Media Guide - Montpellier Handball
Transcription
Media Guide - Montpellier Handball
Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2014/15 Group Phase Title sponsor Premium sponsors Regional Premium sponsor Partners VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPONSORS Table of contents Foreword5 Media contacts 6 Map of participating clubs 7 Playing system diagrams - stages and dates 8 Important regulations - scoring of matches and ranking 10 EHF Champions League information 11 ehfTV.com 12 VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown 14 Facts & Figures of the Group Phase 16 GROUP A Preview 19 Head-to-heads in the EC 20 THW Kiel 21 HC Metalurg 25 HC Prvo Plinarsko Drustvo Zagreb 29 Naturhouse La Rioja 33 PSG Handball 37 HC Meshkov Brest 41 GROUP B Preview 45 Head-to-heads in the EC 46 FC Barcelona 47 KIF Kolding Köbenhavn 51 Alingsas HK 55 Orlen Wisla Plock 59 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 63 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 67 3 Table of contents GROUP C Preview 70 Head-to-heads in the EC 71 MKB-MVM Veszprem 73 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 77 Chekhovskie Medvedi 81 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 85 HC Vardar 89 Montpellier Agglomeration HB 93 GROUP D Preview 97 Head-to-heads in the EC 98 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 99 Dunkerque Grand Littoral 103 Kadetten Schaffhausen 107 MOL-Pick Szeged 111 Aalborg Handbold 115 HC Motor Zaporozhye 119 HISTORY Past winners 123 History of the EHF Champions League 124 Top scorers of the past seasons 126 Top scorers of the 2013/14 season 127 All-time club standings 128 4 Foreword Dear Media Representative, On behalf of the European Handball Federation, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Group Phase of the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League. Moving into the first stage of the new season, I welcome all the teams who have made it to this stage of the competition. Following an emotionally intense qualification phase that concluded on 7 September 2014, the final line-up of the Groups A to D is finally known. Twenty-four teams from all corners of Europe will play the Group Phase that will begin in September 2014 and conclude in February 2015 following the winter hiatus, in all there will be ten rounds of competition. The Group Phase is the first challenge that the teams have to face; this is by no means easy. In the past, we have borne witness, watching stunned as handball giants have failed to progress and the underdogs have thrived against all odds. The Group Phase is the first hurdle that has to be conquered on the road to the FINAL4. Once again, as in the previous season, the final 24 teams representing 15 countries are ready for their first matches. The defending champions, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, will launch their new Champions League campaign from Group B; anew they will meet FC Barcelona, the record holder for most Champions League titles (7 wins). The VELUX EHF Champions League is the only place where the handball elite meet on a European club competition level. The event is guaranteed to bring both great highs and excruciating lows to the teams. But the Champions League remains unpredictable as ever; there is just so much to look forward to. I wish all the teams on their VELUX EHF Champions League journey the very best of luck and I wish you, the fans an enjoyable season! We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media and I am sure this will continue and develop in the future. I therefore hope you consider this media guide a useful and enriching resource for your work in the upcoming weeks and months. Should you require any further information, help or assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media and Communications Department based in our office in Vienna. They will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you in the coming season! Jean Brihault EHF President 5 EHF/M Media contacts Media matters TV and Radio Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation +43 1 80 151 161 [email protected] Twitter: @ehfmedia Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 224 [email protected] Clubs – Media contacts GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D THW Kiel (GER) Christian Robohm +49 1635306300 [email protected] FC Barcelona (ESP) Gustau Galvache +34 618522789 [email protected] MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN) Zsolt Sevinger +36 305024547 mkbveszpremkezilabdazrt@ upcmail.hu Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Sebastian Kozubek +48 505031244 [email protected] HC Metalurg (MKD) Zoran Cvetanovski +389 78223505 [email protected] KIF Kolding København (DEN) Thomas Christensen +45 22 629062 [email protected] RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Nejc Ajdnik +386 40687766 [email protected] Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Melanie Lefevbre + 33 3 28 66 91 52 [email protected] HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Goran Roknić +385 95 9999 334 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr Alingsas HK (SWE) Christer Martensson +46 705 919625 [email protected] Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Benjamin Kuznetsov +7 9166186054 [email protected] Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) Barbara Imobersteg +41 787203247 [email protected] Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +34 63 77 66 107 [email protected] Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Piotr Raczkowski Tel: +48-691-99881 [email protected] Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) Christopher Monz [email protected] +491744288849 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Nandor Szögi +36 70 3878234 [email protected] PSG Handball (FRA) Louise Cosnard +33 (0)675 591 939 [email protected] SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Sandra von Wallis +49 4611609625 s.vonwallis@ sg-flensburg-handewitt.de HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Marko Savovski +389 75 200 008 [email protected] Aalborg Handball (DEN) Poul Madsbjerg +4520804976 [email protected] HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Alexandr Kulbaka +375 293 50 74 79 [email protected] Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR) Berk Karahan +90-535-358-8747 [email protected] Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Suzy Demonte +33 499 610 358 [email protected] HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Dmitriy Karpushchenko +380 50 5581181 [email protected] 6 Naturhouse La Rioja, ESP Futebol Clube do Porto, POR Montpellier HB, FRA PSG Handball, FRA Rhein-Neckar Löwen, GER F.C. Barcelona, ESP Dunkerque HB G. Littoral, FRA Hubo Initia Hasselt, BEL Host City Cologne, GER VELUX EHF FINAL4 Teams in the Group Phase Kadetten Schaffhausen, SUI Targos HC Bevo, NED bevo hc Haslum HK, NOR Alpla HC Hard, AUT Aalborg Handbold, DEN KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, DEN Teams eliminated in the Qualification Season 2014/15 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 7 RK Celje Pivo. Lasko, SLO Alingsas HK, SWE Junior Fasano ITA RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B SG FlensburgHandewitt, GER HC PPD Zagreb,CRO THW Kiel, GER HC Metalurg, MKD HC Vardar MKD HC Vojvodina Novi Sad, SRB HCM Constanta, ROU MOL-Pick Szeged, HUN MKB-MVM Veszprem, HUN HC Motor Zaporozhye, UKR Tatran Presov, SVK Chekhovski Medvedi, RUS HC Brest Meshkov, BLR Besiktas MOGAZ HT, TUR KS Vive Tauron Kielce, POL Orlen Wisla Plock, RUS 8 06. - 07.09.2014 24. - 28.09.2014 01. - 05.10.2014 08. - 12.10.2014 15. - 19.10.2014 12. - 16.11.2014 4 Last 16 vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. 3 vs. 1 vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. 1 1 2 second leg 15.04. - 19.04.2015 second leg 18.03. - 22.03.2015 8 teams Quarter-finals 2 first leg 08.04. - 12.04.2015 1 2 2 Quarter-finals first leg 11.03. - 15.03.2015 16 teams Last 16 Season 2014/15 playing dates 19. - 23.11.2014 26. - 30.11.2014 03. - 06.12.2014 11. - 15.02.2015 18. - 22.02.2015 4 groups with 6 teams each 3 tournaments with semi-finals and finals Group Phase 5 10 Qualification Tournaments Home Matches Total Matches Group Phase 12 teams Qualification Tournaments VELUX EHF Champions League 2014/15 playing system vs. 30/31.05.2015 4 teams FINAL4 Final vs. 3rd Place Match vs. vs. Semi-finals FINAL4 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15 GER 1 ESP 1 HUN 1 POL 1 DEN 1 MKD 1 SLO 1 FRA 1 CRO 1 RUS 1 SUI 1 SWE 1 GER 2 ESP 2 HUN 2 POL 2 GER 3 DEN 2 MKD 2 FRA 2 FRA 3 UKR 1 BLR 1 ROU 1 SRB 1 POR 1 NOR 1 SVK 1 AUT 1 TUR 1 NED 1 BEL 1 ITA 1 HC Motor Zaporozhye HC Meshkov Brest HCM Constanta RK Vojvodina FC Porto Haslum HK Tatran Presov Alpla HC Hard Besiktas JK Targos Bevo HC Initia Hasselt Junior Fasano FINAL4 4 groups with 6 teams 16 teams 8 teams 4 teams 24.‐28.09.2014 (1) 01.‐05.10.2014 (2) 08.‐12.10.2014 (3) 15.‐19.10.2014 (4) 12.‐16.11.2014 (5) 19.‐23.11.2014 (6) 26.‐30.12.2014 (7) 03.‐06.12.2014 (8) 11.‐15.02.2015 (9) 18.‐22.02.2015 (10) 11.‐15.03.2015 08.‐12.04.2015 30./31.05.2015 first leg first leg tournament 18.‐22.03.2015 15.‐19.04.2015 second leg second leg 27 June 2014 in Vienna 24 February 2015 24 March 2015 21 April 2015 THW Kiel FC Barcelona MKB‐MVM Veszprem KS VIVE Targi Kielce KIF Kolding HC Metalurg RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko Dunkerque Grand Littoral RK Zagreb Chekhovskie Medvedi Kadetten Schaffhausen Alingsas HK Rhein‐Neckar Löwen Naturhouse La Rioja Pick Szeged Orlen Wisla Plock S.A. SG Flensburg‐Handewitt Aalborg Handbold HC Vardar PSG HB Montpellier AH 4 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Quarterfinals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 26 June 2014 in Vienna Quarterfinals 8 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 DRAWS: played in semi finals and finals NATION Last 16 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team from each group 06./07.09.2014 tournaments Group Phase Winners of the 3 Qualification tournaments Qualification Tournaments 3 groups with 4 teams 4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd 3 status: 23.06.2014 Important regulations Scoring of the matches and ranking General If two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows: All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. The EHF reserves the right to extend the half-time break in special circumstances to 15 minutes. During the Group Phase: a) higher goal difference in all matches; b) higher number of plus goals in all matches; The matches shall be scored as follows: a) win = 2 points b) draw = 1 point c) loss = 0 points After completion of the Group Phase if two teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of the two teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of the two teams directly involved; c) higher number of goals scored in the away match of the two teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group; Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won. Group Phase After completion of the Group Phase if three or more teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of all teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of all teams directly involved; c) higher number of plus goals in matches of all teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group; If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined. If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by drawing lots. Lots shall be drawn by the EHF, if possible in the presence of a responsible of each club. 10 EHF Champions League information Team line-ups and match reports Online information Already with the start of the 2012/13 season, an improvement to the media services offered by the EHF has come. ehfCL.com ehfTV.com Regulations of the VELUX EHF Champions League Twitter: @ehfmedia, @ehfcl Facebook: ehf.champions.league From the opening matches of the season, the complete team lineup has been available online at eurohandball.com and available to download as a PDF document. The change has been made possible thanks to the introduction of a new online solution, which sees the EHF match delegate complete the final team line-up immediately after the technical meeting. This development means that team lineups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each match throws-off. Official name The official name of the competition is: VELUX EHF Champions League. The full name of the competition should always be used. VELUX and the three letter abbreviation for the European Handball Federation should always be displayed in capital letters before the name of the competition. A further change means that 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. Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after “Champions League” e.g. VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14. The wording “Champions League” should be written with a capital letter at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The remaining letters should be in lower case. The word Champions does not have an apostrophe after the ‘s’. Team line-ups and match reports can be viewed by clicking on a particular match on the eurohandball.com or ehfCL.com websites. The online system is also under further development with the ultimate aim being to provide live scores and statistics from EHF competitions and available on the EHF website. Accreditation for GroupPhase The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs. TV and Radio accreditations are subjects to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán. 11 ehfTV.com All matches of new season live Schedule of first 4 MOTW released Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single match in the new season of both elite European club competitions. All matches starting from Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Group Matches of the Women´s EHF Champions League will 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. ehfTV commentator Tom Ó Brannagáin will be heading to FYR Macedonia, Hungary and Denmark for the opening four rounds of the group phase. On his travels, he will get to know Skopje very well with trips fto both Metalurg (Round 1) and Vardar (Round 3) in store. The confirmed dates and times for Match of the Week are as follows: Round 1: HC Metalurg vs Paris Saint-Germain – Sunday 28 September, 19:15 hrs. local time Round 2: MKB-MVM Veszprem vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen – Saturday 4 October, 21:00 hrs. local time Round 3: HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen – Sunday 12 October, 19:30 hrs. local time Round 4: KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs FC Barcelona – Sunday 19 October, 1650 hrs. local time The complete coverage of all matches means that only during the group stage of both competitions handball fans will be spoilt by 120 men´s and 78 women´s matches. Together with men´s knockout stage, respectively women´s Main Round and knockout stage this is supposed to create this season more than 226 hours of live handball on ehfTV.com. *Note that live matches will be geo-blocked in some territories. 12 VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown It is undeniable that the 2014 VELUX EHF FINAL4 was the season’s highlight in European handball – 20,000 spectators in the LANXESS arena and millions of fans at home watched four unforgettable handball games and a unique entertainment show. Just before the event - “Do it like us”, the official song of the VELUX EHF Champions League was released. 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. Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2014 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. Tickets for the 2015 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 went on sale on the opening day of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2014. Now, eight months before the participating teams are known, only a very limited number of tickets remained. 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 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. The success of the first four editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 showed that this new format was 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. The engagement of a top international act such as EUROPE was a sign too of the direction the event is taking. Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Accreditation The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will start early in 2015. 14 30 / 31 May 2015 LANXESS arena Cologne 2015 VELUX EHF FINAL4 TICKET SALE Admission prices Category 1: € 265,Category 2: € 195,Category 3: € 135,Category 4: € 65,- THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE. THE ABSOLUTE THRILL. EUROPE’S BEST. ehfFINAL4.com #EHFFINAL4 Tickets are available by phone, online and at the LANXESS arena ticket shops www.ehfFINAL4.com Ticket hotline +49 221 280 288 Imagine your ! VIP experience ts VIP Arrangemen 151 – 216 80 1 3 +4 : Hotline VIPfmarketing.com ehfFINAL4@eh Facts and figures of the group phase 9600 minutes, 24 teams, 15 nations With the completion of the three qualification tournaments on Sunday, all 24 group phase participants of the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season have been confirmed. Motor Zaporozhye, Besiktas and Meshkov Brest were the last to book their tickets as winners of their respective tournaments for the flagship event of European club handball. To celebrate the return of the VELUX EHF Champions League, here are the most important facts and figures of the upcoming group phase and beyond: 1 debutant is among those 24 teams qualified: Besiktas - and their qualification also means that a Turkish side is part of the EHF Champions League group phase for the first time. 1 coach took the EHF Champions League trophy with two different clubs: Alfred Gislason, who won the title in 2002 with SC Magdeburg and 2010 and 2012 with THW Kiel. 1 person is EHF Champions League winner as a player (Teka Santander/ESP) and a coach (Ciudad Real/ESP): Talant Dushebaev. This season Dushebaev is aiming for his next record, trying to lead Polish champions Kielce to the podium in Cologne. Another Champions League winning player who hopes to follow in Dushebaev’s footsteps is Carlos Antonio Ortega, six times winner as a player with FC Barcelona and is one of the FINAL4 contenders with his club Veszprem. 3 winners of the qualification tournaments are part of the group phase: Motor Zaporozhye (Ukraine), Besiktas (Turkey) and Brest (Belarus). 4 (all) participants of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2014 are part of the group phase again: defending champions SG FlensburgHandewiit (GER), beaten finalist THW Kiel (GER), third ranked FC Barcelona (ESP) and MVM-MKB Veszprem (HUN). 4 countries were represented by the winners of the EHF Champions League since the start of this competition in 1993: Spain (13 titles), Germany (6), France and Slovenia (each 1). 4 times both THW Kiel and FC Barcelona have been part of the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 in Cologne, which has been played five times so far. Kiel took the trophy twice (2010, 2012), Barcelona once (2011). 5 former or current winners of the EHF Champions League are part of the 2014/15 group phase: SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER/2013), THW Kiel (2010, 2012), FC Barcelona (1996-2000, 2005, 2011), RK Celje (2004), Montpellier AHB (2003). 5 times (every edition since the first in 2010) that the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 was composed of Spanish and/or German teams: 2010: Kiel vs Barcelona, 2011: Barcelona vs Madrid, 2012: Kiel vs Madrid, 2013: Hamburg vs Barcelona, 2014: Flensburg vs Barcelona 5 times Belarusian Siarhei Rutenka has won the EHF Champions League (three times with Ciudad Real, once with Celje and Barcelona each) - which makes him the most successful currently active player. Thierry Omeyer (now PSG) can catch him, as he won the trophy four times already (three times with Kiel and once with Montpellier). 6 different nations have been represented by clubs qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since 2010: Spain, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Poland and Hungary. 6th edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will take place in Cologne 30/31 May 2015. 6 times the winner of the EHF Champions League was a German side: Magdeburg (2002), Kiel (2007, 2010, 2012), Hamburg (2013) and Flensburg (2014). 7 times FC Barcelona has won the trophy of the EHF Champions League, making them record winners of the competition. 7 times Andrej Xepkin has raised the EHF Champions League trophy, six times with Barcelona (1996-2000 and 2005), once with Kiel (2007), making him the most successful player of all time. 7 former top scorers of the EHF Champions League are part of the 2014/15 group phase: Momir Ilic (2013/14 - 103 goals, Veszprem), Mikkel Hansen (2011/12 - 98 goals, then AG Kobenhavn, now PSG Paris), Uwe Gensheimer (2010/11- 118 goals, Rhein Neckar Löwen), Filip Jicha 2008/09- 99 goals and 2009/10 - 119 goals, Kiel), Kiril Lazarow (2007/08 - 96 goals and 2005/06 - 85 goals, then Veszprem, today Barcelona), Nikola Karabatic (2006/07 - 89 goals, then Kiel, today Barcelona), Siarhei Rutenka (2003/04 - 103 goals and 2004/05 - 85 goals, then Celje, today Barcelona). 10 years ago was the last time that there was neither a Spanish nor German winner of the competition, when RK Celje from Slovenia won. 13 times Spanish teams have raised the trophy: Barcelona (7), Ciudad Real (3), Santander, Irun, Portland (each 1). 16 Facts and figures of the group phase 15 different nations, the same number as the previous season, are represented by the 24 group phase participants. Germany and France have three teams each among those 24, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Poland have two each. In contrast to the previous season, the champions of Portugal missed the qualification for the group phase, but Turkey is present. 17 of those 24 teams were part of the 2013/14 group phase: Kiel, Metalurg, Zagreb, La Rioja and Paris from Group A, Barcelona, KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, Plock and Flensburg from Group B, Veszprem, Celje, Löwen, Vardar from Group C and Kielce, Dunkerque, Aalborg and Zaporozhye from Group D. 160 matches (including those 12 from the qualification tournaments) must be played until the 2014/15 winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League will celebrate on the podium. 9600 minutes (if no extra-time is needed to decide games) must be played until the winner of the competition is confirmed. 15,320 spectators was a record high for the 2013/14 group phase in the game between Minsk and Barcelona. 20,000 fans are once again expected to be part of the 2015 VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. 120 group matches are ahead until the participants of the Last 16 are confirmed in February 2015. Teams by age average Teams by weight average Teams by height average HC Vardar 30 FC Barcelona 30 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 29 HC Meshkov Brest 28 HC Motor Zaporozhye 28 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 27 Naturhouse La Rioja 27 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 27 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 26 MKB-MVM Veszprém 26 Orlen Wisla Plock 26 THW Kiel 26 PSG Handball 26 Kadetten Schaffhausen 25 HC Metalurg 25 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 24 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral24 Montpellier HB 24 MOL-Pick Szeged 24 Aalborg Handball 24 Chekhovskie Medvedi 23 Alingsas HK 23 HC PPD Zagreb 22 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 22 CL average 25 HC Vardar 100.4 Orlen Wisla Plock 98.8 MKB-MVM Veszprém 98.3 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 96.1 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 95.8 THW Kiel 95.4 HC Meshkov Brest 95.3 Naturhouse La Rioja 94.2 HC Motor Zaporozhye 94.1 Aalborg Handball 94.0 HC PPD Zagreb 94.0 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 93.2 FC Barcelona 92.9 PSG Handball 92.3 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral92.2 Montpellier HB 92.2 MOL-Pick Szeged 92.1 Alingsas HK 91.9 Kadetten Schaffhausen 91.2 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 91.1 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 91.0 HC Metalurg 90.7 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 89.3 Chekhovskie Medvedi 87.4 CL average 93,4 Orlen Wisla Plock 197 THW Kiel 194 Naturhouse La Rioja 193 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 193 Aalborg Handball 193 HC Meshkov Brest 193 HC Vardar 193 HC Motor Zaporozhye 193 HC PPD Zagreb 192 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 192 FC Barcelona 192 HC Metalurg 192 Chekhovskie Medvedi 192 MKB-MVM Veszprém 192 PSG Handball 191 Kadetten Schaffhausen 191 Montpellier HB 191 MOL-Pick Szeged 191 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 191 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 190 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 190 Alingsas HK 190 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 189 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral189 CL average 192 17 Facts and figures of the group phase shortest vs tallest Ljubomir Vranjes Miha Zarabec Juanin Garcia Ugur Coban Gal Marguc Victor Tomas Davor Palevski Sergio Muggli Ivan Cupic Oguzhan Büyük Jalleledine Touati Theophile Causse Zlatko Horvat Luka Rakovic Michael Guigou Marvin Gerdon Anders Eggert SWE SLO ESP TUR SLO ESP MKD SUI CRO TUR TUN FRA CRO CRO FRA GER DEN SG Flensburg-Handewitt 168 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 174 Naturhouse La Rioja 176 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 177 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 177 FC Barcelona 178 HC Metalurg 178 Kadetten Schaffhausen 178 KS Vive Tauron Kielce 178 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 179 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral179 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral179 HC PPD Zagreb 179 HC PPD Zagreb 179 Montpellier Aggl. HB 179 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 179 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 179 Angel Montoro Mateusz Piechowski Marko Kopljar Sergii Burka Michal Kasal Laszlo Nagy Ivan Ivkovic Kamil Syprzak Otto Kancel Patrick Eilert Viachaslau Shumak Egor Evdokimov Leon Susnja Jakov Gojun Janko Bozovic Borut Mackovsek Igor Vori ESP POL CRO UKR CZE HUN CRO POL SVK DEN BLR RUS CRO CRO AUT SLO CRO Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock PSG Handball HC Motor Zaporozhye RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko MKB-MVM Veszprém HC PPD Zagreb Orlen Wisla Plock MKB-MVM Veszprém Naturhouse La Rioja HC Meshkov Brest HC Motor Zaporozhye HC PPD Zagreb PSG Handball HC Meshkov Brest Montpellier Aggl. HB PSG Handball 213 210 210 208 208 207 206 206 205 205 204 204 204 204 203 203 203 SRB RUS HUN ESP HUN ESP CRO POL POL ESP CRO SWE HUN SLO BLR FRA TUR HC Vardar HC Vardar MKB-MVM Veszprém Naturhouse La Rioja MOL-Pick Szeged Naturhouse La Rioja PPD Zagreb Orlen Wisla Plock Orlen Wisla Plock HC Vardar Besiktas MOGAZ HT MKB-MVM Veszprém MKB-MVM Veszprém Montpellier Aggl. HB HC Meshkov Brest Montpellier Aggl. HB Besiktas MOGAZ HT 135 128 122 121 120 120 120 120 120 119 118 117 117 116 116 115 115 lightest vs heaviest Davor Palevski MKD Fabian Schneider SUI Artem Kozakevych UKR Michal Daszek POL Bostjan Kostomaj SLO Miha Zarabec SLO Gal Marguc SLO Theophile Causse FRA Lenard Nagy HUN Lukas Blohme GER Timur Dibirov RUS Arthur Anquetil FRA Nikola Kosteski MKD Juanin Garcia ESP Marvin Gerdon GER Goce Ojleski MKD Peter Schmid HUN HC Metalurg 65 Kadetten Schaffhausen 66 HC Motor Zaporozhye 68 Orlen Wisla Plock 70 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 70 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 72 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 72 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral72 MOL-Pick Szeged 72 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 72 HC Vardar 74 Montpellier Aggl. HB 74 HC Metalurg 74 Naturhouse La Rioja 75 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 75 HC Metalurg 75 MKB-MVM Veszprém 75 Mathias Pedersen Erik Pettersson Lenard Nagy Ömer Mercan Kubilay Yilmaz Martin Velkovski Berkay Gulyurt Davor Palevski Tom Pelayo Benoit Kounkoud Yigit Ilgin Felix Claar Egon Urban R. Torbjörnsson Richard Mezei Blaz Janc Gal Marguc Aalborg Handball Alingsas HK MOL-Pick Szeged Besiktas MOGAZ Besiktas MOGAZ HC Metalurg Besiktas MOGAZ HC Metalurg Dunkerque HB PSG Handball Besiktas MOGAZT Alingsas HK MOL-Pick Szeged Alingsas HK MOL-Pick Szeged Celje Lasko Celje Lasko Strahinja Milic Alexei Rastvortsev Adam Borbely Angel Rodriguez Imre Pasztor Francisco Garcia Teo Coric Zbigniew Kwiatkowski Kamil Syprzak Arpad Sterbik Capar Josip Buljubasic Andreas Nilsson Laszlo Nagy Matej Gaber Viachaslau Shumak Issam Tej Tolga Özbahar youngest vs oldest DEN SWE HUN TUR TUR MKD TUR MKD FRA FRA TUR SWE HUN SWE HUN SLO SLO 30.7.1997 27.5.1997 8.5.1997 10.4.1997 22.3.1997 10.3.1997 3.3.1997 26.2.1997 23.2.1997 19.2.1997 1.2.1997 5.1.1997 12.12.1996 29.11.1996 28.11.1996 20.11.1996 16.11.1996 Nenad Puljezevic Ljubomir Vranjes Boris Schnuchel Renato Vugrinec Vladimir Petric Ibrahim Demir Richard Stochl Kasper Hvidt Venio Losert Thierry Omeyer Maik Machulla Mladen Bojinovic Petar Angelov Oguzhan Büyük Danijel Saric Juanin Garcia Gurutz Aguinalde 18 HUN SWE DEN MKD SRB TUR SVK DEN CRO FRA GER SRB MKD TUR BIH ESP ESP Kadetten 13.3.1973 SG Flensburg-Han. 3.10.1973 KIF Kolding Kob. 15.3.1975 HC Metalurg 9.6.1975 HC Vardar 5.8.1975 Besiktas MOGAZ 4.10.1975 HC Motor 17.12.1975 KIF Kolding Kob. 6.2.1976 Montpellier Aggl. 25.7.1976 PSG Handball 2.11.1976 SG Flensburg-Han. 9.1.1977 PSG Handball 17.1.1977 HC Vardar 8.3.1977 Besiktas MOGAZ 18.3.1977 FC Barcelona 27.6.1977 La Rioja 28.8.1977 La Rioja 26.10.1977 Group A preview RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B KIEL AND PSG TO LEAD LAST 16 CHARGE The three-times VELUX EHF Champions League winners and a rapidly emerging force in European club handball will be favourites to reach the knockout stages from a delicately balanced group The summer break is over and the eagerly awaited VELUX EHF Champions League 2014-15 season kicks off with a host of vastly entertaining fixtures, including a pair of Group A blockbusters in which quadruple former finalists HC PPD Zagreb are at home to treble winners THW Kiel while HC Metalurg entertain rising force Paris Saint-Germain Handball. In the group’s other opener, Spanish contenders Naturhouse La Rioja clash with Belarus champions Meshkov Brest who came through a tough qualifying tournament on home court to clinch their first group stage berth since 2007. Even at first glance it is easy to tell that Kiel and PSG are strong favourites to advance to the Round of 16 while the other four teams face a fierce dogfight with each other for the remaining two berths. A dominant Kiel are aiming to reach their fourth successive final, having lost the last two after clinching their third title in Europe’s premier club competition in 2012. Still boasting an impressive squad led by the Czech Republic’s 2010 world player of the year Filip Jicha, the German giants will expect to make a winning start at a youthful Zagreb side who recruited former Yugoslavia stalwart Veselin Vujovic as coach on Sunday after a patchy start in the regional SEHA league cost Boris Dvorsek his job. Big-spending PSG will also aim to go at least a step further than last season when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. This time round, nothing less than the Final 4 in Cologne will do for an outfit boasting the likes of Mikkel Hansen, Luc Abalo, Marko Kopljar, Theirry Omeyer and a stack of other household names who’ve been assembled into an expensive unit expected to win the most coveted trophy in European club handball. Comprising mainly home-grown players, the group’s remaining teams appear to have a fairly even chance of advancing into the business end of the competition. While Metalurg and Zagreb have plenty of recent experience in the Champions League, La Rioja and Brest can plausibly claim that they are venturing into something of an uncharted territory. The Spaniards made their first group stage appearance last season while Brest have returned to the top tier after a lengthy absence, but neither side will be happy to merely make up the numbers in their section. Zoran Milosavljevic 19 Group A head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC THW Kiel vs HC Metalurg 02.10.2008 THW Kiel vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 13.11.2008 HC Metalurg vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 19.04.2014 HC Metalurg vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 27.04.2014 THW Kiel vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 37:29 (18:15) 25:30 (12:15) 21:31 (09:14) 34:26 (19:11) THW Kiel vs HC Zagreb 15.03.1997 THW Kiel vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 23:23 (08:11) 23.03.1997 Badel 1862 Zagreb vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 25:23 (12:14) 19.03.2000 THW Kiel vs Badel 1862 Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 32:21 (14:11) 25.03.2000 Badel 1862 Zagreb vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/2-finals 22:13 (08:07) 24.11.2002 RK Zagreb vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 23:28 (08:15) 14.12.2002 THW Kiel vs RK Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 24:28 (14:10) 29.03.2009 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 28:28 (13:12) 04.04.2009 THW Kiel vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 31:27 (17:11) 21.04.2012 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 31:31 (15:12) 29.04.2012 THW Kiel vs Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 33:27 (16:16) THW Kiel vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 14.12.2003 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, EHF Cup – Last 16 34:27 (19:12) 21.12.2003 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, EHF Cup – Last 16 30:32 (14:19) 04.12.2005 Paris Handball vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 21:28 (11:13) 10.12.2005 THW Kiel vs Paris Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 44:28 (22:12) THW Kiel vs HC Meshkov Brest 01.10.2005 THW Kiel vs Brest HC Meshkov, EHF Champions League, Group Matches - Group E 35:28 (19:11) 06.11.2005 Brest HC Meshkov vs THW Kiel, EHF Champions League, Group Matches - Group E 31:37 (15:21) HC Metalurg vs HC Zagreb 14.10.2006 RK Metalurg Skopje vs RK Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 12.11.2006 RK Zagreb vs RK Metalurg Skopje, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 18.03.2012 HC Metalurg vs Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 24.03.2012 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 18:22 (09:09) 32:24 (19:11) 19:18 (07:09) 26:21 (12:10) HC Metalurg vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball 14.02.2009 HC Metalurg vs Paris Handball, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 27:18 (16:12) 21.02.2009 Paris Handball vs HC Metalurg, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 27:21 (16:11) 28.09.2013 HC Metalurg vs PSG Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 28:26 (12:12) 08.02.2014 PSG Handball vs HC Metalurg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 32:29 (16:12) HC Metalurg vs HC Meshkov Brest 02.10.2010 HC Meshkov Brest vs HC Metalurg, EHF Cup - Round 2 28:23 (14:12) 09.10.2010 HC Metalurg vs HC Meshkov Brest, EHF Cup - Round 2 32:23 (14:13) No previous encounters in European competitions THW Kiel vs Naturhouse La Rioja HC Metalurg vs Naturhouse La Rioja HC Zagreb vs Naturhouse La Rioja HC Zagreb vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball HC Zagreb vs HC Meshkov Brest Naturhouse La Rioja vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball Naturhouse La Rioja vs HC Meshkov Brest Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC Meshkov Brest 20 THW Kiel (GER) GROUP A The 2013/14 season of the VELUX EHF Champions League was something of a doubleanniversary for THW Kiel, reaching the quarter-finals for the 15th time and the semi-finals for the tenth time – but alas, that was all forgotten in their seventh final participation as they missed out on their fourth trophy, beaten by their local rivals SG Flensburg-Handewitt. It was their fourth appearance in Cologne, but for the first time the Zebras lost a final after becoming champions in 2010 and 2012 and finishing fourth in 2013. Now the German record champions launch their next assault on the title, signing big names such as Croatian World Handball Player of the Year Domagoj Duvnjak, Spanish world champion and EHF EURO 2014 top scorer Joan Canellas (both from Hamburg) and German Champions League winner Steffen Weinhold (Flensburg). On the other hand, Kiel legend Christian Zeitz bid his farewell after eleven years to play abroad for the first time in his career at one of Kiel’s main rivals, Veszprem. Additionally Tunisian talent Wael Jallouz and Icelandic left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson moved to another Champions League favourite, FC Barcelona. Nevertheless, with perhaps the best back court axis in the world (Jicha, Duvnjak, Palmarsson, Canellas, Weinhold, Vujin) hopes are high to win all four possible titles this season. Playing hall Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel Europaplatz 1, 24103 Kiel Germany Capacity: 10,000 Club Address: THW Kiel Ziegelteich 30 24103 Kiel Germany Media contact: Christian Robohm +49 1635306300 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.thw-provinzial.de Facebook: thwhandball Twitter: @thw_handball Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green After raising the German Super Cup trophy at the end of August, THW are aiming to add the Bundesliga, VELUX EHF Champions League and German Cup. In the 2013/2014 season they had taken their 19th German title in the closest final round in years, leaving Rhein Neckar Löwen (level in points) behind by only two goals. And Kiel did not only make remarkable signings on, but also off the court: Thorsten Storm, manager of the Rhein Neckar Löwen, returned to where his management career had started. Additionally, THW already set the signs for the future with the signing of Löwen goalkeeper Niklas Landin. Chased by a number of Europe’s top clubs, he signed a three-year contract valid from 2015 to 2018 with the zebras. Kiel’s group contains two of last season’s quarter-finalists, PSG Handball and Metalurg Skopje, as well as La Rioja, Zagreb and the winner of qualification tournament 1 in the Champions League group phase. “This group is highly attractive and we are really looking forward to meeting our former players Thierry Omeyer and Daniel Narcisse with PSG, the hardest nut to crack in this group. But all remaining teams have either a long successful tradition or big names, so we expect an exciting race for the top position,” says club director Sabine HoldorfSchust, adding: “Our main target is to make it to Cologne again. The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the flagship event of European club handball and has become a big brand, at which we absolutely want to be present.” Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: German champions Newcomers: Joan Cañellas (HSV Hamburg) Domagoj Duvnjak (HSV Hamburg) Steffen Weinhold (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) Rune Dahmke (THW Kiel youth team) Fynn Ranke (TSV Altenholz) Kim Sonne Hansen (Skive FH) Left the club: Wael Jallouz (FC Barcelona) Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (FC Barcelona) Christian Zeitz (MVM-MKB Veszprem) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 18 Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14 Semi-final (3): 1996/1997, 2000/01, 2012/13 Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11 Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Other EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 German league: 19 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) German cup: 9 titles Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: red 21 THW Kiel (GER) Biggest win: 26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), 22.10.2006 Biggest defeat 22:13 (12:8) v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO (a), 25.03.2000 Longest winning run 10 matches (21.02.