All-star team fan vote soars to new heights as over 80,000 take part

Europe’s handball fans have made their decision and the All-star team for the 2015/16 season was released at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Call in Cologne, Germany.

The record-breaking number of over 80,000 votes was collected since the launch of the online vote since its launch on 27 April 2016. In 2015 44,000 fans took part, while 27,000 participated in 2014 and 20,000 in the maiden edition of the fan vote in 2013.

Not only were 85% more votes received for the All-star team, the vote was also the closest yet as only in two out of ten positions the winner manage to pass the 30 per cent threshold – Rastko Stojkovic (Meskov Brest) as the best line player and Darko Djukic (Besiktas JK) as the best young player (born 1993 and younger).

In the best defender position Luka Karabatic (Paris Saint-Germain Handball) finished second just 207 votes behind Timuzsin Schuch as the MVM Veszprem specialist made it to the All-star team for the third time.

Vive Tauron Kielce’s Manuel Strlek gathered the lowest number of votes from all ten winners, but still topped other four left wing nominees with Jonas Källman from MOL-Pick Szeged only 432 votes behind.

Kiril Lazarov of FC Barcelona Lassa is the only player who defended his last year’s position on the “elite team” and won the vote for the third straight time.

There were two more narrow runners-up from PSG - Mikkel Hansen, who was last season’s best centre back, was ranked second in the left back position this time around with only 536 votes behind Veszprem’s Momir Ilic, while last season’s best left back and 2015 MVP of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Nikola Karabatic was topped by Dean Bombac from MOL-Pick Szeged by less than 800 votes.

THW Kiel’s Niklas Landin returned to the star selection as the best goalkeeper after winning the vote two years ago in the Rhein-Neckar Löwen uniform.

Gasper Marguc makes his debut among stars as the Veszprem’s counter attack expert dominated in the right wings ranking, while his coach Javier Sabate made a rocket start in the European top flight after winning the poll in his premiere season at the Hungarian side’s helm.

The VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 All-star team (81,476 votes):
Goalkeeper: Niklas Landin (THW Kiel) 27.18%
Left Wing: Manuel Strlek (KS Vive Tauron Kielce) 22.71%
Left Back: Momir Ilic (MVM Veszprém) 25.16%
Centre Back: Dean Bombac (MOL-Pick Szeged) 24.61%
Line Player: Rastko Stojkovic (HC Meshkov Brest) 55.94%
Right Back: Kiril Lazarov (FC Barcelona Lassa) 25.54%
Right Wing: Gasper Marguc (MVM Veszprém) 25.16%
Defender: Timuzsin Schuch (MVM Veszprém) 27.65%
Young Player: Darko Djukic (Besiktas JK) 40.01%
Coach: Javier Sabate (MVM Veszprém) 27.28%