Media Guide - Fleury Loiret Handball

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueSeason 2015/16 Group Matches

Media Guide

2

Foreword 5

Map of participating clubs 6

Women’s EHF Champions League Information 7

Media contacts - EHF/M, clubs contacts 8

2014/15 Seeding list 9

2014/15 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 10

Playing format 11

Women’s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 2016 12

Facts & Figures 13

Important regulations - ranking of teams 15

Extended women’s coverage on ehfTV 17

GROUP A

Preview 19

Head-to-head stats 20

Larvik 21

RK Krim Mercator 25

Rostov-Don 29

HCM Baia Mare 33

GROUP B

Preview 37

Head-to-head stats 38

FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria 39

Thüringer HC 43

HC Podravka Vegeta 47

Fleury Loiret Handball 55

Table of contents

3

GROUP C

Preview 55

Head-to-head stats 56

FC Midtjylland 60

HC Vardar 64

Hypo Niederösterreich 68

Györi Audi ETO KC 72

GROUP D

Preview 73

Head-to-head stats 74

Buducnost 75

CSM Bucuresti 79

Sävehof IK 83

MKS Selgros Lublin 87

2014/15 Top scorers & All-star team 91

Past winners 92

History of the Women’s EHF Champions League 93

All-time club standings 95

Table of contents

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5

Foreword

Dear media representative,

September 2015 saw the conclusion of qualification phase, which completed the line-up for the Group Matches of the 2015/16 Women’s EHF Champions League. HCM Baia Mare of Romania and Györi Audi ETO KC of Hungary were the last two teams to complete Groups A and C respectively.

From 16 October to 22 November 2015, the six rounds of the group matches will play out in venues across Europe. I take this opportunity to welcome sixteen teams from 14 countries to the second phase of the competition and to congratulate them for having successfully earned their place in the 23rd season of this elite women’s handball club competition.

We should say special welcome to the three newcomers; all of them from European strongholds of women’s handball. After three qualification failures in the past Russian champions Rostov-Don finally made it to the EHF Champions League. Also French title holders Fleury Loiret Handball, who stumbled in the qualification final on Vardar two years ago, will join the party as well as Romanian champions CSM Bucuresti, who never played even in the qualification before.

Six former champions are lined-up on the starting grid - RK Krim Mercator, Hypo Niederösterreich, HC Podravka Vegeta, Larvik, Györi Audi ETO KC and defending champions Buducnost. The Podgorica-based team starts their title defence in Group D together with Bucuresti, IK Sävehof and MKS Selgros Lublin and they are expected to cruise easily to the main round. The next stage vision could be mistier for the EHF Champions League record holders as an outsider position awaits the four-time winners Hypo in Group C with FC Midtjylland, HC Vardar and Györ. The Hungarian powerhouse should be in full-strength again this season as they not only signed big names like Nycke Groot or Zsuzsanna Tomori, but also can count with their star playmaker Anita Görbicz again after a maternity leave.

Group B is bound to see a tug-of-war for the first place between FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and Thüringer HC while Podravka and Fleury will battle out the remaining main round ticket. In Group A Rostov is a force to reckon with after the Russian champions recruited the legendary Norwegian goalkeeper Katrine Lunde and teamed her up with another excellent keeper Anna Sedoykina. Their ambitions will be put under stern test by Lunde’s compatriots from Larvik but also Romanian qualifiers and last season’s quarter-finalists HCM Baia Mare, while presence of Krim’s young guns in the main round would be a massive surprise.

As we move into the next exciting phase of the competition, the teams have a lot to play for. The sixteen teams now embark on their campaign to progress to the main round. A ticket to the main round will bring twelve teams closer to their dream of participating in the WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4; however, for the four teams that are ranked fourth on 22 November 2015, their campaign in the European top flight will end and they will continue in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

With the wealth of experience across the four groups, we know that there is enough skill to take each team to the next round, but much will still depend on determination and a touch of luck; and as the teams take to the court, only they can decide how the matches will end.

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. Should you require any 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 upcoming season!

Jean BrihaultEHF President

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EHF Champions League information

New ways to follow the Women’s EHF Champions League

The live stream on ehfTV.com will not be the only way fans can follow the action.

The EHF Live Ticker will track the scores of all four matches this weekend and for the rest of the season. Every goal, missed shot and yellow card will be documented and live statistics made available online for the first time at this stage of Europe’s elite club competition.

EHF Live launched

The EHF’s social media channels will provide a very different view of both men’s and women’s premier continental competition.

As well as the coverage on the EHF Champions League Facebook page and Instagram reserved typically for the final weekends of major competitions, on two new channels.

This season fans can follow the @EHF_Live Twitter account to keep up to date with all aspects of the event and add EHF_Live on Snapchat for a behind the scenes look.

Online match reports

From the opening matches of the season, the complete team line-up is available online at eurohandball.com and available to download as a PDF document. The 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 line-ups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each match throws-off.

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.

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 to be available on the EHF website.

Accreditation for Group Matches

The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Group Matches 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.

Online information

ehfCL.comehfTV.comRegulations of the Women’s EHF Champions League Twitter: @ehfmedia, @ehfclFacebook: ehf.champions.league

Official name The official name of the competition is: Women’s EHF Champions League. The full name of the competition should always be used.

Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after “Champions League” e.g. Women’s 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’.

8

EHF/M Media contactsMedia matters

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

TV and Radio

Miguel Mateo MarcellanMedia ManagerEHF Marketing GmbH+43 1 80 151 [email protected]

GROUP A

Larvik HKHarald Gaupen+47 33 138 [email protected]

RK Krim LjubljanaGašper Lončarič+386 51 630 [email protected]

Rostov-DonMaksim Shchennikov+7 918 [email protected]

HCM Baia MareRamona Ioana Pop [email protected]

GROUP B

FTC Rail Cargo HungariaAndrea Pordán+36 20 365 [email protected]

Thüringer HCBernd Hohnstein+49 179 4649 [email protected]

HC Podravka VegetaLjerka Vresk+385 98 325 [email protected]

Fleury Loiret HandballAntony Tahar+33 02 [email protected]

GROUP C

FC MidtjyllandTroels Banggaard

[email protected]

HC VardarIvana Stojanovska+389 71 247 [email protected]

Hypo NiederösterreichKati Kovacs+43 664 6016 [email protected]

Györi Audi ETO KCAndrea Szilagyi+36 70 394 95 [email protected]

GROUP D

BuducnostMilos Pavicevic+382 682 226 [email protected][email protected]

CSM BucurestiConstantin Caliman+40 721 [email protected]

IK SävehofRüdiger Osterloh+46 736 84 57 [email protected]

MKS Selgros LublinAdam Rozwalka+48 609 543 [email protected]

Group Matches Clubs – Media contacts

status: 23.06.2015

QualificationTournaments

Tournaments 4 groups with 4 teams 12 teams 8 teams 4 teams16.-18.10.2015 (1) 08.-10.01.2016 (1)

12./13.09.2015 23.-25.10.2015 (2) 15.-17.01.2016 (2) 01.-03.04.2016 07./08.05.2016tournaments 30.10.-01.11.2015 (3) 05.-07.02.2016 (3) first leg tournament

played in semi finals 06.-08.11.2015 (4) 12.-14.02.2016 (4)and finals 13.-15.11.2015 (5) 19.-21.02.2016 (5) 08.-10.04.2016

NATION in one venue 20.-22.11.2015 (6) 26.-28.02.2016 (6) second leg in Budapest

1 HUN 1 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 2 MNE 1 Buducnost3 NOR 1 Larvik HK4 DEN 1 FC Midtjylland5 MKD 1 HC Vardar6 SLO 1 RK Krim Mercator7 ROU 1 CSM Bucuresti8 GER 1 Thüringer HC9 RUS 1 Rostov-Don

10 SWE 1 IK Sävehof11 AUT 1 Hypo Niederösterreich12 CRO 1 HC Podravka Vegeta13 FRA 1 Fleury Loiret Handball14 POL 1 MKS Selgros Lublin15 HUN 2 Györi Audi ETO KC16 DEN 2 Team Esbjerg17 NOR 2 Glassverket18 ROU 2 HCM Baia Mare19 BLR 1 HC BNTU-BelAZ Minsk20 NED 1 Sercodak Dalfsen21 SRB 1 WHC Radnicki Kragujevac22 TUR 1 Ankara Yenimahalle BSK

WOMEN'S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015/16

DRAWS: 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT no draw 12.04.2016no draw

Main Round FINAL4QuarterfinalsGroup Matches

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4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to Cup Winners' Cup Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to Cup Winners' Cup

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Playing formatThe playing system has already seen the reduction of the number of qualification rounds from two to one and the creation of a new main round following the group matches, which will remain in the same format of four groups with four teams each.

From the group matches, three teams from each group will qualify for the main round and the fourth ranked team will play in the Last 16 of the Cup Winners’ Cup. Following the main round quarter-finals will be played on a knock-out home and away basis with the four winners qualifying for the Women’s EHF FINAL4.

Main Round

The main round will be played in two groups of six teams each. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranked teams of group A and B of the group matches go into the same group in the main round (Group 1 of the main round) and 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranked team of group C and D of the Group Matches go into the same group in the main round (Group 2).The three teams coming from the same group take along their results (points and goals) from the matches against each other. Each team plays a home and an away match against those 3 teams qualifying from the parallel group.

The Main Round of the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League shall be played in accordance with the schedule set out below.Round 1: 1. A/C – 1.B/D and 2. A/C – 2. B/D and 3. A/C – 3. B/DRound 2: 3. B/D – 1. A/C and 1. B/D – 2. A/C and 2. B/D – 3. A/CRound 3: 1. A/C – 2. B/D and 2. A/C – 3. B/D and 3. A/C – 1. B/DRound 4: 1. B/D – 1 A/C and 2. B/D – 2. A/C and 3. B/D – 3. A/CRound 5: 1. A/C – 3. B/D and 2. A/C – 1. B/D and 3. A/C – 2. B/DRound 6: 2. B/D – 1. A/C and 3. B/D – 2. A/C and 1. B/D – 3. A/C

In case of 2 teams of the same country play in the same group in the main round, the order of the matches in this group can be changed by the EHF.

The teams ranked 1 to 4 in each group after the completion of the main round qualify for the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

The matches of the quarterfinals shall be played as first and second leg matches.

The matches of the quarter-finals are not drawn by lots, they result from the final standings of the main round.4th placed team Group 2 vs. 1st placed team Group 14th placed team Group 1 vs. 1st placed team Group 23rd placed team Group 2 vs. 2nd placed team Group 13rd placed team Group 1 vs. 2nd placed team Group 2

There is no protection from teams of the same country. The winning teams of the quarter-finals qualify for the WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4.

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Women’s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 2016Following its successful first two editions in Budapest in 2014 and 2015, the Women’s EHF FINAL4 will stay for another year in the Hungarian capital.

Hungarian side Györi Audi ETO KC won the maiden edition in May 2014 in front of 10,000 frenetic fans, while Buducnost dominated one year later.

The agreement which was reached with the Hungarian Handball Federation as organisers sees the event being played in Budapest’s Papp Laszlo Sportarena 2016.

More information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com

Media Accrediation for the Women’s EHF FINAL4

The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 will start in March 2016.

Tickets for 2016 Women’s EHF FINAL4 go on sale on 18 October

Coinciding with the event’s 200 days to go-mark, tickets for the 2016 edition of Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest go on sale on 18 October 2015. And fans are advised to be quick as an early bird-offer of 15 per cent off on all tickets released applies until 31 October.

Up to 12,000 spectators will be able to follow the showpiece event on 7/8 May 2016 in the Hungarian capital’s Papp László Budapest Sportaréna.

Tickets can be purchased via the official website, www.ehfFINAL4.com . All tickets are valid for both playing days.

Ticket prices:Category 1: 39,990 HUF (approx. 130 €) / Early bird-offer: 33,900 HUF (approx. 110 €)Category 2: 27,990 HUF (approx. 90 €) / Early bird-offer: 23,800 HUF (approx. 76 €)Category 3: 19,990 HUF (approx. 65 €) / Early bird-offer: 16,990 HUF (approx. 55 €)

Category 4 tickets at 9,900 HUF (approx. 35€) will go on sale at a later stage. Hungarian fans will also have the possibility to buy tickets on-site at the first home matches of the two Hungarian participants in the Women’s EHF Champions League: on 18 October at the match FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs HC Podravka Vegeta in Dabas and on 25 October at the match Győri Audi ETO KC vs FC Midtjylland in Győr.

At the EHF FINAL4’s successful premiere in 2014, Győri Audi ETO KC lifted the trophy in front of a sold-out arena, while Montenegrin champions Buducnost topped the podium in 2015.

“Budapest has proven to be an excellent host of the Women’s EHF Champions League FINAL4. Everything is really at the highest level. The atmosphere in the hall has always been excellent. Last season we were very happy because many fans supported us in Budapest. We eagerly await the start of the Champions League, and every game is a battle for something that we really want this season, to be again at FINAL4,” says Buducnost’s Katarina Bulatovic.

“Győri Audi ETO won the EHF Champions League in 2013 and 2014, and the 2014 triumph came at the FINAL4 in Budapest. This was unforgettable for us, and that’s why we would like to repeat it,” says Győr captain Anita Görbicz.

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Facts and figures of the group matches

14 national champions from all over Europe were seeded directly for the 2015/16 group matches of the Women’s EHF Champions League, and the last two open spots were taken by two-time Champions League winners Györ (Hungary) and Romanian runners-up Baia Mare, both winners of the qualification tournaments. Right before the start of the group matches, here are the most important facts and figures.

1 draw only is needed until the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest, the draw for the final event. The 12 teams which make it to the main round will play in two groups of six. Later-on the quarter-finals are composed by the final ranking of the main round and the four quarter-final winners will be in the pot for the draw of the two semi-finals in Budapest.

1 person can become the first female to win the EHF Champions League as a player and a coach: Indira Kastratovic, who won the trophy as a player of Kometal Skopje and now is coach of Vardar.

2 nations are represented by two teams each, Hungary (FTC and Györ) and Romania (Bucharest and Baia Mare).

2 of the 16 group matches participants have been part of both FINAL4 tournaments in 2014 and 2015 so far: defending champions Buducnost (MNE) and Vardar (MKD). Györ, Midtjylland and Larvik were part of the final event once.

2 group phase debutants are among those 16 teams: Bucharest (Romania) and Rostov-Don (Russia), both domestic champions for the first time.

3 teams per group will proceed to the main round. Groups A and B will compose Group 1 of the main round, while Groups C and D will compose Group 2. Teams will take the results of those matches against the opponents which also qualify for the main round with them.

3 - for the third time in a row, the Papp Laszlo Arena in Budapest will be the hosting venue for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in May 2016.

4 former Women’s Champions League top scorers are on court in the 2015/16 group matches: Anita Görbicz (2014: 87 goals, 2012: 133), Heidi Löke (2011: 99), Zsuzsanna Tomori (2013: 95), all playing for Györ and Cristina Neagu (2015: 102) for Buducnost.

6 former Women’s EHF Champions League winners, representing 12 titles are part of the 2015/16 group stage: Hypo

(1994, 1995, 1998, 2000), Podravka (1996), Krim (2001, 2003), Larvik (2011), Buducnost (2012, 2015) and Györ (2013, 2014)

8 former of current female World Handball Player of the Year are part of the 2015/16 season: Eduarda Amorim (Györ/2014), Andrea Lekic (Vardar/2013), Alexandra do Nascimento (Baia Mare/2012), Heidi Löke (Györ/2011), Cristina Neagu (Buducnost/2010), Allison Pineau (Baia Mare/2009), Gro Hammerseng-Edin (Larvik/2007), Anita Görbicz (Györ(2005)

8 consecutive times from the 2006/07 to the 2014/15 season, Györ had at least qualified for the semi-finals of the Women’s EHF Champions League until the previous season, when eliminated in the newly created quarter-final by Vardar.

10 nations represent the previous winners of the Women’s EHF Champions League: Denmark (6 titles), Austria (4), Hungary (3), Slovenia (2), Montenegro (2), Norway, FYR Macedonia, Spain, Croatia and Russia (one title each).

11 clubs, which were part of the 2014/15 group matches, are back again: Györ, Buducnost, Vardar, Hypo, Podravka, Thüringer HC, Larvik, Lublin, Baia Mare, Lublin and Sävehof. Compared to last season, those teams failed to qualify: Dinamo, Viborg, Leipzig, Metz and Zagreb.

14 different nations are part of the group matches, the same number and even exactly the same nations as in the previous season.

15 multiple EHF Champions League winners are in the 16 squad lists, including each four times winners Katrine Lunde (Rostov) and Katarina Bulatovic (Buducnost).

23 times (so in every year since the Women’s EHF Champions League was inaugurated in 1993) Hypo Niederösterreich were part of the competition. Buducnost play their 20th consecutive Champions League season.

48 matches of the group matches will decide those in total 12 teams (three per group) which proceed to the main round.

104 matches (including qualification) will be played until the 2015/16 winner of the Women’s EHF Champions League will be confirmed. Eight qualification matches already took place, followed by 48 matches in the group matches, 36 main round, eight quarter-final matches and four at the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest in May 2016.

14 champions, two debutants and 104 matches

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Teams by age average

CSM Bucuresti 28.3Rostov-Don 27.8MKS Selgros Lublin 27.1HC Vardar 26.3HCM Baia Mare 26.1Hypo Niederösterreich 26.0Larvik 25.5Thüringer HC 25.1RK Krim Mercator 24.4Györi Audi ETO KC 24.3FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 23.4FC Midtjylland 23.0Buducnost 22.5HC Podravka Vegeta 21.8Fleury Loiret Handball 21.8IK Sävehof 20.8CL average 24.5

Teams by height average

Buducnost 178CSM Bucuresti 177FC Midtjylland 177Fleury Loiret Handball 175FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 176Györi Audi ETO KC 177HC Podravka Vegeta 176HC Vardar 179HCM Baia Mare 177Hypo Niederösterreich 177IK Sävehof 176Larvik 177MKS Selgros Lublin 171RK Krim Mercator 178Rostov-Don 179Thüringer HC 174CL average 176

Clémence Grangy FRA Fleury Loiret Handball 155Marina Sudakova RUS Rostov-Don 156Louise Sand SWE IK Sävehof 160Natalia Reshetnikova RUS Thüringer HC 162Oxana Kiseleva RUS Rostov-Don 162Hanna Örtorp SWE IK Sävehof 162Kitti Kiss HUN Hypo 163Stine Lund Andreassen NOR IK Sävehof 163Klaudia Kovacs AUT Hypo 165Trine Ostergaard Jensen DEN FC Midtjylland 165Simone Cathrine Petersen DEN FC Midtjylland 165Marta Lopez Herrero ESP Fleury Loiret Handball 165Maakan Tounkara FRA Fleury Loiret Handball 165Viktoria Lukacs HUN FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 165Elena Magdalena Nicula ROU CSM Bucuresti 165

Szimonetta Planeta HUN Györi Audi ETO KC 198Ibolya Wieszne Mehlmann HUN Hypo Niederösterreich 192Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez ESP Fleury Loiret Handball 192Alena Abramovich BLR FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria 192Kristine Breistøl NOR Larvik 191Alina Wojtas POL Larvik 191Marina Skladchikova RUS Rostov-Don 191Linnea Torstensson SWE CSM Bucuresti 190Gabriela Rotis-Nagy AUT Hypo Niederösterreich 189Eva Kiss HUN Györi Audi ETO KC 189Rikke Slumstrup Jensen DEN IK Sävehof 189Susan Torp Thorsgaard DEN FC Midtjylland 188Anouk Van de Wiel NED Thüringer HC 188

shortest vs tallest

Korina Karlovcan Podravka 10/18/1998 16Ivona Mrden Podravka 12/29/1998 16Iva Papac Podravka 11/21/1998 16Anais Atila Fleury 3/24/1999 16Cécilia Errin Fleury 12/13/1998 16Petra Hlogyik FTC 2/28/1999 16Greta Marton FTC 10/3/1999 16Rita Lakatos Györ 7/6/1999 16Magdalena Horvat Podravka 8/14/1998 17Leonarda Senvald Podravka 10/3/1998 17Alizée Gérard Fleury 10/14/1998 17Clémence Grangy Fleury 9/4/1998 17Jade Honsai Fleury 10/18/1997 17Noemi Hafra FTC 10/5/1998 17

Sergeja Stefanisin Krim 9/19/1974 41Olga Sanko Hypo 2/28/1978 37Alzbeta Tothova Hypo 2/18/1978 37Ana Vojcic FCM 6/3/1979 36Inna Suslina Vardar 1/5/1979 36Iwona Niedzwiedz Lublin 7/22/1979 36Aurelia Bradeanu CSM 5/5/1979 36Ionica Munteanu B. Mare 1/7/1979 36Sonata Vijunaite Hypo 2/23/1980 35Karoline Dyhre Breivang Larvik 5/10/1980 35Gro Hammerseng-Edin Larvk 4/10/1980 35Cristina Georgiana Varzaru CSM 12/5/1979 35Paula Ungureanu B. Mare 3/30/1980 35Katrine Lunde Rostov 3/30/1980 35

youngest vs oldest

Countries represented

Hungary 35Romania 31France 26Croatia 25Norway 24Russia 24Denmark 23Sweden 22Montenegro 20Poland 17Austria 15Slovenia 13Germany 11Spain 8Serbia 8Brazil 7Netherlands 6FYR Macedonia 4Czech Republic 3Slovakia 3Belarus 3Bulgaria 2Ukraine 2Chile 1Iceland 1Lithuania 1

15

Important regulationsScoring of the matches and ranking

General

All matches of the WOMEN’S 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.

The matches shall be scored as follows: a) win = 2 points b) draw = 1 point c) loss = 0 points

Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won.

Group Matches and Main Round

If two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows:

During the matches of the group:a) higher goal difference in all matches;b) greater number of plus goals in all matches;

After completion of the group 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;

After completion of the group 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;f) higher ranking in Group Matches (Main Round only)g) greater number of points in Group Matches (Main Round only)

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 team managers.

16

>> Compatible with smartphones and tablets

>> New design and user-friendly menu

>> All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Women’s EHF Champions League live and on-demand

>> Additional matches from EHF competitions incl. EHF EURO events

ehfTV.com

Relaunch

17

Extended women’s coverage on ehfTV.com

All matches of new season live

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 and free of charge on ehfTV.com and the videos of all matches will be also on demand (subject to geo-blocking restrictions).

The complete coverage of all matches means that only during the group stage of both competitions handball fans will be spoilt by over 300 matches.

ehfTV.com extends the coverage of the Women’s CL Since the 2014/15 season, handball’s leading live streaming platform ehfTV.com has been preparing a special package for all fans of women’s handball.

From the opening round of the group matches ehfTV produces a new magazine compiling the most interesting scenes of the round.

Every Monday after a playing round “REWIND - The Women’s Handball Show” will not only show the highlights of the games, but also interviews with players and selections of the top five goals and saves.

During the 26 minute long programme fans will also be introduced to a rookie of the round followed by best scenes of the three biggest stars of the round.

TV stations to broadcast matches all over the world

Europe• AUT ORFsportplus

• BEL Eleven Sports

• BIH Arena Sport

• CRO HRT

• CRO Hrvatski Telekom/ Arena Sport

• DEN DR 1/2

• DEN Viasat Denmark

• FRA beIN Sports

• GER MDR

• HUN sport1/2

• MKD MKRTV

• MKD Arena Sport

• MNE PRVA TV

• MNE Arena Sport

• NOR Viasat Sport

• POL NC+

• ROU Digisport Romania

• ROU Dolce Sport

• RUS NTV+

• SLO Sport TV Slovenia

• SRB Arena Sport

• SVK/CZE Sport 1 Slovakia

• SWE Viasat 10

America • BRA Esporte Interactivo

• USA beIN Sports USA

Asia & Africa• MENA beIN Sports MENA

• MYS Eleven Sports

• SGP Eleven Sports

News • HUN MTVA

• SLO RTVSLO

• SWE SVT

The matches of the upcoming season will be shown live or delayed almost all over the world. Not less than 40 TV stations will broadcast matches live or delayed.

Only in Europe fans will be able to watch matches in 19 countries, but also the handball TV audience in America (USA and Brazil), Asia and Africa (countries of Middle East and North Africa, Malaysia and Singapore) can look forward to a television coverage.

See the list of TV stations and countries below:

ENERGY BOOST STABIL

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19

Group A preview

Former champions and optimistic new teams

RK Krim Mercator have even done it twice although it was quite a while ago. In the 2000/01 season and again two years later, the Slovenian club won the tournament while Larvik won it in the 2010/11 season. The two remaining teams in the group, HCM Baia Mare and Rostov-Don have never made it that far.

Rostov-Don are even debutants in the tournament, but both teams are hungry for success. Once again, Larvik have qualified for the Champions League group matches as clear Norwegian champions.

Actually, the team from the south-west of Scandinavian has won all three titles – league, play-off and cup.However, it is a team, which has undergone several changes in their 16th Champions League campaign. Tor Odvar Moen, who has had several different functions in the club since 1997, had taken over as head coach from Ole Gustav Gjekstad who took the team to the EHF FINAL4 last season, and five players have also left, the most prominent being right back and right wing Linn Jorum Sulland who is now with Györ Audi ETO.

Sulland is a Norwegian international, just like another key player who is missing - right wing Lin Kristin Riegelhuth Koren (maternity leave). New players have been signed, though, and among those, right back Amanda Kurtovic seems to be the most interesting newcomer, based on her performances in the pre-season and the first part of the season. Jenny Osnes Graesholt also seems like an interesting new signing on the right wing in a Larvik team who are not likely to have any trouble qualifying for the main round. The only question is from which position.

Rostov-Don are debutants in the Women’s EHF Champions League, but rather immodest debutants, we have to say. Among their goals for the season is “to win two matches at the FINAL4 in Budapest.” However, there is a certain basis for optimism in the club, which won the Russian championship for the first time last season. The team has been further reinforced after reaching the EHF Cup final last season, with Norwegian goalkeeper Katrine Lunde joining from Györi Audi ETO KC is probably most prominent signing.

The charismatic Danish coach Jan Leslie seems to have a nearly perfect mix of experienced players and talents with plenty of potential to work with. The first indication of Rostov-Don’s chances in the competition may come already in their first group match away against Larvik.

HCM Baia Mare are not Champions League debutants, but the Romanian club is still relatively new in the tournament. This season is only their third season in the Champions League, but the third in succession. Baia Mare had to go through the qualification tournament to reach the group matches this year, but they had no problems winning their qualification group on home court, and the fact that they come from the qualifiers will probably not make any opponent underestimate them. Players like Lois Abbingh, Valentina Ardean Elisei and Allison Pineau, just to mention a few, always guarantee a certain quality.

Slovenian champions RK Krim Mercator, are in the Champions League group matches for the ninth time in a row, but they may have certain trouble living up to their performances of the past. Even though their experienced coach Marta Bon has performed wonders before, she will have her work cut out for her with Krim’s young and rather inexperienced squad this season.

