Media Guide Women s EHF Champions League Season 2015/16 Group Matches

Transcription

1 Media Guide Women s EHF Champions League Season 2015/16 Group Matches

2 Table of contents Foreword 5 Map of participating clubs 6 Women s EHF Champions League Information 7 Media contacts - EHF/M, clubs contacts /15 Seeding list /15 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 10 Playing format 11 Women s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 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 2

3 Table of contents 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 /15 Top scorers & All-star team 91 Past winners 92 History of the Women s EHF Champions League 93 All-time club standings 95 3

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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 Brihault EHF President 5

6 FC Midtjylland, DEN RK Krim Mercator, SLO Hypo Niederösterreich, AUT Fleury Loiret Handball, FRA Thüringer HC, GER SERCODAK Dalfsen, NED Group Matches teams Teams eliminated in qualification Season 2015/16 WOMEN S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 6 HC Podravka Vegeta, CRO Team Esbjerg, DEN Larvik HK, NOR Glassverket, NOR Buducnost, MNE IK Sävehof, SWE HC Vardar, MKD WHC Radnicki Kragujevac, SRB Györi Audi ETO KC, HUN FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria, HUN Ankara Yenimahalle BSK, TUR CSM Bucharest, ROU Host City Budapest, HUN WOMEN S EHF FINAL4 HCM Baia Mare, ROU Rostov-Don, RUS MKS Selgros Lublin, POL BNTU BelAZ Minsk Reg., BLR

7 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 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.com ehftv.com Regulations of the Women s EHF Champions Facebook: 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. 7

8 EHF/M Media contacts Media matters Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation brindzak@eurohandball.com TV and Radio Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH mateo@ehfmarketing.com Group Matches Clubs Media contacts GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D Larvik HK Harald Gaupen harald.gaupen@gmail.com FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria Andrea Pordán pordan.andrea@ftckezilabda.hu FC Midtjylland Troels Banggaard tsb@fcm.dk Buducnost Milos Pavicevic zrkbuducnost@t-com.me milos_ps@yahoo.com RK Krim Ljubljana Gašper Lončarič gasper@rkkrim.com Thüringer HC Bernd Hohnstein hohnstein@thueringer-hc.de HC Vardar Ivana Stojanovska contact@zrkvardar.com CSM Bucuresti Constantin Caliman caliman.constantin@csmbucuresti.ro Rostov-Don Maksim Shchennikov pzrostov@mail.ru HC Podravka Vegeta Ljerka Vresk ljerka.vresk@rk-podravka.hr Hypo Niederösterreich Kati Kovacs info@hypo-noe.at IK Sävehof Rüdiger Osterloh rudiger@savehof.se HCM Baia Mare Ramona Ioana Pop meramonaioana@gmail.com Fleury Loiret Handball Antony Tahar antony.tahar@fleuryloirethandball.com Györi Audi ETO KC Andrea Szilagyi szilagyi.andrea@gyorietokc.hu MKS Selgros Lublin Adam Rozwalka media@spr.lublin.pl 8

9 WOMEN'S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015/16 Qualification Tournaments Tournaments Group Matches 4 groups with 4 teams Main Round 12 teams Quarterfinals 8 teams FINAL4 4 teams (1) (1) 12./ (2) (2) / tournaments (3) (3) first leg tournament played in semi finals (4) (4) and finals (5) (5) NATION in one venue (6) (6) second leg in Budapest DRAWS: 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT no draw no draw HUN 1 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 2 MNE 1 Buducnost 3 NOR 1 Larvik HK 4 DEN 1 FC Midtjylland 5 MKD 1 HC Vardar 6 SLO 1 RK Krim Mercator 7 ROU 1 CSM Bucuresti 8 GER 1 Thüringer HC 9 RUS 1 Rostov-Don 10 SWE 1 IK Sävehof 11 AUT 1 Hypo Niederösterreich 12 CRO 1 HC Podravka Vegeta 13 FRA 1 Fleury Loiret Handball 14 POL 1 MKS Selgros Lublin 15 HUN 2 Györi Audi ETO KC 16 DEN 2 Team Esbjerg 17 NOR 2 Glassverket 18 ROU 2 HCM Baia Mare 19 BLR 1 HC BNTU-BelAZ Minsk 20 NED 1 Sercodak Dalfsen 21 SRB 1 WHC Radnicki Kragujevac 22 TUR 1 Ankara Yenimahalle BSK Winners of the 2 Qualification tournaments 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed team from each group 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team of the WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Main Round 4 Winners of WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Quarterfinals 2 groups with 4 teams 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 Rd 3 status:

10 Women s EHF Champions League 2015/16 playing system Qualification Group Matches Main Round Quarter-finals FINAL4 4 vs. 1 3 vs. 2 Semi-finals vs. vs. vs. vs. 3 rd Place Match vs. Home matches 3 Total matches Final vs. Season 2015/16 playing dates Qualification Group Matches Main Round 12/ Quarter-finals FINAL4 first leg 07. / second leg

11 Playing format The 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. 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 1 4th placed team Group 1 vs. 1st placed team Group 2 3rd placed team Group 2 vs. 2nd placed team Group 1 3rd 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. 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/D Round 2: 3. B/D 1. A/C and 1. B/D 2. A/C and 2. B/D 3. A/C Round 3: 1. A/C 2. B/D and 2. A/C 3. B/D and 3. A/C 1. B/D Round 4: 1. B/D 1 A/C and 2. B/D 2. A/C and 3. B/D 3. A/C Round 5: 1. A/C 3. B/D and 2. A/C 1. B/D and 3. A/C 2. B/D Round 6: 2. B/D 1. A/C and 3. B/D 2. A/C and 1. B/D 3. A/C 11

12 Women s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 2016 Following 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 More information at: Media Accrediation for the Women s EHF FINAL4 The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the Women s EHF FINAL4 will start in March 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 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, 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 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. 12

13 Facts and figures of the group matches 14 champions, two debutants and 104 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 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

14 Countries represented Teams by age average Teams by height average Hungary 35 Romania 31 France 26 Croatia 25 Norway 24 Russia 24 Denmark 23 Sweden 22 Montenegro 20 Poland 17 Austria 15 Slovenia 13 Germany 11 Spain 8 Serbia 8 Brazil 7 Netherlands 6 FYR Macedonia 4 Czech Republic 3 Slovakia 3 Belarus 3 Bulgaria 2 Ukraine 2 Chile 1 Iceland 1 Lithuania 1 CSM Bucuresti 28.3 Rostov-Don 27.8 MKS Selgros Lublin 27.1 HC Vardar 26.3 HCM Baia Mare 26.1 Hypo Niederösterreich 26.0 Larvik 25.5 Thüringer HC 25.1 RK Krim Mercator 24.4 Györi Audi ETO KC 24.3 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 23.4 FC Midtjylland 23.0 Buducnost 22.5 HC Podravka Vegeta 21.8 Fleury Loiret Handball 21.8 IK Sävehof 20.8 CL average 24.5 shortest vs tallest Clémence Grangy FRA Fleury Loiret Handball 155 Marina Sudakova RUS Rostov-Don 156 Louise Sand SWE IK Sävehof 160 Natalia Reshetnikova RUS Thüringer HC 162 Oxana Kiseleva RUS Rostov-Don 162 Hanna Örtorp SWE IK Sävehof 162 Kitti Kiss HUN Hypo 163 Stine Lund Andreassen NOR IK Sävehof 163 Klaudia Kovacs AUT Hypo 165 Trine Ostergaard Jensen DEN FC Midtjylland 165 Simone Cathrine Petersen DEN FC Midtjylland 165 Marta Lopez Herrero ESP Fleury Loiret Handball 165 Maakan Tounkara FRA Fleury Loiret Handball 165 Viktoria Lukacs HUN FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 165 Elena Magdalena Nicula ROU CSM Bucuresti 165 youngest vs oldest Buducnost 178 CSM Bucuresti 177 FC Midtjylland 177 Fleury Loiret Handball 175 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 176 Györi Audi ETO KC 177 HC Podravka Vegeta 176 HC Vardar 179 HCM Baia Mare 177 Hypo Niederösterreich 177 IK Sävehof 176 Larvik 177 MKS Selgros Lublin 171 RK Krim Mercator 178 Rostov-Don 179 Thüringer HC 174 CL average 176 Szimonetta Planeta HUN Györi Audi ETO KC 198 Ibolya Wieszne Mehlmann HUN Hypo Niederösterreich 192 Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez ESP Fleury Loiret Handball 192 Alena Abramovich BLR FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria 192 Kristine Breistøl NOR Larvik 191 Alina Wojtas POL Larvik 191 Marina Skladchikova RUS Rostov-Don 191 Linnea Torstensson SWE CSM Bucuresti 190 Gabriela Rotis-Nagy AUT Hypo Niederösterreich 189 Eva Kiss HUN Györi Audi ETO KC 189 Rikke Slumstrup Jensen DEN IK Sävehof 189 Susan Torp Thorsgaard DEN FC Midtjylland 188 Anouk Van de Wiel NED Thüringer HC 188 Korina Karlovcan Podravka 10/18/ Ivona Mrden Podravka 12/29/ Iva Papac Podravka 11/21/ Anais Atila Fleury 3/24/ Cécilia Errin Fleury 12/13/ Petra Hlogyik FTC 2/28/ Greta Marton FTC 10/3/ Rita Lakatos Györ 7/6/ Magdalena Horvat Podravka 8/14/ Leonarda Senvald Podravka 10/3/ Alizée Gérard Fleury 10/14/ Clémence Grangy Fleury 9/4/ Jade Honsai Fleury 10/18/ Noemi Hafra FTC 10/5/ Sergeja Stefanisin Krim 9/19/ Olga Sanko Hypo 2/28/ Alzbeta Tothova Hypo 2/18/ Ana Vojcic FCM 6/3/ Inna Suslina Vardar 1/5/ Iwona Niedzwiedz Lublin 7/22/ Aurelia Bradeanu CSM 5/5/ Ionica Munteanu B. Mare 1/7/ Sonata Vijunaite Hypo 2/23/ Karoline Dyhre Breivang Larvik 5/10/ Gro Hammerseng-Edin Larvk 4/10/ Cristina Georgiana Varzaru CSM 12/5/ Paula Ungureanu B. Mare 3/30/ Katrine Lunde Rostov 3/30/

