Sterbik and Omeyer fight for fifth trophies

Can Vardar defend the title and stop the French armada at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018? This is the major question prior to the VELUX EHF Champions League 2017/18’s pinnacle event, where Vardar will face Montpellier in the semi-final, and Paris Saint-Germain and HBC Nantes will duel for the second spot in the final.

In terms of previous success, two goalkeepers are in focus: Arpad Sterbik (Vardar) and Thierry Omeyer (PSG) each have the chance to win their fifth individual EHF Champions League trophy. Both have made it to the winners’ podium four times with two clubs – Sterbik with Ciudad Real (2006, 2008, 2009) and Vardar (2017), Omeyer with Montpellier (2003) and Kiel (2007, 2010, 2012).

Four times, they have faced each other in the Champions League finals. Sterbik was victorious in 2008, 2009 and 2017, while Omeyer’s only win against a team featuring Sterbik was in 2012.

11 players in history have won the trophy five or more times – a list still topped by Andrei Xepkin, who was part of all six Barcelona squads that took the trophy between 1996 and 2005, and claimed his seventh trophy with Kiel in 2007.

While Vardar are out to become the first team to defend the title since the implementation of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010, one player could enjoy an individual historic moment: Ivan Cupic. Vardar’s Croatian wing became the first player to defend the title in Cologne last year after raising the trophy with Kielce in 2016. Now, Cupic can become the first to win the trophy for three consecutive years since the golden FC Barcelona generation in the 1990s.

Nikola Karabatic could also break a record. The three-time IHF World Player of the Year could be the first player to win the trophy with four different clubs, after his successes with Montpellier (2003), Kiel (2007) and Barcelona (2015).

Even the VELUX EHF FINAL4 debutants Nantes and Montpellier count on previous EHF Champions League winners: Nantes’ German left wing Dominik Klein, who will finish his career after this season, won the trophy three times with Kiel – and will now face his former teammates Omeyer, Karabatic and Daniel Narcisse in what is his seventh appearance in Cologne.

Alongside Vardar’s 2017 champions, the second semi-final features two previous Champions League winners: Montpellier’s Vid Kavticnik (2007 with Kiel) and Michael Guigou, who took the trophy in 2003 with the only club he has ever played for, together with Karabatic and Omeyer.

Looking at coaches, three of the four are former or current EHF Champions league winners: Patrice Canayer steered Montpellier to the 2003 title, Noka Serdarusic (PSG) was Kiel’s coach in 2007 and Raul Gonzalez was the mastermind behind Vardar’s 2017 triumph.

In total, 23 former Champions League winners made it to Cologne – and six of them count more than one trophy on their tally.

EHF Champions League winners in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 squads
Montpellier Handball:
Multiple EHF Champions League winners: -

Single EHF Champions League winners (2):
Michael Guigou (Montpellier 2002/03), Vid Kavticnik (Kiel 2006/2007)

HBC Nantes:
Multiple EHF Champions League winners (1):
Dominik Klein (Kiel 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12)

Single EHF Champions League winners (2):
Eduardo Gurbindo, Kiril Lazarov (both Barcelona 2014/15)

HC Vardar:
Multiple EHF Champions League winners (2):
Arpad Sterbik (Ciudad Real 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09; Vardar 2017), Ivan Cupic (Kielce 2015/16; Vardar 2016/17)

Single EHF Champions League winners (13):
Ilija Abutovic, Vuko Borozan, Joan Canellas, Luka Cindric, Timur Dibirov, Rogerio Moraes, Igor Karacic, Jorge Maqueda, Mijajlo Marsenic, Strahinja Milic, Vlado Nedanovski, Daniil Shishkarev, Stojanche Stoilov (all Vardar 2016/17)

Paris Saint-Germain Handball:
Multiple EHF Champions League winners (3):
Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier 2002/03; Kiel 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12), Nikola Karabatic (Montpellier 2002/03; Kiel 2006/07; Barcelona 2014/15), Daniel Narcisse (Kiel 2009/10, 2011/12)

