New players – same ambitions

Every season nearly every team has to include new players, which is a normal procedure. This time, however, László Skaliczki has to cope with a big task after he took charge of Pick Szeged.

The balance of the new vs. old players is 13:10. For Skaliczki it means building a complete new team. The managing director of the team, Árpád Bella, is confident: "This season won’t be easy for us because we have many new players and a new coach. This situation would be difficult for any club. But as the players are talented and the coach is a real expert – who led Hungary to the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Athens – I believe in a successful Champions League season. In the background we strive to do our best with my colleagues to help the team."

To give you a full picture: Bella, who used to be the coach of a Pick youth team, is also new in his position. His predecessor, Ambrus Lele, was leading Szeged from 2005 until 2010.

But it’s not all about the sheer numbers of the players who left the club. The level of experience and quality of the squad has also changed – especially after a number of former Yugoslav players left.

Milorad Krivokapic moved to Slovenian Koper; Daniel Andjelkovic (Toulouse) and Petar Nenadic also left Pick. In addition, the former Szeged star and absolute top player, the left winger Luka Zvizej, signed for Celje.

Despite the transfer situation, László Skaliczki, successor of Dragan Djukic, remains confident about the Champions League season: "We have quite a balanced group. Last year’s EHF FINAL4 participant Medvedi are very strong and the Schaffhausen were also finalists in the EHF Cup. Valladolid are a compact squad without too many changes respect to last year. Aalborg come from the Danish handball school. Our team has changed a lot. Most of the players have never played in the VELUX EHF Champions League so this kind of pressure will be new for them. Nevertheless, we will strive to perform well, play fair matches and we would like to entertain our supporters with unforgettable experiences."

One of the most experienced new players of Szeged is Slovak international Fratisek Sulc who arrived from the German Düsseldorf. He hopes that his new side can win games on home court: "Our group is not a bad one. I think and hope that we will win at least our home games. In my opinion the two strongest teams are Medvedi and Valladolid, but the others are very good too. I’m a bit sorry that there are no German teams in our group because I know them quite well after spending six years in Germany. As a national player, I already played against some of our CL opponents, and I have a good friend in Schaffhausen, Peter Kukucka."

Despite losing good players during the summer, the objectives remain the same for Szeged: making a hard time for their Hungarian rivals MKB Veszprém in the domestic competition and reaching the Last 16 of the Champions League. The last time Szeged won the national champions was 2007 and they have 10 silver medals in the Hungarian league – the last one from 2009/10.

It also means that Szeged will have to stay focused in competitions. One of the key players, 74-time Hungarian international Dávid Katzirz mentions: "We will play in a strong and balanced Champions League group; each team will have a chance to qualify for the Last 16. I expect good, exciting and big battles. I think Medvedi are the strongest opponents – they deserved their place in the EHF FINAL4 last season. We met them and Valladolid last season, so we know them more or less. I’m looking forward to all of the matches of the CL."

The young Hungarian international, another new signing of Szeged, Máté Lékai shares this opinion: "One of the reasons I came to Szeged was the chance to play in the Champions League. I will play together with very good players and in the Champions League I will play against the best handballers of Europe. I’m really looking forward to the next season. I’m sure that the CL matches will be played in a fantastic atmosphere and I hope our arena will be full all the time."

Unfortunately some (more or less serious) injuries happened during the preparation phase, but coach Skaliczki hopes that most of them will be back for the start of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League.

Key facts

Newcomers: Ádám Bajorhegyi (from Mezőkövesdi KC, HUN), Maros Baláz (from 1. MHK Kosice, SVK), Dusan Beocanin (from Partizan Beograd, SRB), Frantisek Sulc (from HSG Düsseldorf, GER), Máté Lékai (from PLER KC Budapest, HUN), Maxim Butenko (from Pölva Serviti, EST), Roland Mikler (from Dunaferr SE, HUN), Péter Tatai (from USDK Dunkerque, FRA), Szabolcs Törő (from JD Arrate, ESP), Norbert Nagy, Róbert Teimel, Péter Grünfelder, Gergő Miklós (all from Tisza Volán SC Szeged, HUN)

Left the club: Daniel Andjelkovic (to Toulouse Handball, FRA), Milorad Krivokapic (to RK Cimos Koper, SLO), Petar Nenadic (to Tvis Holstebro, DEN), Liszkai Szilveszter (to MKB Veszprém, HUN), Dragan Marjanac (to Toledo Balonmano, ESP), Vladimir Osmajic (to RK Cimos Koper, SLO), Luka Zvizej (to RK Celje, SLO), Ákos Lele (to Tatabánya Carbonex KC, HUN), players lent to BB Kecskemét (HUN): Bence Simon, János Vancsics

Coach: László Skaliczki (HUN, since July, 2010, former coach: Dragan Djukic, SRB)

Club records

Hungarian Champion: 1996, 2007
Hungarian Champion: 1996, 2007
Vice-Champion: 1985, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
Hungarian Cup Winner: 1977, 1982, 1983, 1993, 2006, 2008
EHF Champions League quarter-final: 1997, 2004
EHF Cup Winners' Cup semi-final: 1983, 1984, 1994
EHF Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final: 1978, 2003, 2009
(2010: Vice-Champion; Hungarian Cup, 2nd place)

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