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest unbeaten run 17 matches (22.10.2011 – 11.10.2012) Longest losing run 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Longest run without win 3 matches (07.02.1996 – 19.03.1996) Most goals 50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), 22.10.2006 Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Most goals both teams 81 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), 13.04.2008 Fewest goals 13 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000 Fewest goals opponent 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 15:27W (a), 10.11.1996 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), 12.01.1997 Fewest goals both teams 35 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), 25.03.2000 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1994/95 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 137: 136 +1 6 2nd Gr. B 1995/96 THW Kiel GER 6 3 0 3 151: 148 +3 6 2nd Gr. A 1996/97 THW Kiel GER 10 6 1 3 247: 211 + 36 13 1/2-finals 1998/99 TKW Kiel GER 8 7 0 1 229: 199 + 30 14 1/4-finals 1999/00 THW Kiel GER 12 7 1 4 319: 283 + 36 15 Runner-up 2000/01 THW Kiel GER 10 5 1 4 279: 255 + 24 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 THW Kiel GER 8 4 1 3 234: 211 + 23 9 1/4-finals 2004/05 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 336: 274 + 62 16 1/4-finals 2005/06 THW Kiel GER 10 8 0 2 346: 293 + 53 16 1/4-finals 2006/07 THW Kiel GER 14 11 1 2 517: 420 + 97 23 Winner 2007/08 THW Kiel GER 16 13 0 3 533: 462 + 71 26 Runner-up 2008/09 THW Kiel GER 16 12 1 3 548: 461 + 87 25 Runner-up 2009/10 THW Kiel GER 16 14 1 1 534: 444 + 90 29 Winner 2010/11 THW Kiel GER 14 9 2 3 456: 393 + 63 20 1/4-finals 2011/12 THW Kiel GER 16 12 3 1 496: 414 + 82 27 Winner 2012/13 THW Kiel GER 16 11 0 5 518: 457 + 61 22 Fourth Place 2013/14 THW Kiel GER Runner-up Total 16 13 1 2 491:427 +64 27 204 146 13 45 6371:5488 +883 305 All stats in the media guide provided by Roy Knoppert 22 THW Kiel (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 21 23 4 18 39 33 19 12 24 6 1 16 11 7 41 13 17 25 26 Joan Rune Domagoj Niclas Filip Dominik Rasmus Andreas Aron Fynn Johan Kim Christian Rene Marko Steffen Patrick Alexander Lukas Cañellas Reixach Dahmke Duvnjak Ekberg Jicha Klein Lauge Palicka Palmarsson Ranke Sjöstrand Sonne-Hansen Sprenger Toft Hansen Vujin Weinhold Wiencek Williams Wucherpfennig ESP GER CRO SWE CZE GER DEN SWE ISL GER SWE DEN GER DEN SRB GER GER GER GER Centre Back Left Wing Centre Back Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Line Player Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Line Player Right Back Right Back Line Player Back Right Wing 30.9.1986 10.4.1993 1.6.1988 23.12.1988 19.4.1982 16.12.1983 20.6.1991 10.7.1986 19.7.1990 5.1.1993 26.2.1987 23.6.1992 6.4.1983 1.11.1984 7.12.1984 19.7.1986 22.3.1989 15.8.1996 23.8.1995 23 198 190 198 191 201 190 196 189 193 201 195 200 190 200 201 191 200 187 184 95 81 100 91 103 86 96 90 95 106 94 87 94 106 104 100 108 95 81 Alfreð Gíslason coach Nine German championships (with Magdeburg and Kiel), four German cup titles, five European club titles (including twice the Champions Trophy) have made Gislason a legendary coach, who was awarded five times “coach of the year” in Germany. His first job on the bench was in his home town Akureyri, before taking over Hameln, Magdeburg and Gummersbach in Germany. He joined Kiel in 2008 as the successor of Noka Serdarusic – to lead THW to 15 trophies by now. EC trophies: CL 2002, 2010, 2012 (as coach), EHF Cup 2001 (as coach) Filip Jícha left back The left and centre back was the first Czech player to be awarded World Handball Player of the Year in 2010. Jícha was twice top scorer of the CL, top scorer and MVP at the 2010 EHF EURO and is captain of the THW squad since 2013. His one-against-one ability and tough shots make him feared by defences, but he is also a strong defender. Jícha was the only active FINAL4 participant in the CL’s 20-year Ultimate Selection and has been named Czech player of the year seven times. EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2006 Domagoj Duvnjak centre back The Croatian is the top signing of THW this season. The reigning IHF World Handball Player of the Year arrived from Hamburg, where played since 2009. Not just a typical playmaker, Duvnjak is also a scorer and is an essential part of the middle block in defence. In 2013 after leading HSV to the winners’ podium of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 he was awarded best Bundesliga player. Duvnjak, who has received multiple international honours, started his career in Zagreb. EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2010, B 2012 Marko Vujin right back Two years ago the Serbian shooter arrived to fill the gap after the departure of Kim Andersson to KIF Kolding. The two-metre tall right back from Bačka Palanka became the top scorer of the 2013/14 Bundesliga (248 goals). He has won seven consecutive national championships with Veszprém and Kiel. In the national team he is one of the stalwarts who were key to silver at the EHF EURO 2012. He started his international career in Dunaferr (Hungary), then played five years in Veszprem. EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012 Johan Sjöstrand goalkeeper Since last season, Swedish is the language between the THW goalposts. After Thierry Omeyer left, Sjöstrand was brought in to replace the legend together with a Sweden’s teammate Andreas Palicka. Although the former junior world champion is only 27, he has already got a journey through Europe behind him, with spells at Skövde, Flensburg, Barcelona and Aalborg. Horse racing is another passion of Sjöstrand’s, just one look at his Instagram account will tell you that. EC trophies: CL 2011 OG: S 2012 Aron Palmarsson centre back Despite his young age of 23, this versatile and tactically as well as technically skilled playmaker has actually been with Kiel for five years now – but will say good-bye after this season, joining Veszprem. In competition with so many world-class backcourt players, match practice was scarce in his first years. However, after the departure of Momir Ilic and Daniel Narcisse, the 2012 Olympics All-Star has become more of an influential figure on court. EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: B 2010 Rene Toft Hansen line player The Danish international is even better in defence than on the line in attack, but after Marcus Ahlm’s departure last year, the learning period in attack is over for him. The EHF EURO 2012 All-Star Team member is a regular in the competition, where he has been playing every year since 2007, with former clubs KIF Kolding and AG København. His brother Henrik is playing for Hamburg, his brother Allan for MorsThy and his sister Majbritt for Skive – and all four are line players. WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 Christian Sprenger right wing 31-year-old worked under coach Alfred Gislason at former club SC Magdeburg and after seven years, including one EHF Cup title in 2007, the former German international transferred to Kiel in 2009. Since then, he has won twelve titles with THW. His international achievements include selection on the EURO 2012 All-Star team. After this event Sprenger quit from playing for Germany. He started his sportive career in judo, before joining the Magdeburg handball team. EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012, EHF Cup 2007 24 GROUP A HC Metalurg (MKD) Metalurg Skopje’s players certainly know how to make history. In the 2012/13 season they were the first Macedonian team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the VELUX EHF Champions League. One year later they were part of the first duels between two teams from one city in the competition, facing Vardar in the group phase, and then again made it to the quarter-finals, finally beaten by eventual finalists THW Kiel. In the new season the team of Lino Cervar will travel to Kiel again, as part of a tough group in the first stage of the competition including Paris Saint-Germain, HC Zagreb, La Rioja and another team they know from SEHA Liga, Meshkov Brest. In the domestic championship, Metalurg left Vardar behind to win the title for the sixth time – despite missing their team captain Naumche Mojsovski due to injury. With Naumche Mojsovski back on track, his brother Zlatko left Metalurg to sign for Pelister Bitola - one of five players transferring from the Macedonian champions. Meanwhile, the same number of newcomers arrived in Skopje, three Serbians, one Montenegrin and one Macedonian. These newcomers appear to have fit in quite well, as Metalurg beat Vardar 25:19 in the highlight of their preparation in Struga. Taking into consideration the tough group and the changes within the team, the objective in Europe is simply to qualify for the knock-out stages. On home court and in the SEHA Liga, Metalurg expects a fierce battle with their local rivals Vardar for top spot. Playing hall Boris Trajkovski bul. 8 Septemvri bb Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000 “As always, HC Metalurg strives to present itself in the best possible light in the Champions League and will do everything possible this season to play an important part. Our group is strong starting with PSG and THW Kiel, however, Metalurg will make an attempt to attack second place in the group,” says coach Lino Cervar, who also acts as the manager of the club. Team captain Mojsovski maintains a mixture of realistic expectations and dreams. “The basic goal this season will be to secure a place in the Last 16 and then to take it step by step, but we will again attempt to fight for the VELUX EHF FINAL4,” he says. Club Address: HC Metalurg ul. Jane Lukroski 6 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Media contact: Zoran Cvetanovski +389 78223505 [email protected] Online information: Website: http://www.rkmetalurg.mk/ Facebook: rkmetalurgofficial Twitter: @RKMetalurg Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/orange/white Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Macedonian champions Newcomers: Vladan Lipovina (BM Ciudad Encantada) Mijajlo Marsenic (Partizan Belgrade) Darko Djukic (Zeleznicar Nis) Miroslav Kocic (Vojvodina) Milorad Kukoski (Zomimak) Left the club: Rade Mijatovic (Csurgoi KK) Dejan Pecakovski (Pelister Bitola) Nikola Kedzo (HCM Constanta) Igor Mandic (destination unknown) Zlatko Mojsoski (Pelister Bitola) 25 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 7 Quarter-final (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2011/12 Group Matches (2): 2006/07, 2008/09 Qualification (1): 2010/11 Other 9 participations in other EC Macedonian league: 6 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Macedonian cup: 5 titles HC Metalurg (MKD) Biggest win: 32:18 (18:14) v Bjerringbro-Silkeborg DEN (h), 24.02.2013 Biggest defeat: 43:24 (23:12) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 19.10.2006 Longest winning run: 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (30.09.2012 – 20.10.2012) 4 matches (16.02.2013 – 23.03.2013) 4 matches (16.02.2014 – 30.03.2014) Longest losing run: 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) Longest run without win: 8 matches (28.09.2006 – 12.10.2008) Most goals: 37 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 Most goals opponent: 43 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 Most goals both teams: 67 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 43:24L (a), 19.10.2006 67 v Drammen HK NOR 37:30W (h), 18.10.2008 Fewest goals: 15 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 26:15L (a), 28.04.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 14 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 14:32W (a), 16.02.2013 Fewest goals both teams:37 v Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 19:18W (h), 18.03.2012 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 148:206 –58 0 4th Gr. D 2008/09 HC Metalurg MKD 6 2 0 4 157:172 -15 4 3rd Gr. C 2011/12 HC Metalurg MKD 12 6 2 4 294:275 +19 14 Last 16 2012/13 HC Metalurg MKD 14 9 0 5 361:313 +48 18 1/4-finals 2013/14 HC Metalurg MKD 14 7 2 5 356:373 -17 16 1/4-finals Total 52 24 4 24 1316:1339 -23 52 26 Stage HC Metalurg (MKD) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 19 45 21 4 45 9 29 81 8 25 23 5 6 26 11 10 17 14 33 13 16 18 24 3 15 44 1 28 30 7 Pavel Vuko Luka Vancho Darko Goce Ace Miroslav Nikola Goran Milorad Vladan Bojan Borjan Dejan Martin Nikola Velko Mijajlo Filip Nikola Naumce Marko Goce Davor Zharko Darko Filip Martin Renato Atman Borozan Cindric Dimovski Djukic Georgievski Jonovski Kocic Kosteski Krstevski Kukoski Lipovina Madjovski Madjovski Manaskov Manaskov Markoski Markovski Marsenic Mirkulovski Mitrevski Mojsovski Nelovski Ojleski Palevski Peshevski Stanic Taleski Velkovski Vugrinec RUS MNE CRO MKD SRB MKD MKD SRB MKD MKD MKD MNE MKD MKD MKD MKD MKD MKD SRB MKD MKD MKD MKD MKD MKD MKD SRB MKD MKD MKD Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Line Player Right Wing Right Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Centre Back Left Back Right Back Left Wing Centre Back Left Wing Left Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Back Left Wing Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Right Back Right Back 25.5.1987 9.4.1994 5.7.1993 4.4.1979 11.12.1994 12.2.1987 29.12.1980 3.7.1981 22.8.1992 29.3.1996 7.12.1987 7.3.1993 8.5.1994 8.5.1994 26.8.1992 7.6.1994 22.5.1990 5.4.1986 9.3.1993 14.9.1983 3.10.1985 17.6.1980 6.6.1996 10.10.1989 26.2.1997 11.4.1991 8.10.1978 28.3.1996 10.3.1997 9.6.1975 27 190 203 185 187 195 185 200 200 183 196 195 198 185 198 181 189 195 194 202 189 188 187 200 180 178 197 191 200 186 196 Weight 94 105 90 110 85 83 104 91 74 79 100 94 76 88 78 83 110 100 107 91 84 92 92 75 65 110 102 80 77 101 Darko Stanić goalkeeper Courtesy of his excellent skills Serbian goalkeeper Darko Stanić, who joined Metalurg in 2011, is referred to as ‘Minister of Defence’. Immediately he won the hearts of the fans and coach Lino Červar. At the end of the 2012/13 season Stanić was voted into the VELUX EHF Champions League All-star team, the same award he received at the end of the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, where he won the silver medal with the hosts Serbia. While still playing for Koper he won the Challenge Cup in 2011. Lino Červar coach He was the most successful coach of the Croatian men’s national team, becoming Olympic gold medallist in 2004 and world champion in 2003. Furthermore he collected several more medals like two WCh silver medals in 2005 and 2009 and EHF EURO silver 2008 and 2010. Parallel to his work for the Croatian federation, he was coach of RK Zagreb for a long time. In 2009 he started coaching Metalurg – a job he focuses on completely since resigning from the helm of Croatia. He steered them to quarter-finals twice in a row. OG: G 2004, EURO: S 2008, 2010, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009 EURO: S 2012 Dejan Manaskov left wing He is referred as one of the biggest Macedonian talents and has been a part of the squad since 2008. The son of Macedonian handball legend Pepi Manaskov is also one of the key players of the national team. The fifth place at the EC 2012 in Serbia is his highest achievement. The 2013/14 season was a breakthrough year for the left win in European competition, scoring 33 goals on his team’s impressive run to the quarter-finals. Pavel Atman left back It did not take long for the Russian leftback to become the favourite player of the Macedonian audience. After one season spent in Skopje, Atman appears to be one of the best players in the Metalurg squad and he showed great performance leading his team to the title in the domestic championship and quarter-finals in the EHF Champions League. Before Metalurg the famous “Pasha” played for Kaustik Volgograd and Belarusian team Dinamo Minsk. Naumce Mojsovski centre back Two seasons ago the 34-year-old centre back of the Macedonian national team as a topscorer with 77 goals led his team to its first quarter-finals appearance in the Champions League. Last December an injury drove him away from the court and he missed the biggest part of the season. Since he joined Metalurg in 2009 he has won four national championships. He reached the Challenge Cup final with Pelister Bitola in 2002, but lost against Danish side Skjern. He was named 2012 Macedonian Athlete of the Year. Mijajlo Marsenic line player Marsenic’s standout performances in the SEHA league earned the Serbian line player a three-year contract with Metalurg this summer. Before his transfer to the Macedonian club, he played for Partizan, with whom he won two Serbian league titles. Marsenic is the first choice line player in the Serbian junior team and 203 cm tall player made his debut for the senior national team during an unsuccessful qualification campaign for the 2015 World Championship in Qatar. Renato Vugrinec right back Renato Vugrinec is the only Metalurg player who has won a European Cup title to date as he was a Celje player when they won the CL in 2004. During the ten seasons he played for the Slovenian side (interrupted by stints at SC Magdeburg and San Antonio) he won eight national championships and five times the national cup, scoring 1,465 goals on the go. At the age of 38 he debuted for the Macedonian national team and he was among the top scorers of the last season. Goce Georgievski right wing Together with Dejan Manaskov, Goce Georgievski is part of a new generation of young players who come from the Metalurg handball school. The 27-year-old played a successful 2013/14 VELUX EHF Champions League season, scoring 31 goals overall. He only started playing handball at the age of 16, but quickly improved his skills and has been part of Metalurg’s senior team from 2006 onwards. He was part of the Macedonian national team that finished 14th at the 2013 WCh in Spain. EC trophies: CL 2004 EURO: S 2004 28 GROUP A RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) One of the competition’s stalwarts, Croatian all-time record champions (24 titles in 24 years) HC PPD Zagreb, have reached the finals on four occasions, but the last time the team made an impact internationally, besides winning the SEHA Liga in 2013, was the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals in 2012. Times have changed in Zagreb, and since last season the club has gone firmly back to its roots. HC PPD Zagreb is the base for hopeful Croatian talents, though the threat of them disappearing elsewhere remains. Last season, the young squad narrowly missed out on qualification for the Last 16 from a tough group and this year will not be much easier with opponents such as Kiel, PSG, Metalurg, La Rioja and Meshkov Brest all hunting for a top four finish in Group A. After twice missing the Last 16, manager Božidar Jović hopes to turn the tide despite the strong opponents: “Our main objective is to qualify for the Last 16. In the last two seasons we failed to do so and because of that it is even more important for us to break this negative streak. Our group is very strong but also very attractive. I believe that there is no easy opponent in the VELUX EHF Champions League, and if that is the case than I would rather play in the group which is attractive,” Jovic says. He has already calculated what needs to happen to proceed: “THW Kiel and PSG are above the rest of the group but I think we have a solid chance to outplay Metalurg, La Rioja and Meshkov Brest in our arena. Along with those six points we need one away win to qualify for the Last 16. Last season we won eight points but it wasn’t enough. This year I believe that with eight points we can qualify.” Playing hall Arena Zagreb Laniste b.b., 10000 Zagreb Croatia Capacity: 15,200 Club Address: HC PPD Zagreb Veprinecka 16 10000 Zagreb Croatia Media contact: Goran Roknić +385 95 9999 334 glasnogovornik@rk‐zagreb.hr Online information: Website: www.rk-zagreb.hr Facebook: RK-Zagreb Twitter: @RKZagreb Experienced team captain Zlatko Horvat is proud of the way his club is working now – and is also confident: “We have a very young team which is built with domestic players only. Our strength is the fact that we have played together for three years now and I honestly believe that it is time that we qualify for the Last 16.” Part of the preparation was the participation at several top tournaments all over Europe. Zagreb finished 2nd in the Casino Merkur Spielothek Cup in Germany, 5th in the Sparkassen Cup in Germany and 4th in the Vendee Hand Trophee tournament in Nantes. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Croatian Champion Newcomers: coach Veselin Vujovic Domagoj Pavlović (RK Dubrava) Mateo Lukačec (RK Ivanić Grad) Luka Raković (RK Vardar) Left the club: coach Boris Dvorsek Jerko Matulić (Chamberry Savoie) Marino Marić (Melsungen) Marko Matić (destination unknown) Hrvoje Batinović (RK Zadar) Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: blue Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 21 Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 Semi-final (1): 1999/00 Quarter-final (6): 1995/96, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12 Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (5): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-final 2006/07 SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Croatian league: 24 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Croatian cup: 22 titles Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red 29 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B Biggest win 34:15 (16:08) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 04.12.2010 Biggest defeat: 17:29 (09:12) v FC Barcelona ESP (h), 24.02.2001 Longest winning run: 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (09.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) 6 matches (12.12.1998 – 27.02.1999) 6 matches (30.10.1999 – 05.12.1999) 6 matches (04.10.2008 – 22.11.2008) Longest losing run: 7 matches (11.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Longest run without win: 8 matches (04.10.2012 – 16.02.2013) Most goals: 38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), 23.02.2013 Most goals opponent: 36 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 36:29L (a), 16.03.2008 36 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Most goals both teams: 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), 03.04.2010 Fewest goals: 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), 22.10.2005 Fewest goals opponent: 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), 25.03.2000 13 v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), 16.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams:36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), 20.11.1999 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 6 0 2 4 135:147 –12 2 4th Gr. A 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 203:203 0 11 Runner-up 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO 6 2 1 3 138:144 -6 5 3rd Gr. B 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 6 3 3 310:294 +16 15 Runner-up 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 7 0 5 300:287 +13 14 Runner-up 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 12 8 1 3 288:269 +19 17 Runner-up 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 10 7 1 2 260:230 +30 15 1/2-finals 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 8 4 1 3 195:192 +3 9 1/4-finals 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO 8 3 2 3 209:216 -7 8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 273:258 +15 8 1/4-finals 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 165:170 -5 6 3rd Gr. B 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO 8 5 1 2 212:194 +18 11 Last 16 2006/07 RK Zagreb CRO 6 3 0 3 153:148 +5 6 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 5 1 6 339:344 -5 11 3rd MR Gr. 3 2008/09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 7 3 2 357:313 +44 17 1/4-finals 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 12 6 0 6 351:335 +16 12 Last 16 2010/11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO 12 6 3 3 358:319 +39 15 Last 16 2011/12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 14 9 1 4 391:359 +32 19 1/4-finals 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 2 1 7 266:284 –18 5 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 10 4 0 6 267:282 -15 8 5th Gr. A Total 194 96 22 76 5170:4988 +182 214 30 Stage HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 5 13 18 16 33 51 77 83 27 48 4 41 37 94 11 14 43 11 7 12 19 36 22 24 45 74 35 Ilija Teo Zlatko Filip Ivan Arijan Antonijo Mateo Stipe Petar Lovro Matej Sandro Domagoj Luka Luka Marko Lovro Luka Ivan Leon Robert Josip Tonci Jakov Mario Bruno-Vili Brozovic Coric Horvat Ivic Ivkovic Jovic Kovacevic Lukacec Mandalinic Medic Mihic Mudrinjak Obranovic Pavlovic Rakovic Sebetic Sehic Sprem Stepancic Stevanovic Susnja Tokic Valcic Valcic Vrdoljak Vuglac Zobec CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO CRO Line Player Line Player Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Centre Back Left Back Left Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Back Right Wing Right Back Line Player Left Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Line Player Left Back Centre Back Left Back Left Back Right Back Left Back 26.5.1991 195 25.3.1992 197 25.9.1984 179 30.8.1992 195 19.3.1996 206 18.6.1996 21.5.1987 190 24.1.1995 9.9.1992 195 12.6.1996 25.8.1994 18.1.1994 188 18.10.1992 194 21.3.1993 6.6.1988 179 26.5.1994 197 21.8.1996 188 26.1.1990 185 20.11.1990 201 18.5.1982 193 5.8.1993 204 9.3.1996 190 21.4.1984 190 9.6.1978 194 1.11.1996 30.1.1992 29.1.1996 185 31 110 120 80 96 103 90 90 90 83 86 93 84 85 97 101 113 85 96 100 78 Filip Ivić goalkeeper He is a home-grown goalkeeper from Zagreb’s handball school. As the captain of Croatian junior national team he already won European gold and was fourth in the world. Last season he was given a chance in Zagreb’s first team and he used the opportunity to open gates of senior handball in great style through some great saves in the CL and regional SEHA league. In his first senior season he also made it to the national team and backing Mirko Alilović he won bronze at the WCh in Spain with Croatia. Veselin Vujović coach Right before the beginning of the new CL campaign, PPD Zagreb have decided to hire a new coach – one of the best players ever, Veselin Vujović. He has, as a head-coach worked in Ciudad Real, Yugoslavian national team, Serbia and Montenegro (fourth place the OG in Sydney 2000). With Vardar he has won the regional SEHA League title in its first season. During his extraordinary career he was known as an outstanding specialist but also as an impulsive coach. EC: Champions Cup 1985, 1986, 1991 (as player) OG: G 1984, WCh: G 1986 (as player) WCh: B 2013 Stipe Mandalinić left back Young left back was one of the surprises in the last season but a knee injury has unfortunately slowed down his development. Now he is back, probably better prepared than ever. He was impressive at all junior selections, especially due to his extraordinary jump shot and super strong shot. Last season he played all matches, scored 43 goals in total with his best performance against RN Löwen in Mannheim where he was unstoppable with nine goals. Lovro Šprem left wing He has a well-known surname in Croatian handball. His older brother Goran has won many medals with Croatia including the gold from the World Championship in 2003. Lovro is Goran’s copy in speed, aggresiveness and rhythm. He won the bronze medal with the national team at the World Championship in Spain in 2013. In 2009 he became the junior world champion in Tunisia. He is very skillful at counter attacks and playing at the front of a 5-1 defence. WCh: B 2013 WCh: B 2013 Josip Valčić centre back This valuable and experienced central back would probably be called Croatian “golden reserve”. He has been Zagreb’s engine in the game for many years, but speaking of the national team he has remained in the shadows of Domagoj Duvnjak and Ivano Balić. Although, each time he got the chance in the team, he gained a silver medal – first time at the EHF EURO in 2008 and second time at the WCh on the home court in 2009. He has played in Gummersbach and this will be his ninth CL season with Zagreb. Teo Ćorić line player He is a big talent on the line and a member of Croatian junior golden generation. Incredibly strong, tall, extraordinary scorer but also an interesting solution in Croatian champions’ defence. He came to Zagreb two years ago from Poreč which meant he will need some extra time to adopt to a new kind of handball tactics and trainings. He scored nine goals in six CL matches last season and this season is expected to be his big step forward. EURO: S 2008, WCh: S 2009 Zlatko Horvat right wing Zagreb’s captain is currently enjoying his best handball years. The speedy right wing is a counter-attack specialist, but he is an important part of defence at the same time. Horvat had his debut in the national team in 2006 and since then he has won four medals – one bronze at each WCh, EHF EURO, and Olympics and silver at the WCh in 2009. He has played in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and this will be his 13th campaign in the CL. In the 2010/11 season he was the third best scorer with 94 goals. Luka Stepančić right back One of the most exciting of Zagreb’s players is one of the most wanted on the European player’s market. He’s a more than two meters tall leftie with a great jump shot and ability to play in defence, embodying everything that modern handball requires. Last season was his fourth in the CL. He is also member of Croatian national team and already has a bronze medal from the WCh 2013 in Spain. At the WC in Tunisia in 2009, he won the gold medal with the junior team. WCh: B 2013 OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013 32 GROUP A Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) It’s not a matter of age when it comes to being successful – if you are fit and experienced enough, you still can compete with the best of the best. So those at Naturhouse La Rioja say as they prepare for their second season in the VELUX EHF Champions League. The Spanish runners-up, who left Valladolid behind in the Asobal league, signed two of the most experienced Spanish wing players over the summer - Juanin Garcia, the all-time top scorer of the Asobal league, and Albert Rocas. Both had their magic years at FC Barcelona, and as Garcia arrived straight from the Catalans, Rocas intermediately had been playing for KIF Kolding in Denmark. In Logrono they are re-united again. Mainly thanks to both top wings Naturhouse hope to go one step further compared to their debut season, when they highly closely missed the qualification for the Last 16. In additional to Rocas and Garcia, the Spaniards have signed Swedish talent Philip Stenmalm, who had been awarded Most Valuable Player at the 2013 Junior World Championship when he took gold with the “Tre Kronor” team. Coach Jesús Javier González Fernández’s squad underwent plenty of changes over the summer, as eight newcomers came in to replace ten departures, which included a quintet of retired players. The goals are clear for Naturhouse this season: make it to the knock-out stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League and qualify for Europe again with a strong showing in Spain. Playing hall Palacio de los Deportes de la Rioja Avenida Moncalvillo 2 Logrono Spain Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: Naturhouse La Rioja Avenida de Moncalvillo 2 26008 Logrono Spain Media contact: Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez +34 63 77 66 107 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.cbclogrono.com Facebook: Club-Balonmano-Naturhouse-La-Rioja Twitter: @NaturhouseRioja Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: grey Progressing from the group phase will not be easy, as they face three teams with sights firmly set on the VELUX EHF FINAL4, Kiel, PSG and Metalurg, as well as Zagreb and qualifiers Meshkov Brest. Manager Jaime Luis González Gutiérrez hopes to continue for as long as possible in the “greatest adventure in the young history of our club. Our target is to have a good atmosphere in our arena and to win our home matches.” Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Spanish runnersup Newcomers: Jorge Gómez Lite (BM Aragón) Juan Antonio García Lorenzana (FC Barcelona) Philip Stenmalm (Drott Halmstad) Víctor Vigo Gerpe (BM Guadalajara) Pablo Cacheda González (CR BM Valladolid) Albert Rocas Comas (KIF Kolding) Javier García Rubio (HBC Nantes) Diego Martín Santamaría (Rioja youth team) Left the club: Jorge Martínez Martínez (retired) Unai Arrieta Aizpurua (retired) Arthur Malburg Patrianova (Villa de Aranda) José Manuel Rial Ricoy (Juanfersa Gr. Fergar) Alexander Tioumentsev (Orlen Wisla Plock) Aidenas Malasinskas (Puerto Sagunto) Josep Masachs Gelma (Stiinta Bacau) Jon Ramiro Pérez (retired) Pablo Hernández Suárez (retired) Miguel Ángel Velasco Encinas (retired) 33 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 2 Group phase (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: semi-final 2009/10, 2010/11, Group Phase 2012/13 Spanish league: - (runners-up 2014) Spanish cup: - (runners-up 2013) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Biggest win: 38:34 (21:21) v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE (h), 20.02.2014 Biggest defeat: 37:25 (19:11) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 12.02.2014 Longest winning run: 1 match (16.11.2013) 1 match (05.02.2014) 1 match (20.02.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (13.10.2013 – 16.11.2013) Longest losing run: 2 matches (21.09.2013 – 29.09.2013) 2 matches (23.11.2013 – 27.11.2013) Longest run without win: 4 matches (21.09.2013 – 19.10.2013) Most goals: 38 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 38:34W (h), 20.02.2014 Most goals opponent: 37 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 37:25L (a), 12.02.2014 Most goals both teams: 72 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 38:34W (h), 20.02.2014 Fewest goals: 24 v HSV Hamburg GER 24:33L (h), 21.09.2013 24 v Aalborg Handbal DEN 28:24L (a), 29.09.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 23 v Aalborg Handbal DEN 25:23W (h), 05.02.2014 Fewest goals both teams:48 v Aalborg Handbal DEN 25:23W (h), 05.02.2014 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2013/14 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8 Total 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8 34 Stage 5th Gr. D Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 12 23 89 32 17 6 15 1 4 11 24 26 26 18 59 2 3 14 Gurutz Pablo Patrick Lykke Angel Ruben Juan Antonio Francisco Javier Jorge Thiagus Petrus Luis Felipe Diego Albert Pedro Javier Angel Miguel Philip Victor Aguinalde Aquizu Cacheda Gonzalez Eilert Fernandez Perez Garabaya Arenas Garcia Lorenzana Garcia Rubio Gomez Lite Goncalves Dos Santos Jimenez Reina Martin Santamaria Rocas Comas Rodriguez Alvarez Romeo Lopez Romero Rodriguez Sanchez Migallon Stenmalm Vigo Gerpe ESP ESP DEN ESP ESP ESP ESP ESP BRA ESP ESP ESP ESP ESP ESP ESP SWE ESP Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Left Wing Line Player Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Right Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Left Back Centre Back 26.10.1977 9.1.1992 10.4.1989 16.9.1988 15.9.1978 28.8.1977 7.1.1990 6.6.1989 25.1.1989 12.6.1989 25.7.1993 16.6.1982 22.8.1990 1.6.1990 5.6.1984 8.2.1995 3.3.1992 9.5.1984 108 82 97 90 108 75 120 80 100 94 90 84 75 93 121 90 98 90 35 201 180 205 192 201 176 195 187 199 193 190 188 193 192 202 200 200 186 Gurutz Aguinagalde Aquizu goalkeeper The 37-year-old is one of the most experienced players at La Rioja and he has been with them for each of their European campaigns. He played an important part in the Rioja’s run in the EHF Cup where they reached the Group Phase and only narrowly missed the quarter-finals. He is the brother of Spanish national team line player Julen Aguinagalde. To date he has won the Spanish King’s Cup in 1996, the Spanish Super Cup in 1996 and the Cup Winners’ Cup winner in 1997. Jesús Javier González Fernández coach For the first time in his coaching career he led a CL participant last season. He became the “best coach of the Spanish league” in the 2012/13 season for the second time in his life after the most successful season of Rioja in history. In 2007 former player took over the team of Logroño after being coach in Valladolid. And right when he arrived, the club made their first steps on the European stage. EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 1997 Philip Stenmalm left back He was part of the Swedish U21 national team who were triumphant at the WCh in 2013. Not only was the two metre tall and 96 kg heavy backcourt player an important figure by the blue and yellow side. He was even considered so important to his team that he was awarded MVP of the tournament after the final. The talented left back with the hard and versatile shot was the second best scorer of DROTT Halmstad last season before he decided to carry on in the CL with Rioja. Juanin Garcia left wing The all-time record scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL league is still one of the most talented wing players in Europe. He joined Barcelona at the start of the 2005/06 season and was part of the Spanish powerhouse squad that won the EHF Champions League in 2011. He also won gold with the Spanish national team at the 2005 World Championship. His speed on the counterattack, his athletic game and his ability to shoot in so many different ways are both fundamental aspects of Juanin Garcia’s style. EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 1999, 2005 OG: B 2008, WCh: G 2005, B 2011, EURO: S 2006 Rubén Garabaya Arenas line player Naturhouse will enjoy this very experienced pivot (7th EHF CL participation) for the 4th consecutive year. With 168 matches played for the Spanish national team the 36-yearold defender is keen to help his club to get through a very tough qualification group. One of his fondest memories goes to EHF CL 06/07 with the goal he scored in the last seconds with Bm. Valladolid against Montpellier to clinch the first position in their group, which helped them reach semifinals that year. Víctor Vigo Gerpe centre back Although Víctor Vigo, born in 1984, will play for the first time in Champions League this season, he’s already had 3 previous experiences at EHF Cup level, defending the Naturhouse (1) and Bm. Aragón (2) shirts. Víctor started playing handball at the age of 12, because “many friends did so too”. His abilities on the court were soon noticed by the Spanish scouts, who started calling him for the U18 and Junior team. EC trophies: EHF Cup 1999 Albert Rocas right wing Double world champion with the Spanish national team (2005 and 2013), Rocas is only missing an EHF EURO crown in his collection. He was nominated as the best ASOBAL right wing in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and best right wing of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. After six seasons at Barcelona, Rocas made the move to Denmark last season, his first to a foreign league. After one year with Kolding he is back in Spain. Luis Felipe Jiménez Reina right back This will be the second consecutive participation of this young Andalusian player with Naturhouse in the EHF CL. And he seems to understand this competition very well as this 25-year-old player already scored 40 goals last season. He started playing handball at the early age of six in his hometown club (Puente Genil) and the minute coach Juan de Dios Román met him by chance at a local training, Luisfe (as he prefers to be called by his friends) was immediately brought to the U18 Spanish squad. EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2004 OG: B 2008, WCh: G 2005, 2013, B 2011, EURO: S 2006, B 2014 36 GROUP A PSG Handball (FRA) The star-studded Paris team made a massive impact in last season’s VELUX EHF Champions League, the club’s first appearance since 2005/06, before bowing out in the quarter-finals against Veszprem. Two former World Handball Players of the Year, Mikkel Hansen and Daniel Narcisse, were part of the PSG team already in the previous season and now a third one has arrived from Montpellier: goalkeeper and four-time EHF Champions League winner Thierry Omeyer. The two-time Olympic and three-time world and EHF EURO champion replaces Jose Miguel Sierra, who, like Antonio Garcia, left for EHF Cup winner Pick Szeged. Additionally two more French national team players, Xavier Barachet and William Accambray, have arrived to strengthen the back court. With these arrivals, the team of coach Philippe Gardent is ready to go all the way in every competition and atone for raising only the one trophy, the French Cup, last season. PSG sensationally missed out on the French league title last season, finishing second behind Dunkerque. However, after an intense preparation, including one week in the Qatari capital Doha, PSG are aiming high again in the league and with the goal to make it to Cologne in May 2015. The road to Cologne is already looking like a long and troublesome one in the group phase, as PSG were drawn together with THW Kiel (former club of Narcisse and Omeyer), Metalurg, Zagreb, La Rioja and Meshkov Brest. Playing hall Halle Georges Carpentier 81 boulevard Massena 75013 Paris France Capacity: 4,800 Club Address: PSG Handball 82 avenue Georges Lafont 75016 Paris France “Once again we will face very prestigious opponents in the VELUX EHF Champions League. THW Kiel appears to be the declared favourite of our group, so we know that we have ten hard battles ahead. Our team will try to improve and go as far as possible in the competition. We do have a lot of potential but, as a newcomer, we also appreciate the difficulty to reach the top of this amazing competition,” admits manager Bruno Martini. Team captain Daniel Narcisse says: “The VELUX EHF FINAL4 remains our dream destination after being stopped right in front of the door last year. The road to Cologne is very difficult because we have additionally high goals in the French championship. Managing all of those games makes it hard, but obviously we want to go as far as possible. “The quarter-finals might already be something like a Champions League final, as it had occurred to us last season when we faced Veszprem. This is why the road to the FINAL4 is obviously very difficult. Despite this, we still hope to do better than last year.” Media contact: Louise Cosnard +33 (0)675 591 939 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.psghand.fr Facebook: PSGHand Twitter: @psghand Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: French runnersup Newcomers: William Accambray (Montpellier) Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier) Xavier Barachet (St. Raphael) Left the club: Antonio Garcia (Szeged) Jose Manuel Sierra (Szeged) Ibrahima Diaw (Bucharest) Asgeir Orn Hallgrimsson (Nimes) 37 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 3 Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Other EHF Cup: quarter-final 2006/07, Last 16 2003/04 French league: 1 title (2012/13) French cup: 2 titles PSG Handball (FRA) Biggest win: 38:24 (22:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (h), 23.