VELUX EHF Champions LeagueSeason 2015/16

Qualification Tournament5-6 September 2015Sport Hall Borik, Banja Luka (BIH)

Media Information

Saturday 5 September 2015Semi-final 1 17:30 Elverum Handball Herrer vs OCI-Lions

Semi-final 2 20:00 Alpla HC Hard vs RK Borac m:tel

Sunday 6 September 20153/4 Placement match 17:30

Final 20:00

:vs

:vs

:

:

Control the Gameat home

Indoor climateVentilationEnergy balanceSun screeningGood nightGood morningLeaving homeOn vacation

Want to learn more about air quality, family health, daily comfort and home security?

velux.com/integra

Watch movie here:

V11944-045-06_VELUX_INTEGRA_ad_A4.indd 1 28-08-2015 12:55:00

3

Foreword of EHF President 4

Map of participating clubs 5

Media contacts 7

New ways to follow the matches 7

Playing system diagram - stages and dates 9

Seeding list 11

Preview 13

Qualification teams

Elverum Handball Herrer 14

OCI-Lions 17

Alpla HC Hard 20

RK Borac m:tel 24

Past winners 28

2014/15 top scorers 29

Table of contents

4

Foreword

Dear media representatives, Welcome to the qualification of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16. The long summer of waiting for top class handball is finally over as we stand on the eve of the qualification to the VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16. It has been almost 100 days since FC Barcelona captain Victor Tomas lifted the winners’ trophy in the LANXESS arena and now the new race for the title begins in Banja Luka. The national champions of Austria (Alpla HC Hard), Bosnia Herzegovina (RK Borac m:tel), Netherlands (OCI Lions) and Norway (Elverum Handball Herrer) are on the starting grid as they all vie for the only remaining place in the group phase. In Group D five teams already await the successful qualifier – HC Metalurg, Skjern Handbold, HC Motor Zaporozhye, Kadetten Schaffhausen and HCM Baia Mare. Even before the qualification tournament throws off it is clear that we are going to see some fresh faces in the European top flight. It has been over a decade since Austrian champions Alpla HC Hard participated in the continent’s premium competition in 2003/04 and none of the other three teams has ever crossed the threshold of the elimination phase. For the Dutch team even their participation in qualification is a completely new adventure and what makes their maiden voyage even more special is their head coach. With Monique Tijsterman taming the Lions, the club from the Netherlands has a unique place in the world of men’s team sports and her presence at the helm fits very well with our ongoing effort at the EHF to strengthen the position of women in European handball. Both for the tournament’s hosts Borac and Elverum this is the second attempt to reach the main competition as they took part in qualification two years ago. Although Borac have never played in the EHF Champions League they can boast winning its forerunner – the Champions Cup. Exactly 40 years ago they were starting their road to glory which ended with them raising the trophy in the legendary Borik sport hall, the very same venue hosting this weekend’s tournament. To the fans in this arena, I welcome you all to the qualification event; get ready for exciting sporting entertainment! To the teams, I wish them all the very best of luck!

We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media andI am sure this will continue and develop in the future. Should you require any information, helpor assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media andCommunications Department based in our office in Vienna. They will be more than happy toassist you with any questions you might have.

We look forward to working with you in the upcoming season!

Jean BrihaultEHF President

VEL

UX

EH

F FI

NA

L4

Ho

st C

ity C

olo

gne,

GER

Skje

rn

Han

dbo

ld, D

EN

TH

W K

iel,

GER

Mo

ntpe

llier

H

B, F

RA

Orl

en W

isla

P

lock

, PO

L

Che

khov

skie

Med

vedi

, RU

S

Ves

zpre

m H

C,

HU

N

KS

Viv

e Ta

uro

nK

ielc

e, P

OL

HC

Met

alur

g,

MK

D

Sea

son

20

15

/16

KIF

Ko

ldin

gKo

benh

avn,

DEN

SG

Fle

nsbu

rg-

Han

dew

itt, G

ER

Fute

bol C

lube

do

Po

rto

, PO

R

HC

Mes

hkov

Bres

t, BL

R

HC

Mo

tor

Zap

oro

zhye

, UK

R

RK

Cel

je P

ivov

arna

Lask

o, S

LO

HC

PP

D

Zag

reb,

CR

O

RU

KO

ME

TN

I K

LU

BP

RV

O P

LIN

AR

SK

O D

RU

ŠT

VO

ZA

GR

EB

HC

Var

dar

MK

D

Gro

ups

A&

B te

ams

Gro

ups

C&

D te

ams

Qua

lifica

tion

team

s

IFK

Kri

stia

nsta

d, S

WE

FC B

arce

lona

Las

sa, E

SP

Nat

urho

use

La R

ioja

, ES

P

Kad

ette

nS

chaffh

ause

n, S

UI

Pari

s S

aint

-Ger

mai

n H

andb

all,

FRA

Rhe

in-N

ecka

rLö

wen

, GER

VEL

UX

EH

F C

HA

MPI

ON

S LE

AG

UE

Besi

ktas

Jim

nast

ikKu

lubu

, TU

R

HC

M B

aia

Mar

e,

RO

U

MO

L-P

ick

Szeg

ed, H

UN

HC

Vo

jvo

dina

N

ovi S

ad, S

RB

OC

I-Li

ons

, N

ED

RK

Bo

rac

m:te

l Ba

nja

Luka

, BIH

Alp

la

HC

Har

d, A

UT

Elve

rum

Han

dbal

lH

erre

r, N

OR

Tatr

an P

reso

v, S

VK

Find your nearest store at jackjones.com

7

EHF/M Media contacts

Qualification Clubs – Media contacts

Media matters

Vlado BrindzakMedia and Communications European Handball Federation+43 1 80 151 161brindzak@eurohandball.com

TV and Radio

Miguel Mateo MarcellanMedia ManagerEHF Marketing GmbH+43 1 80 151 224mateo@ehfmarketing.com

Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)Erik Henriksen+47 400 21299erik@ehh.no

Alpla HC Hard (AUT)Hansjörg Füssinger+43 664 342 82 12hjf@dentconsult.at

OCI-Lions (NED)Hans Gierman+31 6 22417606h.gierman@heerlen.nl

RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka (BIH)Vladimir Brankovic+387 65 585-550rkborac@teol.net

The qualification tournament in Banja Luka offers fans the opportunity to track the action in a plethora of new formats.

