.2017

Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

14

9

2

3

447:392

+55

20:8

1/2-finals

2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

14

9

2

3

450:408

+42

20:8

1/4-finals

2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

16

7

4

5

486:465

+21

18:14

Fourth Place

2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

14

9

2

3

422:369

+53

20:8

1/4-finals

2014/15 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

12

6

0

6

361:347

+14

12:12

Last 16

2015/16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

16

9

1

6

422:407

+15

19:13

Last 16

2016/17 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

16

9

1

6

441:446

-5

19:13

Last 16

2017/18 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER Total

16 6 5 5 463:468 -5 17:15 118 64 17 37 3492:3302 +190 145:91

Last 16

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Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Nikolaj Jacobsen coach • • • • •

joined Löwen in 2014 to replace Gudmundur Gudmundsson coached Viborg, Bjerringbro (both as an assistant) and Aalborg in the past, leading Aalborg to a surprising title and the CL in 2013 won six league titles and seven cup titles in Denmark and Germany during his playing career made history by steering Löwen to their first ever Bundesliga championship and successfully defended the title in 2016/17 will leave the club after the 2018/19 season to focus only on his job as Danish national team coach

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004 (as player) @zaubermaus55555

Newcomers: Jannik Kohlbacher (HSG Wetzlar/GER) Steffen Fäth (Füchse Berlin/GER) Ilija Abutovic (HC Vardar/MKD) Vladan Lipovina (TV Hüttenberg/GER) Jesper Nielsen (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)

Left the club: Kristian Bliznac (retired) Momir Rnic (tbd) Harald Reinkind (THW Kiel/GER) Hendrik Pekeler (THW Kiel/GER) Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA) Rafael Baena (Bergischer HC/GER) Klaus Gärtner (coach Alpla Hard/AUT)

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Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Team roster Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

20 Ilija

Abutovic

SRB

Left Back

02.08.1988

Vrbas, SRB

202

100

16 Can

Adanir

GER

Goalkeeper

20.05.1999

Aschaffenburg, GER

192

95

Appelgren

SWE Goalkeeper

06.09.1989

Uddevalla, SWE

191

100

15 Leon

Bolius

GER

Left Wing

13.06.1995

10 Luca

Braun

GER

Right Back

22.06.1999

Dieburg, GER

198

94

23 Steffen

Fäth

GER

Left Back

04.04.1990

Frankfurt a.M., GER

194

90

77 Tim

Ganz

GER

Right Wing

03.06.1997

Kehl, GER

185

85

99 Niklas

Gierse

GER

Goalkeeper

15.01.2000

24 Patrick

Groetzki

GER

Right Wing

04.07.1989

Pforzheim, GER

189

84

30 Gedeon

Guardiola

ESP

Line Player

01.10.1984

Petrer, ESP

200

103

97 Rico

Keller

GER

Centre Back

30.07.1997

Heidelberg, GER

192

87

98 Maximilian

Kessler

GER

Left Wing

23.04.1998

Heidelberg, GER

194

85

34 Pascal

Kirchenbauer

GER

Centre Back

29.02.1996

Heidelberg, GER

187

90

80 Jannik

Kohlbacher

GER

Line Player

19.07.1995

Bensheim, GER

193

105

Lipovina

MNE Right Back

07.03.1993

Cetinje, MNE

198

94

185

95

1

5

Mikael

Vladan

Right Back

30.05.2000

Centre Back

12.08.1991

Holbæk, DEN

188

109

Right Wing

04.11.1999

Karlsruhe, GER

178

82

Nielsen

SWE Line Player

30.09.1989

Norrköping, SWE

200

118

12 Andreas

Palicka

SWE Goalkeeper

10.07.1986

N Nöbbelöv, SWE

189

88

32 Alexander

Petersson

ISL

Right Back

02.07.1980

Riga, LAT

188

89

14 Bogdan

Radivojevic

SRB

Right Wing

02.03.1993

Belgrade, SRB

192

80

Röller

GER

Line Player

24.01.1999

Ludwigshafen, GER

203

110

190

86

GER

35 Yessine

Meddeb

22 Mads

Mensah Larsen DEN

33 Mattes

Meyer

GER

36 Jesper

13 Lars C 2 Andre

Schmid

SUI

Centre Back

30.08.1983

Horgen, SUI

29 Martin

Schmiedt

SVK

Left Wing

26.10.2000

Kosice, SVK

186

79

6

Jannis

Schneibel

GER

Centre Back

06.07.2000

Ludwigshafen, GER

188

77

9

Gudjon Valur

Sigurdsson

ISL

Left Wing

08.08.1979

Reykjavik, ISL

187

82

28 Filip

Taleski

MKD Left Back

28.03.1996

Krusevo, MKD

200

86

17 Jerry

Tollbring

SWE Left Wing

13.09.1995

Norrtälje, SWE

182

82

21 Sebastian

Trost

GER

Centre Back

02.01.1998

Schwetzingen, GER

192

95

11 Lukas

Wichmann

GER

Line Player

20.03.2000

GER

200

115

81


Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Mikael Appelgren goalkeeper • awarded best goalkeeper of the Swedish league 2011/12, when he played for Skövde • then transferred to German club Melsungen, where he made it twice to the German cup final tournament and played in the group phase of the EHF Cup • was signed by Löwen in 2015 to become the successor of Niklas Landin • named best Bundesliga goalkeeper in the 2017/18 season EURO: S 2018

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson left wing

@gudjonvalur9

• returned to the club in 2016 after two seasons with Barça • also played for Tusem Essen, VfL Gummersbach, AG København and THW Kiel • all-time top scorer of the Icelandic national team, reached 500 CL goals in 2015/16 • his fifth trip to VELUX EHF FINAL4 brought him the CL title, with Barcelona in 2015

EC trophies: CL 2015, EHF Cup 2005 OG: S 2008, EURO B 2010

Steffen Fäth left back • was M18 EHF EURO champion and under-21 world champion • after playing for Wallau, Löwen and Gummersbach, he settled at Wetzlar in 2010 • after six years and becoming national team player, he joined Füchse Berlin in 2016 • returned to Löwen to replace Kim Ekdahl du Rietz • can either play on left back or centre back EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010, 2018 EHF EURO: G2016, OG B 2016

Andre Schmid centre back

@andyschmid2

• eight-time Swiss Player of the Year, and five straight seasons (2014-2018) named best player in the German Bundesliga • played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009, joined Löwen after one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg • key in attack – both as playmaker and as shooter • team captain since Uwe Gensheimer's departure to PSG in 2016 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013

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Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Mads Mensah Larsen centre back • started international career at AG København, made it to FINAL4 in 2012 • became Danish champion with Aalborg when Nikolaj Jacobsen was their coach • followed Jacobsen to Löwen when the coach joined the club in 2014 • was M20 EHF EURO champion with Denmark • his father is from Ghana, his mother from Denmark OG: S 2016, WCh: S 2013, EURO: S 2014

Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana line player

@gedeonguardiola

• defence boss of Löwen as the successor of Oliver ‘The Rogg’ Roggisch • arrived in Mannheim in 2012 with twin brother Isaias, who moved to Aalborg in 2014 • played at Logrono and San Antonio before he joined Löwen • was a karateka in his younger days • when he scores for Löwen, fans in the whole arena shout ‘Ole!’ EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014, S 2016, G 2018

Alexander Petersson right back • born in Riga, Latvia, later became Icelandic citizen • made it to Germany in 2003, played for Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, Flensburg and Berlin, before joining Löwen in 2012; has scored more than 1,500 Bundesliga goals • is supposed to share right back position with new arrival Vladan Lipovina • was an All-star Team member at the WCh 2011 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OS: S 2008, EURO B 2010

Patrick Groetzki right wing

@patrickgroetzki24 @patrickgroetzki

• born in Pforzheim, only a few kilometres away from Mannheim • came to Löwen straight after his youth career and became part of Germany’s younger age category national teams • MVP and silver medallist of M20 EHF EURO 2008, won Junior WCh 2009 • key player for national team, missed EHF EURO 2016 due to a broken leg OG: S 2012 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: B 2016

83


Group B preview

Group B preview FINALISTS NANTES GO FROM HUNTERS TO HUNTED There is no surprise effect anymore for the French side after their stunning last season, as they will face the likes of Paris SG and Flensburg-Handewitt in the 2018/19 campaign Just a few months after their semi-final in Cologne, HBC Nantes and Paris SaintGermain, two of the three French clubs at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018, will meet again in Europe’s top flight. Both teams have been drawn into VELUX EHF Champions League Group B. For the first time seeded in Groups A/B, Nantes did a lot better than expected as they became one of the surprise packages of the season. They remained undefeated at home while beating former champions Barça Lassa and HC Vardar, and they grabbed useful points away as well. Their third-place finish in the group and subsequent run to the final has warned future opponents. They will keep a close eye on Nantes from the start, so the surprise effect from last season might not be working anymore. PSG START NEW TITLE QUEST WITH NEW COACH For Paris, a similar surprise effect has never been really present. They made it to Cologne for the third season in a row, but they left the German city emptyhanded just as many times. The semi-final defeat against Nantes was a huge disappointment, but they will start another attempt with a former Champions League winner on the bench, coach Raul Gonzales. Nantes are not the only known opponents for Paris, as they will meet SG Flensburg-Handewitt for the fourth straight season. The German side have done well against PSG over the last couple of seasons, so their encounter will definitely be one of the highlights of the group. Flensburg-Handewitt are in a period of transition following the departure of key players like Mattias Andersson and Thomas Mogensen, though some notable names are replacing them. After they finished first of their group last season, Paris are arguably the biggest favourites to gain the direct ticket to the quarter-finals again, while Nantes and Flensburg could be the main contenders for second and third place. BATTLE FOR LAST 16 TICKETS COULD BECOME VERY TIGHT Otherwise, Group B looks pretty open, and the battle for the other three Last 16 tickers could become very tight. Among the eight teams in the group, five have reached the quarter-finals in the last two seasons: Flensburg, Paris and Nantes, but

84


Group B preview

also Hungarian side Pick Szeged and surprise Danish newcomers Skjern HĂĽndbold last season, after defeating Telekom VeszprĂŠm in the Last 16. Pick Szeged underwent some major changes this summer. The arrival of Joan Canellas, Jorge Maqueda, Mirko Alilovic and Dean Bombac makes it one of the teams to look out for. If coach Juan Carlos Pastor can make all these players work flawlessly together on the court, Szeged will be a serious threat to many opponents this season. Skjern are dealing with fewer changes, but the Danish side must overcome the loss of their top goal scorer Markus Olsson, who moved to France. Joining fellow former Bundesliga legends Anders Eggert and Bjarte Myrhol, centre back Thomas Mogensen will now also wear the Skjern jersey after coming home from a decade at Flensburg-Handewitt. Eggert and Mogensen won the Champions League with Flensburg in 2014, and they will be looking forward to playing their former team in the group phase. If PSG, Nantes, Flensburg, Szeged and Skjern live up to their billing and advance from this group, there is just one more ticket to the Last 16 available. Motor Zaporozhye might be a good bet, despite their first appearance in the Groups A/B section. But they qualified for the Last 16 in 2015/16, and were knocked out in the play-offs by Montpellier the following year and by another strong opponent, Skjern, last season. The only Ukrainian side in the competition is a tough nut to crack. They were the only team in the past two seasons to hand Nantes a home defeat. Motor will face fierce competition for a knockout phase ticket, with Zagreb and Celje also in the mix. The Croatian team suffered a blow last season when they lost their final group match to IFK Kristianstad and missed out on the Last 16 for the first time since 2015. Celje are in the middle of a rebuilding process but remain a force to be reckoned with, especially in their home arena. The Slovenian side finished seventh last season and failed to make it past the group phase for the fourth straight season. Still, they impressed with a win in Kiel, another one at home against Kielce, and with breath-taking encounters against VeszprĂŠm and PSG. The 2004 champions might have a very young squad, but they can never be ruled out. Kevin Domas

85


Group B preview

Group B head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC Paris Saint-Germain HB vs MOL-Pick Szeged 1-1-0 (60:57) 3:1 23.04.2017 29.04.2017

MOL-Pick Szeged vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 27:30 (14:16) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 30:30 (16:17)

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 5-0-3 (243:248) 10:6 15.10.2005 13.11.2005 19.09.2015 06.03.2016 16.10.2016 18.02.2017 30.09.2017 17.02.2018

SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Paris Handball, EHF Champions League – Group H 37:24 (17:13) Paris Handball vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group H 33:31 (16:16) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 39:32 (21:16) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 35:32 (16:16) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 27:22 (13:11) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:34 (18:15) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 33:29 (13:14) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29:21 (19:10)

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs Skjern Handbold No previous encounters in European competitions

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs HC PPD Zagreb 4-1-1 (170:145) 9:3 05.10.2014 09.12.2014 11.10.2015 10.02.2016 23.04.2016 01.05.2016

Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A HC PPD Zagreb vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A HC PPD Zagreb vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A HC PPD Zagreb vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final

27:22 (11:9) 25:24 (14:13) 34:23 ((18:8) 23:25 (10:15) 20:28 (13:16) 32:32 (16:13)

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters in European competitions

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 4-0-2 (169:167) 8:4 09.11.1996 11.01.1997 18.10.2015 06.12.2015 08.10.2017 11.02.2018

Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs PSG Asnières Hand-Ball, EHF Champions League – Group D 31:22 (11:10) PSG Asnières Hand-Ball vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group D 20:26 (11:13) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Cham-pions League – Group A 30:32 (15:16) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Cham-pions League – Group A 32:27 (17:12) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 32:27 (18:14) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 26:31 (13:17)

Paris Saint-Germain HB vs HBC Nantes 1-1-1 (89:85) 3:3 25.03.2017 01.04.2017 26.05.2018

HBC Nantes vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:26 (15:14) Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 35:27 (15:13) HBC Nantes vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 32:28 (17:14)

MOL-Pick Szeged vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 0-0-2 (46:60) 0:4 26.03.2011 03.04.2011

Pick Szeged vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16

MOL-Pick Szeged vs Skjern Handbold No previous encounters in European competitions

86

26:27 (12:9) 33:20 (18:8)


Group B preview

MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC PPD Zagreb 4-2-6 (321:318) 10:14 23.11.1996 18.01.1997 08.11.2003 30.11.2003 18.10.2008 22.11.2008 29.09.2012 01.12.2012 01.10.2016 04.03.2017 23.09.2017 24.02.2018

SC Pick Szeged vs Badel Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group B Badel Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group B SC Pick Szeged vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group E RK Zagreb vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group E Pick Szeged vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group H HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Group H HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Pick Szeged vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

22:22 (12:13) 29:29 (17:13) 27:26 (15:12) 26:25 (15:13) 30:36 (14:15) 29:25 (14:14) 30:27 (15:8) 26:24 (16:10) 24:26 (12:12) 26:21 (14:12) 23:28 (12:17) 30:28 (11:15)

MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 2-0-0 (56:51) 4:0 28.09.2014 26.11.2014

MOL-Pick Szeged vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D HC Motor Zaporozhye vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

27:26 (13:11) 25:29 (12:16)

MOL-Pick Szeged vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 3-1-2 (151:145) 7:5 04.12.2004 12.12.2004 10.02.2008 08.03.2008 12.11.2016 03.12.2016

Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SC Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Last 16 SC Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Last 16 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Pick Szeged, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 Pick Szeged vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 4 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B MOL-Pick Szeged vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

23:23 (11:10) 20:21 (12:9) 35:30 (18:13) 20:19 (8:7) 25:31 (15:16) 27:22 (15:10)

MOL-Pick Szeged vs HBC Nantes 1-0-3 (107:121) 2:6 09.02.2014 23.03.2014 17.09.2017 11.11.2017

Pick Szeged vs HBC Nantes, EHF Cup – Group C HBC Nantes vs Pick Szeged, EHF Cup – Group C HBC Nantes vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A MOL-Pick Szeged vs HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

28:27 (18:13) 31:23 (15:10) 30:26 (18:15) 30:33 (15:17)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Skjern Handbold No previous encounters in European competitions

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC PPD Zagreb 9-0-3 (344:319) 18:6 15.02.2004 22.02.2004 04.12.2005 10.12.2005 28.09.2006 05.11.2006 24.02.2008 16.03.2008 21.11.2010 28.11.2010 11.11.2015 21.11.2015

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 30:27 (17:15) RK Zagreb vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 26:28 (13:12) RK Zagreb vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Last 16 25:23 (11:8) SG Flensburg Handewitt vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Last 16 28:24 (14:12) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group D 35:28 (14:12) RK Zagreb vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group D 21:23 (11:13) HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Main Round Gr 3 29:25 (12:15) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Main Round Gr 3 36:29 (16:15) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 32:29 (19:15) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 31:26 (14:12) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:27 (12:13) HC PPD Zagreb vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 23:30 (10:15)

87


Group B preview

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 1-0-1 (62:66) 2:2 17.03.2012 24.03.2012

HC ‘Motor-ZNTU-ZAS’ vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC ‘Motor-ZNTU-ZAS’, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final

30:39 (16:20) 27:32 (15:16)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 9-1-4 (428:402) 19:9 08.11.2003 30.11.2003 18.04.2004 24.04.2004 02.12.2006 08.12.2006 27.03.2010 03.04.2010 23.03.2014 29.03.2014 11.10.2015 20.02.2016 01.11.2017 26.11.2017

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group F Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Group F Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Final SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Final Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League – Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Cup – Quarter-final Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Cup – Quarter-final Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

29:29 (14:14) 29:28 (12:17) 34:28 (17:13) 30:28 (15:15) 41:31 (21:14) 36:26 (20:12) 33:29 (15:12) 32:35 (16:15) 26:25 (13:12) 30:27 (15:14) 30:20 (13:10) 26:30 (15:12) 33:28 (16:15) 27:30 (14:16)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HBC Nantes No previous encounters in European competitions

Skjern Handbold vs HC PPD Zagreb 0-0-2 (43:55) 0:4 30.10.1999 28.11.1999

Skjern Handball vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group C Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Skjern Handball, EHF Champions League – Group C

24:33 (14:14) 22:19 (11:13)

Skjern Handbold vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 1-1-2 (125:125) 3:5 04.10.2015 06.12.2015 24.02.2018 04.03.2018

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Skjern Handbold, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 31:26 (15:13) Skjern Handbold vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 36:36 (17:19) HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Skjern Handbold, VELUX EHF Champions League – Elimination Round C+D 32:30 (19:14) Skjern Handbold vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Elimination Round C+D 33:26 (20:15)

Skjern Handbold vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko No previous encounters in European competitions

Skjern Handbold vs HBC Nantes 0-1-1 (54:60) 1:3 22.04.2018 29.04.2018

HBC Nantes vs Skjern Handbold, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final Skjern Handbold vs HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League – Quarter-final

88

33:27 (18:12) 27:27 (12:15)


Group B preview

HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 1-0-1 (63:58) 2:2 26.09.2013 08.02.2014

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 31:30 (18:15) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 33:27 (16:16)

HC PPD Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10-1-7 (431:405) 21:15 27.09.1992 03.10.1992 11.11.1995 18.11.1995 04.01.1998 31.01.1998 22.03.1998 28.03.1998 26.11.2000 16.12.2000 21.02.2009 07.03.2009 21.09.2013 30.11.2013 26.09.2015 27.02.2016 24.09.2016 09.03.2017

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs RK Zagreb, Champions Cup – Qualification Round 2 18:17 (6:9) RK Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, Champions Cup – Qualification Round 2 26:17 (13:7) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Croatia Banka Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:21 (11:9) Croatia Banka Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 3 25:20 (14:11) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group A 26:21 (13:8) Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group A 26:22 (14:10) Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 27:20 (14:10) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 25:24 (10:10) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Group A 29:26 (12:12) Badel 1862 Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Group A 22:22 (12:11) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League – Main Round Gr 2 22:25 (11:16) HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, EHF Champions League – Main Round Gr 2 31:18 (14:6) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champi-ons League – Group A 24:21 (13:10) Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champi-ons League – Group A 26:20 (14:11) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 20:21 (10:9) HC PPD Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 24:23 (8:9) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC PPD Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30:28 (14:13) HC PPD Zagreb vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 23:21 (14:10)

HC PPD Zagreb vs HBC Nantes 1-0-1 (50:50) 2:2 19.11.2017 17.02.2018

HBC Nantes vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

28:27 (13:12) 23:22 (12:8)

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0-0-2 (56:62) 0:4 17.10.2013 15.02.2014

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A

29:32 (14:11) 30:27 (19:15)

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs HBC Nantes 1-1-0 (60:58) 3:1 22.09.2016 19.11.2016

HC Motor Zaporozhye vs HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D HBC Nantes vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HBC Nantes No previous encounters in European competitions

89

26:26 (15:16) 32:34 (19:16)


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

GROUP B

Club Address

Paris Saint-Germain Handball 82 avenue Georges Lafont 75016 Paris France Media contact

Matthieu Brelle-Andrade +33 6 52 53 74 13 mbrelleandrade@psg.fr www.psg.fr PSGHand @psghand @psghandofficiel

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: green

Paris SaintGermain Handball They made the trip to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in each of the past three seasons, but star-studded Paris Saint-Germain have yet to lift the trophy. After losing the final to Vardar in 2017, they stumbled over Nantes in the semi-final in 2018. Former THW Kiel coach Noka Serdarusic led Paris for three seasons. After reaching the summit with Vardar in 2017, Raul Gonzalez has now taken over. With so many stars on the team, will this change make any difference on the court? Gonzalez is a young coach, who was successful at Vardar with a team that contained a lot of well-known players, too. The first competitive matches might give an idea of any changes to PSG’s game. According to Martini, “our goal is to try to repeat our great performances of the 2017/18 season in the group phase and the quarter-final, where we were the best team with 13 wins in total. And we will compete to participate in our fourth consecutive FINAL4, a huge performance only Veszprém and Kiel were able to achieve.” PSG avoid other European powerhouses, such as Kielce, Veszprém or Barça Lassa, in the group phase. But Group B will not be a walk in the park for PSG, as they will have to travel to Flensburg, a place they’ve only succeeded once. And Nantes are their opponents again. “A team like Szeged is even stronger this year and I remember the outstanding atmosphere in their arena. With Skjern, who beat Veszprem in the Last 16, Zagreb and Zaporozhye, it is very far from easy in this group,” Martini says. After an eight-month break between June 2017 and March 2018, the Swedish left back Kim Ekdahl-Du Rietz rejoined German side Rhein-Neckar Löwen, and he proved he hadn’t lost one bit of his handball skills. Paris picked him as the player who should be able to make a difference on both sides of the court. Powerful and experienced, he will be the X factor for Paris this season.

Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: green

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 8 Runners-up (1): 2016/17 Semi-final (2): 2015/16, 2017/18 (3rd) Quarter-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Club Phase (1): 1996/97 Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last 16 2003/04

Playing hall Stade Pierre de Coubertin 82, Avenue Georges Lafond 75016 Paris France Capacity: 3,500

French league: 5 titles (2013, 2015-18) French cup: 4 titles League Cup: 2 titles Trophee des Champions: 3 titles

90


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

EHF Champions League club records

9 42 72

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

42:24 (22:10) v THW Kiel GER (h), 12.03.2017 44:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.2005 9 matches (08.10.2017 – 17.02.2018) 10 matches (11.02.2017 – 03.06.2017) 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) 42 v THW Kiel GER 42:24W (h), 12.03.2017 44 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 72 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 20 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.1997 20 v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.1997 20 v MVM Veszprém HUN 28:20L (a), 28.11.2015 18 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 39 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 2013/14 PSG Handball FRA 14 2014/15 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 14 2015/16 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 18 2016/17 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 20 2017/18 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 18 Total: 98

W

T

L

GF GA

1 4 7 8 14 15 14 63

0 1 1 1 1 2 1 7

5 3 6 5 3 3 3 28

131:161 –30 212:229 -17 429:402 +27 395:367 +28 557:496 +61 622:543 +79 550:498 +52 2896:2696 +200

91

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2:10 9:7 15:13 17:11 29:7 32:8 29:7 133:63

4th Gr. D Last 16 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Third Place Runner-up Third Place


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez coach • • • • • •

replacing Noka Serdarusic, who led PSG since 2015 former stalwart of BM Valladolid and a member of the Spanish national team started his coaching carrier at Atletico Madrid and Ciudad Real, working in a team with Talant Dujshebaev moved to Vardar in 2013/14, won the CL in 2017, and joined PSG in the summer of 2018 successor of Lino Cervar at the helm of the Macedonian national team voted as best coach in the CL 2016/17 All-star Team

EC trophies: CL 2017

Newcomers: Henrik Toft Hansen (SG Flensburg-Handewitt/GER) Viran Morros (FC Barcelona/ESP) Kim Ekdahl du Rietz (Rhein-Neckar Löwen/GER) Adama Keita (first contract) Dylan Nahi (first contract)

Left the club: Henrik Mollgaard (Aalborg/DEN) Jesper Nielsen (Rhein-Neckar Löwen/GER) Jovo Damjanovic (Nis/SRB) Daniel Narcisse (retired) Zvonimir Serdarusic (retired)

92


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Team roster No. First Name Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Height Weight

19 Luc

Abalo

FRA

Right Wing

06.09.1984

Ivry, FRA

182

86

17 Adrien

Charlette

FRA

Back

10.03.1999

Saint-Pierre, FRA

183

84

42 Adrien

Chaudanson

FRA

Line Player

01.12.1998

Lyon, FRA

192

100

12 Rodrigo

Corrales Rodal

ESP

Goalkeeper

24.01.1991

Cangas, ESP

202

99

13 Louis

Despreaux

FRA

Right Back

22.02.1999

Mont Saint Aignan, FRA 194

76

21 Robin

Dourte

FRA

Line Player

30.06.1998

Thionville, FRA

206

118

Ekdahl du Rietz

SWE Left Back

23.07.1989

Lund, SWE

194

100

Gensheimer

GER

Left Wing

26.10.1986

Mannheim, GER

188

89

97 Andry

Goujon Bellevue

FRA

Left Back

02.09.1999

Courtry, FRA

193

80

24 Mikkel

Hansen

DEN

Left Back

22.10.1987

Helsingor, DEN

192

93

26 Gauthier

Ivah

FRA

Goalkeeper

06.01.1999

Saint-Denis, FRA

191

101

22 Luka

Karabatic

FRA

Line Player

19.04.1988

Strasbourg, FRA

202

108

44 Nikola

Karabatic

FRA

Centre Back

11.04.1984

Nis, SRB

196

104

Keita

FRA

Left Wing

05.06.1997

Paris, FRA

183

77

Kempf

FRA

Right Wing

20.03.1998

Mulhouse, FRA

179

80 78

60 Kim 3

9

Uwe

Adama

20 Edouard 11 Benoit

Kounkoud

FRA

Right Wing

19.02.1997

Versailles, FRA

188

23 Viran

Morros de Argila

ESP

Back

15.12.1983

Barcelona, ESP

199

99

99 Dylan

Nahi

FRA

Left Wing

30.11.1999

Paris, FRA

192

94

77 Sadou

Ntanzi

FRA

Centre Back

07.01.2000

Longjumeau, FRA

183

80

Omeyer

FRA

Goalkeeper

02.11.1976

Mulhouse, FRA

192

93

18 Nedim

Remili

FRA

Right Back

18.07.1995

Creteil, FRA

195

94

10 Sander

Sagosen

NOR Centre Back

14.09.1995

Stavanger, NOR

192

88

Schaff

FRA

01.05.1999

Sarrebourg, FRA

180

80 77

C 16 Thierry

6

Adrien

88 Loick

Right Wing

Spady

FRA

Goalkeeper

24.03.2000

Pointe à Pitre, FRA

187

Stepancic

CRO

Right Back

20.11.1990

Pula, CRO

203

105

15 Henrik

Toft Hansen

DEN

Line Player

18.12.1986

Skive, DEN

200

106

95 Kenny

Vermont

FRA

Left Wing

22.02.2001

Saint-Gratien, FRA

184

83

7

Luka

93


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

@thierryomeyer

Thierry Omeyer goalkeeper

@thierry_omeyer

• returned to Montpellier from Kiel for the 2013/14 season, then moved on to PSG the next season, and has announced his retirement for 2019 • MVP and best goalkeeper of the WCh 2015 in Qatar • IHF Player of the Year 2008, and All-star goalkeeper of 2008 and 2012 Olympics, EHF EURO 2006, and WCh 2011 and 2015 EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, B 2003, 2005

Uwe Gensheimer left wing

@uwegensheimer

• joined Paris in the summer of 2016 after playing for German side Rhein-Neckar Löwen for 13 seasons • finished the 2017/18 season as top goal scorer in both the French league and the CL • has been CL top scorer three times (2017/18, 2016/17 and 2010/11), and on all occasions his team booked a place at the FINAL4 in Cologne EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: B 2016

Mikkel Hansen left back

@mikkelhansen24

• IHF World Handball Player of the Year in 2011 and 2015; MVP at the 2016 Olympic Games and WCh 2013 • member of the All-star Team at the 2016 Olympic Games, the WCh 2011, the EURO 2012, 2014 and 2018, and the CL in 2014, 2015 and 2017 • top scorer of the CL in 2012 and 2016, as well as at the WCh 2011 • reached FINAL4 five times in his career: the past three seasons with PSG, and earlier with København (2012) and Barcelona (2010) OG: G 2016, EURO: G 2012, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013 @nkarabatic

Nikola Karabatic left back / centre back

@nikolakarabatic44

• 2007, 2014 and 2016 World Handball Player of the Year – one of just two players to win the award three times • one of the most complete players, with strengths in both attack and defence • won the CL with all his previous teams but has yet to do so with PSG, despite three trips to Cologne in the past three seasons with the French side EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2015 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, B 2003, 2005, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, 2018

94


Paris Saint-Germain Handball

Sander Sagosen centre back / left back • at 22, Sagosen has already won two major awards: best centre back at EHF EURO 2016 and All-star left back at WCh 2017 • flag waver for new Norwegian generation; key player in winning the nation’s historic first medal at a men’s handball event, at WCh 2017 • scouted by many top clubs before signing for Aalborg in 2014, then moved to Paris ahead of the 2017/18 season WCh: S 2017

@lukakarabatic

Luka Karabatic line player

@lkarabatic_off

• was a national-level tennis player until the age of 19, before choosing handball • began in Montpellier, moved to Aix, then joined PSG in 2015 • PSG is the third club where he plays alongside his brother, Nikola

OG: S 2016, EURO: G 2014, B 2018, WCh: G 2015, 2017

Nedim Remili right back • All-star right back at WCh 2017 • signed with PSG in the summer of 2016 after spending all his career in Créteil • his father, Kamel, was a professional handball player in Créteil, while his older brother is a professional football player • scored 81 goals in 18 games in his debut CL season as one of the top 10 scorers WCh: G 2017, EURO: B 2018 @lucabalo19

Luc Abalo right wing

@lucabalo

• began his career in Ivry, then moved to Spain and Atletico Madrid, before becoming one of the first stars to join Paris in 2012 • played at the FINAL4 five times but has yet to lift the trophy in Cologne, though he won the CL under the previous format with Ciudad Real in 2009 • remains one of the best and spectacular players on his position at age 33, thanks to his high jumps and shooting tricks EC trophies: CL 2009 OG: G 2008, 2012, S 2016, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, 2018, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2017

95


MOL-Pick Szeged

GROUP B

Club Address

MOL-Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u. 28-30. 6720 Szeged Hungary Media contact

Levente Juhasz +36 70 543 0979

levente.juhasz@pickhandball.hu

www.pickhandball.hu pickszeged @pickhandball @pickhandball

Kit colours

MOL-Pick Szeged Last season MOL-Pick Szeged ended the winning streak of domestic rivals Telekom Veszprém HC, who had won the Hungarian championship for 10 straight years. The triumph in their national league has make Szeged hungry for success in Europe as well. They hope the time has come for their first ever trip to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. Continuity is a main asset of Szeged. They have a loyal fan base, which always supports the team like an eight player. The sale of season tickets is on the rise year after year. And the coaches, Juan Carlos Pastor and Marko Krivokapic, have extended their contracts until 2021, continuing the cooperation from the past five years. “In the new season we have to play better because not just Szeged will be stronger,” Pastor says. “The level we played on last year will not be enough for neither the Hungarian title nor the FINAL4.” After finishing fifth in a group that included Vardar, Barça and Nantes last season, Szeged are confident they will advance from their group again this time - but it will not be easy. “In the Champions League, there is no easy opponent,” coach Pastor says. “It is usual that the groups are compared to each other: which is stronger, which is weaker. But I believe that the top competition is not only about the group phase.” According to team captain Jonas Källmann, a strong start will be important: “Some teams we have already met in the past years, some teams will be new for us. But no matter the opponents, we have to make a good start, which will give us a base for the long season ahead.” The Croatian goalkeeper Mirko Alilovic joined the team this summer from main rivals Veszprém, so he is already familiar with the Hungarian league and he knows what it takes to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4. But first he will have to work on good communication and cooperation with the defensive line.