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 44:28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), 10.12.2005 Longest winning run: 4 matches (17.11.2013 – 08.02.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (17.11.2013 – 08.02.2014) Longest losing run: 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Longest run without win: 4 matches (23.11.1996 – 18.01.1997) Most goals: 38 v Wacker Thun SUI 38:24W (h), 23.11.2013 Most goals opponent: 44 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Most goals both teams: 72 v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), 10.12.2005 Fewest goals: 20 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), 11.01.1997 20 v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), 18.01.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 Fewest goals both teams:39 v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), 09.10.2005 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1996/97 PSG Asnières FRA 6 1 0 5 131:161 –30 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA 8 4 1 3 212:229 -17 9 Last 16 2013/14 PSG Handball FRA 14 7 1 6 429:402 +27 15 1/4-finals Total 28 12 2 14 772:792 –20 26 38 Stage PSG Handball (FRA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 19 6 1 20 14 91 48 7 95 32 17 15 18 24 34 94 39 35 11 90 5 4 13 25 16 3 33 92 21 9 Luc William Patrice Ludwig Xavier Mladen Clement Gabor Kevin Ulysse Dylan Jakov Robert Mikkel Samuel Bryan Jordy Marko Benoit Jeffrey Steve Fahrudin Zacharia Daniel Thierry Axel Julio Boubou Jonathan Igor Abalo Accambray Annonay Appolinaire Barachet Bojinovic Branco Csaszar Durosier Fodor Garain Gojun Gunnarsson Hansen Honrubia Jabea Njo Jacoby Kopljar Kounkoud M’tima Marie Joseph Melic N’diaye Narcisse Omeyer Rosier Rupaire Toure Troudart Vori FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA SRB FRA HUN FRA FRA FRA CRO ISL DEN FRA FRA FRA CRO FRA FRA FRA MNE FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA CRO Right Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Back Right Back Line Player Right Wing Line Player Line Player Right Wing Left Back Line Player Line Player Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing Left Wing Left Wing Right Wing Back Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Line Player Left Wing Line Player Line Player 6.9.1984 8.4.1988 17.5.1979 27.5.1994 19.11.1988 17.1.1977 25.8.1996 16.6.1984 14.5.1994 3.4.1995 22.8.1996 18.4.1986 22.5.1980 22.10.1987 5.7.1986 28.6.1992 8.2.1995 12.2.1986 19.2.1997 16.7.1991 3.1.1994 22.7.1984 2.6.1984 16.12.1979 2.11.1976 20.2.1994 1.3.1995 29.1.1994 15.1.1996 20.9.1980 80 104 96 97 95 101 85 98 90 80 86 110 100 93 75 103 91 108 78 80 90 90 90 93 93 90 102 76 82 114 39 182 194 192 190 195 202 190 188 187 180 192 204 191 192 180 193 191 210 188 188 185 183 194 189 192 192 195 186 194 203 Philippe Gardent coach After coaching Chambéry for 16 years (head coach and before assistant coach) he joined PSG in 2012 with a mission to build-up a team capable of reaching the top of Europe. And right in his first season, the former pivot of the French national team took the French title with PSG. He played for several clubs in Paris winning two champion and two cup titles. He had 298 caps in 13 years with France and became world champion in 1995. As Chambéry coach he won the league in 2001 and cup in 2002. OG: B 1992, WCh: G 1995, B 1993 (all as player) Samuel Honrubia left wing After having played in Montpellier for more than a decade, he joined PSG at the start of the 2012/13 season. Once he had arrived at the French capital he immediately showed what he is capable of and why is he is regarded as one of the best left wings in Europe. He is very efficient when it comes to scoring from fast breaks and he also has the capacity to make a difference, due to his fast-pace changing of directions, when it comes to one-on-one situations on limited space. OG: G 2012, EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2011 Thierry Omeyer goalkeeper Recently crowned best goalkeeper of history by the IHF, he is throwing himself in a last adventure to win again the CL. At 38, he played in one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, Kiel, and has achieved more than any other goalkeeper. In his seven seasons in Germany, he gained a lot of experience and became the goalkeeper feared by every player on the planet. He then returned to Montpellier last season, reached the EHF Cup Final and decided to move on to PSG this summer. EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, 2011, B 2003, B 2005 Mikkel Hansen left back He was awarded World Handball Player in 2011, the year he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with AG Kobenhavn. He is the son of former Danish international Flemming Hansen. Having grown into a top class player at Danish side GOG, he played for Barcelona for two seasons before joining AG in 2011. He then joined PSG at the start of the 2012/13 season. No doubt his astonishing arm and shooting skills will be a great weapon in PSG’s arsenal this season. EURO: G 2012, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013 Daniele Narcisse centre back He might well go down in history as one of the most decorated French players. Being voted 2012 World Handball Player of the Year, this award seemed to crown what looks like an amazing career full of titles. But now, in order to make the circle complete, the french centre back would like to bring PSG on top of Europe. Nicknamed “Air France” because it looks like he’s flying when he’s jumping, Narcisse has now reunited with former Kiel teammate Thierry Omeyer to fulfill his goal. Igor Vori line player At 203 cm, the tall Croatian is a pillar in any team’s defence. He may look a little bit sleepy and awkward, but that’s just an impression. He has won nearly every title the sport has on offer and PSG recruited him to bring some CL experience to his position. Vori has played handball in five countries so far, including Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Hamburg) and, more strangely, Italy. He has had some troubles adapting to his new team last season but should be ready to take everything on this season. EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008, WCh: G 2001, 2009, B 2003, 2005 EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: G 2004, B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 2005, 2009, B 2013 Xavier Barachet right back After playing only one season in Spain, Xavier Barachet returned to France last season to play with Saint Raphaël, before signing for PSG this season. Formed in Chambéry, the left-hander has already an impressive CL experience despite only being aged 25. Sadly, he has been injured a lot over the past seasons and due to a shoulder injury, has only focused on defending over the last two seasons. But thanks to surgery, he has now recovered and should be able to bring danger on the other side of the court as well. OG: G 2012, EURO: G 2010, WCh: G 2009, 2011 Luc Abalo right wing The spectacular right wing returned to France two seasons ago from Spanish side Atletico Madrid and immediately showed how much progress he has made. During his four seasons in Spain, he learned to channel his energy and reached the final of the CL in 2011 and 2012. He has become a regular fixture in the national team as well. With his high jumps and all the tricks a winger must have in his bag, he is one of the best at his position. EC trophies: CL 2009 OG: 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: 2009, 2011 40 GROUP A HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Six years Meshkov Brest were left in Dinamo Minsk’s shadows, six years missing out on the Belarusian league title, six years absent from the Europe’s elite club competition. However, all that has changed after Dinamo’s demise and Brest gladly struck back to take the title again in 2014. Some Dinamo players such as Dzianis Rutenka (brother of Siarhei) and Maxim Babichev joined Meshkov – and after a long absence they are now in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase, where they had been constant participant from 2004 until 2008. In recent times, Brest were unlucky in the EHF Cup, twice coming up against eventual semi-finalists in the final qualification round in 2012 and 2013 and twice failing to beat German sides Frisch Auf Göppingen and Füchse Berlin. Brest have also been competing in the regional SEHA Liga and even made it to the final tournament in April 2014 in Novi Sad. For the new season, Meshkov signed experienced players Nikola Manojlovic from RheinNeckar Löwen and Austrian international Janko Bozovic. And hosting the qualification tournament for the group phase, those newcomers (and stars like Serbian line player Rastko Stojkovic and Slovenian playmaker David Spiler) helped the side through in the final against Slovak champions Tatran Presov. Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Leningradskaya 4 224028 Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500 In the next stage the powerhouses of THW Kiel, Paris Saint-Germain and Metalurg Skopje will be visiting Brest, but despite those big names the hopes are high at the Belarusian champions to make it to the Last 16, as well as defend their domestic title and again reach the SEHA final event. Sports director Pavel Bashkin is confident: “Our goal is to enter the knock-out stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League. The participants of our group are very strong. They constantly participate in this competition, but the famous names of our opponents are also a guarantee that the hall will be full at our home matches.” After the long absence, team captain Ljubo Vukic says he is “very glad to play in the strongest league in Europe. Of course, our group is difficult, but we will fight to be among the top four teams in the end, which would grant us with a ticket to the Last 16.” Club Address: HC Meshkov Brest Leningradskaya 4 224028 Brest Belarus [email protected] Media Contact: Alexandr Kulbaka +375 293 50 74 79 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.bgk-meshkova.com Facebook: bgkmeshkova Twitter: bgk_meshkova Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: green/black Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Belarusian champions, winner of qualification tournament 1 Newcomers: Janko Bozovic (Emsdetten) Nikola Manojlovic (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Simon Razgor (Maribor Branik) Left the club: Alexey Ushal (Kronon) Alexey Haisa (Kronon) Denis Volyntsev (Gomel) Milan Dzukic (Borac Banja Luka) Robert Markotic (Aix-En Provence) David Milicevic (Samberiju) Jury Tatarin (Sungul) Nerius Ataevas (destination unknown) 41 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 6 Group Matches (4): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 Qualification (1): 2008/09 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-final 2011/12 Belarusian league: 6 titles (2004-08, 2014) Belarusian cup: 7 titles HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Biggest win: 28:22 (11:12) v Wisla Plock SSA POL (h), 13.11.2005 30:24 (15:12) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 17.11.2007 Biggest defeat: 36:17 (16:08) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), 09.10.2004 Longest winning run: 1 match (16.10.2004) 1 match (13.11.2005) 1 match (17.11.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 1 match (16.10.2004) 1 match (13.11.2005) 1 match (17.11.2007) Longest losing run: 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007) Longest run without win: 10 matches (09.10.2004 – 06.11.2005) 10 matches (30.09.2006 – 10.11.2007) Most goals: 31 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 31:29W (h), 16.10.2004 31 v THW Kiel GER 31:37L (h), 06.11.2005 Most goals opponent: 39 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), 11.11.2006 Most goals both teams: 68 v THW Kiel GER 31:37L (h), 06.11.2005 68 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), 11.11.2006 Fewest goals: 17 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), 09.10.2004 17 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004 Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Wisla Plock SSA POL 28:22W (h), 13.11.2005 Fewest goals both teams:44 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), 30.10.2004 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR 6 1 0 5 143:184 -41 2 4th Gr. C 2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 1 0 5 165:183 -18 2 4th Gr. E 2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR 6 0 0 6 146:189 –43 0 4th Gr. B 2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 6 1 0 5 154:182 -28 2 4th Gr. H Total 24 3 0 21 608:738 -130 6 42 Stage HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 90 6 24 7 21 11 29 9 17 16 1 31 30 22 88 13 18 23 Aleh Maxim Maksim Janko Vitali Dzmitry Ivan Nikola Dzmitry Dzmitry Ivan Simon Dzianis Viachaslau Siarhei David Rastko Ljubo Astrashapkin Babichev Baranau Bozovic Charapenka Kamyshyk Karacic Manojlovic Nikulenkau Patotski Pesic Razgor Rutenka Shumak Shylovich Spiler Stojkovic Vukic BLR BLR BLR AUT BLR BLR BIH SRB BLR BLR CRO SLO BLR BLR BLR SLO SRB CRO Right Back Line Player Right Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Left Back Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Right Back Centre Back Line Player Left Wing 20.1.1992 7.3.1986 11.4.1988 14.7.1985 27.1.1984 1.5.1990 26.5.1985 1.12.1981 12.7.1984 3.10.1992 17.3.1989 18.9.1985 14.2.1986 22.12.1988 16.5.1986 2.1.1983 12.7.1981 3.8.1982 81 97 82 101 86 95 93 100 87 107 112 84 85 116 95 95 104 96 43 187 196 188 203 194 200 190 196 187 195 193 183 187 204 198 190 191 192 Željko Babić coach The 42-year-old Croatian begins his second year at the helm of HC Meshkov Brest. In the past, he worked in his native Croatia as a coach of Zagreb and the national team, where he was an assistant of the famous Slavko Goluza. His first steps in Brest were perhaps not very impressive, but in the end Babić convinced everyone of his high professional qualities, having led the team to the first title of Belarusian champion since 2008. The emotional and impulsive Balkan coach is always eager to learn something new, and he is a good motivator for his players. Vitali Charapenka goalkeeper The 30-year-old is a veteran of HC Meshkov Brest where he has been playing since 2005. During this time, he won a number of local trophies with his club, including the title of Belarusian champion in 2014. Last year, there were rumors that Charapenka would move to France’s Creteille, but in the end he stayed at home. Vitali is currently also the first-choice goalkeeper of the Belarus national team. And in Brest, he showed his skills once again in the qualifying round of the VELUX Champions League, where a few weeks ago his saves were crucial in the decisive match against Tatran Presov. Ljubo Vukić Nikola Manojlović left wing left back The Croatian from Split is the captain of The 32-year old native of Belgrade is a new HC Meshkov Brest — he was given this player in Brest, but he can boast quite a rich role by the club owner Alexander Meshkov international experience. With the Serbia personally. Vukić starts his third year in national team, he participated in a number Brest, and he already speaks Russian quite of major tournaments including the London fluently, which makes him a connecting link Olympics. He has played in his native Serbia between the local players and the large as well as Switzerland, Slovenia, Romania Balkan diaspora in the team. He acquired a lot and Germany, so Belarus is the sixth country of international experience in the national team — he was a part of it in his profile. In the Bundesliga, he spent four years at Frisch Auf during some major tournaments including the 2008 Olympics. Before Goppingen and had two spells at Rhein-Neckar Lowen. Brest he mostly played for HC Osiguranje Zagreb. EURO: S 2008 Dzmitry Nikulenkau centre back The 30-year-old native of Minsk is a national player of Belarus and a well-respected player in the country. During a number of years, he played a key role at Dinamo Minsk, where he was the captain. Nikulenkau was at Dinamo since the club foundation in 2008 and until Dinamo ceased to exist in February 2014. Nikulenkau had some offers from abroad, but he opted to move to Brest together with two other ex-Dinamo players, Maxim Babichev and Dzianis Rutenka. EURO: S 2012 Rastko Stojković line player The native of Belgrade started his career at RK Crvena Zvezda, but moved abroad at the age of 24. He gained some experience in Germany, where he played for Pfullingen and NordhornLingen, and with the latter team won the EHF Cup in 2008. Then the Serb moved to Kielce where he won three titles of Polish champion and four Polish cups. During the last season, he managed to play for three clubs — first for Crvena Zvezda, then a couple of months in the exotic Qatar, and in December he joined Brest. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012 Janko Božović right back Although the 29-year-old is an Austrian international, he was born in Bar, Montenegro. His mother, Stanka Božović, also used to play for Austria in the past. And Janko, whose height is 203 cm, moved abroad already at the age of 21. He travelled across Europe, having played in Norway, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia. His last station was Germany’s TV Emsdetten where he spent three seasons. And now Božović is looking forward to a new challenge with the Belarusian champions. Dzianis Rutenka right wing His name is very famous in handball — Dzianis is a younger brother of the famous Barcelona left back Siarhei Rutenka. The two brothers play together for the national team of Belarus, but unlike Siarhei, the 28-year-old Dzianis has spent most of his career at home. With Dinamo Minsk, he became a five-time Belarusian champion, and when this club went bankrupt last February, the right wing was immediately picked up by Brest. With his new club, Rutenka won the national title once again, adding the sixth championship to his collection. 44 Group B preview FLENSBURG ARE THE CHAMPIONS, BUT BARCELONA ARE ALWAYS FAVOURITES When SG Flensburg-Handewitt won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 back in May, it came as a surprise to most people in the handball world. The North Germans will start their title defence while having to replace players such as substitute goalkeeper Søren Rasmussen who played a great part in the their triumph in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne in May, as well as the experiences line player Michael V. Knudsen and right back Steffen Weinhold. On the positive side is the fact that Flensburg can welcome the hard-shooting left back Lars Kaufmann back from his one year injury break. One of the toughest rivals already in the group phase will be FC Barcelona who are almost always mentioned among the hottest favourites for the title. The Catalonians who have won the EHF Champions League seven times already, proved that they mean business once again, as the won the Super Globe in Qatar earlier this month. Barcelona will have to play their first group matches without right wing Victor Tomas who has fractured his hand, but even this handicap does not remove the status as group favourites from the shoulders of the Barcelona players. At first sight, 35-year-old Icelandic left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson seems like their most exciting new signing. KIF Kolding København have said goodbye to right wing Albert Rocas and defence specialist Joachim Boldsen, but even though no replacements have been signed for those key players, the Danish champions look stronger than last year, simply because they are not bothered by that multitude of injuries which handicapped them last season. Lately, Kim Andersson, who has been nursing shoulder problems since April 2013, has even started shooting again, and in goal, veteran Kasper Hvidt has got himself a highly competent colleague in the shape of another former Danish international, Marcus Cleverly. Orlen Wisla Plock will have amibtions of doing better than last season, where a fourth place in the group phase lead to an early exit in the Last 16. However, coach Manuel Cadenas´ men may have another tough season, having said goodbye to players such as Marcin Lijewski, Nikola Eklemovic and Petar Nenadic. Alingsas HK are in the VELUX EHF Champions League for the second time and after a five year break. It will be interesting to see what the Swedish champions can do in this tough group, and it will be particularly interesting to follow their promising young playmaker Jesper Konradsson. For the first time in 11 years is Turkish handball represented in the Champions League, and for Besiktas MOGAZ HT it is even the debut in the tournament. The Turkish champions have promised to fight “until even their socks are torn apart”, and they are probably going to need that. However, it will be interesting to follow their most prominent signing, Croations left wing Ivan Nincevis who has joined from Dinamo Minsk. Peter Bruun 45 Group B head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC FC Barcelona vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 20.12.1997 FC Barcelona vs Kolding IF, ECh for Club Teams – 1/2-finals 17.10.2009 FC Barcelona Borges vs KIF Kolding, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 06.03.2010 KIF Kolding vs FC Barcelona Borges, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 18.12.1999 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, ECh for Club Teams – 1/2-finals 23.02.2007 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs FC Barcelona-Cifec, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 03.03.2007 FC Barcelona-Cifec vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 31.05.2014 FC Barcelona vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF FINAL4 – 1/2-finals SO (36:36, 32:32, 17:18) 37:26 (20:14) 46:36 (23:19) 25:25 (10:12) 32:29 (16:14) 31:21 (13:10) 34:29 (14:12) 39:41 AET and KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs Orlen Wisla Plock 02.10.2005 KIF Kolding vs Wisla Plock SSA, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group E 06.11.2005 Wisla Plock SSA vs KIF Kolding, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group E 07.10.2006 KIF Kolding Elite A/S vs Wisla Plock SA, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 19.10.2006 Wisla Plock SA vs KIF Kolding Elite A/S, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 20.10.2013 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 13.02.2014 Orlen Wisla Plock vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 38:29 (16:14) 19:25 (10:12) 35:18 (19:4) 25:31 (13:13) 23:22 (13:11) 25:26 (08:10) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 12.11.1995 Kolding IF vs SG Flensburg Handewitt, EHF Cup – Last 16 19:26 (8:8) 18.11.1995 SG Flensburg Handewitt vs Kolding IF, EHF Cup – Last 16 13.12.2003 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Kolding KIF, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 21.12.2003 Kolding KIF vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 25:23 (13:10) 34:29 (16:13) 20:33 (11:17) Orlen Wisla Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 08.12.2001 SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Orlen SSA Plock, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 15.12.2001 Orlen SSA Plock vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Cup Winners’ Cup – Last 16 33:27 (19:12) 25:23 (10:9) No previous encounters in European competitions FC Barcelona vs Alingsas HK FC Barcelona vs Orlen Wisla Plock FC Barcelona vs Besiktas Mogaz HT KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs Alingsas HK KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs Besiktas Mogaz HT Alingsas HK vs Orlen Wisla Plock Alingsas HK vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt Alingsas HK vs Besiktas Mogaz HT Orlen Wisla Plock vs Besiktas Mogaz HT SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Besiktas Mogaz HT 46 GROUP B FC Barcelona (ESP) Despite reaching the final destination of Cologne four times, FC Barcelona have only once lifted the coveted trophy in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 era. With that in mind and another near miss fresh in the memory, one of the team’s clear goals is to make it back to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again, and maybe avoid a German team this time around. The Catalans’ only win against a German team came in 2011 against Rhein Neckar Löwen compared to two final defeats against Kiel (2010) and Hamburg (2013) as well as last season’s thrilling semifinal loss to eventual winners SG Flensburg-Handewitt. Opportunities to make up for that heartbreaking loss present themselves to Barcelona in the two guaranteed encounters in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. Additionally, the seven-time EHF Champions League winner will compete with Kolding, Alingsas, Plock and the winner of qualification tournament 3 in the first stage of the competition. The Barca squad did not change all that much in the squad, with all of their top back court players such as Nikola Karabatic, Kiril Lazarov and Siarhei Rutenka remained in the blaugrana jersey. Departures included all-time top scorer of the Asobal league, Juanin Garcia (La Rioja), and Spanish world champion Arpad Sterbik (Vardar Skopje), who both found new jobs at Champions League clubs, while Slovak left wing Martin Stranovsky transferred to German side Erlangen. Playing hall Palau Blaugrana Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain Capacity: 7,250 Club Address: FC Barcelona Intersport Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain Media contact: Gustau Galvache +34 618522789 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat Facebook: FCBHandbol Twitter: @FCBHandbol Sterbik’s replacement, Gonzalo Pérez De Vargas, is very well known to Barca, as he comes from the youth programme of the Catalans and was on loan at French side Felix Toulouse until now and the goalkeeper promises that he is ready for the challenge. Coming into the squad are two players from one of Barcelona’s top rivals, Tunisian left back Wael Jallouz and Icelandic left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson arrived from THW Kiel. With those newcomers, the goals for the upcoming season are the same as last year’s: to win all available competitions. The domestic competition has become a one-horse race, with Barcelona winning the Spanish Asobal league at a canter last season. At least in the first three rounds Barca will miss their captain Victor Tomas, who fractured his right hand at the Asobal game one week before the start of the new season. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Spanish champions Newcomers: Gonzalo Pérez De Vargas (Fenix Toulouse) Wael Jallouz (THW Kiel) Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (THW Kiel) Left the club: Juanin García (Naturhouse La Rioja) Arpad Sterbik (Vardar Skopje) Martin Stranovsky (HC Erlangen) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 18 Winner (7): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11 Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 Semi-final (2): 2007/08, 2013/14 Quarter-final (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12 Last 16 (1): 2003/04 Main Round (1): 2008/09 Other EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02 Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95 Kit colours Light Player shirt: red and yellow Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: green/grey Spanish league: 21 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Spanish cup: 18 titles Asobal cup: 9 titles Dark Player shirt: blue and red Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black/dark red 47 FC Barcelona (ESP) Biggest win 17:43 (9:21) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (a), 19.11.2011 Biggest defeat 31:21 (13:10) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), 23.02.2007 41:31 (20:15) v THW Kiel GER (a), 06.04.2008 Longest winning run 12 matches (24.04.2011 – 12.02.2012) Longest unbeaten run 16 matches (24.01.1996 – 16.03.1997) Longest losing run 2 matches (25.03.2000 – 22.04.2000) 2 matches (16.10.2004 – 23.10.2004) 2 matches (11.12.2004 – 05.03.2005) 2 matches (15.03.2008 – 06.04.2008) 2 matches (23.11.2008 – 14.02.2009) 2 matches (30.05.2010 – 25.09.2010) Longest run without win 3 matches (30.05.2010 – 03.10.2010) Most goals 46 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Most goals opponent 41 v THW Kiel GER 41:31L (a), 06.04.2008 Most goals both teams 82 v KIF Kolding DEN 46:36W (h), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals 21 v ABC Braga POR 21:21D (a), 09.11.1997 21 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:21L (a), 23.10.2004 21 v Portland San Antonio ESP 25:21L (a), 25.02.2006 21 v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 31:21L (a), 23.02.2007 Fewest goals opponent 12 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals both teams 38 v Elgorriaga Bidasoa ESP 23:15W (a), 20.04.1996 38 v Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 12:26W (a), 06.11.2004 VELUX EHF Champions League record Reached MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1995/96 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 2 1996/97 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 1 1 213: 173 + 40 12 Winner 1 358: 264 + 94 21 Winner 1997/98 FC Barcelona ESP 12 9 1 2 358: 284 + 74 19 Winner 1998/99 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 3 1 357: 289 + 68 19 Winner 1999/00 FC Barcelona ESP 12 10 0 2 345: 271 + 74 20 Winner 2000/01 FC Barcelona ESP 12 8 2 2 316: 281 + 35 18 Runner-up 2003/04 FC Barcelona ESP 8 5 1 2 262: 212 + 50 11 Last 16 2004/05 FC Barcelona Cifec ESP 14 8 0 6 400: 360 + 40 16 Winner 2005/06 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 9 0 1 293: 244 + 49 18 1/4-finals 2006/07 FC Barcelona-Cifec ESP 10 8 0 2 314: 263 + 51 16 1/4-finals 2007/08 FC Barcelona ESP 14 11 0 3 475: 407 + 68 22 1/2-finals 2008/09 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 10 6 0 4 307: 275 + 32 12 3rd MR Gr. 4 2009/10 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 13 1 2 545: 461 + 84 27 Runner-up 2010/11 FC Barcelona Borges ESP 16 10 3 3 501: 451 + 50 23 Winner 2011/12 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 14 11 0 3 459: 357 +102 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 FC Barcelona Intersport ESP 16 13 0 3 488: 404 + 84 26 Runner-up 2013/14 FC Barcelona ESP 16 12 1 3 535:426 +109 25 Third Place 212 156 15 41 6526:5422 +1104 327 Total 48 FC Barcelona (ESP) No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 13 9 18 22 33 77 27 3 1 22 12 11 37 9 10 8 Aitor Raul Eduardo Wael Nikola Kiril Viran Jesper Brian Gonzalo Siarhei Danijel Daniel Joan Gudjon Valur Cedric Victor Arino Bengoechea Entrerrios Rodriguez Gurbindo Martinez Jallouz Karabatic Lazarov Morros de Argila Nöddesbo Perez de Vargas Rutenka Saric Sarmiento Melian Saubich Mir Sigurdsson Sorhaindo Tomas Gonzalez ESP ESP ESP TUN FRA MKD ESP DEN ESP BLR BIH ESP ESP ISL FRA ESP Left Wing Centre Back Right Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Left Back Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Wing Left Wing Line Player Right Wing 5.10.1992 12.2.1981 8.11.1987 3.5.1991 11.4.1984 10.5.1980 15.12.1983 23.10.1980 10.1.1991 29.8.1981 27.6.1977 25.8.1983 7.11.1989 8.8.1979 7.6.1984 15.2.1985 49 185 193 194 197 196 195 199 199 189 199 194 186 186 187 192 178 Weight 75 92 92 92 102 99 99 100 93 109 93 85 88 82 100 85 Danijel Šarić goalkeeper One of the best Barcelona players, known for his incredible quality in goal and for the joy he brings to the team. The Bosnian goalkeeper won the CL in 2011 with Barcelona, was awarded the best goalkeeper of the ASOBAL league in 2011 and 2012, and the best player overall in 2011. He joined Barça in 2009, after spells with Spanish clubs San Antonio, León, Alcobendas and Cantabria, but began his career in Serbia with RK Crvena Zvezda and RK Sintelon. Xavi Pascual coach The name is a “double feature” at FC Barcelona, as the coaches of both the handball and the basketball section hold the same name. Handball’s Xavi Pascual played for a lengthy period for Barcelona and some other Spanish clubs, before becoming the goalkeeper coach at the EHF Champions League record winners in 2005, where he started working with the legendary David Barrufet and others. In 2009 he succeeded Manolo Cadenas at Barcelona’s helm. EC trophies: CL 2011 EC trophies: CL 2011 Siarhei Rutenka left back In 2011 the Belarusian became the second player to win five CL titles with three clubs after Jose Javier Hombrados (with Santander, San Antonio, Ciudad Real) completed this feat as the first one. After lifting the trophy in 2004 with Celje, Rutenka won three titles with Ciudad Real, followed by the victory with Barcelona. No matter what competition, Rutenka is among the top scorers, e.g. at the 2006 EHF EURO and in 2003/04 and the 2004/05 Champions League season. Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson left wing Before his arrival to Barcelona the Icelandic spent just one season away from the Bundesliga - in 2011/12 he played for AG Kobenhavn. The former Tusem Essen, VfL Gummersbach and Rhein-Neckar Löwen player had some outstanding performances in Europe and really appeared to have got the joy of playing handball back. With his enormous experience from top handball and his equally large talent, 2008 Olympic silver medallist Sigurdsson is a real key player. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2005 OG: S 2008 EC trophies: CL 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 Jesper Nøddesbo line player Noddesbo started his career at Team Tvis Holstebro – long before the Danish club made it as far as the EHF Cup semi-final in the 2012/13 season. His career started spiralling upwards when he joined KIF Kolding in 2004. Since then, he has been among Europe’s elite year after year – with Kolding from 2004 to 2007, and ever since with FC Barcelona, whom he joined in the summer of 2007. He is an imposing presence on the court and is not afraid of anything when it comes to stopping opposing attackers. Nikola Karabatić centre back / left back The former World Handball Player of the Year was one of Barcelona transfer coups last summer, with Kiril Lazarov being another one. Karabatic has already won everything there is to win, as he has triumphed at Olympic Games, World Championships and EHF European Championships with the French national team. The left back is one of the most complete handball players with strengths in attack and defence. He has also won the EHF Champions League twice – in 2003 with Montpellier and 2007 with THW Kiel. EC trophies: CL 2003, 2007 OG: G 2008, 2012, WCh: G 2009, 2011, B 2003, 2005, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, B 2008 EURO: G 2008, S 2014, WCh: S 2011, 2013 Victor Tomas right wing Following the victories in 2005 and 2011, the Barcelona-born Tomas will be hoping to lift his third EHF Champions League trophy at the FINAL4 in Cologne. He joined Barcelona’s youth team in 1998 and has not played for any other club. In fact he is that loyal to Barça, he has always stated that if he were to leave the Catalan club he would only play outside of Spain. He biggest assets are his great pace and his impressive flexibility that make him a strong player in attack but also in defence. Kiril Lazarov right back The powerful back court shooter from FYR Macedonia is the most successful scorer at a single EHF EURO event (2012 Serbia, 61 goals) and also at World Championship level (2009 Croatia, 92 goals). He was also top scorer of the EHF Champions League twice (2005/06 and 2007/08) – but still this title is missing in his trophy cabinet. In the 2012/13 ASOBAL season he converted 62 per cent of his shots, being particularly effective from the penalty line (76 per cent) and with counter attack (86 per cent). EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003 OG: B 2008, EURO: B 2014, WCh: G 2013 50 GROUP B KIF Kolding København (DEN) A big name in Danish and international handball has said farewell to the court. Joachim Boldsen brought an end to his long and successful career, but not before he and his club KIF Kolding København finished on top again in his last season, snatching back the Danish championship in May from the defending champions Aalborg thanks to two final victories. The Danes hope that winning their 13th national title will not prove to be an unlucky number when they go for the title again and look to step up a level on the international stage. After a season of many long-term injuries to key players such as Kim Andersson, Lasse Boesen and Kasper Irming, KIF are back on track with everyone healthy once again. They have even strengthened their squad with the signing of former EHF Champions League winning goalkeeper Marcus Cleverly, arriving from HSV Hamburg. Another big name to join the team is Landin Jacobsen – but not the famous Niklas, rather his younger brother Magnus, who made the switch from Nordsjælland. The new season is the first full one for coach Aron Kristjansson (also in charge of the Icelandic national team) after starting his job at KIF in February. With this barrage of good news at the club, hopes are high in Kolding and København to defend their Danish title and at least qualify for the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League like they had done in the 2013/14 season. Playing hall TRE-FOR Arena Ambolten 2-6 6000 Kolding Denmark Capacity: 2,800 Club Address: KIF Kolding København Ambolten 2-6 6000 Kolding Denmark Media contact: Thomas Christensen +45 22 629062 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.kif.dk Facebook: KIFKBH Twitter: @KifKoldingKBH Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue However, the opponents KIF face already in the group phase are high hurdles to clear: defending champions Flensburg, competition favourites Barcelona, Polish powerhouse Plock, Alingsas and Turkish newcomers Besiktas. Despite their twelfth appearance in the Champions League, for KIF club director Jens Boesen it is still something special to be part of the top 24 teams: “The VELUX EHF Champions League is the top product of our sport and it is very important for our club and our team to be a part of this and to perform well. Of course my biggest dream is to be among the last four teams in Cologne. But to make it there do not only need to perform well but also need some luck in the draws on the way.” For team captain Torsten Laen, Champions League winner with Ciudad Real and VELUX EHF FINAL 4 participant with Füchse Berlin, the return of key players shall be crucial to success: “We have big ambitions for the upcoming season. We had a lot of success last season even though we had a lot of injury problems. With the return of Kim Andersson, Lasse Boesen and Kasper Irming and new players at least at the same level as those who left the team, we expect at least the same success as last year.” Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Danish champions Newcomers: Marcus Cleverly (HSV Hamburg) Martin Dolk (Hammarby) Magnus Landin Jacobsen (Nordsjælland) Left the club: Stefan Hundstrup (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg) Søren Westphal (Aalborg Håndbold) Joachim Boldsen (end of career) Albert Rocas Comas (Naturhouse La Rioja) Alternative playing hall Broendby Hallen Broendby Stadion 20 2605 Brondby Denmark Capacity: 5,000 51 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 12 Semi-final (1): 2001/02 Quarter-final (1): 2002/03 Last 16 (7): 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2013/14 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Phase (1): 1994/95 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Semi-final 1999/2000, Quarter-final 2007/08 EHF Cup: Quarter-final 2012/13 Danish league: 13 titles (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014) Danish cup: 8 titles KIF Kolding København (DEN) Biggest win: 35:18 (19:04) v Wisla Plock SA POL (h), 07.10.2006 Biggest defeat: 38:23 (20:10) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2010 40:25 (19:10) v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA (a), 28.11.2010 Longest winning run: 4 matches (16.11.2002 – 08.12.2002) 4 matches (30.09.2006 – 19.10.2006) 4 matches (13.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (30.09.2006 – 12.11.2006) Longest losing run: 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Longest run without win: 4 matches (17.10.2009 – 22.11.2009) 4 matches (27.02.2010 – 03.04.2010) 4 matches (26.02.2011 – 02.04.2011) Most goals: 42 v RK Partizan Belgrad SCG 42:26W (h), 12.10.2003 42 v Prule 67 Ljubljana SLO 42:31W (h), 30.11.2003 Most goals opponent: 46 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Most goals both teams: 82 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 46:36L (a), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals: 16 v TEKA Santander ESP 28:16L (a), 25.01.1995 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001 18 v Wisla Plock SA POL 35:18W (h), 07.10.2006 18 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 18:20W (a), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams:38 v Lovcen Osiguranje YUG 20:18W (h), 11.11.2001 38 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 18:20W (a), 13.10.2013 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1994/95 Kolding IF DEN 6 1 0 5 140:163 –23 2 4th Gr. A 2001/02 Kolding IF DEN 10 5 1 4 263:256 +7 11 1/2-finals 2002/03 Kolding IF DEN 8 5 0 3 235:215 +20 10 1/4-finals 2003/04 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 1 3 253:239 +14 9 Last 16 2004/05 Kolding KIF DEN 8 4 0 4 279:267 +12 8 Last 16 2005/06 KIF Kolding DEN 8 4 0 4 251:240 +11 8 Last 16 2006/07 KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN 8 6 1 1 252:213 +39 13 Last 16 2009/10 KIF Kolding DEN 12 4 4 4 336:342 -6 12 Last 16 2010/11 KIF Kolding DEN 12 5 0 7 349:388 -39 10 Last 16 2013/14 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 12 7 0 5 292:293 -1 14 Last 16 Total 92 45 7 40 2650:2616 +34 97 52 Stage KIF Kolding København (DEN) No. First Name Surname Nat. 7 5 3 20 1 18 21 6 2 4 16 9 14 10 8 13 19 Lasse Bredekjaer Kim Morten Lasse Mikel Dalby Marcus David Martin Per Kasper Kasper Ryan Simon Edelberg Daniel Lars Troels Lukas Torsten Magnus Kristian Stoklund Mikkel Drud Jacob Vinholt Rolf Schwartz Boris Bo Dybdal Thomas Björn Cyril Anderson Andersson Ankersen Boesen Christensen Cleverly Dolk Hvidt Irming Andersen Jensen Jörgensen Jorgensen Karlsson Laen Landin Jacobsen Larsen Nielsen Pedersen Ravn Schnuchel Spellerberg Theilgaard Viudes DEN Left Back SWE Right Back DEN DEN Left Back DEN DEN Goalkeeper SWE Left Wing DEN Goalkeeper DEN Right Back DEN Right Wing DEN Centre Back DEN Left Back SWE Centre Back DEN Line Player DEN Left Wing DEN Centre Back DEN Goalkeeper DEN Left Wing DEN Right Back DEN Left Wing DEN Left Back DEN Right Wing FRA Line Player 53 Position Date of Birth Height 11.3.1994 21.8.1982 200 25.11.1994 18.9.1979 192 19.6.1995 15.6.1981 188 25.3.1990 6.2.1976 192 12.3.1986 188 2.6.1984 185 22.4.1993 3.2.1978 192 21.5.1982 180 26.11.1979 198 20.8.1995 12.4.1994 14.3.1991 191 18.7.1993 180 10.10.1992 190 15.3.1975 190 24.7.1979 192 13.1.1993 188 6.2.1982 198 Weight 104 100 90 96 80 85 102 83 96 85 80 93 90 84 78 110 Kasper Hvidt goalkeeper The 38-year-old is still considered to be among the five best goalkeepers in the world. After being awarded MVP as Denmark won the EHF EURO 2008 in Norway, he retired from international handball in 2010. After a career in Germany and Spain, including a successful spell in FC Barcelona, Hvidt returned home to Denmark in 2009 to play for first FCK Håndbold, then AG København, with whom he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2012. Since August last year he has been with KIF. Aron Kristjansson coach Danish handball is no stranger to Aron Kristiansson, as he played for Skjern Håndbold from 1998 to 2001, where he was part of the team who won the club’s only Danish championship so far, in 1999. He has also got round to another Danish league club, Team Tvis Holstebro in his active career which also contained 85 internationals for Iceland. As a coach he was back in Skjern from 2004 to 2006, and since 10 February 2014 has he been head coach in KIF along with national coach in Iceland, a job he has had since August 2012. WCh: S 2011 / EHF EURO: G 2008 Bo Spellerberg left back He has been a KIF Kolding player for 11 years, since he joined the club from FIF Copenhagen in 2003, and he recently reached 500 games for the team. He has won the Danish title five times with the club. He has been in the CL with the club six times, and during his entire time in the club, he has been a key player to the team. Being an elegant and hard-shooting playmaker as well as left back, the experienced Danish international has constantly been a leader in the team’s attacking play. Martin Dolk left wing When Stefan Hundstrup left for league rivals Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and veteran Boris Schnuchel ended his career at top level, KIF needed new left wings. Together with Magnus Landin, younger brother of Niklas Landin, Martin Dolk was the answer. Dolk, who was top scoring player in the Swedish league last season with Hammarby, whom he also represented in the EHF Champions League in the 2008/09 season, has become an asset from the start. He is good from the left wing position, his speed comes in useful in the counter attacks, and he has proved to a reliable seven metre shooter as well. EHF EURO: G 2008, 2012 Torsten Laen line player After celebrating several triumphs with top Danish side GOG, the former Danish international went abroad in 2007. First stop was to Ciudad Real, with whom he won the EHF Champions League in 2008 and then on to the Bundesliga and Füchse Berlin, with a place in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2012 the major achievement. The experienced pivot and defence specialist joined KIF Kolding København in the summer of 2013 and has proved to be just as important a player in all aspects of the club’s play as expected. Lukas Karlsson centre back The Swedish international joined KIF Kolding from Viborg HK in 2009. The elegant and inventive playmaker was bothered by shoulder problems for a long time, but thanks to a lot of physical therapy he seems to be back to his best. Apart from orchestrating KIF´s attacking play, he has also turned into one of the team´s most dangerous shooters, proving that fact with 35 goals in the VELUX EHF Champions League last season, where KIF reached the Last 16.. He is married to Norwegian international Ida Bjørndalen. EC trophies: EHFCL 2007/08 Kim Andersson right back He was nominated for the World Handball Player of the Year 2012, finishing joint-third place behind winner Daniel Narcisse. The nomination capped a brilliant year for the right back which included Olympic Silver with Sweden and winning the VELUX EHF Champions League with THW Kiel for a third time. His first two seasons with KIF were disrupted with a shoulder injury, but after having surgery in November last year, he is now on his back to the court, although not yet with his former shooting power. Simon Edelberg Jensen right wing 185 cm is not much for a back court player these days, but still Jensen started his career as a right back. However, he had changed for the wing position when he joined KIF from their eternal rivals GOG in 2007. His career nearly came to an end in the winter of 2011, when an emboli was found in one of his lungs. Now he is back at full strength, though, and his speed in the counter attacks as well as his reliability from the right wing position have come in particularly useful after Albert Rocas has left the club. EC trophies: EHFCL 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 OG: S 2012 54 GROUP B Alingsas HK (SWE) Five years ago they had their first appearance and were taught a lesson, now Alingsås HK are back in the VELUX EHF Champions League and the whole city of 23,000 inhabitants is eagerly awaiting the next challenge. By beating Lugi in the Swedish final, Alingsas took their second domestic championship title and are rewarded with encounters against European powerhouses such as defending champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt, record winners FC Barcelona and their Danish neighbours KIF Kolding Kobenhavn in the group phase. Coach Mikael Franzén and his team, including seven newcomers, hope for a special atmosphere in their one-year-old, state-of-the-art arena with a capacity of 3,000 fans. “It will be a big challenge for us as players to face some of the best teams in the world. We will have the possibility to play international handball both in Europe and in our own arena in Alingsås, that will be great. We are looking forward to this,” says team captain Max Darj. Franzén, who also acts as the club manager, adds: “For us it is a big challenge both for the club and for our organisation.” Five seasons ago, Alingsas finished their debut Champions League season with two wins and eight defeats and this year they hope to do much better. Despite the top opponents they will compete with, Franzén and his team will be keen to make the most of any opportunity. Playing hall Estrad Arena Lillagatan 1 44130 Alingsas Sweden Capacity: 2,000 Club Address: Alingsas HK Nolhaga alle 12 A 44155 Alingsas Sweden Media contact: Christer Martensson +46 705 919625 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.ahk.nu Facebook: AlingsasHK Twitter: @AlingsasHK Kit colours Light Player shirt: light green Player short: light green Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red “You must always look for the chances and of course the possibility to reach the knock-out stage is there. It will be extremely tough, we are well aware of that, but as a coach and a player you always have to look for the opportunities. That is part of the reason why you play handball.” In contrast to most of his players, Franzén already knows what it’s like to be part of the VELUX * to becoaching confirmedformer Swedish champions Sävehof in the competition, EHF Champions League after as does Fredrik Larsson, the biggest name among the newcomers, arriving from German side VfL Gummersbach after a spell under Franzén at Sävehof. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Swedish champions Newcomers: Rickard Frisk (Caperiotuma) Emil Frend Öfors (Caperiotumba) Oscar Bergendahl (HK Aranäs) Andreas Flodman (Västerås Irsta HF) Fredrik Larsson (VfL Gummersbach) Olivier Löwenius (HP Alingsås) Rasmus Torbjörnsson (Redbergslids IK) Left the club: Alexander Johnsson (LIF Lindesberg) Alexander Axelsson (Sörhaga HK) Alexander Borgstedt (Ystad IF) Erik Nilsson (HP Warta) Glenn Andersson (Rya HF) Markus Stegefelt (IFK Skövde) 55 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 2 Group Phase (1): 2009/10 Other EHF Cup: Last 32 1999/00 Swedish league: 2 titles (2009, 2014) Alingsas HK (SWE) Biggest win: 32:24 (16:09) v Fyllingen Handball NOR (h), 27.02.2010 Biggest defeat: 21:33 (09:15) v FCK Handbold A/S DEN (h), 17.10.2009 Longest winning run: 1 match (07.11.2009) 1 match (27.02.2010) Longest unbeaten run: 1 match (07.11.2009) 1 match (27.02.2010) Longest losing run: 4 matches (14.11.2009 – 20.02.2010) Longest run without win: 4 matches (14.11.2009 – 20.02.2010) Most goals: 32 v Fyllingen Handball NOR 32:24W (h), 27.02.2010 Most goals opponent: 37 v HSV Hamburg GER 27:37L (h), 20.02.2010 Most goals both teams: 64 v HSV Hamburg GER 27:37L (h), 20.02.2010 Fewest goals: 21 v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO 30:21L (a), 07.10.2009 21 v FCK Handbold A/S DEN 21:33L (h), 17.10.2009 Fewest goals opponent: 24 v Fyllingen Handball NOR 32:24W (h), 27.02.2010 Fewest goals both teams:50 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 24:26L (h), 14.11.2009 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2009/10 Alingsas HK SWE 10 2 0 8 251:302 -51 4 Total 10 2 0 8 251:302 -51 4 56 Stage 5th Gr. C Alingsas HK (SWE) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 16 23 7 5 2 14 9 20 1 17 10 24 15 21 18 12 11 3 25 4 Mikael Oscar Felix Max Marcus Johan Andreas Emil Rickard Pontus Jesper Fredrik Oliver Johan Erik Erik Fredrik Daniel Rasmus Pål Aggefors Bergendahl Claar Darj Enström Fagerlund Flodman Frend Öfors Frisk Johansson Konradsson Larsson Löfwenius Nilsson Östling Pettersson Teern Tellander Torbjörnsson Wetterbrandt SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE SWE Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Line Player Right Wing Right Back Right Wing Left Wing Goalkeeper Left Wing Centre Back Left Back Left Wing Right Back Line Player Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Back 20.1.1985 8.3.1995 5.1.1997 27.9.1991 29.8.1987 9.12.1988 14.3.1993 13.9.1994 3.12.1992 11.1.1990 4.6.1994 14.4.1984 20.1.1996 9.7.1992 7.8.1994 27.5.1997 28.9.1988 6.7.1983 29.11.1996 3.3.1986 57 191 192 191 192 182 180 184 193 191 184 184 195 195 193 190 190 200 191 188 190 91 109 90 99 87 82 84 87 90 87 84 95 103 90 101 85 106 92 80 96 Mikael Franzén coach While Alingsas HK only became Swedish champions for the second time when defeating Lugi HF in the final last season, it was actually the tenth Swedish championship for Franzén who has been as least as successful as coach as he was as a player. Having reached the quarter-final of the 2001/02 CL with Redbergslids IK and the final of Cup Winners’ Cup with the same club the following year as a player, Franzén´s greatest coaching achievements have been taking Aranäs from the third league to the top flight in Sweden and lately bringing back the Swedish championship and a EHFCL berth to Alingsas. Mikael Aggefors goalkeeper Not only is Mikael Aggefors one of only three players in the current Alingsas squad who was also part of the team in their only previous EHF Champions League campaign – in the 2009/10 season. He can also take a great part of the credit for the fact that the club is back in the tournament after four years of absence. As Alingsas qualified for the VELUX EHF Champions League by winning the Swedish championship final 24:22 against Lugi HK, Aggefors simply closed his goal for almost ten minutes towards the end, and this meant that his teammates could change a 19:22 deficit into the 24:22 win. Daniel Tellander left wing With 14 internationals for Sweden and four year long career in the Bundesliga by MT Melsungen, from 2007 to 2010, he is another one of those experienced players who are so crucial to Alingsas coach Franzén’s otherwise young team. Tellander may be behind players like Fredrik Petersen and Jonas Källman when it comes to the left wing position in the national team, but at Alingsas, his experience and his varied shots from the left wing position are extremely important qualities. Fredrik Larsson left back It was a quite good signing, Alingsas made when former Swedish international Fredrik Larsson joined them from VfL Gummersbach this summer. Hard-shooting Larsson, who was part of the Swedish team at the EURO 2010 in Austria as well as at the WCh 2011 on home court, brought a lot a of experience with him. Not only from his time with the national team and from his years in Spanish and German handball, but just as well from his CL campaigns with the Swedish clubs Hammarby and IK Sävehof. Jesper Konradsen centre back Just like goalkeeper Mikael Aggefors, Jesper Konradsen is a great part of the reason for Alingsas being in the CL. Scoring the last two goals in the Swedish championship final on the 24 May, he contributed decisively to Alingsas’ 24:22 win against Lugi, and this young lad proved that nerves seem to be something he does not know about. Young Konradsson also displayed his huge qualities at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO this summer, where he played a large part in Sweden winning the silver medal. Max Darj line player Despite his relatively young age of 23, Darj has already made to become team captain by Alingsas. However, he also possesses the experience to take that responsibility upon him, as he has been a regular in the team since 2009. This also means that the 192 cm tall and 99 kilo heavy pivot is the third player from Alingsas’ Champions League team from the 2009/10 season. Actually, he got his debut against no other opponent than Ciudad Real, at the age of only 19 year. In the meantime has he developed his physical strength even further, and today he is very valuable to the team at both ends of the court. Pål Wetterbrandt right back The 190 cm tall and 95 kilo heavy player is particularly important in Alingsas’ attacking play when it comes to putting pressure on the opponents’ defence. Through his physical strength he is a hard opponent to almost any defence. Furthermore, apart from his excellent left handed shot, his teammates can always count on total commitment from Wetterbrandt who is playing his second season with Alingsas after joining from league colleagues Aranäs in the summer of 2013, rejoining his former coach Aranäs, Franzén. Marcus Enström right wing Being another player from the 2009/10 Champions League team from Alingsas, Enström is also one of the experienced players whom the team will have to rely on a lot, if they are going to have success in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Having been with Alingsas since 2006, he knows the club and the team inside out, and with his variation of shots from the right wing positions as well as his skills in the counter-attacks, “The Comet of the Year” in the Swedish league in the 2010/11 will be a valuable figure in their game once again. 58 GROUP B Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Eleven players left, while just six arrived at Plock over the summer, giving Manuel Cadenas, Orlen Wisla Plock and Spanish national team coach, plenty to think about at the beginning of his second season at the club. After eliminating Montpellier in the wildcard qualification last season, the Polish runners-up this year were awarded with direct entry into the group phase. Among those who left, some big names occur like right back Marcin Lijewski, goalkeeper Marin Sego (replaced by Spaniard Rodrigo Corales) and experienced playmaker Nikola Eklemovic. Right before the start of the season, another key player, Serbian international Petar Nenadic, left for German side Füchse Berlin to replace the injured Polish playmaker Bartlomiej Jaska. Plock needed to react and found a solution in Spain, signing the Kazakh Alexandre Tioumentsev from Naturhouse La Rioja. Mariusz Jurkiewicz will leave Plock after this season to join arch rivals Kielce, who had again snatched away the Polish championship from the “Oilers” thanks to a 3:1 series win in the league final. After the EHF EURO 2014 break Plock had already signed tall Spanish right back Angel Montoro, whose talent had already been discovered by Cadenas, when he was coach in Leon. Besides Jurkiewicz and Montoro, left wing Ivan Nikcevic, goalkeeper Marcin Wichary and right wing Valentin Ghionea remain Plock’s key players. To fight with Kielce for the domestic title and to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals are the main goals of Cadenas & Co. However, they were drawn into a tough group, competing with defending champions Flensburg, competition favourite Barcelona, Kolding Kobenhavn, Alingsas and Besiktas. Playing hall Orlen Arena Pl. Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Poland Capacity: 5,467 Club Address: Orlen Wisła Płock Plac Celebry Papieskiej 1 09-400 Płock Poland Media contact: Piotr Raczkowski Tel: +48-691-99881 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.sprwislaplock.pl Facebook: sprWisla Twitter: @SPRWisla Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: lemon green Dark Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Polish runners-up Newcomers: Nemanja Zelenovic (Celje) Miljan Pusica (HC Vojvodina) Rodrigo Corrales (FC Barcelona/loan Huesca) Tiago Rocha (FC Porto) Michal Daszek (Kwidzyn) Alexandre Tioumentsev (Rioja) Left the club: Marcin Lijewski (Wybrzeze Gdansk) Mateusz Goralski (Piotrkow) Ivan Milas (HCM Minaur Baia Mare) Nikola Eklemovic (HCM Minaur Baia Mare) Petar Nenadic (Füchse Berlin) Bostjan Kavas (Stord Handball) Vedran Zrnic (Celje) Janko Kevic (HCM Minaur Baia Mare) Muhamed Toromanovic (US Creteil) Pawel Paczkowski (Dunkerque HB) Marin Sego (Vive Tauron Kielce) 59 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 10 Last 16 (3): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14 Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 Qualification (1): 2012/13 Other EHF Cup: quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13 Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Polish cup: 10 titles Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Biggest win: 42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), 13.11.2004 Biggest defeat: 35:18 (19:04) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), 07.10.2006 34:17 (15:07) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), 12.10.2008 Longest winning run: 2 matches (08.10.2005 – 15.10.2005) 2 matches (16.11.2013 – 21.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (08.10.2005 – 15.10.2005) 2 matches (03.12.2011 – 09.02.2012) 2 matches (16.11.2013 – 21.11.2013) Longest losing run: 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Longest run without win: 6 matches (05.10.2008 – 20.11.2008) Most goals: 42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), 13.11.2004 Most goals opponent: 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Most goals both teams: 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), 16.11.2002 Fewest goals: 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 Fewest goals opponent: 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), 28.09.2006 19 v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), 09.02.2012 Fewest goals both teams:34 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), 15.10.2006 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 167:195 –28 2 3rd Gr. A 2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 1 0 5 159:177 -18 2 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL 6 2 0 4 155:182 -27 4 3rd Gr. E 2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 2 0 4 141:170 –29 4 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL 6 0 0 6 122:188 -66 0 4th Gr. H 2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 4 1 7 321:332 -11 9 Last 16 2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 12 5 0 7 335:341 -6 10 Last 16 Total 54 15 1 38 1400:1585 –185 31 60 Stage Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. 5 36 3 15 19 2 25 16 77 18 13 7 17 21 9 12 10 24 Lukasz Rodrigo Michal Valentin Marian Mariusz Zbigniew Angel Adam Ivan Mateusz Miljan Dan Emil Tiago Kamil Alexander Marcin Adam Nemanja Calujek POL Corrales Rodal ESP Daszek POL Ghionea ROU Jurkiewicz POL Kwiatkowski POL Montoro Cabello ESP Morawski POL Nikcevic SRB Piechowski POL Pusica SRB Racotea ROU Rocha POR Syprzak POL Tioumentsev Barabash ESP Wichary POL Wisniewski POL Zelenovic SRB 61 Position Date of Birth Height Weight Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Wing Left Back Line Player Right Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Line Player Left Back Left Back Line Player Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Right Back 25.7.1994 24.2.1991 27.6.1992 29.4.1984 3.2.1982 2.4.1985 10.4.1989 17.10.1994 11.2.1981 1.3.1995 30.6.1991 21.7.1995 17.10.1985 23.7.1991 4.10.1983 17.2.1980 24.10.1980 27.2.1990 202 202 180 197 199 202 213 193 182 210 199 202 196 206 185 193 192 194 104 99 70 94 103 120 105 94 80 110 101 97 104 120 85 100 100 93 Marcin Wichary goalkeeper Depite his inconspicuous look, while standing between the posts he turns into a beast. The 34-year-old player came to Płock in 2004 and since that moment he has become a true Oiler, beloved by the local fans and certain point in the goal. For many years he has been a part of the national team with 105 matches played so far. In his WCh debut in 2013 he impressed with a 50% save efficiency in the group phase. His best achievement to date remains the 5th place in the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. Manolo Cadenas coach Before he signed to Orlen last season he had made a short return to León, where he was the coach from 1995 to 2007, in the “golden era” of the club. He led Ademar to their only national championship title in 2001, two cup titles and victories in the European arena. He joined Płock in a difficult period facing a challenge of building the team nearly from the scratch. This season he is going to continue forming a group ready to make a step further both in domestic league and the CL. Besides the Polish runners-up he also coaches the Spanish national team. EC Trophies: Cup Winner’s Cup 1989, 1999, 2005 EURO: B 2014 Miljan Pušica left back Th 23-year-old player is among six new faces that reinforced the ranks of Wisła this season. He replaced on the left side his countryman, Petar Nenadić, who walked out to Füchse Berlin in the summer. With his current club he will have a chance to finally appear in the regular contest of the CL as with his previous team, RK Vojvodina, he fell in the Qualification Tournament last year. The young back has scored 8 goals in 7 matches of his national team so far. Ivan Nikcević left wing Wisła’s experienced left winger has many titles to his name. Raised in Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, he moved to Spain in 2005 where he played for the likes of Portland San Antonio, Reyno de Navarra San Antonio and Cuatro Rayas Valladolid, achieving his best European performance with Navarra in the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final in 2010. Nikcević is also an important Serbian national team player scoring 453 goals in 123 international appearances (as of September 2014). EURO: S 2012 Kamil Syprzak line player With his height of 206 cm the Polish Tower, as the domestic media call the young player, is intended for his position, but even though he plays on the line, sometimes he surprises his opponents with a jump throw from the distance. From the beginning connected with Płock, he debuted in the Polish first league in the age of 17. Since 2011 he has also performed in the national team, playing 47 matches with the balance of 64 goals. Besides handball he has got a talent for drawing. Mariusz Jurkiewicz left back/centre back Wisła Płock’s 2013 signing seems to be in the prime of his career. Over past few years he transformed from the typical defender into comprehensive player able to threaten his rivals with the distance throw. After long time spent in Spain, he returned to his homeland and soon became the Oilers’ key player and one of the pillars of Polish representation. His best European achievement was the CL Final in 2012 with Cuidad Real. Next season the back is going to join Kielce. WCh: B 2009 Valentin Ghionea right wing Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008, and two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007), joined Wisła Płock in 2012 and during his first season, he showed his great goalscoring ability. Ghionea quickly became a very important Wisła Player and his team’s top scorer. In the 2013/14 season he scored 226 goals in 43 appearances including 48 goals in the Champions League. With his speed he is an important part of Manolo Cadenas’s philosophy of the game. Nemanja Zelenović right back He is another representative of the young guns of Płock. He arrived this summer from Celje Pivovarna Laško. With Serbian Red Star, his first club, he experienced the CL debut in the 2007/08 season and still as a teenager he scored 18 goals next season. At the age of 24 he is currently the first choice at right back position and a member of Serbian national team, where he also played at the EHF EURO in Denmark. He is expected to share his time at the right back position with Angel Montoro. 62 GROUP B SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) The trophy earned in Cologne just a few months ago will be present at the Flensarena for every VELUX EHF Champions League match this season, providing SG Flensburg-Handewitt with a permanent reminder of their club’s biggest success to date, beating Barcelona and Kiel in the 2014 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. However, the defending champions will start the new season with a different, younger look. Three key players Michael Knudsen and Sören Rasmussen (both to Bjerringbro-Silkeborg) and Steffen Weinhold (THW Kiel) left, while youngsters from Scandinavia and the club’s own youth programme were brought in. Nevertheless, coach Ljubomir Vranjes is sure that this team is ready for big challenges: “It is highly important for the development of those young players to perform on the international stage for as long as possible.” The German club, a three-time EHF Champions League finalist, has a tough group ahead for their quest to return to Cologne. The biggest focus is on a repeat of the most thrilling semifinal since the implementation of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, when Flensburg came from six goals behind in the final stages to beat FC Barcelona after a penalty shoot-out in Cologne on 31 May. “Barcelona is the clear favourite to win the group,” admits Flensburg manager Dierk Schmäschke, adding: “The group is tough but interesting for our fans, not only because of the duel with our Danish neighbours from Kolding. It is our dream to make it to Cologne again, which will be a much harder task than last season.” Playing hall Flens Arena Campusallee 2 24943 Flensburg Germany Capacity: 6,000 Club Address: SG Flensburg-Handewitt Schiffbrücke 66 24939 Flensburg Germany Media contact: Sandra von Wallis +49 4611609625 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Facebook: SGFleHa Twitter: @SGFleHa Kit colours Light Player shirt: red Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black Swedish champions Alingsas and Polish runners-up Plock are the other confirmed opponents for Flensburg, with the winner of qualification tournament 3 to join this group as well. Team captain Tobias Karlsson shares the opinions and hopes of his manager: “We are truly looking forward the new challenges but we know that we face tough opponents in the group phase. “It’s our goal to build a good foundation for the knock-out stage, as our dream destination is Cologne once again. Our debut there in June was extraordinary and it would be perfect to be part of this event again. To play in the Champions League is something very special. But this season is very hard for us with the Bundesliga, IHF Super Globe and Champions League. From end of August until Christmas we have to play 34 matches, so my biggest hope is that all our players stay fit and healthy,” says the Swedish defensive specialist. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Third ranked in Germany Past achievements Newcomers: Johan Jakobsson (Aalborg Handbold) Anders Zachariassen (Sönderjysk Elitesport) Kevin Møller (GOG Håndbold) Kasper Kisum (TMS Ringsted) Lukas Blohme (SG youth) Michael Nicolaisen (SG youth) VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 10 Winners (1): 2013/14 Final (2): 2003/04, 2006/07 Semi-final (1): 2005/06 Quarter-final (4): 2004/05, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Left the club: Michael Knudsen (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg) Sören Rasmussen (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg) Steffen Weinhold (THW Kiel) Olafur Gustafsson (Aalborg Handball) Goran Bogunovic (HCM Constanta) Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/01, 2011/12 EHF Cup: Winners 1996/97 City Cup: Winners 1998/99 German league: 1 title (2004) German cup: 3 titles 63 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Biggest win: 43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), 19.10.2006 Biggest defeat: 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), 06.03.2005 24:38 (08:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), 21.04.2011 Longest winning run: 6 matches (13.03.2005 – 05.11.2005) 6 matches (02.12.2010 – 03.04.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (24.04.2004 – 14.11.2004) 7 matches (25.11.2012 – 23.03.2013) Longest losing run: 3 matches (04.03.2006 - 01.04.2006) Longest run without win: 5 matches (10.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) Most goals: 44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), 22.11.2003 Most goals opponent: 41 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), 02.12.2006 Most goals both teams: 80 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), 31.05.2014 Fewest goals: 19 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), 22.09.2010 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 Fewest goals both teams:43 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), 01.03.2009 43 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), 02.03.2011 43 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), 01.05.2011 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 10 1 3 450:401 +49 21 Runner-up 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 10 7 1 2 319:270 +49 15 1/4-finals 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER 12 7 0 5 372:326 +46 14 1/2-finals 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 8 1 5 437:398 +39 17 Runner-up 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 4 2 6 355:356 -1 10 4th MR Gr. 3 2008/09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 12 8 0 4 360:329 +31 16 1/4-finals 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 11 0 3 394:354 +40 22 1/4-finals 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 14 9 3 2 416:384 +32 21 1/4-finals 2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 16 12 1 3 489:441 +48 25 Winner Total 118 76 9 33 3592:3259 +333 161 64 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 1 2 7 9 24 21 19 32 3 18 23 4 16 10 5 17 41 11 40 14 20 22 Mattias Lukas Anders Holger Jim Jacob Johan Mikael Thore Tobias Lars Kasper Maik Kevin Thomas Drasko Michael Bogdan Lasse Ljubomir Hampus Stefan Anders Andersson Blohme Eggert Glandorf Gottfridsson Heinl Jakobsson Jöhnck Karlsson Kaufmann Kisum Machulla Möller Mogensen Nenadic Nicolaisen Radivojevic Svan Vranjes Wanne Wilhelm Zachariassen SWE GER DEN GER SWE GER SWE GER SWE GER DEN GER DEN DEN SRB GER SRB DEN SWE SWE GER DEN Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Wing Right Back Centre Back Line Player Right Back Goalkeeper Line Player Left Back Left Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Left Back Left Back Right Wing Right Wing Centre Back Left Wing Centre Back Line Player 29.3.1978 7.11.1994 14.5.1982 30.3.1983 2.9.1992 9.10.1986 12.2.1987 28.7.1995 4.6.1981 25.2.1982 20.8.1992 9.1.1977 20.6.1990 30.1.1983 15.2.1990 6.5.1995 2.3.1993 31.8.1983 3.10.1973 10.12.1993 22.1.1996 4.9.1991 93 72 77 90 95 101 89 84 102 103 92 95 103 100 91 100 80 84 80 84 93 96 65 185 188 179 195 190 195 195 184 196 199 190 189 200 187 202 195 192 184 168 184 190 192 Mattias Andersson goalkeeper The Swedish was the most outstanding Flensburg player in the last years, including his award “best player of the Bundesliga season 2011/12”. Already in the younger age categories he was part of all All-Star teams and became member of the senior national team. After a highly successful time at Kiel (2001-08), he left for three years to join TV Großwallstadt. In 2011 he returned northwards, signing in Flensburg. His saves in Cologne were the major keys to finally stand on the FINAL4 winners’ podium in June – to win his last missing EC trophy. Ljubomir Vranjes coach Player, manager, coach – this the running order of the career of former Swedish international player. After retiring as a player he became club manager in 2009 and coach in November 2010. And after winning the CL last season the number of top offers like from PSG and the German national team were huge – but Vranjes stayed in Flensburg. Intermediately he led Serbia to the 2014 EHF EURO in Denmark in a caretaker role, but did not continue on the Serbian bench. In his spare time, Vranjes is a highly creative photographer and just started to write his 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 EC trophies: CL 2007, 2014, EHF Cup: 2002, 2004, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2000 Anders Eggert left wing Fast, faster, Eggert: The Dane had to fill seriously big shoes in Flensburg as successor of legendary Lars Christiansen. But he coped perfectly with this situation and was the top scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 (248 goals) and top scorer of the 2013 World Championship in Spain (55 goals). Eggert just started his ninth season in Flensburg after intermediately being on loan at Skjern handball. Eggert, who started his career at Gudme, is also famous being as cold as ice from the penalty line with one of the highest percentages in the CL. Lars Kaufmann left back A man like Adonis with cannon shots and high jumps: It is no surprise that he became a model for men’s underwear and that his favourite movie is “Gladiator”. After some injuries in the last years (including another surgery at the start of last season) he always returned to the court, willing to prove why he was an important player of the 2007 WC winning team of Germany. By winning the CL and the Cup Winners’ Cup Kaufmann (like Glandorf and Andersson) has won all three major ECs. EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup: winner 2012 WCh: G 2007 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, silver medallist 2014 Tobias Karlsson line player He is the typical powerful Scandinavian defence specialist, who – together with former Barcelona rock Magnus Jernemyr - build the Swedish middle block in the last years. He is the team captain, a great honour after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG. He became Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF. On national team level he was awarded best defence player at the 2014 EHF EURO. He is the clear boss in the SG defence, while he seldom enters the opponent’s half. Thomas Mogensen centre back With more than 1,000 goals for his club and long list of silverware, the Danish playmaker is highly experienced. Since 2007 he has played for Flensburg – his first stop outside his home country Denmark. Before he had played for Viborg and Svendborg, becoming Danish champion and cup winner twice. SG will have at least three more years of inspiration, as his contract expires in 2017. To focus only on SG he quit his career in the Danish national team after the last EHF EURO. EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 OG: S 2012 Holger Glandorf right back Years ago it was impossible to find any German stars in the Flensburg squad, which mostly had been imprinted by Scandinavian players - but times have changed. One of two German 2007 world champions in the Flensburg roster is left handed shooter Glandorf. Despite some injury breaks, the right back always returned to a high level of performance. He is one of only a few players, who have the full set of three major European Cup competitions titles on his tally, with Nordhorn and Flensburg. Last August he announced to quit from the German national team and will only focus on his club now. Lasse Svan Hansen right wing One who names „roasted hot dog“ as his favourite dish cannot be a professional sportsmen, right? But despite his love for the typical Danish snack, he is one of the fastest wing players in the CL. He has the same qualities as Eggert on the other side: fast counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency. And he has another task in his team: motivation and relaxing – as his business is mental coaching. After four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008. In addition to all his merits and trophies in