14 multiple Champions League winners on court in Budapest

Dreams will come true on 8 May in Papp Laszlo Arena when the Women’s EHF Champions League 2015/16 winners are crowned. Due to the semi-final draw, only one former winner – either Györi Audi ETO KC (2013, 2014) or defending champions Buducnost (2012, 2015) – can make it to the final. From the second semi-final, it will be either Champions League debutants CSM Bucuresti or Vardar, for whom it would be the first semi-final win at the event, that proceed. Looking individually at players, Katarina Bulatovic is on the verge of making history: After winning the trophy in 2015 for the fourth time with her third champion club, she can become the third female player in EHF Champions League history to triumph for the fifth time after winning with Slagelse (2007), Györ (2014) and Buducnost (2012, 2015). Only Ausra Fridrikas (seven trophies) and Buducnost’s current sports director Bojana Popovic (six) have won the competition more often. In contrast to 2015 when only two multiple former Champions League winners were on court at the FINAL4 in Budapest, this year, 14 players that have won the competition more than once will contest the semi-finals. Romanian veteran Cristina Varzaru (all titles with Viborg) and Györ line player Heidi Löke (twice winner with the Hungarian side, once with Larvik) were Champions League winners three times. Overall, eleven players are dual winners of the competition, including five that won the trophy either twice with Györ or with Buducnost. Vardar line player Anja Althaus won the title twice with Viborg, and now has the chance to become the first female German player to win the EHF Champions League with two different clubs. Alongside the multiple winners on court in Budapest will be ten players that have won the trophy once each. Vardar coach Indira Kastratovic can also make history in Budapest: If her team win the title on 8 May she will become the first female in handball to win the EHF Champions League as a player (2002 with Kometal D. P. Skopje) and as a coach. Only one man has done it – Talant Dujshebaev, who won the title as a player with Santander (1994) and as a coach with Ciudad Real (2006, 2008, 2009).   Ambros Martin (Györ) and Dragan Adzic (Buducnost) can each take their third trophy as a coach.

Champions League winners on court at the Women’s EHF FINAL4 2016: Buducnost: Katarina Bulatovic (Slagelse 2006/07, Buducnost 2011/12, Györ 2013/14, Buducnost 2014/15), Dragana Cvijic, Milena Rajcevic (Knezevic), Suzanna Lazovic, Majda Mehmedovic, Radmila Petrovic (all Buducnost 2011/12, Buducnost 2014/15), Kinga Achruk (Byzdra), Cristina Neagu, …

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