When Elverum Handball Herrer face OCI-Lions in the opening semi-final of the VELUX EHF Champions League Qualification Tournament on Saturday at 17:30 CET, the live stream on ehfTV.com will not be the only way fans can follow the action. The tournament in Banja Luka will be covered on a variety of platforms, ensuring that anyone interested will not miss a beat, wherever they are. 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 the chase for the final group phase place. As well as the coverage on the EHF Champions League Facebook page and Instagram EHF journalist Nemanja Savic will be on site to launch coverage of the matches, reserved typically for the final weekends of major competitions, on two new channels. This season fans can follow the @EHF_Live Twitter account to keep up to date with all aspects of the event and add EHF_Live on Snapchat for a behind the scenes look.

New ways to follow the matches

ENERGY BOOST STABIL

WWW.ADIDASHANDBALL.COM

ENERGYENERGYENERGYENERGYENERGYENERGYENERGY TAKES OVER TAKES OVER TAKES OVER TAKES OVER TAKES OVER TAKES OVER TAKES OVER

9

Qua

li�ca

tion

To

urna

men

t (n

o dr

aw)

Gro

up P

hase

Gro

ups

A &

B (d

raw

)

Sem

i-�n

als

(dra

w)

Last

16

(no

draw

)Q

uart

er-�

nals

(no

draw

)

Gro

up P

hase

Gro

ups

C &

D (d

raw

)G

roup

Pha

seKO

Mat

ches

(no

draw

)

A1

A1

vs vs

vsbye

bye

vs

M1

K1 K2

B1

M6

vs vs vs vs

3rd

pla

ce m

atch

Fin

al

M5

vsM

1M

4

vsM

2M

3

B1A

1

B1A

2

A2

B2

A3

B3

A4

B4

A5

B5

A6

B6

C1

D1

C2

K1

vsM

2B2

K2

vsM

3A

3B

6

vsM

4B

3A

6

vsM

5A

4B

5

vsM

6B

4A

5

D1

vsD

2C

1C

2D

2

C3

D3

C4

D4

C5

D5

C6

D6

A7

B7

A8

B8

Sea

son

20

15

/16

p

layi

ng

syst

em

Qu

ali�

cati

on

To

urn

amen

tG

rou

p P

has

eLa

st 1

6Q

uar

ter-

�nal

sFI

NA

L4fir

st le

g20

.-24.

04.2

016

seco

nd le

g27

.04-

01.0

5.20

16

28.-2

9.05

.201

605

.-06

.09.

2015

first

leg

16.0

3.-2

0.03

.201

6

seco

nd le

g23

.03.

-27.

03.2

016

Sea

son

20

15/1

6 p

layi

ng s

ched

ule

16.-2

0.09

.201

5 23

.-27.

09.2

015

30.0

9.-0

4.10

.201

5 07

.-11.

10.2

015

14.-1

8.10

.201

5 21

.-25.

10.2

015

11.-1

5.11

.201

5 18

.-22.

11.2

015

25.-2

9.11

.201

5 02

.-06

.12.

2015

10.-1

4.02

.201

6

Gro

up A

& B

onl

y 17

.-21.

-02.

2016

G

roup

A &

B o

nly

24.-2

8.02

.201

6

Gro

up A

& B

and

KO G

roup

C &

D02

.-06

.03.

2016

G

roup

A &

B a

nd

KO

Gro

up C

& D

onemanypassionThink

can reachcountries.

www.uniqagroup.com

The UNIQA Group is one of the leading insurance groups in its core markets of Austria and Central and Eastern Europe with over 40 companies in 19 countries and more than 9.3 million customers.

140917_UNQ_Handball_A4.indd 1 9/18/14 14:29 PM

status: 24.06.2015

QualificationTournament

16.-20.09.15 (1); 23.-27.09.2015 (2);05./06.09.2015 30.09.-04.10.2015 (3); 07.-11.10.2015 (4) 16.-20.03.2016 20.-24.04.2016 28./29.05.2016

tournament 14.-18.10.2015 (5); 21.-25.10.2015 (6) first leg first leg tournament11.-15.11.2015 (7); 18.-22.11.2015 (8)

25.-29.11.2015 (9); 02.-06.12.2015 (10) 23.-27.03.2016 27.04.-01.05.2016in one venue 10.-14.02.2016 (11 - A/B); 17.-21.02.2016 (12 -A/B) second leg second leg

24.-28.02.2016 (13); 02.-06.03.2016 (14) in Cologne

26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT no draw no draw 03.05.2016

Group A and B (16 teams)2 groups with 8 teams

1 GER 1 THW Kiel2 ESP 1 FC Barcelona Lassa3 HUN 1 MKB-MVM Veszprem4 POL 1 KS Vive Tauron Kielce5 MKD 1 HC Vardar6 FRA 1 Paris Saint Germain HB7 DEN 1 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn8 SLO 1 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko9 HUN 2 MOL-Pick Szeged

10 POL 2 Orlen Wisla Plock11 CRO 1 HC PPD Zagreb12 GER 2 Rhein-Neckar Löwen13 SWE 1 IFK Kristianstad14 TUR 1 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu15 FRA 2 Montpellier HB16 GER 3 SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Group C and D (12 teams)

2 groups with 6 teams

1 ESP 2 Naturhouse La Rioja2 MKD 2 HC Metalurg3 DEN 2 Skjern Handball4 BLR 1 HC Meskov Brest5 RUS 1 Chekhovskie medvedi6 UKR 1 HC Motor7 SUI 1 Kadetten Schaffhausen8 POR 1 Futebol Clube do Porto9 ROU 1 HCM Baia Mare

10 SRB 1 Vojvodina11 SVK 1 Tatran Presov12 NOR 1 Elverum Handball Herrer13 AUT 1 ALPLA HC Hard14 BIH 1 RK Borac m:tel15 NED 1 OCI/Lions

VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015/16

Last 16 FINAL4QuarterfinalsGroup Phase

1 group with 4 teams

played in semi finals and finals played in semi finals and finals

Win

ner o

f th

e Q

ualif

icat

ion

tour

nam

ent

4th placed team of CL Qualification Tournament goes to EHF Cup Qualification Rd 2,

2nd and 3rd placed team of CL Qualification Tornament go to EHF Cup Qualification Rd 3

4 W

inne

rs o

f VEL

UX

EHF

Cham

pion

s Lea

gue

Qua

rter

final

s

1st p

lace

d te

am o

f Gro

up A

and

B q

ualif

y di

rect

ly fo

r the

Qua

rter

final

s;2n

d, 3

rd, 4

th, 5

th a

nd 6

th p

lace

d te

am o

f Gro

up A

and

B a

s wel

l as w

inne

rs o

f KO

mat

ches

from

Gro

up C

and

D q

ualif

y fo

r the

Las

t 16

6 W

inne

rs o

f VEL

UX

EHF

Cham

pion

s Lea

gue

Last

16

+ 2

Win

ners

of G

roup

A +

B

DRAWS:

1st and 2nd placed team of CL Group Phase Group C and D play Group KO matches. Winners of these

matches qualify for L16

12 teams 8 teams 4 teams

sky.de/sports

Erlebe alle Spiele der deutschen Teams sowie das VELUX EHF FINAL4 live, exklusiv und in HD.

