19.09.2018, 12:25
Danyi believes in Györ success with his own approach

Women’s EHF Champions League Countdown: Defending champions Györi Audi ETO KC have a new coach and three major changes in the squad, but these changes will not distract them from their goal of claiming yet another title

Danyi believes in Györ success with his own approach

After becoming the first team to win two consecutive Women’s EHF Champions League titles in the FINAL4 era, Győri Audi ETO KC will face fresh challenges this coming season.

Their objective is to emulate this remarkable achievement, this time with the help of a new head-coach, but well-known staff member, Gábor Danyi and three new signings from top European clubs.

Three questions before the new season:

- What are Győr’s objectives for the season?

The club’s management and the team is unwilling to think about anything less than another FINAL4 participation in Budapest. But will they have enough power to reach this goal after a change in the head-coach position, having to integrate three new players, struggling with the injuries of some key players and losing Yvette Broch?

- Will playing style of the team change after Ambros Martín left the club?

In his six years at the club, Ambros Martín led the team to four Champions League titles, five Hungarian league and five Hungarian cup wins. After such a successful period it could be tough for Gábor Danyi to repeat that success in his own style.

“I want to make a characteristic turn in our game, which I think everyone will notice. Our goals are the same, but we want to achieve them in a different way, on the basis of my philosophy, what I believe in and what I learned from the Hungarian school,” said Danyi.

- How will the team fill the void after the loss of Yvette Broch?

To everyone’s surprise Yvette Broch said farewell to Győri Audi ETO KC at the beginning of the summer preparation.

“Yvette informed us that she was not in the right condition for professional sports and asked us to pause her contract,” said club president Dr. Csaba Bartha.

“Of course, we are examining the possibility of strengthening the line position, but since every club has formed their teams for this season, it is not an easy task."

Now the pressure will be on newcomer Kari Brattset and Hungarian youth national team member, Emőke Varga. Both players have proven their efficiency and talent, but only time will tell whether they can deal with everything that comes with playing for one of Europe’s top clubs.

Under the spotlight: Amandine Leynaud

Last season, Amandine Leynaud was an All-star team nominee and was awarded the MVP of the Women’s EHF FINAL4. The French goalkeeper has clear expectations about her move to Győr and plans “to win everything”.

Amandine is truly a superstar in the world of handball but she will have to share time between the posts with Éva Kiss and Kari Grimsbö and it will be interesting to see how the three goalkeepers are managed

Three in a row?

When Györ won the title in May they wrote history being the first team to win two titles in a row in the FINAL4 format. Győr are clearly among the top contenders to reach Budapest again and having just made history, continuing this golden era is well within reach.

Fun fact

Since he arrived at the club in 2011, Gábor Danyi was an assistant coach of three former head coaches: Csaba Konkoly, Karl Erik Böhm and Ambros Martín.

Before fulfilling this role, he was the head coach of the Hungarian youth and junior national teams as well as the men’s and women’s handball teams in Pécs.

Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Qualification for the Women's EHF Champions League 2018/19 season: Hungarian champions

Newcomers: Veronica Kristiansen (FC Midtjylland), Kari Skaar Brattset (Vipers Kristiansand), Amandine Leynaud (HC Vardar), Laura Kürthi, Johanna Farkas, Dóra Kellermann (from Győr’s youth team)

Left the club: Anja Althaus (retired), Mireya Gonzalez (Siófok KC), Gabriella Tóth (loaned to Érd), Júlia Hársfalvi, Dorina Korsós (both loaned to TuS Metzingen), Boglárka Binó (loaned to Békéscsabai ENKSE)

Coach: Gábor Danyi (since 2018)

Team captain: Anita Görbicz

Women’s EHF Champions League

Participations (including 2018/19 season): 16
Win (4): 2012/13, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2017/18
Final (3): 2008/09, 2011/12, 2015/16
Semi-final (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11
Quarter-final (1): 2014/15
Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06
Qualification (1): 2004/05

Other EC records

EHF Cup:
Final (4): 1998/99, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05)

Cup Winners‘ Cup:
Final (1): 2005/06

Hungarian league: 14 titles (1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008-14, 2016-18)

Hungarian cup: 13 titles: 2005-16, 2018)

TEXT: Béla Müller / cor