114 players from VELUX EHF Champions League on court in Spain

The Men’s World Championship had just started in Spain with a huge contingent of players from VELUX EHF Champions League teams, so it is time to look at some facts and figures of the squads, the players and the World Championship history.

114 players from 22 VELUX EHF Champions League clubs have been nominated by 24 federations for the World Championship in Spain. As each team nominated 16 players (384 in total), this is an average of 29,6 per cent. Only three Non-European teams (Tunisia, Argentina, Brazil) have each one player from the European club top flight in their squad. By taking in consideration the 14 European participants (224 nominated players) and 111 CL players, the percentage of the premier continental competition is 49,5 per cent.  

Metalurg Skopje top the table of the club ranking by 12 World Championship players ahead of FC Barcelona. Spanish side Atlético Madrid have the widest range of nationalities at the World Championship with seven players from six nations.

Croatia and Russia are the teams with the biggest number of VELUX EHF Champions League players in their squads, 14 of 16, followed by FYR Macedonia (12) and Slovenia (11).

VELUX EHF Champions League club ranking:
1. Metalurg Skopje (MKD) 12 players from 3 nations
2. FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) 10 players from 4 nations
3. Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 9 players from 1 nation
3. Dinamo Minsk (BLR) 9 players from 3 nations
3. THW Kiel (GER) 9 players from 5 nations
3. Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 9 players from 4 nations
7. Atletico Madrid (ESP) 7 players from 6 nations
7. Montpellier MAHB (FRA) 7 players from 3 nations
9. Pick Szeged (HUN) 6 players from 2 nations
9. RK Celje (SLO) 6 players from 3 nations
11. RK CO Zagreb (CRO) 5 players from 1 nation
11. MKB Veszprem (HUN) 5 players from 2 nations
11. Gorenje Velenje (SLO) 5 players from 3 nations
14. Füchse Berlin (GER) 4 players from 3 nations
14. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 4 players from 3 nations
14. HSV Hamburg (GER) 4 players from 2 nations
14. Partizan Beograd (SRB) 4 players from 1 nation
14. Bjerringbro Silkeborg (DEN) 4players from 1 nation
19. Chambery Savoie (FRA) 3 players from 2 nations
19. Ademar Leon (ESP) 3 players from 3 nations
19. St. Petersburg HC (RUS) 3 players from 2 nations
22. HCM Constanta (ROU) 1 player from 1 nation
Sävehof IK and Kadetten Schaffhausen have no nominated players in the 24 World Championship squads.

Number of VELUX EHF Champions League players in the 24 squads:
1. Croatia 14 players
1. Russia 14 players
3. FYR Macedonia 12 players
4. Slovenia 11 players
5. Hungary 10 players
5. Spain 10 players
5. Denmark 10 players
8. Serbia 9 players
8. France 9 players
10. Belarus 7 players
11. Poland 6 players
12. Germany 5 players
13. Iceland 4 players
13. Montenegro 4 players
15. Brazil 1 player
15. Tunisia 1player
15. Brazil 1 player
Qatar, Australia, Algeria, Egypt, Korea, Saudi-Arabia and Chile have no player from a VELUX EHF Champions league club in their squads.