VELUX EHF FINAL4 Champions League, outdoor stände © Philipp Guelland

Hol Dir Sky und freu Dich auf die VELUX EHF Champions League.

POS_Anz_Handball_A4.indd 1 03.09.15 14:00

13

Qualification Tournament

Preview: Quartet aims for final berth

The revamped VELUX EHF Champions League, whose new format features 28 teams divided into four groups, is just around the corner and four teams will battle it out for the last available spot in Pool D.

The winners of the upcoming weekend’s tournament in Banja Luka are set to join HC Metalurg, Skjern Handbold, HC Motor Zaporozhye, Kadetten Schaffhausen and HCM Baia Mare in the group phase of the continent’s elite club competition. Bosnia-Herzegovina’s RK Borac m:tel, the tournament hosts, take on Austria’s Alpla HC Hard while Norwegian outfit Elverum Handball Herrer clash with Dutch champions OCI-LIONS on Saturday. The semi-final losers enter a third-place playoff while the winners lock horns eyeing the prize of qualifying for the big stage.

Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) vs OCI-Lions (NED)Elverum are aiming to end a six-year barren run for Norwegian teams in the VELUX EHF Champions League, with Fyllingen becoming the country’s last club to reach the competition’s group stage in the 2009-2010 season.

Elverum should have a fairly straightforward task against their Dutch opponents and while their player-coach Mikael Apelgren will take nothing for granted against OCI-Lions, he also acknowledged they would face an uphill battle in the final should they get there. Elverum had a strong dress rehearsal for the qualification tournament in Banja Luka, having eked out a 24:23 league win at perennial Norwegian rivals Drammen on Wednesday.

OCI-Lions reached the EHF Cup Qualification Round 2 last season and taking part in the VELUX EHF Champions league preliminary phase is a step forward as well as a massive challenge for the Dutch side. Although they will start as underdogs against Elverum, lack of pressure could also unleash their best handball and hence the fans in Banja Luka should expect a highly entertaining contest.

Alpla HC Hard (AUT) vs Borac m:tel (BIH)Bosnian champions Borac will head into this mouth-watering tie as favourites to go through to Sunday’s final largely because a jam-packed Borik Hall is bound to get behind the tournament hosts in full force.

With seven league titles to their name in the former Yugoslavia coupled with an historic 1976 Champions Cup triumph, Borac are still a household name in the Balkans but their illustrious history will mean little to a compact Alpla unit. With the Austrians having another tilt at the VELUX EHF Champions League group stage, Borac will need to dig deep to overcome their rivals and signing former Serbia stalwart Mladen Bojinovic was the first step in that direction.The 38-year old Bojinovic, who spent the last three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain after 10 years with fellow French rivals Montpellier, should add steel and experience to Borac’s back court after joining them earlier this week.

Head-to-head stats in European Cup competitions

Match schedule (all times local)

Saturday, 5 September 2015: Semi-finals 1 17:30 hrs Elverum Handball Herrer vs. OCI-Lions 2 20:00 hrs Alpla HC Hard vs. RK Borac m:telSunday, 6 September 2015: 3rdplacematch 17:30 hrs Loser semi-final 1 vs loser semi-final 2 Final 20:00 hrs Winner semi-final 1 vs winner semi-final 2

Qualification Tournament Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)OCI-Lions (NED)Alpla HC Hard (AUT)RK Borac m:tel (BIH)

Group DHC Metalurg (MKD)Skjern Handbold (DEN)HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)HCM Baia Mare (ROU)Winner QT

Cup Season Date Match Result

EHF CL Qual. 2013/14 1 Sep 2013 Borac – Hard 17:25 (7:12)

Playing hallSportska Dvorana “Borik”Aleja Svetog Save 4878000 Banja LukaBosnia HerzegovinaCapacity: 3,500

2nd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 33rd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Winner of Round 1: HB Dudelange (LUX)/Haslum Handballklubb (NOR)

14

Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)

It has been six years since Norway were last represented in the Group Phase of the Men’s EHF Champions League. In the 2009/10 season, Fyllingen from the country’s second largest city, Bergen, made it that far, but since then the qualification tournament has been the last stop for Norwegian teams. This year, Elverum HH are determined to end that unfortunate run.

“We are not favourites, but the chance is definitely there,” Elverum’s playing coach Mikael Apelgren tells ehfcl.com ahead of the Qualification Tournament in Banja Luka, Bosnia on 5/6 September. By that time they will have a Norwegian league and cup match under their belt.

“We will obviously not have many competitive matches behind us when we play the qualification matches, but it may even turn out to be an advantage for us, as I don’t think our opponents will have had many either,” says Mikael Apelgren, who has just started his second season as player/coach by Elverum.

“There are advantages and disadvantages in being a player/coach. It demands a lot from the players who have to get adjusted to the situation, and it demands something from the coach who has two roles at the same time. However, it also carries some advantages with it. For instance, it is easier to adjust the amount of training and the intensity of the training, as you can feel yourself how much you can take,” explains the 31-year-old Swede. Norwegians should better the Dutchmen

In the semi-final in Banja Luka on Saturday 5. September, Elverum will be up against Dutch champions OCI-LIONS. “It is an opponent we do not know a lot about at this point, but that is going to change before we play them. “Usually, the Dutch league is considered to be weaker than the Norwegian league, I suppose, so I think we have a fairly good chance to reach the final,” finds Mikael Apelgren.

If his team succeeds, the winner of the match between Austrian champions Alpha HC Hard and hosts RK Borac m:tel will be waiting in Sunday’s deciding match for the group phase ticket. “I have been told that the Austrians are probably the better team. At least that is what all handball experts say, but this may be nullified by the fact that Borac are on home court,” says Apelgren who is not really sure which opponent he would prefer, should his men reach the final.