Light Player shirt: light blues/ white stripes Player short: dark blue GK shirt: white or yellow Dark Player shirt: dark blue with stripes or gold blue Player short: blue or gold blue GK shirt: black

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 17 Quarter-final (4): 1996/1997, 2003/2004, 2014/15, 2016/17 Last 16 (7): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2010/2011, 2012/13, 2015/16, 2017/18 Main Round (1): 2007/2008 Group Phase (3): 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012 Qualification (1): 2013/14

Playing hall Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt.33 6726 Szeged Hungary Capacity: 3,200

Other EHF Cup: Winners 2014/15, Quarter-final 2000/01 Last 16: 1994/95, 1999/2000 Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-final: 1993/94 Quarter-final: 2002/03, 2008/09 Hungarian league: 3 titles (1996, 2007, 2018) Hungarian cup: 6 titles

96


MOL-Pick Szeged

EHF Champions League club records

6 39 73

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest winning run

Longest losing run

GOALS

Longest run without win

39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 07.10.2007 40:17 (19:5) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 15.02.1997 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) 6 matches (24.10.2015 – 14.02.2016) 6 matches (17.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) 6 matches (06.03.2011 – 15.10.2011) 7 matches (17.10.2009 – 27.02.2010)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), 07.10.2007 40 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 73 v Montpellier AHB FRA 38:35W (h), 19.11.2011 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), 05.10.2008 39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), 08.03.2008

MATCHES

Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record 1994/95 1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN 2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN 2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN 2005/06 SC Pick Szeged HUN 2006/07 SC Pick Szeged HUN 2007/08 Pick Szeged HUN 2008/09 Pick Szeged HUN 2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN 2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN 2011/12 Pick Szeged HUN 2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN 2014/15 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 2015/16 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 2016/17 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN 2017/18 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN Total

MP W T L 8 3 2 3 10 4 0 6 8 4 2 2 8 3 0 5 8 3 2 3 12 9 0 3 6 2 0 4 10 2 2 6 12 5 0 7 10 3 0 7 12 4 0 8 14 9 1 4 16 8 1 7 18 10 2 6 16 7 1 8 168 76 13 79

97

GF GA GD 205:216 –11 269:262 +7 190:187 +3 219:218 +1 202:203 -1 361:310 +51 159:161 -2 287:307 -20 336:351 -15 285:316 -31 313:350 –37 395:383 +12 466:455 +11 492:458 +34 471:467 +4 4650:4644 +6

PTS 8:8 8:12 10:6 6:10 8:8 18:6 4:8 6:14 10:14 6:14 8:16 19:9 17:15 22:14 15:17 165:171

Stage 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 Last 16 Last 16 3rd MR Gr. 4 3rd Gr. H 5th Gr. A Last 16 5th Gr. D Last 16 1/4-finals Last 16 1/4-finals Last 16


MOL-Pick Szeged

Juan Carlos Pastor coach • • • •

one of the masterminds of contemporary handball, winning a lot of silverware during his career Szeged wanted him to rebuild their team in order to be able to challenge Veszprém for the Hungarian title, which they finally won again in 2018 won the EHF Cup in his first year at the helm became also the sporting director after Szeged legend Richárd Mezei resigned

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014 WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B 2008

Newcomers: Mirko Alilovic (Telekom Veszprém/HUN) Stanislav Kasparek (Balatonfüredi KSE/HUN) Nik Henigman (RD Riko Ribnica/SLO) Joan Canellas (HC Vardar/MKD) Jorge Maqueda (HC Vardar/MKD) Dean Bombac (PGE Vive Kielce/POL)

Left the club: Sergei Gorbok (HC Vardar/MKD) Stas Skube (HC Vardar/MKD) Szabolcs Zubai (Orosházi FKSE/HUN) Thiagus Petrus Goncalves Dos Santos (Barça Lassa/ESP) Ivan Srsen (HC PPD Zagreb/CRO) José Manuel Sierra Mendez (Saran/FRA) Márk Hegedüs (Eger SBS Eszterházy/HUN) Bálint Fekete (Naturhouse La Rioja, on loan/ESP)

98


MOL-Pick Szeged

Team roster No. 32 39 19 27 21 9 44 14 87 22 15 C 8 37 3 5 1 52 26 16 10 24 18 97 77 98 89

First Name Mirko Bruno Zsolt Bence Alen Richard Dean Joan Richard Matej Nik Jonas Stanislav Marcell Jorge Barnabas Martin Pedro Marin Stefan Rafn Mario Stefan Zoltan Martin Jozsef Jozsef Dmitry

Surname Alilovic Bajusz Balogh Banhidi Blazevic Bodo Bombac Cañellas Csanyi Gaber Henigman Källman Kasparek Lörincz Maqueda Marczika Nagy Rodriguez Sego Sigurmannsson Sostaric Sunajko Szilagyi Tökes Toth Zhitnikov

Nat. CRO HUN HUN HUN CRO HUN SLO ESP HUN SLO SLO SWE CZE HUN ESP HUN HUN ESP CRO ISL SLO SRB HUN HUN HUN RUS

Position Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Back Line Player Line Player Left Back Centre Back Centre Back Centre Back Line Player Left Back Left Wing Right Back Line Player Right Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Line Player Left Back

99

Date of birth 15.09.1985 25.05.2001 29.03.1989 09.02.1995 29.03.1986 13.03.1993 04.04.1989 30.09.1986 09.04.1999 22.07.1991 04.12.1995 17.07.1981 11.06.1996 18.10.2001 06.02.1988 09.05.2001 09.01.1999 22.08.1990 02.08.1985 19.05.1990 25.11.1992 10.04.1998 24.02.1998 24.08.2000 23.06.1999 20.11.1989

Place of birth Ljubuski, BIH Szeged, HUN Orosháza, HUN Györ, HUN Nasice, CRO Mateszalka, HUN Koper, SLO St. Maria de Palau, ESP Szeged, HUN Kranj, SLO Ljubljana, SLO Växjö, SWE Prerov, CZE Gyöngyös, HUN Toledo, ESP Szeged, HUN Szeged, HUN Vigo, ESP Mostar, BIH Hafnarfjördur, ISL Slovenj Gradec, SLO Zombor, SRB Makó, HUN Békéscsaba, HUN Szeged, HUN Zvolen, SVK

Height 200 193 190 207 201 205 189 198 186 198 200 200 202 188 197 186 204 193 194 198 193 193 180 189 195 195

Weight 110 78 97 126 115 118 91 105 85 119 103 95 101 86 105 84 92 90 97 98 93 83 76 77 110 98


MOL-Pick Szeged

Mirko Alilovic goalkeeper •

arrived in the summer of 2018 from the biggest national rival, Veszprém

like his predecessor, Dejan Peric, he is one of the outstanding goalkeepers who can inspire teammates and fans alike

Croatian national team member, who will be fighting to become first-choice keeper at Szeged with Marin Sego

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

Jonas Källman left wing

@jonas_kallman

• signed in the winter of 2013/14 and showed his ability to defend in three positions • vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor’s defensive variations and Szeged’s attacking edge • spent more than a decade in Spain with Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid before returning home (IFK Skövde) and ultimately signing with Pick • the Swede is one of the survivors of the many changes in the Szeged locker-room EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012

Dmitry Zhitnikov centre back • comes from Krasnodar, where his first coach at the local school was his father • a talented player at age 16, he was invited to Chekhov where he played five seasons in the reserve team before enjoying his breakthrough • member of the Russian national team, who joined Szeged in the summer of 2017 after two seasons with Plock EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012

Matej Gaber line player • signed by Szeged at the start of 2016/17, and has since justified his ‘hard- defending’ reputation • is a regular in the Slovenian national team, having represented his country for more than 100 times • previously played for Montpellier, where he gained considerable CL experience WCh: B 2017

100


MOL-Pick Szeged

Bence Banhidi line player •

only started playing handball at age 14, as a backcourt player at his local club Györ

named junior handball player of the year in Hungary in 2015, a year after his debut in the national team at age 18

enjoying a good spell of form since 2016/17, sharing playing time at the line player position with Slovenian defensive specialist Matej Gaber

Jorge Maqueda right back • arrived in Szeged at the beginning of the 2018/19 season • previously played for Barça, Alcobendas, Aragon, Nantes, and Vardar, the team he won the CL with in 2017 • world-class defender, who was part of the inaugural EHF Cup Finals 2013 in Nantes, finishing runners-up to the hosting team EC trophies: CL 2017 EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2013, B 2011

Zsolt Balogh right back • joined Szeged from Braun Gyöngyös in 2012, and won the EHF Cup two years later • not the tallest backcourt player in the CL but he has outstanding dribbling skills and a sharp eye for passing • one of few Szeged players from the 2015/16 squad who are still with the team

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014

Mario Sostaric right wing • joined Szeged from Velenje in 2017 on personal request by coach Pastor, and scored 23 goals in his first season in Hungary • sharing the time on court with Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez • facing stiff competition from Gajic and Marguc on his position in the national Slovenian team • voted to the All-star Teams of EURO 2011 and WCh 2012 on junior level

101


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

GROUP B

Club Address

SG Flensburg-Handewitt Schiffbrücke 66 24939 Flensburg Germany Media contact

Isabel Hofmann +49 4611609625 i.hofmann@ sg-flensburg-handewitt.de sg-flensburg-handewitt.de

SGFleHa @SGFleHa @sgflensburghandewitt

Kit colours

SG FlensburgHandewitt

For the 14th time, VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14 winners SG FlensburgHandewitt are part of the group phase. For the second time, after 2004, they start as German champions – but the upcoming season will be extremely tough, as the team is under construction. Both goalkeepers have gone, both playmakers have left, the defence star said farewell: SG Flensburg-Handewitt have the biggest transition of recent years ahead. The prolific goalkeeping duo Mattias Andersson (end of career) and Kevin Möller (transferred to Barcelona) were replaced by Torbjørn Bergerud and Benjamin Buric. Kentin Mahe followed his former coach Ljubomir Vranjes to Veszprém, while Henrik Toft Hansen joined PSG and Thomas Mogensen returned to Denmark. In addition, club legend Jacob Heinl, who had played for SG for more than 20 years, ended his stint. Most of the new arrivals are young and lack international experience. The middle block will have a new composition and the structure in the back court will also change. It will be huge task for young coach Maik Machulla. “Our young newcomers have great potential for the future, but we have to be patient,” says manager Dierk Schmäschke. And it is already clear that the transition will continue, as team captain Tobias Karlsson will play his last season and Rasmus Lauge will join Veszprém in 2019. One of the new faces in the team is Torbjørn Bergerud. He came to prominence during the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland, and at the World Championship 2017 in France he became a top star of the Norway team, steering his side to the final and the silver medal. Many clubs tried to sign Bergerud, but Flensburg’s Scandinavian contacts were ultimately the reason for his arrival. At Flensburg, Bergerud is supposed to fill the huge shoes of Mattias Andersson. After playing for Holstebro, he is now in one of Europe’s top clubs – and is eager to prove that his signing was the right solution for both sides.

Light Player shirt: white Player short: blue GK shirt: yellow

Past achievements EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 14 Winners (1): 2013/14 Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007 Semi-final (1): 2005/2006 Quarter-final (7): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 Last 16 (1): 2014/15 Main Round (1): 2007/2008

Dark Player shirt: grey Player short: grey GK shirt: red

Playing hall Flens Arena Campusallee 2 24943 Flensburg Germany Capacity: 6,300

Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/2001 2011/2012 EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997 City Cup: Winners 1998/1999 German league: 2 titles (2004, 2018) German cup: 4 titles

102


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat

9 44 80

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest run without win

43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.2006 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.2005 24:38 (08:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.2011 35:21 (19:13) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), 28.09.2014 9 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016) 9 matches (11.10.2015 – 20.02.2016) 3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006) 3 matches (22.02.2015 - 22.03.2015) 5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 41 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.2006 80 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), 31.05.2014 17 v Montpellier HB FRA 29:17L (a), 29.04.2018 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 40 v THW Kiel GER 20:20D (a), 15.10.2017

Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run

VELUX EHF Champions League record 2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2014/15 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2015/16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2016/17 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 2017/18 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER Total

MP 14 10 12 14 12 12 14 14 16 12 18 18 18 184

W T 10 1 7 1 7 0 8 1 4 2 8 0 11 0 9 3 12 1 6 0 12 1 9 1 9 5 112 16

103

L 3 2 5 5 6 4 3 2 3 6 5 8 4 56

GF GA GD 450:401 +49 319:270 +49 372:326 +46 437:398 +39 355:356 -1 360:329 +31 394:354 +40 416:384 +32 489:441 +48 337:340 -3 544:494 +50 487:478 +9 508:494 +14 5468:5065 +403

PTS 21:7 15:5 14:10 17:11 10:14 16:8 22:6 21:7 25:7 12:12 25:11 19:17 23:13 240:128

Stage1994/95 Runner-up 1/4-finals 1/2-finals Runner-up 4th MR Gr. 3 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Winner Last 16 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Maik Machulla coach • took over from Ljubomir Vranjes in 2017, who left Flensburg after 11 years, and won German cup in his first season • was Vranjes’ assistent since 2013 after finishing his playing career at Flensburg • started his professional career for SC Magdeburg (1997-2002), where he won three European Cup trophies • later played for Nordhorn (already with Vranjes), Hameln and Ahlen-Hamm before arriving at Flensburg in 2012 • stepped in as a player again several times when Flensburg had to deal with too many injuries EC trophies: CL 2002, EHF Cup 1999, 2001, 2008

Newcomers: Benjamin Burić (SG Wetzlar/GER) Torbjørn Bergerud (TTH Holstebro/DEN) Johannes Golla (MT Melsungen/GER) Simon Hald (Aalborg Håndbold/DEN) Magnus Jøndal (GOG Håndbold/DEN) Gøran Søgard Johanessen (GOG Håndbold/DEN)

Left the club: Thomas Mogensen (Skjern Handbold/DEN) Jacob Heinl (Ribe-Esbjerg/DEN) Mattias Andersson (retired) Kentin Mahé (Telekom Veszprém/HUN) Kevin Møller (FC Barcelona/ESP) Henrik Toft Hansen (Paris Saint-Germain HB/FRA)

104


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Team roster Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

27 Dani

Baijens

NED

Centre Back

05.05.1998

Rotterdam, NED

182

90

NOR

Goalkeeper

16.07.1994

Drammen, NOR

197

90

Bult

NED

Right Back

07.09.1982

Emmen, NED

200

101

BIH

Goalkeeper

20.11.1990

Maglaj, BIH

197

97

30 Torbjoern Sittrup Bergerud 31 Mark 1

Benjamin

Buric

9

Holger

Glandorf

GER

Right Back

30.03.1983

Osnabrück, GER

195

92

4

Johannes

Golla

GER

Line Player

05.11.1997

Wiesbaden, GER

195

98

Gottfridsson

SWE

Centre Back

02.09.1992

Ystad, SWE

190

95

Hald Jensen

DEN

Line Player

28.09.1994

Aalborg, DEN

203

114

17 Simon

Jeppsson

SWE

Left Back

15.07.1995

Lund, SWE

203

104

16 Johannes

Jepsen

GER

Goalkeeper

21.01.2000

Flensburg, GER

200

90

18 Magnus

Joendal

NOR

Left Wing

07.02.1988

Ski, NOR

187

83

NOR

Centre Back

26.04.1994

Stavanger, NOR

192

92

SWE

Line Player

04.06.1981

Karlskrona, SWE

196

102

24 Jim 5

Simon

23 Goeran Soegaard Johannessen C 3

Tobias

Karlsson

25 Rasmus

Lauge Schmidt DEN

Left Back

20.06.1991

Randers, DEN

193

96

34 Jörn

Persson

GER

Centre Back

31.10.2000

Flensburg, GER

183

83

77 Magnus Abelvik

Röd

NOR

Right Back

07.07.1997

Oslo, NOR

202

92

19 Marius

Steinhauser

GER

Right Wing

06.02.1993

Karlsruhe, GER

187

85

11 Lasse

Svan

DEN

Right Wing

31.08.1983

Stevns, DEN

184

84

14 Hampus

Wanne

SWE

Centre Back

10.12.1993

Lundby, SWE

185

84

22 Anders

Zachariassen

DEN

Line Player

04.09.1991

Sonderborg, DEN

192

96

105


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Torbjörn Bergerud goalkeeper • is the successor of legendary Mattias Andersson, who ended his career • had breakthrough at EHF EURO 2016 in Poland, where Norway reached semi-finals • with Sander Sagosen best Norwegian at WCh 2017 • played in Drammen (NOR), Lund (SWE) and Holstebro (DEN) before joining Flensburg • forms new duo with Bosnia’s Benjamin Buric, who has arrived from Wetzlar WCh: S 2017

Hampus Wanne left wing • scored the last penalty in the CL semi-final against Barcelona in 2014 • girlfriend Daniela Gustin is a Swedish national team player, who moved from Randers to Germany (Bietigheim) for the 2018/19 season • arrived at the start of the 2013/14 season and skipped the M21 WCh 2013 – where Sweden took gold, but won the M18 EURO in 2010 • replaced legend Anders Eggert (Skjern) on the left wing before the 2017/18 season EC trophies: CL 2014 EURO: S 2018

Rasmus Lauge Schmidt left back

@rasmuslauge25

• played for Bjerringbro, moved to Germany in 2013 and joined Kiel for two seasons • lost the CL Final 2014 with Kiel against his future club, Flensburg-Handewitt • was named best Flensburg player in 2015/16 after coming back from torn ACLs twice • missed 2016 Rio Olympics, where Denmark won gold, due to another knee injury • will join Veszprém after in 2019, will be reunited with former SG coach Vranjes WCh S 2013, EURO G 2012

Jim Gottfridsson centre back • comes from Ystad, like many other Swedish handball stars • played for Ystad from the age of 8 until his 2013 transfer to Flensburg at age 21 • was key player for SG in CL semi-final and final when they won the trophy in 2014 • was top scorer of under-19 WCh 2012 and MVP of EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia

EC trophies: CL 2014 EURO: S 2018

106


SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Johannes Golla line player • one of the biggest German talents, who shall replace Henrik Toft Hansen (PSG) • will form the team’s middle block with Tobias Karlsson • arrived from MT Melsungen, where he became junior national team player • his sister, Pauline, was European under-17 champion with Germany in 2017

Tobias Karlsson line player • typical powerful Scandinavian defence specialist; best defence player at the EHF EURO 2014; awarded best Bundesliga defender in the 2015/16 season • team captain, who will retire from handball after the 2018/19 season • Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF, retired from the national team just before the 2016/17 season • founded an insurance company with some former players in Sweden EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 OG: S 2012

Holger Glandorf right back • left-handed shooter, the last remaining world champion from 2007 in SG squad • despite some injury breaks, always returned to a high level of performance • has won the full set of three major European Cup competitions titles, with Nordhorn and Flensburg • in August 2014, he retired from the German national team to fully focus on his club EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2008, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: G 2007

Lasse Svan right wing

@lassesvan

• one of the fastest wing players in CL with a high scoring efficiency • second best Danish scorer during golden campaign at Rio Olympics 2016 • specialist for motivation and relaxing – as his business is mental coaching • after four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008 • was also a billiards champion in his home region Seeland EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 OG: G 2016, WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014

107


Skjern Handbold

GROUP B

Club Address

Skjern Handbold Ranunkelvej 9 6900 Skjern Denmark Media contact

Henning Kjaergaard Christensen

+45 20 669374 henning@skjernhaandbold.dk

skjernhaandbold.dk skjernhaandbold @skjernHaandbold @skjernhaandboldofficiel

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: green GK shirt: light blue

Skjern Handbold Becoming the first Danish team in six years to reach the quarter-final of the VELUX EHF Champions League was just one of the highlights of Skjern Håndbold’s extremely successful 2017/18 season. They also won the Danish championship for the first time since their maiden top flight title in 1998/99. The taste of success has left the club from the far west of Denmark hungry for more. But they will never lose their modesty, which is so typical for people from the Jutland peninsula. Having been moved from Groups C/D to A/B may not necessarily be an advantage to Skjern, which will likely have to finish fifth or better in Group B to have a fair chance in the Last 16. Another upset like last season, when they sent mighty Veszprém out, is probably too much to expect from this village team. “Our goal is to proceed from the group phase,” says head coach Ole Nørgaard. “We see a group with clubs from different countries and different handball philosophies, physically strong players, and we will be challenged on this point.” The coach is well aware of the importance of his team having qualified for the Champions League once again. “For Skjern Handball as a club it is important to join the European Cups, and being a part of the Champions League family is a privilege. It attracts players, sponsors, and makes our municipality proud,” Nørgaard says. Despite the departure of top scorer Markus Olsson, the team appear a bit stronger with a deeper squad. In goal, experienced Bjørgvin Pal Gustavsson of Iceland is supplementing one of Denmark´s greatest goalkeeping talents, Emil Nielsen. Also, Thomas Mogensen, joining from German champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt, adds further experience to an already experienced team. Finally, talented Sebastian Augustinussen from Kolding looks like the perfect replacement to René Rasmussen on the right wing. The main replacements for Olsson will be Slovenian international Jan Grebenc, who has joined from Gorenje Velenje, and Swedish player Jonathan Stenbäcken. Also, Thomas Mogensen, who is mainly seen in the role as playmaker, is also an option on the left back position in attack. With a recently added German Bundesliga title on his CV, Mogensen has so far shown no signs of being in the autumn of his career. Even just Mogensen’s enormous amount of experience should be of huge value to his new team. Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: green Player short: black GK shirt: red

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 4 Last 16 (1): 2003/04 Group Phase (2): 1999/2000, 2015/16 Other Challenge Cup: Winners 2001/02, 2002/03

Playing hall Skjern Bank Arena,Skjern Ranunkelvej 1 6900 Skjern Denmark Capacity: 2,400

EHF Cup: Semi-final 2006/07, 2014/15 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2005/06 Danish league: 1 title (1999) Danish cup: 2001 Super-Cup winner

108


Skjern Handball

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

5 39 72

MATCHES Longest winning run

Longest losing run Longest run without win

GOALS Most goals

35:20 (18:19) v Rk Gorenje Velenje SLO (h), 03.12.2017 34:24 (18:11) v SC Magdeburg GER (a), 20.12.2003 5 matches (05.11.2017 – 03.12.2017) 5 matches (15.11.2015 – 28.02.2016) 5 matches (05.11.2017 – 03.12.2017) 3 matches (30.10.1999 – 13.11.1999) 3 matches (30.10.1999 – 13.11.1999) 3 matches (28.11.1999 – 11.10.2003) 3 matches (06.12.2015 – 05.03.2016) 3 matches (31.03.2018 – 29.04.2018)

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

39 v Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 39:28W (h), 17.09.2017 36 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 36:36D (h), 06.12.2015 72 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 36:36D (h), 06.12.2015 16 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 16:20L (h), 13.11.1999 19 v HC Metalurg MKD 20:19W (h), 11.10.2015 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 16:20L (h), 13.11.1999

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

1999/00 Skjern Handball DEN

6

1

0

5

134:150

–16

2:10

4th Gr. C

2003/04 Skjern Handball DEN

8

3

1

4

205:212

-7

7:9

Last 16

2015/16 Skjern Handbold DEN

12

6

3

3

347:329

+18

15:9

Elimination C+D

2017/18 Skjern Handbold DEN Total

16 42

10 1 20 5

5 17

504:429 +75 1190:1120 +70

21:11 45:39

1/4-finals

109


Skjern Handbold

Ole Norgaard coach •

joined Skjern in the summer of 2012, debuting as the coach of a senior team

was previously head of development of talents for the Danish Handball Federation

led Skjern to third place in the Danish league and a ticket for the EHF Cup in his first season in charge

a calm and analytical coach who is good at making his players understand his plans and ideas

Newcomers: Sebastian Augustinussen (KIF Kolding København/DEN) Benjamin Jakobsen (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg/DEN) Bjørgvin Pal Gustavsson (Haukar/ICE) Jan Grebenc (Rk Gorenje Velenje/SLO) Thomas Mogensen (SG Flensburg-Handewitt/GER)

Left the club: Markus Olsson (Fenix Toulouse/FRA) Mads Houmøller (IFK Ystad/SWE) Cornelius Krag (Skanderborg Håndbold/DEN) Tibor Ivanisevic (HSG Wetzlar/GER)

110


Skjern Handball

Team roster Date of birth Place of birth

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

35 Mathias Tang

Andersen

DEN

Centre Back 13.11.1996

41 Jeppe Haahr

Anneberg

DEN

Left Back

22 Sebastian

Augustinussen DEN

19 Bjarke Fredsted

Christensen

DEN

Left Wing

Eggert

DEN

Grebenc

12 Björgvin Pall 34 Kristian

7

Anders

13 Jan

Height Weight

Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 185

85

Varde, DEN

194

105

Kolding, DEN

192

93

26.01.1992

Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 190

88

Left Wing

14.05.1982

Aarhus, DEN

179

77

SLO

Left Back

18.08.1992

Ljubljana, SLO

194

94

Gustavsson

ISL

Goalkeeper 24.05.1985

Hvammstangi, ISL

190

90

Hindo

DEN

Right Wing 04.05.1998

Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 186

82

03.02.1998

Right Wing 06.05.1996

Jakobsen

DEN

Line Player 09.09.1991

Skanderborg, DEN

191

95

20 Mathias Gliese

Jensen

DEN

Right Wing 05.03.1997

Lemvig, DEN

190

84

10 Jesper

Konradsson

SWE

Centre Back 04.06.1994

Göteborg, SWE

184

84

Konradsson

ISL

Back

08.06.1990

Reykjavik, ISL

194

98

Lemvig, DEN

190

107

Odder, DEN

187

100

Oslo, NOR

192

96

3

Benjamin

6

Tandri Már

9

Christoffer Cichosz Mikkelsen

DEN

Line Player 17.01.1988

2

Thomas

Mogensen

DEN

Back

Myrhol

NOR

Line Player 29.05.1982

32 Nicolai Hedegaard Nielsen

DEN

Back

10.05.1999

billund, DEN

188

88

C 18 Bjarte Hakon

30.01.1983

Nielsen

DEN

Goalkeeper 10.03.1997

Aarhus, DEN

195

120

31 Tobias

Rasmussen

DEN

Right Wing 28.03.1999

Fredensborg, DEN

197

86

30 Kasper Thorsted

Rasmussen

DEN

Goalkeeper 21.01.1997

Silkeborg, DEN

187

86

21 Rene Toft Brølling Rasmussen

DEN

Right Wing 29.08.1989

Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 176

83

22 Kasper

Søndergaard

DEN

Right Back

09.06.1981

Skive, DEN

192

95

11 Jonathan

Stenbäcken

SWE

Left Back

07.01.1988

Vårgårda, SWE

195

105

25 Eivind

Tangen

NOR

Right Back

04.05.1993

Bergen, NOR

195

99

40 Sebastian Skov

Uhrenholt

DEN

Goalkeeper 04.10.1997

Esbjerg, DEN

182

78

1

Emil

111


Skjern Handbold

Emil Nielsen goalkeeper • joined in the summer of 2017 from fellow Danish side Aarhus Håndbold • was sidelined for around a year due to meningitis, but returned to full strength and had a significant impact during the 2017/18 season • despite only being 21 years old, has been seen as one of Denmark’s greatest goalkeeping talents for several years • was a highly qualified supplement to Tibor Ivanisevic - who departed for the Bundesliga - and is expected to play an important role this season

Anders Eggert left wing

@aeggert7

• joined in the summer of 2017 from SG Flensburg-Handewitt • top scorer of German Bundesliga in 2011 (248 goals) and WCh in 2013 (55 goals) • started his career at Braband and played 10 seasons with Flensburg • famous for having one of the highest success rates in the CL on penalty throws EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, S 2014

Jan Grebenc left back • transferred to Skjern from Slovenian side Rk Gorenje Velenje in the summer of 2018 • played CL with Velenje and is an international for Slovenia, was part of the team that earned bronze at the WCh 2017 in France • his shot and speed are his main assets on the court WCh: B 2017

Thomas Mogensen centre back • joined Skjern in 2018 after 11 years with German side SG-Flensburg Handewitt • experienced Danish playmaker with more than 1,000 goals for Flensburg and a big collection of silverware • previously played for Viborg and GOG, and won Danish league and cup twice • to focus only on club handball, he quit the national team after EHF EURO 2014 EC trophies: CL 2014; Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013; EURO: G 2012, S 2014

112


Skjern Handball

Christoffer Cichosz Mikkelsen line player •

joined Skjern from Danish league rivals Mors Thy Håndbold in 2017

hampered by injury in the first part of his first season with Skjern but reached full strength before the end of that year

a strong and versatile line player and defender, serving as an excellent supplement to first-choice line player Bjarte Myrhol

@bjartemyrhol

Bjarte Myrhol line player • joined Skjern in the summer of 2015 from Rhein-Neckar Löwen

• diagnosed with cancer in August 2011, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy • always willing to fight, he returned to the court only 10 weeks after his surgery • as captain and All-star Team line player, led Norway to their first ever international medal: silver at the World Championship 2017

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008, 2013 WCh: S 2017

Kasper Sondergaard right back • joined Skjern from KIF Kolding in 2011 • at 36, most experts still consider him the best attacking right back in Danish handball • his precise and varied left-hand shot, as well as his ability to break through the opponents’ defence, are his main weapons • made a comeback to the national team after a one-year hiatus, in time to win the historic gold medal with Denmark at the Olympic Games EURO: G 2008, 2012; OG G 2016; WCh: S 2011, 2013

Sebastian Augustinussen right wing • joined Skjern from KIF Kolding in the summer of 2018 as replacement for long-term injured Rene Rasmussen • was part of the Denmark team at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2016 as well as the silver- medal winning Under-21 side at the World Championship one year later • has CL experience from his time with KIF Kolding Kobenhavn • a fast and technically skilled wing, who can also play right back, and who is equally strong at both ends of the court

113


HC PPD Zagreb

GROUP B

Club Address

HC PPD Zagreb Veprinacka 16 10000 Zagreb Croatia Media contact

Goran Roknić +385 95 9999 334 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr www.rk-zagreb.hr RKZagreb @RKZagreb @rkzagreb_official

Kit colours

HC PPD Zagreb Last season they were in the similar position and, for the first time in four years, failed to qualify for the Last 16. This year, the goal is again the same: reach the Last 16 under the guidance of experienced Lino Cervar, who will lead this young team into Zagreb’s 25th EHF Champions League season. The club had the same wish last year, but the team could not achieve the goal and reach the Last 16. They won six points and finished at the bottom of Group A. Arena Zagreb was not the strong fortress it had been in previous seasons. However, new sports director and former player Josip Valcic hopes that his team can restore the power of the home arena. “Our goal is to try to win every much in Arena Zagreb and hopefully to put on some good performances playing away. I think that should be enough to achieve our goal.” Experienced players like Igor Vori, Josip and Tonci Valcic have retired. Now all the experience lies in captain Zlatko Horvat and Damir Bicanic. It is up to Lino Cervar to combine a few experienced players with the youngsters, who have never played such big roles in the club. Captain Zlatko Horvat thinks his team are ready for the challenge: “We have a young but well-balanced team and I believe that this season is going to be good for us.” The biggest name Zagreb signed for the new season is former Nantes line player Senjamin Buric. He will have a tough task in replacing Igor Vori, but what he was showing in Nantes before an ACL injury last season says that Zagreb will have an excellent line player. Buric is an experienced Bosnian international who has played for Izvidac, Gorenje and Nantes. He was not in the squad at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 due to the injury but was there to support his team and share in the amazing result. One of the reasons Buric returned to Zagreb is his wife Sonja Basic, former Croatian international, who recently gave birth.

