Media GuideVELUX EHF Champions League Season 2012/2013Group Phase

Group D

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GROUP D – expert´s view FC Barcelona Intersport HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb Kadetten Schaffhausen Füchse Berlin Pick Szeged HC Dinamo Minsk Schedule of matches

3 4 7 10 13 16 19 22

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TEAMS 1. FC Barcelona Intersport 2. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 3. Kadetten Schaffhausen 4. Füchse Berlin 5. Pick Szeged 6. HC Dinamo Minsk Expert Francois-Xavier Houlet says: From my point of view, FC Barcelona is the red-hot favourite in this group. The Catalans have all what it takes to clinch the trophy – the experience, the depth and the quality of the roster and – through the recent signing of Strbik who will pair with Šarić – also the best goalkeeping duo in Europe. Last season´s surprise team Füchse Berlin is no surprise anymore! In their first ever participation in 2011/12, the club from the German capital reached the FINAL4 and this gained a straight ticket through their Bundesliga ranking. The Füchse could be a tough challenger for Barcelona and one of the competition’s outsiders with title chances. Szeged, Schaffhausen and Zagreb will vie for last two tickets to the Last 16 and the Hungarian side should have a slight advantage. Apart from Larholm replacing Máté Lékai the team remained the same and continues its promising development. They can also count on their home support and the fantastic atmosphere the fans create in the “Pick”-cave. Swiss team Schaffhausen made it to the Last 16 in the previous season and they will be aiming for the same feat this time, but Zagreb is likely to be in their way. The Croatian champions lost five key players before the season and basically entered a new era. Finally, be aware of Minsk! Nobody should underestimate this small outsider. Just remind yourself of their good results in the second half of the 2010/11 Group Phase.

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FC BARCELONA INTERSPORT (Spain)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Spanish Champion

Season Preview: After missing out on the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the first time in 2012, FC Barcelona Intersport are aiming for Cologne once again. The current Spanish champion signed Martin Straňovský, a counter-attack specialist from Leon, and replaced right back Konstantin Igropoulo (Berlin) with Leon giant Angel Montoro, who signed a six years contract with the Spanish outfit. At the end of August Barca made their top transfer of this summer, signing a five-year contract with world class goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik (Atletico Madrid). However, the Hungarian team captain László Nagy made the move to MKB Veszprem alongside his teammates Marco Oneto and Christian Ugalde. With this partly renewed squad the record winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League is aiming high again – with the focus on reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and to win the Spanish championship again. “Our main objective is to make it to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and try to win it. We know that is so difficult because, in the VELUX EHF Champions League all teams play at an amazing level. It’s mandatory for us to win all the matches at home in the first phase, and try to get the best possible results away. It’s important to finish the Group Stage in the poll position because this gives you the best possible start for rest of the competition," team captain Victor Tomás said. “Firstly we want to try to make it to the Last 16 from the best position of the first phase. We are in a hard group and I’m sure that nobody will finish unbeaten,” coach Xavi Pascual predicted. “This is the main competition for handball clubs in Europe. It is the competition that everybody wants to win,” he added.

Club Address: FC Barcelona Intersport Xavier O'Callaghan Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n 08028 Barcelona,Spain Contact numbers: Tel. +34-639-134628 Fax. +34-934-967612 Email: xavier.ocallaghan@fcbarcelona.cat Arena: Palau Blaugrana Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n, 08028 Barcelona Capacity: 7250 Media contact: Gustau Galvache, +34 618522789 gustau.galvache@fcbarcelona.cat Online: Club website: www.fcbarcelona.cat Twitter: @fcbarcelona_cat Facebook: fcbarcelona ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 16 Winner (7): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2011 Final (2): 2001, 2010 Semi-final (1): 2008 Quarter-final (3): 2006, 2007, 2012 Last 16 (1): 2004 Main Round (1): 2009 EHF Cup: Winners: 2003 Finalists 2002 Cup Winners´Cup: Winner: 1994, 1995 Spanish champions: 18 titles(1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 20)12 Spanish Cup winners: 17 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 21 Mikel Aguirrezabalaga Garcia ESP Left back 08.04.1984 89 194 33 Aitor Arino Bengoechea ESP Left wing 05.10.1992 81 18400 34 David Balaguer Romeu ESP Right wing 17.08.1991 83 184 40 Ignacio Biosca Garcia ESP Goalkeeper 17.07.1995 95 200

9 Raul Entrerrios Rodriguez ESP Centre back 12.02.1981 89 195 6 Juan Garcia Lorenzana ESP Left wing 28.08.1977 74 176

18 Eduardo Gurbindo Martinez ESP Right back 08.11.1987 89 195 20 Magnus Jernemyr SWE Centre back 18.06.1976 106 198

8 Angel Montoro Cabello ESP Right back 10.04.1989 105 213 27 Viran Morros de Argila ESP Left back 15.12.1983 92 197

3 Jesper Brian Nöddesbo DEN Line player 23.10.1980 101 199 26 Albert Rocas Comas ESP Right wing 16.06.1982 80 189 22 Siarhei Rutenka BLR Left back 29.08.1981 109 199 12 Danijel Saric BIH Goalkeeper 27.06.1977 93 194 11 Daniel Sarmiento Melian ESP Centre back 25.08.1983 85 188 10 Cedric Sorhaindo FRA Line player 07.06.1984 100 192

