RK Vardar

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РК Вардар 1961
RK Vardar 1961
Rk-vardar-logo.png
Full nameRakometen klub
Vardar 1961
Short nameVardar
Founded1961;63 years ago (1961) in Skopje
Arena Jane Sandanski Arena
Capacity5.800
President Mihajlo Mihajlovski
Head coach Guillermo Milano
League Macedonian Super League
2023–24 Macedonian Super League,
2nd
Club colours  
Kit left arm vardar1718h.png
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Kit body vardar1718h.png
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Kit right arm vardar1718h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts southampton2122t.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit left arm hummelcoreXKwb.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body hummelcoreXKSUw.png
Kit body.svg
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Away
Website
Official site
Active departments of Sports Club Vardar
Football pictogram.svg Basketball pictogram.svg Handball pictogram.svg
Football Handball Basketball

RK Vardar 1961 (Macedonian : РК Вардар 1961) is a professional handball club from Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. Vardar is the most successful handball team in the country, having won fifteen national League titles and sixteen Cup titles. Vardar is the most successful team in the regional SEHA League, having won five titles. The team has also won two EHF Champions League titles.

Contents

History

RK Vardar was founded in 1961 as a part of the Vardar Sports Club in Skopje, which was founded in 1947.

The RK Grafichar Skopje club was established in 1948, second only to Rabotnichki in rank and quality. In 1961, Grafičar was renamed Vardar, and almost all members of RK Partizan Skopje joined the team. The emergence of the ambitious Vardar team presented a challenge to Rabotnički, which was no longer the strong first-league team from the past. Notable early members of Vardar who would become mainstrays included goalkeeper Jovanovski, as well as Atanasovski, Zdravkovski, Savevski and Bozinovski. Vardar joined the first division [ clarification needed ] in 1976. They played there for 2 seasons, while in the 80s they spent most of the time in the second division.

The handball team rose to power again in the late 1990s, becoming one of two clubs, alongside RK Pelister, to dominate the Macedonian handball scene after the independence of the country. Vardar has participated in the EHF Champions League eleven times and made it to the semifinals of the Cup Winner's Cup three times. Except for 2005, when they secured the 4th place, the club achieved either championship or runner-up status in the Macedonian Super League since 1999. They achieved a record win in the Macedonian handball championship by winning their twelfth title in 2018 and are the record cup winner with thirteen victories. On April 15, 2012, Vardar defeated Metalurg at the Zagreb Arena to become the first SEHA League champion. [1] [2] The team has won five titles in the SEHA League. The club started the new 2013–14 season with a new management structure, with Sergey Samsonenko as the new proprietor and sports director of the club, and Mihajlo Mihajlovski as the honorary club chairman.

The welcoming ceremony after winning 2016-17 EHF Champions League HC Vardar in Skopje.jpg
The welcoming ceremony after winning 2016–17 EHF Champions League

The season of 2016–17 was the most successful for the team because they managed to win the EHF Champions League and the regional SEHA League, including the two main domestic championships, the national Handball Super League and the national Handball Cup. Two days after winning the EHF Champions League, the team celebrated the victory with approximately 150,000 people in a ceremony on Macedonia Square in Skopje. Because of the huge success, Gjorgje Ivanov, at the time President of the Republic of Macedonia, awarded the members of the handball club Vardar a Medal of Merit for the Republic of North Macedonia for the results they achieved, especially for winning the Champions League title. The club was awarded the national charter of the country.

In the 2018–19 season, the team once again managed to win the EHF Champions League, the regional SEHA League and the main domestic championship, the Handball Super League of North Macedonia. One day after winning the EHF Champions League, the team arrived in the country with a private jet and celebrated the victory with approximately 250,000 people in a central ceremony at Macedonia Square in Skopje.

Kits

Accomplishments

Domestic competitions

Macedonian League

Gold medal with cup.svg Winner:(3) 1959, 1960, 1975
Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (15): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–2021, 2021-2022
Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (16): 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (4): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023

European competitions

Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (2): 2016–17, 2018–19
Bronze medal with cup.svg Third placed: 1998–99, 2004–2005, 2010–2011

Other competitions

Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (5): 2011–12, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Silver medal with cup.svg Runner-up: 2012–13, 2015–16, 2019–20
Bronze medal with cup.svg Third placed: 2017, 2019

Individual club awards

Winners (9): 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
Winners (1): 2016–17

Arena

Sandanski Arena Hotel and Spa Sportski tsentar ,,Jane Sandanski".jpg
Sandanski Arena Hotel and Spa

RK Vardar is the owner of the Jane Sandanski Arena where they play all their home matches in the EHF Champions League, the regional SEHA League and in domestic competitions. It's a modern complex with a sports hall of 5, 850 seats. It has its own hotel, spa center, hospital and swimming pool. The arena is named after the Macedonian revolutionary Jane Sandanski.

