04.10.2015, 03:07
Ill-fated outlook for the record winners

Women’s EHF Champions League club countdown: 12 days to go - Hypo NÖ (AUT)

Ill-fated outlook for the record winners

The last two remaining Brazilians Rocha and Araos have left, the most experienced player Gorica Acimovic ended her career, defence boss Gabriela Rotis-Nagy is pregnant and two players, Altina Berisha and Christina Belik, will miss the whole season due to injuries.

Their 23^rd straight participation in the Women's EHF Champions League seems to be ill-fated for record winners Hypo Niederösterreich.

In addition, the 39 times Austrian champions were drawn in Group C only with teams who have been part of the two 'FINAL4' events in 2014 and 2015, including two-time champions Györi Audi ETO KC, FC Midtjylland and HC Vardar.

The preconditions for coach Ferenc Kovacs are anything but easy.

In the past five seasons, Hypo have missed qualification for the main round.

“As we are in a transition phase to a younger and more local team, the challenges in this Champions League season are bigger than in the years before,” says Hypo’s managing director Gerhard Haidvogel, adding: “We will try to keep up with our group phase opponents as long as possible, though we know that we face three strong and experienced teams.”

But despite all problems, Haidvogel is still looking forward to the next international season: “To play in an international League is a key for Hypo. To play even in the Champions League is the greatest challenge and target you could imagine in women club handball.”

The only experienced player among the six newcomers from four countries is former Hungarian international Ibolya Mehlmann however the rest are a talented group.

The only remaining experienced player in Hypo’s squad is team captain Marina Budecevic.

She expects a challenging season: "We have big respect for all opponents and will fight for the best possible results though we know that we face three potential participants of the FINAL4 already in the group matches."

Hypo NÖ (AUT)

Qualification for the 2015/16 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Austrian champions

Newcomers: Verena Flöck (DJK/MJC Trier), Kitti Kiss (Mosonmagyarovar), Ibolya Weiszne Mehlmann (Vaci KCSK), Altina Berisha (WAT Atzgersdorf), Sonata Vijunaite (HC BW Feldkirch), Alzbeta Tothova (HC Zlin)

Left the club: Gorica Acimovic (end of career), Francielle Gomes da Rocha (destination unknown), Vivien Lerant (maternity leave), Mariana Costa (Nykobing FHK), Sabrina Stumvoll (UHC Stockerau), Maria Eugenia Musalem Araos (destination unknown), Katharina Doppler (UHC Stockerau)

Coach: Ferenc Kovacs, (since 2014)

Team captain: Marina Budecevic

Opponents in the group matches: FC Midtjylland, HC Vardar, Györi Audi ETO KC

EHF Women’s Champions League records:

Participations (including 2015/16 season):  23
Winner: 1993/94, 1994/95, 1997/98, 1999/2000
Finalist: 1995/96, 2007/08
Semi-finalist: 1996/97, 1998/99, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09
Quarter-final: 2005/06
Group matches/Champions League: 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15

Other EC records:

Cup Winners Cup:
Winner 2012/13
Finalist 2003/04
Semi-finals 2014/15

Austrian champion: 39 times

Austrian Cup winner:  28 times

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ec / bc