1 Arpad Sterbik ESP Goalkeeper 20.11.1979 119 200 24 Martin Stranovsky SVK Left wing 12.09.1985 78 187

8 Victor Tomas Gonzalez ESP Right wing 15.02.1985 89 178

New signings (including former club):

• Eduardo Gurbino (BM Valladolid), • Angel Montoro (Reale Ademar Leon), • Martin Straňovský (Reale Ademar) • Arpad Sterbik (Atlético Madrid)

Left the club (including new club): • László Nagy (MKB Veszprém) • Marco Oneto (MKB Veszprém) • Cristian Ugalde (MKB Veszprém) • Konstatin Igropulo (Füchse Berlin)

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Key players

Arpad Sterbik: The 2004 World Handball Player of the Year was part of the famous Atletico goalkeeper duo together with Jose Hombrados. Now he is aiming for an equal performance with Danijel Saric at Barcelona. Sterbik is known for his patience and the minimum of movements in the goal. He also counts on his brilliant reflexes and flexibility.

Siarhei Rutenka: In 2011 Belarusian Rutenka became the second player to win five EHF Champions League titles with three clubs. After lifting the trophy in 2004 with Celje, he won three titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009 with Ciudad Real, followed by the victory with Barcelona in 2011. Left back Rutenka, who often switches to the pivot position, was the EHF Champions League’s top scorer twice.

Juanin Garcia: The all-time record scorer of the Spanish Asobal league is still one of the best wing players in Europe. In this season Garcia is also supposed to integrate his successor Stranovsky in Barcelona. Garcia is 2005 world champion with Spain and two times EHF Champions League winner with Barcelona, in 2008 he was Spain’s top scorer at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Coach

Xavi Pascual: Xavi Pascual is a “double feature” at FC Barcelona Intersport, as the coach of the successful handball or the basketball teams both coaches have the same name, but are different people. Handball coach Pascual just extended his contract until 2015, which began on 9 February 2009. Pascual played for a lengthy period in Barcelona and some other Spanish clubs, before becoming goalkeeper’s coach at the record winner of the EHF Champions League in 2005, where he started working with Barca legend David Barrufet and others. Pascual then became the successor of Manolo Cadenas at Barcelona – and with this change came success: In 2011 his team won the VELUX EHF Champions League, making up for the lost the year beforehand. In addition he led Barca to three straight Spanish championship and several cup titles.

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HC CROATIA OSIGURANJE ZAGREB (Croatia)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Croatian Champions

Season Preview: The coach remains the same, but the team will change on several key positions: Four top players left the Croatian record champions after a strong previous season: Ivano Balić and Jakov Gojun signed at Atlético Madrid, Marko Kopljar in Paris and Manuel Štrlek in Kielce. But coach Slavko Goluža is still confident that his team is able to keep up with the top teams of Europe in their 19th participation in the EHF Champions League and show their strength in a tough group. No other team had been part of the European top-flight as often as Zagreb. In Croatia, Zagreb are aiming to keep their clean sweep with 22 championships in 22 years and 19 cup titles, aside they are determined to reach the final tournament of the regional league SEHA. Zagreb is building up a new team including new players like Bojan Skoko or Mario Kelentrić – and new heads in the administration like new club director: Josip Guberina and new general manager Ante Ančić. And he is looking forward to the challenges in the VELUX EHF Champions League: “There are no weak teams in the Champions League any more. Our goal will be to promote our new and very young team and if it is possible to reach the Last 16. My favourites in our group are Barcelona and Berlin. The group is very attractive and this is very important for us.” For team captain Zlatko Horvat – one of the remaining “old” stars – Zagreb will surprise their opponents: “This year we will start with very young team and I am expecting that all our young players will show their talent. We will face the best European teams, but I think that we are the favourite in all home matches. Our goal is to reach the knock-out stage, and I believe that we can reach third place in our group.”

Club Address: HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb Veprinacka 16,10000 Zagreb,Croatia Contact numbers: Tel. +385-1-5559695 Fax. +385-1-3093001 Email: ante.ancic@rk-zagreb.hr Arena: Arena Zagreb Laniste b.b.,10000 Zagreb Capacity: 15200 OR Dom Sportova – “Ice hall” Trg Kresimira Cosica 11, 10 000 Zagreb Capacity: 6500 Media contact: Ante Ančić, +385 15559695 ante.ancic@rk-zagreb.hr Online: Club website: www.rk-zagreb.hr Twitter: @ RKZagreb Facebook: RK-Zagreb- ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 19 Final (4): 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 Semi-final (1): 2000 Quarter-final (5): 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2012 Last 16 (3): 2006, 2010, 2011 Main Round (1): 2008 Group Phase (3): 1994, 2005, 2007 Cup Winners´Cup: Finalists 2005 Croatian champions: 22 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) Croatian Cup winners: 19 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 17 Hrvoje Batinovic CRO Left wing 17.02.1988 82 186

