Péter Kovács (handballer)
Encyclopedia
Péter Kovács is a former Hungarian international handball
player and handball coach, currently in charge by Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
.
One of the best players of his time, Kovács played 323 times for Hungary
and scored 1797 goals, having captured a World Championship silver medal in 1986.
On club level, beside the number of domestic successes, his biggest achievement is the European Champions Cup
title, he has taken with Budapest Honvéd in 1982. Kovács has shown his class abroad as well, having won both the German championship and cup title. He was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year prize while in Dortmund, just ahead of the football professionals of the local club Borussia
. Thanks to his outstanding performances he was given the nickname "Peter the Great".
trophy in 1982, after two unsuccessful campaigns in 1978 and 1979, when Honvéd have lost out in the semifinals.
Kovács was known for his prolific goalscoring skills, having won the Hungarian championship top scorers' award five times (1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). In addition, he has also been voted the Hungarian Handballer of the Year
in those seasons.
for his last professional season. He ended his career in stlye by finishing fourth in the Bundesliga and celebrating the German cup triumph over TV Niederwürzbach in the finals.
for the Hungarian national team
, debuting on the 1974 edition. Four years later, despite Hungary finished only seventh, Kovács already found himself in the spotlight as he was named the top scorer of the tournament with 47 goals. In 1982 Kovács was in inspired form once again, finishing second on the top scorers' list with 56 goals. He has peaked and enjoyed his best international result on the 1986 World Championships
, where Hungary finished second after losing 22–24 to Yugoslavia in the final. Kovács scored 45 goals on the tournament, and with that he became the fourth best scorer of the World Championship. He was also selected to the All-Star team.
Although retired from professional handball earlier, Kovács made a comeback for the 1995 World Championships
at the age of 40, however, finished in the disappointing seventeenth position with Hungary, suffering four losses and achieving a single victory against the United States.
Kovács have been also selected for three Olympic Games
, first in 1976. That year the Hungarian team finished sixth on the Olympic tournament
. He played all five matches and scored fifteen goals.
Four years later he finished fourth with Hungary, scoring 25 goals in six matches.
Hopes were high before the 1984 Olympic Games
, since Hungary had a bright generation on the top, but by joining the Soviet Union-led boycott the team did not participate on the tournament. Instead of that, the Hungarian national team took part on the Friendship Games
, where they finished fourth after losing the bronze medal match to Poland by a single goal. Kovács has topped the scoring chart with 26 goals.
He was member of the team which finished fourth again on the 1988 Olympic tournament
. Kovács played all six matches and scored 23 goals.
He was picked for the World Selection four times between 1978 and 1985.
. He first tasted the success as coach while in charge at the Hungarian women's junior national team: he has managed the team to silver medals on the Junior World Championship in 2001 and 2003, and guided them to another silver on the Junior European Championship in 2002.
The silver-era continued on his next managerial station, as he finished second in the Hungarian championship with SC Pick Szeged
three times in a row between 2004 and 2006. However, at the end of the 2006 season he finally managed to break the everlasting domination of domestic rivals MKB Veszprém, after Szeged overcame their Transdanubian opponent in the Hungarian cup final.
In the summer of 2006 he took the hot seat of Dunaferr NK, but just after one season, in which he has won the league and cup bronze with the Danube-side team, he moved on to sit on the bench of Óbudai Goldberger SE. He did not have too much time to settle in his new home, as the Turkish Handball Federation offered him a contract he could not refuse, and in October 2007 he moved with his family to Turkey. He has got a very special function, since he was not only realiable for the coaching tasks of the Turkish women's national team
, but also supervised the work in younger age-groups, took part in the education of future coaches and helped the propagation of handball in the country.
Kovács was close to lead the Turkish team to their first ever major tournament in 2008, but after they have beaten Denmark
25–24 in the first leg of the European Championship qualification playoff, their highly-rated opponent have turned the things around in the second leg, and secured a one goal aggregate victory over Turkey.
Two years later, Turkey was only one match away from the European Championship again, and have faced Serbia in a decisive match. They needed a two-goals victory to secure their ticket to continental tournament. On a tightly contested game, after a 15–15 half-time score, finally Serbia won by a single goal and thus knocked Turkey out from the competition.
Despite Kovács did not manage to qualify his team to a major international tournament, he was held in high esteem following his impressive work in Turkey, and in the summer of 2010 Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea
have bought out from his contract. Oltchim have expected to repeat the results of the past season and reach the finals of the EHF Champions League, and although the team have qualified for the main round of the competition, the board went over Kovács' head and with a surprise decision they have removed the Hungarian coach from his position just three days prior the main round clash against ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica
. He was the fourth trainer in four years who was eaten up by the Romanian team. Kovács was replaced by Anja Andersen
, however, the Danish manager has also been fired just in a month due to the poor performances, and Oltchim eventually finished group last.
