RK Pelister
Encyclopedia
RK Pelister is a team handball
club from Bitola
, Republic of Macedonia
. It was the most successful Macedonian club in the 90's when it won five domestic championship titles and qualified regularly for European competition. Pelister has participated in the EHF Champions League
and EHF Cup Winners' Cup five times and twice in the EHF Cup
and EHF Challenge Cup
. It is also the only Macedonian men's handball club to make it to a European Cup final, back in 2001/02 when they played Skjern Håndbold
in the EHF Challenge Cup
.
From the 1983/1984 season Pelister began to participate regularly in the Yugoslav First League. Around that time the slogan "He who hasn't played in Bitola doesn't know what real support looks like" gained popularity, being uttered by the likes of Vlado Šola
, Lino Červar
and Zlatan Saračević
. Pelister became the first ever Macedonian club to play in Europe, in 1986 against Atlético Madrid BM. In the 1987/1988 season they reached the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup where they were eliminated by East German club ASK Vorwärts. The first leg in Bitola was won by six points, but the second leg in Berlin resulted in a loss by seven points, ending the club's European run.
When the Macedonian First League was formed in 1993, Pelister became the most successful club, winning the majority of domestic titles in that decade. In 1996, they made it to the semi-finals of the EHF Cup Winners' Cup where they lost on aggregate by one goal to the eventual champion TBV Lemgo
. Seven players on Macedonia's squad at the 1999 World Men's Handball Championship
in Egypt
played for the club.
In 2005 Pelister won another double crown and captured its sixth domestic league title, which was a record at the time. Since then it has been marred by financial problems and has not achieved the same level of success.
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...
club from Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. It was the most successful Macedonian club in the 90's when it won five domestic championship titles and qualified regularly for European competition. Pelister has participated in the EHF Champions League
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...
and EHF Cup Winners' Cup five times and twice in the EHF Cup
EHF Cup
The EHF Cup is an official competition for men's handball clubs of Europe and takes place every year. From 2012/13 it will be merged with EHF Cup Winners' Cup to EHF European Cup....
and EHF Challenge Cup
EHF Challenge Cup
The EHF Challenge Cup is an official European Handball Federation competition for men's clubs of Europe and takes place every year. Before 1999/2000, it was called EHF City Cup....
. It is also the only Macedonian men's handball club to make it to a European Cup final, back in 2001/02 when they played Skjern Håndbold
Skjern Håndbold
Skjern Håndbold is a handball club from Skjern, Denmark. Currently, Skjern Handball competes in the Danish Handball League, which they have won once, in 1999. They have also achieved international success, by winning the EHF Challenge Cup twice, in 2002 and 2003...
in the EHF Challenge Cup
EHF Challenge Cup
The EHF Challenge Cup is an official European Handball Federation competition for men's clubs of Europe and takes place every year. Before 1999/2000, it was called EHF City Cup....
.
History
The club was the first handball team in Macedonia, formed in 1946 under the name Pelagonija.From the 1983/1984 season Pelister began to participate regularly in the Yugoslav First League. Around that time the slogan "He who hasn't played in Bitola doesn't know what real support looks like" gained popularity, being uttered by the likes of Vlado Šola
Vlado Šola
Vlado Šola is a retired Croatian team handball player. He was born in Prisoje, near Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his family moved to Croatia when he was young....
, Lino Červar
Lino Cervar
Lino Červar is a Croatian handball coach who is currently coaching the Macedonian handball team RK Metalurg Skopje and a politician, and former member of the Croatian Parliament.-Career as handball coach:...
and Zlatan Saračević
Zlatko Saracevic
Zlatko "Zlatan" Saračević is a Croatian former handball player who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics for Yugoslavia and in the 1996 Summer Olympics for Croatia.He was born in Banja Luka....
. Pelister became the first ever Macedonian club to play in Europe, in 1986 against Atlético Madrid BM. In the 1987/1988 season they reached the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup where they were eliminated by East German club ASK Vorwärts. The first leg in Bitola was won by six points, but the second leg in Berlin resulted in a loss by seven points, ending the club's European run.
When the Macedonian First League was formed in 1993, Pelister became the most successful club, winning the majority of domestic titles in that decade. In 1996, they made it to the semi-finals of the EHF Cup Winners' Cup where they lost on aggregate by one goal to the eventual champion TBV Lemgo
TBV Lemgo
TBV Lemgo is a German handball club from Lemgo. From 1911 until 1942, the club's name was Ballsportverein Lemgo 1911. As of 2011, TBV Lemgo competes in the Handball-Bundesliga.- Accomplishments :* National Championship of Germany: 2** 1997, 2003...