5 Ilija Brozovic CRO Line player 26.05.1991 110 195 6 Bruno Butorac CRO Right wing 01.10.1994 82 188

18 Zlatko Horvat CRO Right wing 25.09.1984 87 179 16 Filip Ivic CRO Goalkeeper 30.08.1992 95 196 47 Ante Kaleb CRO Centre back 09.05.1993 93 196

1 Mario Kelentric CRO Goalkeeper 31.01.1973 90 190 27 Stipe Mandalinic CRO Left back 09.09.1992 93 196

3 Marino Maric CRO Line player 01.06.1990 115 196 10 Marko Matic CRO Left back 25.01.1988 86 202

9 Jerko Matulic CRO Right wing 20.04.1990 86 188 4 Lovro Mihic CRO Left wing 25.08.1994 74 180

14 Luka Sebetic CRO Right back 26.05.1994 93 197 2 Bojan Skoko BIH Line player 19.07.1981 104 202

13 David Spiler SLO Centre back 02.01.1983 95 190 11 Lovro Sprem CRO Right wing 26.01.1990 88 186 23 Domagoj Srsen CRO Left back 31.12.1990 114 202

7 Luka Stepancic CRO Right back 20.11.1990 104 200 12 Ivan Stevanovic CRO Goalkeeper 18.05.1982 101 193 22 Josip Valcic CRO Centre back 21.04.1984 97 190 24 Tonci Valcic CRO Left back 09.06.1978 100 194

New signings (including former club):

• Bojan Skoko (HC Cimos Koper), • Mario Kelentrić (HC Melsungen), • Marko Matić (HC IZVIDAC

Ljubuski), • Ivan Stevanović (HC Zamet), • Stipe Mandalinić (HC Karlovac), • Hrvoje Batinović and Domagoj

Sršen (both HC Split)

Left the club (including new club):

• Ivano Balić and Jakov Gojun (both Atletico Madrid),

• Marin Šego (Wisla Plock), • Ivan Pešić (Maribor), • Manuel Štrlek (Vive Targi Kielce), • Marko Kopljar (Paris HB), • Ljubo Vukić (Brest Meshkov),

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Key players

Zlatko Horvat: The right wing is one of the remaining stars in the rejuvenated Zagreb squad. In the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season Horvat was the third best scorer behind Mikkel Hansen and Kiril Lazarov in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Horvat is team captain and part of the successful national team that won silver at the 2009 world championship and the 2008 and 2010 EHF EURO events and bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games.

David Špiler: The role of the Slovenian international will change this season, as he will have the full responsibility for the playmaker position, after Ivano Balic left to Madrid. Špiler started his career in Celje and after a short stint at Koper he signed with Zagreb two years ago.

Tonči Valčić: The 34-year-old defence specialist is the most experienced player in the Zagreb squad and plays together with his brother Josip. Valčić is 2003 world and 2004 Olympic champion and EHF EURO runners-up. After a long period of playing for German and Spanish clubs he returned to his home country in 2008.

Coach

Slavko Goluža: Since March 2012 Goluža has been working for RK Zagreb and the Croatian national team. The 41-year-old coach was double Olympic champion as a player (1996 and 2004), world champion 2003 and twice runner-up in the Men's World Championships in 1995 and 2005. He put his hands on the Champions cup twice with RK Zagreb as a player. After playing for Metkovic (CRO), Veszprem (HUN) and different German and French clubs Goluža returned to Zagreb in 2004 and became assistant coach of Lino Červar in 2006 – first for the national team, then also at Zagreb. Since 2010 he is head coach of the Croats and after Ivica Obrvan was let go as Zagreb coach right before the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals against Kiel in April 2012.

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KADETTEN SCHAFFHAUSEN (Switzerland)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Swiss Champion

Season Preview: The investment into their arena, a strong performance in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season, including a historic away victory in Madrid, leaves Kadetten Schaffhausen hoping for another top season in Europe. The squad has not change that much from last season: Two key players, Graubner and Vranj, transferred to Germany, but another German talent, line player Julius Emrich has joined Kadetten. The Swiss side is also hoping for the return of German junior world champion Dissinger after his long-term injury. Schaffhausen have also signed the Croatian talent Marko Mamić along side Spanish international Carlos Prieto from AG Kobenhavn. The aim is to proceed from the Group Phase to the Last 16, like they did in the previous two seasons and to dominate the Swiss league again. Kadetten manager Peter Leutwyler expects a tough challenge against opponents like Barcelona, Zagreb and Berlin: “It’s a strong group and each team has the chance to reach the next round. Our objective is to reach the Last 16 like we did in the past two years. Team captain Elio Bucher is ready for the fight for the top four positions: “Of course, our main goal will be to make it again to the Last 16 as in previous years. Barcelona and Berlin will be the two strongest teams in our group. I expect that it will be tight between us, Zagreb and Szeged for the third and fourth place.”