15 Important regulations Scoring 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. 15

16 Relaunch >> 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 16 ehftv.com

17 Extended women s coverage on ehftv.com 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. 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). 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 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: 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 17

18 ENERGY TAKES OVER ENERGY BOOST STABIL

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 preseason 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 19

20 Group A head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group A opponents in the EC Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator (397:387) 18: Larvik HK vs RK Krim Neutro Roberts, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 24:20 (13:9) RK Krim Neutro Roberts vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 29:17 (17:7) Larvik HK vs Krim ETA N. Roberts, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 22:21 (9:11) Krim ETA N. Roberts vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 30:25 (14:10) Larvik HK vs Krim Ljubljana Slovenia, EHF Champions League Semi-final 30:33 (17:18) Krim Ljubljana Slovenia vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League Semi-final 27:19 (14:9) Larvik HK vs Krim Ljubljana Slovenia, EHF Champions League Group A 29:23 (16:9) Krim Ljubljana Slovenia vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League Group A 24:19 (11:11) RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik HK, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 30:34 (15:21) Larvik HK vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 30:23 (14:8) Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League Group B 31:19 (13:10) RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League Group B 19:22 (11:11) Larvik vs RK Krim Mercator, EHF Champions League Semi-final 22:24 (9:16) RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League Semi-final 19:27 (9:13) RK Krim Mercator vs Larvik, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 2 24:18 (12:10) 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 (55:49) 4: HCM Baia Mare vs Larvik, EHF Champions League Group D 23:24 (13:12) 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 20

21 GROUP A Larvik (NOR) 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 wellknown face in Larvik: Amanda Kurtovic, who is back, where it all started. Playing hall Arena Larvik Hoffsgate Larvik Norway Capacity: 4,000 Club Address: Larvik Sverresgate 7 N-3256 Larvik Norway Media contact: Harald Gaupen harald.gaupen@gmail.com Online information: Website: Facebook: larvikhk Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green 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. 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 Blanco Tine Rustad Albertsen Sofie Heide Lund (Skrim Kongsberg) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 17 Winners (1): 2010/11 Runners-up (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 Semi-final (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2011/12 Quarter-final (3): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07 Main Round (1): 2013/14 Group Matches (5): 1994/95, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2004/05, 2007/08, Semi-final 1996/97, 2005/06 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2005/06 Norwegian league: 17 titles (1994, 1997, , ) Norwegian cup: 15 titles 21

22 Larvik (NOR) Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 41:20 (24:9) v Dinamo RUS (h), Biggest defeat: 29:17 (17:7) v RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO (a), Longest winning run: 15 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 15 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 4 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 5 matches ( ) Most goals: 41 v Dinamo RUS 41:20W (h), Most goals opponent: 35 v HC Lada Togliatti RUS 35:25L (a), Most goals both teams: 70 v IK Sävehof SWE 39:31W (h), Fewest goals: 13 v Buducnost MNE 23:13L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Oltchim Valcea ROU 22:16W (h), v Buducnost MNE 28:16W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 35 v HC Dinamo RUS 18:17W (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Larvik HK NOR : :7 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Larvik HK NOR : :6 3rd Gr. C 2000/01 Larvik HK NOR : :6 1/4-finals 2001/02 Larvik HK NOR : :5 1/2-finals 2002/03 Larvik HK NOR : :7 1/4-finals 2003/04 Larvik HK NOR : :9 1/2-finals 2005/06 Larvik HK NOR : :6 3rd Gr. A 2006/07 Larvik HK NOR : :6 1/4-finals 2007/08 Larvik HK NOR : :8 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Larvik HK NOR : :6 3rd Gr. C 2009/10 Larvik HK NOR : :8 1/2-finals 2010/11 Larvik NOR : :6 Winner 2011/12 Larvik NOR : :14 1/2-finals 2012/13 Larvik NOR : :12 Runner-up 2013/14 Larvik NOR : :12 3rd MR Gr /15 Larvik NOR : :2 Runner-up Total : :120 22

23 Larvik (NOR) Team roster 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 Kristine Breistøl NOR Left Back 23/08/1993 Oslo, NOR Karoline Dyhre Breivang NOR Centre Back 10/05/1980 Oslo, NOR Marit Malm Frafjord NOR Line Player 25/11/1985 Tromso, NOR Helene Glemming NOR Right Wing 03/01/1997 Oslo, NOR Anja Hammerseng-Edin NOR Back 05/02/1983 Porsgrunn, NOR Gro Hammerseng-Edin NOR Centre Back 10/04/1980 Gjovik, NOR Alma Hasanic MNE Goalkeeper 13/05/1989 Sije Vilde Ingeborg Johansen NOR Line Player 25/07/1994 Tønsberg 11 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth NOR Right Wing 01/08/1984 Lorenskog, NOR Amanda Kurtovic NOR Right Back 25/07/1991 Karlskrona Lena Lowe NOR Left Back 20/03/1997 Tønsberg, NOR 9 Nora Mørk NOR Right Back 05/04/1991 Oslo Thea Mørk NOR Left Wing 05/04/1991 Oslo Jenny Osnes Graesholt NOR Right Wing 05/01/1989 Oslo, NOR Mari Kristine Søbstad Molid NOR Back 08/08/1990 Trondheim Sanna Charlotte Solberg NOR Left Wing 16/06/1990 Bærum Tine Stange NOR Left Back 14/05/1986 Tonsberg, NOR Hanne Svela NOR Centre Back 18/06/1996 Stavanger, NOR Sandra Toft DEN Goalkeeper 18/10/1989 Gribskov Alina Wojtas POL Left Back 21/03/1987 Nowy Sacz, POL 191 Tor Odvar Moen coach 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 23

24 Sandra Toft goalkeeper 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 EHF EURO: G 2014 Sanna Solberg left wing joined Larvik from Norwegian league colleagues Stabaek in the summer of /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 Gro Hammerseng-Edin left 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 Anja Hammerseng-Edin centre 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. EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners Cup 2004 OG: G 2008, WCh: S 2001, 2007, EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2010, S 2002 EHF EURO: S 2012, WCh: B 2009 Marit Malm Frafjord line 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2014 OG: G 2008, 2012, EHF EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009 EC trophies: CL 2011 EHF EURO: G 2010, 2014 Nora Mørk right 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 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011 Amanda Kurtovic right 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 Jenny Osnes Graesholt right 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 season 24

25 GROUP A RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 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. Playing hall Arena Stožice Vojkova Cesta Ljubljana Slovenia Capacity: 6,000 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. Club Address: RK Krim Mercator Center Stožice Vojkova Cesta Ljubljana Slovenia Media contact: Gašper Lončarič gasper@rkkrim.com Online information: Website: Facebook: rkkrim Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue, red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: purple, green Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black 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 Lambevska Amelie Goudjo Gloria Pavlova Melanie Bak (Bordeaux) Alja Jankovic (Celje) Liliya Artsiukhovich (Minsk) Alexandra Petrukhina Sanja Gregorc (Vac) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 21 Winners (2): 2000/01, 2002/03 Runners-up (3): 1998/99, 2003/04, 2005/06 Semi-final (1): 2012/13 Quarter-final (4): 1996/97, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Main Round (6): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15 Group Matches (3): 1999/00, 2001/02, 2007/08 Other Slovenian league: 21 titles ( ) Slovenian cup: 22 titles 25

26 RK Krim Mercator (SLO) Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 36:12 (18:3) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), Biggest defeat: 39:20 (19:8) v Buducnost MNE (a), Longest winning run: 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 9 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 9 matches ( ) Most goals: 41 v H/K Dinamo Volgograd RUS 41:33W (h), Most goals opponent: 47 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 29:47L (h), Most goals both teams: 76 v Buducnost MNE 36:40L (h), v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 29:47L (h), Fewest goals: 15 v Buducnost MNE 30:15L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 12 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 36:12W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 34 v ESBF Besancon FRA 19:15W (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1996/97 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO : :8 1/4-finals 1997/98 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO : :8 1/4-finals 1998/99 Krim Electa Ljubljana SLO : :11 Runner-up 1999/00 Krim Electa NR Ljubljana SLO : :7 3rd Gr. B 2000/01 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO : :9 Winner 2001/02 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO : :6 3rd Gr. D 2002/03 Krim ETA N. Roberts Ljubljana SLO : :4 Winner 2003/04 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia SLO : :10 Runner-up 2004/05 Krim Ljubljana SLO : :2 1/4-finals 2005/06 Krim Ljubljana Slovenia SLO : :8 Runner-up 2006/07 RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana SLO : :6 1/4-finals 2007/08 RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana SLO : :7 3rd Gr. B 2008/09 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :12 4th MR Gr /10 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :9 3rd MR Gr /11 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :12 3rd MR Gr /12 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :14 3rd MR Gr /13 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :12 1/2-finals 2013/14 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :13 4th MR Gr /15 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :20 6th MR Gr. 1 Total : :178 26

27 RK Krim Mercator (SLO) Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 11 Neza Avbelj SLO Left Back 11/04/1992 Ljubljana, SLO Mirjeta Bajramoska MKD Left Back 22/11/1984 Bitola, MKD Polona Baric SLO Centre Back 15/05/1992 Izola 14 Aneja Beganovic SLO Line Player 09/11/1997 Ljubljana, SLO Lara Hrncic SLO Right Back 18/04/1993 Slovenj gradec 3 Manca Juric SLO Line Player 18/01/1995 Ljubljana, SLO Alja Koren SLO Right Wing 11/12/1990 Celje Maja Lukovic SRB Right Wing 08/02/1989 krusevac Misa Marincek SLO Goalkeeper 18/02/1985 Celje Tamara Mavsar SLO Left Wing 01/04/1991 Ljubljana Vesna Milanovic Litre CRO Line Player 30/05/1986 Sinj Marija Obradovic SRB Left Back 06/08/1992 Beograd Elizabeth Omoregie BUL Centre Back 29/12/1996 ATHENE 21 Amra Pandzic SLO Goalkeeper 20/09/1989 Ljubljana Sergeja Stefanisin SLO Goalkeeper 19/09/1974 Ljubljana Ana Zrimsek SLO Right Back 17/08/1995 Ljubljana, SLO Nina Zulic SLO Centre Back 04/12/1995 LJUBLJANA Marta Bon coach 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 27

