VCL Last 16 Draw Cover -...
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Media Information - VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 Draw
Summary - VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Group Phase
Since September 2011, 120 games of the Group Phase have been played – and now 16 of 24 teams of
the VELUX EHF Champions League have made their way to the knock-out stage – the Last 16.
All four groups in the Group Phase were close and full of tension – proving again that the VELUX EHF
Champions League is the leading club handball competition in the world.
Today EHF President Tor Lian and EHF Secretary General Michael Wiederer will draw the matches for
the Last 16. The first leg of the Last 16 will be played 14-18 March 2012, whilst the second leg matches
will take place from 21-25 March 2012.
The Last 16 is then followed by the Quarter-Finals in April and the spectacular finish with the VELUX
EHF FINAL4 in Cologne (26-27 May), which will be attended by 40,000 spectators in the LANXESS
arena.
24 teams from 15 European nations started the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Group Phase at
the end of September 2011 with some surprises and sensations after 10 rounds and 120 matches.
Participants of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2009/10, Russian Champions Chekhovskie Medvedi, were
eliminated in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ (Group B), French league runners-up Chambery Savoie
were eliminated from Group A, whilst one of the top contenders for the VELUX EHF Champions League
2011/12 title, MAHB Montpellier, finished only fourth in Group D.
In contrast to these shocks, two of the four teams from the Qualifying Tournaments made their way to
the Last 16; Wild Card Tournament winners Vive Targi Kielce (Poland) and Qualifying Tournament Group
2 winners IK Sävehof (Sweden). Also, two debutants are among those to reach the Last 16 with AG
Kobenhavn (Denmark) and Füchse Berlin (Germany) battling it out for honours.
German side HSV Hamburg were the first team to qualify for the Last 16 and were also the first to win
their group. In the end the German champions were the only unbeaten team in the VELUX EHF
Champions League Group Phase, finishing with 19 out of a 20 possible points.
Defending VELUX EHF Champions League champions FC Barcelona Intersport (formerly FC Barcelona
Borges), their Spanish counterparts Atletico Madrid (former BM Ciudad Real) and VELUX EHF
Champions League 2010 winners THW Kiel lost only one of their 10 matches, topping their groups in
the process.
The closeness of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Group Phase was shown by the fact that
five of the Last 16 participants were decided in the final round of matches in the Group Phase. The last
team to qualify were Polish champions Orlen Wisla Plock after winning their Group C duel at St.
Petersburg on Sunday (26 February). Group B ended in particularly thrilling circumstances – four
teams fought for the three open places in the Last 16 in the final matches, with two of the decisive
matches ending with a one goal margin victory and one with a draw.
The variety of those 16 teams qualified for the Last 16 is huge. Even though all three Spanish and
German teams have made their way to the knockout stage, clubs from 11 countries will be fighting for
Media Information - VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 Draw
the qualification through to the Quarter-Finals in the two-legged matches on their way to the final
destination of Cologne – and only eight of them were part of last season’s Last 16.
Draw for VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 Last 16
Pot 1 (Group Winners)
FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP), Atletico Madrid (ESP), HSV Hamburg (GER), THW Kiel (GER)
Pot 2 (Second Placed Teams)
RK Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO), MKB Veszprem (HUN), RK Cimos Koper (SLO), AG Kobenhavn (DEN)
Pot 3 (Third Placed Teams)
IK Sävehof (SWE), Vive Targi Kielce (POL), Metalurg Skopje (MKD), Reale Ademar Leon (ESP)
Pot 4 (Fourth Placed Teams)
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI), Füchse Berlin (GER), Orlen Wisla Plock (POL), Montpellier MAHB (FRA)
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VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 - Team Portraits: Pot 1
BM Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Coach: Talant Dujshebaev, since 2005
Key Players: Arpad Sterbik, Kiril Lazarov
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Spanish runners-up
Qualification for the Last 16: Winner of Group B
The road to the Last 16: With seven victories and two draws against Medvedi, Madrid qualified after
Round 8 for the Last 16 and won their group after the ninth day of matches. The one and only defeat
was in Round 10 against Veszprem which was not a decisive match.