Club Address: Kadetten Schaffhausen Schweizersbildstrasse 10 8207 Schaffhausen Switzerland Contact numbers: Tel. +41-52-6445454 +41-79-4047317 Email: peter.leutwyler@bluewin.ch Arena: BBC Arena Schweizersbildstr. 10 8207 Schaffhausen Capacity: 3000 Media contact: Barbara Imobersteg +41 787203247 imo.schule@gmx.ch Online: Club website: www.kadettensh.ch Twitter: @ kadettensh Facebook: kadettensh ehfCL.com VELUX EHF Champions League records: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 7 Last 16 (2): 2011, 2012 Group Phase (3): 2006, 2007, 2008 Qualification (1): 2010 Other EC records: EHF Cup: Finalists: 2010 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-final: 2008 Swiss champions: 6 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012) Swiss Cup winners: 6 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Patrick Blauenstein SUI Goalkeeper 19.10.1974 86 188

21 Elio Bucher SUI Centre back 17.01.1984 85 188 3 Nikola Cvijetic SUI Right wing 01.12.1989 83 183

25 Christian Dissinger GER Left back 15.11.1991 102 202 5 Julius Emrich GER Line player 20.09.1985 98 191 7 Florian Goepfert SUI Left wing 09.07.1988 85 190

20 Rares Lucian Jurca ROU Right back 29.04.1983 96 194 4 Peter Kukucka SVK Centre back 20.07.1982 90 190

10 Marko Mamic CRO Left back 06.03.1994 96 201 Silvio Meier SUI Goalkeeper 29.05.1991 73 175 6 Sergio Muggli SUI Centre back 06.07.1993 76 176 9 Andrija Pendic SUI Centre back 12.03.1987 90 190

18 Carlos Prieto Martos ESP Line player 02.02.1980 106 203 1 Remo Quadrelli SUI Goalkeeper 19.09.1985 90 190

19 Ruben Schelbert SUI Left back 11.12.1988 91 195 11 Leszek Starczan POL Left wing 28.11.1977 90 183 14 Aleksandar Stojanovic SRB Right back 22.06.1983 103 197 24 Nik Tominec SLO Right wing 26.03.1991 88 190 23 Iwan Ursic SUI Line player 06.12.1976 100 192 12 Arunas Vaskevicius LTU Goalkeeper 03.08.1973 100 192 16 Marco Wyss SUI Goalkeeper 03.03.1990 90 188

New signings (including former club):

• Marko Mamić (RK Moslovina), • Julius Emrich (TV 1893 Neuhausen), • Carlos Prieto (AG København) • Nikola Cvijetic (HC GS Stäfa), • Sergio Muggli (GS Kadetten Espoirs)

Left the club (including new club): • David Graubner (TV Grosswaldstadt), • Václav Vraný (ASV Hamm-Westfalen),

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Key players

Christian Dissinger: After being side-lined for one year following a rupture of the crucial ligament in his first VELUX EHF Champions League match against FC Barcelona last season, Kadetten Schaffhausen set high hopes on the biggest German talent. Dissinger was part of the German team that won the Junior World Championships in 2011 and was also awarded Most Valuable Player at this tournament.

Peter Kukučka: The Slovak international is the most experienced player in the Schaffhausen squad and he hopes to return to his former strength after several injuries hampered him in the previous season. After starting his international career in Presov, he switched allegiances to Dunaferr, Hungary, and Nordhorn, Germany, where he was an European Cup finalist twice. For three years now the playmaker is part of the Kadetten squad.

Iwan Ursic: Besides Andy Schmid, who plays for Rhein Neckar Löwen, the line player is the most popular Swiss national team player. At the age of 36 Ursic is still full of power. His biggest success on club level was winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2007 with HSV Hamburg, where he also participated in the VELUX EHF Champions League for the first time, before returning to Switzerland and Schaffhausen in 2008.

Coach

Petr Hrachovec: From player to coach – former Czech international Petr Hrachovec went the same way as many other coaches. After the right wing had been contracted by several German clubs, he signed a contract for Kadetten Schaffhausen, where he became coach in 2008. By qualifying every year for the knock-out stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League he formed a team, which is a stable factor on the map of top European handball. Hrachovec just extended his contract until 2013.

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FÜCHSE BERLIN (Germany)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Third ranked in Germany

Season Preview: It was the most successful season in the club’s history; not only did Füchse Berlin reach the qualification for the 2012/13 VELUX EHF Champions League season, they finished their first year in the top competition in Cologne at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The club from the German capital has become more interesting for top players, signing Russian right back Konstantin Igropoulo (Barcelona), and Norwegian playmaker Børge Lund (Rhein Neckar Löwen). But the most important signature for the club was the one under the contract of coach Dagur Sigurðsson, who extended his stay until 2017. Former right back Alexander Petterson left the club (Rhein Neckar Löwen), as did Swedish talent Jonathan Stenbäcken (Melsungen). The objectives for the club are clear: To qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League through the Bundesliga again – and to reach the Last 16 on international side of things. "After reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last year we are very proud to be part of the VELUX EHF Champions League again. It has been a wonderful season for us, which only presents the national league in a positive light. Now we are dreaming again that we can reach the Last 16 this season," the club manager Bob Hanning stated. "After this very successful premiere season we know that we can play with the top clubs, but it will take a lot of hard work. We know how tight it was to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and how close it was in the semi-final. We hope that we will reach the next stage in this high-class competition again. After that we will see from game to game what will be possible; nobody knows what will happen," added team captain Torsten Laen .

