Rutenka honoured in Spain

Siarhei Rutenka is the hardest working player in Spain - it's official.

The Spanish league have awarded the Belarusian player with a trophy for playing the most games in the ASOBAL 2011/12 season.

Rutenka arrived at F.C Barcelona Intersport during the 2009/10 season from BM Ciudad Real.

The trophy is awarded to the player who has played the most games and Rutenka has played in all the official competitions this season; 30 ASOBAL League games, one Super Cup, two ASOBAL Cup and three Copa del Rey matches.

In addition, Siarhei Rutenka was the top scorer for F.C Barcelona Intersport in La Liga Asobal Intersport with 146 goals and was the fourth top scorer in the league.

Rutenka performed to a similar level in last season’s VELUX EHF Champions League scoring 58 goals and was the second top scorer for Barca, only outscored by teammate Laszlo Nagy who hit the net 62 times.

This performance has earned Rutenka an extension of his contractual relationship with F.C Barcelona Intersport until the end of the season 2015/16.

Rutenka is the fourth player to be awarded the trophy, a recognition which began in the 2009/2010 season. Victor Thomas, his teammate, was the first player to be awarded with the prize. The following season Danjel Saric another F.C Barcelona Intersport player was also awarded the prize, last season Isaiah Guardiola of BM Atletico Madrid was decorated with the award.

Rutenka will be hoping for a similar performance in this season's VELUX EHF Champions League, F.C Barcelona take to the court in the Group Phase D with their first match throwing off against Kadetten Schaffhausen of Switzerland.

For more information about the next season's VELUX EHF Champions League click here.

Handball fans can also 'like' the official facebook page of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Women's EHF Champions League and keep up-to-date on all the handball-happenings on the European front.