Maximum motivation

Valero Rivera is the most successful handball coach in the world: from 1984 to 2005 he won an incredible 71 titles with FC Barcelona – including six titles in the EHF Champions League. After three years of being a player’s manager and consultant, Rivera became the Spanish men’s team national coach in 2008.

Spain finished the EHF EURO 2010 in sixth place, but took the Bronze medal at the World Championship 2011 in Malmö. As a major part of their preparation for the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, the Spaniards are participating at the Super Cup in Germany with matches against the host, Denmark and Sweden. Before this tournament, ehf-euro.com talked to the 58 year-old Valero Rivera.

ehf-euro.com: How important is the participation at the Super Cup for the Spanish team, in relation to the EHF EURO in Serbia?

Valero Rivera: The Super Cup is a chance to play three friendly matches against three top international teams without the obligation of playing with five to seven players that probably will be in Serbia. It’s a wonderful opportunity to recall players who have already debuted, but haven’t played much recently, and for others who belong in our 26-man squad.

ehf-euro.com: Your team is already qualified for the Olympics qualification tournaments – is it your aim to get a straight ticket to London in Belgrade?

Valero Rivera: It is our hope to book the straight ticket to London, but teams like Denmark, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Sweden and some others will have the same ambitions and objective. We know that it will very difficult to reach this goal.

ehf-euro.com: What is the current strength of your team?

Valero Rivera: We are currently very strong in defence, including interceptions and fast break goals. And we need those tactics, because we know that we have problems in positional attack and in scoring from more than ten metres.

ehf-euro.com: Who are your favourites for the EHF EURO?

Valero Rivera: France are favourite number one, but all the teams I mentioned concerning the London ticket are main contenders.

ehf-euro.com: How do you rate the German team after they changed the national coach from Heiner Brand to Martin Heuberger?

Valero Rivera: Firstly I want to show my respect and admiration for the living handball legend Heiner Brand. By handing his team to Martin Heuberger he has shown that he believes totally in Heuberger’s ability and knowledge of the players. I know Martin Heuberger from his work with the younger age categories – and I know that he performed those tasks excellently.

ehf-euro.com: What is your motivation for being a national coach after all the success you enjoyed with Barcelona and the national team before?

Valero Rivera: My motivation is that handball, besides being my work, is also my hobby. For several years I didn’t train a team, and so my motivation is now at maximum level because coaching is what I like to do.

Further information

Download the Official EHF EURO 2012 Playing Schedule (pdf)

Buy your EHF EURO 2012 tickets HERE.

Ticketing is managed by the Serbian Organising Committees. Should you need further assistance for buying your tickets, please contact via email: tickets@rss.org.rs

Find more information on the tournament on the official website www.ehf-euro.com/SRB2012/

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