Domen Makuc (born 1 July 2000) is a Slovenian handball player. He plays as a centre back for FC Barcelona and the Slovenian national team.[1] He participated at the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship.[2]

Domen Makuc
Personal information
Born (2000-07-01) 1 July 2000 (age 23)
Postojna, Slovenia
Nationality Slovenian
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club FC Barcelona
Number 35
Youth career
Years Team
–2009
RK Gold Club Kozina
2009–2015
RK Škerjanc Jadran Hrpelje-Kozina
2015–2016
RK Celje
Senior clubs
Years Team
2016–2020
RK Celje
2020–
FC Barcelona
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–
Slovenia 20 (37)

Career edit

In playing for RK Celje in the 2016–17 EHF Champions League, he became the first player born in the twenty-first century to feature in the competition.[3] That same year, he became the first born in the twenty-first century to score in it.[4][5] After signing with Barça, he was awarded the player of the match award on his debut in a victory over BM Benidorm in the Supercopa ASOBAL.[6] He made his international debut for Slovenia against the Netherlands in 2021. Makuc was the top scorer in a key 2022-23 EHF Champions League group match against THW Kiel.[7] Considered one of the best young players in the world, he has been compared to his idol, Ivano Balic.[8][9] Makuc was expected to play a significant role for Barça ahead of the 2023-24 season following the departure of Luka Cindrić, but suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season [10] Makuc missed the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship as a result.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ "MAKUC, DOMEN". EHF. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ "SLOVENIA THROW OFF MAIN ROUND WITH BIG WIN". International Handball Federation. IHF. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. ^ "35. Makuc". fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Domen Makuc: Top facts to know about Slovenia's rising star". olympics.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. ^ "THE YEAR 2000 MAKES IT ONTO THE SCORESHEET". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ^ RIGUEIRA, ÁNGEL (29 August 2020). "18-38: El Barça tritura al Benidorm para ganar su novena Supercopa de España consecutiva". mundodeportivo.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  7. ^ Perez, Lluis Carles. "26-24: El Barça regala a Tomàs una batalla de colosos ante el Kiel". mundodeportivo. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  8. ^ "'THE NEW BALIC' FULFILS DREAM AT BARÇA". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. ^ "BOOM: Barca Lassa to sign "new Balic" Domen Makuc?". handball-planet.com. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  10. ^ Pérez, Lluís Carles (27 February 2024). "Domen Makuc: "Lo más duro ya lo he pasado, se ve el progreso"". Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Domen Makuc seriously injured". handball-planet.com. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Se confirman los peores temores con la lesión de Domen Makuc". mundodeportivo. Retrieved 30 January 2024.