ELVERUM HÅNDBALL

Club Address:Elverum Handball HerrerPostboks 2952403 ElverumNorway

Media contact:Erik Henriksen+47 400 21299erik@ehh.no

Online information:Website: www.ehh.noFacebook: elverumhandballTwitter: @ElverumHandball

Playing hallTerningen ArenaHamarvegen 1122418 ElverumNorwayCapacity: 2,400

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: green

Past achievements

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

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2010/11 EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13

Norwegian league: 3 titles (2009, 2013, 2015)

15

Team roster

Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)

Michael Apelgrencoach• joined Elverum as playing head coach ahead of the 2014/15 season

• succeeded former Norwegian international Christian Berge, as Berge became national team coach of Norway

• was a successful playmaker for Puerto Sagunto in the Spanish Liga Asobal before joining Elverum

• as a player, he has also represented BM Granollers as well as several Swedish clubs

• has five Swedish championships as a player

• played five internationals for Sweden in his playing days.

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight

9 Michael Apelgren SWE Centre Back 20.8.1984 Stockholm, SWE 181 874 Karl Anders Victor Björkman SWE Right Wing 7.10.1983 Varnamo, SWE 180 807 Aleksander Borresen NOR Line Player 30.8.1985 Baerum, NOR 206 11118 Jonas Burud NOR Right Wing 20.10.1993 Oslo, NOR 195 9519 Hakon Bratvold Ekren NOR Centre Back 10.7.1994 Elverum, NOR 186 973 Torbjörn Fredriksen Eide NOR Left Back 27.11.1990 Melhus, NOR 193 9514 Joergen Jansrud NOR Left Back 23.7.1996 Eidskog, NOR 195 9315 Andre Lindboe NOR Left Wing 3.11.1988 Tonsberg, NOR 186 802 Didrik W. Linderud NOR Right Wing 7.12.1995 Oslo, NOR 183 8711 Nikolaj Mehl DEN Right Back 3.8.1984 Struer, DEN 190 9820 Luka Mitrovic SRB Left Back 17.5.1987 Vrsac, SRB 192 8587 Morten Nergaard NOR Goalkeeper 26.2.1987 Elverum, NOR 189 9210 Lars Nordberg NOR Back 23.4.1982 Elverum, NOR 197 10024 Vegard Bakken Oeien NOR Goalkeeper 8.7.1994 Elverum, NOR 190 10024 Petter Överby NOR Line Player 26.3.1992 Kongsvinger, NOR 200 11021 Steffen Stormo Stegavik NOR Centre Back 30.11.1983 Trondheim, NOR 183 9017 Erik Thorsteinsen Toft NOR Left Back 14.11.1992 Elverum, NOR 192 80

16

Morten Neergaardgoalkeeper• has spent far most of his career in Elverum, had a short foreign adventure by Danish Aalborg in 2012

• played eight internationals for Norway

• one of the Elverum players who has European experience from the 2012/13 CL qualification and the EHF Cup Group Phase

Erik Toft Thorsteinssonleft back• versatile back court player, and though being right handed, he can actually play all three back court positions

• has always played in Elverum, the place where he was also born

• had his debut in Elverum’s league team already at the age of 16.

• is not the only famous name in his family, as his mother is in charge of a well-known Norwegian TV program

• played 27 junior internationals for Norway

Hakon Bratvold Ekrencentre back• has played all his handball career in Elverum

• played one senior international and 17 junior internationals for Norway.

• physically strong player and an inventive playmaker, his idol used to be another quite inventive playmaker, Ivano Balic

• apart from being good at organising his team’s attacking play, he is also good at seeking his own chance by breaking through the opponents’ defence

Nikolaj Mehlright back• playing his second season in Elverum after joining from league rivals Drammens HK in the summer of 2014

• has been playing in Norway since 2012

• has a past career in the Danish league clubs Team Tvis Holstebro and Lemvig Thyboron as well as second league club Faaborg HK

• has an academy exam in international trade and marketing.

Andre Lindboeleft wing• born in the women’s handball stronghold Larvik played for four other Norwegian clubs before he joined Elverum in 2011 (Halsen, Larvik, Fram, Sandefjord)

• made a debut in the national team of Norway in April 2011 against Germany

• took part at the EHF EURO 2014 scoring seven goals in three matches

Luka Mitrovicleft back• a versatile Serbian back court player who can also play the playmaker position which he has done in several of his previous clubs

• playing his second season with Elverum after joining from Danish Norsjaelland Haandbold in the summer of 2014

• has played ten senior internationals for Serbia

• came from Metaloplastika Sabac in his homeland originally, but before joining Elverum, he played three years in Denmark (Nordsjaelland, Aalborg and Skive FH)

Petter Överbyline player• joined Elverum ahead of the 2015/16 season from league rivals Notteroy signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year

• played 12 senior internationals for Norway, including the EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers against Croatia

• by joining Elverum, he left his younger brother Henrik who was among his teammates in Notteroy

• strong and solid pivot who is good at making room on the line and with a fine scoring percentage from the line.

Karl Anders Björkmanright wing• on his second stay with Elverum after a trip back to his homeland Sweden to play for league club H43 Lund from 2010-2012

• came originally from Anderstorps SK in the second Swedish league

• sustained a knee injury in last season s Norwegian play-off final against Bodo, but was expected fit for the start of the 2015/16 season

17

OCI-Lions (NED)

After finishing second four times in a row, Limburg Lions finally managed to make the last step towards the title. And all they needed was a woman to show them the right way. Under the guidance of head coach Monique Tijsterman the team from Sittard added the domestic championship title to the Dutch Cup and the bi-national BeNe-League title last season. In the Dutch finals against Volendam the Lions crowned themselves champions in the second match after winning 29:28 on home ground and 34:29 away.

Male coaches in female handball teams are common, but it is still rare to find a female coach for a men’s team. But it works, even in the VELUX EHF Champions League: Dutch Monique Tijsterman is the only female among 30 male coaches. Since 2014, she coaches OCI Lions - and led the Limburg based team in her premiere season to their first title in the Netherlands.

While capping as a Dutch international (23 matches), Tijsterman started her coaching career in the Dutch Federation coaching Younger Age Category teams. Her biggest success was the bronze medal at the EHF U20 EURO in 2011. At the same time she had been assistant coach of the Dutch women’s team for a long time.

After a break from coaching, she became event coordinator of the Dutch Handball Federation and was the organizer of the handball tournament (EYOF) in Utrecht. Since 2014, Monique Tijsterman is back on the bench - and now hopes to cause a sensation with the OCI Lions in the VELUX EHF Champions League qualification tournament in Banja Luka (5 and 6 September), where the Dutch champions face their Norwegian counterparts Elverum in the semi-final.

The agreement with the Dutch Federation, for which she still works one day per week, allows Monique Tijsterman to be coach of Lions for two seasons.

“My first season was the most successful season in club history. First we won the BeNe-League, then we took the Dutch Cup and finally for the first time ever the Dutch championship. It was the first time in Dutch handball that one club took all three trophies,” she said.