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: red

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 25 Runners-up (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 Semi-final (1): 1999/00 Quarter-final (7): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16 Last 16 (4): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2016/17 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (7): 1993/94, 1995/96, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2017/18

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: yellow

Playing hall Arena Zagreb Laniste b.b., 10000 Zagreb Croatia Capacity: 15,200

Other Cup Winners‘ Cup: Runners-up 2004/05, Semi-finals 2006/07 (IHF) European Champions Cup: 2 titles (1991/92, 1992/93) SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Croatian league: 27 titles (1992-2018) Croatian Cup winner: 25 times

114


HC PPD Zagreb

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

11 38 69

MATCHES Longest run without win

GOALS

Longest losing run Longest run without win

34:15 (16:8) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.2010 43:21 (23:10) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.04.2015 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) 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) 7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) 11 matches (25.03.2017 – 23.11.2017)

Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.2013 43 v FC Barcelona ESP 43:21L (a), 18.04.2015 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.2005 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.2000 13 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.2005 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.1999 36 v HC Metalurg MKD 19:17W (h), 11.10.2014

VELUX EHF Champions League record MP 1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 2008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 10 2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 10 2014/15 HC PPD Zagreb CRO 14 2015/16 HC PPD Zagreb CRO 18 2016/17 HC PPD Zagreb CRO 16 2017/18 HC PPD Zagreb CRO 14 Total 256

W T 0 2 5 1 2 1 6 3 7 0 8 1 7 1 4 1 3 2 4 0 3 0 5 1 3 0 5 1 7 3 6 0 6 3 9 1 2 1 4 0 7 0 6 2 4 1 2 2 115 27

115

L 4 2 3 3 5 3 2 3 3 6 3 2 3 6 2 6 3 4 7 6 7 10 11 10 114

GF GA GD 135:147 –12 203:203 0 138:144 -6 310:294 +16 300:287 +13 288:269 +19 260:230 +30 195:192 +3 209:216 -7 273:258 +15 165:170 -5 212:194 +18 153:148 +5 339:344 -5 357:313 +44 351:335 +16 358:319 +39 391:359 +32 266:284 –18 267:282 -15 328:356 -28 464:480 –16 373:408 –35 349:396 –47 6684:6628 +56

PTS 2:10 11:5 5:7 15:9 14:10 17:7 15:5 9:7 8:8 8:12 6:6 11:5 6:6 11:13 17:7 12:12 15:9 19:9 5:15 8:12 14:14 14:22 9:23 6:22 257:255

Stage1994/95 4th Gr. A Runner-up 3rd Gr. B Runner-up Runner-up Runner-up 1/2-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 3rd Gr. B Last 16 3rd Gr. D 3rd MR Gr. 3 1/4-finals Last 16 Last 16 1/4-finals 5th Gr. D 5th Gr. A 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 8th Gr. A


HC PPD Zagreb

Lino Cervar coach •

most successful coach of the Croatian men’s national team, winning Olympic gold in 2004 and the World Championship in 2003

in 2016 became head coach of the Macedonian national team only to return to the Croatian national team one year later

led Croatia at EHF EURO 2018 and finished fifth on home court

this is his third time on the Zagreb bench, returning to Croatian champions after nine years

OG: G 2004, EURO: S 2008, 2010, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009

Left the club: Igor Vori (retired) Josip Valcic (retired) Tonci Valcic (retired) Mario Vuglac (retired) David Miklavcic (Gorenje Velenje/SLO) Dobrivoje Markovic (-) Domagoj Pavlovic (MT Melsungen/GER) Stipe Mandalinic (Füchse Berlin/GER)

Newcomers: Filip Vistorop (Zrinski Mostar/SRB) Senjamin Buric (HBC Nantes/FRA) David Mandic (Izvidac Ljubuski/BIH) Gregor Potocnik (Gorenje Velenje/SLO) Lovro Jotic (Aalborg/DEN) Nikola Potic (Cangas de Morazzo/ESP) Ivan Srsen (Nexe/CRO) Vito Bahtijarevic (PPD Zagreb Youth Academy/CRO) 116


HC PPD Zagreb

Team roster Height Weight

Nat. Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Bicanic

CRO Left Back

25.06.1985

Vukovar, CRO

195

98

Bozic Pavletic

CRO Right Wing

06.08.1994

Split, CRO

188

84

10 Senjamin

Buric

BIH

Line Player

20.11.1990

Maglaj, BIH

198

100

Josip

Eres

CRO Right Wing

19.03.1995

Ljubuski, BIH

185

78

Horvat

CRO Right Wing

25.09.1984

Zagreb, CRO

179

87

44 Matej

Hrstic

CRO Left Back

11.08.1996

Ljubuski, BIH

195

80

23 Lovro

Jotic

CRO Centre Back

12.11.1994

Zagreb, CRO

191

86

12 Arian

Jovic

CRO Goalkeeper

18.06.1996

Zagreb, CRO

184

90

99 Urh

Kastelic

SLO

Goalkeeper

27.02.1996

Brezice, SLO

200

92

9

Tin

Kontrec

CRO Line Player

09.09.1989

Nasice, CRO

196

95

7

Tin

Lucin

CRO Centre Back

16.08.1999

Rijeka, CRO

196

94

Mandic

CRO Left Wing

14.09.1997

Ljubuški, BIH

175

74

Mrakovcic

CRO Centre Back

22.09.1994

Rijeka, CRO

191

88

21 Gregor

Potocnik

SLO

Left Back

22.08.1992

Celje, SLO

195

103

33 Valentino

Ravnic

CRO Left Wing

20.07.1995

Zadar, CRO

190

82

13 Ivan

Srsen

CRO Right Back

19.09.1992

Metkovic, CRO

196

97

19 Leon

Susnja

CRO Line Player

05.08.1993

Siroki Brijeg, CRO

204

113

16 Ivan

Vekic

CRO Goalkeeper

19.07.1998

Metkovic, CRO

198

103

97 Josip

Vekic

CRO Right Back

16.03.1998

Metkovic, CRO

210

100

Vistorop

CRO Centre Back

29.04.1998

Mostar, BIH

194

90

Vuglac

CRO Right Back

30.01.1992

Zagreb, CRO

191

92

No. First Name Surname 77 Damir 8 3

Josip

C 18 Zlatko

37 David 5

4

Luka

Filip

74 Mario

117


HC PPD Zagreb

Urh Kastelic goalkeeper • joined Zagreb in 2017, and became first choice after Matevz Skok left the club • played for Krsko (SLO), Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO), Maribor Branik (SLO) and MOL- Pick Szeged (HUN) • won gold with Slovenia at Youth Olympics in China and silver at Youth WCh in Russia where he saved an incredible 114 shots; won bronze with senior team at the WCh 2017 WCh: B 2017

David Mandić left wing • came from Izvidac CO (BIH) where he was one of their best players • season 2018/2019 will be his first in CL • was a member of Croatian youth and junior national team • won gold with Croatia at the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona • besides being efficient in attack he is also possesses great defensive skills

Damir Bicanic left back • returned to Zagreb for 2017/2018 season after 10 years of playing abroad • born in Vukovar, Croatia, but started his career in Umag • played for Umag, Osijek, Medveščak, Zagreb, Ademar Leon and Chambery Savoie • one of the oldest and most experienced players at the club OG: B2012, EURO: S 2010, B 2012, WCh B 2013

Lovro Jotic centre back • returns to Zagreb after playing one season in Aalborg (DEN) • Aalborg was his first international transfer, in his career he played for Umag, Zamet, Dubrava and Zagreb • season 2018/19 will be his fourth in the CL • won silver at Youth WCh 2013 and gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games

118


HC PPD Zagreb

Senjamin Burić line player • recently recovered from ACL injury • will replace Igor Vori who retired from handball and will play alongside Tin Kontrec and Leon Šušnja • played for Maglaj (BIH), Izvidac CO (BIH), Borac (BIH), Gorenje Velenje (SLO) and HBC Nantes (FRA) • married to former Croatian international Sonja Bašić, daughter of famous Croatian goalkeeper Mirko Bašić • has a twin brother Benjamin who is a goalkeeper for Flensburg-Handewitt

Leon Susnja line player • the 2017/18 season will be his sixth with Zagreb • recently won gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona • excellent defensive skills and plays an important role in Zagreb’s defense • was a football goalkeeper, before taking up handball in 2009 • won silver at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2012

Ivan Srsen right back •

born and raised in Opuzen where he started handball career

spent half of the 2017/18 season on loan at MOL-Pick Szeged, where he stood out in his first match, scoring seven goals against Rhein-Neckar Löwen

coming to Zagreb on one-year loan from Nexe after new signing Serbian Nikola Potić torn his Achilles tendon

Zlatko Horvat right wing •

captain of the team and most experienced player in Červar’s squad

is a counter-attack specialist, but also an important part of the defence

made his debut in the national team in 2006 and since then has won five major championship medals

played in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and already has 15 campaigns in the CL under his belt

OG B 2012, EURO S 2008, B 2012, B 2016, WCh S 2009, B 2013

119


HC Motor Zaporozhye

GROUP B

Club Address

HC Motor Zaporozhye Ivanova Str. 24 69068 Zaporozhye Ukraine Media contact

Yuriy Chorny +380 50 5946878 2207024sport@gmail.com handball.motorsich.com Handball Club Motor Zaporozhye #HCMotorZaporozhye

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white/red Player short: white GK shirt: yellow/black Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red/black

HC Motor Zaporozhye For the first time ever, Ukrainian champions HC Motor Zaporozhye have been included among the stronger Group A/B pool of teams, thanks to their positive results in recent Champions League seasons. Playing in Group B is certainly an honour and a step forward for the team, but at the same time it is a serious test as the Ukrainian champions will face the likes of FINAL4 2018 participants Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain, and German champions Flensburg. But they have reached the Last 16 from Groups C/D twice in the past and accumulated enough experience in Europe, so Patryk Rombel’s men certainly have a chance to finish among the top six teams in their group. Belarusian Maxim Babichev was Zaporozhye’s first-choice line player last year, but now he will compete with two newcomers, Mateusz Kus and Darko Pesevski. 31-year-old Kus, who joined the Ukrainian champions from Vive Kielce, has considerable international experience, as he won the VELUX EHF Champions League with Kielce in 2016 and took part in the Olympic Games with Poland in the same year. “I’m sure he will help us in defence, and I also hope that he will show his best qualities in attack. At Kielce, he had to compete with Julen Aguinagalde, one of the best line players in the world. But Mateusz will get this chance at Motor,” says coach Rombel. 27-year-old Pesevski only played for his home team, Metalurg, before signing with Zaporozhye, and Rombel also believes in the Macedonians ability to have an impact: “He’s been working hard. I think everyone will see his best qualities already in the first game.” Motor are taking part in the continental top flight for the sixth straight season, but they have never played in Zaporozhye before. The team previously had to host their opponents in other Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Brovary and Kharkiv. But the situation will change for the better this season. Yunost Arena in Zaporozhye has been fully renovated and is ready to welcome some of the best European clubs. While Motor already did a good job at home in previous years, the support of the truly local fans should boost their morale and possibly contribute to even better results. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 6 Last 16 (2): 2013/14, 2015/16 Group Phase (3): 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12 Playing hall Palace of Sports Yunost Pobeda St. 66 69000 Zaporozhye Ukraine Capacity: 3,500

Ukrainian league: 6 titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Ukrainian cup: 5 titles

120


HC Motor Zaporozhye

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win

6 39 76

MATCHES

Longest losing run Longest run without win

22:35 (9:18) v ABC/UMinho POR (a), 12.11.2016 36:23 (21:16) v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS (h), 14.09.2017 44:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), 10.10.2013 6 matches (22.10.2016 – 12.02.2017) 8 matches (18.10.2015 – 05.03.2016) 8 matches (08.10.2017 – 24.02.2018) 6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014) 6 matches (20.03.2014 – 18.10.2014)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.2016 44 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), 10.10.2013 76 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), 05.03.2016 20 v Montpellier HB FRA 28:20L (a), 01.10.2017 18 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 42 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013

Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

12

4

1

7

333:367

-34

9:15

1/8-finals

2014/15 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

10

3

0

7

283:284

-1

6:14

5th Gr. D

2015/16 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

14

9

1

4

418:414

+4

19:9

1/8-finals

2016/17 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

12

7

2

3

371:337

+34

16:8

Elimination C+D

2017/18 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

12

7

3

2

352:326

+26

17:7

Elimination C+D

Total

60

30 7

23

1757:1728 +29

121

67:53


HC Motor Zaporozhye

Patryk Rombel

coach • joined Zaporozhye for the 2017/18 season and led the team to the national championship right away • the 35-year-old is considered to be one of the most promising Polish coaches • coached MMTS Kwidzyn, the club where he had spent his entire playing career, during the two previous seasons and led them to the fourth place in the national league both times • also at the helm of the Poland national B-team

Newcomers: Mateusz Kus (Kielce/POL) Zarko Pesevski (Metalurg/MKD) Dmitry Goriga (ZNTU-ZAS/UKR) Alexander Kasay (ZNTU-ZAS/UKR)

Left the club: Lev Tselishchev (Spartak Moscow/RUS) Olexandr Shevelev (tbd) Ievgen Zhuk (tbd)

122


HC Motor Zaporozhye

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

6

Maxim

Babichev

BLR

Line Player

07.03.1986

Minsk, BLR

196

97

4

Evgeniy

Buinenko

UKR

Left Back

20.09.1992

Zaporozhye, UKR

201

93

11 Zakhar

Denysov

UKR

Left Wing

01.03.1990

Ilychevsk, UKR

188

82

44 Vladyslav

Dontsov

UKR

Right Back

22.09.1995

Zaporozhye, UKR

200

106

25 Dmytro

Horiha

UKR

Left Back

08.10.1997

Brovary, UKR

197

91

UKR

Left Wing

14.01.1997

Zaporozhye, UKR

180

80 94

No. First Name Surname

4

Oleksandr Kasai

12 Victor

Kireev

RUS

Goalkeeper

05.05.1987

Penzenskaya obl., RUS 190

55 Gennadiy

Komok

UKR

Goalkeeper

05.07.1987

Zaporozhye, UKR

196

96

20 Artem

Kozakevych

UKR

Right Wing

02.10.1992

Novovolynsk, UKR

182

68

Kubatko

UKR

Right Wing

28.08.1988

Zaporozhye, UKR

184

83

Kus

POL

Line Player

14.07.1987

Piekary SL, POL

193

111

Malasinskas

LTU

Centre Back

29.04.1986

Vilnius, LTU

189

84

22 Pawel

Paczkowski

POL

Right Back

14.06.1993

Swiecie, POL

192

90

44 Zharko

Peshevski

MKD Line Player

11.04.1991

Skopje, MKD

195

110 100

5

Iurii

11 Mateusz 7

Aidenas

87 Barys

Pukhouski

BLR

Centre Back

03.01.1987

St.Mazorita, BLR

186

Shelmenko

RUS

Right Back

05.04.1983

Kiev, UKR

195

98

28 Aliaksei

Shynkel

BLR

Left Back

06.07.1994

Grodno, BLR

200

89

44 Igor

Soroka

RUS

Left Wing

27.05.1991

Cherkessk, RUS

180

73

16 Anton

Terekhov

UKR

Goalkeeper

28.07.1992

Slavyanoserbsk, UKR

196

92

15 Dmytro

Tiutiunnyk

UKR

Line Player

07.03.1993

Uman, UKR

198

102

C 83 Sergey

123


HC Motor Zaporozhye

Victor Kireev goalkeeper • the Russian goalkeeper arrived at Zaporozhye in the summer of 2016 • born in Volgograd and started his career at the local club Kaustik • in 2014 moved to St. Petersburg and was awarded the best goalkeeper of the Russian Superleague in the 2015/16 season • member of the Russian national team

Zakhar Denisov left wing • all-rounder with experience of playing in many different positions in his youth • raised in Yuzhny and played for the local team Portovik before moving to Motor in 2014 • plays for the Ukrainian national team • was also a talented football player as a teenager, but focused on handball

Barys Pukhouski left back/centre back • one of Zaporozhye’s leaders heading into his fourth season at the club • originally a playmaker, last season he mostly played as a left back • moved in 2015 from SKA Minsk, the club where he started his career • also had spells at Dinamo Minsk in his native Belarus and at Hungary’s Csurgoi • all-time top scorer of the Belarusian national team EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006

Aidenas Malasinskas centre back • joined Motor in the summer of 2015 and quickly became a key element in the team • Lithuanian international, who played for Kaunas clubs (Lusis and Granitas-Karys) before stints with Bidasoa Irun, Fraikin BM Granollers and Naturhouse La Rioja • arrived from BM Puerto Sagunto

124


HC Motor Zaporozhye

Maxim Babichau line player • experienced and consistent Belarusian joined Zaporozhye in 2017 • previously only played in his home country for Arkatron Minsk, Dinamo Minsk and HC Meshkov Brest • nine-time Belarusian champion • regular member of the Belarus national team for more than a decade

Sergey Shelmenko right back • team captain arrived at Motor in 2015 from Chekhovskie Medvedi • before that also played for ZTR Zaporozhye, Rhein-Neckar Lowen, Dinamo Minsk and St. Petersburg • born in Ukraine, acquired Russian citizenship during his spell at Medvedi and started to play for the Russian national team • his wife Tatiana is a former Ukrainian international volleyball player

Pawel Paczkowski right back • last year, loaned to Zaporozhye for two seasons by PGE Vive Kielce • only the fourth player from outside the former Soviet Union in the history of Ukrainian men’s handball • at Kielce he won the Polish league in 2016 and 2017, as well as the CL in 2016 • played for the Polish national team at the 2017 WCh in France EC trophies: CL 2016

Artem Kozakevych right wing • moved to Zaporozhye from Portovik Yuzhny in 2014 • fast left-handed winger has already become a four-time national champion with Motor • considered as one of the main penalty takers at the club • in 2012, he won a silver medal with Ukraine at the WCh beach handball

125


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

GROUP B

Club Address

Celje Pivovarna Lasko Opekarniska Cesta 15 3000 Celje Slovenia Media contact

Miha Pantelic +386 51 427 590 miha.pantelic@rk-celje.si www.rk-celje.si rkceljepivovarnalasko @RKCPL @rkcpl

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: yellow-blue Player short: blue GK shirt: black

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko It is difficult to imagine a VELUX EHF Champions League season without RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko. The Slovenian side have been a regular fixture in the competition. But for four consecutive seasons, they have not reached their basic goal: the elimination matches. The team often lacks experience in crucial moments, but never the fighting spirit. Celje won all the available domestic titles since Branko Tamse was appointed as head coach, and every year they fed bigger clubs with top players such as Miha Zarabec, Gasper Marguc, Blaz Blagotinsek, Blaz Janc and, the latest but not the least, Borut Mackovsek. This season offers an opportunity for some new players to shine. Every year, Celje prove they can surprise the big teams. But in 2017/18, the points against Kiel and Kielce were not enough. Three years in the row, the Slovenian champions just missed sixth place on the group phase table and, with five newcomers, the main European goal again looks tough to accomplish. ‟There are seven national champions out of eight teams in the group, and the eighth is Nantes, who were FINAL4 participants and finalists last season, so that tells all how strong this group is. The last two seasons we were only inches away and this year we will do all to be on the other side,” says team captain and one of the rare experienced players David Razgor. Celje lost its most effective shooter Ziga Mlakar and defence pillar Borut Mackovsek. Setting up the defensive play seems more difficult. The attack will remain fast paced – maybe even faster, as Celje will have three options in the middle: Jaka Malus, Rok Ovnicek and rising star Domen Makuc. Like Igor Anic, Drasko Nenadic (former Flensburg and BSV) found a new start in a club with even richer history and space to improve in the field. Slovenian international goalkeeper Klemen Ferlin will replace Urban Lesjak. Just turned 18, Domen Makuc is already making huge steps on the scene. He may not be a starting centre back, as Malus and newcomer Ovnicek are more experienced, but fans are eager to see the teenager on the court. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 23 Winner (1): 2003/04 Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05 Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06 Last 16 (4): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase (6): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18 Qualification (1): 2009/10

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red Playing hall Dvorana Zlatorog Opekarinska cesta 15 3000 Celje Slovenia Capacity: 5,200

Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2009/10 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2002/03, 2011/12 Slovenian league: 22 titles (1992-2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014-18) Slovenian cup: 21 times

126


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

8 40 74

MATCHES Longest winning run

37:17 (16:9) v Redbergslids IK SWE (h), 18.11.2000 43:27 (23:16) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2011 6 matches (23.03.1997 – 24.01.1998) 6 matches (25.03.2000 – 09.12.2000) 8 matches (31.10.2004 – 02.04.2005) Longest unbeaten run 7 matches (26.09.2015 – 21.11.2015) Longest losing run Longest run without win 9 matches (26.09.2015 – 06.12.2015) 9 matches (28.09.2016 – 11.02.2017)

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent

44 v HC ‘Granitas-Karys’ LTU 44:27W (h), 22.11.2008 44 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 77 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 17 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 16 v SG Wallau-Massenheim GER 23:16W (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 1993/94 Celje ‘Pivovarna Lasko’ SLO 1996/97 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 1997/98 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 1998/99 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 1999/00 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2000/01 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2001/02 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2003/04 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2004/05 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2005/06 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2006/07 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2007/08 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2008/09 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2010/11 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2012/13 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2013/14 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2014/15 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2015/16 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2016/17 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 2017/18 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO Total

MP 6 10 10 10 10 10 8 14 12 10 8 12 10 10 12 12 10 14 14 14 216

W T 2 0 7 1 8 0 7 1 7 0 6 1 6 0 10 2 8 1 7 0 6 0 4 2 4 0 3 0 5 0 5 1 3 0 3 1 3 3 3 1 107 14

127

L 4 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 6 6 7 7 6 7 10 8 10 95

GF GA GD 120:116 +4 254:213 +41 268:234 +34 290:245 +45 294:250 +44 292:254 +38 232:217 +15 447:398 +49 360:327 +33 311:273 +38 272:237 +35 342:344 -2 296:287 +9 300:332 -32 305:324 –19 322:327 -5 284:293 -9 385:398 –13 399:424 –25 398:434 –36 6171:5927 +244

PTS 4:8 15:5 16:4 15:5 14:6 13:7 12:4 22:6 17:7 14:6 12:4 10:14 8:12 6:14 10:14 11:13 6:14 7:21 9:19 7:21 228:204

Stage1994/95 4th Gr. A 1/2-finals 1/2-finals 1/2-finals 1/2-finals 1/2-finals 1/4-finals Winner 1/2-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 4th MR Gr. 4 4th MR Gr. 2 5th Gr. A Last 16 Last 16 5th Gr. C 7th Gr. A 7th Gr. B 7th Gr. B


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Branko Tamse coach • has started in his sixth season as head coach after winning all 15 possible domestic titles since joining the club in 2013 • has extended his contract until 2020 • former player and coach of Celje’s arch rivals from Velenje • known for his oustanding ability to develop talented players

Newcomers: Klemen Ferlin (Gorenje Velenje/SLO) Rok Ovnicek (Gorenje Velenje/SLO) Drasko Nenadic (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg/DEN) Kristjan Horzen (Trimo Trebnje/SLO) Josip Sarac (Izvidac Osiguranje/CRO)

Left the club: Borut Mackovsek (Veszprém/HUN) Urban Lesjak (Hannover/GER) Ziga Mlakar (Orlen Wisla Plock/POL) Matic Suholeznik (Dunkerque/FRA) Luka Mitrovic (Cesson Rennes/FRA)

128


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

39 Igor

Anic

FRA

Line Player

12.06.1987

Mostar, BIH

196

106

80 Kristian

Beciri

CRO

Line Player

14.06.1994

Heppenheim, GER

202

120

17 Anze

Blagotinsek

SLO

Line Player

07.04.2001

Celje, SLO

192

88

20 Nik

Cirovic

SLO

Centre Back

23.03.2002

Postojna, SLO

185

77

Tim

Cokan

SLO

Right Wing

07.06.2001

Celje, SLO

191

78

Dujshebaev

ESP

Left Back

04.07.1997

Santander, ESP

197

100

22 Klemen

Ferlin

SLO

Goalkeeper

26.06.1989

Ljubljana, SLO

192

95

14 Matic

Groselj

SLO

Right Back

22.09.1997

Trbovlje, SLO

192

91

27 Kristjan

Horzen

SLO

Line Player

08.12.1999

Novo mesto, SLO

192

98

3

Jan

Jurecic

SLO

Right Wing

26.10.1994

Novo mesto, SLO

186

80

6

Tadej

Kljun

SLO

Right Back

18.04.2001

Postojna, SLO

193

76

Kodrin

SLO

Left Wing

14.05.1994

Celje, SLO

192

89

Kosec

SLO

Right Back

22.02.2000

Celje, SLO

193

80

Makuc

SLO

Centre Back

01.07.2000

Postojna, SLO

188

82

Malus

SLO

Centre Back

15.06.1996

Celje, SLO

190

87

11 Gal

Marguc

SLO

Right Wing

16.11.1996

Celje, SLO

179

75

12 Jernej

Mlakar

SLO

Goalkeeper

25.06.2001

Celje, SLO

188

88

15 Drasko

Nenadic

SRB

Left Back

15.02.1990

Beograd, SRB

202

91

10 Rok

Ovnicek

SLO

Centre Back

25.01.1995

Slovenj Gradec, SLO

185

83

16 Aljaz

Panjtar

SLO

Goalkeeper

20.08.1991

Kranj, SLO

185

92

Filip

Rakita

SLO

Left Wing

09.11.2001

Celje, SLO

184

67

David

Razgor

SLO

Left Wing

13.07.1989

Celje, SLO

180

78

Sarac

CRO

Left Back

24.02.1998

Ljubuški, BIH

201

102

Vujovic

MNE Right Back

20.04.1998

Niksic, MNE

194

99

No. First Name Surname

8

44 Daniel

25 Tilen 7

Matic

34 Domen 5

4 C 9

Jaka

13 Josip 2

Branko

r

129


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Klemen Ferlin goalkeeper • joined Celje after four seasons with Slovenian rivals Velenje • several injury problems in the past prevented him from showing his true potential • in Velenje he was trained by Ales Anzic, who is now the goalkeeper coach in Celje

Tilen Kodrin left wing • joined Celje from Maribor Branik in 2014 as one of the most talented youngsters on his position • won treble of domestic trophies four times in four seasons with Celje • injuries kept him away from the courts for most of the season, and he missed EHF EURO 2018 WCh: B 2017

Drasko Nenadic left back • often in the shadow of brother Petar, but he has won the CL - with Flensburg in 2014 • Celje is the eighth club in his career • scored 60 CL goals for Crvena Zvezda and Flensburg; six goals in one match is his personal best in the CL • expected to be a solid replacement for Borut Mackovsek, who joined Veszprém

Rok Ovnicek centre back • earned international debut last season, played for Slovenia at Mediterranean Games • moved to Celje after six seasons with Velenje, where he had made his senior debut at age 17 • best scorer for Velenje in the national championship play-offs

130


RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko

Domen Makuc centre back • first player born in this millennium to score a goal in the CL • impressed at finals weekend of SEHA league with 10 goals and four assists • helped Slovenia win the Men’s 20 EHF EURO in 2018 • one of Europe’s most promising talents, signed with Celje until 2022

@igor_anic

Igor Anic line player

@igoranic

• born in Mostar but made his senior debut at Montpellier in France • won three Bundesliga titles (and the CL in 2010) with THW Kiel, and also three French league titles with Montpellier • helped France win EHF EURO 2014 and WCh 2015 • known for being a very talented caricature artist and vlogger EC trophies: CL 2010 EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

Branko Vujovic right back • arrived in Celje on loan from Kielce • born in Montenegro, but representing Poland in international matches • received Best Young Player award in Poland before moving to Celje • made first-team debut at age 14 for his boyhood club Sutjeska, after also practicing judo in his younger years

Gal Marguc right wing • key player for Celje since his breakthrough season in 2016/17 • younger brother of Veszprém star Gasper Marguc • highly talented youngster, next in line of world-class Celje right wings including Dragan Gajic, Gasper Marguc and Blaz Janc • prolific scorer for Celje in all competitions

131


HBC Nantes

GROUP B

Club Address

HBC Nantes 7-9 rue André Tardieu 44200 Nantes France Media contact

Kevin Morin +33 664865046 kevin.morin@ hbcnantes.com www.hbcnantes.com HBCNantesOfficiel HBCNantes @hbcnantes Kit colours

Light Player shirt: grey/black Player short: grey/black GK shirt: yellow, blue or green

HBC Nantes HBC Nantes have an excellent track record in the VELUX EHF Champions League. They reached the Last 16 as debutants two years ago, and they made it to the final last year, beating clubs like Barcelona, Vardar and PSG along the way. So, where do they go from here? The mantra goes, ‘once you’ve done it, you can do it again.’ In sports, though, things are a bit more complicated than that. Nantes surprised everyone last season so their opponents have now been warned. But the team have barely changed this summer as retired Dominik Klein has been replaced by Valero Rivera on the left wing. Still, everybody in the club wants to remain humble, at least before the competition has started. “The objective for us is to be successful during the group phase and reach the best possible spot,” team captain Rock Feliho says. “We know it will be a real challenge because the group is a tough one and this is a very hard competition. But after the season we had, we want to go as far as possible.” This summer Nantes have changed their home base, again. Three years after moving from the Palais des Sports de Beaulieu to La Trocardière, they are now returning. “It is all a bit dusty but we will find our feet again pretty quickly,” coach Thierry Anti said on the first day of preparation. As their ‘new’ arena has a bigger capacity, Nantes want to move up to another level. Nicolas Tournat was the revelation on the line player position last season, but the 24-year-old still has room to improve in the new season. He made his international debut for France at the EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia and four months later played his first VELUX EHF FINAL4 with Nantes. He impressed with eight goals in the semi-final against PSG but could quite match that performance in the final against Montpellier the following day. Three - that’s the number of Spanish players wearing the Nantes’ jersey this season. And add co-trainer Alberto Entrerrios as well. Nantes had one more Spaniard in their squad in 2012 but Spanish handball remains popular with Le ‘H’.

Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: purple/yellow Player short: purple GK shirt: yellow, blue or green

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 3 Runners-up (1): 2017/18 Last 16 (1): 2016/17 Other EHF Cup: runners-up 2012/13, 2015/16, quarter-finals 2013/14 Playing hall Palais des Sports de Beaulieu 7-9 rue André Tardieu 44200 Nantes France Capacity: 5,400

132

French Cup: 1 title (2017) French League Cup: 1 title (2015) Trophee des Champions: 1 title (2017)


HBC Nantes

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

1 37 68

MATCHES

Longest losing run

Longest losing run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

33:19 (16:9) v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR (h), 01.10.2016 35:27 (15:13) v PSG Handball FRA (a), 01.04.2017 7 matches (14.10.2017 – 10.02.2018) 7 matches (14.10.2017 – 10.02.2018) 7 matches (25.02.2018 – 26.05.2018) 1 match (19.11.2016) 1 match (01.04.2017) 1 match (23.09.2017) 1 match (07.10.2017) 1 match (17.02.2018) 1 match (27.05.2018) 3 matches (23.09.2017 – 07.10.2017) 37 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 37:31W (h), 11.03.2017 35 v PSG Handball FRA 35:27L (a), 01.04.2017 68 v ABC/UMinho POR 35:33W (h), 09.10.2016 68 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 37:31W (h), 11.03.2017 22 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 23:22L (a), 17.02.2018 19 v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 33:19W (h), 01.10.2016 45 v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 23:22L (a), 17.02.2018

VELUX EHF Champions League record 2016/17 HBC Nantes FRA

MP 14

W 10

T 2

L 2

GF GA 433:387

GD +46

PTS 22:6

Stage1994/95 Last 16

2017/18 HBC Nantes FRA

20

12

4

4

581:548

+33

28:12

Runner-up

Total

34 22 6 6

133

1014:935 +79

50:18


HBC Nantes

Thierry Anti coach • • • • •

arrived in 2009 when Nantes were just promoted to the French first league steered them to one trophy, the league cup in 2014/15 the CL Final 2017/18 was the third European final he lost with Nantes, after being defeated in the EHF Cup Finals in 2012/13 and 2015/16 previously coached Créteil and Paris, and reached the Cup Winners’ Cup Final with Créteil in 1989 known for his quality of developing young players

Newcomers: Valero Rivera (Barça Lassa/ESP) Florian Delecroix (Cesson-Rennes, loan return/FRA) Lucien Auffret (first contract)

Left the club: Senjamin Buric (PPD Zagreb/CRO) Jerko Matulic (Azoty Pulawy/POL) Dominik Klein (retired) Guillaume Saurina (retired)

134


HBC Nantes

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

20 Lucien

Auffret

FRA

Right Wing

25.01.1997

La Roche sur Yon, FRA 182

73

30 Valentin

Bachele

FRA

Goalkeeper

25.06.1998

Montreuil, FRA

190

95

19 David

Balaguer

ESP

Right Wing

17.08.1991

Barcelona, ESP

185

83

Nicolas

Claire

FRA

Centre Back

10.07.1987

St. Denis de la R., FRA

190

91

Baptiste

Damatrin

FRA

Left Wing

29.04.2000

Saint-Maurice, FRA

176

77

Delecroix

FRA

Right Back

17.03.1994

Niort, FRA

197

93

200

100

No. First Name Surname

7

17 Florian

Dumoulin

FRA

Goalkeeper

02.02.1984

Rillieux la Pape, FRA

Emonet

FRA

Left Wing

04.01.1992

Sartrouville, FRA

182

91

Faluvegi

HUN Left Back

09.01.1994

Budapest, HUN

192

92

22 Leo

Fauvet

FRA

Line Player

04.10.1999

Cannes, FRA

191

100

13 Rock

Feliho

FRA

Left Back

13.08.1982

Cotonou, BEN

192

100

Guillo

FRA

Line Player

01.10.1991

Pontivy, FRA

207

110

18 Eduardo

Gurbindo

ESP

Right Wing

08.11.1987

Pamplona, ESP

195

92

29 Espen Lie

Hansen

NOR Right Back

01.03.1989

Drammen, NOR

196

100

St. Denis de la R., FRA

189

78

1

Cyril

14 Julian 4

C 5

Rudolf

Romaric

Imare

FRA

Centre Back

09.09.1998

Lagarde

FRA

Left Back

05.03.1997

Lorient, FRA

194

95

Lazarov

MKD Right Back

10.05.1980

Veles, MKD

195

99

Mauillon

FRA

Left Back

24.02.2001

Angers, FRA

194

88

12 Alexandre

Moali

FRA

Goalkeeper

21.01.1999

Paris, FRA

193

85

Alex

Moran

FRA

Right Wing

20.12.1999

Evreux, FRA

180

81

Guy Olivier Nyokas

FRA

Left Back

28.06.1986

Montfermeil, FRA

188

86

FRA

Line Player

05.01.1996

Cahors, FRA

194

94

Saint Malo, FRA

190

87

23 Edson 2

Romain

17 Kiril Alois

6

10 Dragan

Pechmalbec Pelechenko

FRA

Left Back

15.07.1999

25 Lucas

Petraud

FRA

Right Back

10.01.1999

Cagnes sur Mer, FRA

194

84

17 Valero

Rivera Folch

ESP

Left Wing

22.02.1985

Barcelona, ESP

189

80

16 Arnaud

Siffert

FRA

Goalkeeper

06.12.1978

Longjumeau, FRA

190

93

11 Nicolas

Tournat

FRA

Line Player

05.04.1994

Niort, FRA

200

116

Victor

135


HBC Nantes

Cyril Dumoulin goalkeeper

@CyrilDumoulin

• after playing in Chambéry and Toulouse, he arrived in Nantes at the end of the 2015/16 season - but could not take part in the EHF Cup Finals that season • at 1.99 m, one of the tallest goalkeepers on the circuit • published two books – a diary of his seasons and they gained much critical success

EURO: G 2014, B 2018, WCh: G 2015

Valero Rivera left wing • returned to Nantes from Barça in the summer of 2018 for his second stint with the French club after 2010-2016 • top scorer of EHF EURO 2016 (48 goals), voted WCh 2015 best left wing and MVP in French League in 2012; also best left wing in French league in 2012 and 2013 • his father, Valero Rivera sr., has been national team coach in Qatar since 2013 • married to Marion Anti, a former handball player and daughter of coach Thierry Anti EC trophies: CL 2005, EHF Cup 2003 EURO: G 2018, S 2016, B 2014, WCh: G 2013

Olivier Nyokas left back • returned to France in the summer of 2016 after two seasons in Balingen (Germany) • was reunited in Nantes with best friend Nicolas Claire and with the coach from his younger years, Thierry Anti • twin brother Kevynn retired from handball in the summer of 2017 • scored eight goals from eight attempts for France in his first match at a major international tournament, EHF EURO 2016 WCh: G 2017

Nicolas Claire centre back • former player for PSG Handball, who joined Nantes in 2014 to work with Thierry Anti, his coach and mentor in his early professional years • played his first international games with France in 2015 and was part of the bronze- winning team at EHF EURO 2018 • two younger brothers are also professional handball players, in the second French league • born on Réunion Island, like Jackson Richardson and Daniel Narcisse EURO: B 2018

136


HBC Nantes

Nicolas Tournat line player • considered by France national team coach Didier Dinart as “one of the brightest hopes in French handball” • made debut for France in 2015, helped team win bronze at EHF EURO 2018 • arrived in Nantes at age 18 and has not played for any other team since • one of the leading players in the squad since 2015/16 but set to join Kielce in 2020 EURO: B 2018

Kiril Lazarov right back

@klazarov77

• scored over 1,000 goals in the CL, was competition’s top scorer in 2006 and 2008 • went to Nantes in 2017, after seven years in Spain with Ciudad Real and FC Barcelona • most successful scorer at a single EHF EURO (61 goals in 2012) and WCh (92 goals in 2009) with FYR Macedonia

EC trophies: CL 2015

Eduardo Gurbindo right back

@gurbinsson

• coach Thierry Anti convinced the Spaniard to come to Nantes in 2016 • Lazarov and Gurbindo are sharing the right back position since the 2017/18 season, just as they were doing for three years in Barcelona • can play on the wing, at right back and at centre back • won the CL with Barcelona in 2015, alongside Lazarov EC trophies : CL 2015 EURO: G 2018, S 2016, B 2014

David Balaguer right wing • at age 27, he is following the footsteps of Valero Rivera: formed in Barcelona like him, he joined Nantes in 2015 • shares many similarities with Rivera, like coming into the spotlight in the Nantes jersey • Barcelona unsuccessfully tried to sign him back in the summer of 2016 • made debut for Spain at WCh in 2017 before winning EHF EURO 2018 EURO: G 2018

137


Group C preview

Group C preview GROUP OF CHAMPIONS CONNECTING EUROPE Fans across Europe will witness fascinating handball week after week from Lisboa to Moscow in the cross-continental Group C. - a group which connects Europe with Asia, far west with the far east and north with south. Two play-off spots are up for grabs for the six teams. The favourites are set, but who will make most of the current form, summer singings and the support of the passionate fans? Four of the six teams met last season, in Group D. HC Metalurg, Sporting CP, Besiktas and Chekhovskie Medvedi all crossed paths last year, falling short against eventual champions Montpellier. All these teams know each other well, which can be both an advantage and disadvantage. Patrice Canayer and his Montpellier side showed that impossible is nothing and this should inspire teams from Groups C/D to live their dream. Can we find in Group C another potential title contender? This is how each of the six sides look ahead of the new season. Tatran Presov join the sextet after a year absence amongst the elite. Slavko Goluža had a year to build the green army strengthened by Martin Stranovsky, a former Champions League finalist with Barcelona. A busy schedule domestically and internationally, including the regional SEHA league fixtures, means Presov will be heavily tested in the first half of the season. Their squad is settled and balanced, but do not offer too many backup options to key players. Danish side Bjerringbro-Silkeborg are also returning to the top flight after sitting out for a season. Together with Presov they featured in the EHF Cup, in the same group, sharing one win each in their clashes. Silkeborg are considered as the big favourites of the group, whilst the other five teams should battle for second place in the group. However, they face challenges of their own ahead of the new season after the departure of several key players, particularly the loss of quality goalkeeping duo Søren Rasmussen and Sebastian Frandsen brings question marks. Captain Michael V. Knudsen, who won the Champions League with Flensburg in 2014 will take the leadership role and a lot is expected from Slovenian playmaker Sebastian Skube. Sporting CP remain ambitious, but how they will cope with the departure of club icon Pedro Portela?

138


Group C preview

41 goals in ten group phase matches is not easily replaceable, but the Portuguese side return for their second consecutive season at this level more ambitious than ever. Can Frankis Carol help Sporting be one of the dark horses of the group? They face a difficult challenge against five opponents of similar quality, but last year’s performances will have inspired some hope. Chekhovskie Medvedi’s stars still shine brightest in the Russian sky, but Vladimir Maximov’s men are failing to impress on the European stage. After four years of failing to progress past the group phase, the Bears are sure they will have their say this season. Dmitri Santalov stayed in the club despite the rumours of joining Vardar. And if they are to improve on their tally of five points last season, count on some new stars to be uncovered by Maximov, something he consistently manages. Metalurg`s story is similar to the Medvedi one. The Macedonian side fell at the group phase in the last four seasons and the club is looking for new inspiration. They are not considered favourites in the group, which means Danilo Brestovac’s side can play without any pressure. With one of the youngest squads in the competition, Metalurg aim to give young talents in the region a chance to taste big time handball. Their work with youth is well-known, but the lack of experience and consistency has been a serious issue for the young prospects over the last few seasons. Advancing from this group would be a big achievement. Heading eastwards we have Besiktas, a team around ambitious coach Müfit Arin, who continue to promote handball in a country where football and basketball take centre stage. With the chance of moving back to Istanbul to play in a new arena for 10,000 fans, Besiktas have the extra motivation and adequate support from the club’s enthusiastic fans should come their way should they begin the group positively. The stage is set for an interesting battle of six relatively equal teams, at least in terms of quality. Who will challenge Bjerringbro-Silkeborg for top spot in the group? Are we going to see the biggest surprise of the competition from this group? Anything can happen in this fascinating group. Tomas Cuncik

139


Group C preview

Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC HC Metalurg vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 2-0-0 (58:41) 4:0 14.10.2012 24.02.2013

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Metalurg vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

23:26 (14:11) 32:18 (18:14)

HC Metalurg vs Sporting CP 1-0-1 (55:58) 2:2 30.09.2017 02.12.2017

HC Metalurg vs Sporting CP, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Sporting CP vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

28:27 (17:13) 31:27 (12:15)

HC Metalurg vs Besiktas Mogaz 0-0-2 (56:63) 0:4 24.09.2017 18.11.2017

HC Metalurg vs Besiktas Mogaz HT, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Besiktas Mogaz HT vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

27:31 (14:14) 32:29 (13:15)

HC Metalurg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 2-0-4 (163:176) 4:8 30.09.2006 04.11.2006 06.10.2016 12.02.2017 14.10.2017 05.11.2017

Chehovskie Medvedi vs RK Metalurg Skopje, EHF Champions League – Group D RK Metalurg Skopje vs Chehovskie Medvedi, EHF Champions League – Group D Chekhovskie Medvedi vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Metalurg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Chekhovskie Medvedi vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D HC Metalurg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

40:25 (22:9) 28:32 (12:16) 25:21 (14:8) 31:24 (15:10) 26:32 (15:15) 26:29 (12:17)

HC Metalurg vs TATRAN Presov 1-0-1 (48:47) 2:2 01.10.2016 27.11.2016

TATRAN Presov vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C HC Metalurg vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

27:22 (11:12) 26:20 (11:10)

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Sporting CP No previous encounters in European competitions

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Besiktas Mogaz No previous encounters in European competitions

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 0-0-2 (48:65) 0:4 20.11.2011 24.11.2011

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B

25:35 (11:22) 30:23 (15:13)

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs TATRAN Presov 1-0-1 (55:51) 2:2 10.02.2018 24.03.2018

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs TATRAN Presov, EHF Cup – Group A TATRAN Presov vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, EHF Cup – Group A

27:19 (15:10) 32:28 (13:16)

Sporting CP vs Besiktas Mogaz 2-0-0 (64:53) 4:0 17.09.2017 11.11.2017

Besiktas Mogaz HT vs Sporting CP, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Sporting CP vs Besiktas Mogaz HT, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

26:30 (16:17) 34:27 (17:12)

Sporting CP vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 1-0-1 (58:60) 2:2 04.10.2017 25.11.2017

Sporting CP vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Sporting CP, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

140

31:30 (20:17) 30:27 (16:13)


Group C preview

Sporting CP vs TATRAN Presov No previous encounters in European competitions

Besiktas Mogaz vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 2-0-2 (97:106) 4:4 12.10.1996 19.10.1996 30.09.2017 03.12.2017

CSKA Moscow vs Besiktas Istanbul, EHF Cup – Round 2 Besiktas Istanbul vs CSKA Moscow, EHF Cup – Round 2 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Besiktas Mogaz HT, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D Besiktas Mogaz HT vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D

30:16 (16:8) 19:20 (8:10) 27:29 (17:13) 33:29 (16:12)

Besiktas Mogaz vs TATRAN Presov 0-0-2 (57:62) 0:4 04.09.2010 31.08.2013

Besiktas JK vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Group 1 TATRAN Presov vs Besiktas JK, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Group 2

27:30 (12:14) 32:30 (17:12)

Chekhovskie Medvedi vs TATRAN Presov 3-0-3 (171:169) 6:6 25.02.2006 04.03.2006 18.10.2015 22.10.2015 22.10.2016 10.11.2016

Tatran Presov vs Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov vs Tatran Presov, Cup Winners’ Cup – Quarter-final TATRAN Presov vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Chekhovskie Medvedi vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C TATRAN Presov vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Chekhovskie Medvedi vs TATRAN Presov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

141

27:30 (11:14) 35:28 (17:13) 27:21 (12:12) 29:28 (15:15) 30:28 (17:11) 28:29 (13:18)


HC Metalurg

GROUP C

Club Address

HC Metalurg ul. Jane Lukroski 6 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Media contact

Zorica B. Molkoska +389 78 576785 zorica.blazevska@gmail.com www.rkmetalurg.mk rkmetalurgofficial #RKMetalurg

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: yellow/ black/red Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: yellow/black/ red

HC Metalurg After eight years, the era of Lino Cervar at Metalurg has ended. Over the years with the club, the Croatian master coach has built a pool of talents for the Macedonian national team. However, last season, due to Cervar’s absence, Metalurg were mostly led by Aleksandar Jovic. For 2017/18, Cervar’s past assistant, Danilo Brestovac, has taken the helm for the Macedonian runners-up. In their best years, Metalurg made it to the quarter-finals of the VELUX EHF Champions League twice, in 2013 and 2014. But in the last four seasons, the team from ‘Avtokomanda’ did not manage to proceed from the group phase. This season, with a roster of youngsters, Metalurg are looking forward to gaining experience in their VELUX EHF Champions League voyage. The loss of the three key players: Vanja Ilic, Zharko Peshevski and Aleksandar Gugleta, made Metalurg active on the transfer market and resulted in the introduction of several international and domestic reinforcements. Coach Brestovac has already tested his new team, as they participated in the international handball tournament ‘Struga 2018’ as well as the Macedonian Super Cup. In the Super Cup, Metalurg’s young squad did not have the strength to stop Vardar and were defeated 24:33. “Our roster is still open and I would be happy if we can keep these players until the end of the season. The chances for the first team are open to everyone and I believe that we have the best available players in the Macedonian market at the moment,” says Brestovac. “I’m not David Copperfield, to come with a magic wand and make wonders happen. I can promise that in the next period Metalurg will remain a leader in the region when it comes to working with young categories. I know it will be difficult to go one level above, but my ambition will be to do it,” says Brestovac. The Macedonian runners-up have one of the youngest squads in the Champions League, as the club serves as a base for introducing new players into the national team and also gives players from their younger categories the chance to advance to the first team. This season, the ‘Avtokomanda’ team is in a tough Group C with more experienced opponents, which means earning a place in the Last 16 will be a difficult task. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 11 Quarter-final (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2011/12 Group Phase (6): 2006/07, 2008/09, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 Qualification (1): 2010/11 Other EHF Cup: Quarter-final 2007/08 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2008/09 Macedonian league: 6 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Macedonian cup: 5 titles

Playing hall Boris Trajkovski bul. 8 Septemvri bb Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000

142


HC Metalurg

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

4 15 69

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Fewest goals

Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

32:18 (18:14) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (h), 24.02.2013 43:24 (23:12) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 19.10.2006 35:16 (17:3) v THW Kiel (a), 15.02.2015 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) 4 matches (16.02.2014 – 30.03.2014) 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008)

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

37 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 43 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 69 v THW Kiel 27:42L (h), 18.10.2014 15 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:15L (a), 28.04.2013 14 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 14:32W (a), 16.02.2013 35 v Elverum Handball NOR 18:17W (h), 24.09.2016

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD

6

0

0

6

148:206

–58

0:12

4th Gr. D

2008/09 HC Metalurg MKD

6

2

0

4

157:172

-15

4:8

3rd Gr. C

2011/12 HC Metalurg MKD

12

6

2

4

294:275

+19

14:10

Last 16

2012/13 HC Metalurg MKD

14

9

0

5

361:313

+48

18:6

1/4-finals

2013/14 HC Metalurg MKD

14

7

2

5

356:373

-17

16:12

1/4-finals

2014/15 HC Metalurg MKD

10

1

1

8

233:294

–61

3:17

6th Gr. A

2015/16 HC Metalurg MKD

10

2

0

8

219:241

–22

4:16

6th Gr. D

2016/17 HC Metalurg MKD

10

5

0

5

240:251

–11

10:10

3rd Gr. C

2017/18 HC Metalurg MKD Total

10 92

2 1 34 6

7 52

262:293 –31 2270:2418 -148

5:15 74:110

5th Gr. D

143


HC Metalurg

Danilo Brestovac coach • • • •

Newcomers: Adrian Milicevic (HC Porec/KRO) Luka Stojanovic (HC Plzen/CZE) Bojan Madzovski (HC Pelister/MKD) Predrag Mijatovic (HC Partizan/SRB)

former goalkeeper for Vardar and Metalurg assistant coach of Ivica Obrvan in the Macedonian national team was coach of Red Boys Differdange before taking over at Metalurg head coach of Macedonian Under 18 and 20 national teams

Left the club: Vanja Ilic (La Rioja Logrono/ESP) Aleksandar Gugleta (-) Davor Palevski (-) Zarko Peshevski (Motor Zaporozhye/UKR) Borjan Madjovski (HC Pelister/MKD)

144


HC Metalurg

Team roster No. First Name Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Height Weight

99 Filip

Arsenovski

MKD Line Player

30.07.1998

Skopje, MKD

193

84

20 Nikola

Danilovski

MKD Goalkeeper

01.02.1997

Skopje, MKD

184

78

Dimitrioski

MKD Left Wing

16.02.1998

Prilep, MKD

183

83

44 Stefan

Dodic

SRB

Centre Back

13.03.2003

Vranje, SRB

197

84

77 Gligor

Gajic

MKD Centre Back

07.02.2000

Struga, MKD

185

80

Jaganjac

CRO

22.06.1998

Rijeka, CRO

200

95 80

8

6 4

Dimitar

Halil Tomislav

Left Back

Jagurinoski

MKD Right Wing

19.08.1998

Skopje, MKD

186

Kuzmanovski

MKD Centre Back

03.07.1996

Bitola, MKD

198

105

Milan

Lazarevski

MKD Line Player

09.02.1997

Skopje, MKD

194

94

66 Bojan

Madzovski

MKD Left Wing

08.05.1994

Skopje, MKD

184

90

94 Tadej

Matijasic

SLO

Left Wing

22.01.1994

Ljubljana, SLO

173

76

21 Mihajlo

Mladenovic

SRB

Left Back

21.09.2000

Vranje, SRB

194

90

42 Matej

Petkovski

MKD Goalkeeper

15.09.1999

Skopje, MKD

186

86

17 Martin

Serafimov

MKD Right Back

03.03.2000

Skopje, MKD

190

80 75

C 18 Filip 7

11 Mice

Shilegov

MKD Right Wing

19.06.1998

Skopje, MKD

175

14 Mario

Tankoski

MKD Left Back

28.08.1998

Struga, MKD

192

90

Tokic

CRO

Right Wing

15.11.1993

Zagreb, CRO

189

86

12 Martin

Tomovski

MKD Goalkeeper

10.07.1997

Skopje, MKD

190

80

16 Viktor

Vasilevski

MKD Goalkeeper

23.10.2000

Skopje, MKD

194

93

30 Martin

Velkovski

MKD Right Back

10.03.1997

Skopje, MKD

190

84

9

Ante

145


HC Metalurg

Martin Tomovski goalkeeper

@martin.tomovski

• joined Metalurg at the age of 13, before that was part of Prolet • made CL debut in 2016/17 at the age of 18 in the match against Chekovskie Medvedi • student at the Faculty of Physical Education, Sport & Health

Bojan Madjovski left wing • first handball steps were in Metalurg’s youth team • made CL debut in 2014/15 scoring three goals • spent two years (2016-18) at RK Pelister before returning to Metalurg in 2018 • twin brother Borjan Madzovski is also a handball player, who plays for Pelister

Dimitar Dimitrioski centre back/left wing • promising young player who is able to play on two positions, centre back and left wing • his first handball steps were in his home town Prilep, after this he moved through Metalurg youth ranks • member of the Macedonian youth national team joined the first team of Metalurg in 2017 • due to roster changes in Metalurg before the 2018/19 season he was bound to be in charge of orchestrating the attacking game @haliljaganjac

Halil Jaganjac left back

• the 2.00-metre tall left back started his career in MRK Kozala and had a spell with Paris Saint-Germain’s second team • joined Metalurg in 2017 and scored 52 goals in his debut CL season • top scorer in the SEHA Leaguem2017/18 with 100 goals • member of the Croatian national team

146


HC Metalurg

Mario Tankovski left back • the 20-year-old back was part of Metalurg second team in the period 2013-2017 • in the 2017/18 season was transferred to the Metalurg’s first team and had a premiere in the CL where he scored five goals • member of the youth categories of the Macedonian national team • recognized as Best left back in the All-Star team at the M20 2018 EHF Championship

Filip Arsenovski line player • started his career in the youth categories of Vardar before transferring to city rivals Metalurg in 2016 • played for the Macedonian national team at the 2017 Men’s Junior World HandballMetalurg is his first club outside Croatia • in the 2017/18 season scored two goals in the CL

Martin Velkovski right back • before moving to the first team, he played for the youth categories of Metalurg • one of the key players of the Macedonian national team at the 2017 Men’s Junior World Championship • made his debut for the Macedonian senior national team in 2017

Ante Tokic right wing • started playing handball at the age of 9 • before joining Metalurg played for RK Medveščak and GRK Varaždin • silver medallist at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2012 • scored nine goals in his debut CL season in 2017/18

147


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

GROUP C

Club Address

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Vestre Ringvej 7 8850 Bjerringbro Denmark Media contact

Anne Kildegaard +45 8668 0560 ak@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk

bjerringbrosilkeborg @BSVofficiel #Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: blue GK shirt: red

BjerringbroSilkeborg Bjerringbro-Silkeborg will find themselves in a somewhat new situation when the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 gets underway. It is their fourth group phase campaign, but the first in the Group C/D section. Upon their return form a one-year absence - they played in the EHF Cup last season - the Danish side from the central part of the Jutland peninsula will be eying a spot in the group phase knockout. In a group entirely consisting of national champions, BSV will definitely be facing some challenges. But taking one of the two top positions seems realistic, and head coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen makes no secret of the club’s goals. “Our objective is a top position and qualification for the play-off games,” says the coach, adding that Group C is “a very competitive and challenging group.” Bredsdorff-Larsen expects all teams to have a fair chance of reaching the play-off: “Our opponents are tough professional teams with a lot of experience in playing European Cup games, and we look forward to meeting many different handball cultures, traditions and concepts.” BSV waved farewell to considerably more players than they said hello to, and several of the players who left, were key players. This could be a disadvantage. The club unsuccessfully tried to sign former Norwegian international Andre Lindboe, who has left Norwegian champions Elverum. But Bredsdorff-Larsen is still looking forward to another season in the VELUX EHF Champions League. “This season will be the fourth in a row where we can invite our supporters and sponsors to group phase European games on home court,” the coach says. The position between the posts might become the most vulnerable spot for BSV this season. Aljosa Rezar of Slovenia, who has already been with the club last season, and Kasper Larsen, who is returning from league rivals Mors Thy Håndbold, face a huge challenge to make up for the departure of Rasmussen and Frandsen.

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 5 Last 16 (2): 2012/13, 2016/17 Group Phase (1): 2011/12 Qualification (1): 2010/11 Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2002/03, 2008/09, 2015/16, Last 16 2010/11 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2006/07

Playing hall JYSK Arena, Silkeborg Ansvej 114 8600 Silkeborg Denmark Capacity: 3,000

Danish league: 1 title (2016)

148


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

EHF Champions League club records

2 37 69

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

23:35 (11:18) v St. Petersburg HC RUS (a), 18.11.2012 34:19 (18:10) v FC Barcelona Lassa ESP (a), 27.11.2016 2 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012) 2 matches (18.11.2012 – 25.11.2012) 11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012) 11 matches (02.10.2011 – 30.09.2012)

Most goals

Most goals

GOALS

Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

37 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 37:32W (h), 12.03.2017 37 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 37:29L (a), 23.10.2011 37 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:37L (h), 19.02.2012 69 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 37:32W (h), 12.03.2017 18 v HC Metalurg MKD 32:18L (a), 24.02.2013 21 v THW Kiel GER 21:24W (a), 25.02.2017 44 v MKB Veszprém HUN 19:25L (h), 04.12.2011 44 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 19:25L (h), 02.10.2016

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS

Most goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2011/12 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN

10

0

0

10

253:315

-62

0:20

6th Gr. B

2012/13 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN

12

4

0

8

309:339

–30

8:16

Last 16

2016/17 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN Total

16 4 0 12 412:455 –43 8:24 38 8 0 30 974:1109 -135 16:60

Last 16

149


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen coach •

head coach of Bjerringbro-Silkeborg since 2014

• has previously been head coach at Danish league clubs Skanderborg, AaB, Aalborg, KIF Kolding and KIF Kolding Kobenhavn • was assistant national coach for the Denmark men’s team from 2005 to 2012 and again in 2015 • won the Danish championship 2009/10 as head coach of AaB Handball and in 2015/16 with Bjerringbro •

used to play right wing in the Aarhus-based club VRI

@peterbredsdorff

Newcomers: Kasper Larsen (Mors Thy Håndbold/DEN)

Left the club: Drasko Nenadic (Celje/SLO) Martin Risom (Ajax København/DEN) Søren Rasmussen (Ribe-Esbjerg HH/DEN) Sebastian Frandsen (TTH Holstebro/DEN) Frederik Skov (HC Midtjylland/DEN) Lars Skaarup (Skanderborg Håndbold/DEN)

150


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Team roster No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

DEN

Right Wing

01.05.1994

Torshavn, FAR

Height Weight 190

91

32 Christian

Holm

DEN

Centre Back

27.08.1999

Odense, DEN

194

91

23 Stefan

Hundstrup

DEN

Left Wing

30.06.1986

Svendborg, DEN

193

86

17 Kasper

Knudsen

DEN

Left Wing

03.10.1999

Silkeborg, DEN

202

92

C 77 Michael V.

