RK Zamet

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RK Zamet
Full nameRukometni klub Zamet
Founded1957
ArenaCentar Zamet
Capacity2,350
PresidentVedran Devčić
Head coachMateo Hrvatin
LeagueCroatian Premier League
2021–22Croatian Premier League,
10th of 16
Club colours   
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away
Website
Official site

RK Zamet (Rukometni Klub Zamet) is a handball club from Rijeka, Croatia, formed in 1957. The club currently competes in the Croatian Premier Handball League and the Croatian Handball Cup. Although the club has not won any mayor trophies, it has produced four Olympic gold medalists: Valter Matošević, Alvaro Načinović, Valner Franković and Mirza Džomba. Four additional Olympic gold medalists played for the club, including Irfan Smajlagić, Vladimir Šujster, Zlatko Saračević and Božidar Jović, and Jakov Gojun, who has a bronze medal.

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

The club was founded in September 1957,[1] as RK Partizan Zamet by Prof. Stanko Jerger, Josip Šarić and Vittorio Drog. The players of the first RK Zamet team were Vilim Blažić, Tomislav Blažić, Nelo Stepčić, Vinko Radovčić, Anton Srdoč, Boris Kinkela, Josip Šarić and Stanko Jerger.

Zamet in Yugoslavia (1957–1991)[edit]

During the first ten years, real results came in 1966 when Zamet won the Regional League of Primorje and Karlovac. During the 1960s Zamet played at the regional level. In 1969 Zamet's U-14 team won the club's first youth trophy at the Croatian U-14 Championship.

Until 1972, the club played in the Regional League of Primorje and Istra (Primorska regionalna liga), in which they won the championship title in 1966, 1970, and 1972, along with three runner-up titles. In 1972, they started competing in the Third Yugoslav League. In 1977, they were promoted to the Second Yugoslav League and, the following year, Zamet gained promotion to the First Yugoslav League. This decade saw players such as Marijan Seđak, Williams Černeka, Valter Marković, Željko Milanović, Darko Srdoč, Damir Čavlović, Boris Komucki, Renato Sošić and Jurica Lakić who left their marks in Zamet and handball in general. Unfortunately they were relegated after one season in the first league, finishing 14th.

For two seasons the club was renamed Partizan Rijeka from 1977 to 1979, when it was changed to Zamet.

In 1981, Zamet beat long time city rivals RK Kvarner and became Rijeka's top handball club. During the early 1980s, Zamet played in the second division. In 1982 the administration of MRK Zamet (men's team) and ŽRK Zamet (women's team) split up and went their separate ways.

The 1980s saw one of the best generation of players come through the club, such as Darko Dunato, Boris Dragičević, Marin Mišković, Tonči Peribonio, Valter Periša, Vlado Vukoje, Alvaro Načinović, Valner Franković, Mladen Prskalo, Valter Matošević and Drago Žiljak.

In 1987, they once again earned promotion to the first division, where they stayed until the breakup of Yugoslavian league in 1991. Their best position in the league was in 1987–88 when they were 8th.

Zamet in Croatia (1991–2014)[edit]

Following the independence of Croatia, from 1992, Zamet competed in the top-tier league – Croatian First A League. Their first season in the newly founded league saw a prominent rise of power with them finishing second in the league and reaching the semi-finals of Croatian Cup.

The second place in the league earned Zamet a chance to qualify for their first European competition, in this case the European Champions Cup. Unfortunately Zamet lost in the first round to Pivovarna Laško Celje on aggregate due to one goal, winning the first match and losing the second.[2]

With high expectations from the previous season, the 1992–93 season brought a big shock. Zamet finished 8th with coach Žiljak being replaced mid-season with Darko Dunato, who had retired as a player the previous season. Zamet were also eliminated from the Croatian Cup by Coning Medveščak Zagreb. The next season Žiljak returned as head coach but brought the same results as the season before. Zamet finished 8th.

In the 1994–95 season Zamet were relegated to the First B League, finishing 9th in the league with newly appointed coach Ivan Munitić. Zamet bounced back the next season, finishing first and gaining swift promotion back to the First A League. In this season a new generation of players emerged such as Mirza Džomba, Nikola Blažičko, Renato Sulić, Milan Uzelac, and Igor Saršon. The 1996–97 season saw Zamet in 5th place, a disappointing result due to the fact that they had players such as Valter Matošević and Irfan Smajlagić.

