RK Vardar
РК Вардар 1961 HC Vardar 1961 | |||
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Founded | 1961 | ||
Arena | Jane Sandanski Arena | ||
Capacity | 7.500 | ||
President | Mihajlo Mihajlovski | ||
Head coach | Veselin Vujović | ||
League | VIP Super Liga | ||
2019/2020 | 1st | ||
Club colours | |||
Website Official site |
Football | Handball | Basketball |
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RK Vardar 1961 (Template:Lang-mk) is a professional handball club from Skopje, North Macedonia. Vardar is the most successful handball team in the country, having won fourteen national League and Cup titles. Also, Vardar is the most successful team in the regional SEHA League having won five titles. The team has also won two EHF Champions League titles.
History
RK Vardar was founded in 1961, as part of the Vardar Sports Club in Skopje, which had been founded in 1947.
The RK Grafichar Skopje club was established in 1948, which in terms of rank and quality was right behind Rabotnichki. In 1961 Grafichar renamed itself to Vardar and almost the entire team of the club RK Partizan Skopje joined the team. Skopje's club Rabotnichki began to experience a crisis and was no longer the strong first league team from the past, and a more ambitious club Vardar entered the scene. A solid team was created, the mainstays were goalkeeper Jovanovski, as well as Atanasovski, Zdravkovski, Savevski and Bozinovski.
This talent promised a good future and with coach Boskos, who was armed with great knowledge gained in at the time handball superpower Romania, where he lived until moving to Macedonia. Everything was done ambitiously and after all the obstacles were overcome and the fiercest opponents were defeated in 1976, Vardar joined the first division. They played there for 2 seasons, while in the 80s they spent most of the time in the second division.
The handball team rose to power again in the late 1990s becoming one of the two clubs, alongside RK Pelister, to dominate the Macedonian handball scene after the independence of the country.
Vardar have participated in the EHF Champions League eleven times and made it to the semifinals of the Cup Winner's Cup three times. Except for 2005, when they came in 4th place, the club has achieved either championship or runner-up in the Macedonian Super League since 1999. They achieved a record win of the Macedonian handball championship by winning their twelfth title in 2018 and are the record cup winner with thirteen victories. On 15 April 2012, Vardar defeated Metalurg at the Zagreb Arena to become the first SEHA League champion.[1][2] The team has won five titles in the SEHA League. The club started the new 2013–14 season with a new management structure, Sergey Samsonenko as the new proprietor and sport director of the club, while Mihajlo Mihajlovski has become the honorary club chairman.
The season of 2016–17 was the most successful for the team because they managed to win the EHF Champions League and the regional SEHA League including the two main domestic championships, the national Handball Super League and the national Handball Cup. Two days after winning the EHF Champions League the team celebrated the victory with approximately 150,000 people in a ceremony on the Macedonia Square in Skopje. Because of the huge success, Gjorgje Ivanov, at the time President of the Republic of Macedonia, awarded the members of the handball club Vardar a Medal of Merit for the results they achieved, especially for winning the Champions League title. The club was awarded the national charter of the country.
In the 2018–19 season, the team once again managed to win the EHF Champions League, the regional SEHA League and the main domestic championship, the Handball Super League of North Macedonia. One day after winning the EHF Champions League the team arrived in the country with a private jet and celebrated the victory with approximately 250,000 people in a central ceremony at the Macedonia Square in Skopje.
Accomplishments
Domestic competitions
- Winner (14): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–2021
European competitions
Other competitions
Arena
RK Vardar is the owner of the Jane Sandanski Arena where they play all their home matches in the EHF Champions League, the regional SEHA League and in domestic competitions. It's a modern complex with a sports hall of 6,500 seats. It has its own hotel, spa center, hospital and swimming pool.
The arena is named after the Macedonian revolutionary Jane Sandanski.