VELUX EHF Champions League record (as BM Ciudad Real):
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 9
Winner (3): 2005/2006, 2007/2008, 2008/2009
Final (2): 2004/2005, 2010/2011
Semi-Final (1): 2003/2004
Quarter Final (1): 2006/2007
Spanish champion (as BM Ciudad Real): 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Spanish Cup winner (as BM Ciudad Real): 2003, 2008, 2011
HSV Hamburg (GER)
Coach: Jens Häusler, since January 2012 (replacing Per Carlén)
Key Players: Igor Vori, Hans Lindberg
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: German Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: Winner of Group C
The road to Last 16: It was an easy ride for HSV who confirmed top place in the group after Round 8.
The Germans did not lose any of their 10 matches, with the draw at home against RK Cimos Koper the
only point they lost. Despite this success Hamburg fired their coach Per Carlen in December and since
then his former assistant, Jens Häusler, is the new number one on the bench.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 5
Semi-Final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2010/2011
Quarter-Final (1): 2009/2010
German champion: 2011 German Cup winner: 2006, 2010
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FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP)
Coach: Xavi Pascual, since February 2008
Key Players: Laszlo Nagy, Siarhei Rutenka
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Spanish Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: Winner of Group A
The road to the Last 16: In the first eight Rounds the defending champions were unbeatable with only
one of their eight straight victories ever endangered – the 31:30 victory against Zagreb. After
qualifying for the Last 16 very early the Catalans surprisingly lost against Zagreb at home, but secured
first place in their group with a final match victory in Sweden at IK Sävehof.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 15
Winner (7): 1995/1996, 1996/1997, 1997/1998, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2004/2005, 2010/2011
Final (2): 2000/2001, 2009/2010
Semi-Final (1): 2007/2008
Quarter-Final (2): 2005/2006, 2006/2007
Last 16 (1): 2003/2004
Main Round (1): 2008/2009
Spanish champion: 1968/69, 1972/73, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1985/86, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91,
1991/92, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2005/06, 2010/11
Spanish Cup winner: 1968/69, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1989/90,
1992/93, 1993/94, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10
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THW Kiel (GER)
Coach: Alfred Gislason, since 2008
Key Players: Filip Jicha, Thierry Omeyer
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: German runners-up
Qualification for Last 16: winner of Group D
The road to the Last 16: The 2009/10 winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League needed some time
to get started in the Group Phase, taking just three points from three matches (including a home
defeat against Montpellier and a draw at Leon), but the Germans showed their real quality soon
enough. Six straight victories followed including wins at Montpellier and against Kobenhavn at home
where they took the first place in the group before the final duel at Kobenhavn where, after a tough
clash in Denmark, a draw was enough to finish first.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 15
Winner (2): 2006/2007, 2009/2010
Final (3): 1999/2000, 2007/2008, 2008/2009
Semi-Final (2): 1996/1997, 2000/2001
Quarter-Final (5): 1998/1999, 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2010/2011
Group Phase (2): 1994/1995, 1995/1996
German champion: 1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 German Cup winner: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
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VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 - Team Portraits: Pot 2
RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb
Coach: Ivica Obrvan, since 2011
Key Players: Marko Kopljar, Ivano Balic
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Croatian Champion
Qualification for Last 16: second placed in Group A
The road to the Last 16: RK Zagreb had no problems finishing behind Barcelona and the Croats even
had the mathematical chance to win the group before the last round of games. The Croatians finished
with 16 points, which included an unexpected defeat against Sävehof and a surprising victory at
Barcelona.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 18
Final (4): 1994/1995, 1996/1997, 1997/1998, 1998/1999
Semi-Final (1): 1999/2000
Quarter-Final (4): 2000/2001, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2008/2009
Last 16 (3): 2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2010/2011
Main Round (1): 2007/2008
Group Phase (3): 1993/1994, 2004/2005, 2006/2007
Croatian champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Croatian Cup winner: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
MKB Veszprém KC (HUN)
Coach: Lajos Mocsai, since 2007
Key Players: Marko Vujin, Mirko Alilovic
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Hungarian Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: second placed in Group B
The road to the Last 16: After a perfect start the Hungarians had a nervous wait until the last minute
of the final group match to be sure of their place amongst the top 16 European teams. They started
with eight points from five matches before a series of defeats meant they missed out on an earlier
qualification through to the Last 16. After losing against Füchse, Kielce and Medvedi the Hungarians
beat Madrid in the final round of matches to secure their ticket through to the knockout stage.