Now OCI Lions are on their maiden voyage in the VELUX EHF Champions League and they are facing Elverum in the semi-final.

“We were satisfied with this draw, as it is much easier for us to prepare for a Scandinavian team than for, for example, a Balkan team, especially as Banja Luka is the host of the event. Elverum play a similar style to us and Dutch handball in general. We are happy when our sponsorship agreed on the support to participate in the Champions League. But we do not go there, saying: We are the favourites, but I would like to think we are in with a chance,” Tijsterman added.

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (including 2015/16 season): 1

OtherEHF Cup: Round 3 2011/12

Dutch league: 1 title (2015)Dutch cup: 1 title

Club Address:OCI-LIONSPO Box 5796160 AN GeleenNetherlands

Media contact:Hans Gierman+31 6 22417606h.gierman@heerlen.nl

Online information:Website: www.limburglions.nlFacebook: limburglionsTwitter: @oci_lions

Playing hallTopsporthal Fitland XLSittardNetherlandsCapacity: 2,200

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

18

Team roster

OCI-Lions (NED)

Monique Tijstermancoach• only female coach in the VELUX EHF Champions League

• led OCI Lions to the historic triple of Dutch championship, Dutch cup and BeNe-League in 2015

• coaches the Lions since 2014

• was a coach of Dutch female younger age national teams and assistant coach of the Dutch women’s national team before

• had retired from coaching for several years, then working as an event coordinator of the Dutch Handball Federation

• former Dutch international in the 1980’s

EURO: B Women’s 19 2011

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight

21 Roel Adams NED Left Back 5.8.1982 Geleen, NED 198 9319 Joris Baart NED Right Back 24.4.1992 Geleen, NED 192 903 Erik Blaauw NED Centre Back 5.4.1996 Leiderdorp, NED 184 809 Thomas Dekker NED Left Wing 5.2.1994 Sittard, NED 183 7814 Serge Heijnen NED Right Wing 6.3.1994 Schinnen, NED 183 7434 Bijan Houben NED Left Wing 18.3.1996 Brunssum, NED 190 7815 Lino Janssen NED Left Wing 9.10.1991 Stein, NED 178 748 Evert Kooijman NED Line Player 28.1.1996 Geleen, NED 193 9428 Tim Krijntjes NED Right Wing 5.9.1993 Geleen, NED 186 842 Tim Mullens NED Left Wing 4.6.1982 Geleen, NED 180 885 Mats Pastoor NED Line Player 25.11.1994 Geleen, NED 190 8611 Niels Poot NED Right Wing 17.2.1996 Schiedam, NED 184 8032 Joao Ramos POR Left Wing 6.7.1991 V N Gaia, POR 195 9517 Jeroen Roefs NED Left Back 28.10.1998 Oss, NED 192 1076 Rob Schmeits NED Right Wing 11.6.1994 Sittard, NED 186 6510 Kay Smits NED Right Back 31.3.1997 Geleen, NED 185 8313 Pim van Starrenburg NED Line Player 2.8.1996 Voorburg, NED 185 8529 Ivar Stavast NED Left Back 13.1.1998 Sittard, NED 192 8018 Ivo Steins NED Line Player 18.7.1992 Voerendaal, NED 182 9022 Luc Steins NED Centre Back 22.3.1995 Voerendaal, NED 173 734 Marco Vernooy NED Left Back 5.11.1988 Venlo, NED 208 9824 Dylan Vossen NED Centre Back 13.5.1992 Sittard, NED 184 8016 Jordi Govaarts NED Goalkeeper 28.2.1996 Oosterhout, NED 188 8323 Luuk Hoiting NED Goalkeeper 7.5.1993 Geleen, NED 189 881 Freek Janssen NED Goalkeeper 12.4.1990 Neerbeek, NED 185 9612 Thijs Van Leeuwen NED Goalkeeper 26.2.1987 Djeddah, QAT 194 99

19

Luuk Hoitinggoalkeeper• was a former goalkeeper of the Dutch youth national team and played 26 caps

• one appearance in the Dutch national team

• his role model is THW Kiel goalkeeper Niklas Landin

• works in the sports marketing sector

Tim Mullensleft wing• team captain and most experienced player

• was a professional player at the German clubs Solingen and Bergische Löwen (until 2014)

• former national team member

• played at Neerpelt before signing for Lions

Joao Ramoscentre back• Portuguese is the only foreign player in the Lions squad

• was a younger age category national team player in Portugal

• started his career at FC Porto, where he played until 2014, with the exception of the 2012/13 season, when he was signed by Dutch side JMS Hurry-Up

• only player in the Lions team with the CL group phase experience - with Porto in 2013/14

Joris Baartright back• one of four current national team players in the Lions squad

• tall left handed shooter, who likes the way former Swedish international Kim Andersson played

• played for V&L before arriving to the Lions

• started playing on the right wing position, but now is right back

• Is the owner of a physiotherapist praxis in his business life

Thijs van Leeuwengoalkeeper• started playing handball at the age of seven

• arrived at the Lions in 2011, before he played for Bevo

• was in the selection of the Dutch national team, but did not play any international match so far

• was one of the keys to win the final of the BeNe-League

Roel Adamsleft back• with 198 cm the tallest Lions player

• was professional player at several German clubs before (Ahlen, Kassel and Eisenach)

• played half a year at Norwegian club Stord Handball in 2009

• software and application designer in his business life

• joined the Lions in 2012

Dylan Vossencentre back• started playing handball at the age of eight at Sittardia

• his idol and role model is Icelandic Aron Palmarsson

• 1-against-1-expert, famous for his quick moves

• played for the youth and junior team of the Netherlands

Serge Heijnenright wing• part of the Dutch U21 team at the 2015 WCh in Brazil where he scored 26 times

• nominated for the Dutch men’s national team by coach Joop Fiege for the final EHF EURO 2016 qualification matches against Croatia and Norway in June

• awarded best talent of the Dutch league in the 2014/15 season

• plays for Lions since 2012 and the age of 18

20

Alpla HC Hard (AUT)For seven years no Austrian team has been part of the group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League - now it will be the fourth straight attempt for Alpla HC Hard. In the semi-final of the qualification tournament the Austrian champions face host Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina) on 5 September - and coach Markus Burger is confident of being successful this time: “The tournament is much more equal than the previous ones we took part in - there’s no that major favourite this year.”