Peter Bruun

20

Group A head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC

Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator 9-0-7 (397:387) 18:14 03.03.2001 Larvik HK vs RK Krim Neutro Roberts, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 24:20 (13:9) 10.03.2001 RK Krim Neutro Roberts vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 29:17 (17:7) 15.03.2003 Larvik HK vs Krim ETA N. Roberts, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 22:21 (9:11) 22.03.2003 Krim ETA N. Roberts vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 30:25 (14:10) 17.04.2004 Larvik HK vs Krim Ljubljana Slovenia, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 30:33 (17:18) 24.04.2004 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 27:19 (14:9) 21.01.2006 Larvik HK vs Krim Ljubljana Slovenia, EHF Champions League – Group A 29:23 (16:9) 18.02.2006 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Group A 24:19 (11:11) 19.02.2010 RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 30:34 (15:21) 20.03.2010 Larvik HK vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 30:23 (14:8) 16.10.2011 Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League – Group B 31:19 (13:10) 13.11.2011 RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Group B 19:22 (11:11) 06.04.2013 Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 22:24 (9:16) 13.04.2013 RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 19:27 (9:13) 01.02.2014 RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 24:18 (12:10) 08.03.2014 Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 2 28:22 (14:12)

Larvik vs Rostov-Don No previous encounters

Larvik vs HCM Baia Mare 2-0-0 (55:49) 4:0 31.10.2014 HCM Baia Mare vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Group D 23:24 (13:12) 08.11.2014 Larvik vs HCM Baia Mare, EHF Champions League – Group D 31:26 (16:11)

RK Krim Mercator vs Rostov-Don No previous encounters

RK Krim Mercator vs HCM Baia Mare No previous encounters

Rostov-Don vs HCM Baia Mare No previous encounters

21

By cheating the gallows with their financial problems, keeping nearly the same successful squad from the 2014/15 season and having a former coach back in the hot seat: Larvik HK remain one of the main contenders to reach the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest.

In May 2015, they had their first appearance at the pinnacle event of women’s club handball, making it to the final against Buducnost. There, the Norwegian record champions failed to lift their second Champions League trophy after their 2011 success.

In June, Tor Odvar Moen became the successor of Ole Gustav Gjekstad, starting the mission to rejuvenate the team. Defence boss Tonje Larsen ended her career and is now Moen’s assistant on the bench, Linn Sulland has transferred to 2013 and 2014 champions Györ and also line player Isabel Blanco has also left Larvik. Some talented players have joined the squad mainly from the club’s youth programme, and the biggest name among the new arrivals is a well-known face in Larvik: Amanda Kurtovic, who is back, where it all started.

With a highly competitive team, Larvik aim to lift all domestic trophies in Norway and to qualify for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 again. Moen is confident of being able to compete with the best of the best: “Despite working through a very tough financial situation, we still feel that we have a very strong team with a small number, but exciting newcomers. In addition, if players like Tine Stange and Alina Wojtas recover from their injuries in time, we will be even stronger. We would very much like to see ourselves back in Budapest in May 2016, but we know that the road to the FINAL4 will be a little bit harder this time. Many teams have strengthened their squads, so this season will probably be the best tournament ever.”

Experienced team captain and former world handball player of the year, Gro Hammerseng-Edin expects Larvik to be strong too: “Some say, that we have a slightly smaller group of players this season, but when I look around I see quality and experience in all directions. Thus, we would love another shot at Budapest this season! Many teams have brought in some strong reinforcements during the summer, and this will probably give us the role of the hunters, not the hunted.”

GROUP A Larvik (NOR)

Club Address:LarvikSverresgate 7N-3256 LarvikNorway

Media contact:Harald Gaupen+47 33 138 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.larvikhk.noFacebook: larvikhkTwitter: @LarvikHK

Playing hallArena LarvikHoffsgate 63262 LarvikNorwayCapacity: 4,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: orange

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 17Winners (1): 2010/11Runners-up (2): 2012/13, 2014/15Semi-final (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2011/12Quarter-final (3): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07Main Round (1): 2013/14Group Matches (5): 1994/95, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2004/05, 2007/08, Semi-final 1996/97, 2005/06EHF Cup: Runners-up 2005/06

Norwegian league: 17 titles (1994, 1997, 2000-03, 2005-2015)Norwegian cup: 15 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Norwegian champions

Coach: Tor Odvar Moen (since 2015, successor Ole Gustav Gjekstad)

Team captain: Gro Hammerseng-Edin

Newcomers:Amanda Kurtovic (Oppsal)Jenny Osnes Graesholt (Nordstrand)Hanne Svela (junior team)Lena Lowe (junior team)Helene Glemming (junior team)

Left the club:Linn Jorum Sulland (Györ)Tonje Larsen (end of career, assistant coach)Isabel BlancoTine Rustad AlbertsenSofie Heide Lund (Skrim Kongsberg)

22

Larvik (NOR)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 41:20 (24:9) v Dinamo RUS (h), 12.02.2011Biggest defeat: 29:17 (17:7) v RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO (a), 10.03.2001Longest winning run: 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015)Longest unbeaten run: 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015)Longest losing run: 4 matches (03.11.2007 – 05.01.2008)Longest run without win: 5 matches (16.11.2013 – 01.03.2014)

Most goals: 41 v Dinamo RUS 41:20W (h), 12.02.2011Most goals opponent: 35 v HC ‘Lada Togliatti’ RUS 35:25L (a), 10.11.2007Most goals both teams: 70 v IK Sävehof SWE 39:31W (h), 13.10.2012Fewest goals: 13 v Buducnost MNE 23:13L (a), 08.04.2012Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Oltchim Valcea ROU 22:16W (h), 10.02.2001 16 v Buducnost MNE 28:16W (h), 16.03.2013Fewest goals both teams: 35 v HC Dinamo RUS 18:17W (h), 08.11.2009

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1994/95 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 1 3 141:144 -3 5:7 3rd Gr. A1997/98 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 165:150 +15 6:6 3rd Gr. C2000/01 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 193:181 +12 10:6 1/4-finals2001/02 Larvik HK NOR 10 7 1 2 262:253 +9 15:5 1/2-finals2002/03 Larvik HK NOR 8 4 1 3 216:193 +23 9:7 1/4-finals2003/04 Larvik HK NOR 10 5 1 4 287:262 +25 11:9 1/2-finals2005/06 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 153:154 -1 6:6 3rd Gr. A2006/07 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 236:211 +25 10:6 1/4-finals2007/08 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 0 4 166:179 –13 4:8 3rd Gr. C2008/09 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 179:169 +10 6:6 3rd Gr. C2009/10 Larvik HK NOR 14 10 0 4 365:339 +26 20:8 1/2-finals2010/11 Larvik NOR 16 13 0 3 469:376 +93 26:6 Winner2011/12 Larvik NOR 14 6 2 6 336:330 +6 14:14 1/2-finals2012/13 Larvik NOR 16 10 0 6 435:379 +56 20:12 Runner-up2013/14 Larvik NOR 12 5 2 5 304:280 +24 12:12 3rd MR Gr. 22014/15 Larvik NOR 16 15 0 1 444:355 +89 30:2 Runner-up

Total 162 98 8 56 4351:3955 +396 204:120

23

Team roster

Larvik (NOR)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

20 Frida Helene Bjaaland NOR Left Back 05/07/1995 Porsgrunn, NOR 17914 Kristine Breistøl NOR Left Back 23/08/1993 Oslo, NOR 1918 Karoline Dyhre Breivang NOR Centre Back 10/05/1980 Oslo, NOR 1724 Marit Malm Frafjord NOR Line Player 25/11/1985 Tromso, NOR 18221 Helene Glemming NOR Right Wing 03/01/1997 Oslo, NOR 1713 Anja Hammerseng-Edin NOR Back 05/02/1983 Porsgrunn, NOR 17910 Gro Hammerseng-Edin NOR Centre Back 10/04/1980 Gjovik, NOR 18012 Alma Hasanic MNE Goalkeeper 13/05/1989 Sije 17613 Vilde Ingeborg Johansen NOR Line Player 25/07/1994 Tønsberg 11 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth NOR Right Wing 01/08/1984 Lorenskog, NOR 17522 Amanda Kurtovic NOR Right Back 25/07/1991 Karlskrona 17623 Lena Lowe NOR Left Back 20/03/1997 Tønsberg, NOR 9 Nora Mørk NOR Right Back 05/04/1991 Oslo 16719 Thea Mørk NOR Left Wing 05/04/1991 Oslo 1685 Jenny Osnes Graesholt NOR Right Wing 05/01/1989 Oslo, NOR 1677 Mari Kristine Søbstad Molid NOR Back 08/08/1990 Trondheim 17822 Sanna Charlotte Solberg NOR Left Wing 16/06/1990 Bærum 17817 Tine Stange NOR Left Back 14/05/1986 Tonsberg, NOR 17918 Hanne Svela NOR Centre Back 18/06/1996 Stavanger, NOR 1731 Sandra Toft DEN Goalkeeper 18/10/1989 Gribskov 17628 Alina Wojtas POL Left Back 21/03/1987 Nowy Sacz, POL 191

Tor Odvar Moencoach• has made a comeback to the job as head coach ahead of the 2015/16 season, succeeding Ole Gustav Gjekstad, to whom he was assistant coach for the previous three and a half years

• has been with Larvik since 1997, taking care of several different jobs in the club

• head coach in the club for the second time, as he took over at New Year 2011, as now late Karl Erik Bohn left with immediate effect

• led Larvik to the club’s only CL triumph so far – in 2011

• has his strongest qualities in the tactical area and in communication with the players

24

Amanda Kurtovicright back• made a comeback to Larvik in summer 2015 after three years joining from league colleagues Oppsal

• for a long time, she seemed to be heading for Danish Nykobing Falster, but ended in Larvik

• mainly seen as back up to Nora Mork in the right back after Linn Jorum Sulland has left for Györ

• has been bothered quite a lot by injuries through her career and an injury also meant that she missed the triumph of winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2014 with Danish Viborg HK

Sandra Toftgoalkeeper• her 25th birthday on 18 October 2014 marked her debut in the CL (against Metz Handball)

• 2014/15 is her first season outside her native country Denmark after she came from Holstebro

• became number one for Denmark when Karin Mortensen and Christina Nymand Pedersen quit the national team after the London Olympics 2012

• broke a neck vertebra in a car accident in 2009 and was close to being paralysed from the neck down – she was back on the court in five months

Marit Malm Frafjordline player• used to play for Larvik’s rivals Byasen, but joined Larvik in 2014 after a three year long foreign adventure at Viborg HK

• crucial in the centre of defence as well in the attack, to Larvik and the Norwegian national team

• an Achilles tendon injury kept her out of the last part of last season, and the first half of this one, but since new year, she has been back at full strength

Anja Hammerseng-Edincentre back• awarded the MVP at the EHF EURO 2012 after she led Norway to the silver medal

• also for her club team she has proven to be extremely valuable – at orchestrating Larvik’s attacking play

• played in Gerpen and Storhamar before she joined Larvik in 2012

• in the 2013 summer she got married to her teammate Gro Hammerseng.

Gro Hammerseng-Edinleft back• World Handball Player of the year (2007)

• excluding the 2011 WCh title and the 2012 Olympic gold - she has the same medals as Riegelhuth-Koren

• several times the 32-year-old Norwegian was nominated for All-Star Teams at major tournaments

• in 2011 she was a key part of Larvik’s CL winning team

• in 2013 she retired from the national team

Sanna Solberg left wing• joined Larvik from Norwegian league colleagues Stabaek in the summer of 2014.

• 2014/15 is her first CL season, she has European experience from the Cup Winners Cup with Stabaek, though.

• her twin sister Silje plays for Danish league club Team Tvis Holstebro as a goalkeeper

• Silje had played 36 internationals already, when Sanna had her debut in the autumn of 2013.

Jenny Osnes Graesholtright wing• joined Larvik ahead of the 2015/16 season from Nordstrand replacing Norwegian international Linn Kristin Riegelhuth Koren who is on maternity leave

• one of her greatest assets is her speed which makes her particularly valuable in the counter attacks which are so crucial to Larvik

• has two internationals for Norway – both friendlies – on her CV so far

• was nominated for the All Star Team of the Year in the Norwegian league after the 2013-14 season

Nora Mørkright back• best scorer of the Norwegian team at the EHF EURO 2014 (41 goals)

• voted the best right back of the EHF EURO 2014

• can also play on the right wing, her twin sister and teammate Thea plays on the left wing

• joined Larvik in the 2009/10 season and debuted in the national team in 2010 as 19-year-old

• in 2013/14 she had her record-breaking CL season so far with 71 goals

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014OG: G 2008, 2012, EHF EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009

EHF EURO: S 2012, WCh: B 2009EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2004OG: G 2008, WCh: S 2001, 2007, EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2010, S 2002

EHF EURO: G 2014

EC trophies: CL 2011EHF EURO: G 2010, 2014

OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011

25

It was 2005/06 the last time Krim made their fifth and most recent appearance in the final of the EHF Champions League. Ten seasons later and things are very different for the Slovenian record champions.

The big names have gone and developing young talent is key to the future direction of the side. Coach Marta Bon is left with the task of trying to integrate internationally inexperienced players into the setup. The former Slovenian national team boss will have to draw on all her years of experience with the Ljubljana based team drawn in one of the toughest groups.

Larvik, who finished as runners-up last season, represent dangerous opponents as do 2015 quarter-finalists Baia Mare and Russian champions Rostov-Don.

Krim team captain Tamara Mavsar knows a difficult challenge lies ahead.

“All three opponents have a high quality in their squads. Larvik will perform in a quite similar way to the previous years, but know each other even better now. Rostov are a newcomer, but the level of performance they showed last season and the current pre-season proves that they are a good team. Baia Mare are strong too as they demonstrated in the qualification tournament with two clear wins,” Mavsar said.

Vesna Milanovic-Litre, who joins from Györ, is the big addition to the club but the side are determined to develop younger players. Secretary general Tina Kravanja explained: “We started the project of getting back where we were in the past, in the previous season.

“We had to face a lot of obstacles in our way and still have a long way ahead to achieve our set goals but the players, coaches, staff, everybody in the club believe in this path.”

GROUP A RK Krim Mercator (SLO)

Club Address:RK Krim MercatorCenter StožiceVojkova Cesta 1001000 LjubljanaSlovenia

Media contact:Gašper Lončarič+386 51 630 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rkkrim.comFacebook: rkkrim

Playing hallArena StožiceVojkova Cesta 1001000 LjubljanaSloveniaCapacity: 6,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: blue, redPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: purple, green

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 21Winners (2): 2000/01, 2002/03Runners-up (3): 1998/99, 2003/04, 2005/06Semi-final (1): 2012/13Quarter-final (4): 1996/97, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07Last 16 (1): 1995/96Main Round (6): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15Group Matches (3): 1999/00, 2001/02, 2007/08

OtherSlovenian league: 21 titles (1995 – 2015)Slovenian cup: 22 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Slovenian champions

Coach: Marta Bon (since May 2014)Team captain: Tamara Mavsar

Newcomers:Vesna Milanovic-Litre (Györ)Marija Obradovic (Zagorje)Amra Pandzic (Zalec)Neza Avbelj (Krka)

Left the club:Marina LambevskaAmelie GoudjoGloria PavlovaMelanie Bak (Bordeaux)Alja Jankovic (Celje)Liliya Artsiukhovich (Minsk)Alexandra PetrukhinaSanja Gregorc (Vac)

26

RK Krim Mercator (SLO)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 36:12 (18:3) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), 25.01.1997Biggest defeat: 39:20 (19:8) v Buducnost MNE (a), 15.03.2015Longest winning run: 6 matches (04.01.2003 – 22.02.2003) 6 matches (08.01.2005 – 19.02.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (20.02.2000 – 10.02.2001)Longest losing run: 9 matches (09.11.2014 – 15.03.2015)Longest run without win: 9 matches (09.11.2014 – 15.03.2015)

Most goals: 41 v H/K Dinamo Volgograd RUS 41:33W (h), 13.01.2007Most goals opponent: 47 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 29:47L (h), 06.03.2015Most goals both teams: 76 v ‘Buducnost’ MNE 36:40L (h), 04.03.2011 76 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 29:47L (h), 06.03.2015Fewest goals: 15 v Buducnost MNE 30:15L (a), 09.02.2014Fewest goals opponent: 12 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 36:12W (h), 25.01.1997Fewest goals both teams: 34 v ESBF Besancon FRA 19:15W (h), 02.01.1999

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1996/97 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO 8 4 0 4 197:178 +19 8:8 1/4-finals1997/98 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO 8 4 0 4 210:218 -8 8:8 1/4-finals1998/99 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO 12 6 1 5 298:287 +11 13:11 Runner-up1999/00 Krim Electa NR Ljubljana SLO 6 2 1 3 153:146 +7 5:7 3rd Gr. B2000/01 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO 12 6 3 3 302:270 +32 15:9 Winner2001/02 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO 6 3 0 3 148:151 -3 6:6 3rd Gr. D2002/03 Krim ETA N. Roberts Ljubljana SLO 12 10 0 2 357:302 +55 20:4 Winner2003/04 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia SLO 12 7 0 5 344:309 +35 14:10 Runner-up2004/05 Krim Ljubljana SLO 8 7 0 1 222:185 +37 14:2 1/4-finals2005/06 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia SLO 12 8 0 4 312:285 +27 16:8 Runner-up2006/07 RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana SLO 8 5 0 3 245:231 +14 10:6 1/4-finals2007/08 RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana SLO 6 2 1 3 175:180 -5 5:7 3rd Gr. B2008/09 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 6 0 6 383:386 -3 12:12 4th MR Gr. 22009/10 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 7 1 4 364:334 +30 15:9 3rd MR Gr. 12010/11 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 6 0 6 364:356 +8 12:12 3rd MR Gr. 12011/12 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 4 2 6 290:312 -22 10:14 3rd MR Gr. 22012/13 RK Krim Mercator SLO 14 8 0 6 355:355 0 16:12 1/2-finals2013/14 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 5 1 6 300:295 +5 11:13 4th MR Gr. 22014/15 RK Krim Mercator SLO 12 2 0 10 305:374 –69 4:20 6th MR Gr. 1

Total 196 102 10 84 5324:5154 +170 214:178

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Team roster

RK Krim Mercator (SLO)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

11 Neza Avbelj SLO Left Back 11/04/1992 Ljubljana, SLO 17913 Mirjeta Bajramoska MKD Left Back 22/11/1984 Bitola, MKD 17923 Polona Baric SLO Centre Back 15/05/1992 Izola 14 Aneja Beganovic SLO Line Player 09/11/1997 Ljubljana, SLO 17210 Lara Hrncic SLO Right Back 18/04/1993 Slovenj gradec 3 Manca Juric SLO Line Player 18/01/1995 Ljubljana, SLO 17120 Alja Koren SLO Right Wing 11/12/1990 Celje 1855 Maja Lukovic SRB Right Wing 08/02/1989 krusevac 17116 Misa Marincek SLO Goalkeeper 18/02/1985 Celje 1878 Tamara Mavsar SLO Left Wing 01/04/1991 Ljubljana 1787 Vesna Milanovic Litre CRO Line Player 30/05/1986 Sinj 18151 Marija Obradovic SRB Left Back 06/08/1992 Beograd 17617 Elizabeth Omoregie BUL Centre Back 29/12/1996 ATHENE 21 Amra Pandzic SLO Goalkeeper 20/09/1989 Ljubljana 17712 Sergeja Stefanisin SLO Goalkeeper 19/09/1974 Ljubljana 18471 Ana Zrimsek SLO Right Back 17/08/1995 Ljubljana, SLO 18018 Nina Zulic SLO Centre Back 04/12/1995 LJUBLJANA

Marta Boncoach• former excellent left wing with Olimpija in the then Yugoslavian league and later with Krim in Slovenia

• her third stint as Krim coach, has taken them to the main round in the CL several times

• head coach of the Slovenia national team

• has a PhD in kinesiology, a professor at the Faculty of Sport in Ljubljana and a member of Ljubljana city council

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Misa Marincekgoalkeeper• this will be her 4th season in two spells with Krim.

• has also played with Ptuj, Zalec, Olimpija and Kärnten (AUT)

• returned to Krim for the 2013/14 season.

• looking to edge out Sergeja Stefanisin as number one goalkeeper

Vesna Milanovic-Litreline player• playing her sixth CL season, with 72 goals scored so far in the competition

• played in the 2014/15 quarter-final with Györ

• important Croatian national team member, with almost 100 matches played

• versatile end-to-end line player, who relishes defensive duties

• started playing handball as a 12-year old, at her hometown club RK Sinj

Elizabeth Omoregiecentre back• widely considered among the most talented players of her generation

• very versatile, playing across the back-court as well on the wing, with inherent ability to find space and create her own chances to score

• made her CL debut in 2014/15 aged 17, scoring 34 goals for Krim

• student of Economics was selected CL Rookie of the Round 4 in 2014/15

Mirjeta Bajramoskaleft back• Has some CL experience from her stints with Macedonian clubs

• this is only her third venture abroad – she played with Elpides (GRE) and Alicante (ESP)

• will have to fill the void in the backcourt left by Andrea Penezic and Linnea Torstenson

• known for having a fiery and inspiring personality on court

Marija Obradovicleft back• went through the ranks of ZRK Crvena Zvezda and BMS Milenium

• captained Serbian youth under 19 national team to semi-finals in the Women’s 19 EURO 2011 and Women’s U19 World Championship 2012

• playing her debut season in the CL, after joining from RK Zagorje in 2015

• daughter to Montenegro men’s coach Ljubo Obradovic, sister to former Buducnost and Slagelse playmaker Anja Obradovic

Maja Lukovicright wing• returning after an injury, but has potential to develop into a top level performer.

• the 2014/15 is her maiden season in the Women’s EHF Champions League.

• played the Challenge Cup 2011/12 with Crvena Zvezda (SRB)

Alja Korenright back• had her first experience in the CL with Celje in 2005/06.

• moved to Krim in 2009 for three seasons.

• later spent two seasons (2012/13 and 2013/14) with Erd (HUN) as a right wing

• made a successful transformation from wing to right back before the 2014/15 season, so she can play on both positions

Tamara Mavsarleft wing• born and bred in Ljubljana.

• made her CL debut at age 17

• in 2012/13 season she was nominated as one of the best up-and-coming players in the CL

• most experienced player for Krim by far and penalty taker for the team

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Maybe it is a good omen for Rostov-Don that the last debutants, which won the EHF Champions League in their first appearance, came from Russia: Zvezda Zvenigorod in the 2007/08 season. After failing three straight times in the qualification tournaments, Rostov will now start their maiden voyage in the Champions League - and a large number of experts predict that the Russian champions are contenders for going all the way to the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest in May.

Those predictions are mainly due to Rostov’s signings - and are centralised around one name: Katrine Lunde - for many the best goalkeeper in the world, two-time Olympic champion, three-time EHF EURO champion, world champion and four-time Champions League winner.

The Norwegian began her new chapter in Russia last year, after giving birth to her baby and leaving Györ. She has replaced Montenegrin goalkeeper Sonja Barjaktarovic. In addition, six Russian internationals have transferred to Rostov - Anna Sen (Györ), Ksenia Makeeva (Baia Mare), Ekaterina Davydenko (Baia Mare), Oxana Kiseleva (Kuban), Anna Sedoykina (Dinamo-Sinara) and Maria Basarab (Zvezda) – making them a dominant force.

The previous Rostov squad, led by Danish-born coach Jan Leslie, nearly won the treble last season. After becoming Russian champions, cup winners, and, subsequently, participated twice in the semi-final at the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2013 and 2014, Rostov made it to the final of the EHF Cup in May. But all hopes of winning their first international trophy were shattered by the Danish side Team Tvis Holstebro in a 20:33 defeat.

As Rostov proved they were capable of reaching an international final, their goal for the season sounds quite interesting and confident: “Defending both trophies in Russia and winning two matches at the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest.”

A coup like this would be the icing on the cake for the 50th anniversary of the club, which will include a big celebration, as well as a match against the Russian national team. But before dreaming of participating in the FINAL4, Rostov will duel with two other current powerhouses of women’s handball in Group A: 2015 finalist Larvik and 2015 quarter-finalist Baia Mare (where line player Ksenia Makeeva and right back player Ekaterina Davydenko will face their former teammates), along with their third rejuvenated opponent, Krim.

