THE INTERVIEW OF M MORALES

Graduate in Journalism from the UCLM and member of the RTVCLM Board of Directors.

AMBROS MARTIN

v 4 Women's EHF Champions League (2013, 2014, 2014, 2017, 2018), 1 Women's EHF Cup (2009), 4 Jmes declared

Coach of the Year in the Women's EHF Champions League (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), among many others... How does it feel to be the most successful Spanish and European coach with women's teams? What goal do you sJll have to achieve? AM: Well, humbly, I don't feel anything special... perhaps nostalgia and, in any case, graNtude to all those who made each of those Ntles possible, in one way or another. Besides, it is something that belongs to the past, I do not believe in individual disNncNons, and I consider that the results, although it is something that is pursued when you are in the high compeNNon, are clearly harmful, because they can become toxic ... And we can become confused. What I have yet to accomplish in women's handball is something that, although it may seem presumptuous, has nothing to do with winning in itself, something that goes beyond good results, is something that in some ways I do not know, and I would like to feel and make you feel; and it would have something to do with excellence well understood.

v AUer everything that has happened in recent months with

Rostov and the Russian naJonal team... What moJvated you to return to Gyor? AM. -On the one hand, we did not achieve with Rostov what we set out to do when we went there. In the first year there was a becer team than us in Europe and then the pandemic unexpectedly paralysed and cancelled all compeNNons. This, together with the fact that I was kicked out of the naNonal team at the last European Championships, I felt that it was not the best way to end my Nme in women's handball.

On the other hand, there is Gyor, which I know perfectly well, and it is a club, a team, a fan base, to which it is impossible to say no when they need you. v You have two seasons ahead of you to "close" your stage as a women's coach... what has made you want to embark on the management of a men's team in the not too distant future? AM. -Well, it's something that has been on my mind for some Nme, and afer they didn't let me fulfil my dream of parNcipaNng in an Olympiad, I thought about it in order to start the men's adventure in the next one.

Graduate in Journalism from the UCLM and member of the RTVCLM Board of Directors.

AMBROS MARTIN

Gyor's interest in returning, plus the frustraNon I suffered in the last European Championship, became a necessary force to try in the coming years to close my Nme in the women's team with a different feeling and sensaNons to those of today. v Handball in our country conJnues to be a "trampoline" for players who seek to compete in other European leagues... why do you think this is? How could the situaJon be reversed? AM. -The fact that the professional leagues of ASOBAL and ABF, have been weakened by the absence of their best exponents, gives in turn, the opportunity to young values to demonstrate their worth, assuming many moments of responsibility in their teams, and thus acceleraNng the process necessary to become players increasingly higher level. I also believe that the work done from the federaNon to promote these young values with the possibility of being in the wake, or belong conNnuously, to the different stages of the naNonal team, serve as sufficient sNmulus to maintain a high level of dedicaNon and moNvaNon for the players. v Is Spanish men's and women's handball in good health? AM. -At naNonal team level, and as a macer of the present: A resounding YES: for the level of play, results and methodology implemented. At club level, I miss those tough and compeNNve leagues, which undoubtedly helped us and forced us to be becer players and coaches. Perhaps I have some doubts about the near future, in a certain way, due to the mentality of the new generaNons and today's society, more concerned about social networks and what others think, than what really macers. I try to see the future beyond: Entrerios, Aguinagalde, Cañellas, Viran;...Nerea, Navarro, Carmen, Barbosa... and I find it complicated, to be able to conNnue at the same level. But we must believe and be opNmisNc, and trust in our coaches and players. v Looking back... and if you could... what would you say to the Ambros MarJn of 20 years ago? AM. -May what lies ahead of you in the next 20 years, not pervert your passion and enthusiasm of when you started. Believe only in yourself and your insNncts, then you will never fail. v If you had to choose a "sweet" and a "bi[er" moment in your sporJng career, both as a player and on the bench... which one would it be? Why? AM. -Well, firstly, to have met so many people who will be important in my life: teammates, players, coaches, friends... Secondly, having been right, almost always, in the choices of the teams where I have been, which on the other hand, have not been many. Thirdly, and although it may sound strange, having known first, the painful and sobering taste of defeats, is something that has helped me a lot, although it has not been enNrely sweet ...

The successes I have achieved, both as a player and as a coach, are a consequence of all this, and I have great memories, especially of : The first final played with Gáldar (lost). The first King's Cup won with San Antonio; the EHF Cup with Itxako de Estella, the first Champion with Györ of Hungary, the first supercup with Rostov, and the bronze medal with Russia in the World Cup.

On the other side, and despite having lost in a traumaNc way, both as a player and coach, some European finals... what has really marked and affected me has been: the impotence of having seen Itxako de Navarra disappear; Having let down many people, having lef Rostov and especially the Romanian naNonal team, without having achieved the objecNves set.

Graduate in Journalism from the UCLM and member of the RTVCLM Board of Directors.

AMBROS MARTIN

But above all to have worked, to have trusted and to have given, together with a group of phenomenal players, a bronze medal to such a piNful character as the president of the Russian Handball FederaNon. It is something I will not forgive myself for. v What advice would you give to the coaches who look up to you and dream of one day succeeding like Ambros

MarJn? AM. -With the passage of Nme, I have realised that what really counts, redundancy aside, is not winning in itself... this can be a macer of luck, quality or even chance. That what is really worthwhile is to dedicate yourself with passion to what you do, without expecNng anything in return, in any case the respect and admiraNon of your loved ones. If you lose that, you lose everything, no macer how many Ntles you have behind you. I would also tell them that the results, whether good or bad, DO NOT tarnish your career, always learn posiNvely from all of them, especially when it comes to winning. And of course, be thankful and if, for whatever reason, they don't come, don't worry; be persevering and enthusiasNc, because you do what you really like, it's what you want and that's what counts? And be thankful, again, for all of this