In the last three years Hard always lost their semi-final: 2012 against Metalurg (MKD), 2013 against Vojvodina (SRB) and 2014 (on home ground) against Porto (POR). “I hope that we learnt our lessons well for this year and took advantage of the experience we have gathered,” says Burger, who is coach in Hard for the sixth straight season. His team, nicknamed ‘The Red Devils’, is situated near Lake Constance and took their fifth Austrian title by beating their neighbours and arch rivals Bregenz twice in the best-of-three series of the Austrian league (HLA). Since then the well-balanced squad did not change that much - and now hopes for the biggest international success after being finalist in the EHF Challenge Cup in 2008, though their coach is sure:

Hard started their bus trip to Bosnia on Thursday with nearly all players fit: “At this stage you have a lot of minor injuries after a tough preparation, but nothing serious - with one exception: Frederick Wüstner. Our defensive expert is suffering from a patellar tendon (knee cap) injury and could not play or train during the preparation. We would be happy, if he could manage to be part of our team in Banja Luka,” coach Burger hopes for a quick recovery prior to the first season highlight.

The preparation for the new season was successful: Hard took part in some international tournaments in Germany and Austria and finally had the ‘champions’ duel’ with Swiss Champions League group phase participant Kadetten Schaffhausen, which they narrowly lost by 30:32.

In the first official domestic competition, the Austrian Super Cup against cup winner Fivers Vienna, Hard was not on their top form and were defeated by 27:32. Before the VELUX EHF Champions League qualification tournament, Hard had the chance to prove their strength in two league matches, also to test their only newcomers Felix Klötzel and Gernot Watzl. The most experienced players in Burgers squad are Montenegrin goalkeeper Golub Doknic and former Austrian international Roland Schlinger - one of the rare players in Hard’s squad, who has already played in the Champions League group phase with his former club Bregenz.

Past achievements

VELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipation (including 2015/16 season): 5Group Matches (1): 2003/04Qualification (3): 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15

OtherChallenge Cup: Runners-up 2007/08, Semi-final 2004/05, Quarter-finals 2000/01, 2006/07

Austrian champions: 5 titles (2003, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)Austrian Cup winners: 3 titles

Club Address:Alpla HC HardSeestraße 606971 HardAustria

Media contact:Hansjörg FüssingerTel: +43 664 342 82 12hjf@dentconsult.at

Online information:Website: www.hchard.atFacebook: AlplaHard

Playing hallSporthalle am SeeSee Straße 606971 HardAustriaCapacity: 2,300

Kit colours

Light Player shirt: whitePlayer short: royal blueGoalkeeper shirt: white, grey, green

Dark Player shirt: redPlayer short: dark blueGoalkeeper shirt: white, grey, green

21

Biggest win: N/ABiggest defeat: 33:22 (15:9) v Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS (a), 29.11.2003Longest winning run: N/ALongest unbeaten run: N/ALongest losing run: 6 matches (17.10.2003 – 29.11.2003)Longest run without win: 6 matches (17.10.2003 – 29.11.2003)Most goals: 26 v Chekhovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 26:30L (h), 07.11.2003Most goals opponent: 33 v Chekhovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 33:22L (a), 29.11.2003Most goals both teams: 56 v Chekhovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 26:30L (h), 07.11.2003 56 v C.BM. Ademar Leon ESP 24:32L (h), 21.11.2003Fewest goals: 18 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), 17.10.2003Fewest goals opponent: 27 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), 17.10.2003Fewest goals both teams: 45 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), 17.10.2003

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

2003/04 Alpla HC Hard AUT 6 0 0 6 138:180 -42 0:12 4th Gr. D

Total 6 0 0 6 138:180 -42 0:12

Alpla HC Hard (AUT)

22

Team roster

Alpla HC Hard (AUT)

Markus Burgercoach• was assistant coach at Hard’s biggest rival Bregenz, before he got his first head coach position at Swiss club Otmar St. Gallen (2008-2010)

• coach of Hard since 2010 and led the team to four Austrian championship titles and one Austrian cup trophy so far

• has worked together with and was influenced by Dagur Sigurdsson (former Austrian and current German national team coach) at Bregenz

• Sigurdsson’s assistant coach during the 2010 EHF EURO for the hosting team Austria

• awarded Austrian coach of the year after the 2012/13 season

• his son Sebastian is playing for Bregenz, so father and son faced in the Austrian league finals in May

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight

8 Jovan Badzoka AUT Wing 13.10.1995 Bregenz, AUT 190 8524 Daniel Dicker AUT Left Back 5.6.1995 Graz, AUT 197 9631 Daugirdas Dilys LTU Back 1.5.1996 Birzai, LTU 198 9826 Lukas Herburger AUT Wing 19.12.1994 Bregenz, AUT 196 9515 Felix Klötzel GER Left Wing 15.11.1995 Waiblingen, GER 182 7821 Michael Knauth AUT Right Wing 7.1.1983 Bregenz, AUT 178 804 Kresimir Kozina CRO Wing 25.6.1990 Derventa, BIH 196 997 Luca Raschle AUT Left Wing 6.11.1990 St. Gallen, SUI 174 6020 Roland Schlinger AUT Back 17.9.1982 Wien, AUT 192 10013 Marko Tanaskovic SRB Back 6.6.1985 Jagodina, SRB 200 9517 Gernot Watzl AUT Centre Back 25.3.1985 Linz, AUT 184 8427 Thomas Weber AUT Left Wing 7.6.1987 Bregenz, AUT 180 7525 Samuel Wendel AUT Back 3.11.1996 Bregenz, AUT 180 7610 Frederik Wüstner AUT Back 7.9.1992 Bregenz, AUT 191 873 Konrad Wurst AUT Back 30.1.1998 Bregenz, AUT 198 7528 Gerald Zeiner AUT Centre Back 28.6.1988 Krems/Donau, AUT 190 879 Boris Zivkovic AUT Right Back 2.5.1992 Bregenz, AUT 195 9099 Philipp Jochum AUT Goalkeeper 4.11.1990 Bregenz, AUT 186 9016 Michael Pouget AUT Goalkeeper 27.2.1998 Salzburg, AUT 190 8532 Golub Doknic MNE Goalkeeper 16.4.1982 Vrbas, SRB 195 100

23

Golub Doknicgoalkeeper• started his international career at Vardar, then transferred to Italian club Conversano, later to Serbian side Kolubara

• Montenegrin goalkeeper joined Hard in 2011

• won at least one domestic title in every country he played, as he was Macedonian cup winner, Italian champion and cup winner, two times Serbian champion and cup winner and three times Austrian champion and once cup winner

• awarded twice (2012 and 2013) best foreign player in the Austrian league HLA

Roland Schlingerleft back• played seven seasons for Bregenz (2002-2006, 2007-2010), became six times Austrian champions

