Saturday 16 May 2015

Semi-final 2 14:30Skjern Handbold vs. HSV Hamburg

Semi-final 1 17:30Rk Gorenje Velenje vs. Füchse Berlin

Sunday 17 May 2015

3/4 Placement match 14:30

Final 17:30

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EHF Cup Finals 2014 /15Media Information

AUSRICHTER:SPONSOREN:

DAS EHF-CUP-FINALTURNIER IN BERLIN

FINALS

16. – 17. MAI 2015MAX-SCHMELING-HALLE

Tickets unter:

01806 999 000 350

20 Ct./Anruf aus dem Festnetz | 60 Ct./Anruf aus dem Mobilfunknetz

www.fuechse-berlin.de

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- Foreword 5

1. Introduction 6

- Welcome 6 - EHF / EHFM / Füchse Berlin Media Team 6

2. Media timetable 7

3. Essential media information 8

- Accreditation collection 8- Photographers/TV bibs 8- Official event name/hastags 8- Media Centre opening times 8- Media seats 8- WLAN access 8- Video recording 8- Opening Press conference / Post-match press conference 8- Opening training 9- EHF Cup Finals Online 9- Television and live streaming 9- Invitation to Media Get Together 9

4. Media rules and guidelines 10

- Rules for ENG crews 10- Rules for photographers 11

5. Event information 12

- Important regulations – extra-time and penalty throws 12- EHF CUP / EHF Cup Finals 13- New trophy 13- Map of participating clubs 16- Playing system 17- Facts & Figures 18- Semi-final 2 Preview 19- Skjern Handbold (Denmark) 20- HSV Hamburg (Germany) 23- Semi-final 1 Preview 26- Rk Gorenje Velenje (Slovenia) 27- Füchse Berlin (Germany) 30- Potential Head-to-heads 33- Top scorers of the EHF Cup Finals history 33- Top scorers 2014/15 34- Previous winners 35

Table of contents

NEW SPORTSBRANDBY

JACK & JONES

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Foreword

Dear Friends in Sport,

Welcome to the third edition of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals; we are now just moments away from the matches that will determine the new champion of the 2014/15 Men’s EHF Cup. It has been a very interesting journey for a competition that continues to grow and gain momentum since undergoing a facelift in 2013.

In September 2014, 34 teams played the first qualification round and 17 teams advanced to the second qualification round where they joined 23 teams. Following the end of the qualification round 2 in October 2014, 20 teams moved into the third and final qualification stage; this was where every match mattered and the race was on to become one of the last sixteen teams standing in order to play the six-round group phase that commenced in February 2015.

Over the course of season 69 teams have now been whittled down to four. And I congratulate each and every team for their valiant athletic efforts. For the remaining teams, one more challenge awaits - the semi-finals of the 2014/15 Men’s EHF Cup; and with the reigning champion out of the picture, the artisanal sculpted trophy will find a new home on 17 May 2015.

The EHF Cup Finals have returned to Germany, and once again we look forward to an impressive weekend of handball. On behalf of the European Handball Federation, I welcome the delegations of RK Gorenje Velenje, Füchse Berlin, Skjern Handbold, and HSV Hamburg to Berlin where in front of a 10,000 strong capacity crowd in the Max-Schmeling Halle located at the heart of city, a new champion will be crowned.

The teams are ready to compete and as they take to the court, I wish them all the very best of luck. May the best team win!

Yours,

Jean BrihaultEHF President

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Welcome to the EHF Cup Finals/Berlin

It is a great pleasure to welcome all media representatives to Berlin for the third edition of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals.

We look forward to two days of top class handball in the sold-out Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin as Skjern Handbold, HSV Hamburg, Rk Gorenje Velenje as well as the hosts of the event, Füchse Berlin compete for the EHF Cup title.

Up to 150 media representatives are expected in Berlin to cover the event, and we expect extensive local, regional and national coverage of the EHF Cup Finals.

If you require any help or assistance during your time in Berlin, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the media team from the EHF, EHFM and Füchse Berlin.

1. Introduction

EHF Cup Finals Media Team

Vlado BrindzakEHF Media ManagerTel. +43 1 80151 161Mob: +421 908 721 328brindzak@eurohandball.com

Miguel Mateo MarcellanEHFM Media Manager (TV/Radio)Tel: +43 1 80151 224Mob: +43 676 740 78 16moczan@ehfmarketing.com

Andre TzschaschelFüchse Berlin Media ManagerTel: +49 30 20916 876Mob: +49 172 31 884 41tzschaschel@fuechse-berlin.de

Chris O’ReillyEHF Website / Social Media EditorTel. +43 1 80151 168Mob: +43 660 579 6544oreilly@eurohandball.com

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Friday, 15 May 2015

11:45 – 12:45 Training Füchse Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle13:30 – 14:00 Media Call Füchse Berlin Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle(coach Dagur Sigurdsson, Iker Romero, Silvio Heinevetter, Paul Drux, Fredrik R. Petersen, Konstantin Igropulo)13:30 – 14:30 Training Skjern Handbold Max-Schmeling-Halle14:00 – 14:30 Media Call HSV Hamburg Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle(coach Jens Häusler, Pascal Hens, Johannes Bitter, Kentin Mahe, Matthias Flohr, Adrian Pfahl)14:30 – 15:00 Media Call Skjern Handbold Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle(coach Ole Norgaard, Nikolaj Markussen, Thomas Klitgaard, Henrik Möllgaard, Sören Pedersen, Daniel Svensson)14:30 – 15:30 Training HSV Hamburg Max-Schmeling-Halle15:00 – 15:30 Media Call Rk Gorenje Velenje Media Room, Max-Schmeling-Halle(coach Gregor Cvijic, Stas Skube, Niko Medved, Klemen Ferlin, Mario Sostaric, Michal Szyba)15:30 – 16:30 Training Rk Gorenje Velenje Max-Schmeling-Halle(Only first 15 minutes of each training is open for media.)

Saturday, 16 May 201514:00 Photographers’ briefing Media Centre14:30 Semi-final Skjern Handbold vs HSV Hamburg Max-Schmeling-Halle15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle17:30 Semi-final Rk Gorenje Velenje vs Füchse Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle20:00 Media Get Together Restaurant Meta, Am Falkplatz 1, 10437 Berlin

Sunday, 17 May 201514:30 3 / 4 Place Max-Schmeling-Halle15 minutes after final whistle Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle17:30 Final Max-Schmeling-Halle15 minutes after winners’ ceremony Post-match Press Conference Press Conference Room, (Head coach and key player from each team) Max-Schmeling-Halle

2. Media Timetable

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3. Essential media information

Accreditation collectionYour accreditation can be collected from the accreditation desk at the Max-Schmeling-Halle from Friday, 15 May 2015, 13:00 hrs. Please bring an official form of identification – your press card or passport – and your official confirmation. Accreditations will not be issued without these.

Media parkingNo media parking in the arena will be available, media are advised to use the adjacent regular parking slots at the Max-Schmeling-Halle.

Photographer bibsBibs for photographers will be issued at the accreditation desk at the Max-Schmeling-Halle from Friday, 15 May 2015. All photographers/TV will be required to pay a returnable deposit of €20 upon collection of their respective bibs. This deposit will be returned at the end of the event when the bib is returned to the Media Centre.

Official event name/official hashtagThe official name of the final event is the ‘Men’s EHF Cup Finals’ or simply the ‘EHF Cup Finals’. An official hashtag has also been announced, this is: ‘#ehfcupfinals’. Please use these official terms in your reports and communications.

Media Centre Opening TimesThe Media Centre is located in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. Opening hours for accredited media representatives are as follows:

Friday, 15 May 2015 (VIP Room) 13:00 – 17:00 hrsSaturday, 16 May 2015 13:00 – 21:00 hrsSunday, 17 May 2015 13:00 – 21:15 hrs

Media seatsMedia representatives will be allocated a specific media seat in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. There will be media volunteers available to show you the way to your seat.

WLAN accessThere will be wireless internet access for all media representatives in the arena free of charge. A password for internet access will be provided on arrival.As the arena wireless internet has only a limited capacity all media are advised to secure their own internet connection. A direct line from Deutsche Telekom can be ordered at the hot-line 0800 33 03000.