28 Misa Marincek goalkeeper 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 Tamara Mavsar left 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 Marija Obradovic left 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 Mirjeta Bajramoska left 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 Elizabeth Omoregie centre 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 Vesna Milanovic-Litre line 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 Alja Koren right 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 Maja Lukovic right 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) 28

29 GROUP A Rostov-Don (RUS) 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, threetime 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. Playing hall Palace of Sport Rostov Don St. Khalturinsky str Rostov-Don Russia Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: Rostov-Don 1 Konnoy Army street, 4-a Rostov-on-Don Russia 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. Media contact: Maksim Shchennikov pzrostov@mail.ru Online information: Website: Facebook: RostovHandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow-black Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: black-yellow Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: dark red Qualification for the Women s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Russian champions Coach: Jan Leslie Team 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 Barjaktarovic Oxana Svitanko Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 4 Qualification (3): 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: runners-up 2014/15, quarterfinal 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 2012/13, 2013/14, quarter-final 2010/11 Russian league: 4 titles (1990, 1991, 1994, 2015) Russian cup: 7 titles 29

30 Rostov-Don (RUS) Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: Biggest defeat: Longest winning run: Longest unbeaten run: Longest losing run: Longest run without win: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Most goals: Most goals opponent: Most goals both teams: Fewest goals: Fewest goals opponent: Fewest goals both teams: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A EHF Champions League record Reached N/A MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 30

31 Rostov-Don (RUS) Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 77 Elena Avdekova RUS Left Wing 07/01/1989 Novokuznetsk, RUS Mariya Basarab RUS Goalkeeper 19/01/1990 Uray, RUS Vladlena Bobrovnikova RUS Left Back 24/10/1987 Krasnodar, RUS Viktoriya Borshchenko UKR Left Wing 05/01/1986 Herson, UKR Ekaterina Davydenko RUS Right Back 07/03/1989 Togliatti, RUS Ekaterina Ilina RUS Left Back 07/03/1991 Togliatti, RUS Oxana Kiseleva RUS Left Wing 12/07/1988 Krasnodar, RUS Katrine Lunde NOR Goalkeeper 30/03/1980 Kristiansand, NOR Kseniya Makeeva RUS Line Player 19/09/1990 Ufa, RUS Iuliia Managarova UKR Right Wing 27/09/1988 Dnieprpetrovsk, UKR Galina Mekhdieva RUS Goalkeeper 17/06/1985 Rostov-On-Don, RUS Mayya Petrova RUS Line Player 26/05/1982 Volgograd, RUS Anna Punko RUS Right Back 27/03/1989 Krasnodar, RUS Anna Sedoykina RUS Goalkeeper 01/08/1984 Volgograd, RUS Anna Sen RUS Left Back 03/12/1990 Krasnodar, RUS Regina Shymkute RUS Left Back 21/12/1985 Herson, UKR Marina Skladchikova RUS Goalkeeper 22/11/1990 Krasnodar, RUS Elena Slivinskaya RUS Left Back 09/05/1980 Rostov-On-Don, RUS Alexandra Stepanova RUS Line Player 21/06/1989 Lievsk, RUS Marina Sudakova RUS Right Wing 17/02/1989 Volgograd, RUS 156 Jan Leslie coach 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) 31

32 Katrine Lunde goalkeeper 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 EC Trophies: CL 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2002, 2012 WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009 Regina Shymkute left 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 Viktoria Borshchenko left 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 Anna Sen left back came back to Rostov-Don after a season in Hungary where she played for Gyor her first spell at Rostov was in , 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 Ekaterina Ilina centre 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 Maya Petrova line 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 EURO: B 2008, WCh: G 2009 Ekaterina Davydenko right 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 Iuliia Managarova back 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2012, 2014 EHF EURO: B

33 GROUP A HCM Baia Mare (ROU) 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 FINAL 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. Playing hall Sala Polivalenta Lascar Pana Bd. Unirii Nr.14 A Baia Mare - Maramures Romania Capacity: 2,080 Club Address: HCM Baia Mare BD.Bucuresti Nr. 47 A Baia Mare Romania Media contact: Ramona Ioana Pop meramonaioana@gmail.com Online information: Website: Facebook: hcm.baiamare.official Kit colours Light Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black Dark Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 3 Quarter-final (1): 2014/15 Group matches (1): 2013/14 Other Challenge Cup: runners-up 2002/03 Romanian league: 1 title (2014) Romanian cup: 3 titles 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) 33

34 HCM Baia Mare (ROU) Biggest win: 34:24 (18:12) v IK Sävehof SWE(h), :22 (17:11) v Viborg HK A/S DEN (h), Biggest defeat: 21:33 (10:16) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN (h), Longest winning run: 2 matches ( ) 2 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches ( ) 2 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 3 matches ( ) Most goals: 34 v IK Sävehof SWE 34:24W (h), Most goals opponent: 36 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), Most goals both teams: 65 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), Fewest goals: 18 v Györi Audi ETO KC 18:26L (h), Fewest goals opponent: 19 v Thüringer HC GER 20:19W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Thüringer HC GER 20:19W (h), Women s EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2013/14 HCM Baia Mare ROU : :8 4th Gr. A 2014/15 HCM Baia Mare ROU : :14 1/4-finals Total : :22 34

35 HCM Baia Mare (ROU) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height 10 Lois Abbingh NED Centre Back Groningen, NED Valentina Neli Ardean Elisei ROU Left Wing Focsani, ROU Alexandra L. Ciunt ROU Left Back Simisna, ROU Alexandra Priscilla Do Nascimento BRA Right Wing Sao Paulo, BRA Melinda Geiger ROU Right Back Baia Mare, ROU Elena Gjeorgjievska MKD Right Back Struga, MKD Katarina Jezic CRO Line Player Rijeka, CRO Andrada Maior Pasca ROU Left Wing Baia Mare, ROU Luciana Andreea Marin ROU Centre Back Slatina, ROU Adriana Nicoleta Nechita ROU Right Wing Bailesti, ROU Ioana Laura Oltean ROU Centre Back Bistrita, ROU Gabriela Perianu ROU Left Back Braila, ROU Allison Marie Pineau FRA Centre Back Chartres, FRA Aneta Pirvut ROU Right Wing Dr. Severin, ROU Gabriela Preda ROU Left Back Tirgu Neamt, ROU Ibolya Gabriella Szucs HUN Left Back Oradea, ROU Ana-Maria Tanasie ROU Left Wing Hunedoara, ROU Timea Judita Tatar ROU Line Player Baia Mare, ROU Bianca Elena Tiron ROU Left Back Iasi, ROU Andrada Cynthia Tomescu ROU Line Player Baia Mare, ROU Patricia Maria Vizitiu ROU Right Back Petrosani, ROU Madalina Maria Zamfirescu ROU Centre Back Rm. Valcea, ROU Yuliya Dumanska ROU Goalkeeper Gorodenka, UKR Ionica Munteanu ROU Goalkeeper Bucharest, ROU Paula Claudia Ungureanu ROU Goalkeeper Brasov, ROU 181 Aurelian Rosca coach 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

36 Paula Ungureanu goalkeeper 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 twoyear 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 Elisei left 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 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 Lois Abbingh left back played four years at German side VfL Oldenburg ( ) before she transferred to Baia Mare last summer made her comeback on the court after an eightmonth 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 WCh: S 2009, 2011, EHF EURO: B 2010 Allison Pineau centre 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 Katarina Jezic line 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 EHF EURO: B 2010 Melinda Geiger right back most expensive Romanian player ever, after Oltchim paid 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 Adriana Nechita right 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 Alexandra do Nascimento right wing after 11 seasons played for Hypo she took a new challenge and accepted Baia Mare s offer in 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007 EHF EURO: B 2010 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2013 WCh: G 2013, Panamerican Games: G 2003, 2007,

37 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 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 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 37

38 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs Thüringer HC No previous encounters Group B head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group B opponents in the EC FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria vs HC Podravka Vegeta (117:113) 7: Podravka Koprivnica vs Ferencvaros Budapest, EHF Champions League Group B 21:21 (10:14) Ferencvaros Budapest vs Podravka Koprivnica, EHF Champions League Group B 26:24 (13:12) FTC Budapest vs Podravka Vegeta, Koprivnica, EHF Cup Final 37:36 (16:19) 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 (65:48) 4: Thüringer HC vs HC Podravka Vegeta, EHF Champions League Group B 33:20 (14:11) 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 38

39 Playing hall City Hall Dabas Iscola utca Dabas Hungary Capacity: 2,498 GROUP B 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 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 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 Hungaria Kobanyai ut 47/a Budapest Hungary Media contact: Andrea Pordán pordan.andrea@ftckezilabda.hu Online information: Website: kezilabda.fradi.hu Facebook: ftckezilabda Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: red Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: blue/black Qualification for the Women s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Hungarian champions Coach: Gabor Elek, since 2008 Team 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 16 Runners-up: 2001/02 Semi-finals: 1996/97, 2000/01 Quarter-finals: 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2003/04 Main Round: 2012/13 Group Matches/Champions League: 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2013/14 Qualification: 2009/10, 2014/15 Other EHF 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 39

40 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 42:16 (19:7) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), Biggest defeat: 22:32 (11:13) v CS Oltchim Rm. Valcea ROU (h), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 5 matches ( ) Most goals: 42 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), Most goals opponent: 39 v Viborg HK A/S DEN 39:30L (a), Most goals both teams: 70 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 34:36L (h), Fewest goals: 17 v Volgograd AKVA RUS 22:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), v TUS Walle Bremen GER 27:16W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 36 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 18:18D (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN : :5 3rd Gr. B 1995/96 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN : :4 2nd Gr. B 1996/97 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN : :7 1/2-finals 1997/98 HERZ FTC Budapest HUN : :9 3rd Gr. B 1999/00 HERZ FTC Budapest HUN : :8 1/4-finals 2000/01 HERZ FTC Budapest HUN : :10 1/2-finals 2001/02 HERZ FTC Budapest HUN : :10 Runner-up 2002/03 HERZ FTC Budapest HUN : :4 1/4-finals 2003/04 FTC Budapest HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2006/07 FTC Budapest HUN : :8 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 Budapest Bank-FTC HUN : :10 4th Gr. D 2012/13 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN : :8 3rd MR Gr /14 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN : :6 3rd Gr. B Total : :95 40

