The world has seen few champions who excelled as both players and coaches, but one such legend is making his way to Montenegro.

A striking announcement resonated in the handball community yesterday – Didije Dinar, a champion on the court and a coach who led France to victory, is now at the helm of our men’s national team.

For those familiar with handball, Dinar is a monumental figure in the sport. If you were to draw a comparison in football, he would be akin to Franz Beckenbauer.

Both were exceptional defenders during their peak and displayed an undeniable winning spirit even beyond their playing days. Both the illustrious Kaiser Franz and the stalwart Dinar have added coaching accolades to their illustrious playing careers and World Cup titles.

The announcement of such a prominent figure taking charge in Montenegro is certainly noteworthy.

– I have always maintained great relationships with the Handball Association of Montenegro, especially with President Peter Kapisos. We were rivals on the court, and now we stand united as part of the same team, with him as president and me as coach, Dinar explained the collaboration with our association.

A Product of Kanaje and Costantini

A three-time world champion and twice an Olympic and European champion, the legendary French players of the early 2000s likely wouldn’t have achieved such heights without a stalwart defender like Dinar.

He earned his spot on the national team through hard work, hailing from Guadeloupe, a French island in the Caribbean. His journey began at Dijon, but he truly flourished at Montpellier under coach Patrice Canaje, evolving into an outstanding defender.

Together, they won the Champions League in 2003, and under the tutelage of renowned coach Danijela Kostantini, Dinar further honed his defensive skills. The successes of France and his club Ciudad Real, with which he secured three more Champions League titles, attest to his capabilities.

Undefeated Coach Until the World Title

Transitioning into coaching, he swiftly rose to prominence, leading France to its sixth global title during the 2017 World Cup hosted in France.

The dominance of players like Nikola Karabatic, Nedim Remila, Vincent Gerard, and others at that championship illustrates how they smoothly navigated through nine formidable opponents on their way to glory.

Dinar led the French team until 2020, securing two additional bronze medals (one each in the European and world championships) before parting ways following a 14th-place finish at the EHF Euro.

Post that, he took on roles in Nice and with the Saudi Arabian national team, and is currently with Ivry.

He is set to make his debut as coach of Montenegro on November 6 against Finland in Podgorica, kicking off the qualification for Euro 2026, and it will be fascinating to see how a strong generation of Montenegrin handball performs under such a celebrated champion.

– The objective is clear: to qualify for the European Championship in 2026 after missing the last World Cup qualifications. The Handball Federation of Montenegro recognizes the crucial need to return to the international arena, and we are committed to achieving this goal, Dinar stated on the RSCG website.

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