Club Address: Füchse Berlin Markgrafenstraße 34 10117 Berlin Germany Contact numbers: Tel. +49-177-4054946 Fax. +49-30-20916878 Email: gueter@fuechse-berlin.de Arena: Max-Schmeling-Halle Falkplatz 1 10437 Berlin Capacity: 8520 Media contact: André Tzschaschel +49 1723188441 tzschaschel@fuechse-berlin.de Online: Club website: www.fuechse-berlin.de Twitter: @fuechseberlin Facebook: fuechseberlin ehfCL.com Club achievements: VELUX EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2011/12 season): 2 VELUX EHF FINAL4: 1 (fourth ranked): 2011/12

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 21 Mark Bult NED Right back 07.09.1982 96 200 66 Sven-Sören Christophersen GER Left back 09.05.1985 95 198 95 Paul Drux GER Left back 07.02.1995 92 192 12 Silvio Heinevetter GER Goalkeeper 21.10.1984 92 194 93 Kenji Hövels GER Centre back 09.07.1993 84 179 35 Konstantin Igropulo RUS Right back 14.04.1985 97 189 24 Bartlomiej Jaszka POL Centre back 16.06.1983 85 185

1 Maximilian Kroll GER Goalkeeper 20.01.1993 96 190 4 Torsten Laen DEN Line player 26.11.1979 96 198 2 Colja Löffler GER Left wing 08.05.1989 86 187 9 Börge Lund NOR Centre back 13.03.1979 94 196

27 Ivan Nincevic CRO Left wing 27.10.1981 82 185 14 Evgeni Pevnov GER Line player 13.02.1989 106 200 11 Markus Richwien GER Right wing 05.07.1985 84 186 18 Iker Romero Fernandez ESP Left back 15.06.1980 100 196 23 Johannes Sellin GER Right wing 31.12.1990 81 195 22 Tom-Luick Skroblien GER Left wing 19.04.1993 87 186

9 Denis Milan Spoljaric CRO Centre back 20.08.1979 96 196 71 Petr Stochl CZE Goalkeeper 24.04.1976 93 195 15 Ramon Tauabo GER Right wing 08.10.1992 83 183

5 Jonas Thümmler GER Line player 21.08.1993 87 192 29 Fabian Wiede GER Right back 08.02.1994 89 192

New signings (including former club):

• Konstantin Igropulo (FC Barcelona), • Børge Lund (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), • Jonas Thümmler (youth team), • Maximilian Kroll (youth team)

Left the club (including new club): • Jonathan Stenbäcken (MT Melsungen), • Alexander Petersson (Rhein-Neckar

Löwen)

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Key players

Silvio Heinevetter: The current number one goalkeeper in the German national team was one of the keys for the Füchse’s success in their debut season at the VELUX EHF Champions League when they reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2012. Like a typical goalkeeper, Heinevetter is a little bit crazy, showing unorthodox moves and is extremely emotional.

Iker Romero: It was the Füchse’s first big international transfer coup when they signed the Spanish top player in 2011. Romero is a legend in his home country, being part of the 2005 world champion squad and winning several more medals with the national team. On club level the always smiling left back started in Leon, before changing to Ciudad Real and then having successful years at FC Barcelona, winning the VELUX EHF Champions League twice.

Konstantin Igropoulo: The Russian right back arrived from FC Barcelona before the start of this season and was winner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2011. With international experience in the national team as well as on club level, he should fill the footsteps of Icelandic Alexander Petterson.

Coach

Dagur Sigurðsson: After 215 international matches and after scoring nearly 400 goals for Iceland, Sigurðsson quit as player and continued the line of successful Icelandic coaches in European top handball. After playing for the German club Wuppertal, he changed to Japan for the three years, before returning to Europe and becoming coach at top Austrian club Bregenz in 2003. After four years Sigurðsson returned to his home country Iceland and became manager and director of his former club Valur Reykjavik, parallel to that he was coach of the Austrian men’s national team from 2008 to 2010. During this time he received an offer to take over Füchse Berlin, where he signed his first contract in 2009. Since July 2010 Sigurðsson working only in Berlin, leading the Füchse sensationally to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in their debut season 2011/12. Those successes paved the way for a huge extension of his contract until 2017.

