European Handball Federation - 2020 - Table of contentscms.eurohandball.com/PortalData/1/Resources/2_cl/03...Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation +43

3

Media contacts 4

Map of clubs 2013/14 5

Playing system diagram - stages and dates 6

Facts & figures of the Group Phase 7

Draw preview 9

MKB Veszprem KC 11

THW Kiel 12

FC Barcelona 13

HSV Hamburg 14

Rhein Neckar Löwen 16

KIF Kolding København 17

PSG Handball 18

SG Flensburg-Handewitt 19

Celje Pivovarna Laško 21

KS Vive Targi Kielce 22

HC Metalurg 23

RK Gorenje Velenje 24

HC Motor Zaporozhye 26

Orlen Wisła Płock 27

HC Vardar PRO Skopje 28

Aalborg Handball 29

Head-to-heads 30

VELUX EHF FINAL4 34

Current top scorers 36

Past winners 37

Table of contents

4

EHF/M Media contacts

Clubs – Media contacts

Media matters

Vlado BrindzakMedia and Communications European Handball Federation+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

TV and Radio

Akos MoczanMedia ManagerEHF Marketing GmbH+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

POT 1

MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN)Zsolt Sevinger+36 [email protected]

THW Kiel (GER)Christian Robohm +49 [email protected]

FC Barcelona (ESP)Gustau Galvache+34 [email protected]

HSV Hamburg (GER)Oliver Junggeburth+49 40 [email protected]

POT 2

Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)Ute Krebs+49 126 2500 [email protected]

PSG Handball (FRA)Joachim Azouze+33 (0)7 85 57 04 [email protected]

KIF Kolding København (DEN)Thomas Christensen+45 22 [email protected]

SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)Sandra von Wallis+49 [email protected]

POT 3

HC Metalurg (MKD)Zoran Cvetanovski+389 [email protected]

Vive Targi Kielce (POL)Sebastian Kozubek+48 [email protected]

Gorenje Velenje (SLO)Tanija Rednak+386 [email protected]

RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)Nejc Ajdnik+386 [email protected]

POT 4

Aalborg Handball (DEN)Poul [email protected]

Orlen Wisła Płock (POL)Piotr RaczkowskiTel: [email protected]

RK Vardar PRO – Skopje (MKD)Marko Savovski+389 75 200 [email protected]

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)Dmitriy Karpushchenko+380 50 [email protected]

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7

Facts & figures of the Group PhaseBarcelona, Hamburg, Persson and KIF top the rankings

16 of the 24 teams have survived the group phase and made it into the four pots of the draw for the VELUX EHF Champions League Last16. We delved into the stats to find out who and which team scored the highest number of goals, how many nations are still represented and which was the group match with the highest attendance, as well as many other interesting facts and figures.

0 teams had a perfect record of ten victories in the group phase – unlike Kielce in the previous season. Barcelona and Veszprém were unbeaten until their final matches, but lost in Kharkov and Skopje.

0 teams finished the group phase with 0 zero points, but unlike last season, when each of the 24 teams at least had one victory on their accounts, St. Petersburg, Thun and Halmstad ended up with just one point each.

1 match ended with less than 40 goals: Dunkerque vs. KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn (18:20)

1 – for the first time ever since the implementation of the recent playing system in the 2009/10 season a team from Ukraine made it to the Last 16: Motor Zaporozhye.

2 teams are debutants in the knock-out stage of the EHF Champions League: Aalborg and Zaporozhye.

3 matches were attended by 10,000 or more spectators.

3 nations are represented by the four group winners: Germany (Kiel and Hamburg), Hungary (Veszprém) and Spain (Barcelona).

4 teams (all) who were part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2013 are still in the race for the tournament in Cologne on 31 May/1 June: Barcelona, Hamburg, Kielce and Kiel.

4 teams arriving from qualification have made it to the knock-out stage: Zaporozhye, the only winner of a qualification tournament to clinch their berth, and the three winners of the wild-card play-offs: Hamburg, Metalurg and Plock.

6 matches ended with 70 or more goals scored.

6 times Barcelona won their matches by a difference of ten or more goals.

8 matches ended with one-goal victories.

8 matches ended with 45 or less goals scored.

8 pairings will follow in the Last 16; the teams ranked first and second have the home right in the second leg. And none of them will be a pairing of two teams from the same nation due to the final rankings of the group phase.

8 straight victories was the brilliant run of form by FC Barcelona from Rounds 2 to 9, before they were defeated by Metalurg on Sunday.

9 nations are represented by those 16 remaining teams: Germany (4 teams), Slovenia (2), Denmark (2), Poland (2), FYR Macedonia (2), Hungary, Ukraine, Spain, France (each 1). In the previous season it had been the same number. In contrast to 2012/13, Russia and Belarus are out, France and Ukraine are in.

9 teams, who were part of the Last 16 in the 2012/13 season return to the knock-out stage: Barcelona, Veszprém, Kielce, Celje, Hamburg, Kiel, Metalurg, Velenje and Flensburg.

11 of 120 group phase matches ended in a draw.

18 points, reached by defending champions Hamburg, was the highest number in the group phase.

19 goals were the biggest difference in a single match, when Barcelona beat Wacker Thun 45:26.

23 matches ended with a difference of ten or more goals.

35 goals were the overall biggest aggregate goal difference in the two matches of Barcelona vs Wacker Thun (39:23 and 45:26).

41 away victories occurred in the group phase.

42 matches ended with 60 or more goals scored.

67 times Magnus Persson (DROTT Halmstad/SWE) found the net to become top scorer of the group phase, but he and his club bow out of the competition at this stage.

68 times the home team left the court victorious.

73 goals were scored in the match HSV Hamburg vs Gorenje Velenje (41:32) – the group phase match with the highest number of goals.

+ 92 was the best goal difference of all teams, reached by FC Barcelona.

120 matches were played in the group phase. 16 more will follow in the Last 16, followed by eight matches in the quarter-finals and four at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

137 goals were scored in both encounters of Hamburg vs Velenje (41:32 and 36:29 for HSV).

240 conceded goals was the lowest number of all teams, KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn had the best defence.

348 goals were scored by FC Barcelona was the best attacking return of all 24 teams.

7,200 minutes of handball was played in the group phase.

15,320 spectators attended the match Dinamo Minsk vs. FC Barcelona – the highest attendance of all the group matches.

