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Former Croatia Coach Hrvoje Horvat Returns to RK Zagreb
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Sports

Former Croatia Coach Hrvoje Horvat Returns to RK Zagreb

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Former Croatian national handball team coach Hrvoje Horvat has returned to RK Zagreb, a club where he previously played.
  • Horvat aims to build a new team that will dominate Croatian handball and become more competitive in the Champions League.
  • He expressed regret for leaving Zagreb prematurely in his playing career and sees his return as a step forward.

Former Croatian national handball team coach Hrvoje Horvat is returning to RK Zagreb, the club where he began his playing career, signaling a new chapter for the team and its ambitions.

I think nothing happens by chance in life, so the cooperation with Zagreb did not happen by chance.

โ€” Hrvoje HorvatExplaining his return to RK Zagreb.

Horvat, who spent three seasons with Swiss club Kadetten Schaffhausen, winning six titles, has decided to return to his homeland. He previously coached various teams, including RK Nexe and German club HSG Wetzlar, and also led the Croatian cadet, junior, and senior national teams. His return to Zagreb is seen as a significant move to bolster the club's performance.

On one hand, I had a desire to return home, and on the other, there is the challenge of leading such a club as Zagreb.

โ€” Hrvoje HorvatDescribing his motivations for returning to RK Zagreb.

"I think nothing happens by chance in life, so the cooperation with Zagreb did not happen by chance," Horvat stated in an interview with the club's official website. "On one hand, I had a desire to return home, and on the other, there is the challenge of leading such a club as Zagreb. Being the coach of Zagreb and having the opportunity to lead it in the Champions League is certainly a step forward in my career."

Being the coach of Zagreb and having the opportunity to lead it in the Champions League is certainly a step forward in my career.

โ€” Hrvoje HorvatOn the significance of coaching RK Zagreb.

Reflecting on his past, Horvat expressed regret for leaving Zagreb prematurely during his playing days, calling it a "wrong step." He hopes to build a team that not only continues Zagreb's dominance in Croatian handball but also makes significant strides in the Champions League. "We want to take steps towards making Zagreb more competitive in the Champions League, we want to think about placements that were once everyday occurrences for Zagreb," he said. Horvat emphasized that Zagreb has consistently defied trends and remained an elite club despite difficulties, and he aims to build on that legacy.

I left Zagreb too early, I took the wrong step, but all these years there has been a desire to return one day.

โ€” Hrvoje HorvatReflecting on his playing career at RK Zagreb.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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