41 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 16 Alena Abramovich BLR Goalkeeper Minsk, BLR Anita Cifra HUN Line Player Bekes, HUN Noemi Hafra HUN Centre Back Cegléd, HUN Petra Hlogyik HUN Goalkeeper Tatabánya, HUN Dora Hornyak HUN Left Back Debrecen, HUN Monika Kovacsicz HUN Right Wing Komarno, SVK Viktoria Lukacs HUN Right Wing Budapest, HUN Greta Marton HUN Left Wing Mohacs, HUN Rea Reka Meszaros HUN Line Player Vac, HUN Noemi Mod HUN Centre Back Mohacs, HUN Piroska Pappne Szamoransky HUN Line Player Györ, HUN Nerea Pena Abaurrea ESP Centre Back Pamplona, ESP Nadine Schatzl HUN Left Wing Munich, GER Adrienn Szarka HUN Left Wing Kiskunhalas, HUN Luca Szekerczes HUN Right Back Bonyhád, HUN Klára Szekeres HUN Left Back Békéscsaba, HUN Melinda Szikora HUN Goalkeeper Kiskunhalas, HUN Szandra Szollosi-Zacsik HUN Right Back Komarno, SVK Zita Szucsanszki HUN Centre Back Budapest, HUN Katarina Tomasevic SRB Goalkeeper Belgrad, SRB 179 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup: 2011, 2012 Gabor Elek coach 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 41

42 Katarina Tomasevic goalkeeper 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 Adrienn Szarka left 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 WCh: S 2013 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup: 2011, 2012 Nerea Pena left 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-Zácsik left 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 EURO: S 2014, WCh: B 2011 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup: 2011, 2012 Zita Szucsánszki centre 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012 Luca Szekerczés right 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 Piroska Szamoransky line player one of the longest serving members of Ferencváros joined the club in 2005 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012 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 Monika Kovacsicz right 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 EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010, Cup Winners Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012, WCh: B

43 GROUP B Thüringer HC (GER) 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. Playing hall Wiedigsburghalle Nordhausen August-Bebel-Platz Nordhausen Germany Capacity: 2,218 Club Address: Thüringer HC Mittelhäuser Str Erfurt Germany Media contact: Bernd Hohnstein hohnstein@thueringer-hc.de Online information: Website: Facebook: ThueringerHC Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black Dark Player shirt: red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 5 Quarter-final (1): 2014/15 Main Round (1): 2013/14 Group Matches (2): 2011/12, 2012/13 Other Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 2012/13 Challenge Cup: runners-up 2008/09 German league: 5 titles (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) German cup: 2 titles 43

44 Thüringer HC (GER) Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 33:20 (14:11) v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO (h), Biggest defeat: 36:18 (17:9) v Larvik NOR (a), Longest winning run: 3 matches ( ) 3 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 5 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) EHF Champions League record Most goals: 36 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 36:29W (h), Most goals opponent: 36 v Larvik NOR 36:18L (a), Most goals both teams: 65 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 36:29W (h), Fewest goals: 14 v Buducnost MNE 23:14L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 20 v Buducnost MNE 24:20W (h), v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:20W (h), v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 21:20W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 37 v Buducnost MNE 23:14L (a), MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2011/12 Thüringer HC GER : :11 4th Gr. A 2012/13 Thüringer HC GER : :6 3rd Gr. D 2013/14 Thüringer HC GER : :13 3rd MR Gr /15 Thüringer HC GER : :13 1/4-finals Total : :43 44

45 Thüringer HC (GER) Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 8 Linda Bach GER Left Wing 12/11/1996 Erfurt, GER Marieke Blase GER Left Back 06/01/1994 Oldenburg, GER Eliza Iulia Buceschi ROU Left Back 01/08/1993 Baia Mare, ROU Dinah Eckerle GER Goalkeeper 16/10/1995 Leonberg, GER Katrin Engel AUT Right Back 02/05/1984 Mistelbach, AUT Sonja Frey AUT Left Wing 22/04/1993 Wien, AUT Franziska Fuhrmann GER Line Player 23/01/1989 Erfurt, GER Lucia Hruscakova SVK Left Back 02/08/1982 Kosice, SVK Svenja Huber GER Right Wing 23/10/1985 Mannheim, GER Lydia Jakubisova SVK Right Wing 14/10/1981 Bojnice, SVK Josephine Kessler GER Wing 14/10/1996 Erfurt, GER Jana Krause GER Goalkeeper 10/06/1987 München, GER Iveta Luzumova CZE Centre Back 03/04/1989 Pisek, CZE Lotte Prak NED Back 28/11/1992 Niedorp, NED Natalia Reshetnikova RUS Left Wing 16/04/1991 Ischewsk, RUS Lucie Satrapová CZE Goalkeeper 03/07/1989 Havlickuv Brod, CZE Beate Scheffknecht AUT Left Back 27/02/1990 Innsbruck, AUT Meike Schmelzer GER Line Player 19/07/1993 Wiesbaden, GER Danick Snelder NED Line Player 22/05/1990 Pijnacker, NED Anouk Van de Wiel NED Right Back 10/07/1992 Venlo, NED Kerstin Wohlbold GER Centre Back 11/01/1984 Friedrichshafen, GER 169 Herbert Müller coach 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

46 Jana Krause goalkeeper 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 Eckerle goalkeeper 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 Sonja Frey left 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 Kerstin Wohlbold centre 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 W 19 EURO: B 2011 Danick Snelder line 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 Katrin Engel right 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 ( ) 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 Lydia Jakubisova right 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 Svenja Huber right 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 46

47 GROUP B 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 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. Playing hall Sport Hall Fran Galović Zeljka Selingera bb Koprivnica Croatia Capacity: 2,500 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 Vegeta Zeljka Selingera 3A Koprivnica Croatia Media contact: Ljerka Vresk ljerka.vresk@rk-podravka.hr Online information: Website: Facebook: RkPodravka Kit colours Light Player shirt: red/white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: orange/white Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue/black Goalkeeper shirt: black 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 22 Winners (1): 1995/96 Runners-up (1): 1994/95 Semi-finals (1): 1997/98 Quarter-finals (1): 1996/97 Main Round (3): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2008/09 Group 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, 2014/15 Qualification (2): 2003/04, 2005/06 Other Cup Winners Cup: Runners-up: 2004/05, Semi-finals: 2007/08 EHF Cup: Finals 2000/01, 2005/06 Croatian league: 21 titles Croatian cup: 20 titles 47

48 HC Podravka Vegeta Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 35:20 (21:9) v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), Biggest defeat: 17:35 (10:16) v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD (h), Longest winning run: 6 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 10 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 10 matches ( ) Most goals: 41 v Zvezda RUS 41:28W (h), Most goals opponent: 40 v Györi Audi ETO HUN 33:40W (h), Most goals both teams: 73 v Györi Audi ETO HUN 33:40W (h), Fewest goals: 13 v HYPO Niederösterreich AUT 17:13L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 14 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 17:14W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 30 v HYPO Niederösterreich AUT 17:13L (a), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1993/94 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :8 4th Gr. A 1994/95 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :6 Runner-up 1995/96 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :4 Winner 1996/97 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :5 1/4-finals 1997/98 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :6 1/2-finals 1998/99 Podravka Koprivnica CRO : :6 3rd Gr. A 1999/00 Podravka Dolcela CRO : :6 3rd Gr. D 2002/03 Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica CRO : :7 3rd Gr. A 2006/07 Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica CRO : :8 3rd Gr. C 2007/08 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :8 3rd Gr. A 2008/09 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :12 3rd MR Gr /10 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :8 4th Gr. A 2010/11 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :10 4th Gr. D 2011/12 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :8 4th Gr. B 2012/13 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :6 3rd Gr. B 2013/14 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :10 3rd Gr. D 2014/15 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :12 4th Gr. B Total : :130 48

49 HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) Team roster 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 Dragica Dzono CRO Line Player 24/05/1987 Mostar, BIH Lana Frankovic CRO Left Back 27/09/1991 Koprivnica, CRO Magdalena Horvat CRO Left Wing 14/08/1998 Koprivnica, CRO Antonia Jukic CRO Goalkeeper 09/05/1992 Split, CRO Ivana Kapitanovic CRO Goalkeeper 17/09/1994 Split, CRO Korina Karlovcan CRO Left Wing 18/10/1998 Zagreb, CRO Dora Krsnik CRO Centre Back 19/01/1992 Zagreb, CRO Mirjana Milenkovic MNE Goalkeeper 14/03/1985 Krusevac, SRB Selena Milosevic CRO Centre Back 09/06/1989 Pula, CRO 11 Ivona Mrden CRO Centre Back 29/12/1998 Zagreb, CRO Ekatarina Nemaskalo CRO Left Wing 31/07/1989 Brovary, UKR Ana Niksic CRO Right Wing 29/06/1989 Jakarta, INA Iva Papac CRO Right Back 21/11/1998 Zagreb, CRO Leonarda Senvald CRO Line Player 03/10/1998 Koprivnica, CRO Sara Senvald CRO Line Player 14/03/1996 Koprivnica, CRO Marijeta Vidak CRO Left Back 14/08/1992 Virovitica, CRO 179 Goran Mrden coach 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 49

50 Mirjana Milenkovic goalkeeper 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 ( ) earned her a place in the Montenegro national team in one CL match against FTC in 2007 she saved six penalty shots for Buducnost Ekatarina Nemaskalo left 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 Lana Frankovic left 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 Selena Milosevic centre 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 Dora Krsnik back 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 Dragica Dzono line 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 Ivana Dezic right 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) Ana Niksic right 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 50

