Kosovo men's national handball team

Kosovo
Information
Nickname	Dardanët (Dardanians) Luanët e Artë (Golden Lions)
Association	Handball Federation of Kosovo
Coach	Jesper Östlund
Captain	Valon Dedaj
Most caps	Kastriot Jupa (56)
Most goals	Kastriot Jupa (189)
Colours
1st 2nd
Results
IHF Emerging Nations Championship
Appearances	2 (First in 2015 )
Best result	3rd (2015, 2017)
Last updated on 18 June 2017.

The Kosovo national men's handball team is the national handball team of Kosovo, representing the country in international competition. The team is governed by Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competitions in 2014, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953, Handball Federation of Kosovo was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation. In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship. Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Handball Federation of Kosovo began operating independently.

In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.

After a short time Kosovo would hold its first Handball Tournament the 2015 IHF Emerging Nations Championship was held in Prishtina. They impressively would win the bronze medal in their debut participation. Defeating Uruguay for third place with a result of 28–16, the first medal in their young Handball history. Kosovo would follow the same achievement in the following Tournament winning bronze again in Bulgaria 2017 beating Cyprus with 32–25 in the end. Securing them also a spot to the Second phase of qualification for the European Men's Handball Championship 2020. ^[1]

Kosovo were drawn in Group 1 against Germany, Poland and Israel. The Dardanians were able to get some fair results after beating Israel at home 27-24 their first win in such a stage. ^[2] They also secure an unlucky last second draw against Poland. ^[3] Despite not qualifying to the main event Kosovo were able to actually compete with the 32 best European national teams in Handball. ^[4] In the following Qualification for the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship. Kosovo once more qualified for the Playoffs. In Group 8 they faced Sweden, Montenegro and Romania. After a draw at home Against Romania with 23-23 ^[5] they were able to secure their first-ever away win in this face after beating surprisingly Romania in the following match with 25–30 in full time. ^[6] Kosovo could not gain another win as they lost to Montenegro once more at home this time with 22–27. ^[7] Missing out close once more on their first ever European Men's Handball Championship participation, after finishing third in the end. One of the greatest achievements in the Kosovan Handball history. ^[8]

IHF Emerging Nations Championship

Year	Position	Pld	W	D	L
Kosovo 2015		6	4	0	2
Bulgaria 2017		6	4	0	2
Total		12	8	0	4

Team

Current squad

• The squad selected for the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship qualification matches. ^[9]
• Updated: 22 December 2022
• Head coach: Bujar Qerimi

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club 2 RW Agon Bajqinovci (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 26) 1.86 m 5 2 KH Prishtina 5 PV Kastriot Jupa (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 33) 1.88 m 56 189 LHC Cottbus 11 CB Valon Dedaj (1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 (age 36) 1.75 m 42 164 HSC Kreuzlingen 12 GK Flamur Gërbeshi (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 (age 35) 1.88 m 18 0 IFK Karlskrona 14 RB Drenit Tahirukaj (1998-04-28) 28 April 1998 (age 27) 1.92 m 28 82 HSC Kreuzlingen 18 LW Florian Rexha (2001-11-29) 29 November 2001 (age 24) 1.88 m 2 0 KH Vëllaznimi 21 RB Arbios Mushkolaj (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 25) 1.90 m 7 3 KH Deçani 24 PV Luigj Quni (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 (age 29) 1.91 m 36 49 GC Amicitia Zürich 25 LB Festim Mustafa (1998-05-22) 22 May 1998 (age 27) 2.02 m 10 2 KH Kastrioti 26 RW Drilon Tahirukaj (1995-08-28) 28 August 1995 (age 30) 1.80 m 41 88 HSC Kreuzlingen 27 LW Lulëzim Shabani (1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 (age 27) 1.89 m 18 18 KH Kastrioti 28 GK Haris Berisha (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 (age 29) 1.99 m 33 1 HSC Kreuzlingen 31 LB Bujar Ramosaj (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 30) 1.99 m 23 11 HSC Kreuzlingen 33 LB Jon Muqolli (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 26) 1.90 m 18 9 KH Besa Famgas 33 CB Leonard Gegaj (2001-10-02) 2 October 2001 (age 24) 1.80 m 13 9 Vinslövs HK 35 PV Rron Ramadani (1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 (age 29) 1.92 m 10 0 KH Prishtina 35 LB Atdhe Basholli (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 (age 27) 1.95 m 2 0 AM Hallo Essen 68 CB Egzon Gjuka (1995-05-17) 17 May 1995 (age 30) 1.92 m 35 105 KH Besa Famgas 77 LW Matej Taçi (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 24) 1.80 m 4 4 GRK Varaždin 91 GK Liridon Zena (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 (age 34) 1.90 m 15 0 RK Rudan Adria Oil 94 CB Shaban Zogaj (2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 (age 23) 1.90 m 6 9 Aalborg Håndbold