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PICK SZEGED (Hungary)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Hungarian runners-up

Season Preview: A tough group last season meant they just missed out on qualifying for the Last 16 in the 2011/2012 VELUX EHF Champions League, but Pick Szeged are aiming high this season. The Hungarian runners-up have signed top Swedish star Jonas Larholm from Aalborg in Denmark, as well as the Croat Alen Blažević. Coach László Skaliczki has high expectations especially for Larholm, who is expected to lead Pick to the Last 16, as well as meet their domestic goals of reaching the league play-off and the cup final. The Swedish international said about his transfer to Szeged: “I have played in Spain and Denmark, and now I wanted to go to a different and new European country.” Without five Olympic participants Szeged finished sixth in the prestigious Champions Cup in Germany, but had the tournament’s top scorer Zsolt Balogh (25 goals) in their squad. Just after the Olympics, Pick ranked fourth at the famous tournament in Doboj behind Barcelona, Leon and Chekhovskie Medvedi. After those successes team captain Attila Vadkerti is confident that his team will be able to take the important points on home ground: “This will be a group in which every team can beat any of the other teams at home. This is why it is quite difficult to predict the result of the group.” For experienced Slovak Frantisek Šulc, the back court axis has improved due to the Larholm transfer: “Our goal is to qualify for the Last 16. In my opinion this group is even better than our group last year. I think and hope that our team is also better.

Club Address: Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u. 28-30. 6720 Szeged Hungary Contact numbers: Tel. +36-30-525 99 07 Fax. +36-62-467568 Email: forgo@pickhandball.hu Arena: Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt.33 6726 Szeged Capacity: 3200 Media contact: Róbert Süli +36 306828796 sulir@pickhandball.hu Online: Club website: www.pickhandball.hu Facebook: pickszeged ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 11 Quarter-final (2): 1997, 2004 Last 16 (4): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 Main Round (1): 2008 Group Phase (3): 2009, 2010, 2012

Other EC records: Cup Winners´ Cup: Semi-final: 1983, 1984, 1994 Quarter-final: 1978, 2003, 2009

Hungarian champions: 2 titles (1996, 2007), Hungarian Cup winners: 6 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 90 Gabor Ancsin HUN Right back 27.11.1990 97 202 19 Zsolt Balogh HUN Right back 29.03.1989 96 189 21 Alen Blazevic CRO Right back 29.03.1986 110 200

2 Daniel Buday HUN Centre back 05.01.1981 104 195 24 Jozsef Czina HUN Left back 24.11.1980 106 196 15 Balint Fekete HUN Right back 27.06.1995 80 190 77 Mark Hegedüs HUN Line player 14.09.1992 103 190

6 Marinko Kekezovic SRB Left wing 20.08.1985 80 187 10 Jonas Erik Larholm SWE Centre back 03.06.1982 88 193 16 Roland Mikler HUN Goalkeeper 20.09.1984 100 190

9 Norbert Nagy HUN Right wing 09.03.1991 68 179 14 Antonio Pribanic CRO Line player 13.12.1987 95 185 27 Rajko Prodanovic SRB Right wing 24.04.1986 87 188 29 Frantisek Sulc SVK Centre back 13.12.1978 90 186 12 Peter Tatai HUN Goalkeeper 23.06.1983 98 195

1 Michal Toth SVK Goalkeeper 03.09.1992 103 196 7 Attila Vadkerti HUN Left wing 22.02.1982 88 182

17 Szabolcs Zubai HUN Line player 31.03.1984 93 193

New signings (including former club):

• Jonas Larholm (AaB Handball/DEN), • Alen Blažević (AD Ciudad de

Guadalajara/ESP), • Marinko Kekezović (Orosházi

FKSE/HUN), • Zsolt Balogh (B Braun Gyöngyös/HUN)

Left the club (including new club): • Máté Lékai (RK Celje Pivovarna

Lasko/SLO), • Ádám Bajorhegyi (Váci KSE/HUN), • Szabolcs Törő (Grundfos Tatabánya

Kézilabda Klub/HUN), • Dušan Beočanin (ULZ Sparkasse

Schwaz/AUT)

17

Key players

Jonas Larholm: The Swedish 2012 Olympic silver medallist Larholm is supposed to strengthen the Szeged back court. He was the most important transfer of the Hungarian runners-up before the start of this season. Larholm played two years at FC Barcelona before changing to Aalborg in Denmark and he is now looking ready for his next challenge.

Roland Mikler: Together with Nandor Fazekas, who plays for Veszprem, Mikler is the number one in the Hungarian national team. The goalkeeper changed from Dunaferr to Szeged two years ago and immediately became a strong base for the famous Pick defence.

Attila Vadkerti: Since the start of his career more than ten years ago, the left wing only played for one club: Pick Szeged. In the meantime Vadkerti became a constant member of the Hungarian national team, finishing fourth at the 2012 Olympics.

Coach

László Skaliczki: The 57-year-old Skaliczki is highly experienced in handball from his past as a player to the present as a EHF master coach. He started his coaching career in 1989 at the Hungarian club Békéscsaba and became Hungarian youth national team coach in 1992, before returning to club level in 1995 in Szeged, where he is currently coaching. Intermediately Skaliczki coached other clubs and the Hungarian men’s national team for a long period. In 2010 Skaliczki returned back to his roots and started coaching at Pick Szeged.