51 GROUP B Fleury Loiret Handball (FRA) 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 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. Playing hall Palais des Sports Aubrais;Orleans 14 rue Eugete Vignat Orleans France Capacity: 2,800 Club Address: Fleury Loiret Handball 109 Avenue Louis Gallouedec Fleury les Aubrais France Media contact: Antony Tahar antony.tahar@fleuryloirethandball.com Online information: Website: Facebook: Fleury.Loiret.Handball Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: black-pink Player short: pink Goalkeeper shirt: blue 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. Qualification for the Women s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: French champions Coach: Frederic Bougeant since 2012 Team 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 2 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other Cup Winners Cup: runners-up 2014/15, quarter-final 2013/14 Challenge Cup: semi-final 2011/12 French league: 1 title (2015) French cup: 1 title (2014) French League Cup: 1 title (2015) 51

52 Fleury Loiret Handball Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: Biggest defeat: Longest winning run: Longest unbeaten run: Longest losing run: Longest run without win: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Most goals: Most goals opponent: Most goals both teams: Fewest goals: Fewest goals opponent: Fewest goals both teams: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A EHF Champions League record Reached N/A MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 52

53 Fleury Loiret Handball Team roster 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 Anais Atila FRA Centre Back 24/03/1999 Amilly, FRA Pauline Cabassu FRA Left Wing 21/08/1996 Aix-en-Provence, FRA Alexandrina Cabral Barbosa ESP Back 05/05/1986 Lisbon, POR Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez ESP Line Player 17/11/1990 Tenerife, ESP Hadja Cisse FRA Left Back 07/03/1991 Epernay, FRA Laura Dorp FRA Line Player 26/07/1996 Saint-Doulchard, FRA Aminata Doucoure FRA Left Wing 12/01/1994 Noisy-le-Grand, FRA Cécilia Errin FRA Goalkeeper 13/12/1998 Pointe-à-Pitre, FRA Béatriz Fernandez Ibanez ESP Back 19/03/1985 Santander, ESP Julie Foggea FRA Goalkeeper 28/08/1990 Les Abymes, FRA Alizée Gérard FRA Centre Back 14/10/1998 Orléans, FRA Clémence Grangy FRA Right Wing 04/09/1998 Chateauroux, FRA Manon Grimaud FRA Left Wing 12/04/1996 Marseille, FRA Juliette Guerrier FRA Back 04/02/1996 Rouen, FRA Jade Honsai FRA Goalkeeper 18/10/1997 St Jean de Braye, FRA Manon Houette FRA Left Wing 02/07/1992 Le Mans, FRA Laura Kamdop FRA Line Player 14/09/1990 Chartres, FRA Marta Lopez Herrero ESP Right Wing 04/02/1990 Malaga, ESP Daniela Alejandra Miño Larenas CHI Right Wing 10/10/1996 Las Condes, Santiago, CHI Audrey Nganmogne FRA Goalkeeper 14/11/1994 Yaoundé, CMR Roseline Ngo Leyi FRA Line Player 27/04/1993 Paris, FRA Diankenba Nianh FRA Left Back 14/02/1996 Vierzon, FRA Gnonsiane Niombla FRA Back 09/07/1990 Villeurbanne, FRA Estelle Nze Minko FRA Back 11/08/1991 Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, FRA Axelle Ruel FRA Line Player 14/11/1996 Le Mans, FRA Claire Scheid FRA Back 08/07/1997 Brest, FRA Maakan Tounkara FRA Right Wing 12/03/1983 Epernay, FRA Aida Viloria Ponsarnau ESP Left Back 05/02/1997 Martorell, ESP Darly Zoqbi De Paula ESP Goalkeeper 25/08/1982 Ponte Nova, BRA 178 EC trophies : Challenge Cup 2012 Frederic Bougeant coach 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 53

54 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 Houette left 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 EURO: S 2014 Alexandrina Barbosa left 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 Gnonsiane Niombla centre 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 Laura Kamdop line 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 Elisabeth Chavez Hernandez line 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 EURO: S 2008, 2014, WCh: B 2011; OG: B 2012 Beatriz Fernandez Ibanez right 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 Marta Lopez Herrero right 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 ECh: S 2008, 2014; OG: B 2012 EURO: S 2014; OG: B

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 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 homegrown 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 55

56 Group C head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group C opponents in the EC FC Midtjyland vs HC Vardar (79:82) 2: WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League Main Round 24:23 (10:12) FC Midtjylland vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League Main Round 25:24 (15:09) WHC Vardar SCBT vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League FINAL4 Place 3/4 34:31 (14:12) FC Midtjyland vs Hypo Niederösterreich (247:264) 6: Hypo NÖ vs Ikast FS, European Championship for Club Teams Semi-final 26:27 (11:13) Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League Group C 26:29 (12:16) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Champions League group C 24:22 (9:12) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, Cup Winners Cup Final 35:30 (20:16) Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, Cup Winners Cup Final 36:22 (18:11) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 32:27 (16:16) Ikast Bording EH vs Hypo Niederösterreichm, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 32:31 (19:14) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Ikast-Brande EH, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 32:24 (20:10) Ikast-Brande EH vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 23:33 (11:19) FC Midtjyland vs Györi Audi ETO KC (191:198) 4: Györi Graboplast ETO vs Ikast Bording EH, EHF Cup Final 30:25 (15:13) Ikast Bording EH vs Györi Graboplast ETO, EHF Cup Final 36:23 (21:13) Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Ikast-Brande EH, EHF Champions League Group A 25:27 (15:11) Ikast-Brande EH vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League Group A 26:27 (13:16) Györi AUDI ETO KC vs FC Midtjylland, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 35:27 (17:13) FC Midtjylland vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 1 24:29 (14:17) 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 (51:45) 3: WHC Vardar SCBT vs Györi Audi ETO KC, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 24:18 (14:10) Györi Audi ETO KC vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 27:27 (13:12) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi Audi ETO KC (154:187) 4: Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League Semi-final 26:25 (15:13) Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League Semi-final 29:21 (12:9) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi AUDI ETO KC, EHF Champions League Group C 29:27 (15:13) Györi AUDI ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League Group C 37:29 (17:12) Györi Audi ETO KC vs Hypo Niederösterreich, EHF Champions League Group A 41:22 (21:11) Hypo Niederösterreich vs Györi Audi ETO KC, EHF Champions League Group A 27:28 (11:14) 56

57 GROUP C FC Midtjylland (DEN) 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. Playing hall IBF Arena Stadion Allé 2b 7430 Ikast Denmark Capacity: 2,250 Club address: FC Midtjylland Stadion Alle 2B 7430 Ikast Denmark Media contact: Troels Banggaard tsb@fcm.dk Online information: Website: Facebook: FCMHaandbold And all of them have high hurdles to cross in the group matches, as FCM will have to face twotime 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 8 Semi-final: 2002/03, 2013/14 Quarter-final: 1998/99, 2004/05 Main Round: 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12 Group Matches: 2003/04 Qualification: 2014/15 Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: purple Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red/yellow Dark Player shirt: purple Player short: purple Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red/yellow Left the club: Nycke Groot (Györ) Line Jorgensen (Bucuresti) Ida Alstad (Byasen) Other Cup Winners Cup: winners 2003/04, 2014/15, semi-finals 1999/2000 EHF Cup: winners 2001/02, 2010/11, runners-up 2006/07, semi-finals 2007/08, 2012/13 City Cup: winners 1997/98, runners-up 1996/97, semi-finals 1994/95 Danish league: 4 titles (1998, 2011, 2013, 2015) Danish cup: 6 titles 57

58 FC Midtjylland Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 34:18 (16:10) v Motor Zaporoshje UKR (h), Biggest defeat: 24:38 (14:19) v Viborg HK DEN (h), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 7 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 9 matches ( ) Most goals: 37 v MKS Selgros Lublin POL 37:26W (h), Most goals opponent: 38 v Viborg HK DEN 24:38L (h), Most goals both teams: 67 v CBM Astroc Sagunto ESP 37:30L (a), Fewest goals: 15 v Buducnost MNE 22:15L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 17 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 36 v Byasen NOR 17:19W (a), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1998/99 Ikast FS DEN : :6 1/4-finals 2002/03 Ikast Bording EH DEN : :10 1/2-finals 2003/04 Ikast Bording EH DEN : :6 3rd Gr. B 2004/05 Ikast Bording EH DEN : :5 1/4-finals 2008/09 Ikast-Brande EH DEN : :17 4th MR Gr /12 FC Midtjylland DEN : :12 4th MR Gr /14 FC Midtjylland DEN : :11 Fourth Place Total : :67 58

59 FC Midtjylland Team roster 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 Johanna M. H. Ahlm SWE Centre Back 03/10/1987 Härlanda, SWE Karina Andersen DEN Left Back 05/03/1996 Nordfyn, DEN Stephanie Andersen DEN Goalkeeper 19/06/1992 Randers, DEN Mie Augustesen DEN Left Wing 19/07/1988 Hedensted, DEN Emilie Bastrup Bertelsen DEN Left Wing 19/02/1997 Holstebro, DEN Pauline Boegelund DEN Right Back 17/02/1996 Egedal, DEN Louise Katharina Burgaard DEN Right Back 17/10/1992 Esbjerg Sabine Englert GER Goalkeeper 27/11/1981 Aschaffenburg, GER Sabina Rosengren Jacobsen SWE Left Back 24/03/1989 Lund, SWE Annika Jakobsen DEN Right Wing 25/02/1997 Horsens, DEN Trine Ostergaard Jensen DEN Right Wing 17/10/1991 Galten Stine Jörgensen DEN Left Back 03/09/1990 Brønderslev Veronica Kristiansen NOR Left Back 10/07/1990 Stavanger Jane Sönderbaek Mejlvang DEN Centre Back 02/08/1995 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN Line Skak Lindegaard Nielsen DEN Line Player 06/04/1997 Ikast-Brande, DEN Sabine Pedersen DEN Line Player 05/05/1986 Aalborg, DEN Simone Cathrine Petersen DEN Centre Back 28/08/1997 Ringsted, DEN Stephanie Kjaer Rasmussen DEN Goalkeeper 21/10/1996 Ikast-Brand, DEN Frederikke Fevre Siggard DEN Goalkeeper 23/01/1997 Ikast-Brande, DEN Kristina Sommer DEN Right Wing 26/01/1994 Aarhus, DEN Susan Torp Thorsgaard DEN Line Player 13/10/1988 Arhus, DEN Ana Vojcic SRB Goalkeeper 03/06/1979 Arandelovac, SRB Fie Woller DEN Left Wing 17/09/1992 Herning EC trophies: EHF Cup: 2011 (as assistant coach) Helle Thomsen coach 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 59