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VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 17
Final (1): 2001/2002
Semi-Final (2): 2002/2003, 2005/2006
Quarter-Final (8): 1997/1998, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2006/2007,
2008/2009, 2009/2010
Last 16 (2): 1993/1994, 2010/2011
Group Phase (3): 1994/1995, 1995/1996, 2007/2008
Hungarian champion: 1984/85, 1985/86, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11 Hungarian Cup winner: 1983/84, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95,
1995/96, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09,
2009/2010, 2010/11
RK Cimos Koper (SLO)
Coach: Fredi Radojkovic, since November 2009
Key Players: Milorad Krivokapic, Matjaz Brumen
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Slovenian Champion
Qualification for Last 16: second placed in Group C
The road to the Last 16: The Slovenian champions and current EHF Challenge Cup holders qualified
early for the Last 16, but had to wait until the final match of their group to know which position they
would qualify through in. Koper showed strength at home, winning all their matches against lower
placed teams, and even taking a draw at Hamburg, but after drawing at home against HC Metalurg
(they lost away at Skopje in the first round of matches) in the final round of group games they needed
help from Hamburg – and as the Germans took both points in FYR Macedonia, Koper placed second in
the end.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 2
Group Phase (1): 2008/2009
Slovenian champion: 2011
Slovenian Cup winner: 2008, 2009, 2011
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AG Kobenhavn (DEN)
Coaches: Magnus Andersson, Klavs Bruun Jorgensen, Soren Herskind
Key Players: Mikkel Hansen, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Danish Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: second placed in Group D
The road to the Last 16: Thanks to their internationally experienced top class players AG Kobenhavn
made a big impact as debutants. The Danes were fighting for the group victory from the first round of
matches losing only to Leon and Kiel away. Ahead of the final round matches for the number one spot
Kobenhavn came in to the match against Kiel after a great away victory at Montpellier, but could only
manage a draw against them which was not enough to finish top – but the target in Kobenhavn are
high with qualification through to Cologne the aim.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 1
Danish champion: 2010 Danish Cup winner: 2010
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VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 - Team Portraits: Pot 3
IK Sävehof
Coach: Mikael Franzén, since 2010
Key Players: Fredrik Larsson, Viktor Friden
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Winner of the Qualification Tournament 2,
Swedish Champion
Qualification for Last 16: third placed in Group A
The road to the Last 16: The Swedish champions were lucky to qualify for the Group Phase of the
VELUX EHF Champions League, but eventually became the biggest surprise of the whole competition.
After losing their first three matches, the Swedes started their catch-up chase including a series of
four victories in five matches with even more surprising home wins against Chambery and Zagreb,
which secured their first participation in the Last 16 since 2005.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 4
Last 16 (1): 2004/2005
Group Stage (2): 2005/2006, 2010/2011
Swedish champion: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011
KS Vive Targi Kielce
Coach: Bogdan Wenta, since 2008
Key Players: Slawomir Szmal, Michal Jurecki
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Winner of the Wildcard Qualification
Tournament, Polish runners-up
Qualification for the Last 16: Third placed in Group B
The road to the Last 16: Polish runners-up Kielce had to win through the Wildcard Qualification
Tournament on their home ground and it took some time until the Kielce engines were fired up to full
speed. After their away victory at Chekhovskie the Poles were on track and after winning in Veszprem
their hopes were high to progress through to the Last 16 for the second time after 2010 with their
draw against Medvedi enough to go through.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 9
Last 16 (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10
Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99
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Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11
Polish champion: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010
Polish Cup winner: 1985, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
HC Metalurg Skopje (MKD)
Coach: Lino Cervar, since 2009
Key Players: Darko Stanic, Naumce Mojsovski
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Winner of the Qualification Tournament 3, Champion of FYR Macedonia Qualification for the Last 16: third placed in Group C The road to the Last 16: Coaching legend Lino Cervar built a strong team in Group C who managed to beat all their opponents, except HSV Hamburg, at least once. Metalurg had the strongest defence of all teams including their extraordinary goalkeeper Darko Stanic. Beating Koper in the first match was the start of a successful series only interrupted by a draw at St. Petersburg and a surprising defeat at Constanta. But at home the Macedonians were a real powerhouse. Even against Hamburg they were close to the points, but the close defeat in Round 10 meant they missed out on second place, finishing third overall. VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 4
Group Matches (2): 2006/2007, 2008/2009
Qualification (1): 2010/2011
Macedonian champion: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
Macedonian Cup winner: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
Reale Ademar Leon (ESP)
Coach: Isidoro Martinez (since 2011)
Key Players: Martin Stranovsky, Venio Losert
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Third placed in Spain
Qualification for the Last 16: Third placed in Group D
The road to the Last 16: Home ground strength was decisive for qualifying for the Last 16 ahead of
Montpellier. Leon beat Kobenhavn and Montpellier in their lion’s den and took a draw against Kiel
thanks to a last second goal. After Round 8 their qualification for the knock-out stage was known.