GROUP A Rostov-Don (RUS)

Club Address:Rostov-Don1 Konnoy Army street, 4-a344029 Rostov-on-DonRussia

Media contact:Maksim Shchennikov+7 918 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rostovhandball.ruFacebook: RostovHandballTwitter: @HCRostovDon

Playing hallPalace of Sport “ Rostov Don”St. Khalturinsky str. 103344011 Rostov-DonRussiaCapacity: 3,500

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellow-blackPlayer short: yellowGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: black-yellowPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: dark red

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 4Qualification (3): 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14

OtherEHF Cup: runners-up 2014/15, quarter-final 2009/10Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 2012/13, 2013/14, quarter-final 2010/11

Russian league: 4 titles (1990, 1991, 1994, 2015)Russian cup: 7 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Russian champions

Coach: Jan LeslieTeam captain: Regina Shymkute

Newcomer:Katrine Lunde (Györ)Anna Sen (Györ)Ksenia Makeeva (Baia Mare)Ekaterina Davydenko (Baia Mare)Oxana Kiseleva (Kuban)Anna Sedoykina (Dinamo-Sinara)Maria Basarab (Zvezda)

Left the club:Ekaterina Artamonova (Kuban, Russia)Andjela Bulatovic (ERD, Hungary)Olga Perederiy (IUVENTA Michalovce, Slovakia)Sonja BarjaktarovicOxana Svitanko

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Rostov-Don (RUS)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: N/ABiggest defeat: N/ALongest winning run: N/ALongest unbeaten run: N/ALongest losing run: N/ALongest run without win: N/A

Most goals: N/AMost goals opponent: N/AMost goals both teams: N/AFewest goals: N/AFewest goals opponent: N/AFewest goals both teams: N/A

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached

N/A

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Team roster

Rostov-Don (RUS)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

77 Elena Avdekova RUS Left Wing 07/01/1989 Novokuznetsk, RUS 18012 Mariya Basarab RUS Goalkeeper 19/01/1990 Uray, RUS 18617 Vladlena Bobrovnikova RUS Left Back 24/10/1987 Krasnodar, RUS 18099 Viktoriya Borshchenko UKR Left Wing 05/01/1986 Herson, UKR 17018 Ekaterina Davydenko RUS Right Back 07/03/1989 Togliatti, RUS 18433 Ekaterina Ilina RUS Left Back 07/03/1991 Togliatti, RUS 17522 Oxana Kiseleva RUS Left Wing 12/07/1988 Krasnodar, RUS 1623 Katrine Lunde NOR Goalkeeper 30/03/1980 Kristiansand, NOR 18119 Kseniya Makeeva RUS Line Player 19/09/1990 Ufa, RUS 1826 Iuliia Managarova UKR Right Wing 27/09/1988 Dnieprpetrovsk, UKR 1701 Galina Mekhdieva RUS Goalkeeper 17/06/1985 Rostov-On-Don, RUS 1807 Mayya Petrova RUS Line Player 26/05/1982 Volgograd, RUS 18410 Anna Punko RUS Right Back 27/03/1989 Krasnodar, RUS 18521 Anna Sedoykina RUS Goalkeeper 01/08/1984 Volgograd, RUS 1818 Anna Sen RUS Left Back 03/12/1990 Krasnodar, RUS 18523 Regina Shymkute RUS Left Back 21/12/1985 Herson, UKR 17916 Marina Skladchikova RUS Goalkeeper 22/11/1990 Krasnodar, RUS 1914 Elena Slivinskaya RUS Left Back 09/05/1980 Rostov-On-Don, RUS 18671 Alexandra Stepanova RUS Line Player 21/06/1989 Lievsk, RUS 18015 Marina Sudakova RUS Right Wing 17/02/1989 Volgograd, RUS 156

Jan Lesliecoach• signed with Rostov-Don in 2014

• his first experience away from his home country Denmark

• won the Russian league in his debut season, having led Rostov-Don to the champion’s title for the first time since 1994

• previously worked in Denamrk at Skjern, Aalborg, Esbjerg and Randers and won the EHF Cup in 2010 and the Danish league in 2012 with Randers

• considered one of the top Danish coaches of the new generation

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010 (as coach)

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Katrine Lundegoalkeeper• one of the best goalkeepers in the world who has a big collection of major trophies won both with clubs and the Norwegian national team

• her move to Rostov-Don after five years at Hungary’s Györ was one of the biggest transfer events in Europe in summer 2015

• missed the last season at Györ because of pregnancy and got a baby in March

• already worked with Jan Leslie at Aalborg, and this was one of the factors of her moving to Rostov

Viktoria Borshchenkoleft wing• won Russian league four times during her five seasons in Russia: with Dinamo Volgograd in 2011, 2012, 2013 and with Rostov-Don in 2015

• in her native Ukraine, she played for Dnepryanka Kherson, Smart Krivy Rog and Galychanka Lviv

• took part in a number of World and European Championships with the Ukraine national team

• can play not only as a left wing but, if necessary, also as a playmaker

Maya Petrovaline player• started her 13th season at Rostov-Don in 2015, but had never become the Russian champion with this club before the previous season

• has been playing for Russian national team in beach handball as well

• married to a football player Alexander Petrov and has two sons Artem and Dima

• has two diplomas of higher education after graduating from the Kuban State University as well as the Architecture and Construction Institute

Ekaterina Ilinacentre back• one of the best Russian playmakers and the big revelation of the last season

• moved to Rostov-Don in 2014 from Lada Toliatti just after winning the EHF Cup with that team

• in 2008 became the Junior World Champion with the Russian team in Bratislava

• won her first domestic trophies later than international ones, having become the Russian champion and Supercup winner with Rostov in 2015

Anna Senleft back• came back to Rostov-Don after a season in Hungary where she played for Gyor

• her first spell at Rostov was in 2011-14, and during that time she was the Russian Cup twice, in 2012 and 2013

• has also played for Kuban Krasnodar and Zvezda Zvenigorod, but has never been a Russian champion yet

• in 2008 won the Junior World Championship with Russia and became the top scorer of that tournament

Regina Shymkuteleft back• born in Kherson, Ukraine in the family of a Lithuanian father and a Russian mother, and therefore has a Lithuanian last name

• moved to Rostov-Don in 2010 after years of playing in Ukraine and Romania

• played for Ukraine national team for many years but in December 2014 decided to change her citizenship and got a Russian passport

• played football at a young age and at some point even took the 4th place in the Ukrainian league with her team

Iuliia Managarovaback• moved to Rostov in 2013 and quickly became one of the favorite players of local fans

• quiet and humble off the court but a natural leader in the game with a powerful shot and great scoring abilities

• was a key player in the Ukraine national team but opted to change citizenship hoping to play for Russia

• champion of three countries: Ukraine with Smart Krivy Rog, Romania with Oltchim and Russia with Rostov-Don

Ekaterina Davydenkoright back• came back to Russia in summer after a year spent at HCM Baia Mare in Romania

• already won her first trophy at Rostov-Don, namely the Russian Supercup

• bBefore 2014, spent her entire career at Lada in her home town Toliatti

• started to play for the Russian national team at an early age and won the bronze medal of the EHF EURO at 19

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2012, 2014EHF EURO: B 2008

EC Trophies: CL 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2002, 2012WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009

EURO: B 2008, WCh: G 2009

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16 players departed, 14 newcomers arrived and to complete the full transition of HCM Baia Mare, the coach and the president also have changed. During their second appearance in the Women’s EHF Champions League, the Romanian side just missed a place in the MVM EHF FINAL4 2015 with a quarter-final defeat against Dinamo.

After the club lost their league finals against CSM Bucuresti, it was time for the winds of change to blow. Coach Tone Tiselj was replaced by Aurelian Rosca, the former Oltchim assistant coach and the man who led Romania’s national team to the gold medal in the 2014 U18 World Championship.

Their new president is Mircea Mecea and the face of the team has changed completely. Norwegian Olympic, world and EHF EURO champion Camilla Herrem, Brazilian world champion Barbara Arenhart (both to Denmark) and Romanian talent Eliza Buceschi (to German champions Thüringer HC) have left however other big names such as former IHF Player of the Year, Allison Pineau and Croatian Katarina Jezic have arrived.

The new squad worked well during their pre-season despite the injuries of Paula Ungureanu and Elena Gjeorgjievska. Under the fresh leadership of Rosca, Baia Mare remain unbeaten in preparation. With a glorious 31:25 win in the Super Cup in Bucharest, they are on top of the league and clinched a place in the Champions League Group Matches by winning their respective qualification tournament on home ground, gaining clear and efficient victories against BNTU-BelAZ Minsk Reg and Esbjerg. Now, higher hurdles are waiting for HCM Baia Mare.

Arriving from the qualification and pot 4, the Romanian side faces 2015 finalist Larvik, Russian champions Rostov (including former Baia Mare players Davydenko and Makeeva) and two times Champions League winners Krim in Group A. Baia Mara have set their standards high after a brilliant start with the new squad. “We are aiming for at least for the same performance as last year if not, more,” says club manager Liviu Bala.

GROUP A HCM Baia Mare (ROU)

Club Address:HCM Baia MareBD.Bucuresti Nr. 47 A430012 Baia MareRomania

Media contact:Ramona Ioana Pop [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.hcmbaiamare.roFacebook: hcm.baiamare.official

Playing hallSala Polivalenta Lascar PanaBd. Unirii Nr.14 A430272 Baia Mare - MaramuresRomaniaCapacity: 2,080

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: black

DarkPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 3Quarter-final (1): 2014/15Group matches (1): 2013/14

OtherChallenge Cup: runners-up 2002/03

Romanian league: 1 title (2014)Romanian cup: 3 titles

Qualification for the Women’s Champions League 2015/16 season: Romanian runners-up, winner of qualification tournament 2

Coach: Aurelian Rosca (since 2015, successor of Tone Tiselj)Team captain: Valentina Ardean-Elisei

Newcomers:Alison Pineau (HBC Nimes)Katarina Jezic (HC Lokomotiva Zagreb)Patricia Vizitiu (CSM Bucuresti)Gabriela Preda (HCM Roman)Ionica Munteanu (SCM Craiova)Gabriela Perianu (HC Dunarea Braila)Yuliya Dumanska (CS Marta Baia Mare)Andrada Maior Pasca (end of loan HC Zalau)Bianca Tiron (end of loan SCM Craiova)Ana Maria Tanasie (end of loan SCM Craiova)Madalina Zamfirescu (end of loan SCM Craiova)Cynthia Tomescu (end of loan SCM Craiova)

Left the club:Eliza Buceschi (Thüringer HC)Ksenia Makeeva (Rostov-Don)Ekaterina Davydenko (Rostov Don)Barbara Arenhart (Nykobing Falster HK) Camilla Herrem (Team Tvis Holstebro)Anastasia Lobach (Minsk)

Aneta Pirvut (loan HC Dunarea Braila)Geta Dinis Vartic (CSM Bistrita)Claudia Cetateanu (CSM Bistrita)Adina Tamas (loan CSM Bistrita)Alexandra Ciunt (loan CSM Bistrita)Madalina Puscas (Kisvarda)

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Biggest win: 34:24 (18:12) v IK Sävehof SWE(h), 01.03.2015 32:22 (17:11) v Viborg HK A/S DEN (h), 15.03.2015Biggest defeat: 21:33 (10:16) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN (h), 12.10.2013Longest winning run: 2 matches (15.02.2015-01.03.2015) 2 matches (15.03.2015-04.04.2015)Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (15.02.2015-01.03.2015) 2 matches (15.03.2015-04.04.2015)Longest losing run: 3 matches (25.10.2014-5.11.2014)Longest run without win: 3 matches (25.10.2014-5.11.2014)Most goals: 34 v IK Sävehof SWE 34:24W (h), 01.03.2015Most goals opponent: 36 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), 06.10.2013Most goals both teams: 65 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), 06.10.2013Fewest goals: 18 v Györi Audi ETO KC 18:26L (h), 08.02.2015Fewest goals opponent: 19 v Thüringer HC GER 20:19W (h), 10.11.2013Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Thüringer HC GER 20:19W (h), 10.11.2013

HCM Baia Mare (ROU)

Women’s EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2013/14 HCM Baia Mare ROU 6 2 0 4 140:162 -22 4:8 4th Gr. A 2014/15 HCM Baia Mare ROU 14 7 0 7 370:370 0 14:14 1/4-finals

Total 20 9 0 11 510:532 -22 18:22

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No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height 10 Lois Abbingh NED Centre Back 13.8.1992 Groningen, NED 17715 Valentina Neli Ardean Elisei ROU Left Wing 5.6.1982 Focsani, ROU 17114 Alexandra L. Ciunt ROU Left Back 14.6.1992 Simisna, ROU 1843 Alexandra Priscilla Do Nascimento BRA Right Wing 16.9.1981 Sao Paulo, BRA 1795 Melinda Geiger ROU Right Back 28.3.1987 Baia Mare, ROU 17418 Elena Gjeorgjievska MKD Right Back 27.3.1990 Struga, MKD 17917 Katarina Jezic CRO Line Player 19.12.1992 Rijeka, CRO 1738 Andrada Maior Pasca ROU Left Wing 21.2.1993 Baia Mare, ROU 16822 Luciana Andreea Marin ROU Centre Back 13.10.1988 Slatina, ROU 17677 Adriana Nicoleta Nechita ROU Right Wing 14.11.1983 Bailesti, ROU 1724 Ioana Laura Oltean ROU Centre Back 20.7.1989 Bistrita, ROU 17411 Gabriela Perianu ROU Left Back 20.6.1994 Braila, ROU 1867 Allison Marie Pineau FRA Centre Back 2.5.1989 Chartres, FRA 1802 Aneta Pirvut ROU Right Wing 22.6.1989 Dr. Severin, ROU 16644 Gabriela Preda ROU Left Back 22.7.1987 Tirgu Neamt, ROU 1849 Ibolya Gabriella Szucs HUN Left Back 31.8.1984 Oradea, ROU 1846 Ana-Maria Tanasie ROU Left Wing 6.4.1995 Hunedoara, ROU 17023 Timea Judita Tatar ROU Line Player 28.7.1989 Baia Mare, ROU 17595 Bianca Elena Tiron ROU Left Back 31.5.1995 Iasi, ROU 18025 Andrada Cynthia Tomescu ROU Line Player 30.7.1991 Baia Mare, ROU 18088 Patricia Maria Vizitiu ROU Right Back 15.10.1988 Petrosani, ROU 17773 Madalina Maria Zamfirescu ROU Centre Back 31.10.1994 Rm. Valcea, ROU 17816 Yuliya Dumanska ROU Goalkeeper 15.8.1996 Gorodenka, UKR 17712 Ionica Munteanu ROU Goalkeeper 7.1.1979 Bucharest, ROU 17530 Paula Claudia Ungureanu ROU Goalkeeper 30.3.1980 Brasov, ROU 181

Team roster

HCM Baia Mare (ROU)

Aurelian Roscacoach• first started handball as a player, but retired at only 21 years old to focus on coaching

• before an important game, he stays up all night to thoroughly explore the opponent’s weaknesses

• considered one of the best youth coaches in the history of Romanian handball, with gold medals with the Under18 team in EURO 1999 and WCh 2014

• has been an assistant coach at Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea from 2009 to 2013

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Paula Ungureanugoalkeeper• twice named the “best handball player in Romania”, in 2012 and 2014

• after Luminita Hutupan’s retirement in 2009, she became Romania’s first choice in the goal

• after a ligament tear in 2010 she has taken a two-year hiatus and had a baby, Paul, in January 2012

• her husband is a football player, also a goalkeeper, and has followed Paula almost everywhere she played

Valentina Eliseileft wing• one of the most experienced players in Baia Mare’s roster

• after a ligament tear, made a one-year break from handball and had a baby, Robert, in January 2013

• signed only two weeks after the birth

• will split her duties with Norwegian ace Camilla Herrem, who came to Baia Mare in the 2014 summer, from Byasen Trondheim

Melinda Geigerright back• most expensive Romanian player ever, after Oltchim paid 50.000 euros to Baia Mare in 2010

• her favourite movie is “The Notebook”, while she doesn’t miss any movie that features Bruce Willis

• her models in handball are Bojana Radulovics and Gro Hammerseng

• after only three years of handball, she was featuring in Baia Mare’s roster at 16 years of age

Katarina Jezicline player• joined Baia Mare in the summer of 2015 after stints with Lokomotiva Zagreb and Buducnost

• the Croatian player has represented her country at all age categories

• first taken up swimming, but she decided that handball was her big passion

• first started wearing the “mohawk” when she was 14, spends 20 minutes a day for her hairstyle and uses a lot of gel

Allison Pineaucentre back• French star has been named the “World Player of the Year” in 2012

• suffered two knee injuries, but came back more powerful than before

• a social-media addict, she has a page on which she posts on a daily basis and has over 43,000 fans

• After leaving Oltchim in 2013, she changed three clubs – Vardar Skopje, Krim Ljubljana and HBC Nimes

Lois Abbinghleft back• played four years at German side VfL Oldenburg (2010-2014) before she transferred to Baia Mare last summer

• made her comeback on the court after an eight-month injury break in January 2015

• top scorer and member of the All-star team at the 2010 U18 World Championship and top scorer of the 2011 U19 EHF EURO with the Netherlands

• top scorer of the Dutch league in the 2009/10 season at the age of only 18

Alexandra do Nascimentoright wing• after 11 seasons played for Hypo she took a new challenge and accepted Baia Mare’s offer in 2014

• 2012 World Handball Player of the Year

• with over 500 goals scored over 13 seasons one of the top scorers of the CL history

• her husband, the Chilean right wing Patricio Martinez, followed her to Baia Mare and plays for the men’s team

Adriana Nechitaright back• one of the most experienced players in the team

• her passion is photography and modeling, acted as a reporter for different Romanian TV stations

• followed by nearly 7,000 people on her official Facebook account

• shares the position with Brazilian stalwart Alexandra do Nascimento

WCh: S 2005, EHF EURO: B 2010 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007, Challenge Cup 2002 WCh: S 2005, EHF EURO: B 2010

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2013 WCh: G 2013, Panamerican Games: G 2003, 2007, 2011

EHF EURO: B 2010

WCh: S 2009, 2011, EHF EURO: B 2010

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007EHF EURO: B 2010

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Group B preview

Returnees, regulars, jubilants and newcomers

Away performances will be a major factor of qualification to the Main Round of the Women’s EHF Champions League in Group B. Perhaps the squarest group of all sports four national champions including Ferencváros, who won the highest ranked league in Europe according to EHF league ranking.

But quite strangely it is far from obvious that the Budapest greens, who beat Győr in the championship finals, are to be considered as heavy favorites. Zsuzsa Tomori left for Győr and coach Gábor Elek was left without the focal point of both Ferencváros’s attacks and defense. However, the former was boosted by the arrival of Hungarian international Klára Szekeres, the latter by re-signing young sensation Luca Szekercés and Dóra Hornyák and having given birth to her child Szandra Zácsik has returned.

Last year’s quarter-finalist Thüringer freshened up their squad, the German champion waved goodbye to a huge amount of goals by letting Nadja Nadgornaja and Franziska Mietzner leave, which they hope to be delivered by Romanian up-and-coming Eliza Buseschi, and Dutch duo Anouk van de Wiel and Lott Prak. The German outfit, who are preparing for their fourth consecutive participation in Europe’s top competition, are edging closer and closer to the Final4 having taken a step further every year since 2012.

The question for Fleury Loiret is simple: can the undoubtedly talented, well-balanced squad of the French champion make up for the lack of Women’s EHF Champions League routine? Coach Frederic Bougeant hopes they can and rightly so. The excellent mix of Spanish and French national team members brings international experience to last year’s EHF Cup Winners’ Cup runners-up. Fleury Loiret let Spanish superstar Marta Mangue leave but brough in her compatriot Elisabeth Chavez, one of the best line players of the game.

This season will provide supporters of HC Podravka Vegeta with a lot to celebrate, however, not necessarily on the court. The 60th birthday of the Croatian champion and the 20th anniversary of their Champions League trophy speak volumes about Podravka’s historic legacy but the Koprovnica outfit has not seen Main Round action since 2008. The almost all-Croatian roster (with the exception of Montenegrin goalkeeper Mirjana Milenkovic) are regulars at WCL and will be eager to prove their strength this season by turning out to be „respectable and strong opponents to all the other teams”, as coach Mrden put it.

History does not help much to predict this group as three teams (Thüringer HC, Ferencváros and Fleury Loiret) have never met each other before. All four teams have lost clutch players and it remains to be seen if the newcomers can rise to the occasion. Ferencváros are extremely hard to beat at home while Thüringer made it to the quarter-final last year to prove they are an elite team. Fleury Loiret went even further in the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup last year as the French outfit narrowly lost the final of the competition to Midtjylland and Podravka Vegeta are starting their 10th consecutive Women’s EHF Champions League season. The first two rounds will clear the picture in this extremely competitive group but it seems likely that the fight for Main Round berths will continue to the last round.

Bence Martha

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Group B head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs Thüringer HC No previous encounters

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs HC Podravka Vegeta 3-1-0 (117:113) 7:1 22.01.1995 Podravka Koprivnica vs Ferencvaros Budapest, EHF Champions League – Group B 21:21 (10:14) 19.03.1995 Ferencvaros Budapest vs Podravka Koprivnica, EHF Champions League – Group B 26:24 (13:12) 13.05.2006 FTC Budapest vs Podravka Vegeta, Koprivnica, EHF Cup – Final 37:36 (16:19) 20.05.2006 Podravka Vegeta, Koprivnica vs FTC Budapest, EHF Cup – Final 32:33 (14:20)

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs Fleury Loiret Handball No previous encounters

Thüringer HC vs HC Podravka Vegeta 2-0-0 (65:48) 4:0 19.10.2014 Thüringer HC vs HC Podravka Vegeta, EHF Champions League – Group B 33:20 (14:11) 15.11.2014 HC Podravka Vegeta vs Thüringer HC, EHF Champions League – Group B 28:32 (8:15)

Thüringer HC vs Fleury Loiret Handball No previous encounters

HC Podravka Vegeta vs Fleury Loiret Handball No previous encounters

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FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)None of the 16 participants of the Women’s EHF Champions League season have a shorter journey to Papp Laszlo Arena - the hosting venue of the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in May 2016 - than Dabas based FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria.

Regardless of this closeness the route to the pinnacle event looks quite far, despite FTC having a successful series against Györ in the Hungarian league in the previous season - beating them in the final series. Under their former name Herz Budapest the Ferencvaros club made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2001.

In the previous season, FTC came up short in the Champions League qualification against Leipzig one season after they nearly made it to the semi-finals again.

But now, the team of head coach Gabor Elek has lost its “strongest weapon in attack,” as former Champions League top scorer Zsuzsanna Tomori has transferred to their main rivals Györ. In addition, Orsolya Verten ended her career.

Former Györ player Dora Hornyak chose the opposite direction, after she was playing for Vac for a season, now bolsters the FTC squad. In the 2015/16 season the Hungarian champions will face Thüringer HC, Podravka and Fleury in Group B - and it’s their goal to proceed to the main round: “We compete with very good teams, for which we have respect,” says FTC manager Laszlo Bognar.

Being part of the EHF Champions League again means: “a step forward as now we are among the best European teams.”

The squad is nearly all Hungarian except Serbian goalkeeper Katarina Tomasevic and Spanish playmaker Nerea Pena. In their roster they have a large number of current Hungarian internationals such as team captain Zita Szucsanszki, Monika Kovacsicz, Sandra Zacsik or Piroska Szamoransky.

Szucsanszki hopes for even more than “only” proceeding to the main round: “We hope to be among the best eight teams in Europe, which means proceeding to the quarter-finals. But we expect some fights in the group matches en route to these latter stages.”

Club address:FTC Rail Cargo HungariaKobanyai ut 47/a.1101 BudapestHungary

Media contact:Andrea Pordán+36 20 365 [email protected]

Online information:Website: kezilabda.fradi.huFacebook: ftckezilabda

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: greenPlayer short: greenGoalkeeper shirt: blue/black

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 16Runners-up: 2001/02Semi-finals: 1996/97, 2000/01Quarter-finals: 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2003/04Main Round: 2012/13Group Matches/Champions League: 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2013/14Qualification: 2009/10, 2014/15

OtherEHF Cup: winners: 2005/06, semi-finals: 2004/05

Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 2010/11, 2011/12, semi-finals: 2006/07, 2014/15

Hungarian league: 12 titles (1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2015)Hungarian cup: 12 titles

GROUP B

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Hungarian champions

Coach: Gabor Elek, since 2008Team captain: Zita Szucsanszki

Newcomers:Klara Szekeres (Erd)Nadine Schatzl (Erd)Dora Hornyak (Impress Center - Vác)

Left the club:Zsuzsanna Tomori (Győri Audi ETO KC)Melinda Toth (MTK Budapest)Viktoria Soos (Impress Center - Vác)Agnes Kocsis (Vasas)Orsolya Verten (end of career)

Playing hallCity Hall DabasIscola utca 52370 DabasHungaryCapacity: 2,498

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FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 42:16 (19:7) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), 18.01.1997Biggest defeat: 22:32 (11:13) v CS ‘Oltchim’ Rm. Valcea ROU (h), 04.11.2007Longest winning run: 5 matches (14.10.2012 – 11.11.2012)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (17.02.1996 – 05.01.1997)Longest losing run: 4 matches (12.01.2007 – 17.02.2007) 4 matches (27.10.2007 – 16.11.2007) 4 matches (02.03.2013 – 06.10.2013)Longest run without win: 5 matches (04.01.1998 – 31.10.1999)

Most goals: 42 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997Most goals opponent: 39 v Viborg HK A/S DEN 39:30L (a), 13.01.2008Most goals both teams: 70 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 34:36L (h), 10.02.2007Fewest goals: 17 v Volgograd AKVA RUS 22:17L (a), 03.03.2001Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997 16 v TUS Walle Bremen GER 27:16W (h), 25.01.1997Fewest goals both teams: 36 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 18:18D (h), 31.03.1996

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1994/95 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 1 2 135:129 +6 7:5 3rd Gr. B1995/96 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 2 1 145:137 +8 8:4 2nd Gr. B1996/97 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 10 6 1 3 264:208 +56 13:7 1/2-finals1997/98 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 6 1 1 4 147:159 –12 3:9 3rd Gr. B1999/00 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 4 0 4 204:201 +3 8:8 1/4-finals2000/01 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 10 5 0 5 264:232 +32 10:10 1/2-finals2001/02 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 12 6 2 4 348:341 +7 14:10 Runner-up2002/03 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 6 0 2 252:228 +24 12:4 1/4-finals2003/04 FTC Budapest HUN 8 5 0 3 220:221 -1 10:6 1/4-finals2006/07 FTC Budapest HUN 6 2 0 4 177:188 -11 4:8 3rd Gr. D2007/08 Budapest Bank-FTC HUN 6 1 0 5 165:192 –27 2:10 4th Gr. D2012/13 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 12 8 0 4 346:336 +10 16:8 3rd MR Gr. 22013/14 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 6 3 0 3 162:161 +1 6:6 3rd Gr. B

Total 104 53 7 44 2829:2733 +96 113:95

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Team roster

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

16 Alena Abramovich BLR Goalkeeper 18.07.1981 Minsk, BLR 1923 Anita Cifra HUN Line Player 6.8.1989 Bekes, HUN 18045 Noemi Hafra HUN Centre Back 5.10.1998 Cegléd, HUN 18072 Petra Hlogyik HUN Goalkeeper 28.2.1999 Tatabánya, HUN 18092 Dora Hornyak HUN Left Back 24.1.1992 Debrecen, HUN 17619 Monika Kovacsicz HUN Right Wing 20.11.1983 Komarno, SVK 17122 Viktoria Lukacs HUN Right Wing 31.10.1995 Budapest, HUN 16521 Greta Marton HUN Left Wing 3.10.1999 Mohacs, HUN 17514 Rea Reka Meszaros HUN Line Player 14.4.1994 Vac, HUN 17229 Noemi Mod HUN Centre Back 20.4.1997 Mohacs, HUN 17598 Piroska Pappne Szamoransky HUN Line Player 9.7.1986 Györ, HUN 17325 Nerea Pena Abaurrea ESP Centre Back 13.12.1989 Pamplona, ESP 1756 Nadine Schatzl HUN Left Wing 19.11.1993 Munich, GER 1734 Adrienn Szarka HUN Left Wing 28.6.1991 Kiskunhalas, HUN 17694 Luca Szekerczes HUN Right Back 18.6.1994 Bonyhád, HUN 17510 Klára Szekeres HUN Left Back 1.12.1987 Békéscsaba, HUN 18612 Melinda Szikora HUN Goalkeeper 19.11.1988 Kiskunhalas, HUN 1752 Szandra Szollosi-Zacsik HUN Right Back 22.4.1990 Komarno, SVK 1838 Zita Szucsanszki HUN Centre Back 22.5.1987 Budapest, HUN 17227 Katarina Tomasevic SRB Goalkeeper 6.2.1984 Belgrad, SRB 179

Gabor Elekcoach• son of legendary Ferencváros coach, who led the team for almost three decades, now plays in the arena that is named after his father, Gyula Elek

• has been at the helm in Ferencváros since 2008 but he won his first domestic gold medal in 2015 having already won an enermous amount of silvers behind Györ

• won back-to-back Cup Winners’ Cups with his team in 2011 and 2012

• respected member of the Ferencváros family, apart from his father his mother also played for the club

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012

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Katarina Tomasevicgoalkeeper• the Serbian goalkeeper is a real globetrotter, played in Austria, Denmark, Spain, Serbia, Germany and France before Ferencváros

• has four national championship titles (Austrian, Serbian, German and Hungarian) under her belt

• signed a two-year contract in 2014

• veteran goalie has already participated in all international EHF tournaments and reached the semi-finals of both WCh and EURO

Piroska Szamoranskyline player• one of the longest serving members of Ferencváros joined the club in 2005

• Cup Winners’ Cup specialist, who won three consecutive trophies between 2010 and 2012 (one with Buducnost, two with Ferencváros)

• experienced Hungarian international and a clutch player both in defence and attack for Ferencváros and the Hungarian national team

• her twin sister, Aniko is a fellow handball player

Zita Szucsánszkicentre back• versatile player, who can also play in middle and left back positions.