Team
Current squad
- Squad for the 2021–22 season
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Transfers
- Transfers for the 2021-22 season
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- Transfers for the 2022–23 season
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Staff
Professional staff
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Management
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Former club members
Notable former players
Notable former coaches
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Notable former presidents
Kit manufacturers
European competitions record
EHF Champions League
Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate: | |
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1999–00 | 1/16 | TV Suhr Handball | 33–37 | 26–30 | 59–67 | |
2001–02 | R 2 | ASKI Ankara | 37–31 | 27–28 | 64–59 | |
GM (Group D) |
Fotex KC Veszprém | 24–27 | 22–27 | 3rd | ||
Sportclub Magdeburg | 27–27 | 19–33 | ||||
S. O. Chambery | 32–30 | 28–31 | ||||
2002–03 | QR 1 | HC Eynatten G.o.E. | 32–24 | 31–28 | 63–52 | |
QR 2 | Sandefjord TIF | 29–23 | 26–26 | 55–49 | ||
GM (Group D) |
RK Zagreb | 25–28 | 25–30 | 4th | ||
THW Kiel | 27–26 | 23–34 | ||||
"Fibrexnylon" Savinesti | 26–25 | 26–38 | ||||
2003–04 | ||||||
GM (Group B) |
Sportclub Magdeburg | 28–30 | 24–38 | 4th | ||
FC Barcelona | 27–35 | 19–41 | ||||
Haukar Hafnarfjördur | 26–32 | 33–34 | ||||
2004–05 | ||||||
GM (Group A) |
FC Barcelona | 12–26 | 22–31 | 3rd | ||
SC Pick Szeged | 24–24 | 18–25 | ||||
HCM Constanta | 22–22 | 26–25 | ||||
2007–08 | QR 1 | Pölva Serviti | 37–22 | 30–30 | 67–52 | |
GM (Group C) |
Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ | 27–26 | 30–36 | 4th | ||
HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb | 26–34 | 28–28 | ||||
C.BM. Ademar Leon | 29–28 | 21–28 | ||||
2009–10 | Q (Group 1) |
Besiktas JK | 33–30 | 1st | ||
HC Buducnost Podgorica | 35–28 | |||||
HC Dinamo-Minsk | 34–24 | |||||
GP (Group D) |
KIF Kolding | 25–32 | 21–28 | 5th | ||
Reale Ademar | 24–31 | 28–37 | ||||
THW Kiel | 23–33 | 23–39 | ||||
GC Amicitia Zürich | 22–22 | 31–24 | ||||
F.C. Barcelona Borges | 28–35 | 28–35 | ||||
2013–14 | GP (Group C) |
FC Barcelona | 29–29 | 23–30 | 4th | |
HC Dinamo Minsk | 30–22 | 24–26 | ||||
PSG Handball | 24–24 | 25–35 | ||||
Wacker Thun | 32–25 | 37–24 | ||||
HC Metalurg | 18–26 | 27–22 | ||||
L16 | HSV Hamburg | 28–28 | 30–29 | 58–57 | ||
QF | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | 27–25 | 22–24 | 49–49 | ||
2014–15 | GP (Group C) |
RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko | 34–32 | 27–26 | 2nd | |
Chekhovskie Medvedi | 39–28 | 39–34 | ||||
Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 28–25 | 35–28 | ||||
Montpellier Agglomération Handball | 30–26 | 34–34 | ||||
MKB-MVM Veszprém | 23–24 | 24–32 | ||||
L16 | Orlen Wisla Plock | 31–20 | 26–32 | 57–52 | ||
QF | KS Vive Tauron Kielce | 20–22 | 31–33 | 51–55 | ||
2015–16 | GP (Group B) |
Montpellier HB | 34–26 | 30–25 | 3rd | |
MOL-Pick Szeged | 27–23 | 31–29 | ||||
IFK Kristianstad | 38–36 | 30–25 | ||||
Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 25–19 | 27–28 | ||||
KIF Kolding Kobenhavn | 34–24 | 31–33 | ||||
KS Vive Tauron Kielce | 34–24 | 20–23 | ||||
FC Barcelona Lassa | 25–27 | 30–31 | ||||
L16 | Orlen Wisla Plock | 25–24 | 30–30 | 55–54 | ||
QF | MVM Veszprém | 26–29 | 30–30 | 56–59 | ||
2016–17 | GP (Group B) |
IFK Kristianstad | 32–29 | 28–23 | 1st | |
HC Meshkov Brest | 31–27 | 26–30 | ||||
RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko | 35–30 | 32–26 | ||||
MOL-Pick Szeged | 30–27 | 23–21 | ||||
PPD Zagreb | 25–20 | 27–28 | ||||
KS Vive Tauron Kielce | 40–34 | 24–27 | ||||
Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 26–29 | 33–27 | ||||
QF | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | 35–27 | 26–24 | 61–51 | ||
SF (F4) | FC Barcelona Handbol | 26–25 | ||||
F (F4) | PSG Handball | 24–23 | ||||
