EHF Champions League Ultimate Selection announced

Eight great handball icons have been selected in each of the playing positions plus the best defender from the past 20 seasons of Europe’s premier club handball competition.

A panel comprising some of the most successful coaches in the game have selected their ultimate team, the players they consider to have contributed the most in the EHF Champions League in their professional careers.

Selected from an initial shortlist of more than 55 star players, from the very first season in 1993/94 to the present day, the team represents the very best of the best, based on each player’s achievements, contribution to the competition and his team or teams.

The star-studded team is led by two of the most decorated players in the competition’s history - the seven-time winner Andrei Xepkin and Tomas Svensson, who has won six titles.

In total, the eight legendary players have won 26 EHF Champions League titles as well as a total of 41 medals from major international tournaments including the Olympic Games, EHF European Championships and World Championships.

The players selected for the ‘Ultimate Selection’ will be honoured at the VELUX EHF FINAL4, the final round of the 20th EHF Champions League season, which will take place on 1/2 June 2013 in the LANXESS arena in Cologne.

Profiles of all of the selected players will be presented ahead of the start of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 on the official website of the competition - ehfCL.com.

The EHF Champions League Ultimate Selection:

Left wing - Stefan Kretzschmar (GER)

Winner of the EHF Champions League (2002) all with SC Magdeburg. Silver medal at Olympic Games (2004), World Championships (2003) and bronze (1998) and silver medals (2002) European Championships with Germany.

Left back - Filip Jícha (CZE)

EHF Champions League winner in 2010 and 2012 with THW Kiel. World Handball Player of the year 2010.

Line player - Andrei Xepkin (ESP)

EHF Champions League winner in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005 with FC Barcelona, 2007 with THW Kiel, Olympic bronze medal in 2000, EHF EURO sliver in 1998, EHF EURO bronze in 2000 – all with Spain – World Championship silver in 1990 with the Soviet Union.

Centre back - Jackson Richardson (FRA)

EHF Champions League winner in 2001 with Portland San Antonio, Bronze at the Olympic Games in 1992. Two gold (1995/2001), one silver (1993) and three bronze medals (1997, 2003, 2005) at World Championships with France. World Handball Player of the Year 1995.

Right back - Ólafur Stefánsson (ISL)

EHF Champions League winner in 2002 with SC Magdeburg; 2006, 2008, 2009 with Ciudad Real, one silver medal at Olympic Games (2008), one bronze medal at EHF European Championship (2010) with Iceland.

Right wing - Mirza Džomba (CRO)

EHF Champions League winner in 2006 with Ciudad Real, gold at Olympic Games (2004), one gold (2003) and one silver (2005) at World Championships.

Goalkeeper - Tomas Svensson (SWE)

EHF Champions League winner in 1995 with Bidasoa Irun; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 with FC Barcelona, Three silver at Olympic Games (1992/1996/2000), two gold (1990/1999), silver (2001) and two bronze (1993/1995) at World Championships, three gold medals (1994/2000/2002) at EHF European Championships with Sweden.

Best defender - Didier Dinart (FRA)

EHF Champions League winner in 2003 with Montpellier; in 2006, 2008, 2009 with Ciudad Real. Two gold medals at Olympic Games (2008/2012). Three gold (2001/2009/2011), two bronze (2003/2005) at World Championships, two gold 2006/2010), one bronze (2008) at EHF European Championships with France.