Video recordingVideo in the arena, mixed zone and press conference room may only be recorded with the express permission of EHF Marketing GmbH. Please contact EHFM Media Manager, Miguel Mateo for further information in advance of the event. Equipment used for video recording without permission will be removed.

Press conferencesThe press conference room is located a three-minute walk away from the mixed zone, sign posting will be provided. The post-match press conferences will take place 15 minutes after each match/winners’ ceremony

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and will be attended by the head coaches and key players. Press conferences will be conducted in English, any questions in your native language should be directed following the completion of the press conference.

Open training for the mediaTeam training on Friday, 15 May 2015 will be open to the media for the first 15 minutes, for TV footage to be filmed and teams to be photographed. Media interviews are possible only at the media call.

EHF Cup Finals OnlineThe event will be covered extensively online by both the EHF Media and Communications Department and Füchse Berlin. The event can be followed on the EHF Cup and EHF Cup Finals websites: www.eurohandball.com and www.berlinfinals.com.

Live BlogThere will be a live blog available at www.eurohandball.com starting from Friday afternoon.

Live tickerEven fans unable to watch the matches on the TV or on the ehfTV live streaming can follow the up-to-second updates of the matches’ scoreline at the live ticker, which was already available over the group phase and the quarter-finals.All handball lovers can check not only the running score, but also the scorers, fouls, two-minutes suspensions, missed shots or saves.The live ticker will be provided both in the HTML and Flash version here: http://ticker.ehf.eu/

Television and live streamingCoverage of the event will be shown on television by the following confirmed TV stations (at the time of publication): Sky Sports GER, beIN Sports FRA, Dolce Sport ROU, TV3 Sports DEN.

ehfTV coverage and English commentaryAll four matches will also be streamed live and on-demand around the world at ehfTV.com, the European Handball Federation’s online streaming platform.For the second time in the Men’s EHF Cup the matches will be also broadcast with a live English commentary of Tom O‘ Brannagain.Visit ehfTV.com for more details and to watch games not only from the Men’s EHF Cup Finals, but also from the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and on demand from the recent MVM EHF FINAL4.

Invitation to Media Get TogetherAll accredited media representatives are invited for a Media Get Together on Saturday 16 May at 20:00 hrs local time at Restaurant Meta, Am Falkplatz 1, 10437 Berlin which is situated conveniently just across the street from the Max-Schmeling-Halle.

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4. Media rules and guidelines

Official EHFM Rules of Conduct for ENG CrewsThe following guidelines and rules of conduct for ENG Crews have been developed to make the job of ENG crews easier at EHF events. Upon receiving an accreditation and signing for an ENG bib, TV crews automatically agree to follow the EHFM Rule of Conduct for TV ENG crews. Bibs do NOT need to be returned at the end of the event.

1. ENG crews are obliged to produce a media identification card upon request.2. The Host Broadcaster acts on behalf of the European Handball Federation/EHF Marketing GmbH3. ENG personnel are requested to wear the bib and accreditation at ALL times.4. All ENG crews must use the stickers provided on their camera equipment.5. The bib and the accreditation are only valid for the EHF Cup Finals.6. Only the Host Broadcaster is permitted onto the playing court.7. Right holders have to stay in the positions designated to them during the games8. Non-rights holders are not permitted to film during the matches.9. The guidelines and instructions of the Host Broadcasters MUST be followed at all time10. At no time, before, during or after the match are ENG crews permitted to stay in the area behind the

players‘seats or behind the official table. They must place themselves in the position advised by the EHFM.

11. ENG crews are only permitted in the TV area of the mixed zone12. ENG crews are not permitted to interfere/obstruct in the work of the Host Broadcaster.

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Official EHF Rules of Conduct for PhotographersThe EHF has developed the following guidelines to make the job of photographers at its events easier. Upon receiving the accreditation and bib the photographer automatically agrees to follow the EHF guidelines of conduct for photographers.

1. Photographers must attend the photographer briefing in the Media Centre on Saturday 16 May at 14:00 hrs2. Photographers are only allowed to enter the court following the match for 3/4 place and final when

permitted to do so. There will be a roped off area clearly marked for photographers in front of the timekeepers’ table.

3. Photographs can be taken during the player line-up. An area will be defined before the match for this purpose. Photographers may stand in this position until the pre-match procedure is over. They must then return to their designated position behind the advertising boards at the ends of the court.

4. Photograph bibs should be worn at all times. These will be issued as part of the accreditation process and are available from the Media Info Desk

5. During the match all photographers should be at the ends of the court where seats are available behind the advertising boards. Photographers will be advised before the match of an additionally designated areas where they may take photos looking down on the court.

6. It is not allowed to change ends during the game. This has to be done at the half-time or at the end of the match. If a photographer wishes to change ends during the half-time break, he/she must follow the routing system

7. Photographers are not allowed to stand behind the players’ seats or on the opposite side of the court.8. Photographers have to remain seated and cannot change seats during the match.9. Photographers are allowed to sit in front of the nets after the point where it is fixed to the advertising

borders (fixed 3 metres each side of the goal).10. Photographers are not allowed sit or stand in front of or to obstruct the view of the advertising boards.11. Strobe light photography is not permitted.12. Photographers are not allowed to enter the court during the celebration and awarding ceremony

which follows final. During the celebration and awarding ceremony there will be a clearly marked area reserved for photographers in front of the timekeepers’ table.

Upon collection of your accreditation you are obliged to follow the above-listed rules.

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Important regulationsExtra-time and penalty throws

All matches of the Men’s EHF Cup Finals shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes. If a semi-final match or the final ends in a draw, there will be a five minutes break followed by one extra time of 2 x 5 minutes, there will be a one minute half-time break at half-time for the changeover of teams. If the extra-time ends in a draw, the match will be decided by penalty throws.

If the placement match 3/4 ends in a draw, there shall be no extra time, the match will be decided directly by penalty throws.

If penalty throws are needed to decide the match, the procedure is as follows:

• At the Technical Meeting the teams will be informed at which goal the penalty throws will be taken. The team taking the first penalty throw shall be determined by the referees by drawing lots. The team winning the draw may choose whether it wishes to throw first or last.

• Prior to the penalty throws, each team shall name five players eligible to play at the end of the match by handing the referees a list of numbers. These players shall then take one throw each, alternating with their opponents. Each team is free to determine the sequence in which throwers will take their throws.

• The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the match report and exchanged in accordance with the Rules of the Game. Goalkeepers may take throws and throwers may perform as goalkeepers.

• If the scores are equal after the first round of penalty throws, it shall be continued until a decision is reached. In the second round, the other team shall start. Again five players shall be named who are eligible to play (the players named before may be named once again).

• In the second round, a decision is reached when a goal difference arises after both teams have taken one throw each.

• Eligible players are players entered in the match report that have not been disqualified or suspended at the time of the final whistle.

• Serious infractions committed during penalty throws shall be sanctioned by disqualification. If a thrower is disqualified or suffers an injury, an eligible substitute player shall be additionally named.

• While the throws are being taken, only the player taking the throw, the current goalkeeper and the referees may enter the respective half of the playing court.

• If the number of eligible players falls below five, players may be named to take a second throw in the same round.

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EHF CupThe new Men’s EHF Cup was formed at the beginning of the 2012/13 season following the merging of the Men’s EHF Cup and the Men’s Cup Winners’ Cup. The competition forms the second tier of competition after the VELUX EHF Champions League and above the Men’s Challenge Cup.

The new competition also brought with it a new format, with three qualification rounds, a Group Phase, Quarter-finals and a final tournament – the EHF Cup Finals.

EHF Cup Finals in BerlinThe event will be held in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, with the capacity of up to 10,000 spectators, over two days with semi-finals to be played on Saturday, 16 May, the match for third/fourth place and the final on Sunday, 17 May. More than 100 volunteers, 150 media representatives, 20,000 spectators, and up to 80 players will take part in the two-day tournament.

New trophyWith ten days to go to the 2015 EHF Cup Finals the new trophy was unveiled by Füchse Berlin, the tournament’s organisers.

Exactly as the last year, the art workshop Feuergestaltung Fritz from Sonthofen, Germany has produced the hand-made trophy, which is a modified version of the last year’s model. The seven players of the winning team are represented by seven steles that strech from the base of the cup to the rim. Halfway a garland represents the team finishing second. Broading at the bottom the steles give the trophy –that is made out of bronze - stability. The rim depicts one half of a ball labeled with the competition’s logo. This year’s trophy of the EHF Cup is lighter and handier than last year’s model that Pick Szeged won in Berlin’s Max-Schmeling-Halle in 2014.