handball, Svan was billiards champion in his home region Seeland. EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2008, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: G 2007 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 66 GROUP B Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) The VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase has not even started yet, but Besiktas MOGAZ HT have already made history. By winning the qualification tournament in Hasselt with a clear 34:25 final victory against Romanian side HCM Constanta they became the first Turkish team to make it past the qualification – after they themselves had unsuccessfully tried six times before. “To be part of the Champions League is a big chance for us, albeit a tough one and a new challenge,” says club manager Berk Karahan and adds: “It’s also an opportunity to represent Turkish handball and the Turkish style of play. And there is an old saying in Turkish: ‘The Eagles love to fly high’, so our confidence is high as the sky.” Besiktas first put their name on the map of European top handball, when they qualified for EHF Cup Group Phase two seasons ago. Before the current season – and thanks to the support of their new sponsor MOGAZ – Besiktas signed some big names like Croatian wing player Ivan Nincevic and Chilean international Erwin Feuchtmann. These two helped to make the dream of the group phase come true, and over the coming weeks Besiktas will be welcoming handball powerhouses such as FC Barcelona and defending champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt to their arena. Plock, Alingsas and Kolding are Istanbul’s opponents other three opponent on their maiden voyage in the VELUX EHF Champions League. “We want to go as far as we can. We know that our rivals are very strong and experienced in the Champions League but we are very encouraged to face them. On the court, the conditions are the same for all teams, each team plays with seven players,” says Karahan. Playing hall Sinan Erdem Arena Zuhuratbaba Mh, Bakritköy 34147 Istanbul Turkey Capacity: 15,000 Team captain Ibrahim Demir is sure that “qualifying for and competing in the Champions League will bring us a new vision of handball.” “We are very happy to be in the same group with the best teams in Europe. Our main target is to fight until even our socks are torn apart. All my teammates have the same mind-set. After eleven years, Turkish handball is finally getting what it deserves.” Club Address: Besiktas MOGAZ HT Suleyman Seba Cd. No. 48 34357 Besiktas - Istanbul Turkey Media contact: Berk Karahan Tel: +90-535-358-8747 [email protected] Online information: www.bjk.com.tr Twitter: @BJKHentbol Facebook: Besiktas Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: black Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Turkish champions, winner of qualification tournament 3 Newcomers: Ivan Nincevic (Dİnamo Minsk) Erwin Jan Feuchtmann Perez (Oderheu) Predrag Dacevic (Ademar Leon) Yunus Özmusul (İl Özel İdare) Volkan Caliskan (İl Özel İdare) Left the club: Sevket Altug Tasdemir Vladimir Zelic Valeri Parshkov (end of career) Armi Part 67 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 8 Qualification (6): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/2011, 2011/12, 2012/13 Other EHF Cup: Last 16 1998/99, 2005/06, 2010/11 Challenge Cup: Semi-final 2008/09, Quarter-final 2002/03 Turkish champions: 10 titles (1981, 1982, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Turkish Cup winners: 10 titles Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) Team roster No. First Name Surname 7 15 13 10 19 11 6 22 34 25 26 53 3 4 36 37 1 8 2 27 20 12 99 18 Ömer Ozan Arifoglu Ercan Asikoglu Muhammed Taha Ayar Senol Boyar Oguzhan Büyük Josip Buljubasic Volkan Caliskan Mesut Cebi Ugur Coban Predrag Dacevic Ibrahim Demir Ramazan Döne Bülent Erkol Erwin Jan Feuchtmann Perez Berkay Gulyurt Yigit Ilgin Tolga Kirli Viktor Ladyko Ömer Mercan Ivan Nincevic Tolga Özbahar Yunus Özmusul David Rasic Kubilay Yilmaz Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight TUR TUR TUR TUR TUR CRO TUR TUR TUR SRB TUR TUR TUR GER TUR TUR TUR UKR TUR CRO TUR TUR SRB TUR Right Back Right Wing Line Player Centre Back Left Wing Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Right Back Right Wing Left Back Centre Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Left Back Right Wing 20.8.1989 4.1.1983 12.6.1996 8.5.1984 18.3.1977 11.7.1988 3.11.1990 6.9.1991 10.11.1988 21.7.1986 4.10.1975 10.7.1981 1.12.1977 2.5.1990 3.3.1997 1.2.1997 28.3.1993 30.4.1979 10.4.1997 27.10.1981 24.4.1984 4.2.1989 4.12.1986 22.3.1997 102 95 90 85 84 118 98 105 80 95 105 106 96 96 91 90 102 95 92 88 115 100 93 79 68 196 190 192 185 179 202 192 195 177 198 194 192 194 195 196 190 192 194 192 184 195 199 196 188 Mufit Arin coach Arin has had plenty of success as a coach with Beşiktaş JK, dominating theTurkish domestic scene over the past ten years. He is an eight time Turkish league champion, six time Turkish cup winner, six time Turkish Super Cup winner, and reached the EHF Challenge Cup semifinal in the 2008/09 season. Arin’s notable playing achievement is winning the Turkish league with Arcelik HK in 1983, but nothing can be compared to the successful qualification for the CL group phase this season. Yunuz Özmusul goalkeeper Despite transferring to Beşiktaş only recently, the talented goalkeeper feels himself like an established ‘Black Eagle’. He started his career in 2008/09. After five years in Turkish capital representative Maliye Milli Piyango, he went to Ankara İl Özel İdare for another challenge and where his potential was discovered by Beşiktaş. He was the star of the Qualification Tournament in Hasselt, Belgium, especially in the final against HCM Constanta. Ivan Ninčević left wing Croatian national team’s left winger is a big reinforcement for Turkish champions, right before their first CL season. Ninčević has managed to build his name in Germany. From the second division and Stralsunder, as a top scorer he has earned a transfer to Füchse Berlin with which he was always among Bundesliga’s best clubs. After that he has played in Dinamo Minsk and later accepted Beskitas’ call. Outstanding scorer and a good defensive player able to motivate the whole team. Erwin Feuchtmann Perez left back Chile, Germany, Romania – and now Turkey: Feuchtmann is a real globetrotter in handball. His grandfather made it in 1928 from Mannheim to Chile and his sons and grandchildren had handball in their veins. Erwin, his brothers Emil and Harald and his sister Inga were or are part of the Chilean national team and participated in several world championships. Erwin played for several German clubs, then he transferred to Ordohei in Romania, before he joined the Besiktas squad this summer – to enjoy his first ever CL experience in his life. OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013 Tolga Özbahar line player The 30-year-old line player came to Beşiktaş in 2010 and is recognised as one of Turkey’s best players in his position, with over 60 international matches for Turkey and being awarded the best line player in the Turkish league several times. In the 2012/13 season, when Besiktas reached the EHF Cup Group Phase, he was the second best scorer (27) and shined with his 10-goal haul in the Qualification Round 2 match against Odorheiu Secuiesc. Ramazan Döne right back The 33-year-old joined Beşiktaş in 2006 from Çankaya Belediyesi. He became the top scorer of the Challenge Cup in 2005/06 with 66 goals in 7 games as well as the top scorer of the Turkish league in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2009/10. In the 2012/13 season he helped Besiktas to reach the EHF Cup Group Phase and was their top scorer with 30 goals. He was awarded the best right back in the Turkish league several times and has played over 150 international matches for Turkey so far. Ozan Arifoğlu right back As a one of the earliest members of Beşiktaş Mogaz, Turkish star Ozan Arifoğlu always plays with his heart. Besides he has been a vital part of senior team for five years. He won three league titles, three cup titles and several other domestic trophies. He also has a bright future in Turkish national Team, Ozan wore the red-white jersey more than 120 times. Playing the CL for the first time in his career will give him a new objective to represent the Turkish style of handball. Ercan Aşıkoğlu right wing ‘The Speed of Black Eagle’ Ercan Aşıkoğlu is one of the most experienced player at Beşiktaş Mogaz. Aşıkoğlu’s handball life began in Bursa Nilüfer after he moved on to Turkey from Bulgaria. Being a high profile handball player, on the other hand he is a sport scholar who graduated from Uludağ Universty Sport Academy. Especially with his professionalism and family life, he is a proper role-model for young eagles of Beşiktaş Mogaz. Although he won 12 domestic trophies, he is ready for a new challenge in the CL. 69 Group C preview EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHTS CONGREGATE We do not like to use the truism “Group of death” but Group C is definitely full of Champions League heavy weights: last year four of the six teams featured in the last 16, three played in the quarter-final and MKB-MVM Veszprém went all the way to Cologne. Considering how miserably close Löwen and Vardar were to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 the sextet of MKB-MVM Veszprém, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, HC Vardar, Chekhovskie Medvedi, RK Celje and Montpellier promises thrilling handball action with an almost unpredictable outcome. Three of the six teams shared the same group last year, Veszprém advanced as group winners, Löwen finished second while Celje was third but this year HC Vardar will definitely have a say in the matter of knockout stage. So will EHF Cup-finalist Montpellier and Russian champion Chekhovskie. The Hungarian champion finished on top of their group in three years running, and had the best of familiar opponent Rhein-Neckar Löwen, whom they beat last year as well as in the Cup Winners’ Cup final in 2008. MKB-MVM Veszprém even strengthened their impressive squad with reinforcements to all compartments while Löwen have a rather long list of departures including coach Gudmundur Gudmundson. Vardar used their abundant resources to further upgrade their enviable squad by landing the likes of Árpád Sterbik, Sergei Gorbok and Blazenko Lackovic, which rightfully made coach Raul Gutierrez Gonzalez optimistic. Without the above mentioned superstars the Macedonian team only went down against to-be-champions Flensburg on an away goal rule after they remained unbeaten at home versus PSG and Barcelona. It looks likely that Celje, Montpellier and Medvedi will battle it out for the fourth spot, for which it is impossible to tell who might have a small edge over the others. Celje lost quite a few important players, some of whom where distributed among group rivals (Marguc and Lékai to Veszprém, Mackovsek to Montpellier) and the same goes for Montpellier as well, who waved goodbye to William Accambray, Thierry Omeyer and Wissem Hmam. Russian champions (13 times in a row!) are coming back from a year long absence from the main stage of European handball but are eager to prove they can do well with only Russian players in their squad. Bence Mártha 70 Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC MKB-MVM Veszprém vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 09.10.1994 Fotex Veszprem vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 15.10.1994 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Fotex Veszprem, VELUX EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 29.09.2007 MKB Veszprém KC vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group F 18.11.2007 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group F 29.09.2012 MKB Veszprém KC vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 01.12.2012 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 17.11.2013 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 23.11.2013 MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 22:18 (8:9) 21:24 (12:10) 24:24 (14:11) 28:23 (15:14) 32:22 (16:11) 19:24 (9:11) 26:31 (14:15) 27:26 (13:10) MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 1982/83 CSKA Moskau vs SC Epitök Veszprem, Champions Cup – Last 16 1982/83 SC Epitök Veszprem vs CSKA Moskau, Champions Cup – Last 16 1987/88 CSKA Moskau vs VAEV Bramac Veszprem, Champions Cup – Last 16 1987/88 VAEV Bramac Veszprem vs CSKA Moskau, Champions Cup – Last 16 22.10.2011 MKB Veszprém KC vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 16.02.2012 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 31:19 (16:11) 25:30 (13:14) 24:14 (15:6) 22:22 (11:13) 24:22 (10:10) 30:26 (13:13) MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 03.05.2008 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER, Cup Winners’ Cup – finals 10.05.2008 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-MKB Veszprém KC HUN, Cup Winners’ Cup – finals 04.10.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-MKB Veszprém KC HUN, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 21.02.2010 MKB Veszprém KC HUN-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 29.09.2013 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 09.02.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 37:32 (20:20) 28:28 (14:14) 32:29 (17:14) 34:30 (17:12) 30:29 (17:14) 25:25 (12:13) MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Vardar 10.11.2001 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs Fotex KC Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 08.12.2001 Fotex KC Veszprém vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 24:27 (11:10) 27:22 (14:10) MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB 08.11.1998 Montpellier HB vs Fotex KC Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 03.01.1999 Fotex KC Veszprém vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 26.02.2006 Montpellier HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 04.03.2006 MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 22.02.2009 Montpellier HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 3 07.03.2009 MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 3 09.10.2010 MKB Veszprém KC vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 06.03.2011 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs MKB Veszprém KC, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 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) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Chekhovskie Medvedi 10.11.2001 CSKA Moskau vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 08.12.2001 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs CSKA Moskau, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 25:27 (12:14) 28:26 (16:12) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 14.02.2009 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 26.02.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Main Round-Group 2 02.10.2010 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 04.12.2010 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 12.10.2013 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 20.02.2014 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28:34 (14:16) 31:26 (15:16) 28:32 (12:14) 33:32 (14:16) 25:28 (07:13) 35:25 (19:12) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB 24.04.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 30.04.2011 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 27:29 (12:09) 26:35 (17:15) 71 Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB 25.02.2001 Montpellier HB vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 03.03.2001 Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 24:23 (10:9) 29:23 (13:12) Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 28.03.2009 Chehovskie Medvedi vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 05.04.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs Chehovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 33:31 (21:15) 36:28 (16:13) Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB 09.11.1996 Montpellier HB vs CSKA Moscow, EHF Cup – Last 16 16.11.1996 CSKA Moscow vs Montpellier HB, EHF Cup – Last 16 10.11.2002 Chehovski Medvedi, Moskau vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 08.12.2002 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi, Moskau, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 12.10.2003 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi Moscow, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 22.11.2003 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 16.10.2005 Montpellier HB vs Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 12.11.2005 Chehovski Medvedi, Chekhov vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 08.11.2009 Montpellier HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 25.02.2010 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 28.04.2010 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals 01.05.2010 Montpellier HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – 1/4-finals (32:27, 12:14) 18.10.2012 Chekhovskie Medvedi vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A 17.02.2013 Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs Chekhovskie Medvedi, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group A No previous encounters in European competitions Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Vardar Chekhovskie Medvedi vs HC Vardar RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko vs HC Vardar HC Vardar vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB 72 24:18 (10:9) 17:17 (10:9) 30:31 (15:11) 25:24 (13:12) 27:19 (14:9) 25:30 (14:13) 36:29 (19:14) 35:28 (20:12) 33:28 (19:14) 27:28 (11:16) 32:27 (18:13) 36:32 AET 35:29 (19:15) 30:30 (17:17) GROUP C MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) They have tasted the success of being part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne this year, and now they want to go all the way again. Several times they were highly close to the final destination of the VELUX EHF Champions League and failed on the last step, in the 2013/14 their time had come. Despite finishing on the fourth position, the Hungarian record champions had given THW Kiel and FC Barcelona a great fight, honoured and cheered by hundreds of Veszprém fans in the LANXESS arena. In order to reach this goal, Veszprém have bolstered their strong squad by two former Champions League winners. Left handed hammer shooter Christian Zeitz (three times winner) arrives from Kiel, Swedish powerful line player Andreas Nilsson from Hamburg (2013 winner). Additionally Veszprém changed their goalkeeper from Nandor Fazekas to Roland Mikler – so like in the national team the former Szeged stopper and EHF Cup winner with Pick now is the successor of Fazekas also on club level. Their shopping spree led the Hungarians also to their upcoming group opponent Celje, signing Hungarian playmaker Mate Lekai and Slovenian goal machine Gasper Marguc. Playing hall Veszprém Arena Külso Kadartai ut 8200 Veszprém Hungary Capacity: 5,020 Club Address: MKB-MVM Veszprém Marcius 15. ut 5 8200 Veszprém Hungary Media contact: Zsolt Sevinger +36 305024547 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.mkbveszprem.eu Facebook: mkbveszpremkc Twitter: @mkbveszpremkc Kit colours Due to those big names, who have arrived at Veszprém, the aim is to go all the way in all competitions: Defending the Hungarian championship title for 23rd time, the Hungarian Cup for the 24th time – and to make it again to Cologne in the VELUX EHF Champions League. But on the way to Cologne, Veszprém – traditionally – got a handful of stumble stones already in the group phase like the last season’s quarter-finalists Rhein Neckar Löwen and Vardar, 2003 Champions League winner Montpellier, 2004 Champions League winner Celje or 2010 VELUX EHF FINAL4 participants Medvedi. “We were for sure drawn in the strongest group of this season’s Champions League,” says club director Csaba Hajnal, adding: “In our opinion there is not even one weak opponent among our competitors.” But team captain Laszlo Nagy hopes for “this special atmosphere” to come for all Champions League matches in their every time soldout arena, but also agrees that “we are in a very strong group”. The preparation of the Balaton based team was anything but free of problems: Iman Jamali, Mirko Alilovic and newcomer Mate Lekai needed to undergo surgeries – and will miss some more weeks. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Hungarian Champion Newcomers: Mate Lekai (Celje Pivovarna Lasko) Gasper Marcuc (Celje Pivovarna lasko) Roland Mikler (Pick Szeged) Andreas Nilsson (HSV Hamburg) Christian Zeitz (THW Kiel) Left the club: Nandor Fazekas (El Jaish Doha) Tamas Ivancsik (Balatonfüredi KSE) Uros Vilovski (Balatonfüredi KSE) Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 20 Final (1): 2001/02 Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14 Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Last 16 (2): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Runners-up 1996/97 Hungarian league: 22 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black Hungarian cup: 23 titles 73 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) Biggest win: 38:17 (18:09) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), 06.11.2004 Biggest defeat: 30:18 (16:08) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), 24.01.1995 Longest winning run: 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (11.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run: 3 matches (16.01.1996 – 08.02.1996) Longest run without win: 4 matches (09.01.1999 – 31.10.1999) Most goals: 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), 07.10.2006 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Most goals opponent: 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), 01.03.2007 Most goals both teams: 76 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), 21.10.2006 Fewest goals: 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), 15.03.1995 Fewest goals opponent: 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), 18.11.2001 13 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 Fewest goals both teams:32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), 17.11.2002 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 2 2 2 131:147 –16 6 3rd Gr. A 1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN 6 3 0 3 147:144 +3 6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 5 1 2 228:204 +24 11 1/4-finals 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 3 1 4 200:188 +12 7 1/4-finals 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 8 4 0 4 203:202 +1 8 1/4-finals 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 12 9 0 3 310:267 +43 18 Runner-up 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 8 0 2 276:238 +38 16 1/2-finals 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 306:276 +30 14 1/4-finals 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 10 7 0 3 317:259 +58 14 1/4-finals 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:318 +55 18 1/2-finals 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 10 7 0 3 338:288 +50 14 1/4-finals 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 6 2 2 2 184:171 +13 6 3rd Gr. F 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 8 0 4 351:320 +31 16 1/4-finals 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 419:368 +51 22 1/4-finals 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 9 0 3 373:338 +35 18 Last 16 2011/12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 12 7 0 5 321:322 -1 14 Last 16 2012/13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN 14 11 0 3 410:348 +62 22 1/4-finals 2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 16 11 1 4 477:410 +67 23 4th Place Total 186 123 7 56 5364:4808 +556 253 74 Stage MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 32 12 34 35 3 13 4 21 34 66 24 16 19 18 25 36 11 37 5 33 30 23 38 20 Mirko Adam David Daniel Peter Momir Gergö Iman Otto Mate Gasper Roland Laszlo Andreas Jose Maria Gergely Carlos Peter Istvan Timuzsin Renato Mirsad Cristian Martin Christian Alilovic Borbely Fekete Füzi Gulyas Ilic Ivancsik Jamali Kancel Lekai Marguc Mikler Nagy Nilsson Rodriguez Vaquero Rozsavölgyi Ruesga Pasarin Schmid Schuch Sulic Terzic Ugalde Garcia Varju Zeitz CRO HUN HUN HUN HUN SRB HUN IRI SVK HUN SLO HUN HUN SWE ESP HUN ESP HUN HUN CRO BIH ESP HUN GER Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Left Wing Line Player Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Left Back Left Back Centre Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Line Player Line Player Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Line Player Line Player Left Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Back 15.9.1985 22.6.1995 12.10.1996 9.8.1996 4.3.1984 22.12.1981 30.11.1981 11.10.1991 1.2.1995 16.6.1988 20.8.1990 20.9.1984 3.3.1981 12.4.1990 5.1.1980 8.5.1996 10.3.1985 6.8.1996 5.6.1985 12.10.1979 12.7.1983 19.10.1987 3.1.1996 18.11.1980 75 201 197 180 180 200 200 190 200 205 190 182 190 207 196 187 187 184 180 197 192 196 187 185 186 113 122 85 78 106 109 89 102 95 89 82 102 117 117 98 93 98 75 110 109 104 82 82 103 Antonio Carlos Ortega coach Six-time winner of the CL, five European Cup triumphs, six time Spanish champion, 14 different cup titles in Spain, a silver medallist at the EHF EURO 1998 and Olympic bronze medallist in 2000 – Ortega’s cabinet of medals and trophies is absolutely huge. As a player for Barcelona he won every possible title at least three times. In 2005 he started his coaching career in Antequera, in 2012 he left Spain for the first time to take on the challenge in Veszprém and in his second year he steered them to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the first time. Mirko Alilović goalkeeper Like his predecessor Dejan Perić, he belongs to the elite class of goalkeepers who can send the audience to their feet and inspire his teammates. He is a member of the Croatian national team and his medal tally consists of three silver medals (WCh in 2009 and the EHF EURO 2008 and 2010) and two bronze (2012 Olympics and 2013 WCh). In Spain he played an important role as an attack-starter and recorded 11 goal assists during the WCh. As he played for five years in the Asobal league he is very familiar with the Spanish contingent in Veszprém. EC trophy: CL 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, Cup Winers’ Cup 1995, EHF Cup 2003 OG: B 2000, EURO: S 1998, B 2000 OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, WCh: S 2009, B 2013 Momir Ilić left back The top scorer of the last CL season joined THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL Gummersbach and won seven titles during his four years with the club, including two CL titles. The Serbian left back led his country to their first handball medal as an independent nation at EHF EURO 2012 on home court, where he was selected as the MVP of the tournament. He was the only player last season who passed 100 goals (103) in the CL and was voted by fans in the All-Star team as the best left back of the competition. Cristian Ugalde left wing Veszprém caught a really big fish in Ugalde. He is a player who was brought up by Barcelona and who played regularly in the first team since he was 18. He excelled at international level in the 2007/08 season with his 34 goals and participation in the national team. His biggest success with Barcelona was the CL title in 2011 but he won every possible title with Barca – some of them multiple times. He has found a new challenge in Veszprém altering with Gergő Iváncsik, who is one of the best players in this position according to Ugalde. EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: S 2012 EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011 EURO: B 2014, WCh: B 2011 Renato Sulić line player This is the second stint of the robust Croatian in Veszprém, but in the 2004/05 season he did not have a chance to wear their jersey as he was injured in a car incident before his first match. He came back to Veszprém after several years in Zagreb and Celje. During Slavko Goluža’s time at the Croatian national team helm, he was left out of the squad for the WCh in Spain. He will share his time on the court with the defensive specialist Timuzsin Schuh and Andreas Nilsson. Chema Rodríguez Vaquero centre back Until 2012 he played only in Spain (Valladolid, Ciudad Real, Atlético Madrid). In 2007 he transferred to Ciudad Real in what was one of the most expensive transfers in handball history. At club level he is a twotime CL winner and he won the Spanish Championship and the Spanish Cup three times. His accolades with Spain started with a silver medal at the EHF EURO in 2006, followed with the third place at the WCh 2011 and a world title in January 2013. EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009 EURO: S 2006, WCh: G 2005, B 2011 EURO: S 2008, WCh: G 2003 Gašper Marguč right wing He took part in the WCh in Spain 2013, where Slovenia placed fourth. Marguč came to Veszprem from Celje where was playing since 2009. In the 2012/13 season he played his best season so far and became Slovenia’s top scorer in the CL, netting 72 times (10th overall). He played two amazing matches against THW Kiel, scoring 18 times from 18 shots against the legendary Thierry Omeyer. His goals were regularly voted by fans as one of the best shots of the week. László Nagy right back He started his career as a basketball player and he was close to a move to the USA at the age of 13. In the end he decided for handball and became one of the best right backs of the world. He transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain of the team despite being a foreign player. He was the captain of the national team until 2009 and then took a break until 2012. He reached 4th place at the Olympics twice, he was selected in the All Star team of the last WCh and the best right back of the 2012/13 CL season. EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003 76 GROUP C Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) It took them four tough years, but after the 2013/14 season the record champions from Celje were on top of the Slovenian league again. So exactly ten years after winning the EHF Champions League for the first and only time, the team of coach Branko Tamše qualified straight for their in 20th participation in the Champions League, a record held alongside Zagreb and Veszprem. Branko Tamše has spent the summer seeing his team undergo many changes, with established players leaving, such as Gasper Marguc and Mate Lekai (both to Veszprem), Sebastian Skube (to Silkeborg) or Borut Mačkovšek (to join the large Slovenian contingent at MAHB Montpellier). This means that we will see the youngest Celje squad ever competing in Europe, with an average age of only 23 years. Hopes lie on the shoulders of many young talents, including two Olympic gold medalists - goalkeeper Urh Kastelic and right wing Gal Marguc, who led Slovenia to the title at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing two weeks ago. The group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League has set high hurdles for the youngsters, with Veszprem, Rhein Neckar Löwen, Medvedi, Vardar and Montpellier (with five Slovenian players) lying in wait. But after the 19th title on home ground and also winning the Slovenian Super Cup for the third time, international ambitions are high, particularly with victories last season over Kiel, Flensburg and Hamburg over the last two seasons. Playing hall Dvorana Zlatorog Opekarinska cesta 15 3000 Celje Slovenia Capacity: 5,830 Club Address: Celje Pivovarna Laško Opekarniska Cesta 15 3000 Celje Slovenia Media contact: Nejc Ajdnik +386 40687766 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.rk-celje.si Facebook: rkceljepivovarnalasko Twitter: @RKCPL Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black “We are out for more surprises,” is the goal for this international season, in which reaching the Last 16 is the main goal, despite changing half of the squad and mascot – the new one is called Poki. New manager Gregor Planteu hopes for a full Zlatorog arena against either top teams or traditional rivals: “From a marketing point of view we have same goals as last season. Opponents such as Veszprem, Vardar, Montpellier and Rhein Neckar Lowen should attract many fans. So from this point of view we are very happy with draw. We will see also a lot of former RK Celje Pivovarna Laško players such as Marguč, Lekai, Harbok, Toskić, Brumen, Mačkovšek and Gajič at Montpellier.” Qualification for the 2014/2015 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Slovenian champions Newcomers: Miha Zarabec (RK Maribor Branik) Šime Ivić (RK Nexe Našice) Živan Pešić (Veszprem) Michal Kasal (FC Barcelona) Tilen Kodrin (youth team Celje) Gal Marguč (youth team Celje) Jaka Malus (youth team Celje) Urh Kastelic (youth team Celje) Left the club: Gašper Marguč (Veszprem) Mate Lekai (Veszprem) Sebastjan Skube (Silkeborg) Nemanja Zelenović (Wisla Plock) Borut Mačkovšek (MAHB Montpellier) Uroš Bundalo (Tremblay) Žiga Mlakar (RK Maribor Branik) Igor Žabič (loan to RK Maribor Branik) Gregor Potočnik (loan to RK Trimo Trebnje) Nikola Ranevski (Gorišnica) 77 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 20 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 (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11 Qualification (1): 2009/10 Other Cup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-final 2002/02, 2011/12 Slovenian league: 19 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014) Slovenian cup: 18 titles Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Biggest win: 37:17 (16:09) v Redbergslids IK SWE (h), 18.11.2000 Biggest defeat: 43:27 (23:16) v THW Kiel GER (a), 27.02.2011 Longest winning run: 6 matches (23.03.1997 – 24.01.1998) 6 matches (25.03.2000 – 09.12.2000) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (31.10.2004 – 02.04.2005) Longest losing run: 4 matches (16.02.2008 – 08.03.2008) 4 matches (14.02.2009 – 07.03.2009) 4 matches (02.10.2010 – 21.11.2010) 4 matches (27.02.2011 – 06.10.2012) Longest run without win: 6 matches (16.02.2008 - 05.10.2008) Most goals: 44 v HC ‘Granitas-Karys’ LTU 44:27W (h), 22.11.2008 Most goals opponent: 44 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Most goals both teams: 77 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 44:33L (a), 09.10.2010 Fewest goals: 17 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v SG Wallau-Massenheim GER 23:16L (h), 13.02.1994 16 v Redbergslids Göteborg SWE 31:16W (h), 14.11.1998 Fewest goals both teams: 35 v UHK West Wien AUT 18:17L (a), 06.04.1994 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1993/94 Celje ‘Pivovarna Lasko’ SLO 6 2 0 4 120:116 +4 4 4th Gr. A 1996/97 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 254:213 +41 15 1/2-finals 1997/98 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 8 0 2 268:234 +34 16 1/2-finals 1998/99 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 1 2 290:245 +45 15 1/2-finals 1999/00 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 294:250 +44 14 1/2-finals 2000/01 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 6 1 3 292:254 +38 13 1/2-finals 2001/02 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 232:217 +15 12 1/4-finals 2003/04 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 14 10 2 2 447:398 +49 22 Winner 2004/05 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 8 1 3 360:327 +33 17 1/2-finals 2005/06 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 7 0 3 311:273 +38 14 1/4-finals 2006/07 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 8 6 0 2 272:237 +35 12 Last 16 2007/08 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 4 2 6 342:344 -2 10 4th MR Gr. 4 2008/09 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 4 0 6 296:287 +9 8 4th MR Gr. 2 2010/11 HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 10 3 0 7 300:332 -32 6 5th Gr. A 2012/13 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 0 7 305:324 –19 10 Last 16 2013/14 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 12 5 1 6 322:327 -5 11 Last 16 Total 164 95 9 60 4705:4378 +327 199 78 Stage Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 3 98 2 6 5 8 41 99 4 10 25 14 1 13 11 18 35 15 9 16 19 23 7 77 Blaz Stefan Rok Blaz Sime Blaz Michal Urh Vid Luka Tilen Bostjan Urban Jaka Gal David Zivan Vid David Matevz Ivan Miha Rok Luka Blagotinsek Cavor Cvetko Husar Ivic Janc Kasal Kastelic Kaucic Kikanovic Kodrin Kostomaj Lesjak Malus Marguc Miklavcic Pesic Poteko Razgor Skok Sliskovic Zarbec Zuran Zvizej SLO MNE SLO SLO CRO SLO CZE SLO SLO SLO SLO SLO SLO SLO SLO SLO SRB SLO SLO SLO CRO SLO SLO SLO Line Player Right Back Centre Back Left Wing Right Back Right Wing Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Left Wing Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Wing Right Back Line Player Line Player Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Back Centre Back Left Back Left Wing 17.1.1994 3.11.1994 10.9.1996 8.2.1996 21.1.1993 20.11.1996 3.4.1994 27.2.1996 18.4.1995 24.10.1996 14.5.1994 6.2.1990 24.8.1990 15.6.1996 16.11.1996 29.1.1983 7.7.1993 5.4.1991 13.7.1989 2.9.1986 23.10.1991 12.10.1991 7.8.1987 9.12.1980 79 202 195 184 181 194 185 208 200 182 196 190 180 187 187 177 195 195 193 181 188 194 174 189 185 108 92 82 93 90 84 99 91 77 84 85 70 94 84 72 100 106 104 80 94 98 72 94 89 Branko Tamše coach Former player and coach of Celje’s arch rivals from Velenje took over the club last December, just 48 hours after Vladan Matic and Celje announced the termination of their contract. The major task of the former youth and junior national team player is to rebuild a young team with hungry talents and create a competitive force to keep the pace with the more renowned rivals in the group. Matevž Skok goalkeeper The more experienced in the Celje’s goalkeeper tandem is Matevž Skok, a Slovenian international player at the age of 28. He moved to Celje two years ago from their biggest rival Velenje. In Celje he has become the first choice and also cemented his position in the national team. Before this season he had several tempting offers, but decided to stay in Celje. His efforts have been featured among the top saves of the round last season on many occasions. Luka Žvižej left wing Žvižej competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and he was listed among the top ten goal scorers at the 2012 EHF EURO. He was also part of the national team at the WCh 2013, where Slovenia finished just below the medal positions. In 2003 he moved from his home team to Spain – first to CB Cantabria and then to FC Barcelona, where he stayed for 2 years and won the CL in 2005 and the Spanish league in 2006. Before moving back to Celje he had a second stint at Cantabria and spent three years with Pick Szeged. Ivan Slišković left back He joined Celje in summer 2013 from RK Nexe Našice. Allready in his first season at the club he showed great handball skills, he fit in perfectly with their training and working system. He is playing in both ways – he is very good attacking player, while being a very important defensive player as well. His great perfomances in Celje’s shirt did not go unnoticed by Croatian national coach Slavko Goluža who placed him on list for the EHF EUROI in Denmark. EC trophies: CL 2005 Miha Zarabec centre back He joined RK Celje Pivovarna Laško in summer from another Slovenian club RK Maribor Branik, where he experienced the EHF Cup Group Phase in 2012/13. After Sebastian Skube and Mate Lekai left the club, Miha Zarabec will take over attacking duties. His main strenghts are speed, explosivity and his vision of play. This season will be his first in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Vid Poteko line player He is a member of Celje since 2010. Since then, he is a key part of Celje’s defence. He is known as a true fighter, who never gives up. He was part of the Slovenian Mediterranean team playing in Mersin 2013 together with Gašper Marguč, Urban Lesjak and Borut Mačkovšek. After Alem Toskić left Celje for Vardar Skopje over the summer, he will get more minutes in the offensive part of play. Besides him, Blaž Blagotinšek, one of the shiniest Slovenian talents, is expected to get some minutes on the line as well. Šime Ivić right back He is a new member of RK Celje Pivovarna Laško since summer 2014, as he joined them from RK Nexe Našice (Croatia). In Nexe he played a very important role, as he was the second best scorer of the team and overall 7th scorer in SEHA league. This was very clear sign that he is ready for a bigger stage and he decided to try the CL for the first time. His main positive characteristic are his agility and ability to play well in both attack and defence. Blaž Janc right wing Blaž Janc in one of the biggest talents in history of Slovenian handball. He is only 17, but he is playing already his third season in the first team of Celje. He made his debut in the CL at age of just 15 years, but this season he will be their main attacking power on right wing since Gašper Marguč left to Veszprém. Blaž was also chosen as best right back in the previous Men’s 20 EHF EURO, where he was playing with players two years older than him. He was the main force for Slovenia U-18 national team which won the Youth Olympic Games. 