Armed with a new weapon

A new name, but unchanged objectives: BM Ciudad Real extended a sponsor to their name, but unlike last season the squad was only changed a little: Only the right backcourt side is new, as Argentinean international Eric Gull early announced the end of his career.

Right at the start of the pre-season preparation things changed fast: First Croat Petar Metlicic left after five years at the club to go to Celje, despite a valid contract Ciudad Real let him go.

The reason was that his successor was already on the list: Kiril Lazarow, two times EHF Champions League top scorer was bought out of his contract at RK Zagreb. This way Ciudad Real has a new "weapon", as Lazarow is one of the last real shooters in international handball.

For Luis Miguel Lopez, general director of Ciudad Real, Lazarow is a player „who is very important, as we will put a clear focus on our team's attack. He is one of the best European left handed players and we are very lucky to have him in our squad."

For Lopez the possibility to sign Lazarow can be compared to the signing of German football midfielder Özil for Real Madrid: "You have to take your chance, when there’s the opportunity after such long talks of both clubs."

Macedonian international Lazarow who played for Veszprem before going to Zagreb, said that it had always been his dream since his younger days to once play in Spain. "I’m so happy to be in a team which is at the highest level. Ciudad Real is the best team in the world. And everyone tries to help make my life run perfect here and in the team."

The only thing Lazarow had to change in Ciudad Real was his lucky number. He has always played with the 7, but this number belongs to Jerome Fernandez. So Lazarow chose the 77.

Besides Gull and Metlicic, Alex Dujshebaev, the son of coach Talant Dujshebaev and one of the greatest talents in Spain, has left Ciudad Real to a learning year at Naturhouse La Rioja. Ciudad Real then again signed Isaias Guardiola from that club.

The current Spanish champion also signed the Polish international Mariusz Jurkiewicz from Reyno de Navarra. Nothing else has changed in squad of Ciudad Real, which managed to produce a new record in the Spanish league last season by winning all their matches.

No other team has ever been so successful before. Therefore club manager Luis Miguel Lopez aims high with his objectives: "We want to win every title, especially the EHF Champions League after missing the final in Cologne so closely."

In the EHF Champions League Ciudad Real play in a comfortable group compared to Group A – which makes Lopez feel much better: "We are very happy with the result of the draw. Group A is very tough and also in Group B there are very strong opponents. Although we have a German team, St. Petersburg and Constanta in our group, we have enough possibilities to reach the first place."

In the last season Ciudad Real only lost one match before the EHF FINAL4, then lost the semi-final against Kiel and finished third – a result which could never be enough for the highly ambitious Spanish champion.

Key facts

Newcomers: Kiril Lazarow (RK Zagreb), Isaias Guardiola (Naturhouse La Rioja), Mariusz Jurkiewicz (Reino de Navarra)

Left the club: Petar Metlicic (to RK Celje), Eric Gull (retired), Alex Dujshebaev (to Naturhouse La Rioja)

Coach: Talant Dujshebaev (since 2005)

Club records

Champions League winner 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Champions League finalist 2005, Cup Winners Cup winner 2002, 2003, six times Spanish champion, five times Cup Winner, four times winner of the EHF Champions Trophy, twice World Champion for club teams

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