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EHF Cup Finals Programme

Saturday, 16 May 201514:30 hrs Semi-final 2: Skjern Handbold (DEN) vs HSV Hamburg (GER)Referees: Evgeny Zotin and Nikolay Volodkov / RUSDelegates: Dragan Nachevski (MKD) and Stevan Popov (SRB)

17:30 hrs Semi-final 1: Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs Füchse Berlin (GER)Referees: Andreu Marin Lorente and Ignacio Garcia Serradilla / ESPDelegates: Panos Antoniou (CYP) / Marek Szajna (POL)

Sunday, 17 May 201514:30 hrs 3/4 Placement match: Loser SF 1 vs. Loser SF 2Referees: Duarte Santos and Ricardo Fonseca / POR

17:30 hrs Final: Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2Referees: Jonas Eliasson and Anton Palsson / ISL

Tournament ManagementArne Elovsson, EHF Vice President Ole R. Jorstad, EHF EXEC MemberPredrag Boskovic, EHF EXEC MemberAlexander Gehrer EHFM EHF CUP Finals Manager

TicketsThe tickets are available in the ticket shop:http://www.ticketmaster.de/event/ehf-finalturnier-tickets/126199?brand=de_fuechse&camefrom=de_fuechse_hp_newsehfcup

Ticket prices range from 49 to 129 euros.

VIP Packages: purchase directly from Füchse Berlin and via the club’s website http://www.fuechseberlin.de. VIP ticket for both days and the 4 games 299 Euro. Contact person Michael Sturm from UFA Sports - michael.sturm@ufasports.com

Club tickets: 250 tickets have been reserved for the fans of each of the participating teams, these tickets will be available directly from each of the participating clubs themselves. Any remaining tickets from the club allocations will be released for sale back into the ticket shop.

Media HotelFüchse Berlin have made a special arrangement with a selection of Berlin hotels for media representatives, please refer to www.berlinfinals.de. Contact the EHF Media and Communications department for full details media@eurohandball.com.

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Facts & FiguresSlovenia’s maiden voyage amid German dominance

Only four matches remain in the Men’s EHF Cup, which will decide the winner and Hungarian side Pick Szeged’s successor. Besides hosts Berlin, Hamburg, Skjern and Velenje have reached the final destination of the competition.

0 former winners, neither of the old nor the new version of the EHF Cup, are among the four participants of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals.

0 Danish or Slovenian men’s team has ever won the EHF Cup of the forerunners EHF Cup (old version) and Cup Winners’ Cup.

0 national champions arriving from the VELUX EHF Champions League qualification made it to the group phase or the quarter-finals.

1 team was part of the 2014 EHF Cup Finals: hosts Füchse Berlin.

1 team – Füchse Berlin – have the full selection of trophies represented in their squad: Konstantin Igropoulo has won the Champions League with Barcelona (alongside Iker Romero) and the Cup Winners’ Cup with Chekhovkie Medvedi, while Silvio Heinevetter has won the EHF Cup with Magdeburg. In addition, Frederik Petersen was a Champions League winner with Hamburg.

1 coach of the four participants, Dagur Sigurdsson (Füchse), is also coach of a national team: Germany (since September 2014)

1 player who has won the EHF Cup before: Silvio Heinevetter (Berlin) in 2007 with SC Magdeburg.

2 – like in 2013 (Göppingen and eventual winners Rhein-Neckar Löwen) Germany is represented by two teams at the EHF Cup Finals.

2 – for the second time a former EHF CL winner is part of the EHF Cup Finals. After finalist Montpellier in 2014 (CL winner 2003), now it is HSV Hamburg (winner in 2013).

2 for the second straight time, Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin is the venue for the EHF Cup Finals.

3 nations are represented by the four teams: Germany (2), Slovenia and Denmark.

3 (all) hosts of EHF Cup Finals have skipped the quarter-finals and qualified directly from their ranking in the group phase: HBC Nantes (2013), Füchse Berlin (2014, 2015)

5 players can complete their EHF European Cup competition cabinet. Pascal Hens, Matthias Flohr, Torsten Jansen, Stefan Schröder had been part of the HSV squad to win the Cup Winners‘ Cup in 2007 and the Champions league in 2013.

5 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals ended in a draw.

6 nations have been represented by the clubs in all EHF Cup Finals: Germany (5 teams including 2015), France (2), Denmark (2), Hungary (1), Romania (1) and Slovenia (1).

12 matches were played by Skjern on their journey to Berlin. The Danes started their mission already in Qualification Round 2.

13 nations represented by the players on court of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals: SLO, MNE, BIH, CRO, GER, SRB, SWE, FRA, DEN, ROU, CZE, RUS, ESP. Berlin have eight nations on their squad, Hamburg (7), Velenje (5) and Skjern (1).

15 times a German team has won the old (and once the new) version of the EHF Cup since the implementation of the competition in the 1993/94 season – but neither Hamburg, nor Berlin have lifted the trophy.

19 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals ended with a win for the away team.

30 matches of the group phase and the quarter-finals ended in victory for the home team.

37 goals was the highest number a team scored in a single match: Berlin, when beating Vojvodina by 37:22 in the group phase.

44 goals were scored in the match Granollers vs Constanta (23:21) in the lowest scoring match.

68 goals were scored in the match Constanta vs Holstebro (34:34) in the highest scoring match of the season so far.

339 goals were scored by Skjern in 12 matches to have the best attacking record of all teams.

5,894 fans in average saw the group matches of Füchse Berlin in the Max-Schmeling-Halle, the venue of the EHF Cup Finals.

6,453 fans saw the match Füchse vs Vojvodina to make it the one with the highest attendance in the group phase.

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Skjern Handbold vs HSV Hamburg

Max-Schmeling-Halle, BerlinSaturday 16 May, 14:30 hrs. local time

Will Skjern reach their first European final since 2003 or will Hamburg collect the only trophy missing from their cabinet?

Saturday’s first EHF Cup Semi-Final in Berlin will go some way to answering the big question heading into the EHF Cup Finals.

The Danish side will be full of confidence, boasting a positive record against German clubs in this season’s competition, having been the only team to defeat EHF Cup Finals hosts Berlin before overcoming Melsungen in the quarter-final.

“It is a nice habit, we hope that this sequence will continue in the semi against Hamburg,” said Skjern coach Ole Norgaard.

His team’s success this term has not been limited to European competition, however.

Skjern have enjoyed a great domestic season too, having already won the Danish cup before moving within touching distance of the league final following a 31:25 semi-final first leg victory against Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.

Norgaard added: “Besides those national competitions it was one of our major goals to qualify for the EHF Cup Finals.

“Now we are in Berlin for the second time this year and having confidence and strength, we hope to take another step.”

Skjern’s only previous European success came in the Challenge Cup, which they won in both 2002 and 2003.

Hamburg meanwhile have the same number of European trophies to their name, although their triumphs came in the 2007 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 2013 VELUX EHF Champions League.

“Only a rare number of clubs have the triple trophy in their cabinet, so this is an even higher motivation for us,” said team captain Pascal Hens, who was part of both winning squads in 2007 and 2013.

But HSV have been hit hard by injuries in the lead up to the EHF Cup Finals, particularly in the wing positions.

Hans Lindberg has been ruled out after he suffered a serious kidney injury following a collision with Berlin goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter. In addition, 2007 World Champion Stefan Schröder is also out for several weeks with a rupture in the sole of his foot.

HSV reacted swiftly in signing Swedish World Champion Johan Petersson, who had come out of retirement, but insists, “I am fit for this adventure”.

The Swede boasts valuable experiences too, having won this competition with THW Kiel in 2003.

Hamburg were somewhat fortunate to progress as far as the group phase this season, only advancing on the away goals rule from their qualification round 3 meeting with Swedish side Kristianstad.

The German side fell to two more Scandinavian clubs, Haslum, in the group phase, and Guif, in the first leg of the quarter-final – perhaps a good omen for Skjern.