8

Facts & figures of the Group PhaseThe ‘top three’ lists

Best attack348 goals – FC Barcelona330 goals – HSV Hamburg315 goals – PSG Handball

Best defence240 goals – KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn243 goals – MKB-MVM Veszprém252 goals – Rhein Neckar Löwen

Best goal difference+92 goals – FC Barcelona+64 goals – HSV Hamburg+60 goals – MKB-MVM Veszprém

Top scorers67 goals – Magnus Persson (DROTT Halmstad)65 goals – Gasper Marguc (RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko)62 goals – Momir Ilic (MKB-MVM Veszprém)62 goals – Renato Vugrinec (Metalurg Skopje)

Matches with the highest number of goals73 goals - HSV Hamburg vs. Gorenje Velenje (41:32)72 goals - DROTT Halmstad vs. Gorenje Velenje (32:40)72 goals - Naturhouse La Rioja vs. DROTT Halmstad (38:34)71 goals - MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. Motor Zaporozhye (44:27)71 goals - FC Barcelona vs. Wacker Thun (45:26)

Matches with the lowest number of goals38 goals - Dunkerque vs. KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn (18:20)43 goals - FC Porto vs. Dunkerque (22:21)44 goals - FC Porto – Orlen Wisla Plock (20:24)44 goals - Vardar Skopje vs. Metalurg Skopje (18:26)

Biggest goal difference in a single match19 goals - FC Barcelona vs. Wacker Thun (45:26)18 goals - FC Barcelona vs. HC Metalurg (35:17)17 goals - MKB-MVM Veszprém vs. Motor Zaporozhye (44:27)

Spectators15,320 - Dinamo Minsk vs. FC Barcelona11,000 - RK Zagreb vs. MKB-MVM Veszprém10,200 - THW Kiel vs. Vive Targi Kielce

9

Draw PreviewAll pots for Last 16 draw confirmed

Only the last match day of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase determined the seeding of all teams qualified for the Last 16 stage.

The draw of the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 will take place on Tuesday, 25 February, at 12:00 hrs local time at the EHF Office in Vienna and it will be live streamed on ehfTV.com with commentary from Tom O Brannagain.

While three participants of the last VELUX EHF FINAL4 - defending champions HSV Hamburg, runners-up FC Barcelona and THW Kiel will be seeded in the Pot 1 together with MKB-MVM Veszprem, the third team of the previous season Vive Targi Kielce will enter the draw from the Pot 3.

A fourth ranked team of the group phase will play the first match at home against a first ranked team except against the winner of its own group of the Group Phase.

A third ranked team of the Group Phase will play the first match at home against the second ranked team except against the second ranked team of its own group of the Group Phase.

The first leg is scheduled for 19-23 March, the second leg will be played 26-30 March. The winning teams of the Last 16 qualify for the quarter-finals.

Overview of pots for the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 draw:

Pot 1MKB Veszprém KC (HUN)THW Kiel (GER)FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP)HSV Hamburg (GER)

Pot 2Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)PSG Handball (FRA)SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

Additional informationOn ehfTV.com there will be live streaming of the draw followed by interviews and reactions from the various team representatives, a live ticker of the draw will go live on Tuesday morning on eurohandball.com and the event will also be extensively covered on the official Twitter channel of the VELUX EHF Champions League @ehfcl.

Pot 3Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)Vive Targi Kielce (POL)HC Metalurg (MKD)RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)

Pot 4HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)HC Vardar – Skopje (MKD)Aalborg Handball (DEN)

11

MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)Momir Ilic, who arrived from German national champions THW Kiel at the beginning of the season, promised that MKB-MVM Veszprem would take Europe and in that respect the VELUX EHF Champions League by storm. And the Hungarian side gave everything they had to fulfill the Serbian left back’s promises at the start of the competition.

With six consecutive wins in the first six matches of the group phase they became the first team to qualify for the Last 16, eventually also securing the top spot in Group A mid-February following 34:27 victory against Zagreb in Round 9.

Early in 2014 Veszprem furthermore strengthened their squad with Hungarian international Tamas Mocsai, who returned from German side TSV Hannover Burgdorf to his native country to cover for the injured Laszlo Nagy. However, even the inspirational Nagy is expected to fully return, having recovered from a knee and shin injury as he already enjoyed appearances in the Veszprem team in February after he had missed the EHF EURO 2014 in January.

Club Address:MKB-MVM VeszprémMarcius 15. ut 58200 VeszprémHungary

Media contact:Zsolt Sevinger+36 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.mkbveszprem.euFacebook: mkbveszpremTwitter: @mkbveszpremkc

Playing hallVeszprém ArenaKülso Kadartai ut8200 VeszprémHungaryCapacity: 5,020

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: grey

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 19Final (1): 2001/02Semi-final (2): 2002/03, 2005/06Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13Last 16 (2): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2007/08, Runners-up 1996/97Hungarian league: 21 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Hungarian Cup winner: 22 times

GROUP A Final Table: 1. MKB-MVM Veszprém 10 8 1 1 303:243 (60) 17 2. Rhein-Neckar Löwen 10 7 2 1 305:252 (53) 16 3. Celje Pivovarna Lasko 10 4 1 5 269:272 (-3) 9 4. HC Motor Zaporozhye 10 4 1 5 277:296 (-19) 9 5. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 10 4 0 6 267:282 (-15) 8 6. St. Petersburg HC 10 0 1 9 216:292 (-76) 1

POT 1

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ St. Petersburg HC W28:15 (12:7)vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W30:29 (17:14)vs HC Motor Zaporozhye W44:27 (20:13)@ HC Croatia O. Zagreb W33:22 (15:8)@ Celje Pivovarna Lasko W31:26 (15:14)vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko W27:26 (13:10)vs St. Petersburg HC W29:20 (13:7)@ Rhein-Neckar Löwen D25:25 (13:12)vs HC Croatia O. Zagreb W34:27 (19:11)@ HC Motor Zaporozhye L26:22 (13:13)

Top scorers:1. Momir Ilic (SRB) 622. Renato Sulic (CRO) 403. Iman Jamali Moorchegani (IRI) 274. Peter Gulyas (HUN) 26 Laszlo Nagy (HUN) 26

12

THW Kiel (GER)There have might been voices out there among the handball experts that uttered concern about THW Kiel’s ability to play yet another dominant season, after the German side had to cope with the departure of French internationals Thierry Omeyer and Daniel Narcisse, Swede Markus Ahlm and Serb Momir Ilic. However, the German national champions proved their critics wrong, not only in the VELUX EHF Champions League, where they topped Group B at the end of the group phase with eight wins from 10 matches, but also in the domestic league in which they equally rank first after two thirds of the season have been played.

Head coach Alfred Gislason has once more forged a strong team that is ready to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne for the third consecutive time. “To reach the FINAL4 is always one of our main goals. We are a top club in Europe, so we should aim high all the time,” says goalkeeper Johan Sjöstrand, one of the players started playing for THW Kiel at the beginning of this season.