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HC DINAMO MINSK (Belarus)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: winner of the play-off matches against Besiktas, Belarusian champions

Season Preview: Twelve players left, eleven newcomers arrived - Dinamo Minsk start with a totally renewed team in their second season of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase – and their jubilee season, as the club celebrates his fifth anniversary. In their debut year 2010/11 they were close to reach the VELUX EHF Champions League Last16, in the previous season the Belarusian champions failed in the qualification stage, but then reached the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup losing against later-on trophy winner FA Göppingen. Now the hopes are high to make the way to the knock-out stage thanks to an improved team. Among those 12 players who left the club are some well-known faces like Russian pivot Egor Evdokimov, who arrived from Ciudad Real in Minsk and now transferred to his former club Chekhovskie, or Barys Pukhouski, who now wears the jersey of the local rival SKA Minsk. But the list of newcomers gives hopes for a bright future: Both goalkeepers are new - Vadim Bogdanov came from St. Petersburg HC and Serbian Dimitrije Pejanović from Spanish side BM Torrevieja. Aside new key players will be “O&O”, Olexandr Shevelev (former club AaB Handball in Denmark) and Oleg Skopintsev, arriving from Chekhovskie. Together with remaining top stars Onufryienko and Atman, Dinamo now have more alternatives on all positions. Besides continuing on top of the Belarusian league, now the Last 16 are their target as Sports director Andrei Parachtenko hopes: „Dinamo aims to proceed from the Group Phase, a hard target to reach. The favorites of our group are Barcelona and Berlin. Zagreb, despite of the weakening of their team before the new season, still are a serious rival. So we will compete against Kadetten and Pick for the last remaining ticket for the Last 16.”

Club Address: HC Dinamo Minsk Daumana str. 23-59 220002 Minsk Belarus Contact numbers: Tel. +375-17-3341099 Fax. +375-17-3341299 Email: admin@dinamohandball.by Arena: Palace of Sport Pobeditelev ave. 4 Minsk, Belarus Capacity: 3400 Media contact: Maxim Koshkalda +375 296 477910 admin@dinamohandball.by Online: Club website: www.dinamohandball.by ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 4 Group Phase (1): 2011 Qualification (2): 2010, 2012 Other EC records: EHF Cup Quarter-final 2012 Belarusian Champions: 4 titles (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) Belarusian Cup winners: 2010 Baltic League Champions: 2009

19

The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 19 Pavel Atman RUS Centre back 25.05.1987 94 190

6 Maxim Babichev BLR Line player 07.03.1986 97 196 12 Vadim Bogdanov RUS Goalkeeper 26.03.1986 98 196 80 Ivan Brouka BLR Left wing 20.04.1980 78 182 15 Remigijus Cepulis LTU Left back 15.01.1982 100 196 14 Dmytro Doroshchuk UKR Line player 29.09.1986 115 198 32 Hleb Harbuz BLR Centre back 17.03.1994 82 191

5 Andrei Khapal BLR Right wing 05.04.1992 82 180 18 Aliaksandr Markelau BLR Goalkeeper 05.04.1994 87 193 39 Stanislav Nakhaenko BLR Line player 20.04.1993 113 209 17 Dzmitry Nikulenkau BLR Centre back 12.07.1984 87 187 33 Sergiy Onufryienko UKR Right back 31.01.1985 95 190 23 Vladislav Ostroushko UKR Left back 05.03.1986 101 202

1 Dimitrije Pejanovic SRB Goalkeeper 09.07.1974 97 200 3 Dzianis Rutenka BLR Right wing 14.02.1986 85 187 2 Vasko Sevaljevic MNE Left back 21.06.1988 107 193

10 Olexandr Shevelev UKR Line player 02.12.1987 115 200 9 Oleg Skopintsev RUS Left wing 15.04.1984 80 180

22 Mykola Stetsyura UKR Right back 20.07.1986 96 195

New signings (including former club): • Vadim Bogdanov (St. Petersburg HC), • Dimitrije Pejanovic (BM Torrevieja), • Dmytro Doroshchuk (ZTR

Zaporozhye), • Harbuz Hleb (Dinamo-Minsk II), • Aliaksandr Markelau (Dinamo-Minsk

II), • Stanislav Nakhaenko (Dinamo-Minsk

II), • Vladislav Ostroushko (HC Motor-

ZNTU-ZAS), • Vasko Sevaljevic (Amaya Sport San

Antonio), • Olexandr Shevelev (AaB Handball), • Oleg Skopintsev (Chekhovskie

Medvedi), • Mykola Stetsyura (Saint Raphael Var

Handball)

Left the club (including new club): • Egor Evdokimov (Chekhovskie

Medvedi), • Yauhen Kamarou (SKA Minsk), • Vitali Kazhaneuski (HC Victory Regia

Minsk), • Valentyn Koshovy (HC Motor-ZNTU-

ZAS), • Ivan Martinovic (HC Vardar PRO -

Skopje), • Viktar Nedaliuka (HC Victory Regia

Minsk), • Mikhail Niazhura (St. Petersburg HC), • Barys Pukhouski (SKA Minsk), • Siarhei Shylovich (SKA Minsk), • Aliaksandr Tsitou (SKA Minsk), • Mikalai Zianko (HC Victory Regia

Minsk), • Enrique Plaza Lara (Spain)

20

Key players

Sergiy Onufryienko: Wherever he plays, the Ukrainian international is always among the top scorers. Onufryienko started his career at ZTR Saporoschje. In 2009 he transferred to Dinamo and became a key player for three straight Belorussian championships and the success on international level. In European Cup competitions, including the VELUX EHF Champions League, the 27-year-old right back scored nearly 300 goals.

