The European Handball Championship kicked off in Germany with a record turnout. All six nations that emerged from the former Yugoslavia are taking part, highlighting the country’s significant role in the sport’s evolution.

“Team sports in the Balkans, particularly in the former Yugoslavia, have consistently reached the highest levels. The public’s passion for sports is immense, and athletes are duly recognized for their achievements in this region,” states Mihael Wiederer, President of the European Handball Federation (EHF), in an interview with DW.

We caught up with this Austrian official and ex-handball player just prior to the opening of the 2024 European Handball Championship in Düsseldorf. The tournament commenced on Wednesday, January 10, in front of a record audience of 53,586 spectators, setting a new world record for indoor handball. This year’s championship features 24 teams, including all six nations formed after the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

The secret of handball success

What contributes to the handball success of these nations? “Tradition plays a crucial role. The success of handball in the former Yugoslavia during the 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s indicates continuity and the ongoing legacy,” explains Erik Eggers, a German sports expert. He points out that experienced players pass down their knowledge to the younger generation, a trend he believes will persist.

“There’s also fierce competition within team sports in the Balkans, such as basketball, where the economic prospects for emerging talents can be more favorable than in handball, not to mention football.”

Handball players from the former Yugoslav republics play a pivotal role in Bundesliga clubs, often regarded as the premier handball league globally:

“They have historically been very impactful in German club handball. This is due to the fact that the former Yugoslavia pioneered modern indoor handball in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the notable ‘3-2-1 system,’ also known as the ‘Yugoslav defense’ in our country,” Eggers informs DW, referencing his recent work, “The Golden Book of German Handball” (Das Goldene Buch des German Handballs).

The dominance of Metalloplastika from Šabac

But that’s not the whole story, Eggers adds. The Yugoslavs also excelled in tactical innovation and offensive strategies, which were groundbreaking at the time.

“In the early eighties, for instance, Metaloplastika from Šabac significantly influenced handball with its exceptional team. Just recall goalkeeper Mirko Bašić. One could argue that this remarkable Yugoslav or Balkan school continues to yield benefits for the German Bundesliga,” Eggers notes.

Given the high number of “legionnaires” playing in Germany, it’s no coincidence that these players possess a keen understanding of the game, being well-versed both technically and tactically, remarks the German handball expert:

“I’m not at all surprised that so many nations from the former Yugoslavia qualified for the 2024 European Championship. It seems inevitable. Recent history reminds us of the many players from the former Yugoslavia who acquired citizenship from other countries; Arpad Šterbik immediately comes to mind.”

Šterbik is a Serbian who initially played for Hungary before winning the world championship with Spain. The Balkans boast many such stories, Eggers highlights, adding that “the Yugoslav legacy continues to shape modern handball worldwide.”

Yugoslav school of handball

“It’s no fluke that this region produces so many skilled teams. The Balkans generate an impressive number of talented players and coaches, ensuring continuous success,” EHF President Mihael Wiederer tells DW: “Reflecting on the upheavals in the nineties, including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the turmoil in the Balkans, it’s clear that maintaining the top status has become much more challenging for emerging nations. Yet the Balkan teams consistently hold their ground at the top in both men’s and women’s competitions.”

However, the tale of talent is just one facet of the equation, according to Erik Eggers. The other side is the infrastructure, which he perceives as partly precarious:

“For instance, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the situation is alarming. We see numerous kids who idolize handball greats and aspire to have a successful career. One illustrative case is Ivan Martinović, who plays for Croatia despite being born in Vienna to a father from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He could represent either Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina but chose Croatia because he idolizes Ivan Balić. This is a prime example of how significantly tradition influences a young handball player.”

Infrastructure problems

What’s next? EHF President Mihael Wiederer expresses hope for a potential joint candidacy of several countries from the region, similar to the collaborative hosting of the 2026 EURO by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. This is indeed a possibility for the future, he shares with DW, but emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure:

“We observe positive developments on the field, particularly regarding sports halls. For hosting major tournaments, adhering to specific criteria like venue size is crucial. However, I believe there is still ample room for enhancement in certain Balkan nations.”

The legacy of Yugoslavia as “the mother of modern indoor handball” remains strong within German professional handball circles. Sports author Eggers mentions that in the 1960s and 1970s, Eastern Bloc teams were significantly behind their Western counterparts in terms of tactics and methodologies:

“In Germany, there was a long-standing tradition of outdoor handball on large fields. Post-1972, after Yugoslavia, under coach Vlado Stenzel, clinched the first Olympic gold in Munich in an impressive manner. The Yugoslav handball officials said: ‘Vlado, you need to go West, or handball will falter!’ They believed that the West was essential for the evolution of international indoor handball, and for Stenzel, the financial benefits were also appealing.”

The influence of Vlado Stenzel

Thus began Stenzel’s journey from Zagreb to become the coach of West Germany in 1974. Just four years later, he led the West Germans to an unexpected world championship victory. “Vlado Stenzel was an incredibly influential figure in the development of West German indoor handball. I would assert that he was pivotal not only for West German handball but also for the evolution of handball across Western Europe,” concludes handball expert Erik Eggers.

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