Club Address:THW KielZiegelteich 3024103 KielGermany

Media contact:Christian Robohm +49 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.thw-provinzial.deFacebook:thwhandballTwitter: @thw_handball

Playing hallSparkassen-Arena-KielEuropaplatz 1, 24103 KielGermanyCapacity: 10,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: green

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: red

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 17Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12Runners-up (3): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09Semi-final (3): 1996/1997, 2000/01, 2012/13Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96

OtherEHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04German league: 18 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)German Cup winners: 9 times

POT 1

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ Orlen Wisla Plock W34:33 (14:14)vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W29:26 (12:14)@ FC Porto Vitalis W31:27 (16:17)@ KS Vive Targi Kielce L29:34 (11:17)@ Dunkerque HB Littoral W29:21 (19:13)vs Dunkerque HB Littoral W28:25 (15:12)vs Orlen Wisla Plock W34:25 (16:11)@ KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W26:24 (13:13)vs KS Vive Targi Kielce D28:28 (13:16)vs FC Porto Vitalis W30:25 (17:11)

Top scorers:1. Marko Vujin (SRB) 562. Filip Jicha (CZE) 493. Niclas Ekberg(SWE) 304. Gudjon Sigurdsson (ISL) 275. Rene Toft Hansen (DEN) 25

GROUP B Final Table: 1. THW Kiel 10 8 1 1 298:268 -30 17 2. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 10 7 0 3 249:240 -9 14 3. KS Vive Targi Kielce 10 6 1 3 307:276 -31 13 4. Orlen Wisla Plock 10 4 0 6 275:277 (-2) 8 5. FC Porto Vitalis 10 2 1 7 241:278 (-37) 5 6. Dunkerque HB G.L. 10 1 1 8 237:268 (-31) 3

13

FC Barcelona (ESP)No team in the group phase managed to avoid a defeat at least once. Even FC Barcelona, a team that boasts stars like Arpad Sterbik, Siarhei Rutenka, Kiril Lazarov and Nikola Karabatic did not. Their group phase was like a burger - eight victories covered on both ends by two stumbles in Skopje. In the first round Xavi Pascual and his team only tied RK Vardar, while in the last round they were defeated by Metalurg.

In the Spanish Asobal they have won all their matches so far. The sheer dominance is one of the reasons that makes the EHF Champions League record winners of the red-hot favourite to win their eighth title come the end of May and the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. However, if Barcelona want go all the way the Last 16 and the quarter-finals are still hurdles to clear and there are many teams out there that will truly love to be the Spanish side’s stumbling stone.

One very recent damper to Barcelona’s campaign has been an injury to their goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik who is expected to be sidelined at least until the FINAL4. However, the club was quick in signing Mickael Robin from Montpellier HB as replacement.

Club Address:FC Barcelona IntersportAvda. Aristides Maillol, s/n08028 BarcelonaSpain

Media contact:Gustau Galvache+34 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.fcbarcelona.catFacebook: FCBHandbolTwitter: @FCBHandbol

Playing hallPalau BlaugranaAv. Aristides Maillol, s/n08028 BarcelonaSpainCapacity: 7,250

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: red and yellowPlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: green/grey

DarkPlayer shirt: blue and redPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: black/dark red

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 17Winner (7): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13Semi-final (1): 2007/08Quarter-final (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12Last 16 (1): 2003/04Main Round (1): 2008/09

OtherEHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95

Spanish league: 20 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013)Spanish Cup winner: 17 timesAsobal Cup winner: 8 times

POT 1

GROUP C Final Table: 1. FC Barcelona 10 8 1 1 348:256 (92) 17 2. PSG Handball 10 6 1 3 315:288 (27) 13 3. HC Metalurg 10 5 2 3 256:265 (-9) 12 4. HC Vardar - Skopje 10 4 2 4 269:263 (6) 10 5. HC Dinamo Minsk 10 3 1 6 266:295 (-29) 7 6. Wacker Thun 10 0 1 9 242:329 (-87) 1

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ HC Vardar - Skopje D29:29 (15:19)vs Wacker Thun W45:26 (21:14)vs HC Metalurg W35:17 (17:5)@ PSG Handball W33:29 (17:17)@ HC Dinamo Minsk W35:25 (16:15)vs HC Dinamo Minsk W35:25 (13:9)vs HC Vardar - Skopje W30:23 (14:11)@ Wacker Thun W39:23 (17:13)vs PSG Handball W38:28 (19:9)@ HC Metalurg L29:31 (11:15)

Top scorers:1. Kiril Lazarov (MKD) 512. Nikola Karabatic (FRA) 47 Siarhei Rutenka (BLR) 474. Victor Tomas (ESP) 445. Jesper Nöddesbo (DEN) 32

14

HSV Hamburg (GER)Despite losing one of their most influential characters on the court, Igor Vori, to PSG during the summer, there was still huge expectation on the shoulders of HSV Hamburg going into the group phase as defending champions.

The northern German seemed to be dealing with the expectation with ease, as they made light work of all five group phase opponents, before eventually dropping points against local rivals Flensburg in their return fixture.

That loss proved to be the only dip in form as they cantered to victory in their last four games by at least seven goals. The build-up to the final game against Aalborg was dominated by the news of the club director’s departure and financial difficulties, but HSV were unaffected on the court, taking the two points and ending the group phase with the best overall record of 18 points and the second highest scoring return of 330 goals.

Club Address:HSV HamburgHellgrundweg 5022525 HamburgGermany

Media contact:Oliver JunggeburthTel: +49 40 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.hsvhandball.comFacebook: HSVHandballTwitter: @hsvhandball_tv

Playing hallSporthalle HamburgKrochmannstrasse 5522297 HamburgGermanyCapacity: 4,200

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: green/yellow/red

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: green/yellow/red

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/2014 season): 7Winners (1): 2012/2013Semi-final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2010/2011Quarter-final (1): 2009/2010Last 16 (1): 2011/2012

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2006/2007

German champion: 1 title (2011)German Cup winner: twiceGerman Super-Cup winner: four times

POT 1

GROUP D Final Table: 1. HSV Hamburg 10 9 0 1 330:266 (64) 18 2. SG Flensburg-Handewitt 10 8 1 1 314:272 (42) 17 3. RK Gorenje Velenje 10 4 0 6 307:320 (-13) 8 4. Aalborg Handball 10 4 0 6 275:265 (10) 8 5. Naturhouse La Rioja 10 3 2 5 292:320 (-28) 8 6. HK DROTT Halmstad 10 0 1 9 289:364 (-75) 1

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ Naturhouse La Rioja W33:24 (14:8)vs RK Gorenje Velenje W41:32 (21:13)@ Aalborg Handball W28:26 (14:14)vs HK DROTT Halmstad W39:30 (18:14)vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W32:27 (15:14)@ SG Flensburg-Handewitt L24:27 (13:11)vs Naturhouse La Rioja W34:27 (17:12)@ RK Gorenje Velenje W36:29 (19:13)@ HK DROTT Halmstad W35:24 (14:12)vs Aalborg Handball W28:20 (12:9)

Top scorers:1. Stefan Schröder (GER) 422. Domagoj Duvnjak (CRO) 35 Kentin Mahe (FRA) 354. Petar Djordjic (SRB) 28 Zarko Markovic (MNE) 28

16

Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)After a two-year absence the ‘Lions’, aka German side and EHF Cup champions Rhein-Neckar Löwen, returned in style to the VELUX EHF Champions League. Following a bit of a false start that only saw them taking a draw in their first match against Ukrainian side Motor Zaporozhye, they pushed themselves into gear and secured the spot in the Last 16 already at the end of November after a 32:26 victory in the return leg against Zaporozhye.