Single EHF Champions League winners: -

All multiple EHF Champions League winners
7 titles with 2 clubs:
Andrei Xepkin (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000, Barcelona 2004/05; Kiel 2006/07)

6 titles with 1 club:
David Barrufet (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000, Barcelona 2004/05)
Carlos Antonio Ortega (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000, Barcelona 2004/05), Xavier O'Callaghan (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000, Barcelona 2004/05)

6 titles with 2 clubs:
Tomas Svensson (Irun 1994/95; Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)

6 titles with 3 clubs:
Siarhei Rutenka (Celje 2003/04; Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09; Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)

5 titles with 1 club:
Enric Masip (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Inaki Urdangarin (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Rafael Guijosa (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)

5 titles with 2 clubs:
Mateo Garralda (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99; San Antonio 2000/01)

5 titles with 3 clubs:
Jose Javier Hombrados (Santander 1993/94; San Antonio 2000/01; Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)

4 titles with 3 clubs:
Uros Zorman (Celje 2003/04; Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09; Kielce 2015/16)

4 titles with 2 clubs:
Didier Dinart (Montpellier 2002/03; Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Fernando Barbeito (Barcelona 1995/96, Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1997/98; San Antonio 2000/01)
Olafur Stefansson (Magdeburg 2001/02; Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Thierry Omeyer (Montpellier 2002/03; Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Arpad Sterbik (Ciudad Real 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09; Vardar 2016/17)

3 titles with 1 club:
Alberto Entrerrios (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
David Davis (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Jonas Källman (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Petar Metlicic (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Rolando Urios (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Christian Zeitz (Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Dominik Klein (Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Henrik Lundström (Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Kim Andersson (Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Marcus Ahlm (Kiel 2006/07, Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Jose Manuel Sierra (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Josep Espar (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Patrik Cavar (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Roger Magrina (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Victor Tomas (Barcelona 2004/05, Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)

3 titles with 2 clubs:
Viran Morros (Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09; Barcelona 2014/15)
Tobias Reichmann (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12; Kielce 2015/16)

3 titles with 3 clubs:
Nikola Karabatic (Montpellier 2002/03; Kiel 2006/07; Barcelona 2014/15)

2 titles with 1 club:
Ales Pajovic (Ciudad Real 2005/06, Ciudad Real 2007/08)
Roberto Garcia Parrondo (Ciudad Real 2007/08, Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Alexandru Dedu (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99)
David Barbeito (Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1995/96)
Demetrio Lozano (Barcelona 1998/99, Barcelona 1999/2000)
Iker Romero (Barcelona 2004/05, Barcelona 2010/11)
Jesus Olalla (Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1995/96)
Juan Perez (Barcelona 1996/97, Barcelona 1995/96)
Laszlo Nagy (Barcelona 2004/05, Barcelona 2010/11)
Quino Soler (Barcelona 1997/98, Barcelona 1998/99)
Andreas Palicka (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Aron Palmarsson (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Christian Sprenger (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Daniel Narcisse (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Filip Jicha (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Momir Ilic (Kiel 2009/10, Kiel 2011/12)
Aitor Arino (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Raul Entrerrios (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Jesper Nöddesbo (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Gonzalo Perez de Vargas (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Danijel Saric (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Joan Saubich (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)
Cedric Sorhaindo (Barcelona 2010/11, Barcelona 2014/15)

2 titles with 2 clubs:
Ivan Cupic (Kielce 2015/16; Vardar 2016/17)
Dejan Peric (Celje 2003/04; Barcelona 2004/05)
Jerome Fernandez (Barcelona 2004/05; Ciudad Real 2008/09)
Lars Krogh Jeppesen (Barcelona 2004/05; Kiel 2006/07)
Mikhail Jakimovich (Santander 1993/94; San Antonio 2000/01)
Nenad Perunicic (Irun 1994/95; Magdeburg 2001/02)
Oleg Kisselev (Irun 1994/95; San Antonio 2000/01)
Juan Munoz (Santander 1993/94; Barcelona 1996/97)
Mattias Andersson (Kiel 2006/07; Flensburg 2013/14)