Coaches No. Name Period 1. Alfred Llazari 2014–2015 2. Taib Kabashi 2015–2016 3. Taip Ramadani → Javier Cabanas [a] 2016–2021 2020–2021 4. Bujar Qerimi 2021–2025 5. Jesper Östlund 2025–

Captains Ylber Mjeku (2014–2016) Valon Dedaj (2016-)

Individual all-time records

Most matches played As of 22 December 2022 [10] Total number of matches played in official competitions only. Rank Player Matches Goals 1 Kastriot Jupa 56 189 2 Deniz Terziqi 43 136 3 Valon Dedaj 42 164 4 Drilon Tahirukaj 41 78 5 Luigj Quni 36 49 6 Egzon Gjuka 35 105 6 Lindrit Fetahu 35 60 8 Oltion Beshiri 34 63 9 Haris Berisha 33 1 10 Drenit Tahirukaj 28 82

Most goals scored As of 22 December 2022 [10] Total number of goals scored in official competitions only. Rank Player Goals Matches 1 Kastriot Jupa 189 56 2 Valon Dedaj 164 42 3 Deniz Terziqi 136 43 4 Egzon Gjuka 105 35 5 Drilon Tahirukaj 88 41 6 Drenit Tahirukaj 82 28 8 Florim Hoxha 81 28 8 Enis Kabashi 67 19 9 Oltion Beshiri 63 34 10 Kreshnik Krasniqi 60 24 10 Lindrit Fetahu 60 35

Notes and references

Notes

1. ^
   Taip Ramadani during 2020 due to COVID-related travel restrictions could not join the team and so Cabanas was named as his replacement for the 2020 matches. ^[11]

References

1. "Kosova fiton medaljen e bronztë në hendboll".
2. "KOSOVA pranë realizimit të ëndrrës europiane, në shtëpi janë ZOTËR". 12 April 2019.
3. "Kosovë lëshoi fitoren në sekondat e fundit kundër Polonisë". 12 June 2019.
4. "Ramadani: Vendin e përfaqësojmë me dinjitet dhe krenari".
5. "Kosovo 23:23 Romania - Qualification Phase 2 | European Championship". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
6. Express, Gazeta (14 March 2021). "Kosova me fitore të madhe ndaj Rumanisë në hendboll - Gazeta Express" . Retrieved 11 November 2023.
7. "Kosova pëson disfatë nga Mali i Zi në ndeshjen kualifikuese për Kampionatin Evropian në hendboll". Gazeta Online Insajderi. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
8. "Standings". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
9. "Qerimi shpall listën për ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Slloveninë".
10. Official website (in Albanian)
11. "Javier Cabanas drejton Kosovën në ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Suedinë" [Javier Cabanas leads Kosovo in matches with Montenegro and Sweden] (in Albanian). Handball Federation of Kosovo. 21 October 2020.

External links

• Official website (in Albanian)
• IHF profile