Pawel Atman: Usually the Russian national team only count on players, who play for a Russian club. One major exception for years has been playmaker Pawel Atman. The 25-year-old came from his home club Kausik Volgograd to Minsk in 2010 and was top scorer of his team in their first season in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase with 63 goals.

Ivan Brouka: The Minsk-born left wing started his career at forerunner SKA, when he played his first international matches at the age of 17. In 2003 he transferred to ZTR Saporoschje in Ukraine, before Brouka joined German side Melsungen. One year ago he returned to his home town, being a counter-attack specialist in the Dinamo collective.

Coach

Sergij Bebeshko: A surprising phone call changed the life of Sergij Bebeshko: In December 2009 the former Ukrainian international, who was living in Ciudad Real (ESP) at that time, was asked on the phone to become new coach of Dinamo Minsk. Bebeshko agreed and after 18 years in different countries - mainly Spain - the 1992 Olympic champion returned to Belarus. He led Minsk to three straight championship including the first ever double of championship and cup in the history of the club in 2010. They will take to court for the second time in the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

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MatchID: 201311020102-

Group D matches won draw lost goal-difference points1 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 02 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 03 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 04 GER Füchse Berlin 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 05 HUN Pick Szeged 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 06 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0

092 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen vs. ESP FC Barcelona Intersport  27.09.2012 20:00    Schaffhausen / SUI    Ref.: Krstic, Ljubic SLO   Del.: Schlick AUT

091 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. HUN Pick Szeged  29.09.2012 18:30    Zagreb / CRO    Ref.: Covalciuc, Covalciuc MDA   Del.: Migas GRE

093 GER Füchse Berlin vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk  30.09.2012 16:15    Berlin / GER    Ref.: Leifsson, Palsson ISL   Del.: Jensen DEN

095 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  04.10.2012 19:30    Minsk / BLR   

094 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport vs. GER Füchse Berlin  06.10.2012 16:15    Barcelona / ESP   

096 HUN Pick Szeged vs. SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen  06.10.2012 17:15    Szeged / HUN   

098 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  11.10.2012 20:00    Schaffhausen / SUI   

097 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk  13.10.2012 16:15    Barcelona / ESP   

099 HUN Pick Szeged vs. GER Füchse Berlin  14.10.2012 16:00    Szeged / HUN   

101 GER Füchse Berlin vs. SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen  17.10.2012 19:00    Berlin / GER   

100 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. HUN Pick Szeged  18.10.2012 18:30    Minsk / BLR   

102 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. ESP FC Barcelona Intersport  20.10.2012 18:00    Zagreb / CRO   

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 10/12

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103 GER Füchse Berlin vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  15.11.2012 19:30    Berlin / GER   

105 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen  15.11.2012 20:00    Minsk / BLR   

104 HUN Pick Szeged vs. ESP FC Barcelona Intersport  18.11.2012 18:30    Szeged / HUN   

108 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk  22.11.2012 20:00    Schaffhausen / SUI   

107 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport vs. HUN Pick Szeged  24.11.2012 16:15    Barcelona / ESP   

106 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. GER Füchse Berlin  24.11.2012 18:00    Zagreb / CRO   

110 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport vs. SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen  01.12.2012 16:15    Barcelona / ESP   

109 HUN Pick Szeged vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  01.12.2012 17:15    Szeged / HUN   

111 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. GER Füchse Berlin  02.12.2012 17:30    Minsk / BLR   

112 GER Füchse Berlin vs. ESP FC Barcelona Intersport  06.-10.02.13     /    

114 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen vs. HUN Pick Szeged  07.02.2013 20:00    Schaffhausen / SUI   

113 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk  09.02.2013 18:00    Zagreb / CRO   

116 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen vs. GER Füchse Berlin  14.02.2013 20:00    Schaffhausen / SUI   

117 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport vs. CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  16.02.2013 16:15    Barcelona / ESP   

115 HUN Pick Szeged vs. BLR HC Dinamo Minsk  16.02.2013 17:15    Szeged / HUN   

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

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118 BLR HC Dinamo Minsk vs. ESP FC Barcelona Intersport  21.02.2013 20:00    Minsk / BLR   

119 CRO HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs. SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen  23.02.2013 18:00    Zagreb / CRO   

120 GER Füchse Berlin vs. HUN Pick Szeged  24.02.2013 19:00     / GER   

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 12/12RR_B364R2

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