Knudsen

DEN

Line Player

04.09.1978

Hobro, DEN

192

99

Larsen

DEN

Goalkeeper

03.01.2000

Viborg, DEN

187

86

18.03.1989

Brabrand, DEN

195

89 117

10 Johan a Plogv Hansen

20 Oliver 1

Kasper

Larsen

DEN

Goalkeeper

9

Jacob

Lassen

DEN

Right Back

11.09.1995

Randers, DEN

197

30 Rune

Lovschall

DEN

Goalkeeper

11.04.2001

Svendborg, DEN

200

22 Nikolaj

Markussen

DEN

Left Back

01.08.1988

Gribskov, DEN

211

95

33 Jeppe

Nielsen

DEN

Centre Back

09.08.2000

Viborg, DEN

194

81

7

Nikolaj Oris

Nielsen

DEN

Right Back

26.09.1986

Bjerringbro, DEN

197

100

8

Mads Oris

Nielsen

DEN

Centre Back

17.03.1981

Bjerringbro, DEN

198

102

Nรถddesbo

DEN

Line Player

23.10.1980

Herning, DEN

199

100

Overgaard

DEN

Right Wing

27.04.2000

Silkeborg, DEN

181

79

18 Jesper 34 Jacob

Pedersen

NOR Left Wing

24.06.1994

Notodden, DEN

180

90

19 Jens

Plougstrup

DEN

Centre Back

08.01.1999

Silkeborg, DEN

190

88

16 Aljosa

Rezar

SLO

Goalkeeper

24.02.1983

Celje, SLO

190

89

35 Sebastian

Skott

DEN

Left Wing

29.09.2000

Skanderborg, DEN

185

84

11 Sebastian

Skube

SLO

Centre Back

03.04.1987

Novo Mesto, SLO

189

90

29 Rasmus

Thiemer-Jensen DEN

Line Player

17.06.1989

Odense, DEN

190

102

Back

26.04.1986

Haderslev, DEN

198

102

2

4

August

Klaus

Thomsen

DEN

151


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Aljosa Rezar goalkeeper • joined Bjerringbro in November 2017 from French side USAM Nimes • has played 34 international games for Slovenia • will carry extra responsibility this season, after the departure of veteran Sören Rasmussen and talent Sebastian Frandsen • a consistent goalkeeper with plenty of experience at age 34

Stefan Hundstrup left wing • arrived in the summer of 2014 from KIF Kolding København • has won the Danish championship with AG København as well as with KIF Kolding København • also represented GOG and Viborg HK in the Danish league • excels as the forward player in a 5-1 defensive system

Nikolaj Markussen left back • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from nearby league rivals Skjern Handbold ahead of the 2016/17 season • the 2.13-m tall back previously represented another Danish league club, Nordsjælland – his childhood club – as well Atletico Madrid and Qatari club El Jaish • his career has been hampered by a couple of long injury breaks

Sebastian Skube centre back • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from RK Celje in the summer of 2014 • Bjerringbro-Silkeborg is his first club outside Slovenia • has played more than 100 international games for Slovenia and was part of the national team at the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland • his younger brother, Stas, who plays for Szeged, is also a centre back

152


Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

Michael V. Knudsen line player • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the summer of 2014 • previously represented Viborg HK as well as Skjern Handbold in the Danish league • strong and versatile on the line in attack, clever and uncompromising in defence • his motto is: “Winners never quit and quitters never win” • played 244 internationals for Denmark (796 goals) before retiring from the national team in 2014 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012, Challenge Cup 2003 EURO: G 2008, S 2014, B 2002, 2004, 2006, WCh: B 2007

Jesper Nøddesbo line player

@jespernoeddesbo

• joined BSV from Barça in the summer of 2017 • started career at Holstebro, developed well after joining KIF Kolding in 2004 • was among Europe’s elite year after year – with Kolding from 2004 to 2007, then with Barcelona • an imposing presence on the court, not afraid of anything when it comes to stopping opposing attackers EC trophies: CL 2015 OG: G 2016 EURO: G 2008, S 2014; WCh: S 2011, 2013

Nikolaj Oris Nielsen right back • has played for Bjerringbro-Silkeborg through his entire career, apart from a one- season loan to Lemvig Thyborøn • made his breakthrough in the Denmark national team under coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson in 2015 and took part in the EHF EURO 2016 • his older brother Mads, a former national team member, plays for Danish league rivals Skive FH, while his younger brother Mikkel played for Aarhus Handball • the only left-handed back-court player in the squad

Johan Hansen right wing • born in Faroe Islands, where he started his career at Kyndil • joined Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from another Danish club, Skanderborg, in 2015 • could have played for Faroe Islands, but has opted for the Denmark national team • his skills have made him first choice on Bjerringbro’s right wing

153


Sporting CP

GROUP C

Club Address

Pavilhao do Ginasio Clube do Sul Rua de Angola No 23 2805-086 Almada Portugal Media contact

Andre Leitao +351 914665 572 arleitao@sporting.pt www.sporting.pt SportingClubePortugal @Sporting_CP @sporting_cp_andebol

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: grenn/white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black/ white/green

Sporting CP Sporting CP have successfully defended their national title in Portugal last season. It was their second straight domestic championship. After winning the Challenge Cup in 2016/17 and making their group phase debut in the VELUX EHF Champions League last season, Sporting are confident that they can have a strong run in Europe’s premier club competition this year. A year ago, Sporting came through the qualification tournament and won four matches in Group D, which left them well short of one of the play-off spots. The club has invested in new players, making the squad a mixture of talent and experience which can surprise in this year’s competition. Team captain Carlos Carneiro raises the bar: “Our goal is always to try to do better. Last year we were unable to move forward from the group stage, even though we played good games. This time, we want more.” Scoring 41 times in 10 games, Pedro Portela was a key player for Sporting in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase last season. The right wing had played for the club since his youth and the fans loved him. After Portela’s departure to French side Trembly, Sporting have hired two players, Fábio Chiuffa and Valentin Ghionea, who will add quality to the squad. Whether they will fully make up for the loss of Portela remains to be seen. Since his arrival in 2011, Frankis Carol has become one of the leading players at Sporting, both in defence and in attack. He has been instrumental to Sporting’s rise to the domestic top. And the centre back from Cuba left his mark in the VELUX EHF Champions League as well, netting 63 times in 12 qualification and group phase matches. Sporting will need a similar dominant performance from Carol if their Last 16 dreams are to become true. While each Champions League team has its own way of preparing for the new season, Sporting CP made an unusual journey to Qatar. Invited by the national federation, Sporting played the national team of Qatar twice - and lost both times. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 3

Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black/ green/white

Group phase (1): 2017/18 Group matches (1): 2001/02 Other EHF Cup: quarter-finals 2000/01, 2013/14 Playing hall Pavilhao Joao Rocha Rua Prof. Fernando da Fonseca Apartado 4120 1501-806 Lisboa Portugal Capacity: 3,000

Cup Winners’ Cup: 2003/04 quarter-finals Challenge Cup: winners 2009/10, 2016/17, semi-finals 2011/12 Portuguese league: 21 titles (1952, 1956, 1961, 1966-67, 1969-73, 1978-81, 1984, 1986, 2001, 2017, 2018) Portuguese cup: 15 titles

154


Sporting CP

EHF Champions League club records

2 34 65

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

Longest run without win GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

34:27 (17:12) v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR (h), 11.11.2017 33:22 (13:9) v Kolding IF DEN (a), 16.12.2001 2 matches (24.11.2001 – 01.12.2001) 2 matches (24.11.2001 – 01.12.2001) 2 matches (11.11.2001 – 17.11.2001) 2 matches (08.12.2001 – 16.12.2001) 2 matches (24.09.2017 – 30.09.2017) 2 matches (15.10.2017 – 04.11.2017) 2 matches (18.11.2017 – 25.11.2017) 2 matches (11.11.2001 – 17.11.2001) 2 matches (08.12.2001 – 16.12.2001) 2 matches (24.09.2017 – 30.09.2017) 2 matches (15.10.2017 – 04.11.2017) 2 matches (18.11.2017 – 25.11.2017) 34 v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 34:27W (h), 11.11.2017 36 v Portland San Antonio ESP 36:26L (a), 11.11.2001 65 v Montpellier HB FRA 33:32L (a), 04.11.2017 22 v Lovcen Osiguranje Cetinje YUG 26:22L (a), 24.11.2001 22 v Kolding IF DEN 33:22L (a), 16.12.2001 23 v Kolding IF DEN 24:23W (h), 24.11.2001 47 v Kolding IF DEN 24:23W (h), 24.11.2001

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2001/02 Sporting CP Lisboa POR

6

2

0

4

132:149

–17

4:8

3rd Gr. A

2017/18 Sporting CP POR Total

10 4 0 6 293:297 -4 8:12 16 6 0 10 425:446 –21 12:20

155

4th Gr. D


Sporting CP

Hugo Canela coach •

has been Sporting head coach since February 2017

in his first season as head coach won the Portuguese league and Challenge Cup

was a centre back and played for Sporting for 10 years

as a player, also played for Pedro Nunes and Belenenses

Newcomers: Luís Frade (Águas Santas/POR) Fábio Chiuffa (Logronés/ESP) Valentin Ghionea (Orlen Wisla Plock/POL) Neven Stjepanovic (Al Duhail/QAT)

Left the club: Pedro Portela (Tremblay/FRA) Filipe Borges (Tremblay/FRA) Michal Kopco (Ivry/FRA) Janko Bozovic (TV Emsdetten/GER) Manuel Gaspar (Boa Hora/POR) Bruno Gaspar (Boa Hora/POR) Francisco Tavares (Boa Hora/POR)

156


Sporting CP

Team roster Height Weight

Surname

Nat.

Position

5

Edmilson

Araujo

POR

Left Back

Date of birth Place of birth Lisbon, POR 06.01.1994

187

82

1

Matej

Asanin

CRO

Goalkeeper

04.09.1993

Zagreb, CRO

206

110

7

Bosko

Bjelanovic

POR

Centre Back

21.10.1985

Knin, CRO

195

100

Carneiro

POR

Centre Back

03.03.1982

Guimaraes, POR

185

83

13 Frankis

Carol Marzo

CUB

Left Back

07.09.1987

Guantanamo, CUB

192

90

16 Aljosa

Cudic

SLO

Goalkeeper

09.03.1988

Celje, SLO

190

94 96

No. First Name

C 18 Carlos

82 Luis

Frade

POR

Line Player

11.09.1998

Rio Tinto, POR

193

21 Joao

Gamboa

POR

Line Player

04.04.2000

Lisbon, POR

186

84

ROU Right Wing

29.04.1984

Baia Mare, ROU

197

90

29 Valentin Marian Ghionea 49 Goncalo

Gracio

POR

Left Wing

11.05.2000

Samora Correia, POR

181

74

33 Joao

Guerreiro

POR

Centre Back

04.05.1999

Lisbon, POR

190

83

55 Joao

Marques

POR

Left Back

03.04.2000

Lisbon, POR

194

89

37 Ivan

Nikcevic

SRB

Left Wing

11.02.1981

Niksic, SRB

181

81

10 Claudio

Pedroso

POR

Right Back

14.03.1986

Lisbon, POR

198

87

177

73

23 Nuno

Reis

POR

Right Wing

03.03.1999

Almada, POR

72 Joel

Ribeiro

POR

Centre Back

24.12.2000

Almada, POR

189

83

17 Tiago

Rocha

POR

Line Player

17.10.1985

S. Paio Oleiros, POR

196

104

19 Fabio

Rocha Chiuffa BRA

Right Wing

10.03.1989

Promissao, BRA

185

85

11 Carlos

Ruesga

ESP

Centre Back

10.03.1985

Gijon, ESP

185

94

31 Salvador

Salvador

POR

Left Back

29.07.2001

Samora Correia, POR

196

93

86 Matevz

Skok

SLO

Goalkeeper

02.09.1986

Celje, SLO

188

92

15 Pedro

Solha

POR

Left Wing

22.11.1981

Porto, POR

184

80

198

91

188

92

22 Neven 2

Pedro

Stjepanovic

BIH

Right Back

14.02.1993

Ilijas, BIH

Veitia Valdez

CUB

Left Back

17.08.1994

Havana, CUB

157


Sporting CP

Aljosa Cudic goalkeeper • started playing handball in RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko and played in Slovenia until 2009 • then had spells in France, Norway, Qatar and Poland before settling with Sporting in 2015 • won two Slovenian titles with Celje and reached the quarter-final of the CL • became first choice keeper in the 2017/18 season as Sporting won the domestic double EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

Ivan Nikcevic left wing • has enjoyed successful spells with clubs in Serbia, Spain and Poland • 2017/18 was his best CL season in terms of goals, scoring 45 for Sporting • won the silver medal at the Men’s EHF EURO 2012 • one of the team’s biggest offensive threats, top scorer of Challenge Cup Final in 2017 EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

Frankis Carol left back • Cuban player who arrived at Sporting in 2011 • key to the team’s defensive play • won several titles with Sporting, including the Portuguese league and Challenge Cup • versatile player with great technique and instinct

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

Pedro Valdes left back • born in Cuba, started playing handball at Villa Clara • a young player with great shooting power • one of the most complete players at Sporting, important at both ends of the court • won a Portuguese League with Sporting, where he proved to be a scoring machine EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

158


Sporting CP

Carlos Ruesga centre back

@CRuesga11

• has played for Portland San Antonio, Veszprém and Barcelona • won the World Championship in 2013 and has an impressive European resume • won several titles and awards in his passage by Spain and Hungary • known for his vision of the game and offensive power •

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

Tiago Rocha line player • after 12 years at FC Porto, joined Wisla Plock until 2016/17 • won several Portuguese titles, most of them at FC Porto • first Portuguese player in the Polish league • one of the top Portuguese handball players in Europe today

Cláudio Pedroso right back • played for Passos Manuel, SL Benfica, Madeira SAD and Sporting CP • won three Portuguese Leagues, two Super Cups and one Challenge Cup • began to have a bigger influence on the team last season • a natural shooter and major offensive weapon

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2017

Fabio Chiuffa right wing • started playing handball in Metodista, a Brazilian club from São Bernardo do Campo • enjoyed a remarkable campaign in 2017/18 with Spanish side Ciudad de Logroño • he is an experienced Brazillian international with Pan-American games and championship golds to his name • The left-hander is a technically gifted wing player

159


Besiktas Mogaz

GROUP C

Club Address

Besiktas MOGAZ Suleyman Seba Cd. No. 48 34357 Besiktas - Istanbul Turkey Media contact

Berk Karahan +90 551 7075858 berk.karahan@bjk.com.tr www.bjk.com.tr Besiktas @BJKHentbol @besiktasjkhentbol

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: green

Besiktas Mogaz HT They beat eventual VELUX EHF Champions League winners Montpellier, but Besiktas Mogaz HT still failed to advance from their group last season - once again. With quite an experienced squad, the team of coach Müfit Arin hope to reach the play-offs in 2018/19 and give Turkish handball another boost. In the previous two seasons, Besiktas proved their development and finished their Groups C/D campaign in third place, each time after winning five of their 10 matches. This season, they won’t face opponents like Montpellier or Zaporozhye, which certainly boosts their chances. Bjerringbro-Silkeborg are widely regarded as favourites but Besiktas should be in the race for one of the two top spots. “It is all about fighting in each and every game. We have to fight until the end. No pain, no gain,” says manager Berk Karahan. Compared to five years ago, when they first qualified for the group phase, their playing style has developed and their international experience has certainly increased. Still, their learning curve is not yet complete, and opponents such as Medvedi or Metalurg have a longer Champions League history.“It will take time to establish ourselves, but we are sparing no effort. We must still be considered as new ones in European handball,” says manager Karahan, adding: “But when you see the general development of our sport in Turkey, we have thousands of kids, who love and follow handball. This is part of our experience.” Football and basketball are clearly the two most popular team sports in Turkey. The number of spectators, the budgets, and the media presence of basketball are huge compared to handball. But Besiktas have the chance to move into a new arena for 10,000 fans, and making it to the knockout stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League would mean a true boost for the club and the sport. “This year we would like to play in Istanbul again, what could be a great thing for Turkish handball,” manager Karahan says.

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 12 Group Phase (4): 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 Qualification (7): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/2011, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14

Playing hall Kocaeli Sehit Polis Recep Topaloglu Spor Salonu Yahya Kaptan Mah.Kizilay Sok No: 41050 Arasta Izmit, Turkey Capacity: 5,000

160

Other EHF Cup: Last 16 1998/99, 2005/06, 2010/11 Challenge Cup: Semi-final 2008/09, Quarter-final 2002/03 Turkish league: 14 titles (1981, 1982, 2005, 2007, 2009-2018) Turkish cup: 13 titles


Besiktas Mogaz HT

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat

10 36 72

Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run MATCHES Longest losing run

Longest losing run Longest run without win

36:27 (15:16) v TTH Holstebro DEN (h), 22.10.2016 43:29 (21:14) v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO (a), 05.03.2016 33:19 (16:9) v HBC Nantes FRA (a), 01.10.2016 3 matches (18.11.2017 – 03.12.2017) 3 matches (09.10.2016 – 22.10.2016) 3 matches (18.11.2017 – 03.12.2017) 10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015) 10 matches (20.11.2014 – 14.10.2015)

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

36 v TTH Holstebro DEN 36:27W (h), 22.10.2016 43 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.2016 72 v MVM Veszprém HUN 34:38L (h), 13.02.2016 72 v RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 43:29L (a), 05.03.2016 19 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 28:19L (a), 27.09.2014 19 v HBC Nantes FRA 33:19L (a), 01.10.2016 22 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 23:22W (h), 15.10.2016 45 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 23:22W (h), 15.10.2016

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2014/15 Besiktas MOGAZ HT TUR

10

1

0

9

253:303

–50

2:18

6th Gr. B

2015/16 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu TUR 14

1

0

13

382:487

-105

2:26

8th Gr. A

2016/17 Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR

10

5

1

4

275:289

–14

11:9

3rd Gr. D

2017/18 Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR Total

10 44

5 1 12 2

4 30

293:296 -3 1203:1375 –172

11:9 26:62

3rd Gr. D

161


Besiktas Mogaz

Mufit Arin coach •

successful coach who has been dominating the Turkish domestic league with Besiktas for more than a decade

reached Challenge Cup Semi-final in 2008/09

notable playing achievement is winning the Turkish league with Arcelik HK in 1983

led Besiktas to become the first Turkish club in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase, in 2014/15

Newcomers: Baran Nalbantoglu (Göztepe SK/TUR) Özgür Sarak (Ankara BŞB SK/TUR) Yiğit Yaşar Kocaarslan (Aziziye Bel SK/TUR) Marko Lasica (Timisoara/ROU)

Left the club: Faruk Vrazalic (CSM Bucharest/ROU) Filip Lazarov (Ratingen/GER) Mihajlo Radojkovic (Calarasi/ROU)

162


Besiktas Mogaz HT

Team roster Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

77 Gökay

Bilim

TUR

Centre Back

01.01.2002

Istanbul, TUR

186

88

11 Josip

Buljubasic

TUR

Back

11.07.1988

Metkovic, CRO

205

103

14 Mehmet

Demirezen

TUR

Line Player

03.08.1988

Ankara, TUR

193

100

Döne

TUR

Right Back

10.07.1981

Rize, TUR

192

106

Ersin

TUR

Centre Back

20.03.1992

Samsun, TUR

190

86

TUR

Goalkeeper

01.11.1986

Samsun, TUR

190

91

C 53 Ramazan 21 Onur 22 Taner

Günay

EGY

Goalkeeper

01.05.1988

Cairo, EGY

187

92

Karatay

TUR

Goalkeeper

07.02.1998

Sirnak, TUR

198

90

23 Dogukan

Keser

TUR

Right Wing

24.01.2000

Kars, TUR

182

86

42 Yigit Yasar

Kocaarslan

TUR

Left Back

09.07.1994

Konya, TUR

198

95

10 Marko

Krsmancic

SRB

Centre Back

02.12.1989

Negotin, SRB

187

91

25 Marko

Lasica

MNE Right Wing

30.04.1988

Niksic, MNE

188

80

19 Baran

Nalbantoglu

TUR

Left Back

27.10.1992

Izmir, TUR

195

88

Capljina, CRO

184

86

88 Karim Mostafa Hendawy 1

Mehmet

27 Tomislav

Nuic

BIH

Left Wing

12.11.1988

20 Tolga

Line Player

24.04.1984

Aydin, TUR

195

98

26.03.1984

Nis, SRB

190

103

Özbahar

TUR

8

Nemanja

Pribak

MKD Centre Back

7

Özgür

Sarak

TUR

Right Back

07.02.1993

Samsun, TUR

193

93

37 Mijo

Tomic

CRO

Left Wing

06.04.1993

Split, CRO

196

84

35 Sevket

Yagmuroglu

TUR

Right Wing

10.01.2001

Akhisar, TUR

182

84

163


Besiktas Mogaz

Karim Mostafa Hassan Hendawy goalkeeper • joined Besiktas in 2016, excellent performances helped him secure No. 1 position • played for Egyptian junior and senior national teams, won African Games in 2011 and 2016, Arab Games in 2011, Mediterranean Games in 2013; played at 2016 Rio Olympics • won four national league titles and two cups in Egypt before joining Besiktas • awarded best goalkeeper at Junior World Championship 2009

Tomislav Nuic left wing • joined Besiktas in 2017 after departure of Croatian star Ivan Nincevic • played European Cup games with HRK Izvidac Ljubuski, RK Siscia and RK Nexe between 2006-2017 • praised for his commitment to the team, a man of duty

Marko Krsmancic centre back • right-handed Serbian who played for RK Jugovic (Serbia), DHC Rheinland (Germany), HC Alpla Hard (Austria) before joining Besiktas in 2016/17 • debut in Serbian first league at age 15, played for national team in all age categories • strong in one-to-one situations, can play several positions in defence

Nemanja Pribak centre back • known for his excellent court vision, assists and playmaking ability • started playing handball in his hometown of Nis in Serbia, for RK Zeleznicar, before joining HC Vardar, following a stint at RK Trimo Trebnje • made debut for Serbia at Men’s World Championship 2011, but opted to play for FYR Macedonia in 2013 • joined Besiktas in 2015 after five seasons with HC Vardar, where he is considered a club legend

164


Besiktas Mogaz HT

Tolga Özbahar line player • came to Besiktas in 2010, generally regarded one of Turkey’s best line players • awarded best line player in the Turkish league several times • in 2012/13, was second best top scorer (27 goals) when Besiktas reached the EHF Cup Group Phase • first Turkish player nominated for a VCL All-star Team, in 2014/15 • has retired from the national team

Özgür Sarak right back • joined Besiktas to replace Mihajlo Radojkovic, will share position with captain Ramazan Döne • played eight years in Turkish Super League with Göztepe SK, Maliye Milli Piyago SK, Ankara BŞB SK • undergraduate at physical education and sports teaching • at his best in defence

@ramazandone

Ramazan Döne right back • joined Besiktas in 2006 from Cankaya Belediyesi

• became top scorer of Challenge Cup 2005/06 (66 goals in seven games) as well as top scorer of Turkish league in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2009/10 • helped Besiktas reach the EHF Cup Group Phase in 2012/13, and was their top scorer with 30 goals • named best right back in Turkish league several times • played more than 150 international matches for Turkey but has now retired to make way for young talents

Dogukan Keser right wing • started playing handball at age eight in Istanbul • joined Besiktas in 2014, a club he calls “my family”, and won three championships with the junior team • had breakthrough in 2016/17, joining the senior team and playing CL at age 16 while winning the Turkish league, cup and Super Cup titles

165


Chekhovskie Medvedi

GROUP C

Club Address

Chekhovskie Medvedi Poligrafistov str. 30

142300 Chekhov, Mosk. oblast

Russia

Media contact

Olga Belysheva +7 909 6391 839 victi@bk.ru www.ch-medvedi.ru chehmedvedi chehmedvedi @hc_chekhovskie_medvedi

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: yellow

Chekhovskie Medvedi The perennial Russian champions have not experienced much success in Europe recently, but coach Vladimir Maximov hopes the maturing of their young players will lead them out of the group phase Despite the departure of many experienced players in recent years and the emergence of strong rivals Spartak Moscow, Chekhovskie Medvedi continue their dominance in Russian handball. However, their results in Europe have declined, so the Chekhov-based team want to make a step in the right direction in the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19. In the last four seasons, starting from 2014/15, Medvedi could not progress from their VELUX EHF Champions League group and their results gradually deteriorated. Last season, the ‘Bears’ finished at the bottom of Group D with just five points. Since being founded in 2001, the Bears have won the domestic league every year. But the ambitious project Spartak Moscow may put an end to Chekhov’s dominance. Established in 2017, the team from the Russian capital seriously challenged Medvedi in their debut season, though they lost in the final series. The legendary coach Vladimir Maximov faced a big challenge in recent years as many key players left the team, but he kept leading Medvedi to one domestic title after another. One of the main reason was Maximov’s productive work with young talents. With his vast experience, the 72-year-old coach knows how to discover new players and contribute to their development, so we may see a breakthrough of some youngsters in the coming season. The 22-year-old left back Dmitriy Santalov joined the main team of Medvedi in 2014, and he was the youngest member of the squad at the time. Since then, Santalov has not just won the Russian league four times, but became a key player of the Bears, and he became their top scorer last season. There were rumours that the Russian international might join Vardar this summer, but ultimately he stayed at Chekhov. Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: purple Player short: purple GK shirt: black

Playing hall Sport Hall “Olimpiyskiy” Chekhov Poligrafistov Str. 30 142300 Chekhov Russia Capacity: 3,000

166

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 18 Semi-final (1): 2009/10 Quarter-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Last 16 (3): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (10): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winner 2005/06 Russian league: 17 titles (2002-2018) Russian cup: 8 titles


Chekhovskie Medvedi

EHF Champions League club records

8 46 77

MATCHES

Longest unbeaten run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

22:46 (12:24) v AC PAOK GRE (a), 03.03.2010 38:24 (20:15) v HSV Hamburg GER (a), 23.04.2011 5 games (29.11.2003 – 06.11.2004) 8 games (18.10.2012 – 14.03.2013) 8 games (24.11.2016 – 14.10.2017) 11 games (24.03.2013 – 21.02.2015)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals

46 v AC PAOK GRE 22:46W (a), 03.03.2010 45 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 77 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 19 v Montpellier HB FRA 27:19L (a), 12.10.2003 19 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006 17 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 30:17W (h), 31.03.2011 45 v TBV Lemgo GER 23:22W (h), 11.12.2004 45 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006

Most goals both teams

Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L 2001/02 CSKA Moscow RUS 6 1 0 5 2002/03 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 2 0 4 2003/04 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 3 0 3 2004/05 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 8 6 0 2 2005/06 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 6 3 0 3 2006/07 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 8 4 0 4 2007/08 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 1 4 2008/09 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 0 5 2009/10 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 16 9 2 5 2010/11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 14 8 3 3 2011/12 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 3 4 3 2012/13 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 12 6 4 2 2014/15 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 0 1 9 2015/16 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 4 0 6 2016/17 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 2 2 6 2017/18 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 2 1 7 Total 156 67 18 71

167

GF GA GD 155:181 –26 182:170 +12 166:165 +1 252:246 +6 192:184 +8 242:233 +9 369:331 +38 387:370 +17 529:476 +53 437:396 +41 291:276 +15 373:347 +26 300:349 –49 271:292 –21 273:291 –18 271:306 –35 4690:4613 +77

PTS 2:10 4:8 6:6 12:4 6:6 8:8 15:9 14:10 20:12 19:9 10:10 16:8 1:19 8:12 6:14 5:15 152:160

Stage1994/95 4th Gr. C 3rd Gr. C 3rd Gr. D 1/8-finals 3rd Gr. A 1/8-finals 2nd MR Gr. 1 1/4-finals Fourth Place 1/4-finals 5th Gr. B 1/8-finals 6th Gr. C 4th Gr. C 6th Gr. C 6th Gr. D


Chekhovskie Medvedi

Vladimir Maximov coach • legend of the sport, who remains the only person to have won Olympic gold both as player and as coach • successfully led the Russian national team but resigned from that job in 2012 to focus on his club duties at Medvedi • joined Medvedi in 2001, and has led the club to the domestic title in Russia every year since

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

Newcomers: Maxim Strushinsky (Dinamo Astrakhan/RUS)

Left the club: Mikhail Sharkov (SGAU Saratov/RUS)

168


Chekhovskie Medvedi

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

11 Pavel

Andreev

RUS

Line Player

19.07.1992

Saint Petersburg, RUS

195

85

15 Andrei

Beliaev

RUS

Right Back

15.02.1998

Togliatti, RUS

197

98

Danil

Bochkarev

RUS

Centre Back

11.02.1998

Volzhskiy, RUS

184

81

Evgeny

Dzemin

RUS

Left Back

30.08.1997

Ussuriysk, RUS

207

101

31 Victor

Furtsev

RUS

Line Player

17.06.1996

Belgorod, RUS

198

95

16 Artem

Grushko

RUS

Goalkeeper

20.06.1993

Odessa, UKR

193

91

Albert

Gumarov

RUS

Left Wing

04.02.1998

Astrahan, RUS

181

75

98 Nikita

Kamenev

RUS

Right Back

14.04.1998

Belgorod, RUS

198

98

22 Igor

Karlov

RUS

Centre Back

16.12.1994

Lübeck, GER

192

82

Kornev

RUS

Right Wing

16.06.1992

Vologda, RUS

186

86

RUS

Left Back

16.06.1999

No. First Name Surname

5

4

6

Dmitriy

99 Sergei Mark Kosorotov 17 Alexander

Kotov

RUS

Right Back

11.07.1994

Volgograd, RUS

198

97

Kirill

Kotov

RUS

Centre Back

23.05.1992

Moscow, RUS

185

75

Kuretkov

RUS

Right Back

16.11.1994

Maykop, RUS

192

88 88

C 9

14 Maxim 38 Timofei

Maslennikov

RUS

Right Wing

10.03.1997

Chekhov, RUS

185

18 Ivan

Nefedov

RUS

Right Wing

30.05.1998

Moscow, RUS

183

75

19 Roman

Ostashchenko

RUS

Left Wing

26.09.1992

Moscow, RUS

184

83

12 Dmitry

Pavlenko

RUS

Goalkeeper

01.01.1991

Zaporozhye, UKR

190

76

Dmitrii

Santalov

RUS

Left Back

07.04.1996

Blagoveshchensk, RUS 196

87

Stelmakh

RUS

Goalkeeper

25.04.1998

Volgograd, RUS

192

105

Strushinskiy

RUS

Vasilev

RUS

Astrakhan, RUS

196

95

3

33 Aleksei Maksim 27 Denis

24.04.1992 Line Player

169

31.12.1993


Chekhovskie Medvedi

Dmitryi Pavlenko goalkeeper • at just 27, he is already one of the veterans in the young Medvedi squad • became first-choice goalkeeper last season after Oleg Grams left for Dunkerque HB • the Ukrainian-born player started his career at ZTR Zaporozhye • moved to Medvedi at a young age and became a Russian citizen

Roman Ostashchenko left wing • born in Moscow and started to play handball at Kuntsevo • joined reserve team of Medvedi in 2007, promoted to main team in 2013 • rapidly progressing player, who is one of the key figures at Medvedi and a regular member of the Russian national team

Dmitriy Santalov left back • born and raised in Blagoveshchensk, a town in the far east of Russia • at age 16, he joined the handball academy in Chekhov, some 7,700 kms from his home town • joined main team of Medvedi in 2014 as the youngest player in the squad • studies ecology at university in Moscow

Kirill Kotov centre back • started playing handball in Dolgoprudny, a small town near Moscow • joined Medvedi in 2007 at age 15, and became first-team player in 2013 • five-time Russian champion, who is a member of the national team • became team captain in 2017 following the departure of several experienced players

170


Chekhovskie Medvedi

Igor Karlov centre back • joined Medvedi in 2017 from SKIF Krasnodar, a club from his home town, where he was a true leader • helped SKIF beat Medvedi in Russian cup final in 2017 • won his first Russian championship in the 2017/18 season • son of former Russian international Dmitriy Karlov

Pavel Andreev line player • born in St.-Petersburg, where he started playing handball • joined Medvedi early in his career, first needed to gain experience in reserve team • became regular in the main team in 2014/15, and has won the national league four times since then • member of the Russia national team

Alexander Kotov right back • born in Volgograd and started his career at Kaustik • played for Russian under-21 team at Junior WCh 2015 in Brazil • not a relative of teammate Kirill Kotov • nicknamed ‘Boroda’ (‘The Beard’) for an apparent reason

Dmitriy Kornev right wing • started playing handball in Moscow • four-time national champion with Medvedi • part of Russian under-21 team at Junior WCh 2013 in Bosnia, and member of senior national team since April 2016

171


Tatran Presov

GROUP C

Club Address

TATRAN Presov Handball Club Holleho 3 080 01 Presov Slovakia Media contact

Richard Fech +421 903 662 215 everydayrf@yahoo.com www.tatranpresov.sk TatranPresovHandball #TatranPresov

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green

Tatran Presov (SVK) Last year, they failed to advance from the qualification tournament on home court. This season, Tatran Presov have directly entered the group phase. With former Olympic and world champion Slavko Goluza as their coach and an almost unchanged squad, the Slovakian record champions vie for a play-off spot. The defeat against Alpla Hard of Austria in the semi-final of last year’s qualification tournament left hosts Presov in shock. But Goluza stuck to his course and added some new players to his squad. Later, Presov played full-speed handball with a galore of goals. Goluza mixed the typical Balkan shooters with some efficient wing players. But he also missed the second major international goal: qualifying for the SEHA league finals tournament in Skopje. In 2005, Tatran qualified for the Last 16 of the EHF Champions League for the first, and so far only, time. Matching that achievement this season doesn’t seem unrealistic as the group phase draw could have been worse. In the preparation, Presov won a strong tournament in the Bosnian city of Doboj and easily earned the trophy of the Czech-Slovakian cup competition for the fourth straight time after beating Banik Karvina 41:27. But they lost their opening match in the SEHA league 26:25 against newcomers Steaua Bucharest. One of the most prolific national team players has returned to Slovakia after 13 years, and he will wear the Tatran jersey for the first time. Martin Stranovsky left Nove Zamky in 2005 and went to Spain. After seven years with Leon and two seasons with Barça, he moved to Germany to join HC Erlangen for four years. Now back in Slovakia, he carries high expectations on his shoulders. He is Tatran’s new team captain as successor of Radovan Pekar, who has retired from handball. With 2.09 metres, Michal Kasal is among the tallest players of the 2018/19 season. The 24-year-old Czech international is the next in line of very tall Presov players. The tallest player in the VELUX EHF Champions League is Vardar’s right back Dainis Kristopans, who is a former Tatran player.

Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: black

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 15 Last 16 (1): 2004/05 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Phase (3): 2010/11, 2015/16, 2016/17 Group Matches (3): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09 Qualification (6): 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2017/18

Playing hall Tatran Handball Arena Presov Jana Pavla II 2 080 01 Presov Slovakia Capacity: 3,870

172

Other EHF Cup: Quarter-final 2011/12 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2005/06 Slovak league: 14 titles (2004, 2005, 2007-18) Slovak cup: 15 titles


Tatran Presov

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

2 40 37

Longest unbeaten run MATCHES Longest unbeaten run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS

Longest losing run Longest run without win

37:24 (17:11) v RK Metkovic CRO (h), 30.10.2004 42:25 (22:12) v MKB Veszprém KC HUN (a), 05.11.2005 2 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007) 2 matches (22.10.2016 – 10.11.2016) 2 matches (09.10.2004 – 17.10.2004) 2 matches (12.11.2005 – 29.09.2007) 2 matches (22.10.2016 – 10.11.2016) 2 matches (04.12.2016 – 11.02.2017) 7 matches (05.12.2004 – 05.11.2005) 7 matches (16.11.2008 – 20.11.2010) 16 matches (16.11.2008 – 10.10.2015)

Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

37 v RK Metkovic CRO 37:24W (h), 30.10.2004 42 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 42:25L (a), 05.11.2005 42 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.2007 74 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), 07.10.2007 19 v Vojvodina SRB 19:27L (h), 10.10.2015 19 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.2015 18 v RK Metkovic CRO 18:29W (a), 17.10.2004 40 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 19:21L (h), 05.12.2015

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2004/05 Tatran Presov SVK

8

3

1

4

231:237

-6

7:9

Last 16

2005/06 Tatran Presov SVK

6

1

0

5

154:201

-47

2:10

3rd Gr. F

2007/08 Tatran Presov SVK

6

1

1

4

182:211

-29

3:9

3rd Gr. D

2008/09 Tatran Presov SVK

6

2

0

4

165:183

-18

4:8

3rd Gr. D

2010/11 TATRAN Presov SVK

10

0

2

8

273:325

-52

2:18

6th Gr. B

2015/16 TATRAN Presov SVK

10

2

0

8

240:279

–39

4:16

6th Gr. C

2016/17 TATRAN Presov SVK Total

10 56

4 1 13 5

5 38

259:271 –12 1504:1707 -203

9:11 31:81

4th Gr. C

173


Tatran Presov

Slavko Goluza coach • won Olympic gold with Croatia as a player in Atlanta and Athens, and bronze as a coach in London •

wants Presov to play a similar style as Croatia did during his five-year spell as national coach (2010-15)

led RK Zagreb to two CL titles, in 1992 and 1993

named best Croatian handball coach in 2012, 2013 and 2014

won three domestic titles in 2017/18 but lacked European success

EC trophies: CL 1992, 1993 OS: G 1996, 2004 (as player), B 2012 (as coach) @slavko.goluza_5

Newcomers: Martin Stranovsky (HC Erlangen/GER) Titouane Afanou Gatine (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)

Left the club: Radovan Pekar (retired)

174


Tatran Presov

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

88 Titouan

Afanou Gatine

FRA

Right Back

27.01.1995

Lyon, FRA

193

97

11 Ante

Babic

CRO

Line Player

09.02.1997

Osijek, CRO

193

97

Butorac

CRO

Right Back

01.10.1994

Zagreb, CRO

188

82

73 Igor

Chupryna

UKR

Goalkeeper

25.04.1990

Illychevsk, CRO

200

96

21 Tomas

Cip

CZE

Right Wing

05.10.1989

Zubri, CZE

189

94

12 Mario

Cvitkovic

CRO

Goalkeeper

09.08.1994

Sinj, CRO

192

95

Hrstka

CZE

Left Wing

17.03.1990

Zubri, CZE

188

91

44 Michal

Kasal

CZE

Left Back

03.04.1994

Nové Mesto Na Morave, CZE 209

98

71 Maros

Kolpak

SVK

Goalkeeper

23.03.1971

Presov, SVK

190

99

14 Martin

Kriz

SVK

Right Wing

27.07.1997

Presov, SVK

186

77

No. First Name Surname

4

6

Bruno

Jakub

9

Dominik

Krok

SVK

Left Back

22.01.1991

Bardejov, SVK

189

79

7

Janus

Lapajne

SLO

Centre Back

03.03.1995

Sampeter pri Gorici, SLO

192

93

2

Oliver

Rabek

SVK

Left Back

30.09.1987

Nove Zamky, SVK

204

102

Radcenko

CZE

Centre Back

05.07.1973

Krasnodar, RUS

187

90

10 Tomas

Recicar

SVK

Left Back

30.11.1998

Presov, SVK

192

92

13 Lubos

Sarpataky

SVK

Right Wing

15.01.1996

Presov, SVK

183

87

Milos

Sarpataky

SVK

Centre Back

15.01.1996

Presov, SVK

183

87

Stranovsky

SVK

Left Wing

12.09.1985

Nové Zamky, SVK

187

78

77 Roman

Tsarapkin

RUS

Left Back

09.05.1995

Moscow, RUS

197

95

17 Lukas

Urban

SVK

Back

22.06.1995

Presov, SVK

198

85

23 Leon

Vucko

CRO

Line Player

09.01.1995

Zagreb, CRO

192

115

15 Alexandr

3

C 24 Martin

175


Tatran Presov

Igor Chupryna goalkeeper • Ukrainian national team goalkeeper, who moved to Presov in the summer of 2015 from Ukrainian club HC Portovik • formed strong Ukrainian goalkeeping duo with Vladimir Bozic, now teams up with young Croat Mario Cvitkovic • nicknamed ‘The Magician’ by teammates and local media

Jakub Hrstka left wing • born in Czech city Zubri, left for Presov in 2011, together with Tomas Cip • second-best Presov scorer in CL Group Phase 2016/17, with 42 goals • very fast on the wing with ability to score on crucial moments of the game • with 47 goals, best scorer for Tatran in EHF Cup in 2017/18

Martin Stranovsky left back

@martinstranovsky

• back in Slovakia after a 13-year adventure abroad, playing for Leon, Barcelona and Erlangen • versatile player, able to cover the left back or centre back positions • Slovakian Player of the Year in 2006, CL finalist, played at five EURO events for Croatia • Prešov will be his fifth club in his long and successful career

Dominik Krok left back • one of few Presov players who was part of all three previous CL Group Phase appearances, in 2010/2011, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 • born in Bardejov, Eastern Slovakia, he joined Presov in 2009 • famous for powerful shots from distance, and a fans’ favourite • his last name Krok means ‘step’ in Slovak • loves to play tennis, which helps him develop his skills and accuracy

176


Tatran Presov

Oliver Rabek centre back • leading attacking player for Presov, who scored 52 times in the CL in 2016/17 • often battling with injuries • known for very accurate and hard shots from distance • won domestic league and cup each year since joining Presov in 2012

Ante Babic line player • forms a Croatian line player duo with Leon Vucko • practiced swimming and karate in his younger years • good footwork, very dynamic player who does lot of dirty work in defence • set to make his CL debut with Presov; earlier played for Croatian clubs RK Osijek and RK Dubrava

Bruno Butorac right back/wing • highly rated Croatian left-handed player, who was with RK Dubrava Zagreb before joining Tatran Presov • won silver with Croatia at under-19 WCh in 2013 in Hungary • dynamic player with excellent moves, able to score a lot of goals • second best scorer in the SEHA league 2017/18 with 95 goals

Tomas Cíp right wing • joined Presov in 2011 from Zubri, together with Jakub Hrstka • won seven Slovakian titles with Presov, every year since he joined the club • strong defender but mainly praised for his game in attack • played for Czech Republic at EHF EURO 2018 and scored 21 goals

177


Group D preview

Group D preview PLOCK WITH PLENTY TO PROVE IN GROUP D GROUP D PREVIEW: Polish runners-up must emerge from a tricky group to prove they belong among Europe’s elite once again Last season was a turning point for Groups C/D in the VELUX EHF Champions League as Skjern and Montpellier emerged from the groups to make a monumental impact on the competition. Skjern reaching the quarter-final and Montpellier lifting the trophy in Cologne has breathed new life into these groups and given hope to all involved. Failure to progress from the group phase in the past two seasons has led to Orlen Wisla Plock losing their spot in Groups A/B and now they must take on an evenly matched Group D for a chance to reach the Last 16. The Polish runners-up are considered among the favourites in this group, alongside Abanca Ademar Leon. The Spanish side hold the slight advantage of knowing how to navigate these groups, having reached the Group C/D Play-offs last season, before being knocked out by eventual champions Montpellier. Four national champions make up the rest of Group D – Elverum, Wacker Thum, Dinamo Bucuresti and Riihimäen Cocks. All will be aiming to upset the likes of Plock and it would not be a huge surprise to see one of this quartet secure a top two spot. SABATE BACK IN THE HOT SEAT Two years after suffering a cruel defeat in the VELUX EHF Champions League Final against Kielce, it seems somewhat fitting that Xavier Sabate’s first job since leaving Veszprém is to take over Kielce’s arch rivals Plock. Sabate’s aim with this team will first and foremost be to remind them of how it feels to win in Europe, after Plock picked up just five victories in the past two seasons. Plock have picked up a few notable signings over the summer, including goalmachine Ziga Mlakar from Celje, vastly experienced Renato Sulic from Veszprém and EHF EURO 2018 top scorer Ondrej Zdrahala. This calibre of firepower should be too much for the rest of the group to deal with. Their fiercest rivals are expected to be Abanca Ademar Leon, another club with genuine Champions League pedigree, but few of their current squad were around the last time they reached the Last 16 in 2013.

178


Group D preview

Leon’s four new signings are not quite as impressive as Plock’s on paper, but coach Rafael Guijosa Castillo will have plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Three losses in their first four games left Leon in a sticky situation last year, before they mounted a superb comeback, earning five wins to reach the playoffs. With that in mind, Plock and the rest of Group D will do well never to underestimate the Spaniards. REGULARS READY TO STEP UP? With Norwegian side Elverum heading for their fourth consecutive season and Dinamo Bucuresti of Romania going for their third, both can be considered regulars at this level. However, since they both had a decent campaign in 2016/17, the sides’ fortunes took different turns last year. While Elverum were in contention to progress from Group C until the final rounds, Dinamo struggled in the same group, picking up a solitary victory from their 10 matches. Elverum’s seven new additions lack European experience, but that has never deterred them in the past and contending for a top two spot will certainly be their aim again this season. Dinamo may have lost influential Iranian brothers Sajad and Allahkaram Esteki to domestic rivals CSM Bucuresti, but have brought in eight new faces, including three from Tunisia and this freshening of the squad should ensure a better performance in Europe this time around. HUNT FOR A FIRST WIN Riihimäen Cocks’ journey to the VELUX EHF Champions League has been a truly remarkable one. The perennial Finnish champions considered reaching the Challenge Cup Quarterfinals a huge success just three years ago, now they stand on the verge of making their debut in Europe’s premier club competition. And their performance in last season’s EHF Cup Group Phase prove that these men can hold their own against teams at this level. Their squad has not changed much since last season and if the likes of Nico Rönnberg and Teemu Tamminen can play at their best, a debut victory will not be far away. Also on the hunt for their first victory is Wacker Thun, who could not pick one up in their debut season five years ago. In the 2012/14 season, the Swiss side managed a draw against Metalurg, but no victories in a star-studded group, but this campaign should provide more opportunities to pick up their first pair of points. Similar to Cocks, Thun reached the EHF Cup Group Phase last season, providing plenty of international experience to the semi-professional squad. Their meeting with the Finnish side at home on 20 September could turn out to be a historic occasion for one club, but whether either will make a bigger impact on the group remains to be the seen. Chris O`Reilly

179


Group D preview

Group D head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC Orlen Wisla Plock vs Abanca Ademar Leon No previous encounters in European competitions

Orlen Wisla Plock vs Elverum Handball 2-0-0 (57:50) 4:0 10.02.2013 16.03.2013

Elverum Handball Herrer vs Orlen Wisla Plock, EHF Cup – Group C Orlen Wisla Plock vs Elverum Handball Herrer, EHF Cup – Group C

25:27 (14:10) 30:25 (17:14)

Orlen Wisla Plock vs Wacker Thun No previous encounters in European competitions

Orlen Wisla Plock vs Dinamo Bucuresti No previous encounters in European competitions

Orlen Wisla Plock vs Riihimäen Cocks No previous encounters in European competitions

Abanca Ademar Leon vs Elverum Handball 1-0-1 (56:55) 2:2 30.09.2017 03.12.2017

Abanca Ademar Leon vs Elverum Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Elverum Handball vs Abanca Ademar Leon, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

26:30 (10:12) 25:30 (13:13)

Abanca Ademar Leon vs Wacker Thun 2-0-0 (62:47) 4:0 10.11.2002 17.11.2002

C.BM. Ademar Leon vs BSV Wacker Thun, Cup Winners’ Cup – Round 3 BSV Wacker Thun vs C.BM. Ademar Leon, Cup Winners’ Cup – Round 3

35:21 (17:9) 26:27 (11:11)

Abanca Ademar Leon vs Dinamo Bucuresti 2-0-0 (60:53) 4:0 15.10.2017 04.11.2017

Dinamo Bucuresti vs Abanca Ademar Leon, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Abanca Ademar Leon vs Dinamo Bucuresti, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

24:28 (13:17) 32:29 (18:15)

Abanca Ademar Leon vs Riihimäen Cocks No previous encounters in European competitions

Elverum Handball vs Wacker Thun No previous encounters in European competitions

Elverum Handball vs Dinamo Bucuresti 2-0-0 (74:65) 4:0 08.10.2017 26.11.2017

Elverum Handball vs Dinamo Bucuresti, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C Dinamo Bucuresti vs Elverum Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C

Elverum Handball vs Riihimäen Cocks No previous encounters in European competitions

Wacker Thun vs Dinamo Bucuresti No previous encounters in European competitions

Wacker Thun vs Riihimäen Cocks No previous encounters in European competitions

Dinamo Bucuresti vs Riihimäen Cocks No previous encounters in European competitions

180

40:32 (19:15) 33:34 (16:16)


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Orlen Wisla Plock

GROUP D

Club Address

Orlen Wisła Płock Plac Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Poland Media contact

Tomasz Bauman +48 882 975 087 t.bauman@sprwislaplock.pl www.sprwislaplock.pl sprwisla @SPRWisla @sprwisla

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white, blue Player short: blue GK shirt: yellow

Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock are starting the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 season in Group D. The Polish runners-up have got a new coach, four new players and a lot to prove to themselves and their fans. Plock’s main countable goal is to get promoted to the Last 16 stage, but behind it there is a much more important objective: to believe in themselves and learn how to win on Eu-ropean level again. “I think we need to learn how to win in the Champions League again, as last year we played re-ally good matches against Barcelona or Nantes,” says the team captain, Marcin Wichary. “We could have won them, but we missed something. I hope this time we will show wisdom on the court.” The Polish runners-up want to reach the level they failed to reach last season. “Our objective for the season is to present ourselves on a high level and to be promoted to the Last 16. We hope that we can make it back into the Groups A or B in the future,” says president Adam Wiśniewski. The Oilers have been the second best team in the Polish league since six years. The last time they won the domestic title was in 2011, and the ongoing rivalry with Kielce is a fascinating story in the country. On European level, the goal is also very serious. “Playing in the VELUX EHF Champions League is the primary target for the future development of our club,” admits president Wiśniewski. “We are strongly convinced that it leads us to build our ‘sport brand’ and has further impact on increasing our business potential. It shows that we are one of the most prestigious teams in Eu-rope and boost sport and marketing development. It is crucial for our sponsors as well as our fans.” Apart from four new players - winger Mateusz Góralski, left back Ziga Mlakar, line player Re-nato Sulić, and EHF EUROI 2018 top scorer Ondrej Zdrahala - Plock also have a new coach. Xavier Sabate’s responsibility will be to create a solid team and teach his players a new philos-ophy after Piotr Przybecki. He will have to cope with injury worries right at the beginning of the season as Nemanja Obradovic is returning from a shoulder issue and left back Tomasz Gębala will only be back in 2019 due to a knee injury.

Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 14 Last 16 (4): 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 Group Phase (7): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2016/17, 2017/18 Last 32 (1): 1995/96 Qualification (1): 2012/13 Playing hall

Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 1996/97 Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Polish Cup: 10 titles

Orlen Arena Pl. Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Poland Capacity: 5,467

182


Orlen Wisla Plock

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat

5 42 72

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS

Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.2004 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 5 matches (29.11.2014 – 14.03.2015) 6 matches (23.11.2014 – 14.03.2015) 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) 6 matches (25.02.2017 – 01.10.2017) 13 matches (25.11.2015 – 19.10.2016)

Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent

Fewest goals both teams

42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.2004 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.2006 19 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.2012 19 v Besiktas MOGAZ HT 28:19W (h), 27.09.2014 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

Stage1994/95

2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL

6

1

0

5

167:195

–28

2:10

3rd Gr. A

2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL

6

1

0

5

159:177

-18

2:10

4th Gr. D

2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL

6

2

0

4

155:182

-27

4:8

3rd Gr. E

2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL

6

2

0

4

141:170

–29

4:8

3rd Gr. C

2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL

6

0

0

6

122:188

-66

0:12

4th Gr. H

2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL

12

4

1

7

321:332

-11

9:15

Last 16

2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL

12

5

0

7

335:341

-6

10:14

Last 16

2014/15 Orlen Wisla Plock POL

12

7

1

4

340:337

+3

15:9

Last 16

2015/16 Orlen Wisla Plock POL

16

3

3

10

426:452

–26

9:23

Last 16

2016/17 Orlen Wisla Plock POL

14

3

2

9

367:401

–34

8:20

7th Gr. A

2017/18 Orlen Wisla Plock POL Total

14 2 3 9 380:408 –28 7:21 110 30 10 70 2913:3183 –270 70:150

183

7th Gr. A


Orlen Wisla Plock

Javier Sabate coach • replaced Piotr Przybecki who left the club in March 2018 • though his is still quite young, he has gained a lot of experience as coach • was head coach of Veszprém from 2015-17 and led the club the CL Final in 2016 • very engaged in every aspect, including trainings and tactics analysis

@xavi_sabate

Newcomers: Ondrej Zdrahala (TSV St. Ottmar St. Gallen) Renato Sulić (Veszprém) Ziga Mlakar (Celje) Mateusz Góralski (Piotrkowianin Piotrków Trybunalski)

Left the club: Valentin Ghionea (Sporting CP) Maciej Gębala (SC Leipzig) Gilberto Duarte (Barça Lassa) Sime Ivić (Meshkov Brest)

184


Orlen Wisla Plock

Team roster No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Height

Weight

24 Adam

Borbely

HUN Goalkeeper

22.06.1995

Debrecen, HUN

197

117

Daszek

POL

Right Wing

27.06.1992

Tczew, POL

182

87

BRA

Right Back

11.01.1994

Sao Paulo, BRA

193

100

3

Michal

37 Jose Guilherme De Toledo

Date of birth Place of birth

Position

48 Tomasz

Gebala

POL

Left Back

23.11.1995

Gdynia, POL

212

120

17 Mateusz

Goralski

POL

Right Wing

17.01.1994

Plock, POL

178

82

38 Pawel

Kowalski

POL

Left Back

22.10.2000

Plock, POL

199

104

20.01.1987

Ciechanรณw, POL

184

86

6

Przemyslaw

Krajewski

POL

Left Wing

4

Dominik

Mierzwicki

POL

Right Back

08.07.1999

Plock, POL

182

76

34 Lovro

Mihic

CRO

Left Wing

25.08.1994

Zagreb, CRO

180

81

55 Ziga

Mlakar

SLO

Right Back

16.05.1990

Celje, SLO

192

99

16 Adam

Morawski

POL

Goalkeeper

17.10.1994

Ciechanรณw, POL

192

92

Left Back

03.11.1988

Malaga, ESP

188

93

8

Ignacio

Moya Florido ESP

14 Nemanja

Obradovic

SRB

Centre Back

08.01.1991

Krusevac, SRB

198

104

27 Aleksander

Olkowski

POL

Centre Back

27.04.1998

Plock, POL

187

85

Piechowski

POL

Line Player

01.03.1995

Plock, POL

210

112

18 Mateusz

Racotea

ROU Left Back

21.07.1995

Brasov, ROU

202

115

39 Renato

Sulic

CRO

Line Player

12.10.1979

Rijeka, CRO

192

106

26 Marko

Tarabochia

BIH

Centre Back

28.11.1988

Zagreb, BIH

193

93

C 12 Marcin

Wichary

POL

Goalkeeper

17.02.1980

Zabrze, POL

193

90

Damian

Wozniak

POL

Left Back

21.12.1998

Plock, POL

186

93

Zabic

SLO

Line Player

15.08.1992

Celje, SLO

201

108

Zdrahala

CZE

Centre Back

10.07.1983

Hranice, CZE

187

83

7

5

Dan Emil

33 Igor 9

Ondrej

185


Orlen Wisla Plock

Marcin Wichary goalkeeper • steps up to the role of captain after Adam Wisniewski quit after 2016/17 • came to Plock in 2004 and has become a true ‘Oiler’, beloved by the local fans • impressed with a 50 per cent save rate in the group phase of the WCh 2013, on his debut with the national team

WCh: B 2015

Adam Morawski goalkeeper • 23-year-old who started to play at a senior level in 2013/14 and debuted in the CL two years later • shone in Plock in 2016/17, resulting in nomination for best goalkeeper of the season in the Polish league • his nickname ‘Loczek’ means ‘a curl’ • made debut in Polish national team in 2013

Przemyslaw Krajewski left wing • joined Kielce for the 2017/18 season from Polish league rivals Azoty Pulawy • one of the most effective players with Pulawy, placing second in the rank of top scorers for the Superliga in 2012/13, first in 2014/15 and fourth in 2015/16 • second best scorer for Plock in the Polish league 2017/18 with 120 goals • debuted in the Polish national team in 2012, becoming a regular part of the squad at major championships since 2013 • passed 1,000 goals scored in the Polish league in 2017 WCh: B 2015

Tomasz Gebala left back • very talented young back with a powerful shot from distance • played three years with Magdeburg’s reserves before joining Plock in 2016 • brother Maciej also went to Plock in 2016 but he has moved on to German side SC DHfK Leipzig in the summer of 2018 • first played for the Polish national team in 2016 and took part in WCh 2017, where he played all seven matches and scored 24 goals as Poland won the President’s Cup

186


Orlen Wisla Plock

Ondrej Zdrahala centre back • joined Plock in the summer of 2018 on a two-year contract • scored 56 goals for Czech Republic to become top scorer of EHF EURO 2018 • playing in the Swiss first division, he received several offers after his EURO success and decided to join Plock • brings four seasons of CL experience (Czech side HC Banik Karvina, from 2003-07) with him but is yet to advance from the group phase • will have to play a leading role for his many young teammates at Plock

Renato Sulić line player • joined Plock from Veszprém for the 2018/19 season, the seventh club on his career path • had two stints and 10 seasons in total with Veszprém, in 2004/05 and from 2009-18 • didn’t play in his first season in Veszprém due to a car accident before the first match • was line player in the CL All-star Team twice, in 2013/14 and 2014/15 • is reunited in Plock with coach Sabate, whom we previously worked with in Veszprém

Ziga Mlakar right back • Slovenian back who started playing handball at age 12 • Plock is his first foreign club as he spent almost his entire career with Celje - apart from a brief stint with Branik Maribor in 2014/15 • one of the leading players of Slovenia’s successful 1990 generation • had his best CL season in 2015/16, scoring 60 • will face former Celje teammate Blaz Janc when playing Kielce in the Polish league

Michal Daszek right wing • in his fifth season with Plock after joining the club in 2014 • third best scorer for Plock in the Polish league 2017/18 with 112 goals, behind Przemyslaw Krajewski (120) and Valentin Ghionea (149) • since 2013 member of the Polish national team, won bronze at WCh 2015 in Qatar • is also a decent basketball player WCh: B 2015

187


Abanca Ademar Leon

GROUP D

Club Address

Abanca Ademar Leon P. Saenz de Miera s/n Estadio A. Amilivia 24009 Leon Spain Media contact

Pablo Castro Alvarez +34 699 948 179 administracion@ademar.com www.ademar.com Ademar Leon @ADEMARLEON @leonademar

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: multicolour

Abanca Ademar Leon After a five-year hiatus, Abanca Ademar Leon came back ambitious to the VELUX EHF Champions League last year. They only just made it to the play-offs, where they lost twice to Montpellier, the French side which would lift the trophy nearly three months later. With a more experienced side and a year of tough European competition under their belts, Leon are eyeing the first place in what appears to be an easier group as they relish the challenge for a new successful season. “We faced two opponents from this group last season, but we see that there are other hungry teams coming, so it will be a difficult season,” Leon team manager Jose Cabrero says. Losing a left back who was the team’s second-best top scorer with 38 goals in the competition last season (Costoya Rodriguez) and an important goalkeeper (Vladimir Cupara) will likely have an impact on Leon’s challenge for this season. But otherwise, the Spanish side remains mostly unchanged from last season. So coach Rafael Guijosa Castillo will trust the system he built and developed over the last three years in Leon. Guijosa will surely try to improve his team for the European premium competition. Leon’s main objectives will be finishing second once again in the domestic league and a lengthy outing in the domestic cup, but the path for another play-off berth in the Champions League should be easier this season. More attention in the key parts of the games, a lack of injuries and Rafael Guijosa could lead his team to another Last 16 berth. One of the cornerstones of Guijosa’s squad could be Mario Lopez Alvarez. The 23-year old right wing broke through the youth’s ranks six seasons ago and has quickly become an anchor for the Spanish side. His youth does not reflect in his style of play, as Lopez Alvarez became the top goal scorer of Leon in last season’s Champions League, with 44 goals in 10 matches. Born and bred in Leon, the young Spanish player has been named the team’s captain for the new season. Past achievements

Dark Player shirt: black or crimson Player short: black or crimson GK shirt: multicolour

Playing hall Palacio de los Deportes de Leon Paseo saenz de miera s/n 24009 Leon Spain Capacity: 5,900

VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 13 Quarter-finals (4): 1997/98, 1999/00, 2001/02, 2011/12 Last 16 (4): 2003/04, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2012/13 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase (1): 2017/18 Qualification (1): 2010/11 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 1998/99, 2004/05, runners-up 2000/01, 2006/07 EHF Cup: quarter-finals 2010/11, group phase 2013/14 Spanish league: 1 title (2001) Copa del Rey: 1 title (2002) Copa ASOBAL: 2 titles (1999, 2009)

188


Abanca Ademar Leon

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

8 40 74

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

41:20 (23:10) v HC Red Star YUG (h), 15.11.1997 39:24 (20:13) v THW Kiel GER (a), 14.11.1999 4 matches (08.10.2005 – 05.11.2005) 4 matches (05.10.2008 – 09.11.2008) 4 matches (15.10.2017 – 16.11.2017) 5 matches (26.09.2007 – 18.11.2007) 5 matches (05.10.2008 – 16.11.2008) 4 matches (23.11.2008 – 28.02.2009) 5 matches (16.11.2008 – 28.02.2009) 5 matches (13.10.2012 – 29.11.2012)

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent

Fewest goals both teams

41 v HC Red Star YUG 41:20W (h), 15.11.1997 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:24L (a), 14.11.1999 73 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 36:37L (h), 28.03.2010 18 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:18L (a), 03.03.2002 18 v Füchse Berlin GER 29:18L (a), 29.04.2012 20 v HC Red Star YUG 41:20W (h), 15.11.1997 20 v Montpellier HB FRA 37:20W (h), 06.11.1999 20 v Montpellier HB FRA 20:19L (a), 04.03.2018 39 v Montpellier HB FRA 20:19L (a), 04.03.2018

VELUX EHF Champions League record 1997/98 Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP 1999/00 Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP 2001/02 CBM Ademar Leon ESP 2003/04 CBM Ademar Leon ESP 2005/06 C.BM. Ademar Leon ESP 2007/08 C.BM. Ademar Leon ESP 2008/09 Reale Ademar ESP 2009/10 Reale Ademar ESP 2011/12 Reale Ademar Leon ESP 2012/13 Reale Ademar Leon ESP 2017/18 Abanca Ademar Leon ESP Total

MP 8 8 8 8 8 12 10 12 14 12 12 112

W 4 4 4 5 5 7 5 5 8 3 6 56

T 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 6

189

L 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 6 5 8 6 50

GF GA GD 241:218 +23 215:210 +5 217:216 +1 238:220 +18 232:213 +19 344:330 +14 316:300 +16 352:359 -7 410:403 +7 310:348 –38 313:318 -5 3188:3135 +53

PTS 9:7 8:8 8:8 10:6 10:6 15:9 11:9 11:13 17:11 7:17 12:12 118:106

Stage1994/95 1/4-finals 1/4-finals 1/4-finals Last 16 Last 16 3rd MR Gr. 1 3rd MR Gr. 3 Last 16 1/4-finals Last 16 Elimination C+D


Abanca Ademar Leon

Rafael Guijosa coach • IHF World Handball Player of the Year in 1999 • part of the ‘Barcelona Dream Team’ (1994-2002) as a player, winning five CL titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000) • started his coaching career at Alcobendas, where he stayed for seven years before moving to Ademar in 2015 • leads the team in their second straight CL season after they returned from a four-season break in 2017/18

EC trophies: CL 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 (as player) EURO: S 1996, 1998, OG: B 1996, 2000 (as player) @guijosar

Newcomers: Jose Mario Carrillo Gutiérrez (FC Porto/POR) Dino Slavic (RK Umag/CRO) Ivan Mosic (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai/UAE) Álvaro Rozas (own youth ranks) Álvaro Robles (own youth ranks)

Left the club: Diego Piñeiro Martín (Dunkerque HB/FRA) Alejandro Costoya Rodríguez (Chambery Savoie/FRA) Vladimir Cupara (PGE Vive Kielce/POL)

190


Abanca Ademar Leon

Team roster No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Height Weight

1

Ignacio

Biosca Garcia

ESP

Goalkeeper

17.07.1995

Barcelona, ESP

195

98

7

Gonzalo

Carou Marcel

ESP

Goalkeeper

15.08.1979

Buenos Aires, ARG

198

75

18 Jose Mario

Carrillo Gutierrez

ESP

Left Wing

18.12.1990

León, ESP

180

79

85 Adrian

Casqueiro Lopez

ESP

Left Wing

18.05.2000

León, ESP

190

85

Javier

Espinosa Gonzalez

ESP

Left Back

02.02.2000

Logroño , ESP

190

90

14 David

Fernandez Alonso

ESP

Right Back

14.04.1996

Valladolid, ESP

196

72

17 Jaime

Fernandez Fernandez ESP

Left Wing

27.01.1997

León, ESP

176

103

193

76

15 Juan Jose

Fernandez Sanchez

ESP

Left Back

18.02.1993

Ciudad Real, ESP

ESP

Left Wing

28.08.1977

Leon, ESP

177

80

Gonzalez Teijon

ESP

Goalkeeper

07.01.1996

León, ESP

196

72

Lopez Alvarez

ESP

Right Wing

19.09.1994

León , ESP

180

82

18 Acacio

Marques Moreira

BRA

Centre Back

26.01.1994

Joao Pessoa, BRA

189

70

19 Gonzalo

Perez Arce

ESP

Right Wing

20.07.1998

León, ESP

175

80

Rodrigo

Perez Arce

ESP

Centre Back

04.10.1995

León, ESP

178

110

Pesic

SRB

Line Player

07.07.1993

Novi Sad, SRB

195

80

León , ESP

180

100

6

Juan Antonio Garcia Lorenzana

12 Javier C 3

8

Mario

25 Zivan Alvaro

Robles Lopez

ESP

Centre Back

02.08.1998

Alvaro

Rozas Garcia

ESP

Line Player

07.07.2000

León , ESP

195

90

Sebastian

Simonet Moldes

ESP

Centre Back

12.05.1986

Buenos Aires, ARG

190

113

16 Dino

Slavic

CRO

Goalkeeper

04.12.1992

Rijeka, CRO

185

90

11 Federico

Vieyra

ITA

Right Back

21.07.1988

Buenos Aires, ARG

193

95

4

191


Abanca Ademar Leon

Ignacio Biosca goalkeeper • started playing handball in Barcelona, joined Leon in 2014 • 2018/19 is his first season as the No. 1 goalkeeper, after Vladimir Cupara left • had save percentage of 33,73 in the Spanish league season 2017/18