They eventually finished the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League ranked second in Group A with seven wins, two draws and one loss.

Back in October there had been a lot of transfer talk about their inspirational left wing, Uwe Gensheimer, but the 27-year-old eventually extended his contract with the German side until 2016, true to the motto ‘once a lion, always a lion’. His current coach however, Icelandic Gudmundur Gudmundsson, won’t be sitting on the Löwen’s bench next season as he accepted the offer to succeed Ulrik Wilbek at the helm of the Danish national team from July 2014 onwards.

Club Address:Rhein-Neckar LöwenMollstraße 49a68165 MannheimGermany

Media contact:Ute Krebs+49 126 2500 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rhein-neckar-loewen.deFacebook: rnloewenTwitter: @RNLoewen

Playing hallSAP ArenaXaver-Fuhr-Str. 15068219 MannheimGermanyCapacity: 12,900

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: yellowGoalkeeper shirt: white/red

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue/green

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 5Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11Quarter-final (1): 2009/10Qualification (1): 2011/12

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2007/08EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07

German league: noneGerman Cup winner: none

POT 2

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs HC Motor Zaporozhye D31:31 (15:13)@ MKB-MVM Veszprém KC L29:30 (14:17)@ Celje Pivovarna Lasko W28:25 (13:7)vs St. Petersburg HC W31:17 (14:8)vs HC Croatia Osiguranje W34:26 (21:11)@ HC Croatia Osiguranje W28:24 (13:12)@ HC Motor Zaporozhye W32:26 (10:15)vs MKB-MVM Veszprém D25:25 (12:13)@ St. Petersburg HC W32:23 (18:10)vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko W35:25 (19:12)

Top scorers:1. Uwe Gensheimer (GER) 552. Bjarte Hakon Myrhol (NOR) 323. Patrick Groetzki (GER) 294. Sergei Gorbok (RUS) 275. Andre Schmid (SUI) 26


17

KIF Kolding København (DEN)The new Danish juggernaut upgraded the level of a European competition they play switching from the EHF Cup to the VELUX EHF Champions League, but they were unable to stop the string of many injuries hitting the team. Even without players like Kim Andersson or Boris Schnuchel, KIF had a very successful start to the season.

In the first six rounds they only failed to earn points in a game at Kiel, where the three-time champions turned the tide in the second half. Kolding Kobenhavn also snapped the longest active winning streak in the European top flight as they beat Kielce who won 14 group phase games in a row beforehand. The Danish side went on to defeat the third team of the last season again in Poland, but unexpectedly lost at Porto in the Round 7.

Three coaches have led the team so far this season. Henrik Kronborg was sidelined due to a surgery of a double slipped disc in his back and after a spell in which his assistant Bilal Suman took over his duties the club signed the coach of the Icelandic national team Aron Kristjansson just before the Round 9.

Club Address:KIF Kolding KøbenhavnAmbolten 2-66000 KoldingDenmark

Media contact:Thomas Christensen+45 22 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.kif.dkFacebook: KIFKBHTwitter: @KifKoldingKBH

Playing hall*TRE-FOR ArenaAmbolten 2-66000 KoldingDenmarkCapacity: 2,800

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: orange/blue

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: orange/blue

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 11Semi-final (1): 2001/02Quarter-final (1): 2002/03Last 16 (6): 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11Last 32 (1): 1993/94Group Phase (1): 1994/95

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1999/2000, Quarter-finals 2007/08EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2012/13

Danish champions: 12 times (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009)Danish Cup winners: 7 times

POT 2


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs FC Porto Vitalis W25:20 (15:10)@ THW Kiel L26:29 (14:12)@ Dunkerque HB G.L. W20:18 (12:7)vs Orlen Wisla Plock W23:22 (13:11)vs KS Vive Targi Kielce W29:24 (17:12)@ KS Vive Targi Kielce W26:25 (15:15)@ FC Porto Vitalis L24:27 (11:15)vs THW Kiel L24:26 (13:13)@ Orlen Wisla Plock W26:25 (10:8)vs Dunkerque HB G.L. W26:24 (15:15)

Top scorers:1. Albert Rocas Comas (ESP) 562. Bo Spellerberg (DEN) 483. Lasse Bredekjaer Anderson (DEN) 33 Lukas Karlsson (SWE) 335. Stefan Hundstrup (DEN) 26

18

PSG Handball (FRA)Much of the talk going into this season’s competition surrounded PSG Handball and their recently assembled collection of superstars. How would the large number of world class players collaborate as a team? Quite well, but far from perfect was the answer.

Four points from their first four games, including a home defeat to Barcelona, was not the start many expected. However, four wins on the trot put PSG back in a strong position.

Barcelona’s established team put the new title contenders firmly in their place with a devastating 38:28 win, with all the damage done in a brilliant first half, but Hansen and co. regained some pride by securing second position with a clear win over Vardar.

They have attacking threat in abundance, with clear evidence in their scoring list. Eight players scoring between 20 and 40 goals prove that they rely on no one player at any time and the side are bound to improve as a unit as the season progresses further.

Club Address:PSG Handball82 avenue Georges Lafont75016 ParisFrance

Media contact:Joachim Azouze+33 (0)7 85 57 04 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.psghand.frFacebook: PSGHandTwitter: @PSG_HANDBALL

Playing hallStade Pierre de Coubertin82, Avenue Georges Lafond75016 ParisFranceCapacity: 4,012

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: grey

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: grey

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 2Last 16 (1): 2005/06

OtherEHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last 16 2003/04

French league: 1 title (2012/13)French Cup winner: once

POT 2

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs HC Dinamo Minsk W34:30 (12:11)@ HC Metalurg L26:28 (12:12)@ HC Vardar - Skopje D24:24 (12:9)vs FC Barcelona L29:33 (17:17)@ Wacker Thun W34:28 (16:10)vs Wacker Thun W38:24 (22:11)@HC Dinamo Minsk W35:29 (19:14)vs HC Metalurg W32:29 (16:12)@ FC Barcelona L28:38 (9:19)vs HC Vardar - Skopje W35:25 (15:12)

Top scorers:1. Luc Abalo (FRA) 39 Marko Kopljar (CRO) 393. Igor Vori (CRO) 344. Mikkel Hansen (DEN) 33 Fahrudin Melic (MNE) 33


19

SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)For the second season in a row, SG Flensburg-Handewitt were paired with local rivals HSV in the group phase and for the second season in a row finished one point behind in second place.

