Kosovo men's national handball team

The Kosovo national men's handball team is the national handball team of Kosovo, representing the country in international competition. The team is governed by Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competition in 2014, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

Kosovo
Information
Nickname
  • Dardanët (Dardanians)
  • Luanët e Artë (Golden Lions)
AssociationHandball Federation of Kosovo
CoachBujar Qerimi
CaptainValon Dedaj
Most capsKastriot Jupa (54)
Most goalsKastriot Jupa (182)
Colours
Home
Away
Results
IHF Emerging Nations Championship
Appearances2 (First in 2015)
Best result3rd (2015, 2017)
Last updated on 18 June 2017.

History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953, Handball Federation of Kosovo was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation.

In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship.

Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Handball Federation of Kosovo began operating independently.

In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.

After a difficult start, Kosovo’s national team has started to gain notoriety in international competition. After twice winning the bronze medal in the international IHF Trophy for emerging nations, in Kosovo 2015 on home soil and as well in Bulgaria 2017 the team is no longer considered an emerging nation.[1] Kosovo after this tournament advanced to the 2nd phase of qualification for EURO 2020.

Following a lengthy campaign in the 2020 European Men's Handball Championship qualification where Kosovo defeated Israel and drew Poland, the team won a direct spot in the second phase of the upcoming 2022 qualification tournament.

Most recently, at the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship – European Qualification tournament, Kosovo drew with Italy and defeated Georgia to take the second place, behind Romania, in the qualifying group.

Tournaments
Kosovo men's national handball team
Medal record
IHF Emerging Nations Championship
2015 Kosovo
2017 Bulgaria

IHF Emerging Nations Championship
Year Position Pld W D L
Kosovo 20153rd6402
Bulgaria 20173rd6402
Total12804

EHF European Championship

IHF Handball World Championship

Team

Current squad
No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
2 RW Agon Bajqinovci (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 1.86 m 4 2 KH Prishtina
5 PV Kastriot Jupa (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 1.88 m 54 182 KH Besa Famgas
7 PV Florim Hoxha (1991-07-23) 23 July 1991 1.83 m 28 81 SV Anzing Handball
10 LB Enis Kabashi (1991-04-26) 26 April 1991 1.92 m 19 67 TG Landshut
11 CB Valon Dedaj (1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 1.75 m 42 164 HSC Kreuzlingen
12 GK Flamur Gërbeshi (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 1.88 m 16 0 IFK Karlskrona
14 RB Drenit Tahirukaj (1998-04-28) 28 April 1998 1.92 m 26 75 HSC Kreuzlingen
15 LB Deniz Terziqi (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 1.89 m 43 136 KH Besa Famgas
18 LW Florian Rexha (2001-11-29) 29 November 2001 1.88 m 2 0 KH Vëllaznimi
21 RB Arbios Mushkolaj (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 1.90 m 6 3 KH Deçani
24 PV Luigj Quni (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 1.91 m 34 47 GC Amicitia Zürich
25 LB Festim Mustafa (1998-05-22) 22 May 1998 2.02 m 8 2 KH Prishtina
26 RW Drilon Tahirukaj (1995-08-28) 28 August 1995 1.80 m 39 78 KH Deçani
27 LW Lulëzim Shabani (1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 1.89 m 16 18 KH Prishtina
28 GK Haris Berisha (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 1.99 m 31 1 HSC Kreuzlingen
30 GK Mursel Mehmeti (1994-08-20) 20 August 1994 1.92 m 5 0 KH Besa Famgas
31 LB Bujar Ramosaj (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 1.99 m 23 11 HSC Kreuzlingen
33 LB Jon Muqolli (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 1.90 m 16 8 KH Besa Famgas
35 PV Rron Ramadani (1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 1.92 m 9 0 KH Prishtina
49 PV Sali Maxhera (1993-07-20) 20 July 1993 1.90 m 5 1 KH Trepça
68 CB Egzon Gjuka (1995-05-17) 17 May 1995 1.92 m 33 96 KH Besa Famgas
68 CB Shaban Zogaj (2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 1.90 m 6 9 Aalborg Håndbold
91 GK Liridon Zena (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 1.90 m 13 0 RK Zamet

Individual all-time records

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ^
    Taip Ramadani during 2020 due to COVID-related travel restrictions could not join the team and so Cabanas was named as his replacement for the 2020 matches.[3]

References
  1. "Kosova fiton medaljen e bronztë në hendboll".
  2. Official website (in Albanian)
  3. "Javier Cabanas drejton Kosovën në ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Suedinë" [Javier Cabanas leads Kosovo in matches with Montenegro and Sweden] (in Albanian). Handball Federation of Kosovo. 21 October 2020.
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