However, the Danish side’s only defeats have come against German opposition, Berlin, in the group phase, and Melsungen in their quarter-final first leg, so something has to give on Saturday

Head-to-head stats: No previous encounters in European competitions

Semi-final 2

History at stake for both sides

20

Skjern Handbold take part in the EHF Cup Group Phase for the second time in a row after winning all four of their qualification games. The Danish club maintained a perfect record through four contests with Bregenz (AUT) in round 2 and Oroshaza (HUN) in round 2.

Skjern boast impressive EHF Cup pedigree having reached the semi-finals in 2007, but faced a tough test to reach at least the quarter-finals this time around. Ole Nørgaard’s men were drawn in a strong Group C alongside EHF Cup Finals hosts Berlin (GER) and two national champions - Vojvodina from Serbia and Porto from Portugal. Skjern’s top signing prior to the start of the season was the towering Danish international Nikolaj Markussen, who stands at 2.11m tall and returned to his home country after playing for Atletico Madrid and Qatar side El-Jaish. And he proved his scoring reputation with 33 goals in the group phase, tied with Morten Balling Christensen for the top position in the team.

The Danish team laid the foundation of their quarter-final appearance already in the first half of the group phase winning all three games including a defeat of Füchse at home. Berlin spoiled their record in the fourth round, but by adding two more wins against Porto and Vojvodina Skjern easily reached the top seven of the tournament and nearly took the group’s top spot. What they have not achieved against Füchse in the group, they managed in the quarter-finals against Melsungen and after a thrilling second leg in Germany they qualified on the away goals rule.

SKJERN HANDBOLD (DEN)

Club Address:Skjern HandboldOstergade 406900 SkjernDenmark

Media contact:Lone Jörgensen+45 91 89 21 30lj@skjernhaandbold.dk

Online information:Website: www.skjernhaandbold.dkFacebook: skjernhaandboldTwitter: @SkjernHaandbold

Playing hallSkjern Bank ArenaRanunkelvej 16900 SkjernDenmarkCapacity: 2,400

Kit coloursLightPlayer shirt: greenPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: gray

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueLast 16 (1): 2003/2004Main Round (1): 1999/2000

EHF CupSemi-final (1): 2006/07Group Phase (1): 2013/14Last 16 (1): 2011/12Round 3 (1): 2004/05

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2005/06Challenge Cup: Winners 2001/02, 2002/03

Danish champions: 1 title (1999)Danish cup winners: 2 titles

Road to the EHF Cup Finals:

Quarter-finals:vs MT Melsungen W25:20 (12:12)@ MT Melsungen L23:28 (12:15)Aggregate score: 48:48

Group Phase:@ HC Vojvodina W25:23 (13:14)vs Futebol Clube do Porto W27:21 (13:11)vs Füchse Berlin W32:28 (17:12)@ Füchse Berlin L24:29 (14:14)vs HC Vojvodina W32:23 (14:9)@ Futebol Clube do Porto W24:23 (14:13)

Qualification Round 31st leg: vs Oroshazi Linamar (HUN) W40:202nd leg: @ Oroshaza W25:32Aggregate score: 72:45

Qualification Round 21st leg: @ Bregenz Handball (AUT) W36:272nd leg: vs Bregenz W36:32Aggregate score: 72:59

21

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals34 Emil Siersbæk Bergholt DEN Line Player 25.8.1997 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 190 85 35 Frederik Børm DEN Line Player 12.8.1988 Aarhus, DEN 195 107 619 Bjarke Fredsted Christensen DEN Left Wing 26.1.1992 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 188 87 279 Morten Balling Christensen DEN Left Wing 12.8.1987 Skive, DEN 189 88 3931 Jacob Lyhne Hansen DEN Left Back 4.5.1995 Esbjerg, DEN 200 94 832 Kristian Hedall Hansen DEN Line Player 14.4.1994 Ringkøbing-Skjern, DEN 191 93 Mathias Gliese Jensen DEN Right Wing 5.3.1997 Lemvig, DEN 182 82 Christian Jepsen DEN Line Player 19.6.1995 Varde, DEN 189 8920 Jesper Dahl Jørgensen DEN Right Back 23.3.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 190 87 177 Thomas Klitgaard DEN Line Player 10.12.1977 Aalborg, DEN 195 98 3011 Nikolaj Rømer Markussen DEN Left Back 1.8.1988 Gribskov, DEN 211 95 4015 Lasse Mikkelsen DEN Line Player 19.5.1988 Brønderslev-Dr. Lund, DEN 197 96 336 Henrik Møllgaard Jensen DEN Back 2.1.1985 Bramming, DEN 195 97 37 Simon Opstrup DEN Left Wing 5.1.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 180 7021 Rene Toft Rasmussen DEN Right Wing 29.8.1989 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 176 83 2233 Mathias Skræddergaard DEN Left Back 1.8.1994 Holstebro, DEN 206 9722 Kasper Søndergaard DEN Right Back 9.6.1981 Skive, DEN 192 95 1325 Daniel Svensson DEN Left Back 3.4.1982 Copenhagen, DEN 190 101 912 Kristoffer Laursen DEN Goalkeeper 8.5.1989 Odder, DEN 196 951 Søren Pedersen DEN Goalkeeper 20.8.1986 Thisted, DEN 191 9830 Mikkel Arndal DEN Goalkeeper 14.10.1994 Ringkobing-Skjern, DEN 188 93

Team roster

SKJERN HANDBOLD (DEN)

22

Ole Norgaardcoach• joined Skjern in the summer of 2012 debuting as the coach of a senior team

• previously head of development of talents under the Danish Handball Federation

• in his first season he led Skjern to the bronze medals in the Danish league and a ticket in the EHF Cup

• a calm and analysing coach who is good at making his players understand his plans and ideas

Bjarke Christensenleft wing• playing his 9th successive season in Skjern after joining from nearby Tarm Foersom IF

• total of 67 junior internationals for Denmark, but still none at senior level

• good from the wing in the established attacking play, but his greatest strength is the counter-attack

• turned down an offer from Flensburg in 2013 to extend his contract with Skjern instead

Henrik Möllgaardleft back• started his career in Ribe HK, once a traditional club in the Danish top flight

• joined KIF Kolding in 2005 and won the Danish championship twice and the Danish Cup once before moving on to AaB Håndbold in 2009

• added another league title with Aalborg, moved to Skjern in 2012

• strong and experienced defender valuable also to the Danish national team

Nikolaj Markussenleft back• his enormous height, 211 cm, gives him a huge advantages

• at the age of 21, then playing for Danish league club Team Helsinge, his was spotted by BM Ciudad Real, later BM Atlético Madrid, where he played for nearly three years

• in 2013 he signed for Qatar top club El Jaish.

• before joining Skjern he tore his Achilles tendon which made him miss the EURO 2014 in Denmark

EHF EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013

Coach and key players profiles

Lasse Mikkelsencentre back• joined Skjern from league rivals KIF Kolding in the summer of 2011

• 29 junior internationals, but the senior debut is still waiting

• his 197 cm make him a tall playmaker, and beside setting up his team’s attacking play, he is also dangerous himself with a variety of shots

• like with so many other back court players, his biggest idol is Nikola Karabatic

Thomas Klitgaardline player• in his seventh season in Skjern a key player in the central defence as well as on the line in the attack

• having started his career in Aalborg, he has had foreign adventures in Spanish CBM Galdar and German MT Melsungen

• his skills have earned one international for Denmark as well as one junior international

• not only his age (37), but also his 248 league matches for Skjern make him one of the most experienced players in the team

Rene Rasmussenright wing• playing his 7th season in succession for Skjern after joining from third league club Raekker Moelle

• highly reliable wing with a great take-off from the right wing position, fast in counter attacks

• total of 33 junior internationals for Denmark.

• his twin brother Joergen is also a handball player, but on the opposite wing, playing for league rivals and neighbours HC Midtjylland

Daniel Svenssonback • originally a left back and playmaker, but can play all three positions in the back court line

• playing his second season in Skjern after joining from Bundesliga side TUS-N-Lübecke in 2013

• has also a career in Spanish handball behind him, in Toledo Balonmano

• physically strong and a passionate fighter who is not afraid of taking risks in his way of playing

• got cancer in the spring 2013, but managed to be back on the handball court seven months later, fully cured

23

2013 VELUX EHF Champions League winners HSV Hamburg faced tough times in 2014. Due to financial reasons it was even unclear if the club would manage to play in the first German league. A huge number of top stars like Canellas, Duvnjak, Nilsson, Lackovic and Markovic left the club and the new arrivals are from a complete different level than the previous signings. But the club managed to survive, as president and main sponsor Andreas Rudolph stepped in again, also installing a new club management headed by former German national team player Christian Fitzek.