• despite her young age part of the old guard at Ferencváros, she was only 17 when debuted in the green jersey ten years ago

• voted player of the year in Hungary in 2011

• the 1,75 tall brunette was voted the Hottest Player in the EHF EURO 2014, which was held in Hungary and Croatia

Nerea Penaleft back• Spanish international signed from Itxako in 2012 and has been a clutch player for Elek ever since

• injury-prone sharp shooter has been through difficult times injuring the same knee twice but when fit she is the focal point of FTC’s attacks

• finished as runner-up both at the EURO 2014 with Spain and in the CL with Itxako in 2011

• versatile player and is the perfect partner for Zita Szucsánszki in the Ferencváros artillery unit

• voted to the All-stars of the EURO 2010

Szandra Szöllősi-Zácsikleft back• back in business for 2015/16 after two serious shoulder injuries, which saw her out of action for almost two years after a maternity leave

• Ferencváros and national team teammate Mónika Kovacsicz is Zácsik’s niece, her husband, Szabolcs Szöllősi is also a member of the Hungarian men’s national team as line player

• won both Hungarian and Slovenian titles; scored a last second penalty against then CL holders Viborg, which saw her team triumph on away goals in 2011

Adrienn Szarkaleft wing• has been with the club since 2010 and despite her young age made her 100th appearance in the green jersey in the Cup Winners’ Cup final against Viborg

• niece of Ferencváros legend, Éva Szarka, whose number 4 jersey had been retired by the club but upon request from the now youth coach the young winger wears the famous number

• rising from a small provincial club Kiskunhalas Szarka made her debut in the Hungarian national team at the age of 19

Monika Kovacsiczright wing• veteran wing was born in the Slovakian half of border town Komarno, but has over 130 games with the Hungarian national team under her belt

• won national titles (both championship and national cup) in Hungary and Denmark

• won back-to-back international titles twice – the CL with Viborg and the Cup Winners’ Cup with FTC

• top scorer of Ferencváros when the team won the CWC in 2011

Luca Szekerczésright back• widely considered to be the best right back of her generation in Hungary

• voted to the All-star teams of both the EURO in 2013 (where Hungary finished as runners-up) and WCh in 2014

• youngster will have to fill in for the team’s most prolific scorer, Zsuzsa Tomori, who signed to Györ

• was offloaded a couple of times but was called back in the summer

• voted Youth Player of the Year in Hungary in 2012

WCh: S 2013

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012

EURO: S 2014, WCh: B 2011

EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012EURO: B 2012, WCh: B 2005

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012

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Herbert Müller starts his sixth season as the coach of Thüringer HC, but with some certain difficulties. After leading the East German team to five straight national championship titles since 2011, the faces in his team have changed significantly. Right in THC’s tenth Bundesliga season, some key players have left, mainly from the back court positions like the two German internationals Nadja Nadgornaja (THC’s top scorer in last season’s EHF Champions League) to Dortmund or tall shooter Franziska Mietzner to Leipzig. Petra Popluharova ended her career and Yuliya Snopova transferred to Ankara.

In addition, Thüringer HC have been hit extremely hard by long-term injuries like newcomer Beate Scheffknecht, left wing Sonja Frey, German national team goalkeeper Jana Krause and Czech playmaker Iveta Luzumova.

“There is a slight chance of them returning when the Champions League season starts,” said Müller.

To try and fill the gap between the goal posts during Krause’s absence, THC intermediately signed Czech international Lucie Satrapova on loan from Prague to be at the side of talented Dinah Eckerle.

The biggest hopes among the new arrivals is the youngest newcomer the Romanian international Eliza Buceschi, who was awarded best young player of the 2014/15 Champions League season and arrives from Romanian runners-ups Baia Mare. In contrast to all previous seasons, this year THC were not drawn into the group of death, but have a manageable task ahead of them in Group B - facing FTC, Podravka and Fleury (including former THC top star Alexandrina Barbosa).

“Our group seems to be fairly well-balanced, so our target is to make it to the main round and try to take as many points as possible. In addition, we want to excite our fans by playing an attractive style of handball,” team manager Maik Schenk says.

GROUP B Thüringer HC (GER)

Club Address:Thüringer HCMittelhäuser Str. 2199089 ErfurtGermany

Media contact:Bernd Hohnstein+49 179 4649 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.thueringer-hc.deFacebook: ThueringerHCTwitter: @ThueringerHC

Playing hallWiedigsburghalle NordhausenAugust-Bebel-Platz 699734 NordhausenGermanyCapacity: 2,218

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: black

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 5Quarter-final (1): 2014/15Main Round (1): 2013/14Group Matches (2): 2011/12, 2012/13

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 2012/13Challenge Cup: runners-up 2008/09

German league: 5 titles (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)German cup: 2 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: German champions

Coach: Herbert Müller (since 2010)Team captain: Danick Snelder

Newcomers: Natalia Reshetnikova (Universitet Izhevsk)Anouk van de Wiel (Göppingen)Lotte Prak (Koblenz)Lucie Satrapova (on loan from Slavia Prag)Eliza Buceschi (Baia Mare)Beate Scheffknecht (Göppingen)Lucia Hruscakova (IUVENTA Michalovce)

Left the club:Nadja Nadgornaja (Dortmund)Yulia Snopova (Muratpasa Antalya)Franziska Mietzner (Leipzig)Martine Smeets (Bietigheim)Petra Popluharova (end of career)

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Thüringer HC (GER)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 33:20 (14:11) v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO (h), 19.10.2014Biggest defeat: 36:18 (17:9) v Larvik NOR (a), 11.04.2015Longest winning run: 3 matches (08.02.2014 – 02.03.2014) 3 matches (15.11.2014 – 31.01.2015)Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (08.02.2014 – 08.03.2014) 4 matches (13.02.2015 – 15.03.2015)Longest losing run: 5 matches (02.10.2011 – 06.11.2011)Longest run without win: 6 matches (02.10.2011 – 13.11.2011)

Most goals: 36 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 36:29W (h), 06.10.2013Most goals opponent: 36 v Larvik NOR 36:18L (a), 11.04.2015Most goals both teams: 65 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 36:29W (h), 06.10.2013Fewest goals: 14 v Buducnost MNE 23:14L (a), 09.11.2014Fewest goals opponent: 20 v Buducnost MNE 24:20W (h), 28.10.2012 20 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:20W (h), 19.10.2014 20 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 21:20W (h), 22.11.2014Fewest goals both teams: 37 v Buducnost MNE 23:14L (a), 09.11.2014

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached2011/12 Thüringer HC GER 6 0 1 5 139:163 -24 1:11 4th Gr. A2012/13 Thüringer HC GER 6 3 0 3 146:153 -7 6:6 3rd Gr. D2013/14 Thüringer HC GER 12 5 1 6 316:321 -5 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 12014/15 Thüringer HC GER 14 7 1 6 367:364 +3 15:13 1/4-finals

Total 38 15 3 20 968:1001 -33 33:43

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Team roster

Thüringer HC (GER)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

8 Linda Bach GER Left Wing 12/11/1996 Erfurt, GER 17023 Marieke Blase GER Left Back 06/01/1994 Oldenburg, GER 1787 Eliza Iulia Buceschi ROU Left Back 01/08/1993 Baia Mare, ROU 17812 Dinah Eckerle GER Goalkeeper 16/10/1995 Leonberg, GER 17419 Katrin Engel AUT Right Back 02/05/1984 Mistelbach, AUT 1735 Sonja Frey AUT Left Wing 22/04/1993 Wien, AUT 16910 Franziska Fuhrmann GER Line Player 23/01/1989 Erfurt, GER 1779 Lucia Hruscakova SVK Left Back 02/08/1982 Kosice, SVK 17730 Svenja Huber GER Right Wing 23/10/1985 Mannheim, GER 16828 Lydia Jakubisova SVK Right Wing 14/10/1981 Bojnice, SVK 1686 Josephine Kessler GER Wing 14/10/1996 Erfurt, GER 1701 Jana Krause GER Goalkeeper 10/06/1987 München, GER 18618 Iveta Luzumova CZE Centre Back 03/04/1989 Pisek, CZE 1757 Lotte Prak NED Back 28/11/1992 Niedorp, NED 1702 Natalia Reshetnikova RUS Left Wing 16/04/1991 Ischewsk, RUS 16212 Lucie Satrapová CZE Goalkeeper 03/07/1989 Havlickuv Brod, CZE 1834 Beate Scheffknecht AUT Left Back 27/02/1990 Innsbruck, AUT 17513 Meike Schmelzer GER Line Player 19/07/1993 Wiesbaden, GER 17314 Danick Snelder NED Line Player 22/05/1990 Pijnacker, NED 17824 Anouk Van de Wiel NED Right Back 10/07/1992 Venlo, NED 18831 Kerstin Wohlbold GER Centre Back 11/01/1984 Friedrichshafen, GER 169

Herbert Müllercoach• born in Romania, his previous coaching experience includes Romanian side Brasov

• also the head coach of the Austria national team

• since he started coaching, his assistant has always been his brother, Helfried

• led Nürnberg to their first-ever CL qualification, then won four straight German titles with Thüringer.

• former mathematics lecturer

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2004

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Jana Krausegoalkeeper• number one goalkeeper following the retirement of Maike März

• started her career in Munich, in Nürnberg she was coached by Müller

• played for four years in Buxtehude before she joined THC in 2013

• studies international management

Dinah Eckerlegoalkeeper• stepped in for the CL quarter-finals after German international Jana Krause suffered a knee injury

• transferred to the THC youth college from her home club Ditzingen at the age of 14

• had her bundesliga debut at the age of 16 as the youngest THC Bundesliga player ever

• played her first CL match at the age of 17

• on loan for Bad Wildungen in 2013/14, returned to THC, when Maike März ended her career

• best goalkeeper of the 2014 U20 WCh in Croatia

Danick Snelderline player• part of the Dutch national team

• new number one line player at THC after Anja Althaus transferred to Vardar

• All Star Team at the U19 EHF EURO 2009 in Hungary.

• four German championship titles with THC

• best Dutch line player in the 2009/10 season, when playing for Hellas in Den Haag

Kerstin Wohlboldcentre back• back after a nine-month injury break (rupture of the cruciate ligament)

• in her business life a teacher at a primary school

• won the German championship six times in Nürnberg and THC – always with Müller as her coach

• one of her hobbies is snowboarding

• the ‘extended arm’ of Herbert Müller on the court

Lydia Jakubisovaright back/right wing• one of the most experienced players at THC

• hit hard by two severe knee injuries in the last three years

• awarded Slovak handball player of the year in 2012

• will play her first ever EHF EURO in December with Slovakia

• can also play on the right back position

Sonja Freyleft wing• also coached by Müller in the Austria national team

• signed for THC when she was only 19

• MVP at the U19 EHF EURO in 2011

• started her career at WAT Fünfhaus and Fivers in Vienna

• also works as a physiotherapist

Svenja Huberright wing• arrived at Thüringer HC in December 2013 after the German champions had a long list of injured left handed players

• played her first major tournament - the EHF EURO 2014 in Croatia and Hungary - at the age of 29

• expert for fast breaks and penalty shots.

• born in the same city as German male national team captain Uwe Gensheimer – Mannheim.

• in business life worked as a sports journalist

Katrin Engelright back• started her career at Hypo and had her first appearance in the women’s team at the age of 16

• has won already ten national championships – five with Hypo in Austria, one with Nürnberg and four consecutive (2011-2014) with THC in Germany

• top scorer of the 2009 WCh in China

• scored 785 goals in 195 matches for the Austrian national team so far

W 19 EURO: B 2011

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HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO)

Regardless the outcome of the season, Podravka Vegeta will have a big party - the Croatian record champions will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the club, which history is highlighted by winning the EHF Champions League in the 1995/96 season. 19 years later, the targets and ambitions have changed: the squad of coach Goran Mrden has lost some experienced players such a Miranda Tatari (pregnant), Kristina Elez or Jelena Trifunovic, in addition, Andrea Covic transferred to Balkan powerhouse Vardar.

All the newcomers are young talents in this nearly all-Croatian squad. The only non-Croatian player in the team is experienced Montenegrin goalkeeper Mirjana Milenkovic. As Podravka seems to be invincible in Croatian competitions, they hope for an end to their bad run on international courts.

Despite the total of 22 participations in the flagship competition of women’s club handball, the team from Koprivnica failed to qualify for the Champions League Main Round six times in a row, the last time Podravka proceeded to the next stage was in 2008.

So again Mrden’s hopes are quite humble with Thüringer HC, FTC and Fleury being Podravka’s opponents in Group B: “We intend to be a respectable and strong opponent to all the other teams and hope to advance as far as possible.”

Mrden expects high hurdles for his young team: “All the opponents are national champions in strong leagues; they are all reputable teams with high-quality players. I strongly believe that all the matches in this group will be engaging, unpredictable and interesting.”

Team captain Dragica Dzono hopes for on a strong defence: “We are a young team with a lack of experience in the Champions League, but we will try to play aggressively and we will give our best to win some points thanks to our good defence.”

In Dzono’s opinion, Podravka’s opponents are “no(t) clubs with big names, but they have lot more experience compared to us. In general, in the Champions League they are no easy teams.”

Club address:HC Podravka VegetaZeljka Selingera 3A48000 KoprivnicaCroatia

Media contact:Ljerka Vresk+385 98 325 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.rk-podravka.hrFacebook: RkPodravka

Playing hallSport Hall Fran GalovićZeljka Selingera bb48000 KoprivnicaCroatiaCapacity: 2,500

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: red/whitePlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: orange/white

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

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 22Winners (1): 1995/96Runners-up (1): 1994/95Semi-finals (1): 1997/98Quarter-finals (1): 1996/97Main Round (3): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2008/09Group Matches/Champions League (12): 1993/94, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15Qualification (2): 2003/04, 2005/06

OtherCup Winners Cup: Runners-up: 2004/05, Semi-finals: 2007/08EHF Cup: Finals 2000/01, 2005/06

Croatian league: 21 titlesCroatian cup: 20 titles

GROUP B

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Croatian champions

Coach: Goran Mrden (since 2013)Team captain: Dragica Dzono

Newcomers:Selena Milosevic (Zamet)Dora Krsnik (Lokomotiva Zagreb)Lana Frankovic (Mosonmagyarovari KCSE)Ivana Dezic (Koka)

Left the club:Miranda Tatari (pregnancy)Kristina Elez (destination unknown)Jelena Zivkovic (SCM Craiova)Jelena Trifunovic (Trabzon Zagnos HK)Andrea Covic (Vardar Skopje)

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HC Podravka Vegeta

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 35:20 (21:9) v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), 19.02.2000Biggest defeat: 17:35 (10:16) v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD (h), 03.11.2013Longest winning run: 6 matches (09.11.1997 – 01.02.1998)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (09.11.1997 – 01.02.1998)Longest losing run: 10 matches (19.10.2013 – 23.11.2014)Longest run without win: 10 matches (19.10.2013 – 23.11.2014)

Most goals: 41 v Zvezda RUS 41:28W (h), 21.11.2010Most goals opponent: 40 v Györi Audi ETO HUN 33:40W (h), 13.01.2008Most goals both teams: 73 v Györi Audi ETO HUN 33:40W (h), 13.01.2008Fewest goals: 13 v HYPO Niederösterreich AUT 17:13L (a), 04.05.1996Fewest goals opponent: 14 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 17:14W (h), 29.04.1995Fewest goals both teams: 30 v HYPO Niederösterreich AUT 17:13L (a), 04.05.1996

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1993/94 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 6 2 0 4 123:138 –15 4:8 4th Gr. A1994/95 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 8 4 2 2 183:167 +16 10:6 Runner-up1995/96 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 8 6 0 2 191:163 +28 12:4 Winner1996/97 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 8 5 1 2 208:187 +21 11:5 1/4-finals1997/98 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 10 7 0 3 254:220 +34 14:6 1/2-finals1998/99 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 6 3 0 3 148:152 -4 6:6 3rd Gr. A1999/00 Podravka Dolcela CRO 6 3 0 3 144:144 0 6:6 3rd Gr. D2002/03 Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica CRO 6 2 1 3 163:168 -5 5:7 3rd Gr. A2006/07 Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica CRO 6 2 0 4 171:197 -26 4:8 3rd Gr. C2007/08 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 2 0 4 173:182 -9 4:8 3rd Gr. A2008/09 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 12 6 0 6 347:349 -2 12:12 3rd MR Gr. 12009/10 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 2 0 4 172:192 -20 4:8 4th Gr. A2010/11 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 1 0 5 168:180 -12 2:10 4th Gr. D2011/12 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 1 2 3 146:161 -15 4:8 4th Gr. B2012/13 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 3 0 3 136:143 -7 6:6 3rd Gr. B2013/14 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 1 0 5 128:178 -50 2:10 3rd Gr. D2014/15 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 6 0 0 6 152:191 –39 0:12 4th Gr. B

Total 118 50 6 62 3007:3112 -105 106:130

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Team roster

HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO)

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

4 Ivana Dezic CRO Right Back 27/07/1994 Varazdin, CRO 14 Ivana Dragisic CRO Right Wing 29/03/1994 Bjelovar, CRO 1779 Dragica Dzono CRO Line Player 24/05/1987 Mostar, BIH 18419 Lana Frankovic CRO Left Back 27/09/1991 Koprivnica, CRO 18317 Magdalena Horvat CRO Left Wing 14/08/1998 Koprivnica, CRO 1661 Antonia Jukic CRO Goalkeeper 09/05/1992 Split, CRO 17212 Ivana Kapitanovic CRO Goalkeeper 17/09/1994 Split, CRO 1865 Korina Karlovcan CRO Left Wing 18/10/1998 Zagreb, CRO 1687 Dora Krsnik CRO Centre Back 19/01/1992 Zagreb, CRO 17016 Mirjana Milenkovic MNE Goalkeeper 14/03/1985 Krusevac, SRB 1838 Selena Milosevic CRO Centre Back 09/06/1989 Pula, CRO 11 Ivona Mrden CRO Centre Back 29/12/1998 Zagreb, CRO 17610 Ekatarina Nemaskalo CRO Left Wing 31/07/1989 Brovary, UKR 1703 Ana Niksic CRO Right Wing 29/06/1989 Jakarta, INA 16913 Iva Papac CRO Right Back 21/11/1998 Zagreb, CRO 17618 Leonarda Senvald CRO Line Player 03/10/1998 Koprivnica, CRO 1756 Sara Senvald CRO Line Player 14/03/1996 Koprivnica, CRO 18515 Marijeta Vidak CRO Left Back 14/08/1992 Virovitica, CRO 179

Goran Mrdencoach• returned to Podravka in the summer 2013 after an absence of 10 years when he coached Virovitica and Sv. Ivan Zelina

• in his premier season as coach for Podravka the club achieved second place in the domestic league and reached the group matches of the CL

• currently the Croatian women’s junior national team coach

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Lana Frankovicleft back• started playing in Durdevac, spent most of her career in Sesvete Agroproteinka

• top scorer of Croatian Championship in 2013/2014 with Sesvete Agroproteinka, 153 goals from 19 matches

• won bronze medal with national team at Mediterranean games in Mersin 2013

• this is her 1st season in any of European cups

• only international club she played for was Mosonmagyarovari KCSE in 2014/2015

Mirjana Milenkovicgoalkeeper• stepped up after Croatia national team keepers Ivana Jelcic and Marta Zderic left

• part of the Serbia and Montenegro national team that won silver at the 2005 Mediterranean Games

• her impressive form in Buducnost (2007-2009) earned her a place in the Montenegro national team

• in one CL match against FTC in 2007 she saved six penalty shots for Buducnost

Dragica Dzonoline player• has to replace one of their best players last season, Vesna Milanovic Litre, who joined Hungarian Györ

• Podravka decided to bring her to Koprivnica after she had a few solid seasons in Zelina’s jersey

• won several caps for the Croatia national team

• her fellow line player for the season will be young Croatia national team member Andrea Covic

Dora Krsnikback• only newcomer that has experience of playing in European cups and CL qualifications with Lokomotiva Zagreb 2013/2014

• versatile player who can cover all back positions but also can turn into a line player when needed

• played for RK Gorica, RK Tešnjevka, RK Lokomotiva Zagreb, RK Zelina

• won Croatian Championship and Cup with Lokomotiva Zagreb 2013/2014

• member of all junior and youth national team selections

Selena Miloseviccentre back• spent most of her career as Zamet player, no international clubs

• won 2nd place with Zamet in Croatian Championship and 3rd place in Croatian cup in 2014/2015

• occasional member of Croatian national team

• this is her 1st season in any of European cups

Ekatarina Nemaskaloleft wing• her mother Elena was a star left wing playing for the USSR

• coached by her mother when she played for Sesvete

• suffered two tough knee injuries, which have slowed her development a little

• member of Croatia national team

Ana Niksicright wing• born in Jakarta, Indonesia

• replaced Golubic and Gace, who left the club in the last few years

• at the beginning of her career, she played for Podravka’s biggest rivals, Lokomotiva Zagreb

• also gained experience in Hungary, playing in Szekesfehervar and Vac

• the 2014/15 season is her first in the CL

Ivana Dezicright back• top scorer of Croatian Championship in 2014/2015 with Koka, 150 goals from 24 matches

• member of all junior and youth national team selections

• 1st time in senior national team for WCh Denmark 2015 qualification against Sweden

• her first ever senior transfer was from Koka (Varazdin) to Podravka Vegeta (Koprivnica)

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When you win all potential domestic trophies within 12 months and reach the EHF Cup Winners’ cup final within the same period, you deserve to be among the 16 best teams in Europe: Fleury Loiret Handball will start their maiden voyage in the Champions League, after the newly crowned French champions failed to qualify for the flagship competition two years ago losing against WHC Vardar SCBT in qualification.

Coach Frederic Bougeant led his team to the French cup in May 2014, the French league cup in February 2015 and finally the victorious final series in the French championship in May 2015.Maybe the good working relationship with Vardar was one key to their first ever league title, as the Macedonians hosted a ten-day camp with the French to prepare for the MVM EHF FINAL4 in Budapest.

Now Vardar were in France, again for ten days, and Fleury proved their strength and ambitions by beating the FINAL4 participant twice in test matches. In the new season, the Panthers have stuck to their old recipe of having a mix of French and Spanish players in their squad. One of the club legends left Fleury, Marta Mangue, legendary Spanish playmaker, who joined Brest, but among the new arrivals, there’s another Spanish top star, line player Elisabeth Chavez.She continues the pattern of extremely tall players at Fleury, as before Russian Elena Polenova had been playing for the club, now the double world champion (2005, 2007), Olympic silver medallist (2008) and Champions League winner (2008) is assistant coach of the second team.

Despite the new challenge of playing Champions League, Bougeant’s goal for the new season remains the same: winning one trophy each year, regardless the competition, but with a priority on the league. As it is there first season in the Champions League, the club remains humble: “What is most important is to continue to make our players and our club grow up because we are new on this level of European competition,” says Bougeant.

His team will face FTC, Thüringer HC and Podravka in Group B, and the coach is confident that his team will be successful: “Our three opponents are much more experienced than us, and experience in the international context is an important advantage.

“But we have excellent ambitious players, who want to learn from Champions League and develop their character.”

GROUP B Fleury Loiret Handball (FRA)

Club Address:Fleury Loiret Handball109 Avenue Louis Gallouedec45400 Fleury les AubraisFrance

Media contact:Antony Tahar+33 02 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.fleuryloirethandball.comFacebook: Fleury.Loiret.HandballTwitter: @FleuryLoiretHB

Playing hallPalais des Sports Aubrais;Orleans14 rue Eugete Vignat45000 OrleansFranceCapacity: 2,800

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: black-pinkPlayer short: pinkGoalkeeper shirt: blue

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 2Qualification (1): 2013/14

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: runners-up 2014/15, quarter-final 2013/14Challenge Cup: semi-final 2011/12

French league: 1 title (2015)French cup: 1 title (2014)French League Cup: 1 title (2015)

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: French champions

Coach: Frederic Bougeant since 2012Team captain: Gnonsiane Niombla

Newcomers:Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez (Nice)Claire Scheid (Landi Lampaul)Aminata Doucoure (Stella Saint-Maur)Estelle Nze Minko (Nantes)Hadja Cisse (Cannes)Julie Foggea (Mios Biganos Begles)

Left the club:Audrey Bruneau (Mios Biganos Begles)Christelle Manga (Celles-sur-Belle)Camille De Sousa (Rennes)Marion Callave (Nantes)Marta Mangue Gonzalez (Brest)

52

Fleury Loiret Handball

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: N/ABiggest defeat: N/ALongest winning run: N/ALongest unbeaten run: N/ALongest losing run: N/ALongest run without win: N/A

Most goals: N/AMost goals opponent: N/AMost goals both teams: N/AFewest goals: N/AFewest goals opponent: N/AFewest goals both teams: N/A

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached

N/A

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Team roster

Fleury Loiret Handball

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

8 Mélissa Agathe FRA Right Back 06/06/1994 Saint-Pierre de la Réunion, FRA 1753 Anais Atila FRA Centre Back 24/03/1999 Amilly, FRA 1682 Pauline Cabassu FRA Left Wing 21/08/1996 Aix-en-Provence, FRA 16686 Alexandrina Cabral Barbosa ESP Back 05/05/1986 Lisbon, POR 17514 Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez ESP Line Player 17/11/1990 Tenerife, ESP 19239 Hadja Cisse FRA Left Back 07/03/1991 Epernay, FRA 18388 Laura Dorp FRA Line Player 26/07/1996 Saint-Doulchard, FRA 17325 Aminata Doucoure FRA Left Wing 12/01/1994 Noisy-le-Grand, FRA 17572 Cécilia Errin FRA Goalkeeper 13/12/1998 Pointe-à-Pitre, FRA 1857 Béatriz Fernandez Ibanez ESP Back 19/03/1985 Santander, ESP 18097 Julie Foggea FRA Goalkeeper 28/08/1990 Les Abymes, FRA 1829 Alizée Gérard FRA Centre Back 14/10/1998 Orléans, FRA 1764 Clémence Grangy FRA Right Wing 04/09/1998 Chateauroux, FRA 15578 Manon Grimaud FRA Left Wing 12/04/1996 Marseille, FRA 17234 Juliette Guerrier FRA Back 04/02/1996 Rouen, FRA 1701 Jade Honsai FRA Goalkeeper 18/10/1997 St Jean de Braye, FRA 17513 Manon Houette FRA Left Wing 02/07/1992 Le Mans, FRA 1719 Laura Kamdop FRA Line Player 14/09/1990 Chartres, FRA 18217 Marta Lopez Herrero ESP Right Wing 04/02/1990 Malaga, ESP 1654 Daniela Alejandra Miño Larenas CHI Right Wing 10/10/1996 Las Condes, Santiago, CHI 17494 Audrey Nganmogne FRA Goalkeeper 14/11/1994 Yaoundé, CMR 17877 Roseline Ngo Leyi FRA Line Player 27/04/1993 Paris, FRA 17310 Diankenba Nianh FRA Left Back 14/02/1996 Vierzon, FRA 18129 Gnonsiane Niombla FRA Back 09/07/1990 Villeurbanne, FRA 17227 Estelle Nze Minko FRA Back 11/08/1991 Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, FRA 17626 Axelle Ruel FRA Line Player 14/11/1996 Le Mans, FRA 17618 Claire Scheid FRA Back 08/07/1997 Brest, FRA 18511 Maakan Tounkara FRA Right Wing 12/03/1983 Epernay, FRA 1655 Aida Viloria Ponsarnau ESP Left Back 05/02/1997 Martorell, ESP 18112 Darly Zoqbi De Paula ESP Goalkeeper 25/08/1982 Ponte Nova, BRA 178

Frederic Bougeantcoach• arrived in 2012 from French rivals Le Havre and immediately began to build a squad in order to reach the CL

• in three seasons, he has already won three trophies and lead his girls to the Cup Winners’ Cup finals

• not a stranger to European competitions, since he won the Challenge Cup with Le Havre in 2012

• speaks perfect Spanish, a key factor to draft good players from abroad

EC trophies : Challenge Cup 2012

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Darly Zoqbi de Paula goalkeeper• acquired the Spanish nationality in 2014, in order to play with the national team

• arrived in Europe in 2002, played with various Spanish and French clubs before signing to Fleury in 2013

• knew Fred Bougeant from her four years in Le Havre, where they reached the EHF Cup semi-finals in 2008, won two French national cups and took part in the Cup Winners’ Cup final 2014/15

• firm fan favourite in Fleury, where her Panther outfit has become one of the symbols of the club

Manon Houetteleft wing• another player who has spent her entire professional career in Fleury Loiret

• fun fact, she played every minute of every game in Fleury’s Cup Winners’ Cup campaign last season

• quick and very efficient, she was elected best left winger of the French league for two seasons (2013/14 and 2014/15)

• made her national team debut last season, and has been a regular fixture since

Elisabeth Chavez Hernandezline player • the last Spanish recruit of the squad, and arrived this summer after playing for three seasons in Nice

• already records 130 games with Spain national team

• even though she can attack very well, she is best at defending and hence doesn’t score a lot of goals

• has already claimed that with so many Spanish players around, Fleury felt like “home away from home”

Laura Kamdopline player• has a very impressive mobility for a strongly built body

• Bougeant presents her as one of his prides, since he has helped her develop into a national player

• has worn only one jersey in her entire career, the Fleury Loiret Handball one

• one of her best mates is Gnonsiane Niombla, both live in the same building and Gnons appreciate Laura for her down-to-earth, very realistic state of mind

Gnonsiane Niomblacentre back• arrived in 2010 in Fleury and has gradually moved up the steps

• Bougeant sees her as “the boss on the court” in his team, in charge of the centre back position for two seasons

• part of the new “France team”, first drafted in 2013, she now is a real competition for Allison Pineau on her position

Alexandrina Barbosaleft back• signed from Thüringer in the summer of 2014

• very quick, very powerful, one of the best left back on the continent and definitely Fleury’s sharpest offensive weapon

• former Portugese citizen, she now has a Spanish passport and has reached the final of the last EURO with her now national team

• at 29 already played in five different countries: Portugal, Spain, Romania, Germany and France and took part in one CL final, in 2011 with Itxaco

Marta Lopez Herreroright wing• another Spanish recruit who signed back in 2012

• currently the number one right winger in the Spanish squad, she was a finalist at the last EURO

• one of the most powerful right winger in the circuit, her 1-vs-1 skills are especially impressive

• elected best right winger in the French league in 2014, but suffered a severe knee injury which made her miss half of the 2014/15 season

Beatriz Fernandez Ibanezright back• Fleury has been playing with a right handed player on the right back position for years, a rarity in top level handball

• among the first Spanish players to sign with Fleury, back in 2012

• most experience in the squad, having played lots of European games with former club Bera Bera

• played 170 games with the Spanish national jersey on, and even took part in the 2012 Olympics

EURO: S 2008, 2014, WCh: B 2011; OG: B 2012

EURO: S 2014; OG: B 2012ECh: S 2008, 2014; OG: B 2012

EURO: S 2014

55

Group C preview

Vardar and Gyor renew rivalry with Midtjylland lurking

At first glance, the draw for the Women’s Champions League could not have produced a more intriguing group featuring two double former winners, a fast-emerging empire and one of Europe’s most illustrious contenders.