From 1997 to 2000 Zamet changed their name to Zamet Autotrans,[3] due to a sponsorship deal. During this period, Zamet regularly finished near the top of the table. Ivan Munitić also took Zamet to the quarter-final of EHF City Cup and Round 16 of the EHF Cup Winners' Cup.

In 2000, Zamet signed a new sponsorship deal with Teri-Crotek, changing the club's name to Zamet Crotek for four years. They made it to the Croatian Handball Cup final, where they finished as runners-up in 2000[4] and 2001.[5] With Damir Čavlović as head coach Zamet played Europe, each season making some of the best results the club saw.

After a successful period, poor results ensued, and during the late 2000s the club often finished in the middle or bottom half of the table. The club was also in financial trouble and often couldn't pay the players their salaries.

In 2011–12 Zamet got to the finals of the Croatian Cup where they lost to Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb.[6] That same season through league results they qualified for the EHF Cup for the first time in ten years. They lost to HK ASA Meso Lovoseice in their first round on aggregate 59–56.[7]

Recent years (2014–present)[edit]

On 23 April 2014 Vedran Devčić was appointed as the new president of Zamet. Vedran Babić was appointed as sports director; Damir Balenović, Marinko Blečić, Ivan Krešić, Miljenko Mrakovčić, Igor Načinović, Vjekoslav Sardelić, and Goran Stašek were appointed as board members; and Marin Mišković stayed on as head coach.[8] Zamet had ended their 2013–14 season in 6th place.[9]

Zamet played their 2014–15 season by finishing in 5th place 6 points down from entering the Championship play-offs. During the mid-table play-offs they secured their 7th place. Lovro Jotić was the club's top goal scorer with 147 goals.[10]

On 24 May 2015 it was announced that Mateo Hrvatin would be returning to the club.[11]

Over the summer president Devčić gave out statements that most of the club's debts had been paid, starting the season of on a positive note. Zamet started their season with a six-game winning streak.[12]

On 3 October the club opened up the RK Zamet Hall of Fame, putting up the national team jerseys of Alvaro Načinović, Valter Matošević, Mirza Džomba, Renato Sulić, Nikola Blažičko and Mateo Hrvatin, who were introduced into the Hall of Fame.[13]

Zamet finished their regular season in third place, qualifying for the Championship play-offs for the first time in ten years.[14] Zamet finished in fourth place in the Championship play-offs, qualifying for the EHF Cup qualifiers.

During the summer of 2016 Zamet lost key players Dario Černeka, Dino Slavić, Luka Kovačević, Petar Jelušić and Bojan Lončarić, beginning their season fairly weaker. On 19 May it was announced that Marin Kružić would be returning to Zamet, and they also signed newcomer Tin Lučin.[15]

Zamet started their 2016–17 season with a win against French team Créteil in their first EHF Cup qualifier. The second match was played in Dvorana Zamet, where Zamet, as media outlets said, had "the sweetest loss in history", as they lost 24:27. However, due to the goals scored in the first match, they passed to the next round on aggregate (56:56).[16] Zamet's domestic season didn't start that well, losing their first match to rivals RK Poreč, conceding a draw in their second to RK Dubrava and losing their third to RK Metalac.[17] The first two European matches took a toll on the team. They lost the first match of the second qualifiers to CSM București in București.[18] They equalized in the second match at home and passed through to the third and final stage of the EHF Cup qualification stage.[19] It was revealed on 17 October that Zamet would play their last qualifier against MT Melsungen.[20]

Two days later, on the 19th, Zamet faced Ribola Kaštela at home and entered their first win in the Premier League with a score of 35:28. Their next match was on 22 October where they played against RK Rudar away in Rude, where they won a tight match (25:28).

Venue[edit]

Since the foundation of the club matches were played on the playground Zamet when field handball was played. From 1973 until 2009, they played in Dvorana Mladosti, located in the suburb of Trsat.

As of 2009 the club has been playing in Centar Zamet. The capacity of the venue is 2,350 spectators.

Seasons[edit]

Since the beginning of Croatian handball in 1992 Zamet has competed at the highest level in the First A League, later renamed First League and now Premier League. They spent one season in the First B League in 1995–96 after being relegated.