Ljubomir Vranjes’ side were barely troubled in their opening three encounters, dispatching their opponents with ease, before letting a four-goal half-time lead against La Rioja slip in a 35:35 draw. Subsequent defeat to HSV meant that finishing first in the group was out of their hands, despite a win in the return fixture, and second position was never really in doubt with nearest rivals Velenje and Aalborg lacking consistency.

The German side were hit hard by injuries at the beginning of 2014, so much so that coach Vranjes was an unused substitute in the penultimate game against La Rioja, but they completed the group phase with three wins from three, happy in the knowledge that they will avoid their local rivals for the next round at least.

Club Address:SG Flensburg-HandewittSchiffbrücke 6624939 FlensburgGermany

Media contact:Sandra von Wallis+49 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.deFacebook: SGFleHaTwitter: @SGFleHa

Playing hallFlens ArenaCampusallee 224943 FlensburgGermanyCapacity: 6,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 9Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007Semi-final (1): 2005/2006Quarter-final (4): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013Main Round (1): 2007/2008

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Winners 2000/2001 2011/2012EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997City Cup: Winners 1998/1999

German league: 1 title (2004)German Cup winners: three times

POT 2


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs Aalborg Handball W31:27 (15:12)@ HK DROTT Halmstad W37:27 (19:13)vs RK Gorenje Velenje W35:31 (16:13)@ Naturhouse La Rioja D32:32 (19:13)@ HSV Hamburg L27:32 (14:15)vs HSV Hamburg W27:24 (13:11)@ Aalborg Handball W27:26 (14:13)vs HK DROTT Halmstad W33:25 (20:8)vs Naturhouse La Rioja W37:25 (19:11)@ RK Gorenje Velenje W28:23 (15:9)

Top scorers:1. Anders Eggert (DEN) 422. Steffen Weinhold (GER) 413. Holger Glandorf (GER) 394. Thomas Mogensen (DEN) 305. Michael V. Knudsen (DEN) 27

21

Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)Having been drawn to Group A alongside Hungarian national champions MKB-MVM Veszprem and German EHF Cup winners Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Celje Pivovarna Lasko, winners of the EHF Champions League in 2004, were eventually left with third place after the conclusion of the group phase.

The Slovenian side faced the task of finding a new coach when Vladan Matic left the club in December and solely focused on his responsibility as Serbian national team coach. However, a replacement was swiftly found as Branko Tamse was announced as new head coach only days after Matic’s departure.

Tamse then successfully steered the club through the remaining group phase matches, first recording a draw against St. Petersburg, then securing the berth in the Last 16 with a victory against Zaporozhye in Round 9. In the Last 16 club manager Roman Pungartnik hopes for a duel against SG Flensburg-Handewitt. “Because exactly ten years ago this was the pairing of the Champions League final won by our club,” he said.

Club Address:Celje Pivovarna LaškoOpekarniska Cesta 153000 CeljeSlovenia

Media contact:Nejc Ajdnik+386 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rk-celje.siFacebook: rkceljepivovarnaLaškoTwitter: @RKCPL

Playing hallDvorana ZlatorogOpekarinska cesta 153000 CeljeSloveniaCapacity: 5,830

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 19Winner (1): 2003/04Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06Last 16 (2): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09Group Phase (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11Qualification (1): 2009/10

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Semi-finals 2002/02, 2011/12

Slovenian league: 18 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)Slovenian Cup winners: 17 times

POT 3

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ HC Croatia Zagreb L21:24 (10:13)vs St. Petersburg HC W29:22 (15:10)vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen L25:28 (7:13)@ HC Motor Zaporozhye W32:29 (11:14)vs MKB-MVM Veszprém KC L26:31 (14:15)@ MKB-MVM Veszprém KC L26:27 (10:13)vs HC Croatia Zagreb W26:20 (14:11)@ St. Petersburg HC D29:29 (13:16)vs HC Motor Zaporozhye W30:27 (19:15)@ Rhein-Neckar Löwen L25:35 (12:19)

Top scorers:1. Gasper Marguc (SLO) 652. Nemanja Zelenovic (SRB) 473. Ivan Sliskovic (CRO) 354. Mate Lekai (HUN) 345. Luka Zvizej (SLO) 28


22

KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)Vive Targi Kielce kicked off the new season in the same fashion they had shown in the previous one as they extended their group phase winning run from ten to 14 matches.

However, the bronze medallists of the last VELUX EHF FINAL4 found themselves among the unseeded teams after they paid the price for their biggest losing streak since the 2010/11 season.

Two defeats at the hands of Kolding were followed by a shocking upset in Dunkerque in Round 7 and changes seemed to be inevitable over the winter break.

Hardly anybody could predict the development in Kielce right after the start of the New Year, when the club announced the signing of Talant Dujshebaev as a new head coach and his predecessor Bogdan Wenta moved to a management position within the club.

Under a new leadership the Polish champions quickly regrouped and already proved they are a force to be reckoned with in Talant’s second game, when they snatched a point from Kiel.

Club Address:KS Vive Targi Kielceul. Robotnicza 525-662 KielcePoland

Media contact:Sebastian Kozubek+48 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.vivetargi.plFacebook: vivetargikielceTwitter: @vivetargikielce

Playing hallHala M.O.S.I.R – Legionówul. Boczna 15A25-093 KielcePolandCapacity: 4,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 11Semi-final (1): 2012/13 (third ranked in VELUX F4)Last 16 (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11

OtherOther EC records: 11 participations in other ECs

Polish league: 10 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)Polish Cup winners: 10 times

POT 3


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs Dunkerque HB G.L. W33:23 (15:11)vs FC Porto Vitalis W35:23 (16:13)@ Orlen Wisla Plock W30:28 (16:17)vs THW Kiel W34:29 (17:11)@ KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L24:29 (12:17)vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L25:26 (15:15)@ Dunkerque HB G.L. L25:30 (15:12)@ FC Porto Vitalis W35:30 (16:14)@ THW Kiel D28:28 (16:13)vs Orlen Wisla Plock W38:30 (20:12)

Top scorers:1. Michal Jurecki (POL) 492. Ivan Cupic (CRO) 423. Manuel Strlek (CRO) 354. Julen Aguinagalde (ESP) 315. Krzysztof Lijewski (POL) 29

23

HC Metalurg (MKD)There was a Russian invasion to Skopje over the last summer, but the only big signing for Metalurg was Pavel Atman from Minsk.

Lino Cervar’s team saw that nobody escaped the group phase unblemished as they beat FC Barcelona on the very last day of the campaign. In their Boris Trajkovski arena they also defeated the second group favourites PSG Handball, but ironically on the same court against the underdogs from Wacker Thun they lost a valuable point, which could have pushed them closer to pot 2.