Few months later, Kovács was amongst the three candidates for the head coach position of the Hungarian women's national team
, which was vacated in June 2011, following Hungary failed to qualify for the forthcoming World Championship and Eszter Mátéfi
resigned. The Hungarian Handball Federation finally came to a decision that Karl Erik Bøhn
is the right man to fulfil their plans, however, Kovács have not been without a job for too long, since he was signed by Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
yet in October 2011. His contract runs until 30 June 2012.
, and from 1996 to 2005 he was member of the Commission of Coaching and Methods of the International Handball Federation
. Kovács was also invited as one of the two main lecturers for the 2012 Top Coaches' Seminar of the European Handball Federation
, which is set to take place in Serbia during the 2012 European Championship
.
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
player and handball coach, currently in charge by Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
Békéscsabai Előre Női Kézilabda Sport Egyesület is a Hungarian women's handball club from Békéscsaba, that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, after having been promoted in 2006....
.
One of the best players of his time, Kovács played 323 times for Hungary
Hungary national handball team
The Hungary national handball team is the national handball team that represents Hungary in the international matches. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.-Olympic Games record:* 1936 - 4th* 1972 - 8th* 1976 - 6th* 1980 - 4th...
and scored 1797 goals, having captured a World Championship silver medal in 1986.
On club level, beside the number of domestic successes, his biggest achievement is the European Champions Cup
EHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
title, he has taken with Budapest Honvéd in 1982. Kovács has shown his class abroad as well, having won both the German championship and cup title. He was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year prize while in Dortmund, just ahead of the football professionals of the local club Borussia
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
. Thanks to his outstanding performances he was given the nickname "Peter the Great".
Budapest Honvéd
Kovács started to play handball for his hometown team Budapest Honvéd SE and spent the majority of his playing career by the club. For the late seventies he established himself as one of the key players in the team, and during the period he spent at the club he has won the Hungarian championship six times and has taken the Hungarian cup title once. He has also lifted the European Champions CupEHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
trophy in 1982, after two unsuccessful campaigns in 1978 and 1979, when Honvéd have lost out in the semifinals.
Kovács was known for his prolific goalscoring skills, having won the Hungarian championship top scorers' award five times (1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). In addition, he has also been voted the Hungarian Handballer of the Year
Hungarian Handballer of the Year
The Hungarian Handballer of the Year award is an annual prize, which is given to the Hungarian handballer who is considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year....
in those seasons.
German years
He moved to 2. Bundesliga team OSC Dortmund in 1984 and won promotion to the top division right in his first season with the club. He spent another three years with the North-Rhine Westphalian team before moving to TV Großwallstadt. With the Aschaffenburg-based club he has taken the German cup in 1989 and the German championship a year later. In 1990, at the age of 35, Kovács has decided to a final change, and switched to league rivals TUSEM EssenTUSEM Essen
TUSEM Essen is a team handball club from Essen, Germany. Currently, TUSEM Essen competes in the Handball-Bundesliga. In 2008, Georg Weiner, a German businessman was sentenced to 4 years in jail for fraud. He promised to save the professional team handball club TUSEM Essen from financial...
for his last professional season. He ended his career in stlye by finishing fourth in the Bundesliga and celebrating the German cup triumph over TV Niederwürzbach in the finals.
International
Kovács has played on five World ChampionshipsWorld Men's Handball Championship
The World Championship in team handball for men has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1938.- History :In 1938, the first indoor handball world championship was played in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany on 5 February and 6 February...
for the Hungarian national team
Hungary national handball team
The Hungary national handball team is the national handball team that represents Hungary in the international matches. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.-Olympic Games record:* 1936 - 4th* 1972 - 8th* 1976 - 6th* 1980 - 4th...
, debuting on the 1974 edition. Four years later, despite Hungary finished only seventh, Kovács already found himself in the spotlight as he was named the top scorer of the tournament with 47 goals. In 1982 Kovács was in inspired form once again, finishing second on the top scorers' list with 56 goals. He has peaked and enjoyed his best international result on the 1986 World Championships
1986 World Men's Handball Championship
The 1986 World Championship for men in team handball was the 11th World Handball Championship. It was held in Switzerland from February 25 to March 8, 1986.-Teams:- Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:- Group 1:-Group 2:...
, where Hungary finished second after losing 22–24 to Yugoslavia in the final. Kovács scored 45 goals on the tournament, and with that he became the fourth best scorer of the World Championship. He was also selected to the All-Star team.
Although retired from professional handball earlier, Kovács made a comeback for the 1995 World Championships
1995 World Men's Handball Championship
The 1995 World Championship for men in team handball was the 14th World Handball Championship. It was held in Iceland.-Preliminary round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Finals:-Final standings:# # # # # # # # # # # #...
at the age of 40, however, finished in the disappointing seventeenth position with Hungary, suffering four losses and achieving a single victory against the United States.
Kovács have been also selected for three Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, first in 1976. That year the Hungarian team finished sixth on the Olympic tournament
Handball at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Handball at the 1976 Summer Olympics featured competition for men and women.On July 26, a Croatian nationalist ran onto the field of play during the men's match between SFR Yugoslavia and West Germany and burned the Yugoslav flag.-Medal summary:...
. He played all five matches and scored fifteen goals.
Four years later he finished fourth with Hungary, scoring 25 goals in six matches.
Hopes were high before the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, since Hungary had a bright generation on the top, but by joining the Soviet Union-led boycott the team did not participate on the tournament. Instead of that, the Hungarian national team took part on the Friendship Games
Handball at the Friendship Games
Handball at the Friendship Games was contested in two events. Men's event took place in Rostock and Magdeburg, East Germany between 17 and 21 July 1984, with eight teams competing...
, where they finished fourth after losing the bronze medal match to Poland by a single goal. Kovács has topped the scoring chart with 26 goals.
He was member of the team which finished fourth again on the 1988 Olympic tournament
Handball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Handball competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics.-Group A:-Group B:-5th to 12th places:-Bronze Medal match:-Final:-Team Rosters:...
. Kovács played all six matches and scored 23 goals.
He was picked for the World Selection four times between 1978 and 1985.
Coaching career
Kovács started his coaching career in lower reputation German clubs before moving home to Hungary to overtake Százhalombattai KESzázhalombattai KE
Százhalombattai KE is a team handball club from Százhalombatta, Hungary. Currently, it competes in the Hungarian Championship of Men's Handball.-2008/09 Team:...
. He first tasted the success as coach while in charge at the Hungarian women's junior national team: he has managed the team to silver medals on the Junior World Championship in 2001 and 2003, and guided them to another silver on the Junior European Championship in 2002.
The silver-era continued on his next managerial station, as he finished second in the Hungarian championship with SC Pick Szeged
SC Pick Szeged
SC Pick Szeged is a Hungarian team handball club from Szeged, that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and the EHF Champions League.-Accomplishments:*Nemzeti Bajnokság I:**Gold: 1996, 2007...
three times in a row between 2004 and 2006. However, at the end of the 2006 season he finally managed to break the everlasting domination of domestic rivals MKB Veszprém, after Szeged overcame their Transdanubian opponent in the Hungarian cup final.
In the summer of 2006 he took the hot seat of Dunaferr NK, but just after one season, in which he has won the league and cup bronze with the Danube-side team, he moved on to sit on the bench of Óbudai Goldberger SE. He did not have too much time to settle in his new home, as the Turkish Handball Federation offered him a contract he could not refuse, and in October 2007 he moved with his family to Turkey. He has got a very special function, since he was not only realiable for the coaching tasks of the Turkish women's national team
Turkey women's national handball team
The Turkey women's national handball team is the national handball team of Turkey for women and is controlled by the Turkey Handball Federation.-Team: Yeliz Özel...
, but also supervised the work in younger age-groups, took part in the education of future coaches and helped the propagation of handball in the country.
Kovács was close to lead the Turkish team to their first ever major tournament in 2008, but after they have beaten Denmark
Denmark women's national handball team
The Denmark women's national handball team is the national team of Denmark. It is governed by the Dansk Håndbold Forbund and takes part in international handball competitions....
25–24 in the first leg of the European Championship qualification playoff, their highly-rated opponent have turned the things around in the second leg, and secured a one goal aggregate victory over Turkey.
Two years later, Turkey was only one match away from the European Championship again, and have faced Serbia in a decisive match. They needed a two-goals victory to secure their ticket to continental tournament. On a tightly contested game, after a 15–15 half-time score, finally Serbia won by a single goal and thus knocked Turkey out from the competition.
Despite Kovács did not manage to qualify his team to a major international tournament, he was held in high esteem following his impressive work in Turkey, and in the summer of 2010 Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea
CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea
CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea is a Romanian women's handball club from Râmnicu Vâlcea, that plays in the Liga Naţională and in the EHF Women's Champions League....
have bought out from his contract. Oltchim have expected to repeat the results of the past season and reach the finals of the EHF Champions League, and although the team have qualified for the main round of the competition, the board went over Kovács' head and with a surprise decision they have removed the Hungarian coach from his position just three days prior the main round clash against ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica
ŽRK Budućnost T-Mobile
ŽRK Budućnost T-Mobile is a women's handball team from Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a part of Budućnost Podgorica sports clubs.The club was founded on February 13, 1949, and played its first official game in 1950. The first trophy of ŽRK Budućnost won in 1984 and it was the Cup of Yugoslavia...
. He was the fourth trainer in four years who was eaten up by the Romanian team. Kovács was replaced by Anja Andersen
Anja Andersen
Anja Andersen is a former female handball player and currently coach.-Career:Anja Andersen is known for both her skills as an offensive player, her strong temper and courage to make dramatic scenes and daring tricks during a match. She was an important part of the renaissance in Danish handball...
, however, the Danish manager has also been fired just in a month due to the poor performances, and Oltchim eventually finished group last.
Few months later, Kovács was amongst the three candidates for the head coach position of the Hungarian women's national team
Hungary women's national handball team
The Hungary women's national handball team is the national team of Hungary. It is governed by the Hungarian Handball Federation and takes part in international handball competitions...
, which was vacated in June 2011, following Hungary failed to qualify for the forthcoming World Championship and Eszter Mátéfi
Eszter Mátéfi
Eszter Mátéfi is a handball coach and former handball player who works as the head coach of the handball academy in Dunaújváros.-Career:...
resigned. The Hungarian Handball Federation finally came to a decision that Karl Erik Bøhn
Karl Erik Bøhn
Karl Erik Bøhn is a Norwegian teacher, team handball player and coach. Starting from August 2011 he serves as the head coach of the Hungarian women's national team, and since November 2011 he is also in charge by Hungarian top division side Győri Audi ETO KC.He played 126 matches for the Norway...
is the right man to fulfil their plans, however, Kovács have not been without a job for too long, since he was signed by Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
Békéscsabai Előre NKSE
Békéscsabai Előre Női Kézilabda Sport Egyesület is a Hungarian women's handball club from Békéscsaba, that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, after having been promoted in 2006....
yet in October 2011. His contract runs until 30 June 2012.
Administrative roles
Between 1995 and 2003 he served as technical director of the Hungarian Handball FederationHungarian Handball Federation
The Hungarian Handball Federation is the national handball federation in Hungary.The Hungarian Handball Federation is a member of the European Handball Federation and the International Handball Federation . Its headquarters are in Budapest...
, and from 1996 to 2005 he was member of the Commission of Coaching and Methods of the International Handball Federation
International Handball Federation
The International Handball Federation, often referred to by the acronym IHF, is the administrative and controlling body for International team handball.- Championships :*World Men's Handball Championship*World Women's Handball Championship...
. Kovács was also invited as one of the two main lecturers for the 2012 Top Coaches' Seminar of the European Handball Federation
European Handball Federation
The European Handball Federation is the umbrella organisation for European handball. Founded in November 1991, it is made of 50 member federations and one associated member , and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria...
, which is set to take place in Serbia during the 2012 European Championship
2012 European Men's Handball Championship
The 2012 EHF European Men's Handball Championship will be held in Serbia from 15–29 January, in the cities of Belgrade, Niš and Novi Sad and Vršac...
.
As player
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I:
- Winner: 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
- Magyar Kupa:
- Winner: 1983
- BundesligaBundesliga (handball)The Handball-Bundesliga is the top German professional handball league. The league has been sponsored by Toyota since 2007 and therefore the league is called the Toyota Handball-Bundesliga...
:- Winner: 1990
- DHB-PokalDHB-PokalThe DHB-Pokal is an elimination handball tournament held annually. It is the second most important national title in German handball after the Bundesliga championship.- DHB-Pokal Champions :- Finals :...
:- Winner: 1989, 1991
- World ChampionshipWorld Men's Handball ChampionshipThe World Championship in team handball for men has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1938.- History :In 1938, the first indoor handball world championship was played in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany on 5 February and 6 February...
:- Silver Medallist: 1986
As coach
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I – men:
- Silver Medallist: 2004, 2005, 2006
- Magyar Kupa – men:
- Winner: 2006
- Nemzeti Bajnokság INemzeti Bajnokság I (Women's handball)The Nemzeti Bajnokság I is the top professional league for Hungarian women's team handball clubs. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.- History :...
– women:- Bronze Medallist: 2007
- Magyar KupaMagyar Kupa (Women's handball)Magyar Kupa is the main domestic cup for Hungarian women's team handball clubs, which is organized and supervised by the Hungarian Handball Federation. The competition is held annually, starting in September and concluding in April. The teams play in a one-leg knockout system with a final four...
– women:- Bronze Medallist: 2007
- Junior World Championship – women's tournament:
- Silver Medallist: 2001, 2003
- Junior European Championship – women's tournament:
- Silver Medallist: 2002
Individual awards
- Hungarian Handballer of the YearHungarian Handballer of the YearThe Hungarian Handballer of the Year award is an annual prize, which is given to the Hungarian handballer who is considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year....
: 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 - Nemzeti Bajnokság I Top ScorerNemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers (men's handball)The following list shows the Nemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers season by season....
: 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 - World Championship Top Scorer: 1978
- Friendship Games Top Scorer: 1984
- All-Star Left Back of the World Championship: 1986