Season Tier Division Pos.
1991–92 1 First A League 2nd
1992–93 1 First A League 6th
1993–94 1 First A League 8th
1994–95 1 First A League 9th
1995–96 2 First B League 1st
1996–97 1 First A League 5th
1997–98 1 First A League 3rd
1998–99 1 First A League 3rd
1999–00 1 First A League 7th
2000–01 1 First A League 4th
2001–02 1 First League 4th
2002–03 1 First League 5th
2003–04 1 First League 4th
Season Tier Division Pos.
2004–05 1 First League 14th
2005–06 1 First League 6th
2006–07 1 First League 10th
2007–08 1 First League 8th
2008–09 1 Premier League 14th
2009–10 1 Premier League 12th
2010–11 1 Premier League 9th
2011–12 1 Premier League 7th
2012–13 1 Premier League 7th
2013–14 1 Premier League 8th
2014–15 1 Premier League 7th
2015–16 1 Premier League 4th
2016–17 1 Premier League 9th
Season Tier Division Pos.
2017–18 1 Premier League 7th
2018–19 1 Premier League 8th
2019–20 1 Premier League N/A1
1 The season was voided due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Team[edit]

Current squad[edit]

Squad for the 2017–18 season

Technical staff[edit]

  • Croatia President: Vedran Devčić
  • Croatia Sports director: Vedran Babić
  • Croatia Head Coach: Drago Žiljak[21]
  • Croatia Assistant Coach: Marin Mišković
  • Croatia Fitness Coach: Emil Baltić
  • Croatia Fitness Coach: Dragan Marijanović
  • Croatia Team Manager : Boris Konjuh

Youth academy[edit]

Source: SportCom.hr

Notable former players[edit]

Coaches[edit]

  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Josip Šarić (Sep 1957 – Jun 1964)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Tomislav Mohorić☨ (Jul 1964 – Aug 1965)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mladenko Mišković (Aug 1965 – Apr 1966)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Simeon Kosanović (Apr 1966 – Sep 1968)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Stanko Jerger (Sep 1969 – May 1970)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mladenko Mišković☨ (May 1970 – Jun 1979)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vjekoslav Sardelić (Jun 1979 – Mar 1980)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ivica Rimanić (Mar 1980 – Jan 1981)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jurica Lakić☨ (Feb 1981 – Jun 1981)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Tomac (Jun 1981 – Apr 1986)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Marijan Seđak & Milan Blagovčanin (Apr 1986 – Aug 1987)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vjekoslav Sardelić, Mladenko Mišković & Milan Vučković (Sep 1987 – Jul 1988)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Josip Šojat (Jul 1988 – Jun 1990)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Damir Čavlović (Jul 1990 – 2 Aug 1991)
  • Croatia Drago Žiljak (2 Aug 1991 – Oct 1992)
  • Croatia Mladenko Mišković (interim) (Oct 1992 -Jan 1993)
  • Croatia Darko Dunato (Jan 1993 – 1 Jun 1993)
  • Croatia Drago Žiljak (1 Jun 1993 – 1 Aug 1994)
  • Croatia Ivan Munitić (1 Aug 1994 – 23 Jun 1995)
  • Croatia Drago Žiljak (1 Jul 1995 – 1 Jul 1997)
  • Croatia Ivan Munitić (1 Jul 1997 – 10 Oct 1999)
  • Croatia Damir Čavlović (10 Oct 1999 – 27 Feb 2003)
  • Croatia Zlatko Saračević (27 Feb 2003 – 22 Mar 2004)
  • Croatia Franko Mileta (22 Mar 2004 – 22 Dec 2004)
  • Croatia Williams Černeka (interim) (22 Dec 2004 – 25 Jun 2005)
  • Croatia Boris Dragičević (25 Jun 2005 – 27 Mar 2006)
  • Croatia Mladen Prskalo (27 Mar 2006 – 7 Feb 2007)
  • Croatia Drago Žiljak (7 Feb 2007 – 1 Aug 2009)
  • Croatia Damir Čavlović (1 Aug 2009 – 1 Jul 2010)
  • Croatia Alen Kurbanović (1 Jul 2010 – 28 Sep 2012)
  • Croatia Igor Dokmanović (interim) (2 Oct 2012 – 9 Oct 2012)
  • Croatia Irfan Smajlagić (9 Oct 2012 – 30 May 2013)
  • Croatia Marin Mišković (30 May 2013 – 4 March 2017)
  • Croatia Igor Marijanović (4 March 2017 – 28 January 2018)[22]
  • Croatia Drago Žiljak (29 January 2018 – 4 July 2018)[21]
  • Croatia Nedjeljko Lalić (4 July 2018 – 21 June 2019)[23][24]
  • Croatia Valter Matošević (10 July 2019 – )[25]

