Hungary
Hungary to date are one of only two teams - the other one being Montenegro - that have been able to break the Norwegian/Danish dominance at Women's European Championships: Hungary won the EHF EURO in 2000, Montenegro topped the podium in 2012.
Hungary also added European bronze to their tally in 1998, 2004 and 2012. The team's most recent history was tragically marked by the death of its coach Karl Erik Bohn who passed away in February 2014. Andras Nemeth has since been in charge and given the task to add further success to what has already been a very successful year for Hungarian handball, with Györi Audi ETO KC winning the Women's EHF Champions League, Pick Szeged winning the Men's EHF Cup and MKB-MVM Veszprem reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4.
The biggest challenge for Hungary on home court will be to produce its best performance in front of a very expectant home crowd. The team's goal is to make the semi-finals, but the dream of all Hungarian fans is to win the EHF EURO.
Team Roster
Key Players
Zita Szucsanszki
The 27-year-old centre back is regarded as one of the biggest talents in Hungarian handball in the last decade, and she is without doubt one of the fans’ favourites whenever she takes to the court for her club side FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and the Hungarian national team.
With FTC Szucsanszki won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2011 and 2012 and she also lifted the EHF Cup in 2006. She was part of the national team that won bronze at the EHF EURO 2012.
With Anita Görbicz being pregnant and not available at the EHF EURO, a lot of responsibility will be on her shoulders as Hungary’s main playmaker. However, she definitely possesses the leadership qualities and great passing skills – not to mention her shooting prowess – to fulfill this role.
Zsuzsanna Tomori
The 27-year-old back court player started her professional career in Vasas, transferred to Györ from there, but has nowadays been with Ferencvaros since 2010, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2011 and 2012 with the Budapest side.
Tomori made played her first major international tournament at the World Championship 2007 and ever since the EHF Champions League top scorer in 2013 has been playing a key role as right or left back as well as in defence.
The Coach - Andras Nemeth
The 61-year-old Nemeth has been in charge of the women’s national team already on two occasions. For the first time for a very brief stint in 1998, for the second time from 2005 to 2008, when he won bronze with the squad at the World Championship 2005. His current term started this year when he took over following the tragic death of Karl Erik Bohn.
Nemeth started his coaching career in Ferencváros in Budapest, eventually staying at the team’s helm ween 1992 and 2007. He won the EHF Cup in 2006, the Cup Winners' Cup in 1995 and was runner-up in the EHF Champions League in 2002.
Between 2007 and 2009 and from 2011 until the end of the 2012/13 season Németh coachedg Austrian women’s handball powerhouse, Hypo Niederösterreich, reaching the final of the Women’s EHF Champions League in 2008 and winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2013.
His contract with the women’s national team runs until summer 2016 and the Rio Olympic Games where he wants to steer the team close to the medal ranks.
Past Performance at EHF EURO Events
| Year | Event Host | Place/Medal |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Germany | 4th Place |
| 1996 | Denmark | 10th Place |
| 1998 | Netherlands | Bronze |
| 2000 | Romania | Gold |
| 2002 | Denmark | 5th |
| 2004 | Hungary | Bronze |
| 2006 | Sweden | 5th |
| 2008 | FYR Macedonia | 8th |
| 2010 | Denmark/Norway | 10th Place |
| 2012 | Serbia | Bronze |