80 GROUP C Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Despite the problems suffered during the last year, Chekhovskie Medvedi remains a major force in the Russian handball. Last spring, the team led by Vladimir Maximov won the national league for the 13th time in a row. And now, they return to the VELUX Champions League after a year of absence. Last season, the club from Chekhov had to withdraw from the main European competition due to financial problems. Those troubles were so strong that about two thirds of the squad opted to leave the sinking ship. However, some experienced players stayed, and Maximov gave a chance to a number of talented youngsters from the reserve squad. As a result, no team in Russia could prevent Medvedi from getting another national title. The club got through the turbulent times with dignity and now the situation seems to be more stable. The majority of Medvedi’s best players have remained, with only Daniil Shisharev leaving for Vardar Skopje. At the same time, Medvedi managed to strengthen their side with a few newcomers. Left wings Maxim Kuretkov (SKIF Krasnodar) and Anton Otrezov (Dinamo Viktor Stavropol) joined, while Sergey Shelmenko returned after a year’s absence. In 2013, the right back of the Russian national team moved to Dinamo Minsk, but after their exit from the VELUX EHF Champions League, he spent the rest of the season at St.Petersburg HС. With this team, he won silver in the Russian league, before returning to the champions. Playing hall Sport Hall “Olimpiyskiy” Chekhov Poligrafistov Str. 30 142300 Chekhov Russia Capacity: 3,000 Club Address: Chekhovskie Medvedi Poligrafistov str. 30 142300 Chekhov, Mosk. oblast Russia In Group C of the VELUX Champions League, Maximov’s team will meet MKB-MVM Vesprem, RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, HC Vardar and Montpellier AHB. There is plenty of history with the French team, as Chekhovskie Medvedi will face them for the seventh time in the last 13 years. Matches with Vardar are also going to be special, as this team’s roster contains a number of ex-Chekhov players such as Timur Dibirov, Alexei Rastvortsev, Siarhei Harbok, Mikhail Chipurin and Daniil Shishkarev. Medvedi got their season off to the perfect start, beating Permskie Medvedi 27:26 in the Russian Super Cup. “We seem to start the season in good shape. Of course we made some mistakes but the team looked well and physically we were quite fit,” Sergei Shelmenko told the club’s official website. Quite soon, the players from Chekhov will set their sights on the VELUX Champions League and Vladimir Maximov and his players want to make a remarkable comeback. Media contact: Benjamin Kuznetsov +7 9166186054 [email protected] Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Russian champions Online information: Website: www.ch-medvedi.ru Newcomers: Anton Otrezov (Dinamo Victor Stavropol) Maxim Kuretkov (SKIF Krasnodar) Sergey Shelmenko (St. Petersburg HC) Kit colours Left the club: Daniil Shishkarev (Vardar Skopje) Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 14 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 (6): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2011/12 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Winner 2005/06 Russian league: 13 titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Russian cup: 12 titles Dark Player shirt: purple Player short: purple Goalkeeper shirt: red 81 Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Biggest win: 22:46 (12:24) v AC PAOK GRE (a), 03.03.2010 Biggest defeat: 38:24 (20:15) v HSV Hamburg GER (a), 23.04.2011 Longest winning run: 5 games (29.11.2003 – 06.11.2004) Longest unbeaten run: 8 games (18.10.2012 – 14.03.2013) Longest losing run: 5 games (10.11.2001 – 08.12.2001) Longest run without win: 6 games (23.04.2011 – 22.10.2011) Most goals: 46 v AC PAOK GRE 22:46W (a), 03.03.2010 Most goals opponent: 45 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 Most goals both teams: 77 v TBV Lemgo GER 45:32L (a), 04.12.2004 Fewest goals: 19 v Montpellier HB FRA 27:19L (a), 12.10.2003 19 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006 Fewest goals opponent: 17 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 30:17W (h), 31.03.2011 Fewest goals both teams:45 v TBV Lemgo GER 23:22W (h), 11.12.2004 45 v RK Zagreb CRO 26:19L (a), 08.10.2006 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2001/02 CSKA Moscow RUS 6 1 0 5 155:181 –26 2 4th Gr. C 2002/03 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 2 0 4 182:170 +12 4 3rd Gr. C 2003/04 Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 6 3 0 3 166:165 +1 6 3rd Gr. D 2004/05 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 8 6 0 2 252:246 +6 12 Last 16 2005/06 Chehovski Medvedi Chekhov RUS 6 3 0 3 192:184 +8 6 3rd Gr. A 2006/07 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 8 4 0 4 242:233 +9 8 Last 16 2007/08 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 1 4 369:331 +38 15 2nd MR Gr. 1 2008/09 Chehovskie Medvedi RUS 12 7 0 5 387:370 +17 14 1/4-finals 2009/10 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 16 9 2 5 529:476 +53 20 Fourth Place 2010/11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 14 8 3 3 437:396 +41 19 1/4-finals 2011/12 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 10 3 4 3 291:276 +15 10 5th Gr. B 2012/13 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 12 6 4 2 373:347 +26 16 Last 16 Total 116 59 14 43 3575:3375 +200 132 82 Stage Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 11 10 17 4 1 16 23 6 9 7 14 15 19 26 16 3 83 22 89 Pavel Alexander Alexander Victor Oleg Artem Alexander Dmitriy Kirill Dmitry Maxim Maksim Roman Anton Dmitry Dmitrii Sergey Roman Dmitry Andreev Chernoivanov Dereven Furtsev Grams Grushko Izmailov Kornev Kotov Kovalev Kuretkov Makarov Ostashchenko Otrezov Pavlenko Santalov Shelmenko Tsarapkin Zhitnikov RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS RUS Line Player Line Player Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Centre Back Right Wing Right Wing Left Wing Left Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Back Right Back Left Back Back 19.7.1992 13.2.1979 26.3.1992 17.6.1996 20.2.1984 20.6.1993 30.10.1995 16.6.1992 23.5.1992 15.5.1982 16.11.1994 10.9.1992 26.9.1992 24.8.1988 1.1.1991 7.4.1996 5.4.1983 9.5.1995 20.11.1989 83 195 202 193 200 200 193 185 186 185 180 191 181 190 188 192 196 195 197 193 Weight 85 105 91 89 103 91 80 75 75 80 87 78 86 80 89 86 98 92 90 Vladimir Maximov coach The handball legend is still the only person who has become an Olympic champion both as a coach and as a player. He led the Russian national team to a number of big titles. In 2012, Maximov resigned from the national team to fully concentrate on Medvedi, where he has been working since 2001. During his work at the Chekhov team, they have become a Russian champion every year. Last season was no exception, even though Medvedi had lost about two thirds of their squad. 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 Oleg Grams goalkeeper Born and raised in Krasnodar, the 30-yearold moved to Chekhov at a very young age. He has been a member of the team since its foundation in 2001. During this time, Grams has become a 13-time Russian champion. The talented player gained a lot of experience on the international stage, competing both for Medvedi and for the Russian national team at the EURO, WCh and the Olympics. Currently Oleg is one of the most experienced players in Chekhov. EC trophy: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006 Roman Ostashchenko left wing This player is still young but he certainly has talent. He is especially good in defence. Ostashchenko was born in Moscow and started to play at Kuntsevo, but then moved to Medvedi. However, he played for the reserve team until 2013. And when Maximov invited him to the main team, he faced a tough challenge — he had to replace Timur Dibirov, who had moved to Vardar. He is still not very experienced, but is improving and can become quite an important player. Alexander Dereven left back This is another young player who is only 22-years old. He was born in Toliatti but, like many talented Russian players, was spotted by Chekhov scouts at a young age. First he played for the junior team of Medvedi where he stood out with his scoring ability. When many experienced players left the team in 2013, Dereven was one of the young talents that Maximov had to rely on. Dereven is progressing fast and has a good future at Medvedi. Dmitry Zhitnikov centre back He comes from Krasnodar, and his first coach at the local handball school was his father. At the age of 16, the talented boy was invited to Chekhov where he played five seasons in the reserve team. But in 2010, he finally broke through to the main squad. As he matured and experienced players left, Zhitnikov began to play a more prominent role at Medvedi. It is no wonder that he has also become a member of the Russian national team. Alexander Chernoivanov line player The 35-year-old line is currently the oldest players in the squad. He was born in Krasnodar and started his career at the local team SKIF. In 2004, he was invited to Chekhov, but spent first two years in the reserve team. Only at the age of 27, he started to play for the first team of Medvedi, and did so well that soon was invited to the Russian national team. He is an eight-time Russian champion, and now he shares his rich experience with younger players. EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006 Sergey Shelmenko right back He was born in Ukraine and played for the national team, but then acquired Russian citizenship and opted to play for Russia. After a number of seasons at Medvedi, Shelmenko left the team last summer following the financial problems at the club. Sergey moved to Dinamo Minsk, but was unlucky again as this club ceased to exist. The right back came back to Russia where he spent the rest of the season at St.Petersburg. But in summer, he was offered a return to Chekhov and accepted. Dmitry Kovalev right wing The 32-year-old is a captain of Medvedi and one of the key figures both on and off the court. Born in Omsk, he played for seasons at Sungul Snezhinsk before moving to Chekhov in 2003. Currently he is an 11-time Russian champion, and his role at Medvedi only increased in the summer of 2013. Having competed at a number of major tournaments including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he is a natural leader who serves as a good example for his young teammates. EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2006 84 GROUP C Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) It was a heartbreaking end to last season for Rhein-Neckar Löwen. So close to glory both at home and in Europe, but twice left empty handed. First an eight-goal lead against FC Barcelona in the first leg of the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-final was not enough to make it to Cologne, as the Catalans went through on away goals. Then the Lions missed out on their first German league title with an inferior goal difference compared to THW Kiel. But the German runners-up have refused to look back in anger and disappointment, instead looking ahead to a season full of changes in all departments. Key personnel left the 2013 EHF Cup winners on and off the court, with coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson taking charge of the Danish men’s national team and replaced by a Dane, Nikolaj Jacobsen. Assistant and goalkeeper coach Tomas Svensson (six-time Champions League winner) is in the same position at Magdeburg now. Manager Thorsten Storm quit his job after seven highly successful years to return to where it all started for him, at THW Kiel. His successor is Lars Lamadé. Playing hall SAP Arena Xaver-Fuhr-Str. 150 68219 Mannheim Germany Capacity: 12,900 Club Address: Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mollstraße 49a 68165 Mannheim Germany Media contact: Christopher Monz [email protected] +491744288849 Online information: Website: www.rhein-neckar-loewen.de Facebook: rnloewen Twitter: @RNLoewen Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: white/red Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/green Eight players left Löwen over the summer, including Gorbok, Roggisch, Sesum, Stojanovic, Manojlovic, Prodanovic and Isaias Guardiola, and next summer will see top star also saying “farvel, Mannheim”, as goalkeeper Niklas Landin will join THW Kiel. Jacobsen starts his mission at Löwen with a handful of highly ambitious youngsters from all over Europe, such as Danish jewel Mads Mensah Larsen, Norwegian Harald Reinkind and a player regarded by many as the best German talent in years, Tim Suton. Despite these many changes, all involved at Löwen are confident they will play a starring role in all competitions, with a top three finish in the German League alongside final tournament appearances in the German cup and Europe the goals. In the VELUX EHF Champions League, Löwen were drawn in arguably the toughest of all groups, facing FINAL4 contenders Veszprem, Vardar and Montpellier as well as internationally experienced teams Medvedi and Celje. “From a sporting aspect, this group is highly attractive,” says team captain Uwe Gensheimer, adding: “Since last season we know how hard it is to play at Veszprem and thanks to their new arrivals they are a new powerhouse in European handball. In terms of travelling, the group could have been better.” New manager Lars Lamadé shares this opinion: “We will face teams which belong to the top of the Champions League. After making it to the FINAL4 in June, Veszprem is the favourite in our group.” Before starting their European campaign, Löwen were part of a new handball world record, when 44,189 spectators attended the Bundesliga match against HSV Hamburg in Frankfurt’s Commerzbank-Arena, the highlight of the German day of handball on 6 September. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: runners-up in Germany Newcomers: coach Nikolaj Jacobsen (Aalborg Handbold) Bastian Rutschmann (Frisch Auf Göppingen) Harald Reinkind (Fyllingen Handball) Mads Mensah Larsen (Aalborg Handbold) Stefan Kneer (SC Magdeburg) Tim Suton (HG Saarlouis) Left the club: coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson (Danish national team) assistant coach Tomas Svensson (SC Magdeburg) Goran Stojanovic (El Jaish SC) Isaias Guardiola (Aalborg Handbold) Nikola Manojlovic (Meshkov Brest) Rajko Prodanovic (Pick Szeged) Sergei Gorbok (Vardar Skopje) Zarko Sesum (Frisch Auf Göppingen) Oliver Roggisch (end of career, now assistant coach and club management) 85 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 6 Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, semi-final 2011/12, quarter-final 2006/07 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Biggest win: 40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 08.03.2009 24:39 (10:20) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), 18.10.2009 37:22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), 10.10.2010 Biggest defeat: 37:23 (20:08) v THW Kiel GER (a), 26.04.2009 Longest winning run: 5 matches (12.10.2013 – 28.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (30.04.2009 – 13.02.2010) 8 matches (12.10.2013 – 20.02.2014) Longest losing run: 2 matches (25.04.2010 – 02.05.2010) 2 matches (28.05.2011 – 29.05.2011) Longest run without win: 4 matches (28.05.2011 - 29.09.2013) Most goals: 40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), 08.03.2009 Most goals opponent: 38 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Most goals both teams: 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals: 23 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 25:23L (a), 18.02.2009 23 v THW Kiel GER 37:23L (a), 26.04.2009 23 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010 Fewest goals opponent: 17 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), 17.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams:46 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 23:23 (a), 17.10.2010 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 447:392 +55 20 1/2-finals 2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 450:408 +42 20 1/4-finals 2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 16 7 4 5 486:465 +21 18 4th Place 2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 14 9 2 3 422:369 +53 20 1/4-finals Total 58 34 10 14 1805:1634 +171 78 86 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. 26 60 72 3 42 24 30 6 4 20 22 18 12 32 27 23 9 2 77 11 19 10 Michal Marco Kim David Uwe Marvin Patrick Gedeon Roy Stefan Niklas Mads Mensah Bjarte Hakon Roko Alexander Harald Bastian Lukas Andre David Stefan Rafn Marius Tim Abt Bitz Ekdahl du Rietz Ganshorn Gensheimer Gerdon Groetzki Guardiola Villaplana James Kneer Landin Jacobsen Larsen Myrhol Peribonio Petersson Reinkind Rutschmann Sauer Schmid Schmidt Sigurmannsson Steinhauser Suton GER Line Player GER SWE Left Back GER Line Player GER Left Wing GER Right Wing GER Right Wing ESP Line Player GER Left Wing GER Left Back DEN Goalkeeper DEN Centre Back NOR Line Player CRO Goalkeeper ISL Right Back NOR Right Back GER Goalkeeper GER Left Wing SUI Centre Back GER Right Back ISL Left Wing GER Right Wing GER Centre Back 87 Position Date of Birth Heigh 25.7.1990 193 9.11.1995 23.7.1989 194 27.5.1989 191 26.10.1986 188 24.7.1996 179 4.7.1989 189 1.10.1984 200 12.12.1995 190 19.12.1985 194 19.12.1988 200 12.8.1991 188 29.5.1982 192 16.10.1991 194 2.7.1980 186 17.8.1992 195 30.12.1982 195 25.10.1995 183 30.8.1983 190 19.10.1993 181 19.5.1990 197 6.2.1993 187 8.5.1996 191 Weight 97 100 99 90 75 84 103 96 98 95 109 96 99 87 95 94 83 90 86 101 83 91 Niklas Landin goalkeeper The 25-year-old Dane is in the Löwen squad since 2012 and is one of the main reasons for their success – but will leave Löwen after this season to join THW Kiel. The successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt in the Danish national team broke through during the 2011 WCh. Before arriving in Mannheim he played for Gudme in Denmark, where he was number 1 already at the age of 20. Landin was twice awarded best goalkeeper at the 2013 World Championship and the 2014 EHF EURO – and is seen to be among the three best keepers in the world currently. Nikolaj Jacobsen coach A new face on the Löwen bench: As Gudmundur Gudmundsson became Danish national team coach, a Dane took over. Jacobsen was coach at Aalborg before. After he had finished his playing career (decorated also with six league titles and seven cup titles in Denmark and Germany) in 2007 he first became a TV expert and assistant coach in Viborg and Bjerringbro. In 2012 he took over Aalborg steering them to a surprising title in 2013 and leading them to the CL 2014 again before he left to Mannheim. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004 (as player) EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz left back Despite the huge competition at left back in the previous seasons, the Swede became number 1 on this position, leaving players like Sergey Gorbok behind. Ekdahl du Rietz arrived in Mannheim in 2012 from Nantes after beginning his career at Lugi Lund, where he became Swedish international very early thanks to making his first league debut at the age of 16. Ekdahl du Rietz, with the particularly large shoe size of 51, is famous for his long-range shots and is an important part of the Löwen defence as well. Uwe Gensheimer left wing Born in Mannheim, he is the 100% local hero. Since 2003 he has been playing for “his” club. His talent was discovered early as he became Junior European champion in 2006, one year later he was awarded MVP at the Junior WCh. In 2011 and 2012 he was awarded German player of the year and was the top scorer of 2010/11 CL season. In 2012 he tore his Achilles tendon, but right for the EHF Cup Finals in Nantes he was back helping Löwen to take their first title in history. Despite offers from Kiel and Barcelona, he extended his contract last season. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2012 Bjarte Myrhol line player In August 2011 his biggest fight started – not on, but off the court. After he was diagnosed with cancer, an immediate surgery and chemo therapy changed his life. But the Norwegian international was always willing to fight and only two and a half months after the surgery he returned to the court. After he left his first club in Sandefjord, he joined Veszprém, before arriving in Nordhorn and later Mannheim. After this season he will leave the club. Andre Schmid centre back The five-time Swiss handball player of the year played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009, before he left his mother country for one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. The playmaker, who was twice a Swiss champion, transferred to Rhein-Neckar Löwen in 2010. And in recent years, Schmid became the key in attack – both as playmaker and as shooter and was awarded best Bundesliga player in the 2013/14 season. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008, 2013 Alexander Petersson right back Born in Latvia, he took over Icelandic citizenship and became an Olympic silver medallist in 2008 and EHF EURO bronze medallist in 2010. He moved to Germany in 2003, playing for Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, Flensburg-Handewitt, and Füchse Berlin, before he transferred to Löwen in 2012. He is more a playmaker on the right back position but is also strong in man-to-man-actions. In the rejuvenated squad the Icelandic, who was member of the 2011 WCh All Star Team, is the most experienced player. Patrick Groetzki right wing He was born in Pforzheim only a few kilometres away from Mannheim. Right after ending his youth career he switched to Löwen and became part of the German younger age category national teams. He was an MVP and silver medallist of the Men’s 20 EHF EURO in 2008 and crowned himself as junior world champion one year later. He established himself as a key player right after he was nominated for the men’s national team for the first time. Like Gensheimer, he is a counter-attack specialist and one of the main fan favourites. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2008, EURO: B 2010 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 88 GROUP C HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Vardar has its own arena and it is certainly something to be proud of. The 5,500 capacity Sportski Centar Jane Sandanski (named after a 18th century revolutionist) is the new home of both – men’s and women’s – EHF Champions League teams of Vardar Skopje. Vardar hope that Jane Sandanski shall become a fortress and the starting point to make a dream come true: to be the first ever handball club with men and women participating in the EHF FINAL4 tournaments. After the women already made it to the final destination Budapest in May 2014, after their debut season in the EHF Champions League, the men’s team have the same aim now. In the previous season, Vardar were one goal short of reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 in Cologne, as they were eliminated by eventual champions Flensburg in the quarter-finals. But it is not only Jane Sandanski which makes coach Raul Gutierrez Gonzalez and club owner Sergej Samsonenko feel optimistic, more so the big names Vardar has signed. Headed by 2013 world champion, former World Handball Player of the Year and four-time EHF Champions League winner Arpad Sterbik (arriving from FC Barcelona) the prestigious squad had been strengthened enormously with players such as 2013 EHF Cup winner Sergej Gorbok (Löwen) and 2013 VELUX EHF Champions League winner Blazenko Lackovic (HSV Hamburg). Playing hall Jane Sandanski Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,000 Club Address: HC Vardar - Skopje Marko Savovski BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 FYR Macedonia Media contact: Marko Savovski +389 75 200 008 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.rkvardar.com.mk Facebook: rkvardar Kit colours Light Player shirt: red/white Player short: red/white Goalkeeper shirt: red/black/yellow Dark Player shirt: black/Red Player short: red/white Goalkeeper shirt: black/grey Besides the goal of making it to Cologne, the bolstered squad is supposed to leave their local rivals Metalurg behind in the Macedonian league. In the 2013/14 season, Vardar were surprisingly defeated by Metalurg. The team’s preparation, including a ten days camp in the Slovenian Alps (Kranjska Gora), was intense, but in general Raul Gutierrez Gonzalez was highly satisfied with the integration of the newcomers. Vardar need to play on a top level already in the group phase, as they were drawn in what is arguably the toughest group alongside with Veszprem, Rhein Neckar Löwen, Montpellier, Celje and Medvedi. But despite those tough opponents the whole club is looking forward to the next successful steps, as manager Marko Savovski mentions: “This season we have four new players who can help us to achieve the goal that we haven’t made last year - to enter the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with the best four teams in Europe. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Macedonian runners-up Newcomers: Arpad Sterbik (Barcelona) Blazenko Lackovic (HSV Hamburg) Sergei Gorbok (Rhein-Neckar Lowen) Daniil Shishkarev (Chekhovskie Medvedi). Left the club: Miladin Kozlina (GWD Minden) Luka Rakovic (HC Zagreb) Zlatko Daskaloski (CS Universitatea Timisoara) Mitko Stojlov (CS Odorheiu Secuiesc) Vlado Nedanovski (HC Vardar II) Gradimir Chanevski (HC Vardar II) Vlatko Jovchevski (HC Vardar II) 89 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 9 Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 Other Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, quarter-final 2006/07 SEHA league: 2 titles (2012, 2014) Macedonian league: 8 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013) Macedonian cup: 8 titles HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Biggest win: 24:37 (11:19) v Wacker Thun SUI (a), 19.10.2013 Biggest defeat: 41:19 (19:08) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 18.10.2003 Longest winning run: 2 matches (19.10.2013 – 14.11.2013) 2 matches (09.02.2014 – 16.02.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (13.11.2004 – 07.10.2007) 3 matches (13.10.2013 – 14.11.2013) Longest losing run: 7 matches (12.10.2003 – 09.10.2004) Longest run without win: 8 matches (12.10.2003 – 16.10.2004) 8 matches (03.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) Most goals: 37 v Wacker Thun SUI 24:37W (a), 19.10.2013 Most goals opponent: 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), 18.10.2003 Most goals both teams: 67 v Haukar Hafnarfjördur ISL 34:33L (a), 09.11.2003 Fewest goals: 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 Fewest goals opponent: 22 v HCM Constanta ROU 22:22D (h), 13.11.2004 22 v GC Amicitia Zürich SUI 22:22D (h), 07.11.2009 22 v HC Metalurg MKD 22:27W (a), 14.11.2013 22 v HC Dinamo Minsk BLR 30:22W (h), 09.02.2014 Fewest goals both teams:38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), 06.11.2004 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 1 4 152:175 –23 3 4th Gr. D 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 2 0 4 152:181 –29 4 4th Gr. D 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 0 0 6 157:210 -53 0 4th Gr. B 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD 6 1 2 3 124:153 -29 4 3rd Gr. A 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 6 2 1 3 161:180 -19 5 4th Gr. C 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD 10 1 1 8 253:316 -63 3 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Vardar – Skopje MKD 14 6 3 5 376:369 +7 15 1/4-finals Total 54 13 8 33 1375:1584 –209 34 90 Stage HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 20 26 7 80 31 19 32 18 6 23 15 12 13 8 25 33 1 5 9 10 Ilija Petar Matjaz Mikhail Timur Alex Sergei Igor Blazenko Filip Dobrivoje Strahinja Vladimir Nemanja Alexei Daniil Arpad Stojanche Stefan Alem Abutovic Angelov Brumen Chipurin Dibirov Dujshebaev Gorbok Karacic Lackovic Lazarov Markovic Milic Petric Pribak Rastvortsev Shishkarev Sterbik Capar Stoilov Terzic Toskic SRB MKD SLO RUS RUS ESP RUS CRO CRO MKD SRB SRB SRB MKD RUS RUS ESP MKD SRB SRB Left Back Goalkeeper Right Wing Line Player Left Wing Right Back Left Back Centre Back Left Back Left Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Centre Back Left Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Line Player Right Back Line Player 2.8.1988 8.3.1977 23.12.1982 17.11.1980 30.7.1983 17.12.1992 4.12.1982 2.11.1988 25.12.1980 21.4.1985 22.4.1986 20.12.1990 5.8.1975 26.3.1984 8.8.1978 6.7.1988 20.11.1979 30.4.1987 17.5.1994 12.2.1982 91 202 192 190 190 180 187 196 189 197 199 188 198 189 190 200 190 200 191 195 190 Weight 99 103 90 110 74 88 98 87 99 100 81 135 98 103 128 85 119 110 93 108 Arpad Sterbik goalkeeper One of the best goalkeepers who holds there different citizenship Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish after ten seasons spent in Spain moved from Barcelona and signed four year contract with Macedonian runners-up Vardar. Dozens of international awards are in the collection of the 35-year-old keeper and world best player from 2005 as he has already won the Champions League title three times with Ciudad Real and has been voted as the best goalkeeper of the Spanish league five times. Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez coach After ending his playing career, the stalwart of BM Valladolid and bronze medallist from the Olympic Games in Atlanta with the national team of Spain started his coaching carrier in Atletico Madrid and Ciudad Real working in team with Talant Dujshebaev. At Vardar he replaced Zoran Kastratovic early last season and achieved a great result, steering the team to a historical success. His squad reached the quarter-finals of the CL for the first time and was just one goal shy of the FINAL4. OG: B 1996 (as player) EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009 WCh: B 1999, B 2001, B 2011, G 2013 Timur Dibirov left wing Vardar Skopje is just the second club in the career of Dibirov. The first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with whom he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010. At the 2013 World Championship the Russian international was voted best left wing of the tournament and it can be expected that the Vardar fast breaks will be more threatening and the team’s defence will more aggressive with Dibirov on the court. In 2006 Dibirov won the EHF Cup with Chekhov, beating CMB Valladolid in the final. Sergey Gorbok left back The Belarusian left back started his carrier in Minsk and played in several different countries inducing Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia and Germany. After playing three seasons in Chekovskie Medvedi he took Russian citizenship and started playing for the national team of Russia. In the previous season with Reich Neckar Löwen he was step close to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. In Vardar he joins the “colony” of Russian players and he will spend the next three seasons in Skopje. Igor Karačić centre back The 25-year-old Croatian was voted into the SEHA League All-star team at the end of the 2012/13 season. He is regarded as a fast and tough player who is brilliant when it comes to ‘one-on-one’ situations. With his former club, HC Bosna BH Gas from Sarajevo, he reached the Last 16 in the 2010/11 VELUX EHF Champions League season, scoring 62 goals on the way. Born in Mostar in 1988, he plays for the Croatian national team, while his brother Ivan Karacic plays for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Stojance Stoilov line player Stojance Stoilov is not only Vardar’s first choice line player, but occupies the same position in the Macedonian national team. He joined Vardar four seasons ago from city rivals Metalurg – a step that saw his career spiralling upwards. The spotlight was on him at the EHF EURO 2012 when FYR Macedonia finished 5th and Stoilov played a brilliant tournament. In May 2013 he was selected for the All-star team of SEHA League Final-Four tournament at which Vardar finished second. Alex Dujshebaev right back The son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar at the beginning of the season. Playing for Spain at the Junior World Championship this summer, Dujshebaev was one of the best players, helped his team to win silver and was selected for the All-star team as best right back. He had achieved the same honours at the 2012 Men’s 20 EHF EURO at which Spain topped the podium. In the two previous seasons during which he played for BM Aragon Dujshebaev became the Spanish ASOBAL’s top scorer on both occasions. Matjaz Brumen right wing The 31-year-old Slovenian is the only Vardar player with a European Cup title under his belt. He won the EHF Champions League with Celje in 2004 and the Challenge Cup with Koper in 2011. He has been playing for Slovenian clubs Prule 67, Celje and Koper, but this is the first time he plays outside of his home country. He played for Slovenia at several major tournaments and was part of the team which only narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth at the 2013 World Championship in Spain. EC trophies: CL 2004 92 GROUP C Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) The previous season was a pure rollercoaster ride for Montpellier Agglomeration Handball. First they signed Thierry Omeyer to set high goals, then the French record champions failed in the qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League. After two points were deducted from them in the French league, Montpellier started an incredible run to chase the leaders, but defeat in the last round against Chambery saw them miss out on the two top places in the league, finishing below Dunkerque and PSG. However, an additional place bid for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League was successful and a return to the top flight secured. Montpellier also qualified for the EHF Cup Finals in Berlin, made it to the final, but then defeated by Szeged. The final major headline of the season was losing two of their key players to one of their biggest domestic rivals, as Omeyer and William Accambray signed for PSG, while experienced former Tunisian international Wissem Hmam also departed the club. As for newcomers, former Olympic and world champion goalkeeper Venio Losert arrived from Kielce and the number of Slovenian players in the team increased to five with Borut Mackovsek joining from Celje. Patrice Canayer has been in charge of Montpellier for more than 20 years and this season he and his charges hope to cause some surprises in all competitions, including the dream of their first ever participation at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Playing hall Arena Montpellier Rue de la Foire 34470 Pérols/Montpellier France Capacity: 8,000 Club Address: Montpellier Agglomeration HB Centre Jean-Paul Lacombe Centre Jean Paul Lacombe - 1000 34090 Montpellier France Media contact: Suzy Demonte +33 499 610 358 [email protected] Online information: www.montpellierhandball.com Facebook: montpellierhandball Twitter: @MAHB The tasks awaiting the 2003 EHF Champions League winners are far from straightforward, as Veszprem, Rhein Neckar Löwen, Vardar, Medvedi and Celje await in Group C. Nevertheless, team captain Michael Guigou is optimistic about clearing these hurdles. “Our objective is to proceed to the knock-out stage and to develop as a team as quickly as possible, in order to avoid a difficult opponent in the Last 16. However, we know that the group phase will be extremely hard, competing with three contenders for the title, Veszprem, Löwen and Vardar, who all will be supported by extraordinary audiences at their home matches. We will have to fight for the fourth position with Celje and Medvedi and we count on our fans at home to have a good base for the away matches. Prestigious games are ahead for us and we are going to take the challenge,” he said. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Third ranked in France Newcomers: Venio Losert (Kielce) Borut Mackovsek (Celje) Baptiste Bonnefond (MAHB training centre) Left the club: William Accambray (Paris) Thierry Omeyer (Paris) Wissem Hmam (Saint Raphael) Maxime Arvin Berod (Chartres) Mickaël Robin (Cesson) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): Winners: 2002/03 Semi-final: 2004/05 Quarter-final: 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Last 16: 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12 Main Round: 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase: 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Qualification: 2013/14 Kit colours Other: Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/light blue EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, quarterfinal 1996/97, Last 16 1993/94, 1994/95 Cup Winners’ Cup: quarter-final 2001/02 Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue French league: 14 titles (1995, 19982000, 2002-2006, 2008-2012) French cup: 10 titles 93 Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Biggest win: 46:20 (26:09) v AC PAOK GRE (h), 04.10.2009 Biggest defeat: 37:20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), 06.11.1999 Longest winning run: 7 matches (21.12.2003 – 14.11.2004) 7 matches (18.10.2009 – 25.02.2010) 7 matches (16.10.2010 – 06.03.