Dinamo Bucuresti return to the main stage after 10-year absence

In May 2016, handball fans in the city of Bucharest went crazy. After a thrilling final win against Györi Audi ETO KC, CSM Bucuresti’s women’s team became the first Romanian side to win the Women’s EHF Champions League.

In the 2016/17 season, Bucharest is also represented in the men’s event as Dinamo Bucuresti enter the VELUX EHF Champions League in Group D.

It is 11 years ago that Dinamo was last part of the EHF Champions league. In the 2015/16 season they already participated and made it to the group phase of the EHF Cup; this season the team of head coach Elionor Voica ready to make the next step.

Dinamo has been a household name for Romanian handball for more than 50 years. The club’s success story started when it won the Champions Cup, the predecessor of the EHF Champions League in 1965.

In their upcoming campaign the Romanian champions hope to proceed to the play-offs of Groups C and D to have a chance to fight for the Last 16.

“Being part of the VELUX EHF Champions League means to increase the image of our club and to gain international experience on all levels,” says club manager Ovidiu Semen.

Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)

Qualification for the 2016/2017 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Romanian champions

Newcomers: Bogdan Criciotoiu, Sania Alin, Daniel Bera, Cosmin Capota, Allahcaram Esteki, Sajad Esteki

Left the club: Darius Makaria, Adrian Balut, Razvan Rapciuga, Ciprian Vancea, Ibrahima Diaw

Coach: Eliodor Voica (since 2015)

Team captain: Liviu Mironescu

Opponents in group phase: HBC Nantes, TTH Holstebro, HC Motor Zaporozhye, Besiktas Mogaz HT and winners of Qualification Tournament 2 in Group D

EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2016/2017 season): 4

Last 32 (1):  1997/1998

Group Phase (2): 2005/06, 2016/17

Qualification (1): 1995/1996

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:

Semi-final 2003/2004

Group Phase 2015/2016

Romanian champions: 12 times

Romanian cup winners: 3 times