• transferred to Ademar Leon for the 2006/07 season and was finalist of the Cup Winners’ Cup

• played four years for German side Balingen, before he joined Hard in 2014

• Austrian Handball Player of the Year twice in 2006 and 2010

• played 168 matches for Austria but quit for the national team after being part of the 2015 WCh

Frederic Wüstnerback• like many of his teammates started his career at the local rivals Bregenz

• signed for Hard in the middle of the 2011/12 season

• mainly playing in defence, rarely in attack

• suffered a kneecap injury before the qualification tournament in Banja Luka

Marko Tanaskovicright back• part of the youth programme at Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

• at the age of 19 he transferred to Ystad in Sweden and was supposed to sign a contract for 2002 CL winner SC Magdeburg, but tore his cruciate ligament right before the transfer

• after one season in Smederevo (SRB) he joined Hard in 2010

• part of Hard’s team in all four Austrian titles in the past five years.season

Thomas Weberleft wing• brother of Austrian international Robert Weber, who was two times top scorer of German Bundesliga, playing for SC Magdeburg

• started his career at Hard, despite being born in Bregenz, then transferred to Westwien Vienna also to finish his studies, before he returned in 2012

• belongs to Patrekur Johannesson’s squad for the Austrian national team

• like his brother is a fast-paced wing - but on the other side of the court

Gerald Zeinercentre back• played for the Austrian clubs Krems, Tulln and Leoben before, part of the Challenge Cup and EHF Cup with Krems

• signed for Hard in 2013 and just extended his contract until 2017

• two-time Austrian champion and once cup winner

• scored in total 100 times in the last two seasons of the Austrian league from the penalty line

• new playmaker of the Austrian national team after the long-term injury of team captain Victor Szilagyi

Kresimir Kozinaline player• started playing handball in Germany, where he arrived as a refugee from the Balkan wars

• returned home to Croatia to play for RK Nasice until 2013 and qualified for the EHF Cup quarter-final in 2011

• plays his third season at Hard - and is an integral part of the middle block in defence and a powerful attacker at the six-metre line

• scored an overall of 237 field goals in his first two seasons at Hard

Michael Knauthright wing• born in Bregenz and played for 15 years for his home club from 1993 until 2008

• starts his eighth season at Hard now - and is one of the most experienced players in his team

• ten times Austrian champions - six times with Bregenz, four times with Hard

• supposed to guide his potential successor on that position, Felix Klötzel, who arrived 2015 in Hard

• played 28 international matches for Austria, being the first choice on his position right behind Robert Weber

24

RK Borac m:tel (BIH)

Club Address:RK Borac m:telVeselina Maslese 15-1778000 Banja LukaBosnia Herzegovina

Media contact:Vladimir Brankovic+387 65 585-550rkborac@teol.net

Online information:Website: www.rkborac.rs.baFacebook: rkboracTwitter: @rkborac

Playing hallSportska Dvorana “Borik”Aleja Svetog Save 4878000 Banja LukaBosnia HerzegovinaCapacity: 3,500

Kit colours

LightPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: grey

DarkPlayer shirt: bluePlayer short: redGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

Past achievements

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

OtherChallenge Cup: Quarter-final 2004/05EHF Cup: Round 3 2000/01, 2010/11, 2012/13Cup Winners’ Cup: Round 3 2011/12

Bosnian league: 3 titles (2013, 2014, 2015)Bosnian cup: 5 times

RK Borac m:tel is one of the biggest names in the rich history of Balkan handball. Throughout the club’s history, since its formation in 1950, Banja Luka has been associated with legendary players and the highest accolades, with the Champions Cup (forerunner of the EHF Champions League) win in 1975/76, as well as the IHF Cup triumph in 1990/91 a part of their proud history.

Nowadays, the legacy lives on. Borac are quintessential members of the SEHA league and three-time champions of Bosnia Herzegovina. Furthermore, they are on a three-season long championship and cup winning streak, having won and defended the famous double since 2012/13. In addition to dominating the Bosnian league, Borac were crowned Yugoslavian handball league champions on seven occasions and are the competition’s second all-time most successful side (behind Bjelovar and tied with RK Metaloplastika).

However, with all the above accomplishments speaking volumes of club’s illustrious history, one success stood well above all rest – the Champions Cup win in 1975/76. It was a fine spring evening on 11 April 1976, when Borac took part in their second consecutive Champions Cup final, having previously been defeated by ASK Vorwärts Frankfurt 19:17. Goalkeeper Abaz Arslanagic saved a penalty from Soren Andersen, for Nedeljko Vujovic to bring the 5,000 fans present in “Borik” hall to raptures in a fairy tale finish. Borac defeated the Danish side Fredericia (17:15) in front of their home fans in Banja Luka, to write their name in the history books of European handball.

Now, 39 years after the biggest success in Bosnian handball the “red-blues” are on-course towards their return among the European elite. A new generation of Borac players dream of repeating their idols’ success some day, and a match against Alpla HC Hard is the first step. However, the dream of winning the Europe’s elite competition again is still some way from happening for Borac. Nevertherless, coach Igor Radjenovic admits a place in the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League would be just as good.

One of the trademark features of Borac is club’s policy of prioritising the nurturing of home grown players and developing them for a role in the first team. Faced with departures in key positions, Borac had to turn to their youth during the summer break, and get them ready to step up. Balancing youth of the home-grown talent with the experience of legendary line player Ratko Nikolic is a big challenge Radjenovic is facing. However, it is a double-edged sword, which the ambitious Borac coach will look to turn into their advantage. With the long-serving locals like playmaker Stefan Jankovic and left wing Mirko Mikic among the key names in the current setup at RK Borac m:tel, it is then no coincidence that the core of the current generation is made of Banja Luka-born players. Moreover a number of Banja Luka natives, including the current coach Igor Radjenovic decided to return to their boyhood club and help the team reach future glories.

