06.09.2017, 11:47
Famous new arrivals, and a former player as manager

VELUX EHF Champions League club countdown: After a weak performance last season, Kadetten Schaffhausen have attempted to bolster their chances of success this year with the addition of several new players, and a new manager.

Famous new arrivals, and a former player as manager

With their former player David Graubner as the new manager, and several big names among the new arrivals, Kadetten Schaffhausen will be aiming to make it at least as far as the group phase knockout of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Like last year, the Swiss champions will be counting on goals from their Hungarian star Gabor Czaszar.

Three questions before the new season

How did Schaffhausen cope with last years’ weak Champions League season?

With only two points after 14 matches, Schaffhausen were the weakest team in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase last year. One consequence of these results was the change of coaches from Walther to Kukucka in the middle of the season. However, they were part of a very tough group, featuring teams such as FC Barcelona Lassa, THW Kiel, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Paris Saint-Germain Handball and Telekom Veszprém HC.

Now that they are in group C, Schaffenhausen will likely have many more opportunities to leave the court with a victory.

Can Schaffhausen get to the Last 16 for the third time?

Compared to Abanca Ademar Leon, RK Gorenje Velenje and Skjern Handbold, Schaffhausen have the biggest international experience in their group. These four teams are to fight for the top two positions in group C.

But this will only be the first step, as clubs such as last season’s Last 16 participants Montpellier HB or HC Motor Zaporozhye could be waiting for them in the play-offs, coming from group D.

“We want to secure our chance to go further than the group stage. If we reach our goal, we want to go as far as possible,” says Dimitrij Küttel, who replaced Graubner as team captain.

How strong is the Schaffhausen squad?

It seems as Schaffhausen have a stronger squad compared to last season.

Incoming goalkeeper Ivan Stevanovic had a brilliant 2016/17 season in Zagreb and for the Croatian national team, while former HC Meshkov Brest shooter Vladyslav Ostroushko will add even more power to the team.

Under the spotlight: Ivan Stevanovic

At the age of 35, the Croatian goalkeeper has joined his first club abroad. Born in Rijeka, he first played for Porec and for Zagreb for five years. In Zagreb he was number one between the posts, after Filip Ivic left for Kielce.

Thanks to his strong performances in the Champions League, former national team coach Zeljko Babic gave him the number one status in the national team, a move which paid-off, as Stevanovic had a strong World Championship in 2017.

In Schaffhausen, he will form a goalkeeping duo with Serbian born Austrian Nikola Marinovic (41). With a combined age of 76, they should have enough experience to make next season successful.

Self-esteem

In their domestic competitions, Schaffhausen are hoping for a double, while in the Champions League they want to finish among the 16 best teams.

Manager David Graubner expects close duels in the group phase:

“All opponents are more or less on the same level. Each team could finish first or last, I expect a lot of tight games and heroic fights.”

Team captain Küttel shares those expectations:

“We know there will be no easy matches for us, but we also know what we're capable of, so we'll be ready.”

For everyone at Schaffhausen, the Champions League is the most important competition:

“Without Champions League, it would be much harder to acquire new players, more spectators or new sponsors,” says Graubner.

Fun fact

Though Schaffhausen finished the 2016/17 group phase with only two points, they did manage to come out on top in one ranking: Hungarian Gabor Csaszar was the top-scorer of the group stage with 84 goals. Csaszar managed to top this ranking even though he only played ten out of 14 group matches.

What the numbers say

Since 2005, Schaffhausen are the dominant club in the Swiss league, winning the trophy ten times out of 13. Only Zurich (2008, 2009) and Thun (2013) interrupted Schaffhausen’s run.

Nevertheless, Schaffhausen need 12 more trophies to break the record for most trophies won in the Swiss league, as Grasshoppers are on top with 21 titles (although they won their last trophy in 1991).

Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)

Qualification for the 2017/18 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Swiss champions

Newcomers: Ivan Stevanovic (HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb), Nikola Cvijetic (RTV 1879 Basel), Pouya Norouzi (Bergischer HC), Vladyslav Ostroushko (HC Meshkov Brest), Benjamin Zehnder (Kadetten Espoirs), Jonas Schelker (Kadetten Espoirs), Max Gerbl (Kadetten Espoirs, RTV 1879 Basel)

Left the club:  Markus Richwien, Aurel Bringolf (Fortitudo Gossau), Sergio Muggli (GC Amicitia Zürich), David Graubner (now club manager)

Coach: Peter Kukucka  (since 2017, successor of Lars Walther)

Team captain: Dimitrij Küttel

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2017/18 season): 11

Last 16 (2): 2010/2011, 2011/12

Group Phase (6): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17

Qualification (1): 2009/10

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:

Final: 2009/10

Cup Winners Cup:

Semi-final: 2007/08

Swiss league: 10 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Swiss Cup: 7 titles (1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016

TEXT: Björn Pazen/kc