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 10 matches (18.10.2009 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run: 3 matches (23.10.2011 – 04.12.2011) 3 matches (07.10.2012 – 18.10.2012) Longest run without win: 5 matches (25.03.2012 – 18.10.2012) Most goals: 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), 04.10.2009 Most goals opponent: 38 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), 05.12.2004 38 v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), 19.11.2011 Most goals both teams: 78 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), 09.02.2008 Fewest goals: 17 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), 03.01.1999 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), 10.12.2000 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), 07.10.2006 Fewest goals both teams:38 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), 08.11.1998 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 134:134 0 6 3rd Gr. A 1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA 6 3 0 3 139:148 -9 6 3rd Gr. A 2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA 8 4 1 3 193:193 0 9 1/4-finals 2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA 12 8 1 3 334:311 +23 17 Winner 2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA 8 6 0 2 216:199 +17 12 Last 16 2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA 12 9 0 3 375:328 +47 18 1/2-finals 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 0 4 282:272 +10 12 1/4-finals 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA 8 5 1 2 224:198 +26 11 Last 16 2007/08 Montpellier HB FRA 12 7 0 5 358:348 +10 14 3rd MR Gr. 2 2008/09 Montpellier HB FRA 10 6 1 3 295:275 +20 13 4th MR Gr. 3 2009/10 Montpellier HB FRA 14 10 2 2 447:372 +75 22 1/4-finals 2010/11 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 14 10 0 4 442:379 +63 20 1/4-finals 2011/12 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 12 6 0 6 357:357 0 12 Last 16 2012/13 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 10 2 2 6 301:311 –10 6 5th Gr. A Total 142 85 8 49 4097:3825 +272 178 94 Stage Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 3 95 24 18 9 11 27 25 22 30 10 14 19 23 17 2 1 51 12 21 16 4 6 20 26 5 Arthur Samir Baptiste Felipe Maxime Jure Ludovic Jean Loup Matej Dragan Mathieu Michael Antoine Vid Balazs Clement Venio Borut Kevin Alexandre Arnaud Diego Issam Vincent Allan Iswaran Anquetil Bellahcene Bonnefond Borges Dutra Ribeiro Bouschet Dolenec Fabregas Faustin Gaber Gajic Grebille Guigou Gutfreund Kavticnik Laluska Liard Losert Mackovsek Mesnard Saidani Siffert Simonet Tej Thouvenot Villeminot Zahm FRA FRA FRA BRA FRA SLO FRA FRA SLO SLO FRA FRA FRA SLO HUN FRA CRO SLO FRA FRA FRA ESP FRA FRA FRA FRA Left Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Left Wing Right Back Right Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Right Wing Right Back Right Back Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Goalkeeper Centre Back Line Player Line Player Centre Back Left Back 23.7.1995 20.2.1995 22.1.1993 4.5.1985 2.4.1996 6.12.1988 1.7.1996 23.3.1995 22.7.1991 21.7.1984 6.10.1991 28.1.1982 5.10.1992 24.5.1984 20.6.1981 3.5.1996 25.7.1976 11.9.1992 11.1.1993 30.7.1994 6.12.1978 26.12.1989 29.7.1979 30.5.1994 24.5.1995 23.5.1996 95 181 189 193 186 184 190 198 185 196 188 198 179 195 191 202 191 190 203 191 188 188 187 187 200 185 200 Weight 74 114 98 88 82 94 98 83 116 83 93 79 89 90 100 91 89 99 84 84 94 87 115 105 81 86 Patrice Canayer coach He is now starting his 21st season at the head of Montpellier, in which he has won over 40 trophies.. In 1994 he started his coaching career and coached players like Nikola Karabatić, Thierry Omeyer, Jérôme Fernandez and Didier Dinart. Now, with not as many stars but with as many young talented players as before, he meets again with the CL after reaching the EHF Cup final last season. In his active career the 52-year-old coach played for Bordeaux and Racing Paris. EC trophies: CL 2003 Michaël Guigou left wing At 32, he is the player with the longest history in Montpellier since he has played there for 15 seasons in a row. Able to play on the left wing or on the center back position, he is very quick on fast breaks and able to play in tiny spaces inside the defences. Over the years, he has become less of a scorer and turned into the brain of the team, constantly helping his teammates and thinking of ways to improve the game. He is the only player of the winning CL campaign in 2003 who still plays for MAHB. EC trophies: CL 2003 OG : G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2011, B 2005 Venio Losert goalkeeper At 38, he has added another stop to his neverending European tour. After Croatia, Spain, Denmark and Poland, he has now arrived in Montpellier, his twelth professionnal club since the beginning of his career. Very easyliving but with a huge amount of experience in his backpack, he should help his younger teammates in learning what international level really is. He went to the FINAL4 two seasons ago, and would really like to live a successful CL campaign again before the end of its career. OG : G 1996, 2004, B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: G 2003, S 1995, 2005, 2009 Mathieu Grébille left back At 22, he has already been branded as being the “next big thing” in French handball. Formed at Montpellier, he has evolved step by step, and this season should see him explode into life, as well as taking more responsibilities. He has already become a regular fixture in the national team, where some compare him to Daniel Narcisse for his jumping abilities. During his younger years, he helped the team on the left wing position and has kept the ability to switch sides whenever needed. EURO: G 2014 Diego Simonet centre back The Argentinian wave is about to crash on the CL. After scoring 41 goals in the EHF Cup campaign last season, as well as being elected best centre back of the French league, Diego Simonet is ready to take on the best in Europe. Quick and with a sharp eye, the international player is able to shoot through defences, to give balls to lineplayers and to run around like a mad man for 60 minutes. He is much calmer than he used to be, he is making better choices and has become a key element in Canayer’s roster. Matej Gaber line player Even if Tej gets more playing time in attack, Matej Gaber is now the rock of Montpellier’s defence. He has got the responsibility to replace Wissem Hmam, who left the club this summer. He arrived at the beginning of last season alongside his friend Jure Dolenec and has done everything since to justify his “harddefending” reputation. He has gained some playing time on offense as well, but he has still got a lot of progress to make there. Only aged 23, he should become a very important piece of Montpellier’s puzzle in the forthcoming years. Jure Dolenec right back For his first season with his new club, Jure Dolenec has had some ups and downs, but it had to be expected. He had to adapt to French defences and he has made a lot of progress and has now a much more complete way of playing. After causing havoc when he played the EHF Champions League with his former team of Gorenje Velenje, he is ready to do it all over again and wants to top his scoring mark, which he set at 64 two seasons ago. At 26, he could take another step this season facing the best teams in Europe. Dragan Gajić right wing Arrived in 2011, Dragan Gajic is very useful to Montpellier, both on and off the court. He has had his best season so far last year, finishing as the best scorer of the EHF Cup and of the French league. But he also helps his Slovenian teammates to settle in Montpellier, and that gives him quite a lot of work, since there are now six of them in the club. A fastbreak expert, he is fast as light and very self-assured in front of the goalkeeper, being able to score from near-impossible angles. 96 Group D preview ALL TO PLAY FOR IN UNPREDICTABLE AND OPEN GROUP D Having reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2013, leaving the tournament after the Last 16 last year was a step down the ladder for KS Vive Tauron Kielce, and the team under legendary head coach Talant Duishebaev will obviously want more this season. The chance should be there in Group B, where the Polish champions appear as favourites in competition with five teams who seem more or less equal at first sight. Changes have been few in Kielce compared to last season, and this carries the advantage with it that it would not be necessary to integrate a lot of new players in the team. Dunkerque HB Gran Littoral had a disappointing debut in the VELUX EHF Champions League last season, where the men from the north west of France failed to even go on from the group phase. Having won the French championship in the meantime and having their first Champions League adventure behind them, Dunkerque should definitely be able to do better this time. Looking at the Dunkerque squad, the French champions may not look stronger than last year, but you do not win the French league ahead of teams such as Paris Saint-German and Montpellier without having some extraordinary qualities, and the experiences they harvested in the Champions League last year should do them good now. Kadetten Schaffhausen have often had an ability to just squeeze themselves in among the four teams who proceeded to the knock-out stages, and the Swiss champions may very well do so again this time in a group where Kielce seems to be only really frightening opponent. The transfer account balances, as the club has signed just as many players as it has lost, but the return of left winger Manuel Liniger to his homeland should be a boost to Schaffhausen. MOL-Pick Szeged surprised a good deal of the European handball community last season by winning the EHF Cup. This year the Hungarian runners-up can celebrate their comeback to the VELUX EHF Champions League. And what may we expect from them here? Well, according to their Spanish coach Juan Carlos Pastor, they want to compete at the top of Europe, but having said goodbye to more players than they have brought in, they may face some difficulties here. Their most interesting signing is probably Spanish goalkeeper José Manuel Sierra who has joined from PSG and who has replaced Roland Mikler, now with local rivals Veszprém. Last season, Aalborg Handball made it to the knock-out stage for the first time, and the Danish runners-up have a very good chance to copy that achievement again this season. When talking about Aalborg, we simply have to mention one of the most interesting and promising young newcomers in the international handball hemisphere. 19-year-old Norwegian centre back Sander Sagosen, who joined from Norwegian champions Haslum HK ahead of this season has already shown his enormous potential in attack as well as in defence. HC Motor Zaporozhye made to the Last 16 last season, but still the Ukrainian champions had to go through the qualification tournament to reach the group phase this year. The Zappers are aiming to repeat last season’s achievement, but they are handicapped in those efforts by the fact that the security situation in Ukraine forces them to play their home matches in Kiev instead of in their home town. Peter Bruun 97 Group D head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral 22.09.2013 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 30.11.2013 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 33:23 (15:11) 30:25 (12:15) KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Pick Szeged 17.03.2013 Pick Szeged vs KS Vive Targi Kielce, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 24.03.2013 KS Vive Targi Kielce vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 26:25 (15:14) 32:27 (14:11) Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Pick Szeged 14.10.2006 SC Pick Szeged vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 11.11.2006 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs SC Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group B 25.09.2010 Pick Szeged vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 19.02.2011 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 06.10.2012 Pick Szeged vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 07.02.2013 Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 27:27 (12:14) 22:23 (10:13) 29:26 (12:10) 31:27 (12:15) 30:29 (12:14) 36:29 (21:14) Kadetten Schaffhausen vs Aalborg Handball 03.10.2010 AaB Handball vs Kadetten Schaffhausen, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 05.12.2010 Kadetten Schafhausen vs AaB Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 30:30 (15:14) 34:31 (17:19) Pick Szeged vs Aalborg Handball 10.10.2010 Pick Szeged vs AaB Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 06.03.2011 AaB Handball vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group C 37:28 (18:13) 34:30 (17:19) No previous encounters in European competitions KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Kadetten Schaffhausen KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Aalborg Handball KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Motor Zaporozhye Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs Kadetten Schaffhausen Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs Pick Szeged Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs Aalborg Handball Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral vs HC Motor Zaporozhye Kadetten Schaffhausen vs HC Motor Zaporozhye Pick Szeged vs HC Motor Zaporozhye Aalborg Handball vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 98 GROUP D KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) A new sponsor in the name, the same hopes and dreams as the year before and the first “full” season for coach Talant Dujshebaev. Vive Tauron Kielce aim for the top once again this season, which means reaching Cologne, a place where Dujshebaev has been several times before and the Polish champions have arrived once, in 2013, when they narrowly lost their semi-final against Barcelona, then beat Kiel to finish third. In the previous season, right after the arrival of Dujshebaev as the successor to Bogdan Wenta, Kielce were unlucky to be eliminated in the Last 16 by German side Rhein Neckar Löwen. Their group is not as tough as last season’s but still challenging, as Kielce are regarded as favourites among Dunkerque, Szeged, Aalborg, Schaffhausen and Zaporozhye. Besides a new name in the team, energy company Tauron, Kielce’s squad has not changed all that much, only two positions have to be more precise: Marin Sego from their domestic rivals Wisla Plock replaced goalkeeper Venio Losert, who moved to Montpellier, and German international Tobias Reichmann is new on the wing position, replacing Thorir Olafsson, who returned to his home country Iceland. The only minor problem in the preparation was the injury of Krzysztof Lijewski, but the right back managed to return in time for the first league match last Saturday. Sports director Radosław Wasiak is humble prior to the new international season: “Of course all participants of the VELUX EHF Champions League fight for the top spot in their groups. We really have strong opponents like French champions Dunkerque, Szeged and Aalborg. We must show respect to all of them, as every game in this group will be tough.” Playing hall Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionów ul. Boczna 15A 25-093 Kielce Poland Capacity: 4,000 Team captain Grzegorz Tkaczyk is looking forward to “an interesting group”. “We know all the teams, because of their previous results in Europe. For example last season we lost at Dunkerque, so now we want to have some revenge. Of course, I’m happy that we will face Kadetten Schauffhausen, because of my friend Leszek Starczan. I was playing with him in Poland, in Warszawianka, and now we will meet again after some years apart. Every team in our group is really strong. Szeged, for example, are the defending EHF Cup champions and a team which made some good signings this summer,” Tkaczyk says. Club Address: KS Vive Tauron Kielce ul. Robotnicza 5 25-662 Kielce Poland Media contact: Sebastian Kozubek +48 505031244 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.vivetargi.pl Facebook: vivetargikielce Twitter: @vivetargikielce Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Polish champions Newcomers: Tobias Reichmann (HSG Wetzlar) Marin Sego (Orlen Wisła Płock) Left the club: Venio Losert (Montpellier HB Agglomeration) Thorir Olafsson (UMF Stjarnan) Kit colours Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 12 Semi-final (1): 2012/13 Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14 Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11 Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Other Other EC records: 11 participations in other ECs Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: green Polish league: 11 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) Polish cup: 11 titles 99 KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Biggest win: 35:23 (16:13) v FC Porto Vitalis POR (h), 29.09.2013 Biggest defeat: 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), 15.11.2003 Longest winning run: 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 10 matches (30.09.2012 – 23.02.2013) Longest losing run: 5 matches (13.02.2010 – 27.03.2010) 5 matches (19.02.2011 – 09.10.2011) Longest run without win: 6 matches (26.09.2010 – 27.11.2010) Most goals: 38 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 38:30W (h), 23.02.2014 Most goals opponent: 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), 15.11.2003 Most goals both teams: 72 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 40:32L (a), 27.11.1999 Fewest goals: 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), 27.02.2010 21 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals opponent: 20 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 Fewest goals both teams:41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), 24.11.2012 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL 6 3 0 3 173:186 –13 6 3rd Gr. B 2003/04 KS ‘Vive’ Kielce POL 6 2 1 3 159:177 -18 5 3rd Gr. G 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 5 1 6 345:344 +1 11 Last 16 2010/11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 10 1 2 7 276:300 -24 4 6th Gr. A 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 6 1 5 345:336 +9 13 Last 16 2012/13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 16 14 0 2 469:400 +69 28 Third Place 2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 12 7 1 4 362:331 +31 15 Last 16 Total 74 38 6 30 2129:2074 +55 82 100 Stage KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 13 14 21 10 27 2 15 5 19 22 19 24 16 17 1 6 23 Julen Karol Denis Piotr Ivan Piotr Mateusz Michal Krzysztof Zeljko Tobias Tomasz Marin Manuel Wojciech Slawomir Grzegorz Uros Aguinagalde Akizu Bielecki Buntic Chrapkowski Cupic Grabarczyk Jachlewski Jurecki Lijewski Musa Reichmann Rosinski Sego Strlek Swiader Szmal Tkaczyk Zorman ESP POL CRO POL CRO POL POL POL POL CRO GER POL CRO CRO POL POL POL SLO Line Player Left Back Right Back Left Back Right Wing Line Player Left Wing Left Back Right Back Line Player Right Wing Centre Back Goalkeeper Left Wing Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Centre Back Centre Back 8.12.1982 195 23.1.1982 202 13.11.1982 199 24.3.1988 202 22.3.1986 178 31.10.1982 200 27.12.1984 185 27.10.1984 198 7.7.1983 198 8.1.1986 200 27.5.1988 188 24.2.1984 192 2.8.1985 194 1.12.1988 181 18.8.1996 2.10.1978 190 22.12.1980 194 9.1.1980 189 101 110 101 110 100 78 99 88 110 94 114 85 85 100 79 90 94 96 Sławomir Szmal goalkeeper The former World Handball Player of the Year is one of the key players in the Polish national champions’ defence. The goalkeeper spent several years in German Bundesliga playing for TuS N-Lübbecke and Rhein Neckar Löwen. Szmal has competed in two VELUX EHF FINAL4 events with Rhein-Neckar Löwen in 2010/11 and Kielce two years ago. On the court a hardworking Titan, beyond it a great man always keen on handball initiatives for kids. Talant Dujshebaev coach The most awarded figure in the club. During his longstanding player career he won plenty of international trophies with three different teams, including CIS, Russia and Spain and a lot of individual distinctions. Since almost ten years he has successfully continued as a coach. Known for his impulsiveness, he joined Kielce in the half of last season, replacing Bogdan Wenta. He changed the playing style of the team placing greater emphasis on the aggressive defence and letting the players for relative equal time in. WCh: S 2007, B 2009 EC Trophies: CL 1994, 2006 (as coach), 2008 (as coach), 2009 (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 Michał Jurecki left back Kielce’s powerful left back Michał Jurecki returned to Poland in 2010 after a three season stint in Germany, which included spells as HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke, and has been one of the club’s most consistent scorers since. Under his steel covering the Polish tank hides a cheerful nature and a volcano of energy exploding in the most thrilling moments of the game. Manuel Štrlek left wing With his arrival in Kielce two years ago Manu made his first step abroad, after leaving his boyhood club Zagreb, where he started gathering EHF Champions League experience in 2006. Together with his fellow countryman on the other side, they soon created extremely effective duet of wingers doing with fast break a true masterpiece. His excellent performance at the EHF EURO 2010 earned him a place on the All-star team. With the 3rd place game at the EHF EURO 2014 he added 74th match to his international account with the score of 233 goals. WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014 WCh: S 2007, B 2009 Julen Aguinagalde line player He is one of the world’s top line players and his presence on the line turns out to be a key for Kielce. He proved that with taking a place among the All-Star teams of two previous champion tournaments in Denmark and Spain and receiving nomination for World Handball Player of the Year 2012 as well. He joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid in 2013 for his first foreign league experience. After two VELUX EHF FINAL4 experiences, he is still striving for a trophy. Uroš Zorman centre back One of the best playmakers in the game is on the hunt for his fourth EHF Champions League success. He is not known for scoring lots of goals, 23 in last season’s CL, but his movement and passes provide ample space for his teammates in attack, which he proved throughout last season. Longstanding captain of Slovenian national team is famous for his charisma, weakness for coffee and great approach to children, for whom he has been organising handball summer camps over past seven years. EC Trophies: CL: 2004, 2008, 2009 EURO: S 2004 WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014 Ivan Čupić right wing The Croatian right wing was the second best goal scorer at the London 2012 Olympics. His reputation has been growing ever since he was named on the All-Star team at the 2009 WCh at home. Despite losing one finger in an accident in 2008 he continued his excellent form and has remained an important player of each team he has played including the national team. This season he will be sharing the floor with the new face in the club, German Tobias Reichmann. Krzysztof Lijewski right back Although he wanted to be a basketball player, luckily under the influence of his father and older brother, he chose handball. The best right back of recent EHF EURO 2014 is the most versatile player in the team, clever in attack and vigilant in defence. He can not only threaten his opponents with a powerful shot but also mislead them with a precise pass to his teammate while looking in the other direction. He joined Kielce in 2012 after seven successful years spent in Germany. EC Trophies: Cup Winner’s Cup: 2007 WCh: S 2007, B 2009 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2012 102 GROUP D Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) It was one of the biggest sensations of the European club handball season, when it was not the world selection of PSG but Dunkerque Handball Grand Littoral who took the French league title. For the first time, the club were top of the league – and now the team of coach Patrick Cazal is aiming high in the VELUX EHF Champions League after an unsatisfying debut in the previous season, clearly missing out on the knock-out stage. Dunkerque manager Régis Giunta hopes for an improvement on the international stage: “We confirmed our progress by becoming French champions ahead of Paris Saint Germain, the big favourite, and record champions Montpellier. But we have not been able to deploy the same energy in the Champions League. We were rookies and the fact that 95 percent of the team never played this competition before added difficulty to the fact that the draw put us in the hardest group. With last season’s experience and quite a good draw, we expect to qualify for the Last 16,” Giunta says. “Regarding our opponents, Kielce seem to be out of reach, as it will be very difficult to beat them again after last year. Szeged seem to have the team to finish on the second position, so we will be in competition with Aalborg, Schaffhausen and Zaporozhye to gain one of the last two tickets to the Last 16. That’s at least the logic on paper,” he added. Playing hall Stades de Flandres Avenue de Rosendael 59240 Dunkerque France Capacity: 2,500 Club Address: Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral Avenue de Rosendael - B.P. 4197 59378 Dunkerque cedex 1 France Media contact: Melanie Lefevbre + 33 3 28 66 91 52 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.usdk.fr Facebook: DunkerqueHandball Twitter: @USDKDunkerque Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: black/red Cazal’s successful team has not changed that much, two newcomers arrived, three players left. However, two of them, who made it to Germany, are hard to replace - French international Guillaume Joli, now playing with Ivano Balic at Wetzlar, and Norwegian shooter Espen Lie Hansen, who transferred to Magdeburg. Additionally the French champions were hit hard by injuries during the preparation, with team captain Mohamed Mokrani, Pierre Soudry, Romain Guillard, newcomer Pawel Paczkowski and Nicolas Nieto missing most of the test stage. Despite the difficulties, team captain Mokrani is confident for the upcoming Champions League season. “Last year was our first participation in the Champions League and it was a journey of discovery for the club. At the level we are, we can be ambitious. The minimum goal is to achieve the Last 16. When we look back to the results of last season, we can only do better as we finished last in our group. We know Kielce because we played them last year but their game has certainly evolved as well as Szeged, winner of the EHF Cup. Both sides are big teams. If we want to proceed to the Last 16, we need to be very efficient in all home matches, but also try to win away once or twice,” admits Mokrani. Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: French champions Newcomers: Zarko Pejovic (Tatran Presov) Pawel Paczkowski (Wisla Plock) Left the club: Guillaume Joli (Wetzlar) Espen Lie Hansen (Magdeburg) Erwan Siakam (Créteil) Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 3 Group Phase (1): 2013/14 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Other EHF Cup: Finals 2011/12, Quarter-final 2006/07, 2007/07, 2009/10 Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2003/04 City-Cup: Quarter-final 1998/99, 1999/2000 French league: 1 title (2014) French Champions Trophy: 1 title (2012) French cup: 1 title French League cup: 1 title 103 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Biggest win: 30:25 (12:15) v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL (h), 30.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 33:23 (15:11) v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL (a), 22.09.2013 Longest winning run: 1 match (30.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 1 match (30.11.2013) 1 match (15.02.2014) Longest losing run: 6 matches (22.09.2013 – 20.11.2013) Longest run without win: 6 matches (22.09.2013 – 20.11.2013) Most goals: 30 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 30:25W (h), 30.11.2013 Most goals opponent: 33 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 33:23L (a), 22.09.2013 Most goals both teams: 57 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 32:25L (a), 06.02.2014 Fewest goals: 18 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 20 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams:38 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 18:20L (h), 13.10.2013 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2013/14 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 10 1 1 8 237:268 -31 3 Total 10 1 1 8 237:268 -31 3 104 Stage 6th Gr. B Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 3 16 57 9 8 17 12 1 21 19 11 5 4 46 6 20 23 23 25 15 7 Benjamin William Vincent Florian Baptiste Theophile Sebastien Julian Julien Vincent Mickael Romain Jerome Sebastien Bastien Mohamed Kornel Nicolas Pawel Zarko Tom Roman Pierre Jalleledine Afgour Annotel Bello Billant Butto Causse De Cocker Emonet Gardenat Gerard Grocaut Guillard Hoarau Joumel Lamon Mokrani Nagy Nieto Paczkowski Pejovic Pelayo Scattolari Soudry Touati FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA HUN FRA POL MNE FRA FRA FRA TUN Line Player Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Wing Left Wing Right Wing Line Player Left Wing Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Line Player Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Centre Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Right Back Left Back Right Back Centre Back Right Back Right Wing 1.4.1991 195 29.3.1983 195 8.7.1996 7.7.1996 13.2.1987 187 12.10.1992 179 15.4.1995 190 4.1.1992 182 4.11.1995 190 16.12.1986 188 26.4.1980 194 14.1.1986 190 4.8.1995 6.1.1995 18.7.1981 186 31.1.1981 186 21.11.1986 195 6.4.1994 14.6.1993 195 25.1.1986 191 23.2.1997 11.2.1994 27.3.1988 183 12.7.1982 179 106 93 105 86 72 97 91 97 97 105 100 80 97 98 93 96 82 78 Vincent Gérard goalkeeper Gérard finally got his first title with his club, three seasons after arriving in Dunkirk. The French championship crown came along with his second “best goalkeeper of the league” award in a row, and he’s now one regular fixture in the national team. Expert at stopping penalty throws and wing shots, he gives confidence to his teammates with his exuberant gestures after every one of his saves.Definitely a strong fan favourite, he showed last season that he had the capacity to become one of Dunkerque’s key elements in the competition. Patrick Cazal coach Since 2011 he has been the head coach of USDK and it took him only two seasons to be voted as the best coach in the first French league and three to give his club its first french championhip. As a player he became double world champion under coach Daniel Costantini in 1995 and 2001 and won two WCh bronze medals in 1997 and 2003. He played for Paris, Montpellier, Irun and Essen before ending his career in 2008 with Dunkerque, where he became the assistant coach. For his second season in the EHF CL, he now aims for the Last 16 stage. EURO: G 2014 Baptiste Butto left wing After learning his trade in Selestat, he arrived in Dunkerque in 2009 and has been in the top 10 scorers of the French league ever since. Butto is known for his great speed on fast breaks and is very effective with penalties, but has never been drafted in the national team, due to the huge amount of good left wings in France. He scored 30 goals in last season’s Champions League. A good performance, but which is far from his personnal record of 57 goals, set in the EHF Cup campaign back in 2012. Kornél Nagy left back With no connection to László Nagy, the right back from Veszprem, Kornél Nagy still has a very good talent for handball. He arrived in Dunkerque from Hungary in 2011 and immediately received praise both from coaches and teammates. Hard-working, very good defender, he is able to shoot from outside the 9m line as well as scoring from inside the defence. Nagy is a very complete player and is now a key element in the squad, especially since he’s also able to play on the center back position. Bastien Lamon centre back He first signed to Dunkerque at 18 and never left the club since. He is the symbol of what this team is about: not over-talented, but very hard-working and ready to give everything on the court for his partners. He’s been part of the club’s rise, and last season’s Champions League participation, as well as the French championship, came as consecrations to him. Not really the player to score goals, he is a lot better at putting his teammates in the best position, and scored the most assists of the squad last season in the CL. Mohammed Mokrani line player An international player with Algeria, the line player is always battling on the court. Mokrani is a key element in the French side’s defence and although he is relatively small, he has got the capacity to sneak behind defenders on offence to create space and score goals. The 32-year-old met again with the EHF Champions League last season, after playing with another French club, US Ivry Handball, back in the 2007/08 season. Pierre Soudry right back He has been last season’s revelation in Dunkerque. Since Rambo left the club in January, he has had to play 60 minutes per game for six months, and still pulled out some amazing performances, which owed him a national team calling at the end of the season. Relatively small but incredibly quick on his feet, he took many defenders by surprise, and at 26, he’s still got a lot of room for improvement. For his first season in the EHF Champions League, he scored 34 goals. Jaleleddine Touati right wing Another player who arrived in Dunkerque a long time ago and remained faithful to the club ever since. He first signed in the north of France in 2006 and climbed every step since, playing the EHF Cup Finals two seasons amongst all things. Shy in everyday’s life, he becomes someone else on the court, often encouraging his own fans to increase their support to his team. The right winger didn’t play much in the EHF Champions League last season, but with Joli’s departure last summer, he should see his playtime increase. 106 GROUP D Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) After a one-year-absence from the VELUX EHF Champions League, Kadetten Schaffhausen is back on track and waving the Swiss flag in Europe’s top flight. In 2013, Wacker Thun had the better of them in the Swiss league, now Schaffhausen turned the tide to win the finals of the domestic league in style against Winterthur and even celebrated the double after winning the Swiss cup as well. Now the team of coach and 2007 world champion Markus Baur, who just led the Germany to gold at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO in Austria and who has also been in charge at Kadetten since 2013, is aiming to return to the Last 16 after reaching the knock-out stage in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. To reach their goals – including making it to the finals of Swiss cup and Swiss league – they even signed a former VELUX EHF FINAL4 participant Markus Richwien, arriving from Füchse Berlin. Two further newcomers from Bundesliga have come in to improve Baur’s team: Manuel Liniger and Anton Mansson, as has Switzerland’s top goalkeeper Nikola Portner, son of the former Yugoslav international Zlatko Portner. Playing hall BBC Arena Schweizersbildstr. 10 8207 Schaffhausen Switzerland Capacity: 3,000 Schaffhausen will face Kielce, Dunkerque, Szeged, Aalborg and Zaporozhye in the group phase. “It could have been worse,” says team captain David Graubner. “It is the main goal of our team to make it to the Last 16. I think Kielce is the strongest team and will dominate this group. All other teams are more or less on the same level. Therefore I expect a tough and interesting competition for us.” Club Address: Kadetten Schaffhausen Schweizersbildstrasse 10 8207 Schaffhausen Switzerland Media contact: Barbara Imobersteg +41 787203247 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.kadettensh.ch Twitter: @kadettensh Facebook: kadettensh Kit colours Light Player shirt: orange Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: black Player short: orange Goalkeeper shirt: green Qualification for the 2014/2015 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Swiss champions Newcomers: Nikola Portner (BSV Bern Muri) Markus Richwien (Füchse Berlin) Anton Mansson (MT Melsungen) Manuel Liniger (HBW Balingen) Left the club: Nik Tominec (HC Kriens-Luzern) Florian Goepfert (RTV Basel) Julius Emrich (SG BBM Bietigheim) Arunas Vaskevicius (Pfadi Winterthur) 107 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 8 Last 16 (2): 2010/11, 2011/12 Group Phase (4): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2012/13 Qualification (1): 2009/10 Other EHF Cup: final 2009/10 Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final: 2007/08 Swiss league: 7 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Swiss cup: 7 titles Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) Biggest win: 43:18 (23:08) v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH (h), 09.02.2012 Biggest defeat: 36:25 (19:13) v FC Barcelona Intersport ESP (a), 01.12.2012 2 matches (28.11.2010 – 05.12.2010) 2 matches (19.02.2011 – 23.02.2011) 2 matches (09.02.2012 – 16.02.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (06.10.2007 – 13.10.2007) 2 matches (28.11.2010 – 05.12.2010) 2 matches (19.02.2011 – 23.02.2011) 2 matches (09.02.2012 – 16.02.2012) Longest losing run: 4 matches (06.10.2011 – 17.11.2011) 4 matches (17.10.2012 – 01.12.2012) Longest run without win: 5 matches (25.11.2007 – 14.10.2010) Most goals: 43 v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18W (h), 09.02.2012 Most goals opponent: 40 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.2013 Most goals both teams: 75 v Füchse Berlin GER 35:40L (h), 14.02.2013 Fewest goals: 22 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:22L (a), 15.10.2005 22 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:23L (h), 11.11.2006 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo BIH 43:18W (h), 09.02.2012 Fewest goals both teams:45 v SC Pick Szeged HUN 22:23L (h), 11.11.2006 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2005/06 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 1 1 4 160:181 -21 3 3rd Gr. G 2006/07 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 6 2 1 3 168:169 -1 5 3rd Gr. B 2007/08 Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ SUI 6 2 1 3 179:174 +5 5 3rd Gr. C 2010/11 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 1 6 362:376 -14 11 Last 16 2011/12 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 12 5 0 7 366:345 +21 10 Last 16 2012/13 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 10 2 0 8 284:330 –46 4 6th Gr. D Total 52 17 4 31 1519:1575 -56 38 108 Stage Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 23 3 13 8 20 6 4 24 16 10 15 24 23 22 9 1 12 7 19 25 11 14 26 Albin Nikola Benjamin David Rares Lucian Dimitrij Peter Manuel Jonas Marko Anton Zoran Lucas Sergio Andrija Nikola Nenad Markus Ruben Fabian Leszek Aleksandar Kaj Alili Cvijetic Geisser Graubner Jurca Küttel Kukucka Liniger Maier Mamic Mansson Markovic Meister Muggli Pendic Portner Puljezevic Richwien Schelbert Schneider Starczan Stojanovic Stokholm SUI SUI SUI SUI ROU SUI SVK SUI GER CRO SWE SUI SUI SUI SUI SUI HUN GER SUI SUI POL SRB SUI Left Back Right Wing Line Player Left Back Right Back Right Back Centre Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Left Back Line Player Left Back Line Player Centre Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Goalkeeper Right Wing Left Back Left Wing Left Wing Right Back Goalkeeper 1.6.1996 1.12.1989 13.7.1990 29.5.1984 29.4.1983 18.2.1994 20.7.1982 10.9.1981 12.1.1994 6.3.1994 9.1.1989 6.5.1995 16.8.1996 6.7.1993 12.3.1987 19.11.1993 13.3.1973 5.7.1985 11.12.1988 12.8.1995 28.11.1977 22.6.1983 15.4.1995 109 196 183 193 194 194 190 190 180 187 201 196 197 197 178 190 194 195 186 195 182 183 197 195 Weight 94 83 93 93 96 88 90 76 84 96 100 92 100 78 90 96 115 84 91 66 90 103 100 Markus Baur coach He was one of the most prolific playmakers ever in Germany and was part of the “golden generation“. Already as a player he was “the extended arm” of coach Heiner Brand, so it was obvious that sometimes he would become a coach. Baur started his coaching career at his former club Lemgo and in 2012 he became part of the coaching staff of the German federation. 2014 was his most successful year as a coach, leading Kadetten to the Swiss championship and cup title and the German juniors to gold at the Men’s20 EHF EURO in Austria. Nikola Portner goalkeeper Born in France with Yugoslav roots and now number 1 of the Swiss national team: Nikola Portner is quite international. His father Zlatko was a famous handball player in ExYugoslavia, and Nikola followed his footprints very early, having his first match in the Swiss league already at the age of 17. Then he transferred to Muri Bern, where he had his first international appearance in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2011 – the same year as he became Swiss international. In summer 2014 he joined Kadetten to lift his career in the Champions League. EC trophies: EHF Cup: 2006 OG: S 2004, WCh: G 2007, S 2003, EURO: G 2004, S 2002, B 1998 Manuel Liniger left wing The 33-year-old experienced wing player had been part of the successful Kadetten team from 2007 until 2010, was twice semi-finalist of the Cup Winners’ Cup (becoming top scorer of the competition in 2008/09) and finalist in the EHF Cup season 2009/10. He started his career in Winterthur and also had spell at German sides Wilhelmshaven, Lemgo and Balingen. Since summer 2014 the Swiss international is back at Schaffhausen. Scoring 833 goals he is the third most successful Swiss national team scorer of all time. David Graubner left back 30-year-old Swiss international Graubner is one of the most experienced players in the Kadetten squad. He already played seven years for Schaffhausen until 2012, before he joined German side Großwallstadt, but returned to the Rhine river only one year later. Like Liniger he was part of the Kadetten team, which made it to three EHF EC semifinals, including the final of the EHF Cup in 2010, when they lost against Lemgo, former club of their coach Markus Baur. Graubner is five times Swiss champion and four times Swiss cup winner. Damir Doborac centre back Switzerland is already the seventh country in which Doborac plays handball at a professional level. The Bosnian international (34) started in Gradacac, then made it to Italy (Prato), was twice Slovenian cup winner with Koper, played the CL with Bosna Sarajevo, Constanta (Romania) and at last Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) and had also been part of the SC Magdeburg squad. This summer he joined Kadetten – the sixth team which he is part of an international club competition with. Anton Mansson line player This newcomer is the only Scandinavian in the quite international Kadetten squad. The Swedish line player was the predecessor of former Barcelona star Magnus Jernemyr at Lugi Lund, before he transferred to German side Melsungen in 2010. The 25-year-old left Melsungen after their first qualification for the EHF Cup to sign a two-year contract at Kadetten this summer. Even his private life is imprinted by handball, as his girlfriend is German international Nadja Nadgornaja, playing at CL team and German champions Thüringer HC. Rares Jurca right back Romania, Germany, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland – this is the way the Romanian international went, before he arrived for the second time in his career at Kadetten in 2010. Jurca – a powerful shooter – was born in the “handball city” Cluj-Napoca and started his international career at SC Magdeburg under current THW Kiel coach Alfred Gislason. After only one season he returned to Romania (Bucarest), then made it to RK Zagreb, had his first stopover at Kadetten in 2007/08, then won the EHF Cup with German side Göppingen, until he finally settled in Schaffhausen to become triple Swiss champion. Markus Richwien right wing German Richwien is the only current Kadetten player, who was part of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 tournament, playing at Cologne with Füchse Berlin in 2012. Born in Magdeburg, he went through all youth teams of former Champions League winner SCM. In 2007 he joined Füchse Berlin, where he became German international – debuting against Switzerland in 2008. After winning the German cup and making it to the EHF Cup Finals on home ground in the German capital in 2014, Richwien joined his first club abroad, signing for Kadetten Schaffhausen. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010 110 GROUP D MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) At the start of last season MOL-Pick Szeged were in despair after failing to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League with a defeat to Metalurg. However, this defeat opened the gates for the biggest international success for the Hungarian runners-up. Szeged went on to win the EHF Cup finals in style by accounting for host Füchse Berlin in the semi-final and favourites Montpellier in the final. In domestic competition, their domestic rivals Veszprem were too strong once again but finishing second was enough to be granted a direct spot in the group phase this season. In his second season as coach, Juan Carlos Pastor, who led Spain to its first world championship title in 2005, bolstered his squad with more Spaniards, as goalkeeper Jose Manuel Sierra and playmaker Antonio Garcia arrived from PSG. Sierra has been given some huge shoes to fill, after influential goalkeeper Roland Mikler left for Veszprem. Slovenian international Dean Bombac and Serbian international Rajko Prodanovic also joined to leave the squad looking fit for action in Europe’s top flight. Thanks to his team’s growth in international experience, manager Nándor Szögi is confident of success on at least one front this season. Playing hall Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt.33 6726 Szeged Hungary Capacity: 3,200 Club Address: Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u. 28-30. 6720 Szeged Hungary Media contact: Nandor Szögi +36 70 3878234 [email protected] Online information: www.pickhandball.hu Facebook: pickszeged Twitter: @pickhandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: orange Player short: silver Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green Dark Player shirt: blue or red Player short: blue or red Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green “We would really like to win one of the Hungarian trophies, but this seems a very difficult task, because playing against Veszprém is always hard. In order to win, we must surprise them. Our objective in Europe is always the same: to win the next game. Of course, our first task is to reach the Last 16, preferably after a good group result, which would give us a favourable Last 16 game,” Szögi says, adding: “Our group seems to be very balanced. This team, with Juan Carlos Pastor as the coach, can be a surprise this season. In my opinion, Kielce are the favourites of the group, they can even reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4.” Besides the Polish champions, Szeged will face Dunkerque, Schaffhausen, Aalborg and Zaporozhye in the group phase and team captain Attila Vadkerti believes that his side have a fantastic opportunity to progress from the group. “Last season we set the bar high both for ourselves and for our fans by winning the EHF Cup. This year, in the Champions League, our first goal is to pass the group phase in a good position, and after that, anything is possible.” Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Hungarian runners-up Newcomers: Piotr Wyszomirski (Csurgói KK) José Manuel Sierra (PSG Handball) Antonio García Robledo (PSG Handball) Rajko Prodanovic (MKB-MVM Veszprém/ Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Dean Bombac (PAUC Handball) Left the club: Roland Mikler (MKB-MVM Veszprém) Péter Tatai (Baia Mare) Jonas Larholm (Team Tvis Holstebro) Nikola Prce (Azoty Pulawy) Marko Lasica (destination unknown) Marinko Kekezovic (Targu-Jiu) József Czina (destination unknown) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 13 Quarter-final (2): 1996/97, 2003/04 Last 16 (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2010/11, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (3): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: 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: 2 titles (1996, 2007) Hungarian cup: 6 titles 111 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Biggest win: 39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), 07.10.2007 Biggest defeat: 40:17 (19:05) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 15.02.1997 Longest winning run: 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.10.2007 – 24.11.2007) Longest losing run: 6 matches (17.10.2009 – 20.02.2010) 6 matches (06.03.2011 – 15.10.2011) Longest run without win: 7 matches (17.10.2009 – 27.02.2010) Most goals: 39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), 07.10.2007 Most goals opponent: 40 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Most goals both teams: 73 v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 38:35W (h), 19.11.2011 Fewest goals: 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), 15.02.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), 05.10.2008 Fewest goals both teams:39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), 08.03.2008 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 205:216 –11 8 1/4-finals 2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN 10 4 0 6 269:262 +7 8 1/4-finals 2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 4 2 2 190:187 +3 10 Last 16 2005/06 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 0 5 219:218 +1 6 Last 16 2006/07 SC Pick Szeged HUN 8 3 2 3 202:203 -1 8 Last 16 2007/08 Pick Szeged HUN 12 9 0 3 361:310 +51 18 3rd MR Gr. 4 2008/09 Pick Szeged HUN 6 2 0 4 159:161 -2 4 3rd Gr. H 2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN 10 2 2 6 287:307 -20 6 5th Gr. A 2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN 12 5 0 7 336:351 -15 10 Last 16 2011/12 Pick Szeged HUN 10 3 0 7 285:316 -31 6 5th Gr. D 2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN 12 4 0 8 313:350 –37 8 Last 16 Total 104 42 8 54 2826:2881 -55 92 112 Stage MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height 90 20 19 21 44 15 51 9 11 98 18 8 97 94 5 88 89 87 12 22 1 31 91 96 7 10 77 16 17 Gabor Patrik Zsolt Alen Dean Balint Roberto Antonio Jesus Mate Gergö Ferenc Jonas Peter György Richard Niko Bence Lenard Gabriel Imre Rajko Jose Manuel Nikola Bence Egon Attila Peter Vladimir Piotr Szabolcs Ancsin Arpasi Balogh Blazevic Bombac Fekete Garcia Parrondo Garcia Robledo Gidai Haszillo Ilyés Källman Matrai Mezei Mindegia Elizaga Molnar Nagy Papp Pasztor Prodanovic Sierra Mendez Stojanov Szabo Urban Vadkerti Velky Vranjes Wyszomirski Zubai HUN HUN HUN CRO SLO HUN ESP ESP HUN HUN HUN SWE HUN HUN ESP HUN HUN SVK HUN SRB ESP HUN HUN HUN HUN HUN BIH POL HUN Right Back Line Player Right Back Left Back Centre Back Right Back Right Wing Left Back Right Wing Left Back Left Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Centre Back Centre Back Centre Back Line Player Goalkeeper Right Wing Goalkeeper Left Wing Left Back Right Wing Left Wing Left Wing Line Player Goalkeeper Line Player 27.11.1990 17.9.1996 29.3.1989 29.3.1986 4.4.1989 27.6.1995 12.1.1980 6.3.1984 18.1.1994 30.9.1996 20.12.1981 17.7.1981 17.4.1996 28.11.1996 19.7.1988 7.3.1994 8.5.1997 18.12.1995 23.7.1996 24.4.1986 21.5.1978 28.10.1993 11.8.1994 12.12.1996 22.2.1982 25.4.1992 14.12.1988 6.1.1988 31.3.1984 113 202 190 189 200 188 190 187 191 180 192 198 200 190 189 184 186 182 197 190 188 194 192 200 180 182 186 200 194 193 Weight 97 100 96 110 92 80 86 93 75 92 103 100 80 96 87 85 72 92 120 87 92 85 111 75 88 82 107 95 93 Juan Carlos Pastor coach One of the masterminds of contemporary handball has won an incredible amount of silverware in his career. Pastor is a household name in the world of handball, no wonder Szeged found him fit for the job of rebuilding their team in order to be able to challenge both for the Hungarian title against domestic rivals Veszprém and the EHF Cup, which the Spaniard won in his first year at the helm. After Szeged legend Richárd Mezei had resigned Pastor became also the sporting director. EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014 WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B 2008 Jonas Källman left wing Signed in the winter of 2014 Jonas Kälman showed his unique ability to defend in three positions, thus the 32-year-old ought to be a vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor’s defensive variatons and Szeged’s attacking edge if unfortunate injuries do not keep him out of action. Having spent more than a decade in Spain with Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid the versatile Swede had returned home and played for IFK Skövde before he signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Pick. EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012 Antonio García Robledo left back The 30-year-old Spaniard was without a doubt the biggest name the EHF Cup winner signed this summer. He has won a great deal of both individual, club and national team silverware and a lot is expected from the Granollers-raised shooter in Szeged, too. Former Spanish player of the year will be trusted with the heavy burden of providing the team with a much needed attacking edge. Szeged will be his third team in the CL having tried his luck with Leon and PSG before. WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014 Gábor Ancsin right back The 2,02-meter tall right back already has Bundesliga experience under his belt, he was only 19 when Rhein-Neckar Löwen signed him from Dunaferr. The 23-year-old heavy shooter has been the first choice right back of the Hungarian runner-up but it was only at EURO 2014 that he established himself as an important player for the national team, too. Voted junior player of the year back in 2011 he has just started to prove his worth at senior level. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 José Manuel Sierra goalkeeper The 36-year-old practicaly won all trophies a handballer can lift, still Sierra faces a big challenge in Szeged where he is supposed to fill in for Hungarian international Roland Mikler, who joined Veszprém. Sierra has been one of the most influential goalkeepers in the world, the Valladolid legend has won an enormous amount of trophies through his almost two decades long career. He signed from PSG had done a grand slam of great Spanish teams (Barcelona, Ciudad Real and Valladolid. EC trophies: CL 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, Cup Winners’ Cup: 2009 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014 Ferenc Ilyés left back Transylvania-born Ilyés has been one of the most influential Hungarian players at both club and international level. One of the many who played both for Szeged and Veszprém the defensive specialist can also be an impact player at left back as shown by his marvellous performance in the 2014 EHF Cup Finals. Ilyés had been a great talisman for his team as won three international trophies with three different clubs EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2008, EHF Cup: 2010, 2014 Szabolcs Zubai line player The 1,93 m tall line player is one of the most technically gifted in his position in Hungary, had Zubai been a little more robust he would be a top drawer player. Coming from the famous Dunaferr school the 30-year-old U2 fan signed a contract with Pick Szeged in 2008 and has been the focal point of both the team’s attacks and defence. Well over his 100th cap and a decade in the grinder of opponents’ walls Zubai finally managed to get a grip on a trophy, which came in 2014. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 Roberto García Parrondo right wing It came as no surprise coach Pastor brought the 34 year old wing with him when he took the Szeged hotseat as the two won an incredible amount of trophies together. Madrid-born Parrondo had played for seven Spanish teams before he decided to bring his talents to international courts. The left handed wingman has great technical skills and the speed of lightning even at 34 and is one of the few players to have literally won all international trophies EHF had to offer – the last being the EHF Cup with his present team, Pick Szeged. EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009, Cup Winners’ Cup 2005, EHF Cup 2013 WCh: G 2005, EURO: B 2011 114 GROUP D Aalborg Handball (DEN) The wind of change is blowing at the North Sea coast in Aalborg: After becoming Danish champions in 2013 and making it to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League season 2013/14, coach Nikolaj Jacobsen said “farvel” to join Rhein Neckar Löwen and succeed Gudmundur Gudmundsson, the new Danish national team coach. Due to their strong performances in Europe last season, high profile clubs were on the hunt for Aalborg talent, leading to the departures of Danish international Mads Mensah Larsen, who joined Jacobsen at Rhein Neckar Löwen, Swedish international Johan Jakobsson (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) and Johan Bagersted (SC Magdeburg). So it is the main job for the new coach Jesper Jensen (Jacobsen’s former international teammate) to integrate the newcomers and himself at the current Danish runners-up, who lost the league final against KIF Kolding Kobenhavn. “Obviously, we have a new team more or less, as some of the greatest stars have left, so we have to build a new basis. I think we have got pretty far already,” said an optimistic Jensen. Playing hall Gigantium Arena Olimpiaparken 2 9220 Aalborg Ost Denmark Capacity: 4,666 Club Address: Aalborg Håndbold A/S Willy Brandts Vej 31 DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark And the coach has every reason to be optimistic, as the names of those new arrivals are well-known in the world of handball: Spanish international Isaias Guardiola arrives from Rhein Neckar Löwen and Icelandic shooter Olafur Guststafsson from Flensburg, while Aalborg continued their tradition of signing Norwegian talents with 20-year-old Sander Sagosen, who already debuted in the men’s team at the EHF EURO 2014 – in Aalborg. 36-year-old Jensen is not only the new coach of the club but also its manager. He insists he’s ready to fulfil both tasks, despite having just two years on the bench at women’s first league team Vejen. “Of course it is a big task for me to be in charge of one of the best teams in Denmark. I will not hesitate to admit that, but I feel well prepared and well equipped for the job. When it comes to the game of handball, I feel completely at home. When it comes to management, though, I will inevitably meet some challenges in some areas, but I feel quite calm and confident about that, and hopefully I can learn the things I do not know yet in a hurry,” he said. The goals of Aalborg Håndbold are set high for this season - making it at least to the semi-finals of the domestic league and progressing to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League again. In Group D, the Danes will face Kielce, Dunkerque, Schaffhausen, Szeged and Zaporozhye. A tricky group made tougher by pre-season injuries to Marcus Mørk, who will not be able to play until 2015, and Martin Larsen, who should return in October or November. Media contact: Poul Madsbjerg +4520804976 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.aalborghaandbold.dk Facebook: aalborghaandbold Kit colours Light Player shirt: Lime Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Blue Dark Player shirt: Red Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Black Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Danish runners-up Past achievements Newcomers: Søren Westphal (KIF Kolding København) Isaías Guardiola (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Olafur Gustafsson (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) Sander Sagosen (Haslum HK) VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 3 Last 16 (1): 2013/14 Group Phase (1): 2010/11 Left the club: Mads Mensah Larsen (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Johan Jakobsson (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) Richard Kappelin (Selestat) Jacob Bagersted (Magdeburg) Other Danish league: 2010, 2013 Danish cup: - (2012 Supercup winner) 115 Aalborg Handball (DEN) Biggest win: 37:23 (17:07) v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE (h), 24.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 31:20 (16:11) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), 29.03.2014 Longest winning run: 3 matches (16.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (16.10.2013 – 24.11.2013) Longest losing run: 6 matches (01.12.2013 – 29.03.2014) Longest run without win: 6 matches (01.12.2013 – 29.03.2014) Most goals: 37 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 37:23 (h), 24.11.2013 Most goals opponent: 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 Most goals both teams: 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:29L (a), 23.09.2010 68 v Cuatro Rayas BM Valladolid ESP (h) 32:36L (h), 21.11.2010 68 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 30:38L (h), 20.02.2011 Fewest goals: 20 v HSV Hamburg GER 28:20L (a), 23.02.2014 20 v FC Barcelona ESP 31:20L (a), 29.03.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 23 v HK DROTT Halmstad SWE 37:23 (h), 24.11.2013 Fewest goals both teams:48 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 25:23L (a), 05.02.2014 48 v HSV Hamburg GER 28:20L (a), 23.02.2014 VELUX EHF Champions League record Reached MP W T L GF GA GD PTS 2010/11 AaB Handball DEN 10 2 2 6 311:339 -28 6 6th Gr. C 2013/14 Aalborg Handball DEN 12 4 0 8 317:325 -8 8 Last 16 Total 22 6 2 14 628:664 -36 14 116 Stage Aalborg Handball (DEN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 26 29 23 16 28 6 22 25 27 11 21 12 7 18 30 2 5 6 10 12 Niclas Andreas Emil Juul-Lassen Ole Joshua Krohn Isaias Olafur Christian Magnus Simon Hald Stig Bugge Marcus Molbjerg Martin Marcus Mathias Mark Nicolai Nygaard Sander Morten Andreas Havard Soren Barud Berggren Engelbrecht Erevik Grace Guardiola Villaplana Gustafsson Jensen Jensen Jensen Jensen Jorgensen Larsen Mork Kristiansen Pedersen Pedersen Sagosen Slundt Tvedten Westphal SWE SWE DEN NOR DEN ESP ISL DEN DEN DEN DEN DEN DEN DEN DEN DEN NOR DEN NOR DEN Line Player Left Back Left Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Right Back Left Back Right Wing Line Player Line Player Right Wing Goalkeeper Right Back Left Back Centre Back Left Back Centre Back Centre Back Left Wing Goalkeeper 22.3.1988 3.8.1986 31.3.1993 9.1.1981 31.1.1996 1.10.1984 27.3.1989 15.11.1995 12.7.1996 28.9.1994 9.9.1992 20.5.1996 19.9.1992 20.10.1987 30.7.1997 15.2.1994 14.9.1995 26.5.1984 29.6.1978 8.7.1986 117 196 195 197 196 190 200 196 186 195 203 186 190 196 190 187 194 195 187 183 200 105 103 93 92 92 103 95 83 95 109 89 83 99 93 95 97 93 89 82 90 Ole Erevik goalkeeper Erevik started his career in his home town of Stavanger, and has played in Spain for Reale Ademar Leon and Bidasoa Irun, in Germany for SC Magdeburg before joining KIF Kolding in 2008. He moved in 2011 to Aalborg, where he won his second Danish league title. The temperamental Norwegian goalkeeper has very fast reactions and great flexibility. He has been the first choice goalkeeper for the Norwegian national eam since Steinar Ege ended his career in 2012. He has played 156 internationals for his country. Jesper Jensen coach His coaching experience may be modest, as he had only year as a coach behind him – and that was a women’s coach – before taking over in Aalborg this summer. However, his handball experience is enormous. From 1999 to 2012 was he an elegant and inventive playmaker in Skjern. The Danish national teams also benefitted from his qualities many times, and now the players in Aalborg benefit from his huge experience as well as from his many ideas and his uncompromising will to win. EHF EURO: G 2008 / WCh: B 2007 Håvard Tvedten left wing Norwegian international Tvedten is in Aalborg for the second time in his career. After playing in Spain with the clubs Logroño, Naturhouse La Rioja and BM Valladolid – he returned to Aalborg in 2011 after five years of absence. Despite having reach the age of 36, Tvedten has not lost much of his speed, and his scoring percentage from the wing as well from the penalty line and on fast breaks is as high as ever. His experience from 208 internationals for Norway also helps a lot, of course. Ólafur Gústaffson left back With his 198 cm and 100 kilo, Gústafsson possesses the physical qualities for being a good back court player in modern handball. If you add a hard and varied right handed shot, you have a player who would be on the wish list of many a coach. Furthermore, Gústafsson carries experience from the German Bundesliga as well as from the VELUX EHF Champions League with him from his stay in SG Flensburg-Handewitt last year. Qualities which has been welcomed in Aalborg, where he has replaced Danish international Mads Mensah Larsen. Sander Sagosen centre back Already a year ago, Norway’s national coach at the time, Robert Hedin predicted that Sagosen (19) could become the world’s best handball player. Ever since has the remarkable playmaker and defence talent done his best to prove Hedin right. Apart from being a great organiser of his team’s attacking and being a fine reader of the game despite his young age, Sagosen also has an extremely dangerous shot. Furthermore, he is just as good in the defence as he is in the attack which is extra rare for so young a player. Niclas Barud line player 196 cm tall and 105 kilo heavy Barud has his greatest skills in the defence, but lately he has also proved his values in the attack, after Jacob Bagersted left for SC Magdeburg and while Barud´s only remaining line player colleague, Simon Hald has been ill during the pre-season. Barud, who has played 30 internationals for Sweden this far, had Champions League experience from two years in succession with Swedish IK Sävehof, when he joined Aalborg in 2012 and made his comeback to the Champions League the following year. Isaias Guardiola right back When Isaias Guardiola left Rhein-Neckar Löwen where his twin brother Gideon still plays, and moved north to Aalborg, it was to replace Swedish international Johan Jakobsson who has left for SG FlensburgHandewitt. At the start of this season, shoulder problems have prevented Guardiola from being just a big threat from the distance as his predecessor, but once the two meter tall left handed back court player who has played six internationals for Spain is fit, Aalborg will have a great asset at both ends of the court. Stig Bugge Jensen right wing Bugge joined Aalborg before the start of last season from fellow Danish league competitors, TMS Ringsted, and is a huge talent – which he proved at the U21 World championship in Bosnia last summer and in the Aalborg team for great parts of last season. He stepped into the shoes of the former Swedish international Jan Lennartsson, who returned home in the summer of 2013. Foot injuries have troubled him from time to time, but at present he seems to be fully fit and in shape, and in that condition he is a great asset to his team. 118 GROUP D HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) With home games over 500 km away from home in Kiev’s Palace of Sport, the situation is far from ideal for Zaporozhye this season. Nevertheless, coach Sergey Bebeshko is pleased to be part of this competition after winning the qualification tournament in Hard (Austria), beating Portuguese champions Porto in the final. “This win was very important for our further development. This season we have no fixtures in the Ukrainian championship. I’m proud of our players. they fought like gladiators,” Bebeshko said after the final. This gives last season’s debutants another chance to leave their mark on the European handball map. In their first VELUX EHF Champions League season the Ukrainian champions made it to the Last 16 after a sensational home win against Veszprem in the final group match. Facing THW Kiel in the Last 16 meant the end of their journey, but Motor gained enormous experience and confidence in going so far, supported by the fact that Motor won all 20 matches of the Ukrainian league to finish on top again. After signing two players from Dinamo Minsk and Motor ZNTU, Bebeshko strengthened his squad and account for departures such as Alexey Kamanin (end of career) and back court shooter Vladislav Ostroushko, who transferred to Hungarian side Csurgoi. Bebeshko can still count on his tall and powerful back court shooters like Onufryienko or Burka, who was the decisive factor at the qualification tournament in Hard. Playing hall Palace of Sports Sportivna Plasha 1 Kiev Ukraine Capacity: 6,897 In the group phase Motor will face Polish champions KS Vive Tauron Kielce, French champions Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral, as well Swiss title holders Kadetten Schaffhausen, plus two runners-up from their national leagues last season: Hungarian side Pick Szeged (current EHF Cup winners) and Denmark’s Aalborg Handball – and just like in their maiden voyage last season, the Ukrainians hope to reach the Last 16 again. Club Address: HC Motor Zaporozhye Ivanova Str. 24 69068 Zaporozhye Ukraine Media contact: Dmitriy Karpushchenko +380 50 5581181 [email protected] Online information: Website: www.handball.motorsich.com Facebook: HC-Motor Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/red Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/black Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red/black Qualification for the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Ukrainian champions, winner of qualification tournament 2 Newcomers: Vladyslav Dontsov Stanislav Zhukov (both HC Motor ZNTU ZAS) Dmytro Doroshchuk Mykola Stetsyura (both HC Dinamo Minsk) Artem Kozakevych (HC Portovik) Left the club: Vitaliy Gorbachov (HC Motor ZNTU ZAS) Yevgeny Gurkovsky (Handball Club Dunarea Calarasi) Alexey Kamanin (no club) Vladislav Ostroushko (HC Csurgoi) Alexander Semikov (no new club) Yuriy Shamrylo (HC Zaglebie Lubin) Mykhaylo Tsap (Handball Club Dunarea) 119 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 2 Last 16: 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12 Ukrainian league: 2 titles (2013, 2014) Ukrainian cup: 1 title HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Biggest win: 18:24 (10:14) v St. Petersburg HC RUS (a), 21.11.2013 Biggest defeat: 44:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), 10.10.2013 Longest winning run: 2 matches (17.11.2013 – 21.11.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (19.09.2013 – 26.09.2013) 2 matches (17.11.2013 – 21.11.2013) Longest losing run: 3 matches (28.11.2013 – 15.02.2014) Longest run without win: 3 matches (28.11.2013 – 15.02.2014) Most goals: 31 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 31:31D (a), 19.09.2013 31 v HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 31:30W (h), 26.09.2013 Most goals opponent: 44 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), 10.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 71 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), 10.10.2013 Fewest goals: 24 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 18 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 Fewest goals both teams:42 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), 21.11.2013 VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 12 4 1 7 333:367 -34 9 Last 16 Total 12 4 1 7 333:367 -34 9 120 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 13 69 32 14 8 1 20 5 18 33 31 23 10 9 22 12 55 24 2 Inal Sergii Vladyslav Dmytro Egor Valentyn Artem Iurii Kostyantyn Sergiy Angel Yevgen Olexandr Oleg Mykola Richard Aliaksandr Ievgen Stanislav Aflitulin Burka Dontsov Doroshchuk Evdokimov Koshovy Kozakevych Kubatko Kurylenko Onufryienko Perez de Inestrosa Sapun Shevelev Skopintsev Stetsyura Stochl Tsitou Zhuk Zhukov RUS UKR UKR UKR RUS UKR UKR UKR UKR UKR ESP UKR UKR RUS UKR SVK BLR UKR UKR Centre Back Left Back Right Back Line Player Line Player Goalkeeper Right Wing Right Wing Left Back Right Back Centre Back Goalkeeper Line Player Left Wing Right Back Goalkeeper Line Player Left Wing Left Back 22.3.1988 9.6.1987 22.9.1995 29.9.1986 9.3.1982 5.2.1981 2.10.1992 28.8.1988 10.7.1980 31.1.1985 31.3.1986 11.6.1985 2.12.1987 15.4.1984 20.7.1986 17.12.1975 28.10.1986 4.8.1990 26.3.1992 82 110 94 115 114 90 68 78 98 95 85 85 115 80 96 108 105 75 94 121 182 208 197 198 204 200 182 184 193 190 185 185 200 184 195 200 190 184 198 Serhiy Bebeshko coach In December 2009 the former Ukrainian international, who was living in Ciudad Real at that time, was asked on the phone to become new coach of Dinamo Minsk. Bebeshko agreed and led Minsk for the first time in Belarusian handball to the CL Last 16 in 2013. After more than 20 years the 1992 Olympic champion returned to native country and accomploshed the same feat with Motor Zaporozhye. The national title was his premiere since he was first champion of independent Ukraine as a player with SKA Kiev in 1992. Richard Štochl goalkeeper Motor’s last moment reinforcement from last season is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in Europe. The eight-time player of the year in Slovakia is only the second foreigner in Ukraine from outside of the former Soviet Union area. Within his over 200 international matches for Slovakia he participated in two World Championships 2009 and 2011 and also three EHF EURO tournaments (2006, 2008, 2012). At club level he won seven championships in five different countries – Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, France and Russia. Oleg Skopintsev left wing One of the Russian internationals in Motor’s squad arrived from Dinamo Minsk in 2013 and without doubt he has become a key player in Zaporozhye. The fast winger is technically skillful and frequently used in the 5:1 defence. Already after a few months in the new team Skopintsev was considered as the main specialist from the seven-metre line. His first playing season for Chekhovskie Medvedi in the CL was unforgettable as he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4. He has been a regular part of the Russian national team. Sergey Burka left back After a four-year absence, the tallest (208 cm) player of the Ukrainian championship is finally back in the CL. He joined Motor just in 2012 from the city rivals of ZTR. He collected four national titles with his former club ZTR and added one with Motor last year. Burka, together with his current teammates Onufryienko, Shevelev and Ostroushko, has been among players of the national team of Ukraine at their last major tournament - EHF EURO 2010. Since then he has been a regular fixture in the Ukrainian selection. Inal Aflitulin centre back This talented Russian playmaker is bound to be considered as one of the strongest players in Ukraine soon. Quick on his feet and with a strong shot, he is always fighting to the very last second of the match. Astrakhanborn started playing in the youth team of Chekhovskie Medvedi and in 2011 he joined the Motor team. The twice Ukrainian champion made successful debut in the CL previous season and deserved himself the invitation to national team for the EHF EURO 2014. Alexandr Shevelev line player There are not too many Ukrainians who played in the European leagues recently. But Motor’s pivot, who arrived from Dinamo Minsk (BLR), has already played in the Danish club Aalborg and for the former Spanish club Ciudad Real scored his first goals in the CL in 2011. But his premiere appearance in the CL was in the 2006/07 season with Ukrainian club Portovik. Besides he played in Russia for Astrakhan side Zarya Kaspia. With great experience and physical strength Shevelev became a crucial figure in the center of defence and attack. Artem Kozakevich right wing Motor’s long hunt for one of the most talented players in Ukraine was successfully completed this summer after the best winger of the last season of the Ukrainian championship from Portovik Yuzhniy signed. His dream to score first goals in the CL is closer also courtesy of his excellent performance in the qualification tournament. With his partner Yuriy Kubatko he shares his time on court at right wing and despite being just a few months in the new team he is considered as one of the main specialists for penalties. Sergey Onufryienko right back Previous CL experience of the Ukrainian national team right back dates back to his stints with ZTR Zaporozhye and HC Dinamo Minsk. The left-hander remains one of the top-scorers in the CL among Ukrainians. He won five national championships with ZTR and another four plus two domestic cups with Belarusian Dinamo alongside current Motor’s coach Sergey Bebeshko, with whom he transferred to the new club over the 2013 summer. On the national team level he was part of the EHF EURO 2010. 122 EHF Champions League Past Winners 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) 123 History: 21 years of EHF Champions League 1993 – 2004 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.” 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 round-robin 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. 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. 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 the lifted the EHF Champions League but also the national championship trophy with Irun. 2000/01 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 allSpanish 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. 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. 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. 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. 2003/04 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. 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 124 History: 21 years of EHF Champions League 2004 – 2014 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 extra-time 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) 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. 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 penalty-shoot-out thriller and made the Cinderrella story perfect by beating their neighbours from Kiel 30:28 in the final. 2009/10 Final: FC Barcelona Borges vs HW Kiel 34:36 In the 2009/10 season the number of participating teams in the first 125 EHF Champions League Season’s Top Scorers Season Player Club 1993/94 Uroš Šerbec Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO Goals 76 1994/95 Nenad Peruničić Bidasoa Irun/ESP 82 1995/96 Carlos Resende ABC Braga/POR 80 1996/97 Carlos Resende ABC Braga/POR 82 1997/98 József Éles MKB Veszprém KC/HUN 84 1998/99 Zlatko Saračević RK Zagreb/CRO 90 1999/00 Zlatko Saračević RK Zagreb/CRO 92 2000/01 Yuriy Kostetskiy ABC Braga/POR 81 2001/02 Nenad Peruničić SC Magdeburg 122 2002/03 Mirza Džomba FOTEX KC Veszprém/HUN 67 2003/04 Siarhei Rutenka Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO 103 2004/05 Siarhei Rutenka Celje Pivovarna Laško/SLO 85 2005/06 Kiril Lazarov MKB Veszprém/HUN 85 2006/07 Nikola Karabatic THW Kiel/GER 89 2007/08 Kiril Lazarov MKB Veszprém/HUN 96 Ólafur Stefánsson BM Ciudad Real/ESP 96 2008/09 Filip Jícha THW Kiel/GER 99 2009/10 Filip Jícha THW Kiel/GER 119 2010/11 Uwe Gensheimer Rhein-Neckar Löwen/GER 118 2011/12 Mikkel Hansen AG København/DEN 98 2012/13 Hans Lindberg HSV Hamburg/GER 101 2013/14 Momir Ilic MKB-MVM Veszprem/HUN 103 126 Top Scorers 2013/14 1 Ilic Momir (SRB) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 2 Vugrinec Renato (MKD) HC Metalurg (MKD) 95 3 Vujin Marko (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 85 4 Lazarov Kiril (MKD) FC Barcelona (ESP) 80 5 Marguc Gasper (SLO) Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) 79 6 Eggert Magnussen Anders (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 78 7 Gensheimer Uwe (GER) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 77 8 Rutenka Siarhei (BLR) FC Barcelona (ESP) 73 9 Dibirov Timur (RUS) HC Vardar - Skopje (MKD) 72 Karabatic Nikola (FRA) FC Barcelona (ESP) 72 Skube Stas (SLO) RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 72 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 71 THW Kiel (GER) 71 12 Glandorf Holger (GER) Jicha Filip (CZE) 14 Karacic Igor (CRO) 103 HC Vardar - Skopje (MKD) 69 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 69 16 Sulic Renato (CRO) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 68 17 Persson Magnus (SWE) HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) 67 Nenadic Petar (SRB) 18 Rocas Comas Albert (ESP) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) 64 19 Tomas Gonzalez Victor (ESP) FC Barcelona (ESP) 61 20 Onufryienko Sergiy (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 60 127 Men’s EHF Champions League 1993-2014 All-time club standings # TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA 1 1 FC Barcelona ESP 212 156 15 41 2 2 THW Kiel GER 204 146 13 3 3 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 186 123 7 4 4 BM Atletico Madrid ESP 144 111 5 5 HC Zagreb CRO 194 6 6 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 164 7 7 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 8 8 9 9 10 GD P NP % G 6526:5422 1104 327:97 (17) 77,12 B 45 6371:5488 883 305:103 (17) 74,75 A 56 5364:4808 556 253:119 (18) 68,01 C 5 28 4502:3803 699 227:61 (10) 78,82 96 22 76 5170:4988 182 214:174 (20) 55,15 A 95 9 60 4705:4378 327 199:129 (16) 60,67 C 142 85 8 49 4097:3825 272 178:106 (14) 62,68 C SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER 118 76 9 33 3592:3259 333 161:75 (9) 68,22 B HSV Hamburg GER 98 68 9 21 3088:2670 418 145:51 (7) 73,98 10 Portland San Antonio ESP 100 64 6 30 2929:2594 335 134:66 (9) 67,00 11 11 Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 116 59 14 43 3575:3375 200 132:100 (12) 56,90 12 12 Reale Ademar Leon ESP 100 50 6 44 2875:2817 58 106:94 (10) 53,00 13 13 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 92 45 7 40 2650:2616 34 97:87 (10) 52,72 B 14 14 Pick Szeged HUN 104 42 8 54 2826:2881 -55 92:116 (11) 44,23 D 15 15 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 74 38 6 30 2129:2074 55 82:66 (7) 55,41 D 16 16 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 58 34 10 14 1805:1634 171 78:38 (4) 67,24 C 17 17 Chambery Savoie Handball FRA 74 29 3 42 2028:2133 -105 61:87 (8) 41,22 18 18 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 62 26 1 35 1779:1775 4 53:71 (6) 42,74 19 19 HC Metalurg MKD 52 24 4 24 1316:1339 -23 52:52 (5) 50,00 20 20 SC Magdeburg GER 40 24 3 13 1166:1077 89 51:29 (4) 63,75 21 26 Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 52 17 4 31 1519:1575 -56 38:66 (6) 36,54 D 22 29 HC Vardar MKD 54 13 8 33 1375:1584 –209 34:74 (7) 31,48 C 23 32 Orlen Wisla Plock POL 54 15 1 38 1400:1585 –185 31:77 (7) 28,70 B 24 36 PSG Handball FRA 28 12 2 14 772:792 –20 26:30 (3) 46,43 A 25 48 Aalborg Handball DEN 22 6 2 14 628:664 -36 14:30 (2) 31,82 D 26 58 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR 12 4 1 7 333:367 -34 9:15 (1) 37,50 D 27 61 Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 10 3 2 5 292:320 -28 8:12 (1) 40,00 A 28 77 HC Meshkov Brest BLR 24 3 0 21 608:738 -130 6:42 (4) 12,50 A 29 91 Alingsas HK SWE 10 2 0 8 251:302 -51 4:16 (1) 20,00 B 30 94 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 10 1 1 8 237:268 -31 3:17 (1) 15,00 D Besiktas JK TUR 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 B ^ = Excluding Qualifying matches The club name is the last used name in VELUX EHF Champions League competition TR – total ranking MP – matches played W – wins D – draws L – losses GF:GA – goals for:goals against P – points NP – number of participations % = winning percentage All stats in this guide are provided by Roy Knoppert G - group 128 C A 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase Media Guide by EHF Media & Communications, 24/09/2014 Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Bence Martha, Zoran Milosavljevic, Kevin Domas, Magda Pluszewska, Bruno Pinevic, Sergey Nikolaev, Francisco Miranda, Igor Grachev, Amina Idrizi, Nejc Adnik, Eren Cetin, Roy Knoppert 129 For further information please contact: Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media & Communications +43 1 80151 161 [email protected] Twitter: @ehfmedia European Handball Federation Hoffingergasse 18 1120 Vienna Austria EHF Marketing GmbH Hoffingergasse 18 1120 Vienna Austria Tel +43 1 80151 0 Tel +43 1 80151 200