Ivan Čupić turns a lion

It has been a rumour since the start of the season that they wanted him. Now Rhein Neckar Löwen (=lions) have officially confirmed that they have signed Ivan Čupić (23) for the next season.

The Croatian international, currently playing for Löwen opponent Gorenje Velenje, signed a three year contract for the Germans. In the two matches with his current against his upcoming club in Champions League Group B Čupić scored 13 goals.

In 2009 the right wing player was awarded member of the All-Star team at the World Championship in Croatia, where he won the silver medal. The same occurred this year at the EHF EURO 2010 in Austria.

Right before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing the career of Ivan Čupić nearly came to an end, as he ripped off his ring finger, when jumping over a fence.

"I enjoy this new job, I enjoy playing in the Bundesliga," Čupić said in a first statement.

His upcoming coach Ola Lindgren was highly impressed about this transfer: "It’s great to have such an extraordinary player in our team. He fits very our concept well, he has the right winner’s mentality. It’s good that he’ll join us despite he had several offers from other clubs," Lindgren said.

Löwen manager Thorsten Storm added: "We have a young right wing couple now with Čupić and Patrick Groetzki. This is the optimum we need to stand the challenges and ambitions for the future."

Čupić started playing in Metkovic, before he transferred to Agram Medveščak Zagreb, Octavio Vigo and 2008 to Gorenje Velenje. At the WCH 2009 he was runner-up in the top scorer’s list with 66 goals.