Brozovic solves Kiel line problems; Ristovski completes Löwen keeper duo
Whilst there is no real transfer window in handball, some clubs are usually busy reinforcing their squads during the short winter break, and the teams in the VELUX EHF Champions League are often particularly active.
This has also been the case this winter, although transfer activity has not been as heavy as we have sometimes seen.
One of the most significant transfers has been Croatian international Ilija Brozovic’s move to THW Kiel.
This season has been hard on Kiel, when it comes to injury, and the North German club has been hit particularly severely on the line player position.
First, German international Patrick Wiencek was sidelined for the season with a serious injury, and just before Christmas, the same happened to Danish international Rene Toft Hansen.
Therefore, 24-year-old Ilija Brozovic came in as if he were sent from heaven to THW.
Brozovic needed a job after HSV Hamburg dissolved, and Kiel needed a line player, so this seems like the perfect match.
While enjoying the arrival of Brozovic, Kiel must abstain from making use of another Croatian newcomer in the Champions League this season, though.
Left back Blazenko Lackovic has already played in the Champions League Group Phase for HC Vardar this season and is therefore not eligible for his new employer.
Another remarkable transfer is the arrival of Macedonian international Borko Ristovski in Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
The experienced 33-year-old goalkeeper has a chance to become a great supplement to Swedish international Mikael Appelgren to form a superb goalkeeping duo in the German club, who still have a chance to win Group B and skip the Last 16, which would mean proceeding directly to the quarter-final.
HC PPD Zagreb have also been active on the transfer market.
In order to boost their chances of a Last 16 berth, the Croatian champions have extended their squad with 29-year-old Macedonian international Velko Markoski for the left back position.
As an extension of head coach Veselin Vujovic’s squad, Markoski will probably be brilliant, though he may not become a key player in Zagreb.
In Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu, the arrival of goalkeeper Nikolay Sorokin from Permskie Medvedi and left back Maksym Karamyshev from ZTR Zaporozhye may have come too late to secure the Turkish champions a ticket for the Last 16, though, considering the six points gap from sixth place.
In the play-offs for the Last 16, the arrival of two left wings may strengthen two on the teams involved.
In Denmark, Skjern Handbold have signed 33-year-old Matthias Flohr who won the Champions League with HSV Hamburg in 2013.
With his skills and experience, Flohr may come in useful, when Skjern meet Belarusian HC Meshkov Brest in the deciding matches for a Last 16 berth.
For their play-off matches against Naturhouse La Rioja, Ukrainian champions HC Motor Zaporozhye can benefit from the signing of Russian international Igor Soroka. The 24-year-old left wing has joined from Permskie Medvedi.
By their Spanish adversaries, it will be interesting to watch the young Brazilian newcomer in the left back position, Haniel Vincius Inoue Langaro.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / bc
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