In reality, however, Group C may turn out to be a one-horse race as Macedonia’s Vardar, who have benefited from heavy investment in the past few years, are boasting a star-studded roster aiming to reach a third successive Women’s EHF FINAL4. Györi Audo ETO, the competition’s 2013 and 2014 winners, will in all likelihood constitute the strongest opposition although the pride of Hungarian women’s handball has endured sweeping squad changes and will now feature as dark horses rather than favourites.

Hypo Niederostereich, perhaps the group’s most illustrious outfit with a record four titles to their name in the continent’s premier club competition, have lost all their Brazilian stars over the last two years while several other stalwarts have also departed for various reasons, with Gorica Acimovic ending her career while Vivien Lerant took maternity leave.

Finally, there is Denmark’s FC Midtjylland, who have won three second-tier competitions (Cup Winners’ Cup, EHF Cup, City Cup) while also reaching the Champions League semis in 2003 and 2014.

Midtjylland have lost three key players in Nycke Groot, Line Jorgensen and Ida Alstad, with Louise Burgaard who arrived from Danish first division rivals Viborg standing out as the solitary world-class new signing. Vardar twice finished third in 2014 and 2015 and this time round the club’s wealthy owners will expect a step forward after Serbian left back Sanja Damnjanovic joined an already impressive squad, including the likes of her compatriot Andrea Lekic, Croatia’s Andrea Penezic and Montenegrin winger Jovanka Radicevic.The team has had two years to mould and they will now be expected to fire on all cylinders, with the first test of their credentials coming in the opening match against old rivals Györ.

Having blown away the Hungarian side in last season’s quarter-finals with a 51:45 aggregate win, Vardar will hope for more of the same against a side devoid of some of the biggest names who had carried their flag in the past few years.

Having also lost surrendered domestic supremacy to FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria, the winners of 11 Hungarian league titles had to qualify for the Women’s Champions League group phase and did so emphatically. Previously relying on a legion of international superstars, Gyoö now comprise a pack of talented home-grown players supported by only a handful of imports, including new arrivals Linn Jorum Sulland and Dutch pivot Yvette Broch. Right back Sulland will be expected to form a team-leading bond with her compatriot Heidi Loke, one of the few stalwarts along with Brazilian Eduarda Amorim Taleska who opted not to follow in the footsteps of their team mates who left for greener pastures. Apart from Sulland, Györ should also profit from the signing of Hungarian pillar Zsuzsanna Tomori, returning to the club from perennial rivals FTC five years after changing camps.

As if losing their best players was not enough, the unfortunate Hypo will also miss Altina Berisha and Christina Belik after they have been ruled out of the entire season with long term injuries, while defence pillar Gabriela Rotis-Nagy is also on maternity leave.

Zoran Milosavljevic

56

Group C head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC

FC Midtjyland vs HC Vardar 1-0-2 (79:82) 2:4 15.02.2014 WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League – Main Round 24:23 (10:12) 02.03.2014 FC Midtjylland vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League – Main Round 25:24 (15:09) 04.05.2014 WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Place 3/4 34:31 (14:12)

FC Midtjyland vs Hypo Niederösterreich 3-0-6 (247:264) 6:12 19.09.1998 Hypo NÖ vs Ikast FS, European Championship for Club Teams – Semi-final 26:27 (11:13) 04.01.2003 Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League – Group C 26:29 (12:16) 14.02.2003 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Champions League – group C 24:22 (9:12) 15.05.2004 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, Cup Winners’ Cup – Final 35:30 (20:16) 21.05.2004 Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, Cup Winners’ Cup – Final 36:22 (18:11) 11.03.2005 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:27 (16:16) 19.03.2005 Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreichm, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 32:31 (19:14) 13.02.2009 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast-Brande EH, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 32:24 (20:10) 28.02.2009 Ikast-Brande EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 23:33 (11:19)

FC Midtjyland vs Györi Audi ETO KC 2-0-5 (191:198) 4:10 12.05.2002 Györi Graboplast ETO vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Cup – Final 30:25 (15:13) 20.05.2002 Ikast Bording EH vs Györi Graboplast ETO, EHF Cup – Final 36:23 (21:13) 09.11.2008 Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Ikast-Brande EH, EHF Champions League – Group A 25:27 (15:11) 03.01.2009 Ikast-Brande EH vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Group A 26:27 (13:16) 12.02.2012 Györi AUDI ETO KC vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 35:27 (17:13) 24.02.2012 FC Midtjylland vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Main Round Group 1 24:29 (14:17) 03.05.2014 Györi Audi ETO KC vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League FINAL4 – Semi-final 29:26 (16:11)

HC Vardar vs Hypo Niederöosterreich No previous encounters

HC Vardar vs Györi Audi ETO KC 1-1-0 (51:45) 3:1 04.04.2015 WHC Vardar SCBT vs Györi Audi ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 24:18 (14:10) 11.04.2015 Györi Audi ETO KC vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League – Quarter-final 27:27 (13:12)

Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi Audi ETO KC 2-0-4 (154:187) 4:8 12.04.2009 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 26:25 (15:13) 19.04.2009 Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League – Semi-final 29:21 (12:9) 09.11.2011 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Group C 29:27 (15:13) 13.11.2011 Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League – Group C 37:29 (17:12) 05.10.2013 Györi Audi ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League – Group A 41:22 (21:11) 10.11.2013 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi Audi ETO KC, EHF Champions League – Group A 27:28 (11:14)

57

FC Midtjylland (DEN)

Club address:FC MidtjyllandStadion Alle 2B7430 IkastDenmark

Media contact:Troels Banggaard

[email protected]

Online information:Website: www.fcm-haandbold.dkFacebook: FCMHaandbold

Playing hallIBF ArenaStadion Allé 2b7430 IkastDenmarkCapacity: 2,250

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: purpleGoalkeeper shirt: blue/red/yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: purplePlayer short: purpleGoalkeeper shirt: blue/red/yellow

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 8Semi-final: 2002/03, 2013/14Quarter-final: 1998/99, 2004/05Main Round: 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12Group Matches: 2003/04Qualification: 2014/15

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: winners 2003/04, 2014/15, semi-finals 1999/2000EHF Cup: winners 2001/02, 2010/11, runners-up 2006/07, semi-finals 2007/08, 2012/13City Cup: winners 1997/98, runners-up 1996/97, semi-finals 1994/95

Danish league: 4 titles (1998, 2011, 2013, 2015)Danish cup: 6 titles

Helle Thomsen has a single focus: The coach of FC Midtjylland - one of the rare number of female coaches in the EHF Champions League - is only looking after for the Danish champions now. Before the start of the season, she ended her successful second job for the Swedish national team, crowned with the bronze medal at the EHF EURO 2014 in Budapest.

And Budapest was the place where Thomsen and her team were in May 2014 too, as FCM made it to the first ever MVM EHF FINAL4 in the Hungarian capital, finally ending up in the fourth position. Only some months later the dream of another successful Champions League season came to a rapid end, as Midtjylland surprisingly failed in qualification against Serbian champions Kragujevac. But what started disappointing, ended with a trophy, as Thomsen’s team won the the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup. As FCM also became Danish champions after the league finals against Esbjerg, they qualified directly for the group matches this season.

After this success, two key players from the back court axis went south eastward: Dutch striker Nycke Groot to Györ and Line Jorgensen to Bucuresti. The biggest names among the new arrivals are Danish international Louise Burgaard who arrives from Viborg and Swedish playmaker Johanna Ahlm who transferred from Esbjerg. In addition, Midtjylland signed Serbian goalkeeper Ana Vojcic to join experienced Sabine Englert between the goal posts.

And all of them have high hurdles to cross in the group matches, as FCM will have to face two-time Champions Györ, two-time FINAL4 participant Vardar and record winners Hypo in Group C. So the first goal of the four times Danish champions is quite humble: to qualify for the main round.

“To be part of the Champions League is what all clubs and players dream about. The Champions League is where the biggest clubs will battle, and we are humble to be able to participate, so all our players, fans and sponsors are excited to be part of it,” says FCM manager Hans Peter Riis, adding: “We will fight to stay in this competition as long as possible.”

For team captain Sabina Jacobsen “it was a hard draw, but we are looking forward to facing some of the best teams in Europe. To play against the best players and teams are what we as players are driven by. It will be a hard challenge, but we aim for the main round.”

GROUP C

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Danish champions

Coach: Helle Thomsen (since 2012)Team captain: Sabina Jacobsen

Newcomers:Louise Burgaard (Viborg)Veronica Kristiansen (Glassverket)Ana Vojcic (Randers)Johanna Ahlm (Esbjerg)

Left the club:Nycke Groot (Györ)Line Jorgensen (Bucuresti)Ida Alstad (Byasen)

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FC Midtjylland

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 34:18 (16:10) v Motor Zaporoshje UKR (h), 14.11.1998Biggest defeat: 24:38 (14:19) v Viborg HK DEN (h), 07.02.2009Longest winning run: 5 matches (22.02.2004 – 30.01.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (22.02.2004 – 12.02.2005)Longest losing run: 7 matches (18.01.2009 – 21.03.2009)Longest run without win: 9 matches (03.01.2009 – 21.03.2009)

Most goals: 37 v MKS Selgros Lublin POL 37:26W (h), 17.11.2013Most goals opponent: 38 v Viborg HK DEN 24:38L (h), 07.02.2009Most goals both teams: 67 v CBM Astroc Sagunto ESP 37:30L (a), 19.02.2005Fewest goals: 15 v Buducnost MNE 22:15L (a), 03.11.2013Fewest goals opponent: 17 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), 01.10.2011Fewest goals both teams: 36 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), 01.10.2011

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1998/99 Ikast FS DEN 8 4 2 2 198:173 +25 10:6 1/4-finals2002/03 Ikast Bording EH DEN 10 5 0 5 266:266 0 10:10 1/2-finals2003/04 Ikast Bording EH DEN 6 3 0 3 162:159 +3 6:6 3rd Gr. B2004/05 Ikast Bording EH DEN 8 5 1 2 233:226 +7 11:5 1/4-finals2008/09 Ikast-Brande EH DEN 12 3 1 8 325:367 -42 7:17 4th MR Gr. 12011/12 FC Midtjylland DEN 12 6 0 6 290:283 +7 12:12 4th MR Gr. 12013/14 FC Midtjylland DEN 14 8 1 5 365:349 +16 17:11 Fourth Place

Total 70 34 5 31 1839:1823 +16 73:67

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Team roster

FC Midtjylland

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

18 Ditte Hoegenhaug Aaen DEN Left Back 14/02/1996 Strandby, DEN 17522 Johanna M. H. Ahlm SWE Centre Back 03/10/1987 Härlanda, SWE 17540 Karina Andersen DEN Left Back 05/03/1996 Nordfyn, DEN 1821 Stephanie Andersen DEN Goalkeeper 19/06/1992 Randers, DEN 18724 Mie Augustesen DEN Left Wing 19/07/1988 Hedensted, DEN 17745 Emilie Bastrup Bertelsen DEN Left Wing 19/02/1997 Holstebro, DEN 1712 Pauline Boegelund DEN Right Back 17/02/1996 Egedal, DEN 17427 Louise Katharina Burgaard DEN Right Back 17/10/1992 Esbjerg 17816 Sabine Englert GER Goalkeeper 27/11/1981 Aschaffenburg, GER 1859 Sabina Rosengren Jacobsen SWE Left Back 24/03/1989 Lund, SWE 1827 Annika Jakobsen DEN Right Wing 25/02/1997 Horsens, DEN 17025 Trine Ostergaard Jensen DEN Right Wing 17/10/1991 Galten 1656 Stine Jörgensen DEN Left Back 03/09/1990 Brønderslev 18010 Veronica Kristiansen NOR Left Back 10/07/1990 Stavanger 17215 Jane Sönderbaek Mejlvang DEN Centre Back 02/08/1995 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 1814 Line Skak Lindegaard Nielsen DEN Line Player 06/04/1997 Ikast-Brande, DEN 17520 Sabine Pedersen DEN Line Player 05/05/1986 Aalborg, DEN 1808 Simone Cathrine Petersen DEN Centre Back 28/08/1997 Ringsted, DEN 16512 Stephanie Kjaer Rasmussen DEN Goalkeeper 21/10/1996 Ikast-Brand, DEN 17849 Frederikke Fevre Siggard DEN Goalkeeper 23/01/1997 Ikast-Brande, DEN 17614 Kristina Sommer DEN Right Wing 26/01/1994 Aarhus, DEN 17417 Susan Torp Thorsgaard DEN Line Player 13/10/1988 Arhus, DEN 18879 Ana Vojcic SRB Goalkeeper 03/06/1979 Arandelovac, SRB 17921 Fie Woller DEN Left Wing 17/09/1992 Herning

Helle Thomsencoach• coming from a handball mad family, she started playing at the age of five in Frederikshavn

• key part of the Frederikshavn team of the late nineties, reaching the Danish championship final in 1998 as well as the Danish Cup final and the quarter-finals of the City Cup in 1999

• in March 2012 became head coach of FCM

• in the 2012/13 season led FCM to the Danish league and cup, as well as the semi-finals of the EHF Cup

• in her second season steered the team to the maiden EHF FINAL4 in Budapest

EC trophies: EHF Cup: 2011 (as assistant coach)

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Johanna Ahlmcentre back• joined FC Midtjylland ahead of the 2015/16 season from league rivals Team Esbjerg

• has to fill out the large footsteps of Dutch international Nycke Groot in the playmaker spot

• playing in Denmark is no stranger to her, as she has played in the Danish league since 2009, representing Aalborg, Viborg and Esbjerg

• played 127 internationals for Sweden and scored 419 goals

Fie Wollerleft wing• at the age of 5, when she started to play handball, she knew that her future was on the left wing, just like her idol Lars Christiansen

• in FCM she used to play in the same team as her twin sister Cecilie

• however, lack of time on the court made Cecilie move to then league newcomer Nykøbing

• won the W19 EHF EURO 2011 with Denmark

• Best Young Player of the 2013/14 CL season

Sabine Englertgoalkeeper• former German national team player is in fact a former teammate of Kiel winger Dominik Klein - when she started playing at the age of 5 in Aschaffenburg, they were in the same mixed team

• only a few days after signing the contract with FCM in the early spring 2008, she played in her future home, the Ikast Brande Arena, with Hypo NÖ.

• on the same occasion she sustained a knee injury, but since then, she has had happier memories of the hall

Veronica Kristiansenleft back• joined FCM from Norwegian runners-up Glassverket ahead of the 2015/16 season

• succeeding her teammate in the Norwegian national team Ida Alstad in the left back position which she will be sharing with Stine Jorgensen

• out of a handball family, as her sisters Jeanett and Charlotte also play handball. Jeanett is playing in Glassverket which Veronica has just left

• has played 46 internationals for Norway

Susan Thorsgaardline player• with her 188 cm taller than most female handball players

• she as well as her teammates in FCM and in the Danish national team have benefited from her height

• another great asset is her experience

• has played in FCM’s first team since 2009, and she can also add around hundred internationals for Denmark to her CV

Trine Østergaard Jensenright wing• ever since she started playing handball at the age of nine, has been ambitious

• key player for FCM, particularly after former Danish international Maibritt Kviesgaard left in the summer of 2013

• in 2012 she also made her debut for Denmark

• third best scorer of FCM in their successful 2013/14 campaign to the FINAL4 in Budapest and fourth best team’s scorer in the 2014/15 season crowned with the Cup Winners’ Cup trophy

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2015 EHF Cup 2011, Challenge Cup: 2005WCh: Bronze 2007

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2015

EC trophies: CL 2010EURO: S 2010, B 2014

EURO: G 2014

Ana Vojcicgoalkeeper• joined Midtjylland from league rivals Randers HK ahead of the 2015/16 season, also represented Aalborg DH from 2007 to 2013

• seen as a great supplement to German star keeper Sabine Englert who has been missing a qualified colleague for a long time

• for the second time with the club, where she played from 2003 to 2005, when the club name was Ikast-Bording EH

• has played 60 internationals for Serbia

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2015

Louise Katharina Burgaardright back• made her first appearances in the Danish league at 17 with KIF Vejen.

• joined FCM from Viborg in the summer of 2015, played also for Team Tvis Holstebro (summer 2013)

• debuted in the Denmark national team at 19 and later became a regular in the squad

• won her first senior Danish titles with Viborg – Danish cup and Danish championship 2013/14

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014WCh: B 2013

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2015

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Two years ago, they made an instant splash by making it to the MVM EHF FINAL4 as debutants, in May 2014 they were part of the pinnacle event again - and in both cases Vardar Skopje lost their semi-final against Buducnost. To book the trip to Budapest for a third time is the goal of the Macedonian champions this season. In contrast to the previous years, the squad did not change that much: The only newcomers are Serbian left back Sanja Damnjanovic (from Viborg) and Croatian Andrea Covic from Podravka.

“It is good for the team that they come from Balkan countries, because they will acclimatise much quicker than other players who came to Macedonia for the first time,” says club manager Ana Mihajlovska. Three key players have left Vardar - including Allison Pineau, who had already transferred during last season. “I expect to have a good performance in the Champions League, as now we have two years of experience in this competition. The team is almost the same, so they will quickly find their rhythm,” Mihajlovska explains her high hopes.

In the previous season, Vardar were the first team to stop Györ after eight semi-final participations in the Champions League in a row by defeating the 2013 and 2014 champions in the quarter-finals. Now both main contenders for the FINAL4 face already in the group matches, together with Midtjylland and Hypo in Group C.

Vardar defeated Midtjylland in the bronze medal match of the 2014 FINAL4, but the Danish champions are expected to be a tough challenge. “They have an excellent goalkeeper, they give their best and fight until end of the game, especially when they play at home,” says Mihajlovska, for whom Hypo is the most unknown team in their group.

Newcomer Sanja Damnjanovic had faced Midtjylland with Viborg often in the Danish league, so the Serb knows a lot about them: “FC Midtjylland are always a good team, they play a fast Danish style. The encounters will be exciting but I hope we will win.” Damnjanovic expects the games against Györ to be the crucial ones for the top position of Group C, and admits: “They have a better team than last season, firstly because many players are back and secondly because they signed more good players. So they are one of the favourites for the title.”

Despite a lot of respect for Hypo Damnjanovic hopes “that we do not have that much trouble against them”.

GROUP C HC Vardar (MKD)

Club Address:WHC VardarPreseka 55/101000 SkopjeFYR Macedonia

Media contact:Ivana Stojanovska+389 71 247 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.zrkvardar.mkFacebook: ZRK-Vardar-SCBTTwitter: @zrkvardar

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 3Semi-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 (third rank at MVM EHF FINAL4)

OtherEHF Cup: Last 16: 2012/13

Macedonian league: 2 titles (2013, 2014, 2015)Macedonian cup: 3 titles

Playing hallJane SandanskiSkopjeFYR MacedoniaCapacity: 5,500

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Macedonian champions

Coaches: Indira Kastratovic (since 2012), Jan Pytlick (since 2014)Team captain: Inna Suslina

Newcomers:Sanja Damnjanovic (Viborg HK)Andrea Covic (HC Podravka Vegeta)

Left the club:Begona Fernandez (retired)Julija Nikolic (retired)Allison Pineau (Baia Mare)Simona StojanovskaSara Mitova (HC Vardar Junior)Ivana Gakidova (Banik Most)

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HC Vardar

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 17:35 (10:16) v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO (a), 03.11.2013 29:47 (12:24) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (a), 06.03.2015Biggest defeat: 27:17 (14:9) v Buducnost MNE (a), 09.05.2015Longest winning run: 5 matches (19.10.2013 – 02.02.2014)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (06.10.2013 – 15.02.2014)Longest losing run: 2 matches (22.11.2014 – 30.01.2015)Longest run without win: 3 matches (16.11.2014 – 30.01.2015)

Most goals: 47 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015Most goals opponent: 33 v Dinamo-Sinara RUS 33:25L (a), 15.02.2015Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015Fewest goals: 17 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014 17 v Buducnost MNE 27:17L (a), 09.05.2015Fewest goals opponent: 17 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 17:35W (a), 03.11.2013Fewest goals both teams: 40 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached2013/14 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 14 9 3 2 393:333 +60 21:7 Third Place2014/15 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 16 9 2 5 435:403 +32 20:12 Third Place

Total 30 18 5 7 828:736 +92 41:19

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Team roster

HC Vardar

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

20 Anja Althaus GER Line Player 03/09/1982 Magdeburg, GER 17725 Olga Chernoivanenko RUS Right Wing 17/04/1989 Samarsk, RUS 17627 Andrea Covic CRO Line Player 09/10/1993 Sinj, CRO 18011 Sanja Damnjanovic SRB Centre Back 25/05/1987 Beograd, SRB 18117 Siraba Dembele FRA Left Wing 28/06/1986 Dreux, FRA 17296 Itana Grbic MNE Left Wing 01/09/1996 Podgorica, MNE 30 Alena Ikhneva RUS Left Back 30/07/1995 Orenburg, RUS 18371 Tatiana Khmyrova RUS Right Back 06/02/1990 Volgograd, RUS 1805 Andrea Klikovac MNE Right Back 05/05/1991 Podgorica, MNE 17415 Barbara Lazovic SLO Right Back 04/01/1988 Brezice, SLO 18377 Andrea Lekic SRB Centre Back 06/09/1987 Beograd, SRB 17812 Amandine Leynaud FRA Goalkeeper 02/05/1986 Aubenas, FRA 17823 Andrea Penezic CRO Left Back 13/11/1985 Zagreb, CRO 1861 Dragana Petkovska MKD Goalkeeper 12/06/1996 Skopje, MKD 4 Jovanka Radicevic MNE Right Wing 23/10/1986 Podgorica, MNE 16991 Sara Ristovska MKD Right Wing 09/09/1996 Skopje, MKD 19 Maja Sokac CRO Left Wing 31/05/1982 Split, CRO 17831 Inna Suslina RUS Goalkeeper 05/01/1979 Tashkent, USSR 184

Indira Kastratoviccoach• in her second coaching season led Vardar to their historical third place at the first women’s FINAL4 and repeated that also in 2015 with help of her coaching partner Jan Pytlick

• her greatest success as a player achieved with Kometal, for whom she played twice in the CL final, winning the title in 2002

• in 1997 she was the top scorer of the WCh with 71 goals as part of the Macedonian team

• in 2006 she retired as a player and concentrated her attention on coaching youth players

EC trophies: CL 2002 (as player)

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Inna Suslinagoalkeeper• former Russia national team player graduated from the University RGPU Rostov Don as a teacher

• Vardar is her second stint outside of Russia – she previously spent four seasons with GOG in Denmark

• has twice been voted in All-Star teams – at the EHF EURO 2006 and the WCh 2009

• as team captain led the team to the bronze medal at the first edition of the FINAL4 in 2014

Anja Althausline player• first German player to play in FYR Macedonia.

• switched from being a designer in advertising to a hairdresser, and is known as stylist to her teammates in both her club and national team

• two EHF Champions League titles with Viborg (2009, 2010)

• one of the most famous German players with over 200 caps for Germany and more than 500 goals

Andrea Lekiccentre back• competed in karate and reached blue belt before moving on to ball sports including volleyball, basketball, football and tennis

• voted the 2013 World Handball Player of the Year

• All-Star Team at the EHF EURO 2012.