Juan Garcia left wing • all-time top scorer in ASOBAL, with more than 2,500 goals • returned to Leon in 2015 after playing nine seasons with Barcelona (2005-2014) and one with Logrono (2014/15) • at age 41, Garcia has played for more than two decades in Spain’s top division

EC trophies: CL 2011 EURO: S 2006; WCh: G 2005, B 2011; OG: B 2008

Jaime Fernandez left wing • the 21-year-old left wing has come through the youth ranks of Leon • was part of Spanish youth team, which won EURO 2016 and WCh 2017 • born and bred in Leon, he says his utmost pride is to play CL in the local arena

Ivan Mosic left back • Serbian left back started career at Red Star Belgrade, but played in the United Arab Emirates, for Al Shabab Dubai, in 2017/18 • a powerful shooter, as good in defence as in attack • apart from improving his handball skills, he is also eager to learn the Spanish language

192


Abanca Ademar Leon

Sebastian Simonet centre back

@seba_simon

• Argentine international, who is older brother of Diego Simonet (Montpellier) and Pablo Simonet (Benidorm) • arrived in Leon in 2016 from French side Ivry after already playing in Spain for four years (2007-2011 in Torrevieja) following departure from his home country • though not a prolific goal scorer, Simonet is an important part of Leon’s attack, providing leadership as a playmaker

Zivan Pesic line player • going into his second season with Leon after his debut in 2017/18 • previously wore the jerseys of Celje and Veszprém • developed into an important player in the centre of the defence

Federico Vieyra right back • famous for his outside shots from nine metres • key player for Leon who joined the club in 2015 • played at 2012 and 2016 Olympics with Argentine national team, and helped them win the Pan-American Championship 2018

WCh: G 2013

Mario Lopez right wing • main weapons include fast breaks and penalty throws • developed into one of the best goal scorers for Leon • recovered well from two severe knee injuries in 2014 and 2015 while playing for the national under-18 and under-19 teams of Spain

193


Elverum Handball

GROUP D

Club Address

Elverum Handball Postboks 295 2403 Elverum Norway Media contact

Erik Henriksen +47 400 21299 erik@ehh.no www.ehh.no elverumhandball @ElverumHandball @elverumhandball

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: yellow

Elverum Handball Elverum Handball are returning to the group phase for the fourth straight season. No wonder they are eager to get to the play-offs for the first time. The team from a small town 120 kilometres north of Oslo have won the Norwegian domestic league every season since 2011/12 so taking the next step in Europe is an obvious goal. Reaching one of the two top spots in Group D will be the target. And while they have improved each season, this year they have to deal with many changes to their squad. At first sight, the runners-up from Poland (Orlen Wisla Plock) and Spain (Abanca Ademar Leon) look like the toughest hurdles. However, the other three opponents are all national champions, from Switzerland (Wacker Thun), Romania (Dinamo Bucuresti) and neighbours Finland (Riihimäen Cocks). “Maybe nobody believes that it is possible but we have a dream of improving every year in the European competitions. Last year we took 10 points, that means that if we are going to take more this year, we are coming close to the next round,” head coach Mikael Appelgren says. Seven players have joined, while six have left. While the squad might have deepened, it has to be considered that experienced left wing Andre Lindboe and talented right wing Kevin Gulliksen were among the players who have left. Replacing them will not be easy as coach Appelgren will need some time anyway to put his new team together. “I do think we are stronger than last season, however, it may take some time to make the team click,” he says. In the past three Champions League seasons, Andre Lindboe scored 159 goals (64, 42 and 53, respectively) for Elverum. So replacing him, one of the club’s outstanding players in recent years, is a tough ask. But newcomer Alexander Oerjevik Westby is up for the challenge. The 25-year-old left wing has joined Elverum from league rivals Bodø HK in Northern Norway on a two-year contract. While Westby has some EHF Cup experience with Bodø, he is coming from a team with a rather fast attacking playing style, using their wings a lot. If he can adapt well, he might become a strong force for Elverum. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 5 Group Phase (3): 2015/16, 2016/2017, 2017/18 Qualification (1): 2013/14

Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: green

Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2010/11 EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Playing hall Terningen Arena Hamarvegen 112 2418 Elverum Norway Capacity: 2,400

Norwegian play off: 9 titles (1995, 2008, 2012-18) Norwegian league: 3 titles (2013, 2017, 2018) Norwegian Cup: 1 title

194


Elverum Handball

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run

3 40 72

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Longest losing run Longest run without win

40:32 (19:15) v Dinamo Bucuresti ROU (h), 08.10.2017 23:37 (12:18) v Skjern Handbold DEN (h), 27.09.2015 3 matches (30.09.2017 – 15.10.2017) 3 matches (02.10.2016 – 15.10.2016) 3 matches (30.09.2017 – 15.10.2017) 4 matches (18.10.2015 – 22.11.2015) 7 matches (27.09.2015 – 22.11.2015)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

40 v Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 40:32W (h), 08.10.2017 37 v Skjern Handbold DEN 23:37L (h), 27.09.2015 72 v Dinamo Bucuresti ROU 40:32W (h), 08.10.2017 17 v HC Metalurg MKD 18:17L (a), 24.09.2016 18 v HC Metalurg MKD 18:17L (a), 24.09.2016 35 v HC Metalurg MKD 18:17L (a), 24.09.2016

VELUX EHF Champions League record

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2015/16 Elverum Handball Herrer NOR 10

MP

3

1

6

274:289

–15

7:13

5th Gr. D

2016/17 Elverum Handball NOR

10

3

2

5

257:274

–17

8:12

5th Gr. C

2017/18 Elverum Handball NOR Total

10 5 0 5 287:304 –17 30 11 3 16 818:867 –49

10:10 25:35

4th Gr. C

195


Elverum Handball

Michael Apelgren coach • joined Elverum as playing head coach in the 2014/15 season • succeded former Norwegian international Christian Berge, who became Norway national team coach • former successful playmaker for Puerto Sagunto in the Spanish ASOBAL • also represented BM Granollers as well as several clubs in his native Sweden, winning five Swedish championships as a player • played five matches for the Swedish national team

@Apel84

Newcomers: Lukas Sandell (Ystad IF/SWE) Jesper Johan Gulliksen (Herkules/NOR) Simen Holand Pettersen (Sandefjord/NOR) Sigvaldi Gudjonsson (Århus/DEN) Jonas Myreng Elverhøy (Elverum youth team/NOR) Alexander Westby (Bodø/NOR) Endre Langaas (Bodø/NOR)

Left the club: Andre Lindboe (ØIF Arendal/NOR) Aleksander Børresen (retired) Kevin Gulliksen (GWD Minden/GER) Nikolaj Mehl (Fredericia HK/DEN) Richard Hanisch (IFK Skövde/SWE) Vegard Bakken Øien (Nærbø/NOR)

196


Elverum Handball

Team roster Position

Date of birth Place of birth

Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

18 Jonas

Burud

NOR Right Back

20.10.1993

Oslo, NOR

195

95

19 Hakon

Ekren

NOR Centre Back

10.07.1994

Elverum, NOR

186

103

26 Jonas

Elverhoy

NOR Left Back

31.12.2000

Elverum, NOR

204

97

23 Magnus

Frederiksen

NOR Centre Back

24.05.1997

Horten, NOR

188

98

29 Sigvaldi

Gudjonsson

ISL

Right Wing

04.07.1994

Reykjavik, ISL

193

88

Gulliksen

NOR Goalkeeper

07.09.1999

Skien, NOR

191

97

12 Emil Kheri

Imsgaard

NOR Goalkeeper

06.03.1998

Hamar, NOR

199

103

55 Thrainn Orri

Jonsson

ISL

Line Player

12.07.1993

Reykjavik, ISL

203

113

20 Endre

Langaas

NOR Line Player

05.10.1991

Trondheim, NOR

184

98

1

Jesper

2

Didrik W.

Linderud

NOR Right Wing

07.12.1995

Oslo, NOR

182

84

6

Alexander

Mitrovic

NOR Left Back

12.03.1998

Mainz, GER

202

94

Mogen

NOR Left Wing

22.02.1999

Elverum, NOR

180

72

Nergaard

NOR Goalkeeper

26.02.1987

Elverum, NOR

189

98

Örsted

DEN

Line Player

22.05.1995

Århus, DEN

210

125

Pettersen

NOR Left Back

08.04.1998

Tønsberg, NOR

189

93

21 Tine

Poklar

SLO

Left Back

05.10.1990

Koper, SLO

190

93

14 Audun Breen

Roragen

NOR Left Back

27.07.1998

Hamar, NOR

194

110

11 Lukas

Sandell

SWE Right Back

03.02.1997

Reslöv, SWE

193

92

27 Stian C 87 Morten 17 Kristian Krag 9

Simen Holand

3

Stiven

Thorsteinsson NOR Left Wing

04.06.2000

Elverum, NOR

183

84

7

Alexander

Westby

NOR Left Wing

26.03.1993

Lørenskog, NOR

180

82

197


Elverum Handball

Morten Nergaard goalkeeper • has spent most of his career with Elverum, but had a short foreign adventure with Danish side Aalborg in 2012 • played eight international games for Norway • has extensive European experience, was already part of the team that played CL Qualification in 2012/13, also played the EHF Cup Group Phase

Jesper Gulliksen goalkeeper • joined from second-division club Herkules in the summer of 2018 • has considerable experience from the Norway junior national team • is seen as back-up for experienced Morten Nergaard • at 18 years of age, is seen as one of Norway’s most promising goalkeeping talents

Alexander Westby left wing • transferred from league rivals Bodø in the summer of 2018 • replacing Norwegian international Andre Lindboe, who has left the club after many years • a very talented wing, effective on fast breaks and with a great variety of shots from his position

Simen Holand Pettersen left back • arrived from Sandefjord in the summer of 2018 • at only 19 years of age, is currently seen as one of the greatest left back talents in Norway • scored 16 goals in 16 attempts in one junior international • is one of the very few back-court players who shoots on an almost equal level with both hands

198


Elverum Handball

Magnus Fredriksen centre back • joined in the summer of 2017 from Falk Horten on a three-year contract • only 21 years old and seen as one the most promising talents in Norwegian handball • has a considerable variation of shots, as well as an impressive ability to read the game and improve his teammates’ play • was a key player in Norway’s national team at the 2017 Junior World Championship in Algeria

Endre Lagaas line player • arrived in the summer of 2018 from Bodø along with Alexander Westby • has been on the fringe of Norway coach Christian Berge’s national team roster for some time • usually scores more than 100 goals per season from the line in the Norwegian league • also very strong in defence, where his 100 kg compensate for his rather modest height of 184 cm

Lukas Sandell right back • joined from Swedish side Ystad in the summer of 2018 as replacement for Danish player Nikolaj Mehl • was sharpened by competition in his position in Ystad from none other than Kim Andersson • 21 years old with considerable potential, and already has a great shot and speed

Sigvaldi Gudjonsson right wing • joined Elverum from Danish club Aarhus Handball in the summer of 2018 • was signed as replacement for Norway’s Kevin Gulliksen, who left for the Bundesliga • at just 23 years of age, the Icelandic wing still possesses plenty of potential to develop further • his shot from the wing as well as his experience in the Danish league are his greatest assets

199


Wacker Thun

GROUP D

Club Address: Wacker Thun Geschäftsstelle 3600 Thun Switzerland Media contact: Marc Santschi +41 79 310 25 12 marc.santschi@wackerthun.ch www.wackerthun.ch wackerthun @wackerthun

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: green Player short: black GK shirt: blue

Wacker Thun They start their second ever VELUX EHF Champions League campaign after gaining international experience in the previous EHF Cup Group Phase: Wacker Thun have dethroned Kadetten Schaffhausen in the Swiss league, and though they lost their two stars Lenny Rubin and Lukas von Deschwanden to the German Bundesliga, optimism is high. When Thun played their so far only CL season in 2013/14, they faced opponents such as Barcelona, PSG, Vardar Skopje and Dinamo Minsk – and all the hurdles were too high. The final outcome was a single draw (24:24) against Metalurg and 11 defeats. Now, playing in the Group C/D system, the chances for Wacker to take their first ever Champions League victory are much higher. Cocks, Elverum and Bucuresti are definitely within reach for the Swiss side in their home matches. In the 2017/18 season for example, Thun beat Spanish club Granollers in the home leg of the EHF Cup Group Phase. “For us, being part of the VELUX EHF Champions League is a gift from the sporting point of view, but the biggest challenge in terms of organisation and money the club ever had,” says manager Remo Badertscher. “We – a club with only some professionals – will enjoy every minute of the group phase.” 26-year-old Dane Philip Holm is the only foreigner in Wacker Thun’s squad. Left back Holm will replace Swiss international Lukas von Deschwanden, who transferred to German side Stuttgart. Holm arrived from Ribe-Esbjerg, and it was by chance that coach Martin Rubin received some information on him. “After two training sessions we knew that he would fit in the team,” Rubin says. Alongside his handball life, the Dane will continue working as a physiotherapist. It is the year 2018, and if you pay 2,018 Swiss Franc you can be something like a team sponsor for Wacker Thun’s Champions League campaign, as you receive a special experience at one of the club’s VELUX EHF Champions League away matches. You will accompany the team to the match, fly with them, be in the same hotel, get a match ticket and be as close as possible with all players. As this campaign was a success in the EHF Cup 2017/18 Group Phase, the club repeated it for the Champions League.

Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: red

Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 2 Group Phase (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2017/18, Last 16 2005/06 Cup Winners’ Cup: Last 16 2006/07 Challenge Cup: Winners 2004/05, Runners-up 2011/12

Playing hall Mobiliar Arena Rohrmattstrasse 12 3073 Gümligen Switzerland Capacity: 2,500

Swiss league: 2 title (2013, 2018) Swiss Cup: 5 titles

200


Wacker Thun

EHF Champions League club records

10 28 71

MATCHES Longest run w/o win

GOALS Most goals

GOALS Most goals both teams

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

N/A 45:26 (21:14) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 28.09.2013 N/A 1 match (01.12.2013) 6 matches (21.09.2013 – 23.11.2013) 10 matches (21.09.2013 – 23.02.2014)

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

28 v PSG Handball FRA 28:34L (h), 17.11.2013 45 v FC Barcelona ESP 45:26L (a), 28.09.2013 71 v FC Barcelona ESP 45:26L (a), 28.09.2013 20 v HC Dinamo Minsk BLR 27:20L (a), 10.10.2013 23 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:23L (h), 21.09.2013 45 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:23L (h), 21.09.2013

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

2013/14 Wacker Thun SUI Total

10 0 1 9 242:329 -87 1:19 10 0 1 9 242:329 -87 1:19

W

T

201

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95 6th Gr. C


Wacker Thun

Martin Rubin coach •

Is third best scorer of all time in the Swiss national league, with 2,172 goals in 446 matches; and played 239 international matches for Switzerland, also a third-highest mark

has been with Wacker since 1990, first as a player, then as a coach

led the team to its first ever CL Group Phase participation in 2013/14

awarded best Swiss handball coach three times

son Lenny was part of the Wacker squad but he moved to Wetzlar in the German Bundesliga in the summer of 2018

Newcomers: Philip Holm (Ribe-Esbjerg/DEN) Ron Delhees (Kadetten Schaffhausen/SUI) Simon Huwyler (TV Endingen/SUI) Gabriel Felder (TV Steffisburg/SUI) Ivan Wyttenbach (TV Steffisburg/SUI)

Left the club: Lenny Rubin (HSG Wetzlar/GER) Lukas von Deschwanden (TBV Stuttgart/GER) Viktor Glatthard (Haslum HK/NOR) Roman Caspar (retired)

202


Wacker Thun

Team roster Height Weight

No. First Name

Surname

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

22 Roman

Caspar

SUI

Centre Back

16.04.1986

Klosters-Serneus, SUI

187

90

18 Joël

Christinat

SUI

Left Back

08.06.1996

Vully-les-Lac, SUI

196

90

Dähler

SUI

Right Wing

22.06.1989

Seftigen, SUI

193

81

Delhees

SUI

Right Back

28.08.1995

Zug, SUI

195

100

Felder

SUI

Right Wing

27.09.1998

Entlebuch, SUI

182

85

Friedli

SUI

Line Player

20.10.1988

Trachselwald, SUI

187

100

6

Jonas

26 Ron 4

Gabriel

C 13 Reto

Giovanelli

SUI

Right Back

19.06.1998

Frutigen, SUI

188

88

18 Nino

Gruber

SUI

Left Wing

19.01.1997

Stans, SUI

185

80

17 Damien

Guignet

SUI

Left Back

10.01.1997

Essertes, SUI

180

90

Holm

DEN

Left Back

16.09.1991

Fredensborg, DEN

198

100

19 Stefan

Huwyler

SUI

Line Player

24.02.1993

Sins, SUI

196

96

15 Simon

Huwyler

SUI

Line Player

21.03.1991

Sins, SUI

191

90

20 Sven

Krainer

SUI

Right Wing

15.08.1991

Lotzwil, SUI

182

80

SUI

Left Wing

18.09.1994

Huttwil, SUI

184

78

Linder

SUI

Left Wing

23.11.1988

Brienz, SUI

178

78

Manse

SUI

Centre Back

16.08.1997

Buttisholz, SUI

181

82

Raemy

SUI

Right Back

25.02.1992

Plaffeien, SUI

185

81

Sorgen

SUI

Line Player

14.07.1996

Hermrigen, SUI

186

90

Suter

SUI

Centre Back

07.12.1994

Gränichen, SUI

190

90

23 Flavio

Wick

SUI

Goalkeeper

18.06.1995

Zuzwil, SUI

202

95

16 Marc

Winkler

SUI

Goalkeeper

02.01.1988

Blumenstein, SUI

188

85

12 Dominique

Wyss

SUI

Goalkeeper

26.04.2000

Landiswil, SUI

195

90

11 Ivan

Wyttenbach SUI

Centre Back

29.01.1995

Thun, SUI

181

84

8

2

Marco

Philip Tandrup

10 Thomas Matthias Lanz 3

Luca

21 Cedric 5

Nicolas

22 Janick 7

Nicolas Jann

203


Wacker Thun

Marc Winkler goalkeeper • has played his entire career for Thun, since 2007 in the first team • regarded the best Swiss-born goalkeeper in the Swiss league • first played in the national team in 2017, at age 29 • is the No. 2 goalkeeper in the national team, behind CL winner Nikola Portner from Montpellier HB

Luca Linder left wing

@luca_wt3

• plays his 13th straight season for Wacker • scored the decisive goal in the final against Schaffhausen in June 2018 to make Wacker the Swiss champions 2017/18 • works for an insurance company, one of Thun’s main sponsors • is a fan of mountains and skiing

Philipp Holm left back • was Thun’s only international transfer before the 2018/19 season, arriving from Danish side Esbjerg • started his career at another Danish side, Skjern Handball • has to replace Lenny Rubin and Lukas von Deschwanden, who both left the club • is a physiotherapist in daily life

Nicolas Raemy centre back • was MVP at the European Open 2011, where he helped Switzerland to bronze • best Swiss scorer at the Junior EURO and WCh 2011 and 2012 • had his debut in the national team at the age of 20 • joined Wacker in 2014, arriving from Kriens • is a lefthander, who can also play in the right back position

204


Wacker Thun

Nicolas Sutter centre back •

plays as a centre back for Thun since 2016, but is a left wing in the national team

studies banking and finance in Zurich, and loves literature and art expositions

shares a house with fellow centre back Nicolas Raemy

Reto Friedli line player • plays his 12th straight season for Wacker, and was chosen as the most popular player by Thun fans in 2016 • is the team’s defence specialist, but also plays in attack • studies social sciences • famous for wearing a long beard

Ron Delhees right back • arrived from dethroned Swiss champions Kadetten Schaffhausen in the summer of 2018 • one of the biggest Swiss talents, who previously played for Luzern and Zürich • went through all national younger age category teams, and has been part of the men’s senior team since 2016

Jonas Dähler right wing • became team captain after Roman Caspar ended his career • has been with Wacker since 2008, and has played more than 320 Swiss league matches for the club • is a physiotherapist for a living, and loves cooking in his spare time • shares his name with a famous Swiss squash player

205


Dinamo Bucuresti

GROUP D

Club Address

Dinamo Bucuresti Sos.Stefan cel Mare n° 7-9 ,sec2 Bucuresti Romania Media contact

Alexandru Enciu +40 754 929 106 sanenciu@yahoo.com www.csdinamo.eu csdinamo @fcdinamobucuresti

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: green Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red GK shirt: black

Dinamo Bucuresti Not even the most optimistic Dinamo fan hoped for the Red Dogs to win their third consecutive title in the Romanian league halfway through last season. The team was in turmoil and the players looked like they could not care less. Coach Eliodor Voica was ultimately replaced by Constantin Stefan, and everything got back on track. After a tumultuous final against archrivals Steaua, Dinamo snatched the title. Now, the Romanian champions are facing another challenge on European level: qualifying for the VELUX EHF Champions League Group C/D Playoffs for the first time. In Romanian football, Dinamo Bucharest is being dubbed the ‘New Dinamo’ as the team are constantly shapeshifting and rehashing their roster. This season, the handball team can also be called the New Dinamo, with seven newcomers ushered in, including three Tunisian players. It is a change of strategy for the Romanian champions, who lost two of their best players after Iranian brothers Sajad and Allahkaram Esteki signed for domestic rivals CSM Bucuresti. Communication might become an issue with no less than eight different nationalities from three continents in Dinamo’s roster. When Dinamo were in a desperate need of change a few months ago, coach Eliodor Voica was replaced by Constantin Stefan. It will be Stefan’s third stint as Dinamo coach. The 50-year-old coach was also in charge when the Red Dogs won the title in 2004/05. In the following Champions League season, Stefan and Dinamo won only one game in a group which also included Ciudad Real, Veszprém and Presov. A natural born scorer, Hugo Descat was a major transfer coup for Dinamo last season after they convinced him to leave France for the first time in his career. The 25-year old left wing is fast, has a huge handball IQ and his technique seems to be off the chart. Descat was the second-best top scorer in the French League three seasons ago, only nine goals behind Uwe Gensheimer. The French wing has carried that form to Dinamo, and scored 40 times in the Champions League last season. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 6 Group phase (3): 2005/06, 2016/17, 2017/18 Qualification (2): 1995/96, 1997/98

Playing hall Dinamo Bucuresti Arena Soseaua Stefan cel Mare 7-9 Sector 2, 020121 Bucuresti Romania Capacity: 2,538

206

Other EHF Cup: semi-finals 2003/04, Last 16 2001/02, 2004/05 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-finals 2002/03 Challenge Cup: runners-up 2000/01, semi-finals 2007/08 City Cup: Semi-finals 1999/2000 European Champions’ Cup: 1 title (1965) IHF Cup Winners’ Cup: runners-up 1983 Romanian league: 15 titles (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2016, 2017, 2018) Romanian cup: 4 titles (1979, 1982, 1988, 2017)


Dinamo Bucuresti

EHF Champions League club records Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run

1 35 72

MATCHES Longest winning run

GOALS Most goals

Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

35:29 (20:15) v ABC/UMinho POR (h), 01.12.2016 40:17 (19:9) v BM Ciudad Real ESP (a), 06.11.2005 1 match (15.10.2005) 1 match (29.09.2016) 1 match (17.11.2016) 1 match (01.12.2016) 1 match (27.09.2017) 3 matches (25.09.2016 – 09.10.2016) 7 matches (08.10.2017 – 30.11.2017) 7 matches (08.10.2017 – 30.11.2017)

GOALS Most goals both teams

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

35 v HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 35:31W (h), 29.09.2016 35 v ABC/UMinho POR 35:29W (h), 01.12.2016 40 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.2005 40 v Elverum Handball NOR 40:32L (a), 08.10.2017 72 v Elverum Handball NOR 40:32L (a), 08.10.2017 17 v BM Ciudad Real 40:17L (a), 06.11.2005 24 v Tatran Presov SVK 28:24W (h), 15.10.2005 50 v HBC Nantes FRA 26:24L (a), 13.11.2016

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95

2005/06 Dinamo Baumit Bucuresti ROU 6

1

0

5

148:198

-50

2:10

4th Gr. F

2016/17 Dinamo Bucuresti ROU

10

3

2

5

294:294

0

8:12

4th Gr. D

2017/18 Dinamo Bucuresti ROU Total

10 1 0 9 278:324 –46 2:18 26 5 2 19 720:816 -96 12:40

6th Gr. C

207


Dinamo Bucuresti

Constantin Stefan coach • • • •

Newcomers: Makrem Missaoui (Club Africain Tunis/TUN) Amine Bannour (Chambery/FRA) Kamel Alouini (Al Ahli/SAU) Ante Kuduz (Pfadi Winterthur/SUI) Nicu Negru (CSM Bucuresti/ROU) Andras Szasz (CSM Bucuresti/ROU) Muhamed Zulfic (MYK Hentbol SK/TUR) Florin Acatrinei (CSM Fagaras/ROU)

returned to Dinamo for a third term to replace Eliodor Voica the 50-year-old coach has worked at many different clubs, varying from men’s teams like HC Odorhei and Poli Timisoara to women’s teams like HCM Ramnicu Valcea and CSM Roman also led Dinamo in the CL in 2005/06 was a Dinamo player in his active years, hence the loyal support from the fans

Left the club: Sajad Esteki (CSM Bucuresti/ROU) Allahkaram Esteki (CSM Bucuresti/ROU) Marius Mocanu (HC Dobrogea Sud Constanta/ROU) Liviu Mironescu (HC Buzau/ROU) Vadim Gayduchenko (St.-Raphael/FRA) Daniel Bera (CSM Bucuresti/ROU) Milan Sajin (tbd)

208


Dinamo Bucuresti

Team roster No. First Name Surname

Nat.

Date of birth Place of birth

Position

Height Weight

26.07.1989

Piatra Neamt, ROU

193

97

Centre Back

06.07.1988

La Marsa, TUN

187

86

TUN

Right Back

21.02.1990

Mahdia, TUN

196

95

Descat

FRA

Left Wing

16.08.1992

Paris, FRA

182

75

29 Razvan

Gavriloaia

ROU Right Wing

25.07.1983

Iasi, ROU

186

90

12 Stefan

Grigoras

ROU Goalkeeper

18.12.1990

Bacau, ROU

194

98

23 Saeid

Heidarirad

IRI

Goalkeeper

22.09.1990

Khorramabad, IRI

194

95

34 Vitaly

Komogorov

RUS

Left Back

28.08.1991

Volgograd, RUS

196

95

47 Ante

Kuduz

CRO

Left Back

11.04.1995

Osijek, CRO

202

103

1

Missaoui

TUN

Goalkeeper

14.02.1981

Tunis, TUN

188

94

88 Seyed

Mousavi

IRI

Line Player

27.04.1990

Esfahan, IRI

197

100

24 Andrei

Negru

ROU Left Wing

24.05.1994

Resita, ROU

180

77

27 Ciprian

Sandru

ROU Centre Back

27.02.1991

Sighisoara, ROU

192

92

ROU Line Player

12.10.1985

Galati, ROU

198

105

ROU Line Player

24.01.1994

Odorheiu Secuiesc, ROU 195

107

Right Wing

13.05.1992

Sarajevo, BIH

89 Florin

Acatrinei

ROU Right Back

10 Kamel

Alouini

TUN

9

Amine

Bannour

4

Hugo

Makrem

C 17 Dan Andrei Savenco Szasz 20 Andras 44 Muhamed Zulfic

BIH

209

188

80


Dinamo Bucuresti

Makrem Missaoui goalkeeper • member of Tunisian national team which had its best result ever by finishing 4th at WCh 2005 • three-time African champion with Tunisia, in 2006, 2012 and 2018 • best goalkeeper of African Championship 2018 • always played in Tunisian league, except for two seasons (2005-07) with Tremblay in France @hdescat

Hugo Descat left wing • French player, who was All-star left wing at Junior WCh 2011

• joined Dinamo in 2017/18, which was his first season outside France after spending the previous six years with US Creteil • played twice for the French national team in the past but did not become a regular • was a prolific scorer in the French league, ended his last season at Creteil in second place on the top scorers list, just behind PSG start Uwe Genheimer

Ciprian Sandru left back • won gold with Romania at the World University Games 2016 in Spain • with a powerful shot and tactical cleverness, he is Dinamo’s leading scorer with more than 200 goals for the club • can also play left back, to alternate with Vitaly Komogorov

Vitaly Komogorov left back • played EHF Cup Finals 2016 with Nantes before moving to HC Odorhei in Romania • had trouble adapting in France as he spoke only Russian, but learned Romanian during his spell at Odorhei • played in the Cup Winners’ Cup with Kaustik Volgograd and in the EHF Cup with Nantes, but first played in the CL with Dinamo in 2017/18, scoring 35 times in his debut season

210


Dinamo Bucuresti

Kamel Alouini centre back • has joined a European club for the second time in his career, after playing for Istres OPH in France from 2008-10 • won African champion twice with Tunisian national team, in 2012 and 2018 • fast and skilful player, who is not just a playmaker but can also move to the left back position

Dan Savenco line player • a defensive specialist, he is well-known in Romania for his power and robustness • gained CL experience well before joining Dinamo, with Steaua MFA Bucuresti in 2008 • the veteran line player played in Spain for Antequera before coming back to Romania in 2014 to join Dinamo

Amine Bannour right back • nicknamed the ‘Tunisian hammer’ for his powerful shots • played for Chambery Savoie in 2017/18, scoring 54 goals in the French league and four goals in the Men’s EHF Cup • two-time African champion with Tunisia, in 2012 and 2018 • was top scorer of Super Globe in 2012, scoring 42 goals for Saudi team Mudhar Club

Muhamed Zulfic right wing • returned to Dinamo in the summer of 2018 after an earlier stint in 2015/16 • the 26-year-old wing has played in the Bosnian, Romanian, Greek and Turkish leagues over the past seven years • scored 83 goals in the Romanian league in his previous season with Dinamo

211


Riihimäen Cocks

GROUP D

Club Address

Cocks Teollisuuskatu 16 11120 Riihimäki Finland Media contact

Jari Viita +358 500 480744 jari@viita.fi www.cocks.fi riihimakicocks @riihimakicocks @riihimaencocks

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: orange

Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) After failing to qualify twice, Riihimäen Cocks have gained direct access to the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase this season for the first time. Out of all 28 participants, Cocks are the only team to make their group phase debut when play gets underway in September. With their debut, the 10-time Finnish champions and three-time Baltic League winners are taking a further step up the European ladder. The team have been dominating handball in Finland for years and gathering international experience in various European Cup competitions. But entering Europe’s top flight is a new dimension. “It is very important to us. This raises our club’s handball activity and culture to another, much higher level. We are looking forward to the VELUX EHF Champions League season with great enthusiasm,” says team manager Jari Viita. “We aim to be competitive in every single game despite the fact that we are debutants in the Champions League,” Viita says. “Being in the underdog role among more experienced teams in the group, we should feel more freedom and less pressure than our opponents. Every single game for us will be like a final. Therefore we have to prepare us well, push ourselves to the limits and hunt for our points with a good, fighting attitude.” Cocks are upbeat, and they have every reason to be. They won the Finnish championship for the 10th time and the Baltic league for the third time, and they are going into their first group phase. The team captain, experienced left wing Teemu Tamminen, has no doubt about Cocks’ targets for the upcoming European season. “Our objective is to get some points and to show everyone who we are,” Tamminen says. “But, of course, all our opponents are great teams so I obviously expect many tough games.” Even after the arrival of two new playmakers, Oleksandr Kyrylenko and Sasja Puljizovic, who are likely to become strong reinforcements, Cocks will again rely heavily on Nico Rönnberg. The 26-year-old, experienced left back has been a crucial part of the team’s DNA for years. Rönnberg scored 62 goals for Cocks in the EHF Cup last season, and he will have to play and shoot well again if the Finnish champions are going to be successful in their group phase debut season. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2018/19 season): 3 Qualification (2): 2016/17, 2017/18 Other EHF Cup: group phase 2016/17 Challenge Cup: quarter-finals 2013/14, 2014/15 Playing hall

Baltic league: winners 2016-18, runners-up 2012/13

Vantaa Energia Areena Rajatorpantie 23 Vantaa, Finland Capacity: 3,500

Finnish league: 10 titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013-18) Finnish cup: 9 titles

212


Riihimäen Cocks

EHF Champions League club records

N/A

MATCHES

N/A

GOALS

N/A

GOALS

Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams

N/A N/A N/A

Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams

N/A N/A N/A

Longest winning run

Most goals

Most goals both teams

VELUX EHF Champions League record

MP

W

T

N/A

213

L

GF GA

GD

PTS

Stage1994/95


Riihimäen Cocks

Gintaras Savukynas coach • joined Cocks in the summer of 2016 from a job as coordinator of the handball section of Norwegian club Bergsøj IL, where he was also head coach •

was national coach of Lithuania from 2009 to 2014, and was also in charge of Belarusian side Meshkov Brest from 2010 to 2012

during his time on court, he played in Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, apart from his native country, Lithuania

Newcomers: Oleksandr Kyrylenko (Spojnia Gdynia/POL) Sasa Puljizovic (OV Helsingborg/SWE)

Left the club: Aleksandr Bochko (Meshkov Brest/BLR) Robin Sjöman (BK-46/FIN) Aleksandr Potsykailik (tbd)

214


Riihimäen Cocks

Team roster Height Weight

Nat.