Presidents[edit]

  • 1957–1968 – Vittorio Drog☨ Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1968–1977 – Stanko Jerger Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1977–1979 – Ivan Brnabić Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1979–1980 – Fedor Pirović Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1980–1983 – Drago Crnčević Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1983–1985 – Petar Čarić☨ Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1985–1986 – Zrinko Hlača Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • 1987–1997 – Josip Rechner Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Croatia
  • 1998–1999 – Milan Krmpotić Croatia
  • 1999–2001 – Marko Markanović Croatia
  • 2001–2003 – Miljenko Mišljenović Croatia
  • 2003–2007 – Petar Bracanović☨ Croatia
  • 2007–2014 – Zdravko Kolić Croatia
  • 2014–present Vedran Devčić Croatia

Honours[edit]

Croatia[edit]

Vice Champions (1): 1992
Third Place (2): 1997–98, 1998–99
Finalists (3): 2000, 2001, 2012

Yugoslavia[edit]

Runner-up (2): 1979–80, 1983–84
Runner-up (2): 1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72

Unofficial tournaments[edit]

  • Memorial Jurica Lakić (1): 1985
  • City of Rijeka tournament (1): 1991
  • Edi Berbonić tournament (1): 1991
  • Hera Gold Cup (1): 1992
  • Memorial Dean Ožbolt (1): 2006
  • Memorial Robert Barbić Beli (3): 2008, 2014, 2015
  • West Region Cup/PGŽ Cup (5): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

Other[edit]

Zamet II[edit]

Youth[edit]

Runner-up (1): 2008
Third (1): 1994
Friendly tournaments
  • Memorial Zvonimir Škerl (3): 1993, 1994, 2002
  • Memorial Marijan Karlović (2): 2004, 2008
  • Mediterranean Cup (1): 2011
  • 93rd Labin republic tournament (1): 2013

Veterans[edit]

European record[edit]

By competition[edit]

Competition Pld W D L GF GA Last season played
European Champions Cup
EHF Champions League
2 1 0 1 35 36 1992–1993
EHF Cup 14 7 0 7 319 356 2016–17
EHF Cup Winners' Cup 10 3 0 7 231 246 2001–02
EHF City Cup
EHF Challenge Cup
4 3 0 1 94 85 1998–99
Total 30 14 0 16 679 723

Source: eurohandball.com Last updated on 26 November 2016.
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against. Defunct competitions indicated in italics.

Summary by ground[edit]

Ground Pld W D L GF GA GD
Home 15 7 0 8 349 347 +2
Away 15 6 0 9 330 371 −41
Total 30 13 0 17 679 718 −39

Source: eurohandball.com

By season[edit]

Season Competition Round Date of game Club First game Combined score Second game Club Date of game
1992–1993 European Champions Cup R1 9 September 1992 Slovenia Pivovarna Laško Celje 25–17 36–35 11 – 18 Croatia Zamet 23 September 1992
1998–1999 EHF City Cup 1/16 3 October 1998 Luxembourg HC Berchem 18–23 36- 50 18 – 27 Croatia Zamet Autotrans 10 October 1998
EHF City Cup 1/8 7 November 1998 France US Dunkerque HBGL 23–20 49–44 21 – 23 Croatia Zamet Autotrans 14 November 1998
1999–2000 EHF City Cup 1/16 3 October 1999 Switzerland Pfadi Winterthur 29–23 59–49 30–26 Croatia Zamet Autotrans 9 October 1999
2000–2001 EHF Cup Winners' Cup R3 11 November 2000 Belgium HCE Tongeren 15–16 31–41 16–25 Croatia Zamet Crotek 12 November 2000
EHF Cup Winners' Cup R4 10 December 2000 Croatia Zamet Crotek 20–21 41–53 21–32 Portugal FC Porto Vitalis 17 December 2000
2001–2002 EHF Cup Winners' Cup R3 9 November 2001 Croatia Zamet Crotek 31–34 63–55 32–21 Lithuania Siauliai Universitetas 11 November 2001
EHF Cup Winners' Cup R4 8 December 2001 Croatia Zamet Crotek 23–24 37–48 14–24 France Montpellier HB 16 December 2001
2002–2003 EHF Cup R2 12 October 2002 Belarus SKA Minsk 20–28 44–49 24–21 Croatia Zamet Crotek 13 October 2002
EHF Cup R3 12 October 2002 Croatia Zamet Crotek 27–24 47–42 20–18 NetherlandsWealer Geleen HB 16 November 2002
EHF Cup R4 8 December 2002 Russia Dinamo Viktor Stavropol 29–18 39–18 10–0 Croatia Zamet Crotek 14 December 2002
2012–2013 EHF Cup QR 1 8 September 2012 Czech Republic HK ASA Meso Lovoseice 27–23 59–56 32–33 Croatia Zamet 15 September 2012
2016–2017 EHF Cup QR 1 2 September 2016 France Créteil 29–32 56–56 27–24 Croatia Zamet 10 September 2016
EHF Cup QR 2 8 October 2016 Romania CSM București 29–23 50–50 27–21 Croatia Zamet 15 October 2016
EHF Cup QR 3 19 November 2016 Croatia Zamet 23–34 43:66 32:20 Germany MT Melsungen 26 November 2016