60 Sabine Englert goalkeeper 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2015 EHF Cup 2011, Challenge Cup: 2005 WCh: Bronze 2007 Ana Vojcic goalkeeper 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 Fie Woller left 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 EURO: G 2014 Veronica Kristiansen left 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 EC trophies: CL 2010 EURO: S 2010, B 2014 Johanna Ahlm centre 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 Susan Thorsgaard line 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, Cup Winners Cup 2015 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2014 WCh: B 2013 Louise Katharina Burgaard right 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 2015 Trine Østergaard Jensen right 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 60

61 GROUP C HC Vardar (MKD) 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. Playing hall Jane Sandanski Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,500 Club Address: WHC Vardar Preseka 55/ Skopje FYR Macedonia 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. Media contact: Ivana Stojanovska contact@zrkvardar.com Online information: Website: Facebook: ZRK-Vardar-SCBT Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black 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 Stojanovska Sara Mitova (HC Vardar Junior) Ivana Gakidova (Banik Most) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 3 Semi-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 (third rank at MVM EHF FINAL4) Other EHF Cup: Last 16: 2012/13 Macedonian league: 2 titles (2013, 2014, 2015) Macedonian cup: 3 titles 61

62 HC Vardar Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 17:35 (10:16) v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO (a), :47 (12:24) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (a), Biggest defeat: 27:17 (14:9) v Buducnost MNE (a), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 2 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 3 matches ( ) Most goals: 47 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), Most goals opponent: 33 v Dinamo-Sinara RUS 33:25L (a), Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), Fewest goals: 17 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), v Buducnost MNE 27:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 17 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 17:35W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 40 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2013/14 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD : :7 Third Place 2014/15 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD : :12 Third Place Total : :19 62

63 HC Vardar Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 20 Anja Althaus GER Line Player 03/09/1982 Magdeburg, GER Olga Chernoivanenko RUS Right Wing 17/04/1989 Samarsk, RUS Andrea Covic CRO Line Player 09/10/1993 Sinj, CRO Sanja Damnjanovic SRB Centre Back 25/05/1987 Beograd, SRB Siraba Dembele FRA Left Wing 28/06/1986 Dreux, FRA Itana Grbic MNE Left Wing 01/09/1996 Podgorica, MNE 30 Alena Ikhneva RUS Left Back 30/07/1995 Orenburg, RUS Tatiana Khmyrova RUS Right Back 06/02/1990 Volgograd, RUS Andrea Klikovac MNE Right Back 05/05/1991 Podgorica, MNE Barbara Lazovic SLO Right Back 04/01/1988 Brezice, SLO Andrea Lekic SRB Centre Back 06/09/1987 Beograd, SRB Amandine Leynaud FRA Goalkeeper 02/05/1986 Aubenas, FRA Andrea Penezic CRO Left Back 13/11/1985 Zagreb, CRO Dragana Petkovska MKD Goalkeeper 12/06/1996 Skopje, MKD 4 Jovanka Radicevic MNE Right Wing 23/10/1986 Podgorica, MNE Sara Ristovska MKD Right Wing 09/09/1996 Skopje, MKD 19 Maja Sokac CRO Left Wing 31/05/1982 Split, CRO Inna Suslina RUS Goalkeeper 05/01/1979 Tashkent, USSR 184 Indira Kastratovic coach 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) 63

64 Inna Suslina goalkeeper 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 Siraba Dembele left 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 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002 OG: S 2004, WCh: G 2001, 2007, 2009, EHF EURO: S 2006, B 2008 WCh: S 2009, 2011, EHF EURO B 2006 Andrea Penezic left 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 WCh: S 2013 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 ( ) 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 Andrea Lekic centre 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 organises her own handball camp every other year Anja Althaus line 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 EC trophies: CL 2013 WCh: S 2013 EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010 WCh: B 2007, Junior WCh: B 2001 Barbara Lazovic right 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: CL 2013, Cup Winners Cup 2006, 2010 OG: S 2012, EURO: G 2012 Jovanka Radicevic right 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 ( ), two regional league titles (2010, 2011) and two titles in the Cup Winners Cup (2006, 2010) 64

65 GROUP C Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT) 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. Playing hall BSFZ Südstadt Liese Prokop Platz Maria Enzersdorf Austria Capacity: 1,020 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. Club Address: Hypo Niederösterreich BSFZ Südstadt Liese-Prokop-Platz Maria Enzersdorf Austria Media contact: Kati Kovacs info@hypo-noe.at Online information: Website: Facebook: hyponoe Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 23 Winners (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 1997/98, 1999/2000 Runners-up (2): 1995/96, 2007/08 Semi-final (5): 1996/97, 1998/99, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09 Quarter-final (1): 2005/06 Group Matches (9): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2012/13, Runners-up 2003/04 Austrian league: 39 titles ( ) Austrian cup: 28 titles 65

66 Hypo Niederösterreich Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 17:32 (7:17) v Bel. Olimpija Ljubljana SLO (a), Biggest defeat: 42:22 (20:11) v HC Leipzig GER (a), Longest winning run: 14 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 14 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 4 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) Most goals: 38 v HC Kometal Gjorce Petrov MKD 38:27W (h), v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 38:28W (h), Most goals opponent: 41 v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 41:22L (a), Most goals both teams: 71 v Randers HK DEN 39:32L (a), Fewest goals: 14 v Podravka Koprivnica CRO 17:14L (a), v Kometal Dj. P. Skopje MKD 21:14L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 12 v Kometal Dj. P. Skopje MKD 26:12W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 30 v Podravka Koprivnica CRO 17:13W (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1993/94 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :0 Winner 1994/95 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :2 Winner 1995/96 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :3 Runner-up 1996/97 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :2 1/2-finals 1997/98 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 Winner 1998/99 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :4 1/2-finals 1999/00 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 Winner 2000/01 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 3rd Gr. A 2001/02 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 3rd Gr. C 2002/03 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 3rd Gr. C 2003/04 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 3rd Gr. C 2004/05 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :8 1/2-finals 2005/06 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 1/4-finals 2006/07 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 1/2-finals 2007/08 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 Runner-up 2008/09 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :6 1/2-finals 2009/10 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : *:14 3rd MR Gr /11 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :8 3rd Gr. B 2011/12 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :8 4th Gr. C 2012/13 Hypo NÖ AUT : :6 3rd Gr. A 2013/14 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :8 3rd Gr. A 2014/15 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : :9 4th Gr. A Total : *:132 * Point for Hypo Niederösterreich deducted by official decision 66

67 Hypo Niederösterreich Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 24 Altina Berisha AUT Left Back 24/11/1994 Vienna, AUT Marina Budecevic AUT Left Back 25/11/1982 Sremska Mitrovica, SRB Mirela Dedic AUT Left Wing 15/12/1991 Bruck an der Mur, AUT Verena Flöck AUT Goalkeeper 29/06/1992 Vienna, AUT Martina Goricanec AUT Centre Back 19/09/1993 Feldkirch, AUT Anna Hajgato HUN Goalkeeper 27/04/1992 Budapest, HUN Stefanie Kaiser AUT Line Player 31/10/1992 Wiener Neustadt, AUT Kitti Kiss HUN Right Wing 13/03/1994 Györ, HUN Klaudia Kovacs AUT Left Wing 23/01/1992 Feldkirch, AUT Patricia Kovacs AUT Centre Back 26/05/1996 Lustenau, AUT Viktoria Mauler AUT Wing 23/08/1993 Wien, AUT Gabriela Rotis-Nagy AUT Left Back 12/11/1980 Sfantu-Gherorghe, ROU Olga Sanko RUS Goalkeeper 28/02/1978 Rostov/Don, RUS Jennifer Thurner AUT Centre Back 19/05/1993 Mödling, AUT Alzbeta Tothova SVK Right Back 18/02/1978 Komarno, SVK Sonata Vijunaite LTU Line Player 23/02/1980 Lietuva, LTU Claudia Wess AUT Right Back 15/06/1995 Wien, AUT Ibolya Wieszne Mehlmann HUN Right Back 04/11/1981 Pecs, HUN 192 WCh: B 1999 (as coach) Ferenc Kovacs coach 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 67

68 Olga Sanko goalkeeper 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 Viktoria Mauler left 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 EC trophies: CL 2008 Marina Budecevic left 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 Martina Goricanec centre 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 Tothova right 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2013 U19 EURO: B 2012 Stefanie Kaiser line 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 Ibolya Mehlmann right 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 Kitty Kiss right 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2013 EURO: B 2004, WCh: S 2003, B

69 GROUP C Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) 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 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 losing their quarterfinals 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. Playing hall AUDI Arena Kiskút liget 9027 Györ Hungary Capacity: 5,000 Club Address: Győri Audi ETO KC Kiskutliget Győr Hungary Media contact: Andrea Szilagyi szilagyi.andrea@gyorietokc.hu Online information: Website: Facebook: Győri-Audi-ETO-KC Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: white/red Dark Player shirt: green/black Player short: green/black Goalkeeper shirt: blue, black 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 13 Winners (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Runners-up (2): 2008/09, 2011/12 Semi-final (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11 Quarter-final (1): 2014/15 Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06 Qualification (1): 2004/05 Other Cup Winners Cup: Runners-up 2005/06, Semi-final 2002/03 EHF 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 69

