Stanic to end career in Metalurg

Metalurg Skopje can breathe a huge sigh of relief after Serbia’s international goalkeeper Darko Stanic decided to stay with the Macedonian champions until the end of his career.

Stanic, voted the best goalkeeper of EHF EURO 2012 when he won the silver medal with Serbia on home soil, considered joining German club Frisch Auf Göppingen but was happy to carry on with Metalurg, who instead shipped out Montenegrin right back Zarko Markovic to this season’s EHF Cup winners.

“The deal went through as Markovic wanted to play in Germany while I was keen to stay here,” Stanic told Belgrade daily Sportski Zurnal. “I really didn’t feel like going to the Bundesliga and Frisch Auf Göppingen realised it would be a good deal for everyone so Markovic is on his way.” Still, Stanic regrets the fact that Metalurg have lost a good player in Markovic.

“I have mixed emotions regarding the outcome. On one hand, I am delighted to be staying in Metalurg because that is the club I wanted to play for, but a top player like Markovic leaving leaves a bitter taste,” said Stanic.

“However, he only had one year left on his contract so he would have probably left next year anyway. This is a blow to our team but I am confident we will find adequate replacements in due course,” he added.

Metalurg were the surprise package of this season’s VELUX EHF Champions League, when they reached the Last 16 for the first time and were knocked out by Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb. With Stanic in their ranks, there is little doubt the Skopje-based outfit will stand a fair chance of another good season in Europe’s premier club competition.