In the competition’s first city derby they lost to Vardar, but they struck back swiftly and took both points in the very next round.

The club has successfully survived some internal troubles as goalkeeping icon Darko Stanic was suspended by the club and should be ready for another long mission in the knock-out rounds like last season, when they reached the quarter-finals before Kielce brought their campaign to a halt.

Club Address:HC Metalurgul. Jane Lukroski 61000 SkopjeFYR Macedonia

Media contact:Zoran Cvetanovski+389 [email protected]

Online information:Website: http://www.rkmetalurg.mk/Facebook: rkmetalurgofficialTwitter: @RKMetalurg

Playing hallBoris Trajkovskibul. 8 Septemvri bbSkopje FYR MacedoniaCapacity: 7,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: yellow/orange/white

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 6Quarter-final (1): 2012/13Last 16 (1): 2011/12Group Matches (2): 2006/07, 2008/09Qualification (1): 2010/11

Other9 participations in other ECMacedonian league: 5 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)Macedonian Cup winner: 5 times

POT 3


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@Wacker Thun W23:22 (13:9)vs PSG Handball W28:26 (12:12)@ FC Barcelona L17:35 (5:17)vs HC Dinamo Minsk W33:29 (20:18)vs HC Vardar - Skopje L22:27 (9:14)@ HC Vardar - Skopje W26:18 (10:12)vs Wacker Thun D24:24 (11:14)@ PSG Handball L29:32 (12:16)@ HC Dinamo Minsk D23:23 (13:11)vs FC Barcelona W31:29 (15:11)

Top scorers:1. Renato Vugrinec (SLO) 622. Naumce Mojsovski (MKD) 343. Pavel Atman (RUS) 334. Goce Georgievski (MKD) 295. Dejan Manaskov (MKD) 22

24

RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)RK Gorenje Velenje finished third in their group for the second season running and once again ahead of a Danish side. However, it was a much tighter affair this time around, as the Slovenian team found themselves in a three-way battle for qualification.

An opening round victory against Halmstad was not a sign of things to come for Velenje, as they went on to lose against all four of their group phase rivals. It was not until they put back to back wins together against La Rioja and Halmstad before the winter break that hope of qualification came to mind.

A confident away victory at Aalborg was enough for the “wasps” to claim third spot with the best record between them, the Danes and La Rioja after all three ended on eight points.

Stas Skube was the standout performer for Velenje, as the centre back top scored with 59 goals, many of which from his renowned rocket of a standing shot.

Club Address:RK Gorenje VelenjeSaleska Cesta 33320 VelenjeSlovenia

Media contact:Tanija Rednak+386 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rk-gorenje.comFacebook: rkgorenjevelenjeTwitter: @Rk_Gorenje_V

Playing hallRdeca DvoranaSaleska cesta 33320 VelenjeSloveniaCapacity: 3,100

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue/black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 7Last 16 (3): 2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2012/13Main Round (1): 2007/2008Group Phase (1): 2004/2005Qualification (1): 2010/2011

OtherEHF Cup: Runners-up 2008/2009Slovenian league: 3 titles (2009, 2012, 2013), runners-up: 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011Slovenian Cup winner: once

POT 3


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs HK DROTT Halmstad W35:33 (19:16)@ HSV Hamburg L32:41 (13:21)@ SG Flensburg-Handewitt L31:35 (13:16)vs Aalborg Handball L25:30 (11:15)@ Naturhouse La Rioja L31:34 (13:15)vs Naturhouse La Rioja W33:28 (15:14)@ HK DROTT Halmstad W40:32 (20:14)vs HSV Hamburg L29:36 (13:19)@ Aalborg Handball W28:23 (15:14)vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt L23:28 (9:15)

Top scorers:1. Stas Skube (SLO) 592. Klemen Cehte (SLO) 543. Mario Sostaric (SLO) 444. Niko Medved (SLO) 315. Senjamin Buric (BIH) 28

26

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)There were six newcomers at the start of this season, but only one of them made it through to knock-out stage. After just two rounds, the Ukrainian champions seemed to have the potential of becoming a dark horse not only in Group A, but in the whole competition, as they claimed a precious away point at Rhein Neckar Löwen in the first round and survived a thrilling finish against Zagreb in their home opener in Kharkov.

The dream start was given a rude awakening in the third round when Zaporozhye lost by 17 goals at Veszprém and launched the downswing in form. Motor earned the “compulsory” four points against ex-Soviet rivals from St. Petersburg, but only their stunning victory over the previously unbeaten Veszprém in the last round gave them a berth in the Last 16.

During the group phase the team of Sergey Bebeshko acquired two major foreign reinforcements as Spanish centre back Angel Perez followed Russian international Egor Evdokimov in January and both played an important part in the final round success.

Club Address:HC Motor ZaporozhyeIvanova Str. 2469068 ZaporozhyeUkraine

Media contact:Dmitriy Karpushchenko+380 50 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.handball.motorsich.com

Playing hallSport Complex LokomotivKotlova 90/1KharkovUkraineCapacity: 4,500

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: white/redPlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: yellow/black

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: red/black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14season): 1

OtherEHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12

Ukrainian league: 1 title (2013)Ukrainian Cup winner: once

POT 4


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ Rhein-Neckar Löwen D31:31 (13:15)vs HC Croatia O. Zagreb W31:30 (18:15)@ MKB-MVM Veszprém L27:44 (13:20)vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko L29:32 (14:11)vs St. Petersburg HC W29:24 (15:9)@ St. Petersburg HC W24:18 (14:10)vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen L26:32 (10:15)@ HC Croatia O. Zagreb L27:33 (16:16)@ Celje Pivovarna Lasko L27:30 (15:19)vs MKB-MVM Veszprém W26:22 (13:13)

Top scorers:1. Sergiy Onufryienko (UKR) 522. Oleg Skopintsev (RUS) 403. Sergii Burka (UKR) 384. Vladislav Ostroushko (UKR) 305. Inal Aflitulin (RUS) 25

27

Orlen Wisła Płock (POL)The Polish runners-up bolstered their team before the new season by several big names like Mariusz Jurkiewicz and Marcin Lijewski and also managed to get the Spanish national team coach Manolo Cadenas on board.

The reinforced squad sent the first shockwaves through European handball when they eliminated the 2003 EHF Champions League winners Montpellier in the Wild Card Play-off. Mainly because of two major injuries, first Valentin Ghionea (top scorer of the competition at the time) and later Jurkiewicz, Plock failed to impress more in the Group Phase.

The Oilers recorded no points against teams from the big three (Kiel, Kolding and Kielce), but lost four of those six matches only by one or two goals. Against the other two teams (Porto and Dunkerque) they had a perfect record and gave them no chance in the race for the last knock-out ticket in Group B.