After French Christian Gaudin had taken over the coaches’ position from Schwalb in summer 2014, he was already replaced in December by assistant coach Jens Häussler. HSV played seven straight times in the VELUX EHF Champions League and made it twice to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne and they want to complete their collection of silverware after winning the former Cup Winners’ Cup in 2007.

After eliminating Swedish side Kristianstad in a highly close manner in the Qualification Round 3, HSV faced Winterthur, Velenje and Haslum in the group phase. They suffered a shocking defeat at Haslum, but avoid more stumbles in the other matches and comfortably sealed their quarter-final passage.

The French centre back Kentin Mahé led the team scoring with 39 goals in the group phase followed by the 2013 VELUX EHF Champions League best scorer Hans Lindberg, who, however missed the quarter-final action due to injury. Hamburg suffered their third Scandinavian defeat of the season, but regrouped before the second leg and turned the tables in the return match at home.

Just before the late entry deadline HSV signed Swedish right winger and former THW Kiel player Johan Petersson.

HSV HAMBURG (GER)

Club Address:HSV HamburgHellgrundweg 5022525 HamburgGermany

Media contact:Michael Freitag+49 172 4001940freitag@hsvhandball.com

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

Playing hallSporthalle HamburgKrochmannstrasse 5522297 HamburgGermanyCapacity: 4,200

Kit coloursLightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: orange/yellow/green

DarkPlayer shirt: redPlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: orange/yellow/green

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations: 7Winners (1): 2012/2013Semi-final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2010/2011Quarter-final (1): 2009/2010Last 16 (1): 2011/2012, 2013/14

OtherCup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2006/2007German champion: 1 title (2011)German Cup winner: twiceGerman Super-Cup winner: four times

Road to the EHF Cup Finals:

Quarter-finals:@ Eskilstuna Guif L26:29 (13:12)vs Eskilstuna Guif W27:22 (13:11)Aggregate score: 53:51

Group Phase:vs Gorenje Velenje W33:28 (15:14)@ Pfadi Winterthur W26:22 (14:9)@ Haslum Handballklubb L32:34 (16:17)vs Haslum Handballklubb W36:26 (17:8)@ Gorenje Velenje W32:31 (13:15)vs Pfadi Winterthur W30:28 (12:13)

Qualification Round 31st leg: @ IFK Kristianstad (SWE) W29:272nd leg: vs Kristianstad L26:28Aggregate score: 55:55, Hamburg qualified on away goals

24

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals21 Tim-Oliver Brauer GER Line Player 15.5.1992 Hamburg, GER 195 11517 Petar Djordjic SRB Left Back 17.9.1990 Sabac, SRB 197 102 324 Davor Dominikovic CRO Left Back 7.4.1978 Metkovic, CRO 203 106 143 Alexander Feld GER Back 15.6.1993 Krefeld, GER 188 86 67 Matthias Flohr GER Left Wing 19.3.1982 Aachen, GER 187 93 1020 Richard Hanisch SWE Centre Back 1.6.1990 Eskilstuna, SWE 185 93 1023 Pascal Hens GER Left Back 26.3.1980 Daun, GER 203 103 2011 Kevin Herbst GER Right Wing 7.5.1994 Hamburg, GER 189 88 15 Torsten Jansen GER Left Wing 23.12.1976 Adenau, GER 185 90 1618 Hans Lindberg DEN Right Wing 1.8.1981 Höje Taastrup, DEN 188 88 3822 Kentin Mahé FRA Centre Back 22.5.1991 Paris, FRA 185 83 5325 Felix Mehrkens GER Back 20.9.1994 Lüneburg, GER 183 8727 Finn Nowacki GER Back 23.11.1996 Hüttblek, GER 186 8626 Adrian Pfahl GER Right Back 30.7.1982 Bietigheim-Bis., GER 192 92 463 Johan Petersson SWE Right Wing 29.3.1973 Karlshamn, SWE 181 822 Kevin Schmidt GER Left Wing 20.4.1988 Gießen, GER 183 81 193 Stefan Schröder GER Right Wing 17.7.1981 Schwerin, GER 183 88 84 Alexandru Simicu ROU Left Back 8.10.1988 Timisoara, ROU 202 103 399 Tim Stefan GER Back 3.7.1995 Hamburg, GER 195 9015 Henrik Toft Hansen DEN Line Player 18.12.1986 Skive, DEN 200 108 2719 Lennard Max Danielsen GER Goalkeeper 5.1.1996 Eutin, GER 190 9316 Justin Merlin Rundt GER Goalkeeper 14.11.1994 Elmshorn, GER 195 9512 Max Henri Herrmann FRA Goalkeeper 24.2.1994 Bonn, GER 195 981 Johannes Bitter GER Goalkeeper 2.9.1982 Oldenburg, GER 205 104

Team roster

HSV HAMBURG (GER)

25

Jens Häuslercoach• a player at the Bundesliga clubs Wuppertal, Wallau, Nordhorn, Hameln and Kronau-Östringen

• started his coaching career in 2007, when he took over German second division team Altenholz

• came to Hamburg in 2011, first coaching the U23 team, then became assistant coach of Martin Schwalb, Per Carlen and Christian Gaudin

• will be replaced by Michael Biegler after the 2014/15 season

• has a huge selection of oldtimer cars at home

Johannes Bittergoalkeeper• arrived as World Champion in 2007 in Hamburg

• one of the tallest goalkeepers (2,05 metres) in this competition

• has played for SC Magdeburg, in his last match for them he won the EHF Cup

• nicknamed Jogi

• extended his contract at Hamburg despite a huge number of other offers

Pascal Hensleft back• discovered by former HSV coach Martin Schwalb

• nicknamed “Pommes” (French fries)

• retired from the German national team in 2012

• started his career at SG Wallau-Massenheim and plays for HSV since 2003

• supposed to remain in the club after his active career

Torsten Jansenleft wing• playing for HSV since 2003 and has been part of all titles in the club history

• had been coached by Füchse manager Bob Hanning in his early days at Solingen

• has scored more than 1,500 goals in Bundesliga

• has been invited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to her residence as part of the 2007 World Champions’ team

EC trophies: EHF CL 2013 EC trophies: EHF CL 2013, EHF Cup 2007WCh: G 2007

EC trophies: CL 2013, Cup Winners‘ Cup 2007EURO: G 2004, S 2002

Coach and key players profiles

Alexandru Simiculeft back• his imposing physique has recommended him straight away for handball, started playing at 12

• immediately scouted by Politehnica Timișoara

• in 2011, he signed for HCM Constanța, winning two championships, two Romanian Cups and one Romanian Supercup with the ”sailors”

• reached the 2014 EHF Cup Finals with Constanta

• Romanian player of the year in 2013

Kentin Mahécentre back• joined Hamburg in 2013 after spells with VfL Gummersbach and Bayer Dormagen

• coached by his father Pascal in Dormagen

• MVP and top scorer (49 goals) of the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2010 in Bratislava

• made a debut in national team of France in 2010

• reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final with Gummersbach in 2011/12

Adrian Pfahlright back• had a quite late debut in the German national team, at the age of 28

• has already three EC trophies on his tally (all with VfL Gummersbach)

• arrived at Hamburg in 2013, right after HSV became Champions League winner

• his nickname is “Adi”

Henrik Toft Hansenline player• his girlfriend Ulrike Agren is playing for the Swedish national team and German club Buxtehude

• his whole family is involved in handball: brother Rene (also a line player) is playing for THW Kiel, his brother Allan (Mors-Thy) and his sisters Majbritt (Skive) and Jeanette top players in the Danish league

• part of AG Kobenhavn, which eliminated Barcelona on the way to 2012 VELUX EHF FINAL4

• transferred to Aalborg, before he joined Hamburg in 2013, will leave for Flensburg in the summer

WCh: G 2015

EC trophies: EHF CL 2013, Cup Winners’ Cup 2007OG: S 2004, EHF EURO: G 2004, S 2002, WCh: G 2007, S 2003

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2009, Cup Winners‘ Cup 2010, 2011EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013

26

Rk Gorenje Velenje vs Füchse Berlin

Max-Schmeling-Halle, BerlinSaturday 16 May, 17:30 hrs. local time

Never before have the hosts of the EHF Cup Finals gone on to lift the trophy. But Füchse Berlin’s ambition is to buck that trend.