• organises her own handball camp every other year

Andrea Penezicleft back• in the summer of 2014 signed a 1+1 year contract

• raised the Slovenian title and cup four times with Krim Mercator

• best left back in the All-Star Team at the WCh 2011

• played also for Lokomotiva and Podravka

• Croatian player of the year six consecutive times

• together with Cristina Neagu the top scorer of the 2014/15 season with 102 goals

Siraba Dembeleleft wing• French left wing signed with Vardar ahead of last season and played an important role in the team in 2013/14, scoring 35 goals

• Vardar is the seventh team in her career – she previously played for five different French teams and spent one season with Danish club Randers

• captain of the France national team

• extended her contract with Vardar until 2016

Jovanka Radicevicright wing• as the daughter of a handball player, started playing handball at the age of 12

• best right wing at the EHF EURO 2012 when she won the championship with Montenegro

• in 2013 she won the CL title with Györ.

• with Buducnost, she won seven championships and cup titles in Montenegro (2005-2011), two regional league titles (2010, 2011) and two titles in the Cup Winners’ Cup (2006, 2010)

Barbara Lazovicright back• arrived from Krim together with Andrea Penezic in the summer of 2014

• before she joined Vardar she played only for Krim besides a year-long stint in Zaječar, Serbia

• married to Vuk Lazovic, a handball player from Serbia

• contemplated a switch to Serbia, but remained loyal to the Slovenian national team

• expected to share more time with Tatiana Khmyrova who is back after a long injury

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002OG: S 2004, WCh: G 2001, 2007, 2009, EHF EURO: S 2006, B 2008

EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010WCh: B 2007, Junior WCh: B 2001

EC trophies: CL 2013WCh: S 2013

WCh: S 2009, 2011, EHF EURO B 2006

EC trophies: CL 2013, Cup Winners’ Cup 2006, 2010OG: S 2012, EURO: G 2012

Sanja Damnjanovic left back/centre back• played for a number of clubs in Serbia, also for Krim and Podravka

• haunted by several injuries while with Viborg (2013-2015)

• named in the All-star team at the EHF EURO 2012 and WCh 2013 – both played in Serbia

• awarded Handball Player of the Year in Serbia for the 2013/14 season

WCh: S 2013

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The last two remaining Brazilians Rocha and Araos have left, the most experienced player Gorica Acimovic ended her career, defence boss Gabriela Rotis-Nagy is pregnant and two players, Altina Berisha and Christina Belik, will miss the whole season due to injuries. Their 23rd straight participation in the Women’s EHF Champions League seems to be ill-fated for record winners Hypo Niederösterreich.

In addition, the 39 times Austrian champions were drawn in Group C only with teams who have been part of the two ‘FINAL4’ events in 2014 and 2015, including two-time champions Györi Audi ETO KC, FC Midtjylland and HC Vardar.

The preconditions for coach Ferenc Kovacs are anything but easy. In the past five seasons, Hypo have missed qualification for the main round.

“As we are in a transition phase to a younger and more local team, the challenges in this Champions League season are bigger than in the years before,” says Hypo’s managing director Gerhard Haidvogel, adding: “We will try to keep up with our group phase opponents as long as possible, though we know that we face three strong and experienced teams.”

But despite all problems, Haidvogel is still looking forward to the next international season: “To play in an international League is a key for Hypo. To play even in the Champions League is the greatest challenge and target you could imagine in women club handball.” The only experienced player among the six newcomers from four countries is former Hungarian international Ibolya Mehlmann however the rest are a talented group.

The only remaining experienced player in Hypo’s squad is team captain Marina Budecevic.She expects a challenging season: “We have big respect for all opponents and will fight for the best possible results though we know that we face three potential participants of the FINAL4 already in the group matches.”

GROUP C Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT)

Club Address:Hypo NiederösterreichBSFZ SüdstadtLiese-Prokop-Platz 12344 Maria EnzersdorfAustria

Media contact:Kati Kovacs+43 664 6016 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.hypo-noe.atFacebook: hyponoe

Playing hallBSFZ SüdstadtLiese Prokop Platz 12344 Maria EnzersdorfAustriaCapacity: 1,020

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: orange

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 23Winners (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 1997/98, 1999/2000Runners-up (2): 1995/96, 2007/08Semi-final (5): 1996/97, 1998/99, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09Quarter-final (1): 2005/06Group Matches (9): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15

OtherCup Winners Cup: Winners 2012/13, Runners-up 2003/04

Austrian league: 39 titles (1977-2015)Austrian cup: 28 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Austrian champions

Coach: Ferenc Kovacs, (since 2014)Team captain: Marina Budecevic

Newcomers:Verena Flöck (DJK/MJC Trier)Kitti Kiss (Mosonmagyarovar)Ibolya Weiszne Mehlmann (Vaci KCSK)Altina Berisha (WAT Atzgersdorf)Sonata Vijunaite (HC BW Feldkirch)Alzbeta Tothova (HC Zlin)

Left the club:Gorica Acimovic (end of career)Francielle Gomes da Rocha (N/A)Vivien Lerant (maternity leave)Mariana Costa (Nykobing FHK)Sabrina Stumvoll (UHC Stockerau)Maria Eugenia Musalem Araos (N/A)Katharina Doppler (UHC Stockerau)

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Hypo Niederösterreich

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 17:32 (7:17) v Bel. Olimpija Ljubljana SLO (a), 19.02.1995Biggest defeat: 42:22 (20:11) v HC Leipzig GER (a), 31.10.2014Longest winning run: 14 matches (22.01.1994 – 26.03.1995)Longest unbeaten run: 14 matches (22.01.1994 – 26.03.1995)Longest losing run: 4 matches (20.11.2010 – 30.10.2011)Longest run without win: 6 matches (10.11.2013 – 09.11.2014)

Most goals: 38 v HC Kometal Gjorce Petrov MKD 38:27W (h), 19.01.2007 38 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 38:28W (h), 14.03.2009Most goals opponent: 41 v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 41:22L (a), 05.10.2013Most goals both teams: 71 v Randers HK DEN 39:32L (a), 30.11.2011Fewest goals: 14 v Podravka Koprivnica CRO 17:14L (a), 29.04.1995 14 v Kometal Dj. P. Skopje MKD 21:14L (a), 01.03.1998Fewest goals opponent: 12 v Kometal Dj. P. Skopje MKD 26:12W (h), 21.02.1998Fewest goals both teams: 30 v Podravka Koprivnica CRO 17:13W (h), 04.05.1996

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1993/94 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 8 8 0 0 186:149 +37 16:0 Winner1994/95 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 8 7 0 1 202:147 +55 14:2 Winner1995/96 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 8 6 1 1 184:150 +34 13:3 Runner-up1996/97 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 10 9 0 1 249:194 +55 18:2 1/2-finals1997/98 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 12 9 0 3 275:241 +34 18:6 Winner1998/99 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 10 8 0 2 277:234 +43 16:4 1/2-finals1999/00 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 12 8 2 2 338:291 +47 18:6 Winner2000/01 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 3 0 3 158:162 -4 6:6 3rd Gr. A2001/02 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 3 0 3 171:159 +12 6:6 3rd Gr. C2002/03 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 3 0 3 149:165 –16 6:6 3rd Gr. C2003/04 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 3 0 3 159:166 -7 6:6 3rd Gr. C2004/05 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 10 6 0 4 287:268 +19 12:8 1/2-finals2005/06 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 8 5 0 3 225:211 +14 10:6 1/4-finals2006/07 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 10 7 0 3 295:275 +20 14:6 1/2-finals2007/08 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 16 13 0 3 498:435 +63 26:6 Runner-up2008/09 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 14 11 0 3 421:366 +55 22:6 1/2-finals2009/10 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 12 5 1 6 331:350 -19 10*:14 3rd MR Gr. 22010/11 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 2 0 4 137:147 -10 4:8 3rd Gr. B2011/12 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 2 0 4 167:187 -20 4:8 4th Gr. C2012/13 Hypo NÖ AUT 6 3 0 3 156:153 +3 6:6 3rd Gr. A2013/14 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 2 0 4 149:170 -21 4:8 3rd Gr. A2014/15 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 6 1 1 4 136:175 –39 3:9 4th Gr. A

Total 192 124 5 63 5150:4795 +355 252*:132

* Point for Hypo Niederösterreich deducted by official decision

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Team roster

Hypo Niederösterreich

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

24 Altina Berisha AUT Left Back 24/11/1994 Vienna, AUT 18110 Marina Budecevic AUT Left Back 25/11/1982 Sremska Mitrovica, SRB 1776 Mirela Dedic AUT Left Wing 15/12/1991 Bruck an der Mur, AUT 1691 Verena Flöck AUT Goalkeeper 29/06/1992 Vienna, AUT 1768 Martina Goricanec AUT Centre Back 19/09/1993 Feldkirch, AUT 18027 Anna Hajgato HUN Goalkeeper 27/04/1992 Budapest, HUN 17022 Stefanie Kaiser AUT Line Player 31/10/1992 Wiener Neustadt, AUT 1817 Kitti Kiss HUN Right Wing 13/03/1994 Györ, HUN 16392 Klaudia Kovacs AUT Left Wing 23/01/1992 Feldkirch, AUT 1659 Patricia Kovacs AUT Centre Back 26/05/1996 Lustenau, AUT 17820 Viktoria Mauler AUT Wing 23/08/1993 Wien, AUT 16733 Gabriela Rotis-Nagy AUT Left Back 12/11/1980 Sfantu-Gherorghe , ROU 18916 Olga Sanko RUS Goalkeeper 28/02/1978 Rostov/Don, RUS 18011 Jennifer Thurner AUT Centre Back 19/05/1993 Mödling, AUT 17819 Alzbeta Tothova SVK Right Back 18/02/1978 Komarno, SVK 17823 Sonata Vijunaite LTU Line Player 23/02/1980 Lietuva, LTU 17515 Claudia Wess AUT Right Back 15/06/1995 Wien, AUT 1804 Ibolya Wieszne Mehlmann HUN Right Back 04/11/1981 Pecs, HUN 192

Ferenc Kovacscoach• has been working for Hypo since 1998 as coach of Hypo II and from 2014/15 season the official head coach for the long-term Hypo development project

• born in Hungary and played for Ferencvaros, where he was coached by another former Hypo coach, Andras Nemeth

• interim coach of the Austria national team, which won the bronze medal at the WCh 1999

• assistant coach of Austria at the 2000 Olympic Games

WCh: B 1999 (as coach)

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Marina Budecevicleft back• most experienced in the rejuvenated squad

• playmaker of the Austrian national team, but also can play on the right back position.

• most of her handball career player for Hypo (1998 until 2006 and again since 2014), but has also played for German side TV Mainzlar, Danish side Arhus or Norwegian club Oslo

• had already been playing coach for Austrian club Wiener Neustadt, before she returned to Hypo

Olga Sankogoalkeeper• played and won her so-far only CL final against Hypo when playing for Zvezda in 2007/08

• came to Hypo as a young player in 2005, then returned to her home country of Russia before joining the Austrians again in 2009

• mother of twins

• new number one goalkeeper after Barbara Arenhart transferred to Baia Mare

Stefanie Kaiserline player• successor of Brazilian World Champion Fabiana Carvalho Carneiro Diniz at the line player position

• joined the Hypo youth team at the age of 15

• played with Hypo’s first team for three years

• part of the Austria team that won the bronze medal at the U19 EHF EURO 2011

Martina Goricaneccentre back• part of the Hypo youth programme after starting her youth career at Feldkirch, returned to Feldkirch for the 2013/14 season before she came back to where everything got started at Hypo

• had her first appearance in the Hypo women’s team already at the age of 16

• netted in 29 goals in the 2014/15 international season – 16 in the CL, 13 in the Cup Winners’ Cup

• part in the biggest success of a Austrian YAC team, winning the U19 bronze medal at the U19 EHF EURO

Alzbeta Tothovaright back• five-time Player of the Year in Slovakia (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011)

• her first CL Group Matches experience in 2015/16

• spent most of her career, almost 12 years, with Slovakian Champions Iuventa Michalovce, had a short spell with Debrecen and played abroad also in Sokol Poruba and Zlin

• 2003/2004 was her best European season, when she scored 28 goals for Iuventa Michalovce

• universal back court player, able to cover all positions at back court, scoring lot of goals

Viktoria Maulerleft wing• joined Hypo at the age of ten

• has been in the first team at Hypo since 2013

• shares the left wing position with Mirela Dedic

• both are in the squad of the Austria women’s national team

Kitty Kissright wing• born in the Hungarian capital of handball, Győr but she never made an appearance for the first team there

• played for Győr’s youth academy, Mosonmagyaróvár and signed a contract with Hypo in the summer of 2015

• coach Ferenc Kovács, who will have three Hungarian players at Hypo, personally asked for her

Ibolya Mehlmannright back• has taken her talents to four different countries and played for five clubs in Hungary

• at 20 made quite an impression at the Junior WCh, where her prolific contribution helped the Hungarian team to reach the final

• signed with Aalborg in 2006 and was picked to the All-star of the EHF EURO 2006

• Mehlmann won the Hungarian second league with her team VKCSK before she moved to Vienna

EC trophies: CL 2008

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2013U19 EURO: B 2012

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2013EURO: B 2004, WCh: S 2003, B 2005

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Eight years in a row, Györi Audi ETO have made it to at least the semi-finals of the Women’s EHF Champions League, and even lifted the trophy in 2013 and 2014. This achievement has not been matched by any other female team in the European club handball’s flagship competition up to this point.

But then the defending champions’ trend came to an end in April 2015 - losing their quarter-finals against Vardar on aggregate. Thus, the Hungarian powerhouses failed to qualify for the MVM EHF FINAL4 at home in Budapest.

Some possible causes for this unsuccessful season could be the absence of Katrine Lunde and Anita Görbicz due to pregnancy. Eduarda Amorim was out for month after tearing her cruciate ligament.

Even on a domestic level, Györ were suffering. They lost the league finals to their rivals FTC, but managed to book their place in the Champions League group matches by winning their qualification tournament.

Györ ended up in a tough group coming up against such sides as Midtjylland, Vardar and record champions, Hypo Niederösterreich. But with Görbicz and Amorim returning hopes are high for the club. Before the new season, Györ have undergone one of the biggest transitions in the club’s history.

In total ten players including Katrine Lunde, Susann Müller, Jelena Grubisic, Macarena Aguilar and Orsolya Herr have departed. On the other hand, some Hungarians young guns, Dutch stars Cornelia Nycke Groot and Yvette Broich and Norwegian right back Linn Sulland will now wear the famous green and white.

Thus, coach Ambros Martin now has the challenge to get this new squad working together, but the early signs are positive as Martin & Co. are on the back of a successful pre-season. Györ came out on top in all seven of their preparation matches, the Hungarian Super Cup - against FTC - and both Champions League qualification matches - all of which underlines that they are well and truly back on track.

GROUP C Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Club Address:Győri Audi ETO KCKiskutliget92027 GyőrHungary

Media contact:Andrea Szilagyi+36 70 394 95 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.gyorietokc.huFacebook: Győri-Audi-ETO-KCTwitter: @GyoriaudiETO

Playing hallAUDI ArenaKiskút liget9027 GyörHungaryCapacity: 5,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: greenGoalkeeper shirt: white/red

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

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 13Winners (2): 2012/13, 2013/14Runners-up (2): 2008/09, 2011/12Semi-final (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11Quarter-final (1): 2014/15Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06Qualification (1): 2004/05

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2005/06, Semi-final 2002/03EHF Cup: Runners-up 1998/99, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05

Hungarian league: 11 titles (1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)Hungarian cup: 12 titles

Qualification for the 2015/16 Women’s EHF Champions League season: Hungarian runners-ups, winners of qualification tournament 1

Coach: Ambros Martín (since 2012)Team captain: Anita Görbicz

Newcomers:Zsuzsanna Tomori (FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria),Eva Kiss (Fehervar KC)Gabriella Toth (Mosonmagyarovar KC)Cornelia Groot (FC Midtjylland)Yvette Broch (Metz Handball)Linn Sulland (Larvik HK)

Left the club:Vesna Milanovic Litre (Krim Ljubljana)Macarena Aguilar (Rostov/Siofok)Jelena Grubisic (CSM Bucharest)Katrine Lunde (Rostov)Orsolya Herr (Fehervar KC)Agnes Hornyak (Nice Handball)Anna Sen (Rostov)Ivett Szepesi (Mosonmagyarovar KC)Csapo Kyra (Mosonmagyarovar KC)Susann Müller (Bietigheim)

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Biggest win: 41:22 (21:11) v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT (h), 05.10.2013Biggest defeat: 28:39 (12:20) v Spartak Kiev UKR (a), 17.02.2001Longest winning run: 13 matches (13.10.2012 – 06.04.2013)Longest unbeaten run: 22 matches (05.05.2013 – 23.11.2014)Longest losing run: 3 matches (11.02.2001 – 07.01.2006)Longest run without win: 4 matches (28.01.2001 – 07.01.2006) 4 matches (20.03.2011 – 02.10.2011)Most goals: 41 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 41:22W (h), 05.10.2013Most goals opponent: 39 v Spartak Kiev UKR 39:28L (a), 17.02.2001Most goals both teams: 73 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:40W (a), 13.01.2008Fewest goals: 18 v Larvik NOR 18:24L (h), 20.03.2011 18 v WHC Vardar SCBT 24:18L (a), 04.04.2015Fewest goals opponent: 14 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009Fewest goals both teams: 34 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009

Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Women’s EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2000/01 Györi Graboplast ETO HUN 6 1 2 3 156:168 –12 4 4th Gr. D

2005/06 Györi ETO Kezilabda Club HUN 6 3 0 3 154:169 -15 6 3rd Gr. D

2006/07 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 10 6 0 4 291:267 +24 12 1/2-finals

2007/08 Györi Audi ETO HUN 14 11 0 3 415:366 +49 22 1/2-finals

2008/09 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 11 1 4 454:415 +39 23 Runner-up

2009/10 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 8 2 4 355:337 +18 18 1/2-finals

2010/11 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 387:334 +53 21 1/2-finals

2011/12 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 16 10 1 5 472:422 +50 21 Runner-up

2012/13 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 15 0 1 435:346 +89 30 Winner

2013/14 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 12 2 0 408:337 +71 26 Winner

2014/15 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 385:313 +72 21:7 1/4-finals

Total 140 97 10 33 3912:3474 +438 204:76

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No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height 18 Eduarda Idalina Amorim Taleska BRA Left Back 23.9.1986 Blumenau/BRA 18633 Bernadett Bognar-Bodi HUN Right Wing 9.3.1986 Szeged 17514 Yvette Broch NED Line Player 21.12.1990 Monster/NED 18428 Beatrix Elö HUN Right Back 28.1.1997 Györ 18213 Anita Görbicz HUN Centre Back 13.5.1983 Veszprem 17327 Cornelia Nycke Groot NED Centre Back 4.5.1988 Alkmaar/NED 1708 Anette Emma Hudak HUN Left Back 25.3.1998 Bratislava/SVK 1783 Jana Knedlikova CZE Right Wing 22.6.1989 Praha/CZE 16711 Dorina Korsos HUN Left Wing 3.9.1995 Kecskemét 16814 Aniko Kovacsics HUN Centre Back 29.8.1991 Nagyatad 17017 Rita Lakatos HUN Centre Back 6.7.1999 Dunajska Streda/SVK 17488 Luca Linder HUN Line Player 8.6.1996 Mohacs 171 5 Heidi Loke NOR Line Player 12.12.1982 Tonsberg/NOR 17721 Szimonetta Planeta HUN Right Back 12.12.1993 Kazincbarcika 19815 Linn Jorum Sulland NOR Right Back 15.7.1984 Oslo/NOR 17823 Zsuzsanna Tomori HUN Left Back 18.6.1987 Budapest 18796 Gabriella Toth HUN Back 23.9.1996 Berettyóújfalu 17522 Adrienn Orban HUN Right Wing 1.10.1986 Györ 1689 Julia Harsfalvi HUN Centre Back 12.11.1996 Zalaegerszeg 16816 Alexa Weninger HUN Goalkeeper 25.6.1997 Györ 17721 Eva Kiss HUN Goalkeeper 10.7.1987 Debrecen 18985 Kari Aalvik Grimsbø NOR Goalkeeper 4.1.1985 Bergen/NOR 180

Team roster

Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Ambros Martíncoach• born in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

• joined Győr in 2012

• previously coached top Spanish side Estrella Itxako for seven years, winning the EHF Cup in 2009

• also eliminating Györ in the semi-final on the way to the CL final in 2010/11 during that spell

• in his first season with Győr he won their first European trophy

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014, EHF Cup 2009

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Kari Aalvik Grimsbøgoalkeeper• joined Györ from Danish Team Esbjerg during the 2014/15 season, as Croatian Jelena Grubisic, a replacement for pregnant Katrine Lunde, got injured

• before joining Esbjerg, had a long career in Norwegian Byasen, including a lot of appearances in the CL, the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup

• an injury in the first match at the EHF EURO 2014 meant that she missed the Norwegian triumph

• started her career at the age of 5, had her debut for Byasen in the Norwegian league at the age of 17

Heidi Lokeline player• World Handball Player of the Year (2011)

• famous daughter in a big handball family as both of her siblings are professional players and all of them are line players

• in 2011 she took the title with Larvik as the CL top scorer, and in 2012 she only narrowly missed it with Győr only to achieve it one year later

• member of the All-Star teams at the London Olympics, 2011 WCh and EHF EURO 2010, 2012 & 2014

Linn-Jørum Sullandright back• recent new reinforcement from Larvik, whom she joined in 2009 from league rivals Stabæk

• in 2005/06 the best player of the domestic league and also was the top scorer

• reached the 500-goal plateau in the national team

• top scorer of the European Beach Handball Championship in 2007

Aniko Kovacsicsleft wing/centre back• the playmaker was propelled into the starting seven due to the pregnancy of Anita Görbicz in the 2014/15 season

• the 23-year-old made her CL debut at 16 and is already in her eighth season.

• also able to play left wing and was deployed in that position by Hungary during EHF EURO 2014

• awarded best young player of the 2012/13 CL season

Nycke Grootcentre back• due to injury of Gabi Toth and recovery of Anita Görbicz is expected to have a major share on the playing time at the playmaker’s position

• has had her entire career at top level in Denmark until she joined Györ in the summer of 2015 (started in Team Tvis Holstebro and since 2011 in FC Midtjylland)

• experienced and inventive playmaker played a particularly big part in FCM reaching the MVM EHF FINAL4, where she became the best scorer (20 goals)

• player of the year in the Danish league in 2014

Zsuzsanna Tomorileft back• joined Györ for the second time in her career in the summer of 2015 from arch rivals Ferencvaros

• previous Hungarian clubs included Dunaferr, Vasas and Győr, but her biggest successes came with FTC, where she won the Cup Winners’ Cup

• 2012/13 CL top scorer with 95 goals

• set to have a bigger role to play at least until Eduarda Amorim fully recovers after an injury

Bernadett Bognar-Bodiright wing• debuted for Györ in the 2002/03 season

• returned in 2013 after spending time with Randers in Denmark and various Hungarian teams

• filled up the gap left by Jovanka Radicevic at right wing

• her personal best in the CL is 30 goals she recorded in the 2014/15 season

Dorina Korsosleft wing• was only seventeen years old when she made her debut in the CL

• despite her young age a key player for Ambros Martin playing on the top of the 5+1 defence and her stellar performances have won her an All-star defender title in the 2014/15 season

• with the absence of Anita Görbicz, Kovacsics plays more in the middle and gives Korsos more time to prove herself on the wing

EC trophies: CL 2011, 2013, 2014OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, EHF EURO: G 2008, 2010, 2014, S 2012

EC trophies: CL 2014

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014EURO: B 2012

EC trophies: CL 2011OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, EURO: G 2008, 2010, S 2012

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012EHF EURO: B 2012

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014EURO: B 2012

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014EURO: B 2012

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Group D preview

Two powerhouses set to clash in Group D

Group D is set for an epic showdown between title holders Buducnost and fresh face CSM Bucuresti. Cristina Neagu will face her hometown team and the third place looks up for grabs between MKS Selgros Lublin and Sävehof IK, which boasts one of the youngest teams ever in the competition. It’s hard to win the Women’s EHF Champions League, but even harder to defend your title. Only four teams managed to retain their status in the European top flight‘s competition history. But Buducnost’s plans are clear: the Montenegrin side are trying to emulate what Hypo Niederösterreich, Slagelse DH, Viborg HK and Györi Audi ETO KC have already achieved. The question is simple: how to follow up on a perfect season, in which Buducnost were undefeated, with 15 wins and a draw from their 16 matches?

The Montenegrin team think they have found the answer by preserving most of last year’s winning side. Only Clara Woltering and Marina Rajcic, the two goalkeepers, are key losses as Buducnost prepares for their 20th season in the Women’s EHF Champions League.

A fresh face, with aspirations of a powerhouse

Buducnost will have no time to spare as the challenge is bound to get tougher. The first reality check will come in the group stage in the spirit of CSM Bucuresti, Romania’s new champions. A fresh face with aspirations of a powerhouse, CSM is the first team from the Romanian capital to ever play in the European premium competition. Such ambitions will never go unnoticed but CSM have already stated they are here to stay and try to win their first European trophy.

With transfers such as right back Line Jorgensen and EHF EURO 2014 all-stars Isabelle Gullden and Maria Fisker, the Romanian side have splashed the cash and made a statement. World champions Mayssa Pessoa, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Deonise Cavaleiro and Fernanda Franca da Silva bolster CSM’s squad, a team that is engineered to impress. However, the run-up to the start of the competition was far from ideal. In August, a 25:31 loss in the Super Cup against archrivals Baia Mare shook the core of the team. It was far from a surprise that coach Mette Klit was sacked but CSM’s management acted quickly and appointed another Danish coach. Kim Rasmussen took over and had three weeks to prepare for the debut.

Lublin tries to qualify after two consecutive misses

CSM’s debut will be on their home turf against Polish champions, MKS Selgros Lublin. At their 12 participations in the European flagship competition, the Polish champions hope to achieve their third qualification from the group matches. It is likely that Marta Daniewska’s side will battle for the third place with Savehof but their official objective is to maintain a perfect record in their home matches. After two unlucky seasons, in which the qualification to the next phase eluded Lublin, the Polish side are ready to go one step further in the Women’s EHF Champions League and experience is the key factor in their endeavor.

Experienced Iwona Niedzwiecz has come to help, while goalkeeper Weronika Gawlik is making her comeback after a injury-riddled season.

Sävehof won their seventh consecutive national title but they will find life in the Women’s EHF Champions League more difficult. Boasting one of the youngest squads ever in the history of the competition, the Swedish side will try to employ their usual play; a defense-first minded, counter-attacking handball. However, without proven players at this level and after the team’s top scorers last season, Jenny Alm and Ida Oden, left the club, Savehof will have a mountain to climb.