Before the action resumes in March two main questions in Plock need to be answered – how quickly will Jurkiewicz recover from his injury and how fast can their latest signing Angel Montoro can be integrated into the team.

Club Address:Orlen Wisła PłockPlac Celebry Papieskiej 109-400 PłockPoland

Media contact:Piotr RaczkowskiTel: [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.sprwislaplock.plFacebook: sprWislaTwitter: @SPRWisla

Playing hallOrlen ArenaPl. Celebry Papieskiej 109-400 PłockPolandCapacity: 5,467

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: lemon green

DarkPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: orange

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 9Last 16 (2): 1995/96, 2011/12Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09Qualification (1): 2012/13

OtherEHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13

Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011)Polish Cup winner: 10 times

POT 4


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs THW Kiel L33:34 (14:14)@ Dunkerque HB G.L. W28:25 (15:13)vs KS Vive Targi Kielce L28:30 (17:16)@ KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L22:23 (11:13)@ FC Porto Vitalis W24:20 (14:9)vs FC Porto Vitalis W28:22 (12:10)@ THW Kiel L25:34 (11:16)vs Dunkerque HB G.L. W32:25 (16:13)vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L25:26 (8:10)@ KS Vive Targi Kielce L30:38 (12:20)

Top scorers:1. Petar Nenadic (SRB) 602. Valentin Ghionea (ROU) 383. Marcin Lijewski (POL) 364. Ivan Nikcevic (SRB) 245. Mariusz Jurkiewicz (POL) 23

28

HC Vardar PRO - Skopje (MKD)The reigning Macedonian champions made several headlines early in the season as they not only stole the first point from the main group favourites FC Barcelona, but were also the first club to replace their head coach. Less than a week before their Round 3 match at home to PSG Handball they parted ways with Zoran Kastratovic.

After just three months in the job, this decision was a surprise for many. Assistant coach Andon Boskovski took charge for the following game, but after the EHF EURO in Denmark the club announced the signing of Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez, a former Spanish national team player and member of team that won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

The 44-year-old has coached Valladolid and is a former assistant of Talant Dujshebaev at Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid. The second club’s connection to Dujshebaev, his son Alex, missed the final rounds of the group phase through injury.

Club Address:HC Vardar - SkopjeMarko SavovskiBUL 8 mi Septemvri 20FYR Macedonia

Media contact:Marko Savovski+389 75 200 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rkvardar.com.mkFacebook: rkvardarTwitter: @RK_Vardar

Playing hallBoris Trajkovskibul. 8 Septemvri bbSkopje FYR MacedoniaCapacity: 7,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: red/whitePlayer short: red/whiteGoalkeeper shirt: red/black/yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: black/RedPlayer short: red/whiteGoalkeeper shirt: black/grey

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 8Last 32 (1): 1999/2000Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals 2006/07SEHA league: 1 title (2012)Macedonian league: 8 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013)Macedonian Cup winner: 8 times

POT 4

Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)vs FC Barcelona D29:29 (15:19)@ HC Dinamo Minsk L24:26 (11:11)vs PSG Handball D24:24 (9:12)@ Wacker Thun W37:24 (19:11)@ HC Metalurg W27:22 (14:9)vs HC Metalurg L18:26 (12:10)@ FC Barcelona L23:30 (11:14)vs HC Dinamo Minsk W30:22 (14:11)vs Wacker Thun W32:25 (17:11)@ PSG Handball L25:35 (12:15)

Top scorers:1. Timur Dibirov (RUS) 572. Igor Karacic (CRO) 453. Matjaz Brumen (SLO) 314. Alex Dujshebaev (ESP) 295. Mikhail Chipurin (RUS) 17


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Aalborg Handball (DEN)Aalborg went into the group phase as first seeds, but few expected the Danes to challenge the German duo of HSV and Flensburg for top spot. Despite losing to the German sides, Nikolaj Jacoben’s men put themselves in a very strong position going into the winter break, with four wins against the other three sides in the group. They almost managed to grab a point at home to Flensburg, but that was the last strong performance in the group.

Defeats to La Rioja and Gorenje left them in a three-way tie on eight points with the Spanish and Slovenian sides, and although qualification was guaranteed, a final day defeat to HSV left them in fourth place and facing a difficult pairing with one of the top seeds in the Last 16.

Harvard Tvedten and Mads Mensah Larsen accounted for 104 of Aalborg’s goals, while their defence was the most effective in Group D, even with six losses to their name.

Club Address:Aalborg Håndbold A/SWilly Brandts Vej 31DK-9220 Aalborg ØstDenmark

Media contact:Poul [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.aalborghaandbold.dkFacebook: aalborghaandbold

Playing hallGigantium ArenaOlimpiaparken 29220 Aalborg OstDenmarkCapacity: 4,666

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: LimePlayer short: WhiteGoalkeeper shirt: Blue

DarkPlayer shirt: RedPlayer short: WhiteGoalkeeper shirt: Black

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2013/14 season): 2Group Phase (1): 2010/11

OtherDanish league: 2010, 2013Danish Cup winner: 2012 Super-Cup winner

POT 4


Group Phase results:(W - win, D - draw, L - loss)@ SG Flensburg-Handewitt L27:31 (12:15)vs Naturhouse La Rioja W28:24 (16:10)vs HSV Hamburg L26:28 (14:14)@ RK Gorenje Velenje W30:25 (15:11)@ HK DROTT Halmstad W35:26 (15:8)vs HK DROTT Halmstad W37:23 (17:7)vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt L26:27 (13:14)@ Naturhouse La Rioja L23:25 (10:13)vs RK Gorenje Velenje L23:28 (14:15)@ HSV Hamburg L20:28 (9:12)

Top scorers:1. Havard Tvedten (NOR) 542. Mads Mensah Larsen (DEN) 503. Morten Andreas Slundt (DEN) 474. Jacob Bagersted (DEN) 325. Johan Mikael Jakobsson (SWE) 19

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Head-to-headsA1-B4MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Orlen Wisla Plock 2-0-0 (68:49) 09.11.2002 Wisla Plock SSA POL-Fotex KC Veszprém HUN EHF Champions League – Group A 25:30 (09:13) 08.12.2002 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN-Wisla Plock SSA POL EHF Champions League – Group A 38:24 (20:14)A1-C4MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Vardar – Skopje 2-0-0 (54:46) 10.11.2001 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD-Fotex KC Veszprém HUN EHF Champions League – Group D 24:27 (11:10) 08.12.2001 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group D 27:22 (14:10)