“We are obliged to end this series,” said Füchse manager Bob Hanning prior to his club hosting the event for a second time.

In 2013, HBC Nantes lost in the final against Rhein Neckar Löwen, before the Foxes were beaten semi-finalists against Pick Szeged a year later.

This year, Gorenje Velenje, nicknamed the Wasps, stand between Berlin and that elusive, historic prize.

“Füchse are the favourites, but we like to be in this underdog role and we are eagerly looking forward to facing top teams in Berlin,” said Gorenje coach Gregor Cvijic, who only succeeded Ivan Vaidl in the job last month.

Cvijic’s side must first overcome their injury problems before they can think about taming the Foxes, however. Klemen Ferlin, Stas Skube and Jernej Papez have all missed matches in recent weeks due to injury

EHF Cup top scorer Skube (75 goals) was back on track again last weekend – although Velenje, like Berlin, failed in their domestic dress rehearsal for the EHF Cup Finals.

Gorenje lost the first leg of their play-off semi-final in Slovenia against Maribor Branik, while Berlin’s defence of the German cup ended in the semi-final against Magdeburg.

Velenje are still in the race for the Slovenian title, but Berlin’s last chance to end this season with a trophy is the EHF Cup.

Iker Romero, Konstantin Igropoulo and coach Dagur Sigurdsson will come under close scrutiny during the event,

with the EHF Cup Finals set to mark the end of their time with Füchse.

Igropoulo is due join to Danish side KIF Kolding while Romero is calling time on his career and Sigurdsson will focus solely on his job as German national team coach.

“We are ready to win the trophy,” said Romero, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2005 and 2011.

In contrast to Berlin, Velenje have already been part of an EHF Cup final, in its previous format. In 2009, they gave VfL Gummersbach a tough fight before eventually losing both matches, 28:29 and 22:26. The only Velenje player remaining from those matches is right wing Rok Golcar.

On their way to Berlin, Gorenje were the only team to win both legs of their quarter-final (28:27, 31:30), and lost only twice in 10 matches – both defeats came at the hands of their potential opponents in Sunday’s final, HSV Hamburg.

But the Slovenian side’s plan for reaching Sunday’s showpiece is clear.

“It is all about speed, as we do not have those tall shooters,” said Gregor Cvijic.

Berlin will be without long-term injury absentees Bartlomiej Jaska and Denis Spoljaric.

But for Hanning, history is the motivation.

He said: “We all hope to go all the way to the biggest success in the history of our club. Never before have we won an international trophy.

“I hope the time has come for it.”

Head-to-head stats: No previous encounters in European competitions

Semi-final 1

Fast wasps or snappy foxes

27

As finalists in the old format of the EHF Cup, two Slovenian championships in the past three seasons and two consecutive appearances at the Last 16 stage of of the VELUX EHF Champions League, Gorenje Velenje are without a doubt among the most experienced sides in the EHF Cup Group Phase.

Already in the qualification Ivan Vajdl’s team proved their strengths and ambitions, beating Russian side Permskie Medvedi twice in a clear way. In Group A Velenje faced Hamburg, Haslum and Winterthur.

Only Hamburg seemed to be a different weight class for Velenje in the group phase, but the German team could decide both encounters only late in the second half. In the remaining four matches Velenje left no doubt on who will take both points after the final whistle.

They won both matches against against Haslum by 10+ goals and also Pfadi could not stop them on the way to claim the second best place in the second ranked teams table.

Centre back Stas Skube scored 62 goals for Velenje in those six matches claiming the top scorer title in the group phase. Skube remained instrumental for his club also in the quarter-finals as he orchestrated his team’s attack steering them to two narrow wins against Holstebro.

RK GORENJE VELENJE (SLO)

Club Address:Gorenje VelenjeSaleska Cesta 33320 VelenjeSlovenia

Media contact:Tanija Rednak+386 38986440tanija.rednak@rk-gorenje.com

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

Playing hallRdeca DvoranaSaleska cesta 33320 VelenjeSloveniaCapacity:2,700

Kit coloursLightPlayer shirt: yellowPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: red

DarkPlayer shirt: blackPlayer short: blackGoalkeeper shirt: blue

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations: 7Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2012/13, 2013/14Main Round (1): 2007/08Group Phase (1): 2004/05Qualification (1): 2010/11

EHF CupRunners-up (1): 2008/09Semi-final (1): 1994/95Quarter-final (3): 1996/97, 2010/11, 2011/12Round 3 (1): 2002/03

OtherCup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 2003/04, quarter-final 2004/05Slovenian league: 3 titles (2009, 2012,2013)Slovenian cup: 1 title

Road to the EHF Cup Finals:

Quarter-finals:vs Team Tvis Holstebro W28:27 (13:14)@ Team Tvis Holstebro W31:30 (18:16)Aggregate score: 59:57

Group Phase:@ HSV Hamburg L28:33 (14:15)vs Haslum Handballklubb W34:21 (18:13)@ Pfadi Winterthur W35:26 (16:12)vs Pfadi Winterthur W30:26 (15:11)vs HSV Hamburg L31:32 (15:13)@ Haslum Handballklubb W22:34 (11:17)

Qualification Round 31st leg: @ Permskie Medvedi W34:372nd leg: vs Perm W39:29Aggregate score: 76:63

28

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals80 Kristian Beciri CRO Line Player 14.6.1994 Heppenheim, GER 201 124 52 Milos Bozovic MNE Left Back 10.12.1994 Podgorica, MNE 199 97 148 Senjamin Buric BIH Line Player 20.11.1990 Maglaj, BIH 198 100 333 Nejc Cehte SLO Right Back 4.9.1992 Brezice, SLO 196 94 730 Luka Dobelsek SLO Centre Back 12.1.1983 Celje, SLO 191 90 577 Marko Dujmovic SLO Left Back 16.9.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 190 95 3631 Janez Gams SLO Left Wing 8.11.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 180 83 623 Rok Golcar SLO Right Wing 23.12.1985 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 189 87 327 Blaz Klec SLO Line Player 26.3.1986 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 183 95 125 Niko Medved SLO Left Wing 26.3.1990 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 182 83 2944 Mitja Nosan SLO Left Back 9.1.1990 Ljubljana, SLO 198 98 952 Marko Ostir SLO Line Player 7.6.1977 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 194 10025 Jernej Papez SLO Right Back 29.1.1991 Novo Mesto, SLO 190 94 320 Stas Skube SLO Centre Back 15.11.1989 Novo Mesto, SLO 176 79 7524 Mario Sostaric SLO Right Wing 25.11.1992 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 193 87 4921 Aleksander Spende SLO Left Back 24.7.1993 Ljubljana, SLO 200 8518 Michal Szyba POL Right Back 18.3.1988 Lublin, POL 195 92 4028 Matic Vrecar SLO Line Player 28.2.1989 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 195 114 132 Rok Zaponsek SLO Goalkeeper 30.10.1992 Slovenj Gradec, SLO 192 8512 Benjamin Buric BIH Goalkeeper 20.11.1990 Maglaj, BIH 197 9722 Klemen Ferlin SLO Goalkeeper 26.6.1989 Novo Mesto, SLO 192 95

Team roster

RK GORENJE VELENJE (SLO)

29

Gregor Cvijiccoach• former Slovenian national team member, scoring 89 goals in 75 caps and reaching the fifth place at the EHF EURO 2000 in Croatia

• started coaching career in 2006, aged 34, as an assistant coach at RD Slovan, later won promotion to the Slovenian top tier in 2013 as the head coach

• participated in the CL Group phase as the head coach of RK Bosna Sarajevo in the 2008/09 season

• joined Velenje in April 2015, after Ivan Vajdl’s resignation

Benjamin Buricgoalkeeper• the 197-cm tall Bosnia and Herzegovina national team player arrived from Izvidjac Ljubuski together with his twin brother Senjamin