70 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) Biggest win: 41:22 (21:11) v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT (h), Biggest defeat: 28:39 (12:20) v Spartak Kiev UKR (a), Longest winning run: 13 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 22 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) Most goals: 41 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 41:22W (h), Most goals opponent: 39 v Spartak Kiev UKR 39:28L (a), Most goals both teams: 73 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:40W (a), Fewest goals: 18 v Larvik NOR 18:24L (h), v WHC Vardar SCBT 24:18L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 14 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 34 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), Women s EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2000/01 Györi Graboplast ETO HUN : th Gr. D 2005/06 Györi ETO Kezilabda Club HUN : rd Gr. D 2006/07 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : /2-finals 2007/08 Györi Audi ETO HUN : /2-finals 2008/09 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : Runner-up 2009/10 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN : /2-finals 2010/11 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN : /2-finals 2011/12 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN : Runner-up 2012/13 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : Winner 2013/14 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : Winner 2014/15 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : :7 1/4-finals Total : :76 70

71 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height 18 Eduarda Idalina Amorim Taleska BRA Left Back Blumenau/BRA Bernadett Bognar-Bodi HUN Right Wing Szeged Yvette Broch NED Line Player Monster/NED Beatrix Elö HUN Right Back Györ Anita Görbicz HUN Centre Back Veszprem Cornelia Nycke Groot NED Centre Back Alkmaar/NED Anette Emma Hudak HUN Left Back Bratislava/SVK Jana Knedlikova CZE Right Wing Praha/CZE Dorina Korsos HUN Left Wing Kecskemét Aniko Kovacsics HUN Centre Back Nagyatad Rita Lakatos HUN Centre Back Dunajska Streda/SVK Luca Linder HUN Line Player Mohacs Heidi Loke NOR Line Player Tonsberg/NOR Szimonetta Planeta HUN Right Back Kazincbarcika Linn Jorum Sulland NOR Right Back Oslo/NOR Zsuzsanna Tomori HUN Left Back Budapest Gabriella Toth HUN Back Berettyóújfalu Adrienn Orban HUN Right Wing Györ Julia Harsfalvi HUN Centre Back Zalaegerszeg Alexa Weninger HUN Goalkeeper Györ Eva Kiss HUN Goalkeeper Debrecen Kari Aalvik Grimsbø NOR Goalkeeper Bergen/NOR 180 Ambros Martín coach 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

72 EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012 Kari Aalvik Grimsbø goalkeeper 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 EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012 Dorina Korsos left 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 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012 Aniko Kovacsics left 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup: 2011, 2012 EHF EURO: B 2012 Zsuzsanna Tomori left 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 Nycke Groot centre 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 Linn-Jørum Sulland right 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 Heidi Loke line 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 EC trophies: CL 2011, 2013, 2014 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, EHF EURO: G 2008, 2010, 2014, S 2012 Bernadett Bognar-Bodi right 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 EC trophies: CL 2011 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, EURO: G 2008, 2010, S 2012 EC trophies: CL

73 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 73

74 Buducnost vs CSM Bucuresti No previous encounters Group D head-to-heads Historic encounters of the Group D opponents in the EC Buducnost vs IK Sävehof (66:50) 4: IK Sävehof vs Buducnost, EHF Champions League Group A 24:33 (13:16) Buducnost vs IK Sävehof, EHF Champions League Group A 33:26 (16:14) Buducnost vs MKS Selgros Lublin (103:82) 6: SPR SAFO-ICom Lublin vs ZRK Buducnost MONET, EHF Champions League Qualification Round 2 24:21 (10:10) ZRK Buducnost MONET vs SPR SAFO-ICom Lublin, EHF Champions League Qualification Round 2 21:17 (10:8) Buducnost vs MKS Selgros Lublin, EHF Champions League Group B 31:19 (16:8) 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 (60:57) 2: SPR Lublin vs CSM Bucuresti, EHF Cup Last 32 32:30 (14:18) CSM Bucuresti vs SPR Lublin, EHF Cup Last 32 30:25 (17:9) IK Sävehof vs MKS Selgros Lublin No previous encounters 74

75 GROUP D Buducnost (MNE) 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 wellrehearsed 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. Playing hall S.C. Morača Str. Ivana Milutinovića b.b Podgorica Montenegro Capacity: 5,000 Club Address: Budućnost Ivana Milutinovica B.B Podgorica Montenegro Media contact: Milos Pavicevic zrkbuducnost@t-com.me / milos_ps@ yahoo.com Online information: Website: Facebook: ZrkBuducnost Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: green 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 20 Winners (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 Runners-up (1): 2013/14 Semi-final (6): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11 Main Round (1): 2012/13 Quarter-final (2): 2002/03, 2003/04 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Group Matches (6): 1996/97, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2005/06, 2009/10 Montenegrin league: 27 titles (1985,1989,1990, ) Montenegrin cup: 20 titles 75

76 Buducnost Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 39:20 (19:8) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (h), Biggest defeat: 36:21 (18:11) v Viborg HK DEN (a), Longest winning run: 11 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 16 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 7 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 7 matches ( ) Most goals: 40 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), Most goals opponent: 40 v Mar El Osito L Eliana ESP 26:40L (h), Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), Fewest goals: 16 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), v Larvik NOR 28:16L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 14 v Thüringer HC GER 23:14W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 34 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1996/97 Buducnost Podgorica YUG : :6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Buducnost Podgorica YUG : :9 1/2-finals 1998/99 Buducnost Podgorica YUG : :3 1/2-finals 1999/00 Buducnost Podgorica YUG : :8 1/2-finals 2000/01 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG : :7 1/2-finals 2001/02 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG : :8 1/2-finals 2002/03 RK Buducnost MONET YUG : :8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Buducnost MONET SCG : :8 1/4-finals 2004/05 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG : :10 4th Gr. A 2005/06 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG : :6 3rd Gr. C 2006/07 ZRK Buducnost T-Mobile MNE : :12 4th Gr. B 2007/08 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE : :9 3rd Gr. D 2008/09 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE : :10 3rd MR Gr /10 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE : :7 3rd Gr. D 2010/11 Buducnost MNE : :8 1/2-finals 2011/12 Buducnost MNE : :4 Winner 2012/13 Buducnost MNE : :13 3rd MR Gr /14 Buducnost MNE : :9 Runner-up 2014/15 Buducnost MNE : :1 Winner Total : :146 76

77 Buducnost Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 89 Kinga Achruk (Byzdra) POL Centre Back 09/01/1989 Pulawy Vanesa Agovic MNE Centre Back 30/03/1996 Berane, MNE Katarina Bulatovic MNE Right Back 15/11/1984 Kragujevac Itana Cavlovic MNE Line Player 27/08/1997 Podgorica 72 Dragana Cvijic SRB Line Player 15/03/1990 Beograd, SRB Djurdjina Jaukovic MNE Left Back 24/02/1997 Niksic 185 Jovana Kovacevic SRB 09/04/ Suzana Lazovic MNE Line Player 28/01/1992 Podgorica Djurdjina Malovic MNE Right Back 05/05/1996 Niksic Majda Mehmedovic MNE Left Wing 25/05/1990 Bar Cristina Georgiana Neagu ROU Left Back 26/08/1988 Bucharest Ljubica Nenezic MNE Goalkeeper 15/01/1997 Podgorica Biljana Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 12/05/1988 Podgorica Ivona Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 21/04/1996 Podgorica Radmila Petrovic MNE Right Wing 19/04/1988 Niksic 174 Matea Pletikosic CRO 24/04/ Milena Raicevic (Knezevic) MNE Back 12/03/1990 Podgorica Ana Rajkovic MNE Goalkeeper 04/09/1996 Podgorica Ema Ramusovic MNE Line Player 28/11/1996 Berane Dijana Ujkic MNE Right Wing 05/07/1996 Podgorica, MNE Marta Zderic CRO Goalkeeper 20/04/1990 Metkovic 184 Dragan Adzic coach retired due to injury in 1998 almost a decade was an assistant to many coaches in Buducnost became head coach in 2010 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012 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 77

78 Marta Zderic goalkeeper 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 Majda Mehmedovic left 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 EC trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012 EC trophies: CL 2015 EHF EURO: G 2012 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 2015, Cup Winners Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012 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 EC trophies: CL 2015 EHF EURO: B 2010 Cristina Neagu centre 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) EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015 WCh: S 2013 Dragana Cvijic line 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 Katarina Bulatovic right 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 Radmila Petrovic right 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 EC trophies: CL 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, Cup Winners Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G

79 GROUP D CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 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 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. Playing hall Sala Polivalenta Ioan Kunst Ghermanescu B-Dul Tineretului, sec. 4 Bucharest Romania Capacity: 5,000 Club Address: Calea Victoriei Street no 126 District Bucharest Romania Media contact: Constantin Caliman caliman.constantin@csmbucuresti.ro Online information: Website: Facebook: CSM-Bucuresti-Oficial Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 1 Other EHF Cup: Last /12 Romanian league: 1 title (2015) Romanian cup: - runners-up

80 CSM Bucuresti Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: Biggest defeat: Longest winning run: Longest unbeaten run: Longest losing run: Longest run without win: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Most goals: Most goals opponent: Most goals both teams: Fewest goals: Fewest goals opponent: Fewest goals both teams: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A EHF Champions League record Reached N/A MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 80

81 CSM Bucuresti Team roster No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height 14 Bianca Bazaliu ROU Left Back 30/07/1997 SLATINA, ROU Aurelia Bradeanu ROU Back 05/05/1979 Slatina, ROU Deonise Cavaleiro Fachinello BRA Right Back 20/06/1983 Santa Rosa, RS, BRA Iulia Vasilica Curea ROU Left Wing 08/04/1982 Bacau, ROU Mayssa Raquel De Pessoa BRA Goalkeeper 11/09/1984 Joao Pessoa, BRA Maria Fisker DEN Left Wing 03/10/1990 Favrskov, DEN Fernanda Franca da Silva BRA Left Wing 25/09/1989 Sao Bernardo, BRA Jelena Grubisic CRO Goalkeeper 20/01/1987 Zagreb, CRO Isabelle Gulldén SWE Centre Back 29/06/1989 Sävedalen, SWE Madalina Ion ROU Goalkeeper 23/02/1996 Bucharest, ROU Alina Iordache ROU Goalkeeper 22/03/1982 Bucuresti, ROU Line Anna Ryborg Jörgensen DEN Right Back 31/12/1989 Hvidovre, DEN Oana Andreea Manea ROU Line Player 18/04/1985 Bucharest, ROU Carmen Dolores Martin Berenguer ESP Right Wing 29/05/1988 ALMERIA, ESP Maria Cristina Nan ROU Line Player 19/05/1990 Bucuresti, ROU Elena Magdalena Nicula ROU Centre Back 02/08/1986 bucharest, ROU Ana Paula Rodrigues Belo BRA Centre Back 18/10/1987 Sao Luis, BRA Linnea Torstensson SWE Left Back 30/03/1983 STOCKHOLM, SWE Cristina Georgiana Varzaru ROU Right Wing 05/12/1979 Bucharest, ROU Ekaterina Vetkova RUS Line Player 01/08/1986 Syzran, RUS 182 Kim Rasmussen coach 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 81