. Seven players on Macedonia's squad at the 1999 World Men's Handball Championship
1999 World Men's Handball Championship
The 1999 World Championship for men in team handball was the 16th edition of the Men's World Handball Championship. It was held in Egypt, from June 2 to June 15, in the cities of Cairo, Ismailia and Port Said.-Preliminary round:In the following tables:...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
played for the club.
In 2005 Pelister won another double crown and captured its sixth domestic league title, which was a record at the time. Since then it has been marred by financial problems and has not achieved the same level of success.
Achievements
- Macedonian Handball ChampionshipMacedonian First League of HandballThe Macedonian First League of Handball , is the top-tier team handball competition in the Republic of Macedonia. It is currently sponsored by VIP...
: 6- 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1999/00, 2004/05
- Macedonian Handball Cup: 5
- 1993/94, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2004/05
- Doboj International Handball TournamentDobojDoboj is a city and a municipality in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated in the northern part of the Republika Srpska entity on the river Bosna. Doboj is the largest national railway junction; as such, the seats of the Republika Srpska Railways, and the Railways Corporation of Bosnia and...
: 2- 1995/96, 1996/97
- EHF Cup Winner's CupEHF Cup Winner's CupThe EHF Cup Winners' Cup is the official competition for men's and women's clubs of Europe that won their national cup, and takes place every year. From 2012/13 the men's competition will be merged with EHF Cup to EHF European Cup. -Winners:-By Country:...
Semi-Finalist: 1- 1995/96
- EHF Challenge CupEHF Challenge CupThe EHF Challenge Cup is an official European Handball Federation competition for men's clubs of Europe and takes place every year. Before 1999/2000, it was called EHF City Cup....
Finalist: 1- 2001/02
Current squad
Igor Toskovski (Goalkeeper) Petar Misovski (Goalkeeper) Mende Božinovski (Goalkeeper) Petar Zujović (Left Back) Zlatko Vezenkovski (Middle Back) Sašo Jankulovski (Left Wing) Marko Vujović (Left Wing) Revaz Chanturia (Right Wing) Vasil Mitevski (Right Wing) Ivan Markovski (Right Wing) Željko Jaćimović (Pivot) Vasko Dimitrovski (Pivot) Mihajlo Petrovski (Right Back) Mario Maretić (Left Back) Kire Mitrevski (Left Back) Mite Karaivanov (Left Back) Coach: Ratko ĐurkovićYouth Team
Filip Ivanovski (Goalkeeper) Ile Neckov (Goalkeeper) Darko Ristevski (Pivot) Hristijan Gurabievski (Left Back), (Right Back) Gjorgi Chaldarov (Middle Back) Goran Ristov (Left Wing) Filip Dimitrovski (Pivot) Bozinovski Danielo (Left Wing) Goran Talevski (Right Wing), (Right Back) Jovan Stanimirovic (Middle Back) Filip Vrbovski (Left Back) Nikola Ivanovski (Middle Back), (Left Back) Kristofer Ivanov (Right Wing) Hristijan Talevski (Right Wing) Coach: Mihajlo SiljanovFormer players
- Petar Angelov
- Stevče Aluševski
- Branislav Angelovski
- Branko Čurlevski
- Boris Čurlevski
- Pece Dimitrovski
- Zlatko Dimitrovski
- Abdula Jusufovski
- Aco Jonoski
- Vančo Jovanovski
- Cane Krstevski
- Kiril LazarovKiril LazarovKiril Lazarov is a Macedonian handball player who plays for Atlético Madrid BM....
- Pepi ManaskovPepi ManaskovPepi Manaskov is a Macedonian former professional player and current coach.He is currently the head coach of the RK Metalurg Skopje.-Clubs:*Borec Mladost*RK Pelister...
- Aleksandar Mirzamemedov
- Vlatko Mitkov
- Naumče Mojsoski
- Dragan Marinković
- Petar Misovski
- Goce Makaloski
- Slobodan Nikolić
- Igor Nikolovski
- Dušan Novokmet
- Zoran Petkovski
- Kire Popovski
- Zvonko ŠundovskiZvonko ŠundovskiZvonko Šundovski is a former team handball player from Republic of Macedonia. He is currently the coach of the Macedonia national handball team and manager of RK Pelister.-External links:*...
- Stevče Stefanovski
- Rade Stojanović
- Vladimir Temelkov
- Adem Vukas
- Dinko Vuleta