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VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 10
Quarter-Final (3): 1997/1998, 1999/2000, 2001/2002
Last 16 (3): 2003/2004, 2005/2006, 2009/2010
Main Round (2): 2007/2008, 2008/2009
Qualification (1): 2010/2011
Spanish champion: 2001
Spanish Cup winner: Asobal Cup 1998, 2008, Copa del Rey 2003
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VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 - Team Portraits: Pot 4
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Coach: Petr Hrachovec, since 2008
Key Players: Peter Kuckucka, Iwan Ursic
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Swiss Champion
Qualification for Last 16: fourth placed in Group A
The road to the Last 16: After the first half of the Group Phase the Swiss champions looked like being
eliminated with only two points from five matches, but their clear home victory against Sävehof was
the turning point as Kadetten took the profit of five straight defeats of their major opponent
Chambery Savoie – and by beating the French team in Round 9 they paved the way to their second
participation in the Last 16.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 6
Last 16 (1): 2010/2011
Group Phase (3): 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008
Qualification (1): 2009/2010
Swiss champion: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 Swiss Cup winner: 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011
Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA)
Coach: Patrice Canayer, since 1994
Key Players: Nikola Karabatic, Vid Kavticnik
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: French Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: fourth placed in Group D
The road to the Last 16: Rank four was much less than expected for the French champions – but
especially their two home defeats against Kiel and Kobenhavn and losing at Szeged and Leon were the
reasons for this uncomfortable position of one of the biggest contenders for the VELUX EHF FINAL4
2011/12. Even the surprising victory at Kiel at the start of the competition could not bring more
stability to Karabatic and his side.
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VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 14
Winner (1): 2002/2003
Semi-Final (1): 2004/2005
Quarter-Final (4): 2000/2001, 2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2010/2011
Last 16 (3): 1995/1996, 2003/2004, 2006/2007
Main Round (2): 2007/2008, 2008/2009
Group Phase (2): 1998/1999, 1999/2000
French Champion: 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
French Cup winner: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
Füchse Berlin (GER)
Coach: Dagur Sigurdsson, since 2009
Key Players: Iker Romero, Silvio Heinevetter
Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Third placed in Germany
Qualification for Last 16: Fourth placed in Group B
The road to the Last 16: Beating Bjerringbro in their final encounter - a real thriller - brought the
decisive points for the Foxes of Berlin, who qualified for the VELUX EHF Champions League for the
first time. The Germans showed some surprising results like an opening draw at Medvedi and a victory
at Veszprem, but in the tight Group B they had a nervous wait until the end to reach their minimum
objective – qualification through to the Last 16.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 1
National champion: - None
National Cup winner: - None
Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Coach: Lars Walther, since 2010 Key Players: Michal Kubisztal, Adam Wisnewski Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12: Polish Champion
Qualification for the Last 16: Fourth placed in Group C
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The road to the Last 16: Another long and winding road to the knock-out stage, but 16 years after the
“Oilers” had been among the top 16 for the last time they managed the qualification for the Last 16 by
a final clear victory at St. Petersburg. Coach Lars Walther had led his team to the Polish championship,
which meant the direct qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League and after a good start with
four points from their first three games Plock were in a good position to qualify through to the Last
16. However, losing some key games such as at home against Metalurg meant that the final decision
needed to be made in the last round of Group C matches.