Adrian Costeiu

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Group D head-to-headsHistoric encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC

Buducnost vs CSM Bucuresti No previous encounters

Buducnost vs IK Sävehof 2-0-0 (66:50) 4:0 24.10.2010 IK Sävehof vs ‘Buducnost’, EHF Champions League – Group A 24:33 (13:16) 21.11.2010 ‘Buducnost’ vs IK Sävehof, EHF Champions League – Group A 33:26 (16:14)

Buducnost vs MKS Selgros Lublin 3-0-1 (103:82) 6:2 15.10.2006 SPR SAFO-ICom Lublin vs ZRK Buducnost MONET, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 24:21 (10:10) 22.10.2006 ZRK Buducnost MONET vs SPR SAFO-ICom Lublin, EHF Champions League – Qualification Round 2 21:17 (10:8) 06.10.2013 Buducnost vs MKS Selgros Lublin, EHF Champions League – Group B 31:19 (16:8) 09.11.2013 MKS Selgros Lublin vs Buducnost, EHF Champions League – Group B 22:30 (12:13)

CSM Bucuresti vs IK Sävehof No previous encounters

CSM Bucuresti vs MKS Selgros Lublin 1-0-1 (60:57) 2:2 06.11.2011 SPR Lublin vs CSM Bucuresti, EHF Cup – Last 32 32:30 (14:18) 12.11.2011 CSM Bucuresti vs SPR Lublin, EHF Cup – Last 32 30:25 (17:9)

IK Sävehof vs MKS Selgros Lublin No previous encounters

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For the second time Buducnost are the hunted, not the hunters. The defending champions have a clear motto based on continuity: “Never change a winning team, neither on court, nor on the bench, in staff or administration”.

Coach Dragan Adzic extended his contract until 2020, all key field players stayed in the Montenegrin capital, the only change occurred between the goal posts: team captain and 2015 MVM EHF FINAL4 MVP Clara Woltering (to Dortmund) as well as Marina Rajcic (to Metz) left Buducnost. So the big responsibility on this key position lies on the shoulders of Croatian international Marta Zderic. At her side, the young goalkeeper talents Ana Rajkovic and Ljubica Nenezic shall grow and learn.

In addition, Buducnost remained on their traditional way of including talents into the well-rehearsed and well-balanced squad in their 20th season in the European top flight. There’s no big name among their new arrivals, just young players eager to prove themselves like Djurdjina Malovic, Djurdjina Jaukovic (Women’s 19 EHF EURO 2015 Top Scorer & MVP), Ema Ramusovic, Dijana Ujkic (all from their own youth programme), as well as Serbian Jovana Kovacevic or the 17-year-old Croatian super-talent Matea Pletikosic, best centre back of the Women’s 17 EHF EURO last summer.

“Our success from last season will give our team new energy and convince them that they can do it all again. The players will know each other even better than last season and this is a big advantage in the next Champions League season, which, perhaps, will be the strongest in the last five or six seasons,” says Adzic. “As we do not have a strong league, the Champions League has always the biggest focus in our club,” adds sports director Bojana Popovic, six-time winner of the EHF Champions League. “Our goals are always high and we work on this principle and prepare the team to think always that way,” says Popovic, adding: “New challenges are ahead of us this year, as in my opinion the level of competition will increase. Almost all top teams were reinforced by top players, but this motivates us to work even harder.”

Team captain Radmila Petrovic expects “a heavier season compared to last year”, as it will be much harder to repeat the success of winning the trophy, but: “I believe in my team and I hope we will make it to the FINAL4. If we are in Budapest, everything is possible. In any case it will be very interesting season.”

GROUP D Buducnost (MNE)

Club Address:BudućnostIvana Milutinovica B.B.81000 PodgoricaMontenegro

Media contact:Milos Pavicevic+382 682 226 [email protected] / [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.zrkbuducnost.comFacebook: ZrkBuducnost

Playing hallS.C. MoračaStr. Ivana Milutinovića b.b.81000 PodgoricaMontenegroCapacity: 5,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 20Winners (2): 2011/12, 2014/15Runners-up (1): 2013/14Semi-final (6): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11Main Round (1): 2012/13Quarter-final (2): 2002/03, 2003/04Last 16 (1): 1995/96Group Matches (6): 1996/97, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10

OtherCup Winners Cup: Winners 2005/06, 2009/10

Montenegrin league: 27 titles (1985,1989,1990,1992-2015)Montenegrin cup: 20 titles

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Montenegrin champions

Coach: Dragan Adzic (since 2010)Team captain: Radmila Petrovic

Newcomer:Matea Pletikosic (RK Sinj)Jovana Kovacevic (Junior Belgrade)

Left the club:Clara Woltering (Borussia Dortmund)Marina Rajcic (Metz)Zeljka Nikolic (Ringkobing)Camilla Dalby (Randers)

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Buducnost

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 39:20 (19:8) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (h), 15.03.2015Biggest defeat: 36:21 (18:11) v Viborg HK DEN (a), 19.01.1997Longest winning run: 11 matches (23.11.2014 – 10.05.2015)Longest unbeaten run: 16 matches (19.10.2014 – 10.05.2015)Longest losing run: 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005)Longest run without win: 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005)

Most goals: 40 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011Most goals opponent: 40 v Mar El Osito L’Eliana ESP 26:40L (h), 05.04.1998Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011Fewest goals: 16 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005 16 v Larvik NOR 28:16L (a), 16.03.2013Fewest goals opponent: 14 v Thüringer HC GER 23:14W (h), 09.11.2014Fewest goals both teams: 34 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1996/97 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 6 2 2 2 130:143 –13 6:6 3rd Gr. A1997/98 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 1 4 292:305 –13 11:9 1/2-finals1998/99 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 8 1 1 297:238 +59 17:3 1/2-finals1999/00 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 287:274 +13 12:8 1/2-finals2000/01 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 3 2 265:246 +19 13:7 1/2-finals2001/02 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 297:277 +20 12:8 1/2-finals2002/03 RK Buducnost MONET YUG 8 4 0 4 215:216 -1 8:8 1/4-finals2003/04 RK Buducnost MONET SCG 8 4 0 4 209:219 –10 8:8 1/4-finals2004/05 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 1 0 5 141:165 –24 2:10 4th Gr. A2005/06 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 3 0 3 150:154 -4 6:6 3rd Gr. C2006/07 ZRK Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 0 0 6 141:174 -33 0:12 4th Gr. B2007/08 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 1 1 4 153:189 –36 3:9 3rd Gr. D2008/09 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 12 6 2 4 317:326 -9 14:10 3rd MR Gr. 22009/10 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 2 1 3 138:155 -17 5:7 3rd Gr. D2010/11 ‘Buducnost’ MNE 14 10 0 4 417:360 +57 20:8 1/2-finals2011/12 Buducnost MNE 16 14 0 2 453:385 +68 28:4 Winner2012/13 Buducnost MNE 12 5 1 6 265:273 -8 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 12013/14 Buducnost MNE 14 8 3 3 349:298 +51 19:9 Runner-up2014/15 Buducnost MNE 16 15 1 0 444:326 +118 31:1 Winner

Total 186 103 20 63 4960:4723 +237 226:146

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Team roster

Buducnost

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

89 Kinga Achruk (Byzdra) POL Centre Back 09/01/1989 Pulawy 18114 Vanesa Agovic MNE Centre Back 30/03/1996 Berane, MNE 18432 Katarina Bulatovic MNE Right Back 15/11/1984 Kragujevac 18610 Itana Cavlovic MNE Line Player 27/08/1997 Podgorica 72 Dragana Cvijic SRB Line Player 15/03/1990 Beograd, SRB 1849 Djurdjina Jaukovic MNE Left Back 24/02/1997 Niksic 185 Jovana Kovacevic SRB 09/04/199692 Suzana Lazovic MNE Line Player 28/01/1992 Podgorica 17625 Djurdjina Malovic MNE Right Back 05/05/1996 Niksic 18277 Majda Mehmedovic MNE Left Wing 25/05/1990 Bar 1698 Cristina Georgiana Neagu ROU Left Back 26/08/1988 Bucharest 18012 Ljubica Nenezic MNE Goalkeeper 15/01/1997 Podgorica 17988 Biljana Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 12/05/1988 Podgorica 1706 Ivona Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 21/04/1996 Podgorica 1672 Radmila Petrovic MNE Right Wing 19/04/1988 Niksic 174 Matea Pletikosic CRO 24/04/199890 Milena Raicevic (Knezevic) MNE Back 12/03/1990 Podgorica 1781 Ana Rajkovic MNE Goalkeeper 04/09/1996 Podgorica 17766 Ema Ramusovic MNE Line Player 28/11/1996 Berane 1824 Dijana Ujkic MNE Right Wing 05/07/1996 Podgorica, MNE 17243 Marta Zderic CRO Goalkeeper 20/04/1990 Metkovic 184

Dragan Adziccoach• retired due to injury in 1998

• almost a decade was an assistant to many coaches in Buducnost

• became head coach in 2010

• in 2012 won the CL in May with Buducnost and EHF EURO in December with Montenegro

• met his wife Timea after she came to the club as an interpreter to former coach, Hungarian Gyula Zsiga

EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

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Marta Zdericgoalkeeper• playing her ninth consecutive CL season, and her second with Buducnost, after she moved from Podravka in 2013

• started as a back, but soon she moved into goal

• in Buducnost she chose number 43, the decision to use that unusual number for a goalkeeper was made by her niece Lara

• despite an early exit at the EHF EURO 2014 on home court in Varazdin she has had an impressive season in the Buducnost goal so far

Dragana Cvijicline player• started handball at the age of 10, first as goalkeeper, but being very tall for her age, Dragana’s first coach put her at left back

• in 2007 at Crvena Zvezda she switched to a line player

• joined Buducnost in 2011 just in time to help them on the way to the CL title

• Serbian national team player voted the best line player of the WCh 2013

Cristina Neagucentre back• named the World Handball Player of the Year after leading Romania to bronze medals at the EHF EURO 2010

• top scorer (53 goals) and All-Star member of the EHF EURO 2010 and the 2014/15 CL season (102 goals)

• missed nearly two of the last four years, after a shoulder injury and a torn ligament in her knee

• lost two CL finals, one with Oltchim (2013) and one with Buducnost (2014)

Milena Rajcevic (Knezevic)left back• started playing handball with her sister Dragana, her brother Ivan is a professional soccer player

• at 2012 EHF EURO first in assists (29) and shared second place in scoring with Anita Görbicz (41 goals)

• two-time Montenegrin player of the year

• voted second best young player of the CL in 2012

Majda Mehmedovicleft wing• her mother played handball as a goalkeeper

• started handball in Bar at the age of 12 with her brother Musa and immediately loved it

• it took her two years to get into the first team after being signed by Buducnost

• voted for the 2013/14 CL All-Star Team as the best left wing

Radmila Petrovicright wing• started training handball at 12, in her home town of Nikšić, where she played for five years as a right back

• when transferred to Buducnost in 2005, she was moved to the wing

• strong alternative to Jovanka Radicevic in Montenegro national team

• in 2014 she won her 100th cap with Montenegro

Katarina Bulatovicright back• Serbia-born shooter arrived to Buducnost in 2014 after one-year stints with Oltchim and Györ

• made it to the CL final for the first time in 2007 with Slagelse

• won the CL title with three different clubs - Slagelse, Buducnost and Györ

• key player in Montenegro’s biggest achievements, when she was the top scorer at both the London Olympics and EHF EURO in 2012

EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015WCh: S 2013

EC trophies: CL 2015EHF EURO: B 2010

EC trophies: CL 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

EC trophies: CL 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

EC trophies: CL 2015

Biljana Pavicevic left wing• at 2008 Women’s Junior World Championship suffered a severe knee injury followed by two operations, two years of rehabilitation, and two seasons playing in Biseri and Macedonian Zito Prilep

• at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia stepped in for the game against Hungary and played very well the rest of the tournament, won by Montenegro at the end

• graduated with a degree in Economics

EC trophies: CL 2015EHF EURO: G 2012

79

It was a big challenge to combine seven sports under one roof, but supported by the city council, a municipal sports club was founded in Bucharest in 2007. In terms of women’s handball true success story began. In the 2011/12 season, the team had its first appearance in the EHF European Cup competitions, four years later, they are now part of the Women’s EHF Champions League.

After becoming Romanian champions for the first time in the club’s history, their goal is not to simply make up the numbers in the Europe’s top flight competition but to fight for the trophy at their first attempt. CSM Bucuresti, however, are not as inexperienced as they might seem. Their squad includes four Brazilian world champions, two Swedish EHF EURO bronze medallists, two Danish World Championship bronze medallists, a Spanish EHF EURO silver medallist and the most experienced player in the Romanian national team.

The squad takes root with the extraordinary goalkeeping duo of Mayssa Pessoa (Brazil) and newcomer Jelena Grubisic. CSM then boast two Swedish EHF EURO MVPs, Isabelle Gullden (2014) and Linnea Torstenson (2010), and newcomers Maria Fisker (Denmark) and Line Jorgensen. Four weeks prior to the start of the Women’s EHF Champions League season, it was announced that the club’s coach, Mette Klit, had left the club by mutual consent. Her successor was found quite quickly in fellow Dane, Kim Rasmussen, who will also remain as the Polish women’s national team coach. In Rasmussen’s first match as an elite European club coach, CSM will play Polish champions Lublin.

The Romanian champions will then face defending champions Buducnost and Swedish domestic champions, Sävehof in Group D. From top to bottom everyone involved with the club are eagerly awaiting the start of the flagship competition. Club director, Constantin Caliman, said: “Playing in the Champions League is the pinnacle for any handball club, and having the opportunity of representing Romania in the competition is an additional pride for us all.

“Even if it’s our first season in the competition, we believe we have a very strong team that will fight hard towards achieving qualification for the FINAL4. “We will be facing current champions Buducnost, so I think it’s safe to say that nothing less than our absolute best will suffice to go through.”

GROUP D CSM Bucuresti (ROU)

Club Address:Calea Victoriei Street no 126District 1010094 BucharestRomania

Media contact:Constantin Caliman+40 721 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.csmbucuresti.roFacebook: CSM-Bucuresti-Oficial

Playing hallSala Polivalenta Ioan Kunst GhermanescuB-Dul Tineretului, sec. 4BucharestRomaniaCapacity: 5,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: yellowGoalkeeper shirt: orange

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 1

OtherEHF Cup: Last 16 2011/12

Romanian league: 1 title (2015)Romanian cup: - runners-up 2015

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Romanian champions

Coach: Kim Rasmussen (since September 2015, Mette Klit’s successor)Team captain: Oana Manea

Newcomers:Line Jörgensen (FC Midtjylland)Isabelle Gullden (Viborg HK)Maria Fisker (Viborg HK)Jelena Grubisic (Györi Audi ETO KC)Aurelia Bradeanu (ASS Corona Brasov)

Left the club:Talida Tolnai (retired)Iulia Zaremba (Rapid Bucharest)Iryna Glibko (HCM Roman)Patricia Vizitiu (HCM Baia Mare)Mihaela Tivadar (CSM Ploiesti)

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CSM Bucuresti

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: N/ABiggest defeat: N/ALongest winning run: N/ALongest unbeaten run: N/ALongest losing run: N/ALongest run without win: N/A

Most goals: N/AMost goals opponent: N/AMost goals both teams: N/AFewest goals: N/AFewest goals opponent: N/AFewest goals both teams: N/A

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached

N/A

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Team roster

CSM Bucuresti

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

14 Bianca Bazaliu ROU Left Back 30/07/1997 SLATINA, ROU 17915 Aurelia Bradeanu ROU Back 05/05/1979 Slatina, ROU 18081 Deonise Cavaleiro Fachinello BRA Right Back 20/06/1983 Santa Rosa, RS, BRA 1805 Iulia Vasilica Curea ROU Left Wing 08/04/1982 Bacau, ROU 17284 Mayssa Raquel De Pessoa BRA Goalkeeper 11/09/1984 Joao Pessoa, BRA 18025 Maria Fisker DEN Left Wing 03/10/1990 Favrskov, DEN 1708 Fernanda Franca da Silva BRA Left Wing 25/09/1989 Sao Bernardo, BRA 17787 Jelena Grubisic CRO Goalkeeper 20/01/1987 Zagreb, CRO 1844 Isabelle Gulldén SWE Centre Back 29/06/1989 Sävedalen, SWE 1781 Madalina Ion ROU Goalkeeper 23/02/1996 Bucharest, ROU 18012 Alina Iordache ROU Goalkeeper 22/03/1982 Bucuresti, ROU 17710 Line Anna Ryborg Jörgensen DEN Right Back 31/12/1989 Hvidovre, DEN 18622 Oana Andreea Manea ROU Line Player 18/04/1985 Bucharest, ROU 17620 Carmen Dolores Martin Berenguer ESP Right Wing 29/05/1988 ALMERIA, ESP 16918 Maria Cristina Nan ROU Line Player 19/05/1990 Bucuresti, ROU 17877 Elena Magdalena Nicula ROU Centre Back 02/08/1986 bucharest, ROU 1659 Ana Paula Rodrigues Belo BRA Centre Back 18/10/1987 Sao Luis, BRA 17217 Linnea Torstensson SWE Left Back 30/03/1983 STOCKHOLM, SWE 19013 Cristina Georgiana Varzaru ROU Right Wing 05/12/1979 Bucharest, ROU 16919 Ekaterina Vetkova RUS Line Player 01/08/1986 Syzran, RUS 182

Kim Rasmussencoach• started his coaching career in 1990 with the youth teams in his home country Denmark

• since 2010 coach of the Poland’s national team steering them to the WCh 2013 semi-finals and to the EHF EURO 2014 (11th place)

• had aslo stints with Danish Lyngby and Roskilde or Swedish Stavsten and in the 2014/15 season with HC Vardar for a very short time

• hired by CSM just before the start of the 2015/16 season on his 43rd birthday (22 Sep) as a replacement for his fellow Dane Mette Klit

82

Mayssa Pessoagoalkeeper• played in Brazil until she was 27, when she transferred to Issy Paris

• after one year in France, she moved to Dinamo Volgograd and in 2014 signed with Bucharest

• her nickname is “Taffarel”, after her idol, one of Brazil’s greatest football goalkeepers

• loves tattoos, having 32 on her body. Her favourite ones are the names of her relatives in Chinese and the Olympic rings made in London

Oana Manealine player• in 2008 diagnosed with ventricular extrasystole and stopped playing for six months

• can gather the team behind her, one of the reasons she has been also named captain both at Oltchim and the national team

• her father, Dumitru, was a former football coach at Sportul Studentesc, a first league team

• make-up is her hobby, consideris to become a full-time make-up artist after finishing her career

Isabelle Gulldencentre back• played for three clubs in her whole career: Savehof, Viborg and CSM Bucuresti

• her uncle, Christer, was an Olympic wrestler, who came close to the bronze medal in 1988, her boyfriend, Swedish goalkeeper Linus Persson plays in CSM’s men’s team

• creative playmaker, also deadly efficient from the 7m line, scoring all 27 goals from as many shots at the EHF EURO 2014

• MVP and top scorer (58 goals) of EHF EURO 2014

Linnea Torstenssonleft back• Bucharest’s leader, a force to be reckoned with both in defence and in attack

• most experienced player and also the most decorated player from Bucharest’s roster

• named the “best Swedish handball player” three times in a row between 2010 and 2012

• MVP of the EHF EURO 2010, being the second top scorer, with 48 goals, five less than Cristina Neagu

Maria Fiskerleft wing• fast and has a scoring percentage well above 80%

• started playing handball when she was five

• joined Viborg in 2006 from third league club Vissing Hadsten, transferred to Randers HK in 2009, returned to Viborg in 2011

• in Bucharest shares the position with Brazilian world champion Fernanda Franca da Silva

• her first experience outside Denmark, where she was studying to be a nurse

Carmen Martinright wing• Spanish player started handball when she was only 7 years old, in Roquetas del Mar, her hometown

• named the best right wing of the EHF EURO 2014, after ranking third in the top scorers

• reached the CL final in 2011 with Itxako and the semi-final in 2013 with Krim Ljubljana

• loves drama movies, her favourite being “The Notebook”, also listens to a lot of Spanish movies, her favourite song being “Ojitos rojos” by the Spanish band Estopa

Line Jörgensenright back• started to play handball aged 3, but chose to leave her home country for the first time in 20 years when she signed with CSM in the summer of 2015

• has a diploma in sport and health from the Odense University

• in 2011, when she was only 21, Jörgensen was named the best right back of the WCh

• big fan of Brondby and the Danish national football team

WCh: G 2013

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007EURO: B 2010

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014EURO: S 2010, B 2014

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014, EHF Cup 2011EURO: S 2010, B 2014

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup 2014WCh: B 2013

EHF EURO: S 2008, S 2014, WCh: B 2011, OG: B 2012EC Trophies: EHF Cup 2011, WCh: B 2013

Jelena Grubisicgoalkeeper• played with Lokomotiva for eight seasons and five seasons for Krim

• had her European Cup debut (Cup Winner’s Cup 2002/03) when she was 15 with Lokomotiva.

• joined Györ shortly before the 2014/15 season to replace pregnant Katrine Lunde, but got injured shortly after

• her national team debut was at the World Championship 2007

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Henrik Signell and IK Sävehof must feel like an academy for Europe’s best clubs: The Swedish club educates young players, gives them the chance to improve on the international stage, moulds them into becoming national team players, and then they transfer. Like in previous years, two of the best Sävehof players have left the club now: Jenny Alm and Filippa Idehn, the famous goalkeeper who plays only in shorts and both EURO 2014 bronze medallists with Sweden, have signed for Danish side Team Esbbjerg.

In addition, club legend Ida Oden has brought her career too an end along with Jenny Wikensten.

“We are a club that is good at developing players, but this year we have lost five national team players. We will now start to create a new team and the Champions League is a great way to gain this experience. We will fight as a team and our goal is to go to the next round,” says manager Anders Eliasson.

So again, Signell has to start with a new squad with a younger generation of Swedish talent. In domestic competitions, Sävehof are simply unbeatable, becoming national champions seven times in a row and nine times in the past ten years.

The club is well-known and well-settled in the EHF Champions League, and in the previous years they always made it to the main round. Funnily enough they made history in the 2014/15 season by becoming the first ever main round participant to not win a single group match - thanks to three draws the edged out HC Lokomotiva Zagreb.

But in the main round they only took one win. Five players from Sävehof’s youth teams were added to the all-Scandinavian squad with one player from Norway, Denmark and Iceland making up rest of the side from Sweden. Among the new arrivals the biggest hopes are carried on the shoulders of 20-year-old Dane Rikke Jensen, arriving from Danish champions Midtjylland and experienced Norwegian Stine Lund Andreassen, arriving from French Challenge Cup winners Mios Bigamos.

Coach Signell remains realistic when it comes to their goals for the season: “In domestic competitions we want to stay on top, but we know it will be tougher this year because of the losses. “In the Champions League our objective is to go to the next round and then we will see.”

GROUP D IK Sävehof (SWE)

Club Address:IK SävehofBox 20143324 PartilleSweden

Media contact:Rüdiger Osterloh+46 736 84 57 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.savehof.seFacebook: SavehofTwitter: IK_Savehof

Playing hallPartillebohallenGamla Kronvägen 5643300 PartilleSwedenCapacity: 2,000

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: yellow/blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: orange

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 8Main Round (2): 2013/14, 2014/15Group Matches (3): 2007/08, 2010/11, 2012/13Qualification (2): 2006/07, 2011/12

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Last 16: 2011/12

Swedish league: 11 titles (1993, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Swedish champions

Coach: Henrik Signell (since 2012)Team captain: Elin Enhorning

Newcomers:Stine Lund Andreassen (Mios Beganos)Rikke Jensen (Midtjylland)Emma Ekenman Fernis (Spårvägen)Olivia Mellegard (Önnered)Hanna Eriksson (youth team)Thess Krönell (youth team)Tilda Olsson (youth team)Mimmi Eliasson (youth team)Isabella Mouratidou (youth team)

Left the club:Jenny Alm (Team Esbjerg)Filippa Idehn (Team Esbjerg)Edijana Dafe (Kobenhavn)Ida Oden (end of career)Jenny Wikensten (end of career)

84

IK Sävehof

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 30:23 (14:13) v HC Leipzig GER (h), 03.11.2013Biggest defeat: 21:38 (8:20) v Györi Audi ETO KC (h), 26.10.2014Longest winning run: 3 matches (12.10.2013 – 03.11.2013)Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (12.10.2013 – 10.11.2013)Longest losing run: 12 matches (12.01.2008 – 11.11.2012)Longest run without win: 15 matches (10.11.2013 – 06.02.2015)

Most goals: 36 v 1. FC Nürnberg GER 36:34W (h), 11.11.2007Most goals opponent: 39 v Larvik NOR 39:31L (a), 13.10.2012Most goals both teams: 70 v 1. FC Nürnberg GER 36:34W (h), 11.11.2007 70 v Viborg HK DEN 37:33L (a), 14.11.2010 70 v Larvik NOR 39:31L (a), 13.10.2012Fewest goals: 17 v Larvik NOR 25:17L (a), 14.03.2015Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Metz Handball FRA 22:25W (a), 06.02.2015Fewest goals both teams: 42 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 24:18L (a), 16.03.2014 42 v Larvik NOR 25:17L (a), 14.03.2015

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached2007/08 IK Sävehof SWE 6 1 1 4 172:191 –19 3:9 4th Gr. B2010/11 IK Sävehof SWE 6 0 0 6 163:212 -49 0:12 4th Gr. A2012/13 IK Sävehof SWE 6 1 0 5 174:192 –18 2:10 4th Gr. C2013/14 IK Sävehof SWE 12 3 3 6 318:339 -21 9:15 4th MR Gr. 12014/15 IK Sävehof SWE 12 1 3 8 279:345 –66 5:19 5th MR Gr. 2

Total 42 6 7 29 1106:1279 -173 19:65

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Team roster

IK Sävehof

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

10 Stine Lund Andreassen NOR Centre Back 11/11/1986 Bergen, NOR 1631 Johanna Bundsen SWE Goalkeeper 03/06/1991 Uddevalla, SWE 1833 Emma Ekenman-Fernis SWE Right Wing 24/07/1996 Stockholm, SWE 17220 Mimmi Eliasson SWE Centre Back 03/01/1997 Göteborg, SWE 1788 Elin Enhörning SWE Line Player 13/03/1990 Uddevalla, SWE 17616 Hanna Eriksson SWE Goalkeeper 23/02/1996 Ludvika, SWE 1769 Julia Eriksson SWE Left Back 07/07/1994 Göteborg, SWE 18118 Linn Hansson SWE Left Back 18/09/1997 Göteborg, SWE 16915 Birna Berg Haraldsdottir ISL Right Back 21/06/1993 Reykjavik, ISL 18521 Ida Holm SWE Centre Back 13/02/1997 Karlstad, SWE 17611 Rikke Slumstrup Jensen DEN Left Back 30/09/1995 Herning, DEN 18913 Elin Karlsson SWE Centre Back 04/01/1989 Göteborg, SWE 1807 Thess Krönell SWE Line Player 30/05/1996 Umeå, SWE 1775 Joanna Lindvall-Haggren SWE Right Wing 28/06/1994 Göteborg, SWE 17519 Olivia Mellegard SWE Left Wing 17/06/1996 Göteborg, SWE 17712 Isabella Mouratidou SWE Goalkeeper 05/08/1997 Stockholm, SWE 17817 Hanna Örtorp SWE Left Wing 20/12/1997 Göteborg, SWE 1622 Tilda Olsson SWE Right Back 15/03/1996 Mölndal, SWE 17614 Linnea Petterson SWE Left Back 28/07/1995 Kiruna, SWE 1784 Louise Sand SWE Left Wing 27/12/1992 Göteborg, SWE 1606 Sofia Tegstedt SWE Left Wing 03/01/1991 Göteborg, SWE 177

Henrik Signellcoach• became the head coach in 2012

• played eight years for the club during his active days which also included one match for Sweden’s national team

• after his active career was in charge of the male junior team in Sävehof and later assistant coach for the men’s league team

• in between he has also been assistant coach for Finland’s female national team

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Johanna Bundsengoalkeeper• has been with Sävehof since 2007 when joining from league colleagues Kroppskultur

• had her real break-through by Sävehof last season after being a bit in the shadow of Filippa Idehn until then

• carrying an increased responsibility after Idehn left for Danish Team Esbjerg in summer 2015

• has played 18 internationals for Sweden, mostly sharing the job with Idehn

Elin Enhörningline player• joined Sävehof from Swedish league colleagues Team Eslöv in the autumn of 2013 as replacement to injured Swedish international Linn Blom.