A1-D4MKB-MVM Veszprém vs Aalborg Handball No previous encounters

B1-A4THW Kiel vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters

B1-C4THW Kiel vs HC Vardar – Skopje 3-0-1 (132:96) 16.11.2002 THW Kiel GER-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group D 34:23 (15:11) 01.12.2002 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group D 27:26 (14:13) 17.10.2009 HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD-THW Kiel GER EHF Champions League – Group D 23:33 (12:14) 07.03.2010 THW Kiel GER-HC Vardar PRO – Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group D 39:23 (19:13)

B1-D4THW Kiel vs Aalborg Handball 1-1-0 (62:55) 14.02.2004 THW Kiel GER-AaB Handbold Aalborg DEN EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 30:23 (12:08) 22.02.2004 AaB Handbold Aalborg DEN-THW Kiel GER EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 32:32 (15:16)

C1-A4FC Barcelona vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters

C1-B4FC Barcelona vs Orlen Wisla Plock No previous encounters

C1-D4FC Barcelona vs Aalborg Handbal No previous encounters

D1-A4HSV Hamburg vs HC Motor Zaporozhye No previous encounters

D1-B4HSV Hamburg vs Orlen Wisla Plock 5-0-0 (166:127) 02.12.2006 HSV Hamburg GER-Wisla Plock SA POL Cup Winners’ Cup – 1/8-finals 39:26 (19:12) 09.12.2006 Wisla Plock SA POL-HSV Hamburg GER Cup Winners’ Cup – 1/8-finals 24:35 (11:16) 19.11.2011 Orlen Wisla Plock POL-HSV Hamburg GER EHF Champions League – Group C 26:30 (13:14) 27.11.2011 HSV Hamburg GER-Orlen Wisla Plock POL EHF Champions League – Group C 34:25 (14:10) 08.09.2012 HSV Hamburg GER-Orlen Wisla Plock POL EHF Champions League – Wildcard Qualification 28:26 (15:16)

D1-C4HSV Hamburg vs HC Vardar Skopje No previous encounters

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Head-to-headsA2-B3Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs KS Vive Targi Kielce 2-2-1 (146:141) 08.10.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-KS Vive Targi Kielce POL EHF Champions League – Group B 29:29 (17:15) 13.02.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group B 32:35 (19:15) 17.10.2010 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group A 23:23 (12:12) 27.02.2011 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-KS Vive Targi Kielce POL EHF Champions League – Group A 29:27 (11:13) 04.09.2011 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament 32:30 (13:11)

A2-C3Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Metalurg No previous encounters

A2-D3Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs RK Gorenje Velenje 5-0-0 (160:141) 11.11.2009 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-RK Gorenje SLO EHF Champions League – Group B 33:30 (17:15) 22.11.2009 RK Gorenje SLO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Champions League – Group B 29:37 (12:19) 03.09.2010 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-RK Gorenje Velenje SLO EHF Champions League – Qualification Tournament 33:28 (20:13) 17.03.2012 RK Gorenje Velenje SLO-Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 25:27 (13:14) 24.03.2012 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER-RK Gorenje Velenje SLO EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 30:29 (14:15)

B2-A3KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0-0-2 (63:65) 04.12.2005 KIF Kolding DEN-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 33:34 (15:12) 10.12.2005 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-KIF Kolding DEN EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 31:30 (14:15)

B2-C3KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs HC Metalurg No previous encounters

B2-D3KIF Kolding Kobenhavn vs RK Gorenje Velenje No previous encounters

C2-A3PSG Handball vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko 0-0-2 (42:57) 09.11.1996 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-PSG Asnières Hand-Ball FRA EHF Champions League – Group D 31:22 (11:10) 11.01.1997 PSG Asnières Hand-Ball FRA-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Champions League – Group D 20:26 (11:13)

C2-B3PSG Handball vs KS Vive Targi Kielce No previous encounters

C2-D3PSG Handball vs RK Gorenje Velenje No previous encounters

D2-A3SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Celje Pivovarna Lasko 4-1-3 (250:248)08.11.2003 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Champions League – Group F 29:29 (14:14)30.11.2003 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – Group F 29:28 (12:17)18.04.2004 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – finals 34:28 (17:13)24.04.2004 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Champions League – finals 30:28 (15:15)02.12.2006 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 41:31 (21:14)08.12.2006 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Champions League – 1/8-finals 36:26 (20:12)27.03.2010 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 33:29 (15:12)03.04.2010 Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Cup – 1/4-finals 32:35 (16:15)

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Head-to-headsD2-B3SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs KS Vive Targi Kielce No previous encounters

D2-C3SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC Metalurg 2-0-0 (80:53) 08.10.2006 RK Metalurg Skopje MKD-SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER EHF Champions League – Group D 29:37 (10:21) 19.10.2006 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER-RK Metalurg Skopje MKD EHF Champions League – Group D 43:24 (23:12)

All stats by Roy Knoppert

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VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown

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.

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 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.

It is undeniable that the 2013 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.

Tickets for the 2014 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 went on sale on the opening day of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2013. Now, eight months before the participating teams are known, more than 11,000 of the 19,750 tickets have already been sold.

The success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is also thanks to the commitment of a great number of volunteers who have been active on the weekend of the event. The application procedure for next edition has already started and applications are invited also in the area of media.

Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com

VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Accreditation The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will start 26 February 2014.

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VELUX EHF Champions LeagueCurrent Top Scorers

No. Player Club Goals

1. Magnus Persson (SWE) HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) 67

2. Gasper Marguc (SLO) Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) 65

3. Momir Ilic (SRB) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 62

Renato Vugrinec (SLO) HC Metalurg (MKD) 62

5. Petar Nenadic (SRB) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 60

6. Stas Skube (SLO) RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 59

7. Timur Dibirov (RUS) HC Vardar Skopje (MKD) 57

8. Gilberto Duarte (POR) FC Porto Vitalis (POR) 56

Albert Rocas (ESP) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) 56

Marko Vujin (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 56

11. Uwe Gensheimer (GER) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 55

12. Klemen Cehte (SLO) RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 54

Havard Tvedten (NOR) Aalborg Handball (DEN) 54

14. Sergiy Onufryienko (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 52

15. Kiril Lazarov (MKD) FC Barcelona (ESP) 51

Philip Stenmalm (SWE) HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) 51

17. Mads Larsen Mensah (DEN) Aalborg Handball (DEN) 50

18. Filip Jicha (CZE) THW Kiel (GER) 49

Michal Jurecki (POL) KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 49

20. Bo Spellerberg (DEN) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) 48

Bold text indicates players of teams qualified for the Last 16

37

EHF Men’s Champions LeaguePast Winners

2013 HSV Hamburg (GER)

2012 THW Kiel (GER)

2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP)

2010 THW Kiel (GER)

2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)


2007 THW Kiel (GER)


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)





1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)

1994 TEKA Santander (ESP)

Documents

European Handball Federation - 2020 - Table of contentscms.eurohandball.com/PortalData/1/Resources/2_cl/03...Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation +43