Romania

At their eighth EHF EURO event, the 2010 championship in Denmark and Norway, Romania won their first medal. Despite losing to Sweden in the semi-final, the team, led by outstanding EHF EURO top scorer Cristina Neagu, secured the bronze medal in a hard fought match for third place against Denmark.
Five years earlier they had won their piece of precious metal when they came second at the World Championship in Russia. Shortly before the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia head coach Radu Voina relinquished his position and Gheorge Tadici, who had been Voina's predecessor as well, took over once more. Many of the successes in Romanian women’s handball, including the aforementioned silver medal at the World Championship 2005 or the Cup Winners' Cup of Oltchim Valcea in 2007 are connected to his name.
Team Roster
Key Players
Cristina Neagu
With two serious injuries to her right shoulder and left knee – most recently in January 2013 - Romanian star Cristina Neagu spent more than two years off court recovering from injuries.
However, the 64 goals she scored in the Women’s EHF Champions League in the 2013/14 season, when she reached the final with Buducnost, showed that the World Handball Player of the Year 2010 is on the right track back to her best shape.
The left back is certainly one Romania’s main weapons in the fight for a main round spot. Neagu was also IHF Rookie of the Year 2009 and Romanian player of the year in 2009 and 2010.
Paula Ungureanu
Ungureanu is the no.1 goalkeeper for the Romanian national team since 2009. Her colourful career began at Remin Deva, stations at HYPO Niederösterreich (Austria), Dunaferr (Hungary) and at HC Podravka Vegeta (Croatia) followed; but in 2009, she returned home to Romania where she signed with Oltchim Valcea before transferring to Baia Mare in summer 2013.
She ranked 4th in the top goalkeepers list of the World Championship 2009 with a 41% save rate. Also, Ungureanu was elected the best Romanian handball player in 2012, just months after giving birth to her son.
THE COACH - Gheorghe Tadici
The rise and success of the national team is connected with the name Gheorghe Tadici. The professor of sport spent more than 20 years as the coach of local club Zalau and he led the club to several national and international titles before taking his first assignment with the national team.
In 2005, he led Romania to World Championship silver and to the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championship. In 2006, he took over as coach of Oltchim and led the team to victories in Romania and in Europe, including the Cup Winners' Cup.
Tadici was succeeded by Radu Voina at the helm of the national team in 2008 bzt returned to the post just ahead of the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia.
Past Performance at EHF EURO Events
Year | Event host | Place/Medal |
1994 | Germany | 10th place |
1996 | Denmark | 5th place |
1998 | Netherlands | 11th place |
2000 | Romania | 4th place |
2002 | Denmark | 7th place |
2004 | Hungary | 7th place |
2008 | FYR Macedonia | 5th place |
2010 | Denmark/Norway | Bronze |
2012 | Serbia | 10th place |