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 7
Last 16 (1): 1995/1996
Group Phase (5): 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2008/2009
Polish champion: 1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011
Polish Cup winner: 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008
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VELUX EHF FINAL4 Update
The VELUX EHF FINAL4 countdown
The clock is ticking: the threshold of 100 days to go until the throw-off of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 has
already come and gone. Already more than 17,000 fans have booked their seats for the 2011/12 VELUX
EHF Champions League season highlight on 26 and 27 May in the LANXESS arena, Cologne. 2000
further tickets are reserved for the four participating teams. The remaining tickets are available via
the ticket hotline +49 221 280 288 and on www.ehfFINAL4.com.
In addition to peak sporting performances, ticket holders may also look forward to other highlights
during the event. A notable coup was landed in terms of entertainment:
EUROPE to rock the VELUX EHF FINAL4
The performance from the legendary Swedish rock band will be one of the highlights of a weekend of
sporting excellence. Their top-selling single “The Final Countdown” forms part of almost every
international sports event. Fans can look forward to hearing the band and their hits before the final,
during the winners’ ceremony as well as during the official Players’ Night on Sunday.
“We are very enthusiastic about bringing EUROPE live to the LANXESS arena. Our aim is to rock the
crowd and to present the world with a spectacular mix of entertainment and top-class handball,” said
Peter Vargo, Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH.
Charity partner Deutsche Krebshilfe
EHF Marketing GmbH has also announced a new partnership with Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer
Help), which is to be the new charity partner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The partnership will see the
organisation of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 Charity Golf Tournament – powered by adidas - on Friday 25 May
2012 in Cologne.
Keen golfers will be able to buy tickets for the chance to play with Stefan Lövgren, the VELUX EHF
FINAL4 Ambassador, and many more celebrities. EHFM expects to donate around 30,000 ! to
Deutsche Krebshilfe and the fight against cancer.
"Sports events such as the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with nearly 40,000 enthusiastic visitors over a
weekend give Deutsche Krebshilfe the chance to reach a young audience with our prevention
message. In addition, proceeds from a share of ticket sales, charity auction and golf tournament will
help us to improve cancer care,” said Gerd Nettekoven, General Manager of Deutsche Krebshilfe.
LANXESS arena – at the centre of European handball
With the decision that the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will remain in Cologne until at least 2014, the foundation
stone has been laid for the further development of the event. And for this, the LANXESS arena
provides the best infrastructure and facilities. The engagement of a top international act such as
EUROPE is a sign too of the direction the EHF’s flagship club event is taking.
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“The future-oriented partnership up until 2014 allows us, together with the European Handball
Federation, to develop the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to new heights. The aim for the next three years is to
set new standards in indoor sports globally. The LANXESS arena is at the centre of European
handball,” said Stefan Löcher, CEO of ARENA Management GmbH.
About the VELUX EHF FINAL4
The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club handball season. The two-day event
sees four matches in one venue to decide the winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League title.
Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2014 in the LANXESS arena, Cologne,
the decision to create a new format for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League was seen
as crucial for the growth of handball across Europe. The aim was to create a flagship event, one that
could compete on the international sports market and make the Europe’s leading club competition
even more attractive to fans, partners and sponsors.
The success of the first two editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 showed that this new format was the
right strategy. It has set new standards in organisation and entertainment: it is not just four games
played over two days but a true entertainment event. The engagement of a top international act such
as EUROPE is a sign too of the direction the event is taking.
Almost 20,000 people from 30 countries will travel to Cologne in May 2012 for the third edition of the
event. In 2011, tickets were sold out weeks before the four participating teams were known, and the
total number of 19,750 spectators was a new record in European club competitions. This year, the
organisers are facing even an increase in ticket sales. Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com.
Media accreditation from 1 March 2012
Media representative will be able to apply for a media accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 event
from 1 March 2012 via an online form in the press/media section at ehfFINAL4.com. Deadline for
applications is Friday 4 May 2012.
Contacts
Media Enquiries
JJ Rowland
Head of Media and Communications
European Handball Federation
Phone: +43 1 80 1 51 / 167
Email: [email protected]
Event Organisation
David Szlezak
VELUX EHF FINAL4 Manager
EHF Marketing GmbH
Phone: +43 1 801 51 / 218
Email: [email protected]