• taken over the burden of the first choice goalkeeper, following the departure of Ivan Gajic in 2013

• the 2013/14 season in the CL was his maiden in the top tier of European handball

Milos Bozovicleft back• current Montenegrin national team member

• born in 1994, as a son of Brano Bozovic, coach of his boyhood club HC Budvanska rivijera, and former assistant coach of Montenegrin national team

• one of greatest talents in Monetengrin handball, captaining the junior national team

• signed for BM Valladolid aged 18, scoring six goals against FC Barcelona in his first season with the club

• joined Velenje in 2014

Niko Medvedleft wing• a fast player on the left wing

• in the 2013/14 season he also assumed a new role of the club captain, despite being only 23

• he also scored his personal best of 40 goals in that season

• a Gorenje player all of his senior career and already played four CL seasons

Coach and key players profiles

Stas Skubecentre back• made his first team debut in 2006, for his boyhood club RK Rrimo Trebnje aged 17, playing alongside his older brother, Sebastian

• despite his height (176 cm) one of the Slovenia’s best playmakers often compared to Ljubomir Vranjes

• won the bronze medal with the Slovenian national team at the Under 21 Wch in 2009, soon becoming a regular member of the senior national team

• played in the 2013/14 CL Last 16, with Velenje topping the club scorers’ list with 72 goals

• this season has already surpassed his EC goal scoring record with 75 goals

Luka Dobelsekcentre back• one of the most experienced players of the squad

• played abroad in Germany (Lübbecke, Emsdetten) and Poland (Wisła Płock) before returning to his boyhood club in 2013 replacing Nikola Manojlovic

• coach Vajdl also counts on his 12-year European experience

• played his first international matches with Velenje already in 2001.

Mario Sostaricright wing• promising right winger is widely regarded one of the brightest prospects in Slovenian handball

• went trough all of the youth ranks in Slovenian national team, winning bronze at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2013 (44 goals)

• product of Velenje handball school made a debut for senior national team in 2013

• spent two seasons away at RK Maribor Branik and in 2013 he narrowly missed the first EHF Cup Finals

Michal Szybaright back• awarded the Silver Cross of Merit in 2015 by the president of Poland for his sporting achievements

• in the WCh 2015 bronze medal match scored the decisive goal, that lead Poland to extra time and an eventual win against Spain

• joined Velenje in 2014, after nine seasons at Azoty-Pulawy where he made his debut for the senior team aged 17

30

Before this season’s start Füchse Berlin aimed to continue their impressive recent record in European competition. The first real test of their ambitions came early enough having only squeezed through to the EHF Cup Group Phase. Dagur Sigurdsson’s men required the away goals rule to come through their qualification tie with HBC Nantes.

They were more convincing in the group phase having lost just one game away at Skjern and won all other five games.

The German cup winners made it all the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in their maiden Champions League campaign back in 2012 before reaching the EHF Cup Finals in the German capital last season. Berlin lost to eventual winners Pick Szeged (HUN), but will hope to go one better this term with the final tournament returning to the Max-Schmeling Halle.

Füchse’s desire to take the title is heightened by the fact that captain Iker Romero and coach Sigurdsson will leave the club at the end of the campaign and Konstantin Igropulo will follow the steps of former Füchse captain Thorsten Laen to KIF Kolding Kobenhavn. Romero is set to retire in June while Sigurdsson will focus on his work as German national team coach with his successor, Erlingur Richardsson, already identified.

FÜCHSE BERLIN (GER)

Club Address:Füchse BerlinMarkgrafenstraße 3410117 BerlinGermany

Media contact:Andre Tzschaschel+49 172 3188441tzschaschel@fuechse-berlin.de

Online information:Website: www.fuechse-berlin.deFacebook: fuechseberlinTwitter: @FuechseBerlin

Playing hallMax-Schmeling-HalleFalkplatz 110437 BerlinGermanyCapacity: 8,521

Kit coloursLightPlayer shirt: whitePlayer short: whiteGoalkeeper shirt: blue

DarkPlayer shirt: blue/red/whitePlayer short: blueGoalkeeper shirt: yellow

Past achievementsVELUX EHF Champions LeagueParticipations (2)VELUX EHF FINAL4: fourth place 2011/12Last 16: 2012/13

EHF CupEHF Cup Finals: third place 2013/14

Other

German cup: 1 title (2014)

Road to the EHF Cup Finals

Group Phase@ Futebol Clube do Porto W26:20 (14:12)vs HC Vojvodina W37:22 (18:11)@ Skjern Handbold L28:32 (12:17)vs Skjern Handbold W29:24 (14:14)vs Futebol Clube do Porto W25:20 (7:8)@ HC Vojvodina W30:25 (17:11)

Qualification Round 31st leg: Füchse vs HBC Nantes (FRA) 23:182nd leg: Nantes vs Füchse 28:23Aggregate score: 46:46, Füchse qualified on away goals

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No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight Goals29 Max Bauer GER Right Wing 29.10.1995 Berlin, GER 189 9495 Paul Drux GER Left Back 7.2.1995 Gummersbach, GER 192 92 1934 Fynn Ole Fritz GER Left Back 3.5.1997 Berlin, GER 194 9116 Angelo Grunz GER Goalkeeper 11.5.1994 Berlin, GER 194 9233 Nils Gugisch GER Right Wing 17.5.1997 Berlin, GER 183 7528 Pavel Horak CZE Left Back 28.11.1982 Prerov, CZE 198 112 2835 Konstantin Igropulo RUS Right Back 14.4.1985 Stawropol, RUS 189 97 2224 Bartlomiej Jaszka POL Centre Back 16.6.1983 Ostrow, POL 185 85 219 Julian Kassler GER Line Player 31.7.1994 Berlin, GER 196 906 Narita Kohei JPN Left Back 15.6.1989 Kyoto, JPN 187 902 Colja Löffler GER Left Wing 8.5.1989 Lübeck, GER 187 8613 Petar Nenadic SRB Centre Back 28.6.1986 Beograd, SRB 198 98 2336 Jesper Nielsen SWE Line Player 30.9.1989 Norrköping, SWE 200 118 2126 Kasper Nielsen DEN Line Player 9.6.1975 Hillerod, DEN 194 9583 Fredrik R. Petersen SWE Left Wing 23.8.1983 Ystad, SWE 188 81 3614 Evgeni Pevnov GER Line Player 13.2.1989 Taschkent, RUS 200 106 1630 Christoph Reißky GER Right Back 11.8.1995 Freiberg, GER 187 80 18 Iker Romero Fernandez ESP Centre Back 15.6.1980 Vitoria, ESP 196 100 1623 Moritz Schade GER Line Player 10.1.1996 Schutterwald, GER 191 96 125 Max Scheithauer GER Left Back 13.5.1995 Rotenburg, GER 190 8794 Jaron Siewert GER Centre Back 31.1.1994 Berlin, GER 182 9022 Tom-Luick Skroblien GER Left Wing 19.4.1993 Schwerin, GER 186 87 39 Denis Milan Spoljaric CRO Centre Back 20.8.1979 Zagreb, CRO 196 9610 Dominik Steinbuch GER Right Back 9.6.1995 Berlin, GER 193 997 Kevin Struck GER Right Back 31.12.1996 Berlin, GER 193 835 Jonas Thümmler GER Line Player 21.8.1993 Berlin, GER 192 8731 Konstantin Werner GER Left Wing 25.9.1997 Berlin, GER 182 7420 Willy Weyhrauch GER Right Wing 14.3.1994 Belzig, GER 185 73 53 Fabian Wiede GER Right Back 8.2.1994 Belzig, GER 192 89 1721 Mattias Zachrisson SWE Right Wing 22.8.1990 Huddinge, SWE 178 86 1297 Sebastian Brand GER Goalkeeper 13.5.1997 Eisenach, GER 196 8571 Petr Stochl CZE Goalkeeper 24.4.1976 Pilsen, CZE 195 931 Konstantin Straßburg GER Goalkeeper 28.1.1995 Potsdam, GER 190 8812 Silvio Heinevetter GER Goalkeeper 21.10.1984 Bad Langensalza, GER 194 92

Team rosterFÜCHSE BERLIN (GER)

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Dagur Sigurdssoncoach• played 215 matches for Iceland, before he became a coach, played in Japan for 3 years