Player records[edit]

Rankings[edit]

EHF club coefficient ranking[edit]

(As of 30 April 2018), source: Eurotopteam website

Rank Team Points
154 North Macedonia RK Pelister 46
155 Belgium KV Sasja HC 46
156 Croatia RK ZAMET 45
157 Germany TBV Lemgo 44
158 Russia Dinamo Viktor Stavropol 44

Related clubs[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Zamet history". rk-zamet.com (in Croatian).
  2. ^ "Men Handball European Champions Cup 1992–1993". todor66.com.
  3. ^ "Zamet Autotrans" (PDF). autotrans.hr (in Croatian).
  4. ^ "Zamet easily to the finals". sportnet.hr (in Croatian).
  5. ^ "Zamet Autotrans" (PDF). autotrans.hr (in Croatian).
  6. ^ "Zamet u finalu hrvatskog Kupa!". rijekadanas.com (in Croatian).
  7. ^ "1. kolo Kupa EHF-a, uzvrat: Zamet – Mesto Lovosice 33:32". mojarijeka.hr (in Croatian).
  8. ^ "Vedran Devčić jednoglasno postao predsjednik". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  9. ^ "Marin Mišković: Predviđali su nam da ćemo ispasti, a ostvarili smo plasman kao i prošle sezone". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  10. ^ "Liga za poredak: Rukometaši Zameta pobijedili Spačvu u posljednjem kolu ove sezone". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  11. ^ "Mateo Hrvatin ponovo u dresu Zameta". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  12. ^ "ZAMET – BUZET (19) Riječka rukometna fešta za nastavak zametskog pozitivnog niza". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  13. ^ "SVEČANOST NA ZAMETU: Izloženi dresovi zaslužnih rukometaša". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  14. ^ "Valter Matošević: Sada mogu reći da smo se ljetos potajno nadali Ligi za prvaka". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  15. ^ "Marin Kružić i Tin Lučin potpisali, Zamet službeno predstavio nove igrače". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  16. ^ "Zamet doživio najdraži poraz u povijesti". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  17. ^ "Zamećani doživjeli novi poraz u prvenstvu". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  18. ^ "Kapetan Zameta nakon poraza u Bukureštu: Razlika je velika, ali nije nedostižna". Novi list (in Croatian).
  19. ^ "Povijesna pobjeda RK Zamet: Golik upalio fitilj slavlja". Novi list (in Croatian).
  20. ^ "Kup EHF: Zamet u zadnjem pretkolu protiv MT Melsungena, prva utakmica igra se u Rijeci". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  21. ^ a b "Drago Žiljak novi trener rukometaša Zameta, iskusni stručnjak peti put na klupi riječkog kluba". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  22. ^ "Igor Marijanović više nije trener rukometaša Zameta, čelnici riječkog premijerligaša promijenili stručni stožer". sportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  23. ^ "NEDJELJKO LALIĆ: Zamet ću pokušati odvesti među prva četiri". novilist.hr (in Croatian).
  24. ^ "Nedjeljko Lalić više nije trener rukometaša Zameta, Valter Matošević i dalje slovi kandidatom". SportCom.hr (in Croatian).
  25. ^ "Valter Matošević i službeno postao trener rukometaša Zameta". novilist.hr (in Croatian).
  26. ^ a b "HC Zamet profile". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Alvaro Načinović". SportCom.hr (in Croatian).

External links[edit]