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2024-2025 season

Transfers

Transfers for the 2025–26 season

Staff

Former club members

Notable former players

Notable former coaches

Notable former presidents

Kit manufacturers

European competitions record

EHF Champions League

SeasonRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate:
1999–00 1/16 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg TV Suhr Handball 33–3726–3059–67
2001–02 R 2 Flag of Turkey.svg ASKI Ankara 37–3127–2864–59
GM
(Group D)
Flag of Hungary.svg Fotex KC Veszprém 24–2722–273rd
Flag of Germany.svg Sportclub Magdeburg 27–2719–33
Flag of France.svg S. O. Chambery 32–3028–31
2002–03 QR 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg HC Eynatten G.o.E. 32–2431–2863–52
QR 2 Flag of Norway.svg Sandefjord TIF 29–2326–2655–49
GM
(Group D)
Flag of Croatia.svg RK Zagreb 25–2825–304th
Flag of Germany.svg THW Kiel 27–2623–34
Flag of Romania.svg "Fibrexnylon" Savinesti 26–2526–38
2003–04
GM
(Group B)
Flag of Germany.svg Sportclub Magdeburg 28–3024–384th
Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona 27–3519–41
Flag of Iceland.svg Haukar Hafnarfjördur 26–3233–34
2004–05
GM
(Group A)
Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona 12–2622–313rd
Flag of Hungary.svg SC Pick Szeged 24–2418–25
Flag of Romania.svg HCM Constanta 22–2226–25
2007–08 QR 1 Flag of Estonia.svg Pölva Serviti 37–2230–3067–52
GM
(Group C)
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kadetten Schaffhausen GCZ 27–2630–364th
Flag of Croatia.svg HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb 26–3428–28
Flag of Spain.svg C.BM. Ademar Leon 29–2821–28
2009–10 Q
(Group 1)
Flag of Turkey.svg Besiktas JK 33–301st
Flag of Montenegro.svg HC Buducnost Podgorica 35–28
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Dinamo-Minsk 34–24
GP
(Group D)
Flag of Denmark.svg KIF Kolding 25–3221–285th
Flag of Spain.svg Reale Ademar 24–3128–37
Flag of Germany.svg THW Kiel 23–3323–39
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg GC Amicitia Zürich 22–2231–24
Flag of Spain.svg F.C. Barcelona Borges 28–3528–35
2013–14 GP
(Group C)
Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona 29–2923–304th
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Dinamo Minsk 30–2224–26
Flag of France.svg PSG Handball 24–2425–35
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Wacker Thun 32–2537–24
Flag of North Macedonia.svg HC Metalurg 18–2627–22
L16 Flag of Germany.svg HSV Hamburg 28–2830–2958–57
QF Flag of Germany.svg SG Flensburg-Handewitt 27–2522–2449–49
2014–15 GP
(Group C)
Flag of Slovenia.svg RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 34–3227–262nd
Flag of Russia.svg Chekhovskie Medvedi 39–2839–34
Flag of Germany.svg Rhein-Neckar Löwen 28–2535–28
Flag of France.svg Montpellier Agglomération Handball 30–2634–34
Flag of Hungary.svg MKB-MVM Veszprém 23–2424–32
L16 Flag of Poland.svg Orlen Wisla Plock 31–2026–3257–52
QF Flag of Poland.svg KS Vive Tauron Kielce 20–2231–3351–55
2015–16 GP
(Group B)
Flag of France.svg Montpellier HB 34–2630–253rd
Flag of Hungary.svg MOL-Pick Szeged 27–2331–29
Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Kristianstad 38–3630–25
Flag of Germany.svg Rhein-Neckar Löwen 25–1927–28
Flag of Denmark.svg KIF Kolding Kobenhavn 34–2431–33
Flag of Poland.svg KS Vive Tauron Kielce 34–2420–23
Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona Lassa 25–2730–31
L16 Flag of Poland.svg Orlen Wisla Plock 25–2430–3055–54
QF Flag of Hungary.svg MVM Veszprém 26–2930–3056–59
2016–17 GP
(Group B)
Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Kristianstad 32–2928–231st
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Meshkov Brest 31–2726–30
Flag of Slovenia.svg RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 35–3032–26
Flag of Hungary.svg MOL-Pick Szeged 30–2723–21
Flag of Croatia.svg PPD Zagreb 25–2027–28
Flag of Poland.svg KS Vive Tauron Kielce 40–3424–27
Flag of Germany.svg Rhein-Neckar Löwen 26–2933–27
QF Flag of Germany.svg SG Flensburg-Handewitt 35–2726–2461–51
SF (F4) Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona Handbol 26–25
F (F4) Flag of France.svg PSG Handball 24–23
2017–18 GP
(Group A)
Flag of Poland.svg Orlen Wisla Plock 31–3126–221st
Flag of France.svg HBC Nantes 27–2326–27
Flag of Croatia.svg PPD Zagreb 28–2129–23
Flag of Hungary.svg MOL-Pick Szeged 34–3026–26
Flag of Spain.svg FC Barcelona Handbol 27–2428–29
Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Kristianstad 31–1526–23
Flag of Germany.svg Rhein-Neckar Löwen 30–2621–21
QF Flag of Germany.svg THW Kiel 27–2829–2856–56
SF (F4) Flag of France.svg Montpellier HB 27–28
3rd (F4) Flag of France.svg PSG Handball 28–29
2018–19 GP
(Group A)
Flag of France.svg Montpellier HB 33–2727–243rd
Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Kristianstad 33–2532–30
Flag of Hungary.svg Telekom Veszprém 27–2927–25
Flag of Germany.svg Rhein-Neckar Löwen 29–2730–27
Flag of Poland.svg PGE Vive Kielce 28–2727–31
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Meshkov Brest 30–2331–31
Flag of Spain.svg Barça Lassa 26–3026–34
L16 Flag of Croatia.svg PPD Zagreb 32–3027–1859–48
QF Flag of Hungary.svg MOL-Pick Szeged 31–2325–2956–52
SF (F4) Flag of Spain.svg Barça Lassa 29–27
F (F4) Flag of Hungary.svg Telekom Veszprém 27–24
2019–20 GP
(Group B)
Flag of France.svg Montpellier HB 27–3133–316th
Flag of Portugal.svg FC Porto Sofarma 32–2722–30
Flag of Ukraine.svg HC Motor Zaporizhzhia 38–2831–30
Flag of Germany.svg THW Kiel 20–3123–34
Flag of Hungary.svg Telekom Veszprém 29–3830–39
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Meshkov Brest 36–3122–31
Flag of Poland.svg PGE Vive Kielce 28–2825–35
2020–21 GP
(Group A)
Flag of Belarus.svg HC Meshkov Brest 32–3622–247th
Flag of Norway.svg Elverum Håndball 34–3435–32
Flag of Hungary.svg MOL-Pick Szeged 26–2833–34
Flag of Germany.svg SG Flensburg-Handewitt 31–2610-0
Flag of Portugal.svg FC Porto 25–2524–27
Flag of France.svg PSG Handball 0-105-5
Flag of Poland.svg Łomża Vive Kielce 29–3329–36
Playoffs Flag of Hungary.svg Veszprém KC 27–4130–3957–80