• German national team coach in double function with Füchse until the end of the 2014/15 season

• his successor at Füchse will be also Icelandic, Erlingur Richardsson

• former Austrian national team coach, leading them to their best EHF EURO result in 2010 (9th position)

Silvio Heinevettergoalkeeper• goalkeeping stalwart of the German national team

• his former goalkeeper coach at SC Magdeburg was legendary Wieland Schmidt (Olympic champion 1980)

• famous for his unusual style of saving shots

• liaised with a German TV star Simone Thomalla

• extended his contract until 2018

Paul Druxleft back• currently the biggest talent in German handball

• born in Gummersbach, discovered by Füchse Berlin, when he was 16 and since then coached by Sigurdsson in the club – and since November 2014 also in the German national team

• All-star Player at the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2013 in Austria, where he led the Germans to the gold medal like at the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2011

• nominated for the WCh 2015 in Qatar, but proved his high level getting in the starting seven

Fredrik Petersenleft wing• like a lot of famous Swedish players started his career in Ystad

• part of the Swedish national team since 12 years

• played for three Danish clubs (Gudme, Bjerringbro, Kobenhavn)

• joined the CL winning Hamburg in 2012/13 before he went to Berlin

EC trophies: CL 2013OG: S 2012

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2007 (Magdeburg)

Coach and key players profiles

Petar Nenadiccentre back• signed by Füchse from Plock in September 2014, after playmaker Bartlomej Jaska was out for months due to an injury

• currently playing in the sixth different country after Serbia, Spain, Hungary, Denmark and Poland

• married with the Serbian volleyball international Jelena Nikolic, his brother Drasko plays for Flensburg

• played with his teammate Romero in Barcelona and will leave Füchse after this season

Iker Romerocentre back• the team captain of Füchse since 2013 will end his career after the 2014/15 season.

• the biggest signing in Füchse club history arrived in 2011, right after he won his 2nd CL title with FC Barcelona

• 200 international matches for Spain on his tally

• MVP of the 2014 EHF Cup Finals

Konstantin Igropuloright back• a Russian with Greek roots also played for a club in Athens, one of the first Russians to play for FC Barcelona

• arrived in Berlin thanks to the praise of his former teammate Iker Romero

• European champion and silver medallist at the World Championship in beach handball

• married with the Russian pop singer Marina of the band Blue Marine

Pavol Horakleft back• played six years for Frisch Auf Göppingen (including winning the EHF Cup twice), before he arrived in Berlin in 2013

• back-up and “assistant” of captain Filip Jicha in the Czech national team

• in Berlin has more playing time in defence than in attack

• has the biggest hands in the Füchse squad – 24 centimetres long, 12 centimetres wide

EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011 (Barcelona), Cup Winners’ Cup 2002, 2003 (Ciudad Real)OG: B 2008, EHF EURO: S 2006, WCh: G 2005, B 2011

EC trophies: CL 2011 (Barcelona)EC trophies: EHF Cup 2011, 2012

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Potential head-to-heads in the EC

Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg 2-1-1 (112:110) 5:318.03.2012 Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 32:30 (15:15)25.03.2012 HSV Hamburg vs Füchse Berlin, VELUX EHF Champions League – Last 16 23:24 (11:10)21.08.2013 Füchse Berlin vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Wildcard Qualification 30:30 (18:15)23.08.2013 HSV Hamburg vs Füchse Berlin, VELUX EHF Champions League – Wildcard Qualification 27:26 (10:14)

Füchse Berlin vs Skjern Handbold 1-0-1 (57:56) 2:228.02.2015 Skjern Handbold vs Füchse Berlin, EHF Cup – Group C 32:28 (17:12) 08.03.2015 Füchse Berlin vs Skjern Handbold, EHF Cup – Group C 29:24 (14:14)

HSV Hamburg vs Rk Gorenje Velenje 4-0-0 (142:120) 8:0 26.09.2013 HSV Hamburg vs RK Gorenje Velenje, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 41:32 (21:13)05.02.2014 RK Gorenje Velenje vs HSV Hamburg, VELUX EHF Champions League – Group D 29:36 (13:19)11.02.2015 HSV Hamburg vs Gorenje Velenje, EHF Cup – Group A 33:28 (15:14)14.03.2015 Gorenje Velenje vs HSV Hamburg, EHF Cup – Group A 31:32 (15:13)

Skjern Handbold vs Rk Gorenje Velenje No previous encounters in European competitions

Top scorers of the EHF Cup Finals historyRank Player Club Goals

1 Dragan Gajic Montpellier 192 Iuliu Csepreghi Constanta 163 Uwe Gensheimer Rhein-Neckar Löwen 134 Ferenc Ilyes Szeged 125 Alexandru Simicu Constanta 11

Magnus Bramming Holstebro 11

Bjarte Myrhol Rhein-Neckar Löwen 11

Jorge Magueda Pena Nantes 11

9 Jonas Larholm Szeged 10

Valero Rivera Nantes 10

(Bold text indicates players that are part of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals.)

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Top scorers after quarter-finals

Rank Name & nation Club Goals

1 Skube Stas (SLO) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 75

2 Östlund Viktor (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 54

3 Mahe Kentin (FRA) HSV Hamburg (GER) 53

4 Nielsen Michael Damgaard (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 51

5 Larsen Patrick Wiesmach (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 49

Pettersson Daniel (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 49

Sostaric Mario (SLO) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 49

Tholin Mathias (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 49

9 Dryapochko Taras (RUS) St. Petersburg HC (RUS) 47

Humet Gaminde Javier (ESP) HCM Constanta (ROU) 47

Krieg Julian (GER) Pfadi Winterthur (SUI) 47

12 Bramming Magnus Grubb (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 46

Pfahl Adrian (GER) HSV Hamburg (GER) 46

14 Brännberger Christoffer (SWE) Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) 45

15 Cutura Dalibor (SRB) HCM Constanta (ROU) 44

16 Elezovic Uros (SRB) HC Vojvodina (SRB) 43

17 Larholm Jonas Erik (SWE) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 41

18 Markussen Nikolaj Rømer Berg (DEN) Skjern Handbold (DEN) 40

Roe Anders (NOR) Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) 40

Szyba Michal (POL) Rk Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 40

Toma Laurentiu Mihai (ROU) HCM Constanta (ROU) 40

(Bold text indicates players that are still active in the competition.)* Only goals starting from the Qualification Round 3 are included in the ranking.

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Past winners

Previous Men’s Cup Winners’ Cup winners

2012 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)2011 VfL Gummersbach (GER)2010 VfL Gummersbach (GER)2009 Pevafersa Valladolid (ESP)2008 MKB Veszprem KC (HUN)2007 HSV Hamburg2006 Chekhovski Medvedi (RUS)2005 C. BM Ademar Leon (ESP)2004 Portland San Antonio (ESP)2003 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP)2002 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP)2001 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)2000 Portland San Antonio (ESP)1999 Prosesa Ademar Leon (ESP)1998 Caja Cantabria Santander (ESP)1997 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP)1996 TBV Lemgo (GER)1995 FC Barcelona (ESP)1994 FC Barcelona (ESP)

Previous Men’s EHF Cup winners

2012 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER)2011 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER)2010 TBV Lemgo (GER)2009 VfL Gummersbach (GER)2008 HSG Nordhorn (GER)2007 SC Magdeburg (GER)2006 TBV Lemgo (GER)2005 Tusem Essen (GER)2004 THW Kiel (GER)2003 FC Barcelona (ESP)2002 THW Kiel (GER)2001 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER)2000 Metkovic Jumbo (CRO)1999 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER)1998 THW Kiel (GER)1997 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER)1996 BM Granollers (ESP)1995 BM Granollers (ESP)1994 Aliza Avidesa (ESP)

2013 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)

2014 Pick Szeged (HUN)

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2015 EHF CUP FINALS

Media Information

by

EHF Media & Communications, 14/05/2015

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Nemanja Savic, Peter Bruun, Adrian Costeiu, Kevin Domas, Grega Sever, all stats by Roy Knoppert

For further information please contact:

Vladislav BrindzakEHF Media & Communications +43 1 80 151 161brindzak@eurohandball.comTwitter: @ehfmedia

European Handball FederationHoffingergasse 181120 ViennaAustria

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