82 Mayssa Pessoa goalkeeper 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 Jelena Grubisic goalkeeper 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 WCh: G 2013 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010, Cup Winners Cup 2014 WCh: B 2013 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2014 EURO: S 2010, B 2014 EC Trophies: EHF Cup 2011, WCh: B 2013 Maria Fisker left 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 Isabelle Gullden centre 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 Line Jörgensen right 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2014, EHF Cup 2011 EURO: S 2010, B 2014 Linnea Torstensson left 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 Oana Manea line 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 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007 EURO: B 2010 EHF EURO: S 2008, S 2014, WCh: B 2011, OG: B 2012 Carmen Martin right 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 82

83 GROUP D IK Sävehof (SWE) 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. Playing hall Partillebohallen Gamla Kronvägen Partille Sweden Capacity: 2,000 Club Address: IK Sävehof Box Partille Sweden Media contact: Rüdiger Osterloh rudiger@savehof.se Online information: Website: Facebook: Savehof Twitter: IK_Savehof Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow/black Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: orange 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. 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 8 Main Round (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 Group Matches (3): 2007/08, 2010/11, 2012/13 Qualification (2): 2006/07, 2011/12 Other Cup Winners Cup: Last 16: 2011/12 Swedish league: 11 titles (1993, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) 83

84 IK Sävehof Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 30:23 (14:13) v HC Leipzig GER (h), Biggest defeat: 21:38 (8:20) v Györi Audi ETO KC (h), Longest winning run: 3 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 12 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 15 matches ( ) Most goals: 36 v 1. FC Nürnberg GER 36:34W (h), Most goals opponent: 39 v Larvik NOR 39:31L (a), Most goals both teams: 70 v 1. FC Nürnberg GER 36:34W (h), v Viborg HK DEN 37:33L (a), v Larvik NOR 39:31L (a), Fewest goals: 17 v Larvik NOR 25:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Metz Handball FRA 22:25W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 42 v WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 24:18L (a), v Larvik NOR 25:17L (a), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2007/08 IK Sävehof SWE : :9 4th Gr. B 2010/11 IK Sävehof SWE : :12 4th Gr. A 2012/13 IK Sävehof SWE : :10 4th Gr. C 2013/14 IK Sävehof SWE : :15 4th MR Gr /15 IK Sävehof SWE : :19 5th MR Gr. 2 Total : :65 84

85 IK Sävehof Team roster 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 Johanna Bundsen SWE Goalkeeper 03/06/1991 Uddevalla, SWE Emma Ekenman-Fernis SWE Right Wing 24/07/1996 Stockholm, SWE Mimmi Eliasson SWE Centre Back 03/01/1997 Göteborg, SWE Elin Enhörning SWE Line Player 13/03/1990 Uddevalla, SWE Hanna Eriksson SWE Goalkeeper 23/02/1996 Ludvika, SWE Julia Eriksson SWE Left Back 07/07/1994 Göteborg, SWE Linn Hansson SWE Left Back 18/09/1997 Göteborg, SWE Birna Berg Haraldsdottir ISL Right Back 21/06/1993 Reykjavik, ISL Ida Holm SWE Centre Back 13/02/1997 Karlstad, SWE Rikke Slumstrup Jensen DEN Left Back 30/09/1995 Herning, DEN Elin Karlsson SWE Centre Back 04/01/1989 Göteborg, SWE Thess Krönell SWE Line Player 30/05/1996 Umeå, SWE Joanna Lindvall-Haggren SWE Right Wing 28/06/1994 Göteborg, SWE Olivia Mellegard SWE Left Wing 17/06/1996 Göteborg, SWE Isabella Mouratidou SWE Goalkeeper 05/08/1997 Stockholm, SWE Hanna Örtorp SWE Left Wing 20/12/1997 Göteborg, SWE Tilda Olsson SWE Right Back 15/03/1996 Mölndal, SWE Linnea Petterson SWE Left Back 28/07/1995 Kiruna, SWE Louise Sand SWE Left Wing 27/12/1992 Göteborg, SWE Sofia Tegstedt SWE Left Wing 03/01/1991 Göteborg, SWE 177 Henrik Signell coach 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 85

86 Johanna Bundsen goalkeeper 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 Louise Sand left 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 EURO: B 2014 EURO: B 2014 Rikke Jensen left 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 Stine Lunde Andreassen centre 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 Elin Karlsson centre 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 Elin Enhörning line 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. Sofia Tegstedt line 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 Birna Berg Haraldsdottir right 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 86

87 GROUP D MKS Selgros Lublin (POL) 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 quarterfinals. 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. Playing hall Globus Hall ul.kazimerza Wielkiego Lublin Poland Capacity: 4,300 Club Address: MKS Lublin ul. Melgiewska Lublin Poland 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. Media contact: Adam Rozwalka media@spr.lublin.pl Online information: Website: Facebook: mkslublin Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: green Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black Qualification for the Women s EHF Champions League 2015/16 season: Polish champions Coach: Sabina Wlodek Team 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) Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 18 Quarter-final (2): 1999/2000, 2001/02 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Group Matches (8): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2000/2001, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2013/14, 2014/15 Qualification (6): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11 Other EHF Cup: Winners 2000/01, quarterfinal 2007/08, 2009/10 Polish league: 18 titles ( , , 2013, 2014, 2015) Polish cup: 10 times 87

88 MKS Selgros Lublin Club records EHF Champions League Biggest win: 29:16 (15:6) v Podravka Dolcela CRO (h), Biggest defeat: 21:38 (10:18) v Kometal DP Skopje MKD (h), Longest winning run: 4 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 10 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 10 matches ( ) Most goals: 38 v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE 38:28W (h), Most goals opponent: 40 v FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 40:25L (a), Most goals both teams: 66 v GAS Anagennisi Artas GRE 38:28W (h), v Metz Handball FRA 35:31W (h), Fewest goals: 19 v Motor Zaporoshje UKR 20:19L (a), v Larvik HK NOR 27:19L (a), v Buducnost MNE 31:19L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Henzo Sw. Roermond NED 27:16W (h), v Podravka Dolcela CRO 29:16W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Motor Zaporoshje UKR 20:19L (a), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1996/97 Montex Lublin POL : :8 3rd Gr. B 1997/98 Montex Lublin POL : :8 3rd Gr. A 1998/99 Montex Lublin POL : :6 3rd Gr. D 1999/00 Montex Lublin POL : :5 1/4-finals 2001/02 MKS Montex Lublin POL : :8 1/4-finals 2002/03 MKS POL-SKONE Lublin POL : :9 4th Gr. C 2003/04 KS BYSTRZYCA Lublin POL : :10 4th Gr. D 2013/14 MKS Selgros Lublin POL : :12 4th Gr. B 2014/15 MKS Selgros Lublin POL : :9 4th Gr. D Total : :75 88

89 MKS Selgros Lublin Team roster 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 Edyta Charzynska POL Centre Back 12/01/1994 Plock, POL Jessica Da Silva Quintino BRA Right Wing 17/04/1991 San Paulo, BRA Joanna Drabik POL Line Player 28/10/1993 Wloszczowa, POL Ekaterina Dzhukeva BUL Goalkeeper 08/05/1988 Dupnistsa, BUL Weronika Gawlik POL Goalkeeper 20/10/1986 Gliwice, POL Marta Gega POL Left Back 16/04/1986 Bielawa, POL Agnieszka Kocela POL Left Wing 17/01/1988 Jelenia Gora, POL Katarzyna Kozimur POL Right Back 09/06/1994 Przemysl, POL Alesia Mihdaliova BLR Right Back 22/01/1985 Orsza, BLR Iwona Malgorzata Niedzwiedz POL Left Back 22/07/1979 Nowy Sacz, POL Monika Nozka POL Goalkeeper 15/02/1982 Lublin, POL Krystsina Repelewska POL Right Back 07/01/1981 Minsk, BLR Malgorzata Rola POL Wing 07/01/1983 Lukow, POL Kamila Skrzyniarz POL Centre Back 20/11/1984 Kielce, POL Honorata Syncerz POL Centre Back 27/01/1993 Kielce, POL Joanna Szarawaga POL Line Player 02/04/1994 Debno, POL Weronika Zarzycka POL Right Back 05/05/1989 Lublin, POL 176 Sabina Wlodek coach 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 ( ) became Lublin s head coach in November 2013 her assistant is Monika Marzec, the best Polish line player in the last 20 years 89

90 Ekaterina Dzhukeva goalkeeper 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 Malgorzata Rola left 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 Agnieszka Kocela left 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 Marta Gega left 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 Iwona Niedzwiedz centre 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 Joanna Drabik line 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. EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 Alesia Mihdaliova right 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 Jessica Da Silva Quintino right 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 90

91 2014/15 Top Scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Cristina Neagu (ROU) Buducnost (MNE) 102 Andrea Penezic (CRO) WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD) Nora Mørk (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 98 4 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) Ana Gros (SLO) Metz Handball (FRA) 73 Tamara Mavsar (SLO) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) Nadja Nadgornaja (GER) Thüringer HC (GER) Heidi Loke (NOR) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 68 Rikke Skov Erhardsen (DEN) Viborg HK A/S (DEN) Katrin Engel (AUT) Thüringer HC (GER) Aniko Kovacsics (HUN) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) Mirjeta Bajramoska (MKD) RK Krim Mercator (SLO) Andrea Lekic (SRB) WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD) 58 Radmila Petrovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 58 91