• decided to end her handball career to give priority to studying, but the offer from Sävehof gave her new motivation.

• As Linn Blom got fit, but changed to Danish Team Tvis Holstebro, extended her contract with Sävehof for another year

• played 28 junior internationals for Sweden, she has never made it to the senior national team yet.

Elin Karlssoncentre back• had a foreign adventure at a very young age, even before she was 18, she went to Frederikshavn in Denmark to play for their U18 team

• joined Sävehof in 2012 from BK Heid

• in 2011 participated at the Vasaloppett (90 km cross-country skiing race) two days before a league match (three goals)

• dreams of climbing Kilimanjaro

Stine Lunde Andreassencentre back• joined Sävehof this summer from Challenge Cup winners Union Mios Biganos-Begles in France

• finish second in the French championship with her Bordeaux based club

• had a career by Norwegian Tertnes Bergen before her French adventure

• has European experiences from the CL qualifiers, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the EHF Cup with Tertnes

Louise Sandleft wing• Loui has been crazy about playing ball all her life and for her confirmation she only wanted a ball as present

• with her 160 cm she is not among the tallest on a court, but she more than compensates for that through her outstanding technique

• joined Sävehof in 2009 after spells with Kärra and Önnereds

• Sweden national team member since 2012

Birna Berg Haraldsdottirright back• joined Sävehof from Fram Reykjavik in the summer of 2013

• one of only three non-Swedish players in the team took part at the WCh 2011 with Iceland

• the 2015/16 season is her third in the CL, in the previous two scored six goals in total

• bound to get more playing time after Ida Oden retired after the 2014/15 season

Sofia Tegstedtline player• came back to her childhood club Sävehof in the summer of 2014 from league colleagues BK Heid, extended her contract for another year in the summer of 2015

• replaced her older sister Frida who left for German Bundesliga newcomers Füchse Berlin at the same time

• gathered the CL experience in th 2014/15 season

EURO: B 2014EURO: B 2014

Rikke Jensenleft back• joined Sävehof before this season from Danish champions FC Midtjylland

• her 189 cm makes her one of the tallest players in the Swedish league at all

• joined from the Danish champions, but she was rarely a part of FC Midtjylland’s league team after her debut in February 2014 in a cup match

• replacing Swedish international Jenny Alm who has left for Danish Team Esbjerg

EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2015

87

Times are changing at Lublin, but the goal remains the same: After the Polish champions belonged to the rare group of Women’s Champions League participants with a female coach - Sabina Wlodek - now they have a new female manager, Marta Daniewska. And also the club leadership has changed as the appointed a new president in Marcin Lipiec. With Dorota Matek ending her active career a new team captain was needed. Goalkeeper Weronika Gawlik is now the person taking on that role. Gawlik is back between the goal posts after an injury break in the previous season.

Lublin narrowly failed to qualify for the main round, crucially drawing with Metz. But the Polish champions continued quite successfully in the Cup Winners’ Cup, making it to the quarter-finals. But FC Midtjylland, the eventual champions, ended their dreams. Lublin’s squad since then did not change that much. Most famous arrival from Gdynia is Polish international Iwona Niedzwiedz, who will add more experience to the nearly all-Polish squad, in which Brazilian Jessica da Silva Quintino, Alesia Mihdaliova (Belarus) and Ekaterina Dzhukeva (Bulgaria) are the only players from abroad.

In Group D, Lublin will face two powerhouses in the group matches, defending champions Buducnost and uprising Romanian champions Bucuresti. So the Polish champions are seen to be fighting for the third spot and thus the qualification for the main round against rejuvenated Swedish champions Sävehof. From the composition of the group, it is nearly the same as in the 2014/15 season, when Lublin were drawn with Larvik, Baia Mare and Metz.

“We hope for perfect performances in our home matches,” says new manager Marta Daniewska. But she is aware of the class their opponents in the group matches represent: “It will be an honour for us to host the defending champions from Buducnost; after a few transfers Bucuresti will be a tough opponent, as well as Sävehof. Those matches are a great opportunity not only for the players, but also for the club. We are proud to be part of this prestigious competition again and to face some of the best teams in the world. We hope to proceed from the main round in our third straight appearance in these group matches.”

“Those two previous seasons hopefully provided us with the experience to achieve this goal,” says new team captain Weronika Gawlik, adding: “We will fight until the end, mainly in our home matches, but we all know that in a competition like the Champions League there are no weak teams.”

GROUP D MKS Selgros Lublin (POL)

Club Address:MKS Lublinul. Melgiewska 220-209 LublinPoland

Media contact:Adam Rozwalka+48 609 543 [email protected]

Online information:Website: www.mks.lublin.plFacebook: mkslublinTwitter: @sprlublin

Playing hallGlobus Hallul.Kazimerza Wielkiego 820 611 LublinPolandCapacity: 4,300

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: greenPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: black

Past achievements

Women’s EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 18Quarter-final (2): 1999/2000, 2001/02Last 16 (1): 1995/96Group Matches (8): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2000/2001, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2013/14, 2014/15Qualification (6): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11

OtherEHF Cup: Winners 2000/01, quarter-final 2007/08, 2009/10

Polish league: 18 titles (1995-2003, 2005-2010, 2013, 2014, 2015)Polish cup: 10 times

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Polish champions

Coach: Sabina WlodekTeam captain: Weronika Gawlik

Newcomers:Iwona Niedzwiecz (Vistal Gdynia)Edyta Charzynska (MKS AZS Lublin)

Left the club:Dorota Matek (end of career)Valentina Nestsianuk (Energa AZS Koszalin)Alexandra Baranowska (Sachsen Zwickau)Dagmara Vacuk (on loan to Olimpia Novi Sacz)

88

MKS Selgros Lublin

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 29:16 (15:6) v Podravka Dolcela CRO (h), 06.02.2000Biggest defeat: 21:38 (10:18) v Kometal DP Skopje MKD (h), 17.02.2002Longest winning run: 4 matches (30.10.1999 – 06.02.2000)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (30.01.1999 - 06.02.2000)Longest losing run: 10 matches (15.02.2004 – 24.10.2014)Longest run without win: 10 matches (15.02.2004 – 24.10.2014)

Most goals: 38 v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE 38:28W (h), 30.01.2000Most goals opponent: 40 v FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 40:25L (a), 20.10.2013Most goals both teams: 66 v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE 38:28W (h), 30.01.2000 66 v Metz Handball FRA 35:31W (h), 02.11.2014Fewest goals: 19 v Motor Zaporoshje UKR 20:19L (a), 25.01.1998 19 v Larvik HK NOR 27:19L (a), 15.02.2003 19 v Buducnost MNE 31:19L (a), 06.10.2013Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Henzo Sw. Roermond NED 27:16W (h), 04.01.1997 16 v Podravka Dolcela CRO 29:16W (h), 06.02.2000Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Motor Zaporoshje UKR 20:19L (a), 25.01.1998

EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached1996/97 Montex Lublin POL 6 2 0 4 155:155 0 4:8 3rd Gr. B1997/98 Montex Lublin POL 6 2 0 4 156:163 -7 4:8 3rd Gr. A1998/99 Montex Lublin POL 6 2 2 2 142:143 -1 6:6 3rd Gr. D1999/00 Montex Lublin POL 8 5 1 2 221:204 +17 11:5 1/4-finals2001/02 MKS Montex Lublin POL 8 4 0 4 215:221 -6 8:8 1/4-finals2002/03 MKS POL-SKONE Lublin POL 6 1 1 4 133:155 –22 3:9 4th Gr. C2003/04 KS BYSTRZYCA Lublin POL 6 1 0 5 155:186 –31 2:10 4th Gr. D2013/14 MKS Selgros Lublin POL 6 0 0 6 140:189 -49 0:12 4th Gr. B2014/15 MKS Selgros Lublin POL 6 1 1 4 159:182 –23 3:9 4th Gr. D

Total 58 18 5 35 1476:1598 –122 41:75

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Team roster

MKS Selgros Lublin

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height

2 Karolina Bijan POL Right Wing 01/01/1989 Lwówek Slaski, POL 16826 Edyta Charzynska POL Centre Back 12/01/1994 Plock, POL 1753 Jessica Da Silva Quintino BRA Right Wing 17/04/1991 San Paulo, BRA 17220 Joanna Drabik POL Line Player 28/10/1993 Wloszczowa, POL 1801 Ekaterina Dzhukeva BUL Goalkeeper 08/05/1988 Dupnistsa, BUL 18512 Weronika Gawlik POL Goalkeeper 20/10/1986 Gliwice, POL 18010 Marta Gega POL Left Back 16/04/1986 Bielawa, POL 1846 Agnieszka Kocela POL Left Wing 17/01/1988 Jelenia Gora, POL 17118 Katarzyna Kozimur POL Right Back 09/06/1994 Przemysl, POL 17523 Alesia Mihdaliova BLR Right Back 22/01/1985 Orsza, BLR 1775 Iwona Malgorzata Niedzwiedz POL Left Back 22/07/1979 Nowy Sacz, POL 17716 Monika Nozka POL Goalkeeper 15/02/1982 Lublin, POL 17517 Krystsina Repelewska POL Right Back 07/01/1981 Minsk, BLR 1768 Malgorzata Rola POL Wing 07/01/1983 Lukow, POL 17025 Kamila Skrzyniarz POL Centre Back 20/11/1984 Kielce, POL 17533 Honorata Syncerz POL Centre Back 27/01/1993 Kielce, POL 17766 Joanna Szarawaga POL Line Player 02/04/1994 Debno, POL 1854 Weronika Zarzycka POL Right Back 05/05/1989 Lublin, POL 176

Sabina Wlodekcoach• best left wing in the history of Polish Handball as voted by Polish Handball Federation experts

• voted best left wing at the EHF EURO 1998 in the Netherlands, where Poland placed 5th

• played for Lublin almost her entire professional career (1995-2011)

• became Lublin’s head coach in November 2013

• her assistant is Monika Marzec, the best Polish line player in the last 20 years

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Malgorzata Rolaleft wing• has the longest experience in the team of Lublin as she arrived in the city as a teenager and played her first league match with MKS in 2003

• in February 2004 had an extraordinary performance in Norway against Larvik in CL match scoring 10 goals against Lene Rantala - that day Rola was substituting injured Sabina Wlodek

• her idol and former team mate is also left wing Sabina Wlodek, now the head coach of MKS Selgros

Ekaterina Dzhukevagoalkeeper• voted best keeper in the Polish league 2013/2014 by sports daily newspaper Przeglad Sportowy.

• one of two Bulgarian handball players in the Polish women’s league

• voted best team player of the regular season 2013/2014 by MKS Selgros Lublin fans.

• played in Spain and Norway in the past

• set her personal save percentage record of 73% against Vipers Kristiansand

Joanna Drabikline player• youngest key player in the team

• debuted in the CL 2013/14 when the first line player was injured right before the start of the competition

• played her first match for the Poland national team in March 2014 against Portugal

• has a good chance of being called for the EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia.

Iwona Niedzwiedzcentre back• the most experienced player in the team

• her transfer from runners-up Vistal Gdynia team considered the hottest one in Poland in last 5 years

• was playing for many years in Denmark for Aarhus and Team Tvis Holstebro but has never played any CL game before

• very interested in journalism, media and after the end of career might become a sport journalist

Marta Gegaleft back• top scorer of the Polish league in 2009

• played in Le Havre alongside Karolina Siodmiak, another well-known Polish handball player

• at the first training in Le Havre, Gaga accidentally broke two of Siodmiak’s teeth with a shot, a terrible start to an eventually successful season with the club, reaching the EHF Cup semi-finals

• moved to Lublin in 2013 after an injury hampered spell at Cergy-Pontoise

Agnieszka Kocelaleft wing• 2015/16 is her fifth season in the team

• considered the successor of Lublin’s legendary left wing: Sabina Wlodek

• did not participate in the CL 2013/14 or WCh 2013 in Serbia due to injury

• her biggest sport-related dream is to participate in the Olympic Games

Jessica Da Silva Quintinoright wing• first Brazilian player in the history of the Polish league

• Lublin is her second Polish team – she spent one season with Vistal Gdynia

• did not participate in the WCh 2013 in Serbia, where Brazil were champions, due to injury

• In May 2014, the previous team captain and right wing Malgorzata Majerek chose Quintino as her successor

Alesia Mihdaliovaright back• Belarusian but came to Poland in 2013 at the age of only 18 joining Start Elblag

• -was considering getting a Polish citizeship and to play for national Polish team but after many years she started back to perform for Belarus

• her biggest weapon are massive left hand shots

• in past she used to ride motorbikes and still enjoys the sound of their engines

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013

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2014/15 Top Scorers

Rank Player Club Goals

1 Cristina Neagu (ROU) Buducnost (MNE) 102

Andrea Penezic (CRO) WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD) 102

3 Nora Mørk (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 984 Anna Kochetova (RUS) Dinamo-Sinara (RUS) 94

5 Karolina Kudlacz (POL) HC Leipzig (GER) 84

6 Olga Akopian (RUS) Dinamo-Sinara (RUS) 82

7 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 77

8 Daria Dmitrieva (RUS) Dinamo-Sinara (RUS) 76

9 Ida Oden (SWE) IK Sävehof (SWE) 74

10 Ana Gros (SLO) Metz Handball (FRA) 73

Tamara Mavsar (SLO) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 73

12 Nadja Nadgornaja (GER) Thüringer HC (GER) 72

13 Heidi Loke (NOR) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 68

Rikke Skov Erhardsen (DEN) Viborg HK A/S (DEN) 68

15 Katrin Engel (AUT) Thüringer HC (GER) 66

16 Aniko Kovacsics (HUN) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 65

17 Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 61

18 Mirjeta Bajramoska (MKD) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 59

19 Andrea Lekic (SRB) WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD) 58

Radmila Petrovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 58

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Past Winners

1994 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1995 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1996 Podravka Koprivnica CRO

1997 Mar El Osito L Eliana Valencia ESP

1998 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1999 Dunaferr SE HUN

2000 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

2001 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO

2002 Kometal D.P. Skopje MKD

2003 Krim ETA Kotex Ljubljana SLO

2004 Slagelse FH DEN

2005 Slagelse FH DEN

2006 Viborg A/S DEN

2007 Slagelse FH DEN

2008 Zvezda Zvenigorod RUS

2009 Viborg A/S DEN

2010 Viborg A/S DEN

2011 Larvik HK NOR

2012 Buducnost Podgorica MNE

2013 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN

2014 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN

2015 Buducnost Podgorica MNE

2015/16 Women’s EHF Champions League Group Matches

Media Information

by

EHF Media & Communications, 16/10/2015

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Adrian Costeiu, Amina Idrizi, Nemanja Savic, Michal Pomorski, Fulya Oktem, Bence Martha, Kevin Domas,

Sergey Nikolaev, Jelena Bagaric, Roy Knoppert

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EHF Champions League history1993 – 2004

1993/94Hypo NIederösterreich vs Vasas Budapest 20:18 / 25:21 (45:39)New name, new playing system, but well-known finalists – just as in the men’s competition the Champions League replaced the Champions Cup from the 1993/94 season. 32 teams played two K.O. rounds for the eight places in the Champions League. The two finalists were the winners of the two groups of four. Hypo Niederösterreich became the first title holder showing a spotless performance with 12 victories from 12 matches.

1994/95Hypo Niederösterreich vs Podravka Koprivnica 14:17 / 26:19 (40:36)After 20 victories in 20 Champions League matches, Hypo Niederösterreich was beaten for the first time in the first leg of the final in Koprivnica. But the 14:17 in Croatia was followed by a clear 26:19 victory in the second leg and the cup remained in Austria.

1995/96Podravka Koprivnica vs Hypo Niederösterreich 13:17 / 25:20 (38:37)In the 1995/96 season Austrian side Hypo Niederösterreich „only” finished second and that created tremendous joy for the Eastern Croatians. Under the leadership of the old and new top scorer, Snežana Petika, Podravka Koprivnica for the first time took the crown of the greatest club competition.

1996/97Mar Valencia vs Viborg HK 35:26 / 23:24 (58:50)In 1997 there was a whole new constellation in the final. Mar Valencia, who had narrowly lost three times in the Champions League Group Phase, celebrated a Spanish fiesta. The team, which was based around the excellent Natalia Morskova, was the first Spanish team in the history of the competition to reach the final. The opponent was Viborg – the first Danish finalist since Copenhagen in 1966 (ed. IHF competition).

1997/98Hypo Niederösterreich vs Mar El Osito L’Eliana 28:21 / 28:26 (56:47) Mar El Osito L’Eliana had reached the final by scoring at least 31 goals per match. They failed to repeat this feat when they needed it most. Hypo Niederösterreich triumphed with two victories, earning their third Champions League title.

1998/99Dunaferr SE vs Krim Electa Ljubljana 25:23 / 26:26 (51:49) Two new faces appeared in the Champions League final in the 1998/99 season. In the semi-finals Dunaferr had beaten defending champion Hypo NIederösterreich while Ljubljana narrowly held the upper hand over Podgorica. In the final it was the Hungarian side that prevailed, winning their first Champions League title.

1999/00Hypo Niederösterreich vs Kometal Skopje 32:23 / 20:22 (52:45)The final of the 1999/00 is less likely to be remembered for Hypo’s fourth title in just four years but more for the violent disruptions caused during the final by Macedonian fans. In the second leg objects had been thrown onto the court for almost the entire match, and the problems reached a climax when everyone fled into the changing rooms and Hypo manager Gunnar Prokop was attacked.

2000/01Viborg HK A/S vs RK Krim N. Roberts Ljubljana 22:22 / 19:25 (41:47)After suffering defeat in the 1999 finals against Dunaferr, the time was finally ripe in 2001 for Krim, Slovenia’s most dominating club whose focus had always been to win the Champions League. In the final Krim prevailed over Viborg thanks to win and a draw.

2001/02FTC HERZ Budapest vs Kometal D. P. Skopje 27:25 / 22:26 (49:51)On 19 May 2002, 45,000 fans people celebrated their heroines enthusiastically in the main square of the Macedonian capital – a great achievement had been made: Kometal Skopje wore the crown of Europe’s top club competition for the first time. Two years before, the Macedonians had played in the finals against Hypo Niederösterreich but after rioting fans during the second leg in Skopje all Macedonian clubs were banned for one year from the European Cup, and no one had expected Macedonian handball to recover that fast from the shock.

2002/03El Osito Valencia vs Krim N. Roberts Ljubljana 30:27 / 28:36 (58:63)For the third time in a row, the Champions League winner came from former Yugoslavia and for the second time after 2001 Krim Ljubljana was sitting on the European throne. Skopje had won the title in 2002. There was also another record: goalkeeper Luminita Dinu won the European title for the third time in a row.

2003/04Slagelse DT vs Krim Ljubljana 25:24 / 36:32 (61:56)In less than four years world class player and world class coach Anja Andersen had led Danish side Slagelse DT out of the second division and straight into their first Champions League season. And just one year after they had already celebrated the win of the EHF Cup, the team was victorious once more – this time in Europe’s most prestigious club handball competition. It was a fairy tale come true.

2004/05Slagelse DT vs Kometal D.P. Skopje 27:23 / 27:20 (54:43)For the second time in the history of the Champions League and after the double victory of Hypo Niederösterreich in 1994 and 1995, a team was able to defend its title. In all twelve Champions League matches, from the Group Phase to the final, coach Anja Andersen’s team suffered only one defeat.

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EHF Champions League history2004 – 2015

2005/06Krim Ljubljana vs Viborg HK A/S 22:24 / 21:20 (43:44)In the history of the Women’s EHF Champions League that had not happened before. In both final matches of the 2005/06 season the away teams won. It seemed a mere formality for Viborg to lift the trophy following their 24:22 win in Slovenia, but Ljubljana fought back and had one hand on the cup when they led 20:17 in the 52nd minute before running out of steam.

2006/07Slagelse DT vs Lada Togliatti 29:29 / 32:24 (61:53)It was Slagelse’s third go at gold and they did it convincingly. With elite performances both in the Champions League and the Danish league, where they did not lose one single point, Anja Andersen’s women were the favourites for the title – so another success of the “dream team” was not a surprise.

2007/08Zvezda Zvenigorod vs Hypo Niederösterreich 25:24 / 31:29 (56:53)After having beaten Hypo Niederösterreich at home 25:24, the Russian champions were also triumphant in Wiener Neustadt in a very tough second leg. For Hypo it was a big disappointment as everything had been prepared for party at the Arena Nova to celebrated then ninth title since 1989.

2008/09Viborg HK vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 24:26 / 26:23 (50:49)Viborg HK won the Champions League for the second time after having lost the first leg of the final 24:26 but winning the second leg 26:23 against Györ. Viborg’s Grit Jurack contributed four goals in the second match and became the Champions League’s top scorer with 113 goals in the 2008/09 season.

2009/10Viborg HK vs Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea 28:21 / 32:31 (60:52)Viborg HK defeated Oltchim Vâlcea to win the Women’s EHF Champions League for the second consecutive time and the third time in the last five years. Also the Danish dominance continued. Since 2003/2004 all Champions League titles had gone to Danish teams, except for the 2007/2008 season when Russian team Zvezda Zvenigorod celebrated the victory.

2010/11Larvik vs Itxako Reyno De Navarra 23:21 / 24:25 (47:46) In a real nail-biting thriller right until the dying seconds, Itxako defeated Larvik by a single goal in the second leg of the final, but with the aggregate score, the Norwegians were the lucky winners of this clash and brought home the EHF Champions League trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

2011/12Győri AUDI ETO KC vs Budoćnost 29:27 / 25:27 (54:54)Budućnost won the tightest edition of the EHF Women’s Champions League by account of scoring the greater number of away goals (27 in Hungary) than Győri AUDI ETO KC (25 in Montenegro). It was only a small consolation for Győri AUDI ETO KC’s Anita Görbicz who picked up the top scorer for the 2011/12 Women’s EHF Champions League season.

2012/13Larvik HK vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 21:24 / 22:23 (43:47)After losing the finals in 2009 and 2012 Győr finally ended their curse of seven European Cup finals without a trophy. The coronation of the new queens of European handball took place in jam-packed Veszprém Aréna after the second leg victory and carried on in the streets of the city of Győr. The Hungarian team were dominant throughout the whole season as they suffered only one defeat (in the semi-final at home vs Oltchim) in 16 matches.

2013/14Buducnost vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 21:27 (10:15)For the first time in history just one final game decided about the new title holders as Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena hosted the excellent premiere edition of the MVM EHF FINAL4. Györ successfully defended the title after avenging their 2012 defeat by Buducnost in front of a sold-out crowd (10,000). Hungarian champions were the only undefeated team of the season as they won 12 matches and drew twice with Buducnost in the main round. Györ’s captain Anita Görbicz became the season’s top scorer for the second time scoring 87 goals.

2014/15Larvik vs Buducnost After defending champions Györi Audi ETO KC had been hit by a series of injuries and maternity leaves it became as no major surprise as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Vardar. The Macedonian champions had to settle with the third place finish for the second straight time though, after stumbling upon Buducnost once again in the semi-final. In the final showdown of the two previously unbeaten teams in Budapest the Montengrin side cruised past Larvik to their second European crown. Andrea Penezic and Cristina Neagu shared the top scorer‘s title with each scoring 102 goals.

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All-time club standings 1993-2015

# TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA GD P NP % G

1 1 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 192 124 5 63 5150:4795 +355 252*:132 (23) 65,63 C

2 2 Buducnost MNE 186 103 20 63 4960:4723 +237 226:146 (20) 60,75 D

3 3 RK Krim Mercator SLO 196 102 10 84 5324:5154 +170 214:178 (20) 54,59 A

4 4 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 140 97 10 33 3912:3474 +438 204:76 (12) 72,86 C

5 5 Larvik NOR 162 98 8 56 4351:3955 +396 204:120 (17) 62,96 A

6 6 Viborg HK DEN 164 87 12 65 4565:4323 +242 186:142 (17) 56,71 B

7 7 Oltchim Rm. Valcea ROU 118 62 8 48 3148:3005 +143 132:104 (12) 55,93 D

8 8 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 104 53 7 44 2829:2733 +96 113:95 (14) 54,33 B

9 9 CBM Astroc Sagunto ESP 100 52 3 45 2658:2582 +76 107:93 (12) 53,50 B

10 10 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 118 50 6 62 3007:3112 -105 106:130 (18) 44,92 B

11 11 Kometal Gjorce Petrov MKD 98 47 6 45 2460:2410 +50 100:96 (12) 51,02 C

12 12 Dinamo-Sinara RUS 94 38 9 47 2473:2520 -47 85:103 (11) 45,21 A

13 13 Slagelse DT DEN 56 38 2 16 1514:1400 +114 78:34 (5) 69,64 C

14 14 FC Midtjylland DEN 70 34 5 31 1839:1823 +16 73:67 (8) 52,14 C

15 15 HC Lada RUS 62 33 2 27 1729:1737 -8 68:56 (7) 54,84 D

16 16 Dunaferr NK HUN 52 29 4 19 1395:1285 +110 62:42 (6) 59,62 A

17 17 Zvezda Zvenigorod RUS 46 21 3 22 1294:1297 -3 45:47 (5) 48,91 –

18 18 Metz Handball FRA 66 18 6 42 1603:1746 –143 42:90 (9) 31,82 –

19 19 HC Vardar MKD 30 18 5 7 828:736 +92 41:19 (3) 68,33 C

20 20 MKS Selgros Lublin POL 58 18 5 35 1476:1598 –122 41:75 (10)` 35,35 D

21 23 Thüringer HC GER 38 15 3 20 968:1001 -33 33:43 (5) 43,42 B

22 29 IK Sävehof SWE 42 6 7 29 1106:1279 -173 19:65 (6) 22,62 D

23 30 HCM Baia Mare ROU 20 9 0 11 510:532 -22 18:22 (3) 45,00 A

– 59 Fleury Loiret Handball FRA 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (1) 0,00 B

– 59 CSM Bucuresti ROU 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (1) 0,00 D

– 59 Rostov-Don RUS 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (1) 0,00 A

– NR BNTU-BelAZ Minsk Reg. BLR 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

– NR Team Esbjerg DEN 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

– NR SERCODAK Dalfsen NED 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

– NR Glassverket NOR 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

– NR WHC Radnicki Kragujevac SRB 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

– NR Ankara Yenimahalle BSK TUR 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00 Q

^ = Excluding Qualifying matchesThe club name is the last used name in VELUX Women’s EHF Champions League competitionTR – total rankingMP – matches playedW – winsD – draws

All stats in this guide are provided by Roy Knoppert.

L – lossesGF:GA – goals for:goals againstP – pointsNP – number of participations% = winning percentageG - group

* Point for Hypo NÖ deducted by official decision

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