2017–18 | GP (Group A) |
Orlen Wisla Plock | 31–31 | 26–22 | 1st | |
HBC Nantes | 27–23 | 26–27 | ||||
PPD Zagreb | 28–21 | 29–23 | ||||
MOL-Pick Szeged | 34–30 | 26–26 | ||||
FC Barcelona Handbol | 27–24 | 28–29 | ||||
IFK Kristianstad | 31–15 | 26–23 | ||||
Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 30–26 | 21–21 | ||||
QF | THW Kiel | 27–28 | 29–28 | 56–56 | ||
SF (F4) | Montpellier HB | 27–28 | ||||
3rd (F4) | PSG Handball | 28–29 | ||||
2018–19 | GP (Group A) |
Montpellier HB | 33–27 | 27–24 | 3rd | |
IFK Kristianstad | 33–25 | 32–30 | ||||
Telekom Veszprém | 27–29 | 27–25 | ||||
Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 29–27 | 30–27 | ||||
PGE Vive Kielce | 28–27 | 27–31 | ||||
HC Meshkov Brest | 30–23 | 31–31 | ||||
Barça Lassa | 26–30 | 26–34 | ||||
L16 | PPD Zagreb | 32–30 | 27–18 | 59–48 | ||
QF | MOL-Pick Szeged | 31–23 | 25–29 | 56–52 | ||
SF (F4) | Barça Lassa | 29–27 | ||||
F (F4) | Telekom Veszprém | 27–24 | ||||
2019–20 | GP (Group B) |
Montpellier HB | 27–31 | 33–31 | 6th | |
FC Porto Sofarma | 32–27 | 22–30 | ||||
HC Motor Zaporizhzhia | 38–28 | 31–30 | ||||
THW Kiel | 20–31 | 23–34 | ||||
Telekom Veszprém | 29–38 | 30–39 | ||||
HC Meshkov Brest | 36–31 | 22–31 | ||||
PGE Vive Kielce | 28–28 | 25–35 | ||||
2020–21 | GP (Group A) |
HC Meshkov Brest | 32–36 | 22–24 | 7th | |
Elverum Håndball | 34–34 | 35–32 | ||||
MOL-Pick Szeged | 26–28 | 33–34 | ||||
SG Flensburg-Handewitt | 31–26 | / | ||||
FC Porto | 25–25 | 24–27 | ||||
PSG Handball | / | / | ||||
Łomża Vive Kielce | 29–33 | 29–36 | ||||
Playoffs | Veszprém KC | 27–41 | 30–39 | 57–80 | ||
EHF Cup
Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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1994–95 | 1/16 | BM Granollers | 35–31 | 23–34 | 58–65 |
1995–96 | ER | HC Shoumen | 29–24 | 30–26 | 59–50 |
1/16 | Zadar Gortan | 31–31 | 24–33 | 55–64 | |
2011–12 | R2 | HC Izvidac | 27–25 | 26–29 | 53–54 |
2012–13 | R2 | Lovosice | 36–19 | 24–25 | 60–44 |
R3 | SC Magdeburg | 28–26 | 27–30 | 55–56 |
EHF Cup Winners' Cup
Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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1997–98 | 1/16 | IF Guif Eskilstuna | 29–28 | 25–28 | 54–56 |
1998–99 | 1/16 | IFK Skövde HK | 10–0 | 22–23 | 32–23 |
1/8 | Gorenje Velenje | 29–23 | 24–28 | 53–51 | |
1/4 | Sporting Toulouse 31 | 26–19 | 24–27 | 50–46 | |
1/2 | Prosesa Ademar León | 27–29 | 20–35 | 47–64 | |
2004–05 | 1/8 | FCK Handbold Kopenhagen | 27–23 | 29–28 | 56–51 |
1/4 | Medvescak Infosistem Zagreb | 36–20 | 31–26 | 67–46 | |
1/2 | RK Zagreb | 23–21 | 26–34 | 49–55 |
Statistics
All–time Top 10 Scorers in the EHF Champions League
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Most appearances in the EHF Champions League
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Individual awards in the EHF Champions League
Season | Player | Award |
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2013–14 | Timur Dibirov | All–Star Team (Best Left Wing) |
2014–15 | Alex Dujshebaev | Best Young Player |
2016–17 | Alex Dujshebaev | All–Star Team (Best Right Back) |
Raúl González | Best Coach | |
Arpad Šterbik | Final Four MVP | |
2017–18 | Arpad Šterbik | All–Star Team (Best Goalkeeper) |
2018–19 | Dejan Milosavljev | All–Star Team (Best Goalkeeper) |
Ivan Čupić | All–Star Team (Best Right Wing) | |
Dainis Krištopāns | All–Star Team (Best Right Back) | |
Timur Dibirov | All–Star Team (Best Left Wing) | |
Roberto García Parrondo | Best Coach | |
Igor Karačić | Final Four MVP |
References
- ^ "Vardar is the SEHA League champion!". Borjan Zafirovski. Archived from the original on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ "Вардар ПРО победник СЕХА лигата". МИА. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
External links
- Official website (in Macedonian)
- RFM Profile (in Macedonian)
- EHF Profile (in English)
- [1] (in Macedonian)
- http://www.seha-liga.com/klub/11/vardar-skopje