EHF Cup

SeasonRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1994–95 1/16 Flag of Spain.svg BM Granollers 35–3123–3458–65
1995–96 ER Flag of Bulgaria.svg HC Shoumen 29–2430–2659–50
1/16 Flag of Croatia.svg Zadar Gortan 31–3124–3355–64
2011–12 R2 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg HC Izvidac 27–2526–2953–54
2012–13 R2 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Lovosice 36–1924–2560–44
R3 Flag of Germany.svg SC Magdeburg 28–2627–3055–56

EHF Cup Winners' Cup

SeasonRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1997–98 1/16 Flag of Sweden.svg IF Guif Eskilstuna 29–2825–2854–56
1998–99 1/16 Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Skövde HK 10–022–2332–23
1/8 Flag of Slovenia.svg Gorenje Velenje 29–2324–2853–51
1/4 Flag of France.svg Sporting Toulouse 31 26–1924–2750–46
1/2 Flag of Spain.svg Prosesa Ademar León 27–2920–3547–64
2004–05 1/8 Flag of Denmark.svg FCK Handbold Kopenhagen 27–2329–2856–51
1/4 Flag of Croatia.svg Medvescak Infosistem Zagreb 36–2031–2667–46
1/2 Flag of Croatia.svg RK Zagreb 23–2126–3449–55

Statistics

Individual awards in the EHF Champions League

SeasonPlayerAward
2013–14 Flag of Russia.svg Timur Dibirov All–Star Team (Best Left Wing)
2014–15 Flag of Spain.svg Alex Dujshebaev Best Young Player
2016–17 Flag of Spain.svg Alex Dujshebaev All–Star Team (Best Right Back)
Flag of Spain.svg Raúl González Best Coach
Flag of Spain.svg Arpad Šterbik Final Four MVP
2017–18 Flag of Spain.svg Arpad Šterbik All–Star Team (Best Goalkeeper)
2018–19 Flag of Serbia.svg Dejan Milosavljev All–Star Team (Best Goalkeeper)
Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Čupić All–Star Team (Best Right Wing)
Flag of Latvia.svg Dainis Krištopāns All–Star Team (Best Right Back)
Flag of Russia.svg Timur Dibirov All–Star Team (Best Left Wing)
Flag of Spain.svg Roberto García Parrondo Best Coach
Flag of Croatia.svg Igor Karačić Final Four MVP

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References

  1. "Vardar is the SEHA League champion!". Borjan Zafirovski. Archived from the original on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  2. "Вардар ПРО победник СЕХА лигата". МИА. Retrieved 2012-04-16.