Position

Date of birth Place of birth

30 Kalle

Alander

FIN

Goalkeeper

13.06.1995

Riihimäki, FIN

197

94

44 Davor

Basaric

SRB

Line Player

03.11.1990

Nis, SRB

189

101

31 Victor

Kovalenko

RUS

Centre Back

13.01.1982

Leningrad, RUS

193

99

Oleksandr Kyrylenko

UKR

Centre Back

21.06.1986

Zaporozhye, UKR

177

87

No. First Name Surname

9

17 Yury

Lukyanchuk

BLR

Line Player

05.01.1990

Brest, BLR

195

103

32 Giedreius

Morkunas

LTU

Goalkeeper

07.11.1987

Utena, LTU

186

96

23 Vitalie

Nenita

MDA Right Back

04.06.1987

Chisinau, MDA

192

96

20 Andrei

Novoselov

RUS

Right Wing

25.08.1986

Yougorenok, RUS

177

77

29 Sasa

Puljizovic

BIH

Centre Back

22.12.1989

Derventa, BIH

192

94

22 Nico

Rönnberg

FIN

Left Back

14.04.1992

Karjaa, FIN

191

94

87 Vitalii

Shitsko

RUS

Goalkeeper

09.09.1987

St. Petersburg, RUS

198

93

19 Roni

Syrjälä

FIN

Right Wing

28.03.1995

Riihimäki, FIN

184

85

Tamminen

FIN

Left Wing

27.08.1987

Riihimäki, FIN

191

94

BLR

Line Player

28.10.1986

Mahilev, BLR

193

101

Udd

FIN

Left Back

05.06.1996

Karjaa, FIN

196

93

Westerlund

FIN

Right Back

30.07.1996

Tammisaari, FIN

193

96

Zaitsau

BLR

Left Back

27.08.1992

Bobruisk, BLR

204

114

Zupanjac

SRB

Left Wing

16.10.1983

Kraljevo, SRB

188

84

C 15 Teemu

55 Aliaksandr Tsitou 8

Andre

33 Theo 2

Viktar

18 Bojan

215


Riihimäen Cocks

Vitalii Shitsko goalkeeper • playing his fourth season for Cocks after joining from St.-Petersburg HC in 2015 • promoted into first-choice keeper for Cocks in 2016/17 • has CL experience from several years with St.-Petersburg HC • at 32 years of age, he possesses the perfect experience for a goalkeeper

Teemu Tamminen left wing

@temeartem87

• scored a total of 22 goals – 11 in each match – when Finland defeated Luxembourg in the play-offs for EHF EURO 2018 Qualification Phase 2 • born in Riihimäki, Cocks’ home town, and has always played for the club • scored no less than 14 goals when Cocks defeated HC West in the decisive match for the Finnish championship 2015/16

Nico Rönnberg left back • younger brother of well-known playmaker Andreas Rönnberg • originally a Cocks player, but had a short foreign adventure in Norway with ØIF Arendal in the 2013/14 season • with a total of 10 goals, he played his part when the Finnish national team made it through to Qualification Phase 2 for the EHF EURO 2018 • was top scorer, with 12 goals, when Cocks defeated SKA Minsk 36:32 in the final of the Baltic Handball League 2015/16

Sasa Puljizovic centre back • joined from Swedish club OV Helsingborg in the summer of 2018 • was signed on a one-year contract with the option of another year after a trial with Cocks early in the summer of 2018 • at 28 years of age, the Bosnian playmaker is already highly experienced • a versatile and fast centre back with a good eye for the game and a strong shot

216


Riihimäen Cocks

Oleksandr Kyrylenko centre back • joined from Polish club Spojnia in the summer of 2018 • is seen as a perfect supplement for Sasa Puljizovic in the playmaker position • has previous CL experience with Belarusian side HC Meshkov Brest • the experienced Ukrainian playmaker is capable of creating opportunities for his teammates and has an ability to be dangerous on his own

Davor Basaric line player • joined Cocks from Spanish club Bidasoa in the summer of 2017 • demonstrated his attacking qualities by scoring 40 goals in 29 ASOBAL matches for Bidasoa in the 2016/17 season • has European experience from playing in the EHF Cup for Serbian clubs RK Nis and Spartak Vojput, and he has had also several appearances in the Serbian national team

Theo Westerlund right back • joined Cocks in the summer of 2017 from Finnish club Sjundeå IF on a two-year contract with the option of an additional year • at age 22, has already made several appearances in Finland’s senior national team • Cocks is his first club as a full-time professional • flexibility, a good shot and the ability to break through the opposing defence are his main assets

Andrei Novoselov right wing • arrived in 2015 as one of an increasing number of Eastern Europeans playing for Cocks • has previous CL experience with St.-Petersburg • at 177 cm, he is not among the tallest in men’s international handball – not even as a wing – but he compensates with his speed and his variety of shots

217


2017/18 top scorers

2017/18 top scorers Rank

Player

Club

1

Uwe Gensheimer (GER)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA)

Goals 92

2

Markuss Olsson (SWE)

Skjern Handbold (DEN)

88

3

Andre Schmid (SUI)

Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)

83

4

Nedim Remili (FRA)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball

80

5

Alex Dujshebaev (ESP)

PGE Vive Kielce (POL)

79

Eduardo Gurbindo (ESP)

HBC Nantes (FRA)

79

7

Nicolas Tournat (FRA)

HBC Nantes (FRA)

76

8

Mate Lekai (HUN)

Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN)

75

9

Michal Jurecki (POL)

PGE Vive Kielce (POL)

74

Bjarte Myrhol (NOR)

Skjern Handbold (DEN)

74

Vuko Borozan (MNE)

HC Vardar (MKD)

74

Dika Mem (FRA)

FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP)

73

David Balaguer (ESP)

HBC Nantes (FRA)

73

14

Nikola Karabatic (FRA)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA)

72

15

Momir Ilic (SRB)

Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN)

71

16

Hampus Wanne (SWE)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

70

Kasper Sondergaard (DEN)

Skjern Handbold (DEN)

70

Timur Dibirov (RUS)

HC Vardar (MKD)

70

Albin Lagergren (SWE)

IFK Kristianstad (SWE)

69

Marko Vujin (SRB)

THW Kiel (GER)

69

Patrick Wiencek (GER)

THW Kiel (GER)

69

Sander Sagosen (NOR)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA)

69

Holger Glandorf (GER)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

68

Karol Bielecki (POL)

PGE Vive Kielce (POL)

68

Valero Rivera (ESP)

FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP)

66

Niclas Ekberg (SWE)

THW Kiel (GER)

66

Luka Cindric (CRO)

HC Vardar (MKD)

66

Tim Sörensen (DEN)

IFK Kristianstad (SWE)

65

Rasmus Lauge Schmidt (DEN)

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

65

Anders Eggert (DEN)

Skjern Handbold (DEN)

65

12

19

23 25

28

218


All-star team vote

All-star Team 2017/18

All-star Teams overview Season Goalkeeper

2012/2013

2013/2014

2014/2015

2015/2016

2016/2017

2017/2018

Darko Stanic (HC Metalurg)

Niklas Landin (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Roland Mikler (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Niklas Landin (THW Kiel)

Gonzalo Perez de Vargas (FC Barcelona Lassa)

Arpad Sterbik (HC Vardar)

Timur Dibirov (HC Vardar)

Uwe Gensheimer (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Manuel Strlek (Vive Tauron Kielce)

Uwe Gensheimer (Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

Uwe Gensheimer (Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

(FC Barcelona)

Momir Ilic (MVM Veszprem)

Mikkel Hansen (Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

Sander Sagosen (Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

(Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

Nikola Karaba�c (Paris SaintGermain Handball)

Anders Eggert (SG Flensburg-Han-

Centre back Line player

Filip Jicha (THW Kiel)

Momir Ilic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Daniel Narcisse (THW Kiel)

Mikkel Hansen (PSG Handball)

Mikkel Hansen (PSG Handball)

Dean Bombac (MOL-Pick Szeged)

Renato Sulic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Renato Sulic (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

Rastko Stojkovic (HC Meshkov Brest)

Ludovic Fabregas (Montpellier)

Bjarte Myrhol (Skjern Håndbold)

Julen Aguinagalde

Right back

Laszlo Nagy (MKB Veszprem)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona)

Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona Lassa)

Alex Dujshebaev (HC Vardar)

Dika Mem (FC Barcelona Lassa)

Right wing

Ivan Cupic (Vive Targi Kielce)

Luc Abalo (PSG Handball)

Victor Tomas (FC Barcelona)

Gasper Marguc (MVM Veszprem)

Victor Tomas (FC Barcelona Lassa)

David Balaguer (HBC Nantes)

Young player

N/A

N/A

Alex Dujshebaev (HC Vardar)

Darko Djukic (Besiktas JK)

Nedim Remili (Paris Saint-Germain Handball)

Romain Lagarde (HBC Nantes)

Defender

Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MKB Veszprem)

Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MKB-MVM Veszprem)

(THW Kiel)

Timuzsin Istvan Schuh (MVM Veszprem)

Coach

N/A

N/A

Talant Dujshebaev (Vive Tauron Kielce)

Xavier Sabate (MVM Veszprem)

219

(Paris Saint-Germain Handball) Raul Gonzalez (HC Vardar)

Luka Karaba�c (Paris SaintGermain Handball) Patrice Canayer (Montpellier Handball)


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Past time winners

Past winners 2018

Montpellier HB

(FRA)

2017

HC Vardar

(MKD)

2016

Vive Tauron Kielce

(POL)

2015

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

2014

SG Flensburg-Handewitt

(GER)

2013

HSV Hamburg

(GER)

2012

THW Kiel

(GER)

2011

FC Barcelona Borges

(ESP)

2010

THW Kiel

(GER)

2009

BM Ciudad Real

(ESP)

2008

BM Ciudad Real

(ESP)

2007

THW Kiel

(GER)

2006

BM Ciudad Real

(ESP)

2005

FC Barcelona-Cifec

(ESP)

2004

RK Celje Pivovarna Laško

(SLO)

2003

Montpellier HB

(FRA)

2002

SC Magdeburg

(GER)

2001

Portland San Antonio

(ESP)

2000

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

1999

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

1998

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

1997

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

1996

FC Barcelona

(ESP)

1995

Elgorriaga Bidasoa

(ESP)

1994

TEKA Santander

(ESP)

221


Timeline 1993 - 2018 Number of goals Number of matches

375,030

Number of spectators

221,539 157,975 60,365

104,000

3,614

3,822

80

1992

1993

225,450

4,871

5,181

4,942

4,973

7,799

7,699

136

136

387,550

8,014

209,700 199,700 198,055

4,805

4,907

5,103

3,827

80

1994

242,087

185,231

347,647

102

80

1995

17/11/1991 EHF founded

1996

100

1997

1998

98

96

1999

94

2000

94

2001

2002

94

2003

2004

2005

26/04/1996 29/08/1993 first EHF CL match (qualification): Pelister Bitola (MKD) vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)

1993/1994 group phase with eight teams in two groups, followed by a final

Thomas Svensson defends the title as the first player after repeating his Elgorriaga Bidasoa 1995 success with FC Barcelona

2003/2004 group phase with 32 teams, Last 16 added 2005

1996/1997

April 2002

group phase with 16 teams, quarter- and semi-finals added

Olafur Stefansson scores 16 goals against Fotex VeszprĂŠm in two final legs to lead SC Magdeburg to the title as the first non-Spanish team in history

1997

EHF Marketing founded, the EHF’s daughter company dealing with the marketing rights of the CL

first official website launched 1993 EHF takes over all the club and national team competitions including the former IHF European Champions Cup renaming it to the EHF Champions League

marketing, TV, media, organisation competition and players

222

140


882,621 854,237 750,850 708,349 672,418

693,883

705,251

648,196

726,287

11,522 11,560 11,506

532,500 412,850

9,795

520,889

9,849

9,311

9,652

9,201

9,216

9,407

8,989

8,306

208

204 166

140

2006

2007

169

158

2008

2009

166

2010

29/04/2007

07/09/2010

Andrei Xepkin raises the trophy for the alltime record seventh time

contract signing with the VELUX Group, the title sponsor

2007/08 group matches(32 teams) followed by main round (16) and semi-finals

2011

2012

group matches (32 teams) followed by main round (16) and semi-finals

2013

31/05/2013

group phase (24 teams) followed by Last 16; first FINAL4 event

first opening party at the FINAL4 takes place at the LANXESS arena with over 5,000 fans celebrating

2011/12 new corporate identity and new competition’s logo

2014/15 Kiril Lazarov becomes the first player to reach 1,000 goals on the way to the FC Barcelona’s eighth title

2007 first match streamed live on ehfTV.com

2014

2015

2016

2012/13 20,000 fans take part in the first All-star team online vote

223

2017

2018

2017/18 Sportradar enters the CL matches

Media rights deal signed with MP Silva

2009/10

THW Kiel win the premiere VELUX EHF FINAL4

160

2013/14

30/05/2010

2006/07

168

166

164

204

2015/16 total TV audience of 383 millions spectators

2017/18 ehfCL.com relaunched

2016 first use of the goalline and goal-light technology and referees cameras

May 2017 300,000 likes on the official Facebook page

27/05/2018 EHF signs a 10-year deal from 2020 with Infront/Perform with the CL in the package 04/06/2018 Ivan Cupic becomes the first player in the FINAL4 history to win back-to-back titles

31/08/2018 Nordstream 2 joins the CL family


History: 25 years of EHF Champions League

History: 25 years of EHF Champions League 1993 - 2005 1993/94 Final: ABC Braga vs TEKA Santander 22:22/21:23 (43:45) The inaugural year of the Men’s EHF Champions League saw the classic home and away knockout matches being replaced with a totally new system. 32 teams went into two qualification rounds, eliminating 24 clubs. The remaining eight teams were placed into two groups of four teams each playing in a roundrobin system. TEKA 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 streak in the Men’s EHF Champions League.

1994/95 Final: Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun vs Badel Zagreb 30:20 / 26:27 (56:47) The final of the EHF Champions League’s second season became the 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 he lifted the EHF Champions League but also the national championship trophy with Irun.

1995/96 Final: FC Barcelona vs Elgorriaga Bidasoa Irun 23:15 / 23:23 (46:38) 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 should be capable of dethroning the Catalan side for the next four years.

1996/97 Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 31:22 / 30:23 (61:45)

In their second consecutive EHF Champions League Final Barcelona dominated both matches against Badel Zagreb. And while the Spanish side celebrated their second EHF Champions League triumph, the 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.

1997/98 Final: FC Barcelona vs Badel Zagreb 28:18 / 28:22 (56:40) Barcelona beat Zagreb once more to win their third consecutive EHF Champions League title. But at least as much news as the repeated 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.

1998/99 Final: Badel Zagreb vs FC Barcelona 22:22 / 18:29 (40:51) Once again there were tears in Zagreb and joy in Barcelona. The Spanish team beat Zagreb in their third consecutive final and lifted the EHF Champions League trophy for the fourth time in a row. Zagreb’s coach Velimir Klajic had to admit that Barcelona “at this moment in time, were quite simply the best club team in the world.”

1999/00 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 Barcelona’s EHF Champions League winning streak. Backed by half of the Spanish national team and international stars like Christian Schwarzer and Tomas Svensson, Barcelona won their fifth title.

224


History: 25 years of EHF Champions League

2000/01

2003/04

Final: Portland San Antonio – FC Barcelona 30:24 / 22:25 (52:49) 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 handed the huge tropy to Portland San Antonio at the end of all-Spanish Final.

Final: Celje vs Flensburg- Handewitt 34:28 / 28:30 (62:58) In March 2003 the EHF had decided on a new structure for the competition. Three teams from Spain and Germany now had a starting slot. Two representatives from Hungary, Slovenia, Denmark and Croatia would start in the Group Phase. Overall 32 teams (8 groups of 4 teams each) made up the Group Phase. Flensburg had profited from the new system but Slovenian side Celje was too strong in the final.

2001/02 Final: Fotex Veszprem vs SC Magdeburg 23:21 / 25:30 (48:51) 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 the competition. And late at night, at the end of a glittering party, Stefan Kretzschmar and coach Alfred Gislason were still up for jokes: “Training is on the agenda. The entire team is going to run through the whole town until 08:00 tomorrow morning,” they both proclaimed.

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 League season. Montpellier’s Nikola Karabatic scored 11 goals in the first leg in Spain and another six in front of his home fans, enabling his team to turn around the eight goal defeat from the first leg and to become the first French side to win the EHF Champions League.

225

2004/05 Final: BM Ciudad Real vs FC Barcelona Cifec 28:27 / 27:29 (55:56) Following four years without being present in the final, Barcelona won their sixth EHF Champions League title. And while the spectator record for one match was 10,000 fans, the whole city celebrated Barcelona’s victory. “We did a lap of honour in the Stadion Nou Camp in front of 100,000 spectators and were celebrated by the whole town,” remembers Barcelona’s Dane Lars Krogh Jeppesen.

2005/06 Final: Portland San Antonio vs BM Ciudad Real 19:25 / 28:37 (47:62) Spanish businessman and BM Ciudad Real president, Domingo Diaz de Mera, had put together a team that proved to be unbeatable in the 2005/06 Champions League season. Mera bought superstars from all over Europe and the team around Olafur Stefansson, Mirza Dzomba, Didier Dinart et al. paid justified Mera’s expenses when they beat Spanish rival San Antonio in the final.


History: 25 years of EHF Champions League

History: 25 years of EHF Champions League 2006 - 2018 2006/07 Final: SG Flensburg- Handewitt vs THW Kiel 28:28 / 27:29 (55:57) The EHF Champions League, through the efforts of the 2005 founded EHF Marketing GmbH, became a unified look. Since 2006, TV spectators across Europe know they are watching a men’s EHF Champions League match when they see the distinct blue lagoon and black supplied by flooring specialists Gerfloor in addition to the season’s individual yellow and blue handball supplied by adidas. On the sport side of things, Kiel won their first EHF Champions League title, beating arch rival Flensburg-Handewitt.

2007/08 Final: BM Ciudad Real vs THW Kiel 27:29 / 31:25 (58:54) In the 2007/08 season a second Group Phase with four groups of four teams each replaced the Last 16-matches and the quarter-finals. The first teams of each group qualified for the semi-finals and in the final 2006 champion Ciudad Real faced 2007 champion THW Kiel. The Spanish side prevailed and could win their second EHF Champions League trophy.

2008/09 Final: THW Kiel vs BM Ciudad Real 39:34 / 27:33 (66:67) THW Kiel and BM Ciudad Real faced each other in the final for the second year in a row and even though Kiel had won the first leg of the final by five goals, it was Ciudad Real that won the EHF Champions League for a second consecutive time. Kiel were still in the lead by 20:16 after 39 minutes but with a series of 10:3 goals within 11 minutes Ciudad Real turned the match in their favour.

2009/10 Final: FC Barcelona Borges vs HW Kiel 34:36 In the 2009/10 season the number of participating teams in the first Group Phase was reduced from 32 to 24. Four groups of six teams each were formed and the first four teams qualified for the knockout phase which replaced the second group phase. For the first time the VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, which combined the Semi-finals and the Final, was held in Cologne, Germany, to decide the champion. THW Kiel won their second title when they beat Barcelona.

2010/11 Final: FC Barcelona vs Renovalia Ciudad Real 27:24 Since 2010 the event is known as the VELUX EHF Champions League. 40,000 fans stormed to Cologne to attend the VELUX EHF FINAL4 weekend and TV viewing audience figures went to a new height. 310 million viewers from 76 countries worldwide watched 2,800 hours of TV transmissions 2010/11. Barcelona extended their lead as the most successful club in EHF Champions League history when won their seventh title, beating Ciudad Real in the Final.

2011/12 Final: THW Kiel vs BM Atletico Madrid 26:21 The German powerhouse sensationally lost in their first home match of the season against Montpellier, but no other team was able to overcome THW Kiel throughout the remaining of the season. Gíslason led his team to the third trophy in the club’s history becoming the first coach who won with two different teams. Defending champions from Barcelona were eliminated in the quarter-finals by AG København, but 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.

226


History: 25 years of EHF Champions League

2012/13 Final: FC Barcelona vs HSV Hamburg 29:30 AET HSV Hamburg go into the new season as the defending champion. For the first time the extratime had to decide the winner. In 20 years of EHF Champions League history there have only been two champions, Montpellier in 2003 and Celje in 2004, who neither came from 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)

2013/14 Final: SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs THW Kiel 30:28 For the third year in a row a team from Northern Germany prevailed as SG Flensburg-Handewitt took both of their opponents at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 by surprise. In the semi-final the “Vranjes boys” eliminated giants of FC Barcelona after a penaltyshoot-out thriller and made the Cinderrella story perfect by beating their neighbours from Kiel 30:28 in the final.

2015/16 KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs MVM Veszprem 39:38 after 7m shootout This final went down to history books of the Champions League as a breathtaking classic. Deep in the second half Veszprem were leading by nine goals, still Kielce put up a spritid fight to force the extratime. Even the additional ten minutes could not solve the thriller and in the 7m shootout Kielce were luckier with Julen Aguinagalde’s last effort clinched the maiden title for the Polish champions adding only fifth country to the list of winners.

2016/17 Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC Vardar 23:24 For the first time in history no German team made it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The sold-out LANXESS arena still saw yet another edition of some showcase handball and three out of four matches ended in only one goal differences. HC Vardar beat the buzzer for two days in a row as Luka Cindric sank FC Barcelona Lassa in the semi-final and Ivan Cupic clinched the maiden title for the Macedonian team in the final against PSG sending the whole country into a handball frenzy.

2017/18

2014/15 Final: FC Barcelona vs MKB-MVM Veszprem 28:23 The defending champions from SG FlensburgHandewitt were eliminated already in the Last 16 as well as Rhein-Neckar Löwen. The end of the three-year-old reign of Bundesliga was sealed only in Cologne as THW Kiel were unable to repeat their 2014 semi-final win against Veszprem. However, the effort of Hungarian champions for their premiere trophy were denied by FC Barcelona who rose to the throne for the eighth time in the EHF history.

227

HBC Nantes vs Montpellier HB 27:32 In its 25th anniversary the European top flight once again underlined the rule that favourites cannot take anything for granted in this fierce competition. No fewer than three French teams made it to the final tournament in Cologne and after both finalists from the previous edition (Vardar and PSG) failed in the semi-finals it was a showdown between two preseason underdogs HBC Nantes and Montpellier HB in the final. Mainly courtesy of a brilliant performance of their playmaker Diego Simonet Montpellier returned to the European throne after 15 years and became the first team from Group C or D with this achievement.


All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League

All-time stats VELUX EHF Champions League 31 Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009

26 Montellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009

31 Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009

18 RK Zagreb CRO vs Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13 (23:5), 16.10.2005

50 THW Kiel GER @ HC Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50 (13:24), 22.10.2006

82 Barcelona Borges ESP vs KIF Kolding DEN 46:36 (23:19), 17.10.2009

11 Aalborg Handball DEN vs FC Barcelona ESP 11:31 (5:16), 15.03.2015

32 Wallau-Massenheim GER vs UHK West Wien AUT 17:15 (7:6), 20.03.1994

-9 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL @ HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 27:28 (19:10), 18.02.2015

-6 FC Barcelona ESP @ GOG Gudme DEN 22:22 (16:10), 14.02.1996

Biggest wins 29 26 26

ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011

Biggest home wins 25 25

FC Barcelona ESP vs Hapoel Rishon Le Zion ISR 42:17 (18:10), 15.11.1997 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI vs HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18 (23:8), 09.02.2012

Biggest away wins 29 26

ZTR Zaporozhye UKR @ AS Conversano 2003 ITA 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP @ HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 17:43 (9:21), 19.11.2011

Biggest lead at half-time 17

Montpellier HB FRA vs AC PAOK GRE 46:20 (26:9), 04.10.2009

Most goals 48 47

HSV Hamburg GER @ Fyllingen Handball NOR 17:48 (10:25), 14.11.2009 THW Kiel GER vs CS HCM Constanta ROU 47:31 (24:18), 12.11.2006

Most goals both teams 81 80*

FC Barcelona ESP vs THW Kiel GER 44:37 (19:20), 13.04.2008 FC Barcelona ESP vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 39:41 (17:18, 32:32, 36:36), 31.05.2014

Fewest goals: 12 12

AS Conversano 2003 ITA vs ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 12:41 (5:19), 29.11.2003 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD vs FC Barcelona ESP 12:26 (8:15), 06.11.2004

Fewest goals both teams: 32 33

Fotex KC Veszprém HUN vs Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13 (9:7), 17.11.2002 Panellinios AC Athens GRE vs Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 16:17 (8:9), 30.11.2002

Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to win a game

Biggest deficit overcome after losing first half to draw a game -6 -6 -6

HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO vs HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 28:28 (10:16), 07.10.2007 Pevafersa Valladolid ESP vs Pick Szeged HUN 35:35 (13:19), 27.02.2010 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 32:32 (13:19), 19.10.2013

228


All-time club standings 1993 - 2018

All-time club standings 1993 - 2018 TR

Name of the club

MP

W

D

L

GF:FA

GD

P

NP

%

1

Barça Lassa ESP

278

205

20

53

8513:7154

+1359

430:126

(21)*

77,34%

2

THW Kiel GER

276

184

18

74

8375:7417

+958

386:166

(21)

69,93%

3

Telekom Veszprém HC HUN

258

173

14

71

7459:6720

+739

360:156

(22)*

69,77%

AB

4

HC PPD Zagreb CRO

256

115

27

114

6684:6628

+56

257:255

(24)*

50,20%

AB

5

Montpellier HB FRA

204

117

13

74

5883:5563

+320

247:161

(18)*

60,54%

AB

6

SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER

184

112

16

56

5468:5065

+403

240:128

(13)*

65,22%

AB

7

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO

216

107

14

95

6171:5927

+244

228:204

(20)*

52,78%

AB

8

BM Atletico Madrid ESP

144

111

5

28

4502:3803

+699

227:61

(10)

78,82%

9

PGE Vive Kielce POL

144

83

13

48

4250:4065

+185

179:109

(11)*

62,15%

AB

10

MOL-Pick Szeged HUN

168

76

13

79

4650:4644

+6

165:171

(15)*

49,11%

AB

11

Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS

156

67

18

71

4690:4613

+77

152:160

(16)*

48,72%

CD

12

HSV Hamburg GER

98

68

9

21

3088:2670

+418

145:51

(7)

73,98%

13

Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER

118

64

17

37

3492:3302

+190

145:91

(8)*

61,44%

14

Portland San Antonio ESP

100

64

6

30

2929:2594

+335

134:66

(9)

67,00%

15

Paris Saint-Germain HB FRA

98

63

7

28

2896:2696

+200

133:63

(7)*

67,86%

AB

16

HC Vardar MKD

122

55

14

53

3347:3397

–50

124:120

(11)*

50,82%

AB

17

Abanca Ademar Leon ESP

112

56

6

50

3188:3135

+53

118:106

(11)*

52,68%

CD

18

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN

118

54

9

55

3330:3361

-31

117:119

(12)

49,58%

19

HC Metalurg MKD

92

34

6

52

2270:2418

-148

74:110

(9)*

40,22%

CD

20

Orlen Wisla Plock POL

110

30

10

70

2913:3183

–270

70:150

(11)*

31,82%

CD

21

HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR

60

30

7

23

1757:1728

+29

67:53

(5)*

55,83%

AB

25

HC Meshkov Brest BLR

80

23

10

47

2172:2319

-147

56:104

(8)*

35,00%

AB

28

HBC Nantes FRA

34

22

6

6

1014:935

+79

50:18

(2)*

73,53%

AB

29

Skjern Handbold DEN

42

20

5

17

1190:1120

+70

45:39

(4)*

53,57%

AB

39

Tatran Presov SVK

56

13

5

38

1504:1707

-203

31:81

(8)*

27,68%

CD

44

Besiktas Mogaz TUR

44

12

2

30

1203:1375

–172

26:62

(4)*

29,55%

CD

47

Elverum NOR

30

11

3

16

818:867

-49

25:35

(3)*

41,67%

CD

50

IFK Kristianstad SWE

44

9

5

30

1191:1316

-125

23:65

(3)*

26,14%

AB

58

58 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN

38

8

0

30

974:1109

-135

16:60

(3)*

21,05%

CD

68

62 Sporting Lisbon POR

16

6

0

10

425:446

–21

12:20

(2)*

37,50%

CD

96

64 Dinamo Bucuresti ROU

26

5

2

19

720:816

-96

12:40

(3)*

23,08%

CD

117

114Wacker Thun SUI

10

0

1

9

242:329

-87

1:19

(1)*

5,00%

CD

NR

NR Riihimäen Cocks FIN

0

0

0

0

0:0

0

0:0

(0)*

0,00%

CD

229

AB

AB


Notes

EHF Media & Communications 06/09/18 Vlado Brindzak +43 1 80 151 161 brindzak@eurohandball.com Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Tomas Cuncik, Adrian Costeiu, Nemanja Savic, Béla Müller, Kevin Domas, Sergey Nikolaev, Jelena Bagaric, Amina Idrizi, Magda Pluszewska, Tiago Nogueira, Fulya Oktem, Eric Willemsen, Courtney Gahan. All stats by Roy Knoppert.

230


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