This article needs to be updated.(April 2022) |
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).
Kosovo | |||
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Information | |||
Nickname |
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Association | Handball Federation of Kosovo | ||
Coach | Bujar Qerimi | ||
Captain | Valon Dedaj | ||
Most caps | Kastriot Jupa (56) | ||
Most goals | Kastriot Jupa (189) | ||
Colours | |||
Results | |||
IHF Emerging Nations Championship | |||
Appearances | 2 (First in 2015) | ||
Best result | 3rd (2015, 2017) | ||
Last updated on 18 June 2017. |
History edit
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 difficult start, Kosovo's national team has started to gain notoriety in international competition. After twice winning the bronze medal in the international IHF Trophy for emerging nations, in Kosovo 2015 on home soil and as well in Bulgaria 2017 the team is no longer considered an emerging nation.[1] Kosovo after this tournament advanced to the 2nd phase of qualification for EURO 2020.
Following a lengthy campaign in the 2020 European Men's Handball Championship qualification where Kosovo defeated Israel and drew Poland, the team won a direct spot in the second phase of the upcoming 2022 qualification tournament.
Most recently, at the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship – European qualification tournament, Kosovo drew with Italy and defeated Georgia to take the second place, behind Romania, in the qualifying group.
EHF European Championship edit
- 2018 European Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
- 2020 European Men's Handball Championship - Phase 2 Playoffs (did not Qualify)
- 2022 European Men's Handball Championship - Phase 2 Playoffs (did not qualify )
- 2024 European Men's Handball Championship - In progress
IHF Handball World Championship edit
- 2017 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
- 2019 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
- 2021 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
- 2023 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
IHF Emerging Nations Championship edit
Year | Position | Pld | W | D | L |
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Kosovo 2015 | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Bulgaria 2017 | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Total | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
Team edit
Current squad edit
- The squad selected for the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship qualification matches.[2]
- Updated: 22 December 2022
- Head coach: Bujar Qerimi
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Coaches edit
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Captains edit
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Individual all-time records edit
Most matches played edit
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Most goals scored edit
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Notes and references edit
Notes edit
- ^ 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.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Kosova fiton medaljen e bronztë në hendboll".
- ^ "Qerimi shpall listën për ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Slloveninë".
- ^ a b Official website (in Albanian)
- ^ "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 edit
- Official website (in Albanian)
- IHF profile