Using every match to gain experience

It was 2005/06 the last time Krim made their fifth and most recent appearance in the final of the EHF Champions League.

Ten seasons later and things are very different for the Slovenian record champions. The big names have gone and developing young talent is key to the future direction of the side.

Coach Marta Bon is left with the task of trying to integrate internationally inexperienced players into the setup. The former Slovenian national team boss will have to draw on all her years of experience with the Ljubljana based team drawn in one of the toughest groups.

Larvik, who finished as runners-up last season, represent dangerous opponents as do 2015 quarter-finalists Baia Mare and Russian champions Rostov-Don.

Krim team captain Tamara Mavsar knows a difficult challenge lies ahead.

“All three opponents have a high quality in their squads. Larvik will perform in a quite similar way to the previous years, but know each other even better now. Rostov are a newcomer, but the level of performance they showed last season and the current pre-season proves that they are a good team. Baia Mare are strong too as they demonstrated in the qualification tournament with two clear wins,” Mavsar said.

Vesna Milanovic-Litre, who joins from Györ, is the big addition to the club but the side are determined to develop younger players.

Secretary general Tina Kravanja explained: “We started the project of getting back where we were in the past, in the previous season. We had to face a lot of obstacles in our way and still have a long way ahead to achieve our set goals but the players, coaches, staff, everybody in the club believe in this path.”

RK Krim Mercator (SLO)
Qualification for the 2015/16 Women’s EHF Champions League season: Slovenian champions

Newcomers: Vesna Milanovic-Litre (Györ), Marija Obradovic (Zagorje), Amra Pandzic (Zalec), Neza Avbelj (Krka)
Left the club:  Marina Lambevska, Amelie Goudjo, Gloria Pavlova, Melanie Bak (Bordeaux), Alja Jankovic (Celje), Liliya Artsiukhovich (Minsk), Alexandra Petrukhina, Sanja Gregorc (Vac)

Coach: Marta Bon (since May 2014)
Team captain: Tamara Mavsar

Women’s EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2015/16 season): 21
Winner: 2000/01, 2002/03
Runners-up: 1998/99, 2003/04, 2005/06
Semi-finals: 2012/13
Quarter-finals: 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07
Main Round: 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15
Group Matches/Champions League: 1999/00

Other EC records:
Slovenian league: 21 titles (1995 – 2015)
Slovenian cup: 22 titles (1993 – 1997, 1999 –2015)