25

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight

94 Mladen Bojanovic SRB Centre Back 17.1.1977 Banja Luka 202 111 13 Arsenije Bubic BIH Left Back 3.3.1998 Banja Luka 192 8725 Djordje Celic BIH Line Player 1.7.1990 Banja Luka 189 10431 Marko Ceranic BIH Left Wing 28.12.1995 Banja Luka 194 833 Stefan Jankovic BIH Centre Back 20.8.1992 Banja Luka 189 8611 Srdan Mijatovic BIH Centre Back 5.8.1998 Banja Luka 191 8014 Mirko Mikic BIH Left Wing 23.8.1985 Banja Luka 185 8346 Nikola Milosevic SRB Left Back 11.3.1994 Kragujevac, SRB 203 9420 Ratko Nikolic SRB Line Player 15.9.1977 Arandjelovac, SRB 190 10015 Milos Njezic BIH Right Wing 5.8.1997 Banja Luka 189 7021 Branislav Obradovic BIH Right Back 3.9.1979 Jajce 194 1007 Antonije Pavic SRB Centre Back 19.7.1989 Beograd, SRB 183 8577 Boris Sekaric MNE Right Wing 27.6.1992 Niksic, MNE 191 8822 Stanko Stankovic BIH Right Back 14.11.1989 Derventa 195 1049 Luka Telen BIH Centre Back 24.10.1999 Prnjavor 187 8523 Srdjan Trivundza BIH Centre Back 19.3.1981 Banja Luka 196 1008 Davorin Vujovic SRB Left Back 6.1.1991 Beograd, SRB 200 951 Damir Efendic BIH Goalkeeper 11.5.1990 Srebrenica 191 9512 Tibor Ivanisevic SRB Goalkeeper 16.8.1990 Mostar 198 9616 Jasmin Husic BIH Goalkeeper 23.4.1996 Bihac 193 93

Team roster

RK Borac m:tel (BIH)

Igor Radjenoviccoach5 August 1978• Banja Luka-born former left back played three seasons for his boyhood club Borac

• took over as Borac coach shortly after retiring his playing cereer at the club in 2014

• won the double (Bosnian championship and cup title) in his first season with the club

• playing experience in the CL, having played in the Group Phase with RK Bosna Sarajevo in 2008/09

26

Tibor Ivanisevicgoalkeeper• born in Mostar and rose to prominence playing for Serbian league outfit Crvena Zvezda

• 2015/16 is his first season with Borac having previously played one season for Hungarian side Oroshazi FKSE

• represented Serbia on under-19 national team level and won silver medal at the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju

• 197 centimetres tall Ivanisevic was brought to the club as a direct replacement for another towering Serbian goalkeeper, Stanko Abadzic

Nikola Milosevicleft back• widely considered one of top prospects in Serbian handball

• current Serbia U-19 national team member

• made his first handball steps playing for Radnicki Kragujevac, making a first team debut at 16

• won Serbian cup in 2014 with RK Zeleznicar

• 2015/16 is his first season at Borac, having played for Crvena Zvezda, being the club’s best scorer in the Serbian league (2014/15)

Stefan Jankoviccentre back• starting his sixth EC season with Borac

• Bosnia Herzegovina national team member, having represented his country at the WCh 2015 in Qatar

• sixth best SEHA League scorer in 2014/15 overall, with 77 goals in 18 matches

Ratko Nikolicline player• legendary Serbian national team member, and former captain with 250 appearances.

• player with vast CL experience, having played nine seasons in the competition with five clubs

• made it to the CL final in 2005/06 season with Portland San Antonio (lost to BM Ciudad Real)

• started his own handball camp in 2015

Mirko Mikicleft wing• born in Banja Luka, but made his first handball steps playing for RK Kotor Varos.

• current Bosnia Herzegovina national team member with 34 goals in 23 appearances.

• has a decade-long loyalty to Borac, playing his 11th season at the club.

• brother Nikola also a handball player

• admires Russian left wings Edurad Koksharov and Timur Dibirov.

Davorin Vujovicleft back• current Serbia beach handball national team member

• born in Belgrade in 1991, started his handball career playing for RK Novi Beograd

• starting his second season with Borac and first in the EC

Mladen Bojinoviccentre back• making a return to his boyhood club Borac after 21 years

• recognised as one of the most successful sportsman in France, with 11 titles won in 13 years

• Montpellier legend, having spent 10 seasons with the club, lifting the CL trophy in 2003

• third all-time best scorer in the French league with 1,097 goals, while topping the all-time list for most penalties made

Milos Njezicright wing• true home-grown player - product of Borac handball academy

• current Bosnia & Herzegovina U-19 national team member

• despite being among the youngest first team members, has three EC seasons with Borac under his belt already

• brought into the starting seven at Borac to replace the departed stalwart Milan Djukic

WCh: B 1999 (with Yugoslavia)

EC trophies: CL 2003WCh: B 2001 (with Yugoslavia)

VELUX EHF FINAL4 2016

28 / 29 May 2016 LANXESS arena Cologne

ehfFINAL4.com @ehfcl und #EHFFINAL4

www.facebook.com/ehf.champions.league

28

Past Winners

2015 FC Barcelona (ESP)

2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 2013 HSV Hamburg (GER)

2012 THW Kiel (GER)

2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP)

2010 THW Kiel (GER)

2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2008 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2007 THW Kiel (GER)

2006 BM Ciudad Real (ESP)

2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP)

2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)

2003 Montpellier HB (FRA)

2002 SC Magdeburg (GER)

2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP)

2000 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1999 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1998 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1997 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1996 FC Barcelona (ESP)

1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)

1994 TEKA Santander (ESP)

29

2014/15 Top Scorers

Rank Player Club Goals

1 Momir Ilic (SRB) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 114

2 Kiril Lazarov (MKD) FC Barcelona (ESP) 106

3 Mikkel Hansen (DEN) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 1034 Karol Bielecki (POL) KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) 92

5 Timur Dibirov (RUS) HC Vardar (MKD) 78

6 Zsolt Balogh (HUN) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) 76

Marko Vujin (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 76

8 Nikola Karabatic (FRA) FC Barcelona (ESP) 75

9 Igor Karacic (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) 74

10 Alex Dujshebaev (ESP) HC Vardar (MKD) 73

11 Dragan Gajic (SLO) Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) 71

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (ISL) FC Barcelona (ESP) 71

13 Dean Bombac (SLO) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) 69

14 Bo Dybdal Spellerberg (DEN) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) 66

15 Uwe Gensheimer (GER) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 65

Zlatko Horvat (CRO) HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) 65

17 Alexander Dereven (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 62

Thomas Mogensen (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 62

19 Renato Sulic (CRO) MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) 60

20 Dmitry Zhitnikov (RUS) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 59

VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 Qualification Tournament

Media Information

by

EHF Media & Communications, 04/09/2015

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Nemanja Savic, Zoran Milosavljevic, Roy Knoppert

European Handball FederationHoffingergasse 181120 ViennaAustria

Tel +43 1 80151 0

For further information please contact:

Vladislav BrindzakEHF Media & Communications+43 1 80151 161brindzak@eurohandball.com

EHF Marketing GmbHHoffingergasse 181120 ViennaAustria

Tel +43 1 80151 200