Veselin Vujović

The first athlete to receive the IHF World Player of the Year award, Veselin Vujović established a benchmark in international handball that remains relevant. Born in Cetinje in 1961, he developed his skills within the Yugoslavian system before pursuing a career that spanned top-tier clubs in Europe and later transitioned into a prominent coaching tenure.

Domestic Dominance with Metaloplastika

During the 1980s, Vujović became central to the success of RK Metaloplastika. As part of a golden generation, he secured seven Yugoslav First League titles between 1982 and 1988, along with four Yugoslav Cup victories. On the continental stage, his impact was significant, contributing to two European Champions Cup titles in the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, after reaching one final and three semi-finals earlier in the decade.

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International Performance and Individual Honors

Vujović represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. In 1984, he helped the squad secure a gold medal by scoring 28 goals across six matches. Four years later, he added a bronze medal to his collection, recording 29 goals in six appearances. Beyond his team achievements, he was named the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1986 and remains the national team's all-time top scorer with 738 goals.

Professional Tenure in Spain

Moving to Barcelona, Vujović continued his competitive trajectory, winning four consecutive Liga ASOBAL titles from 1989 through 1992. His stint in Spain also included four Supercopa ASOBAL victories, two Copa del Rey titles, and a European Champions Cup win during the 1990–91 season. Following his time in Barcelona, he played for Granollers, where he won the Copa ASOBAL in 1994 and the EHF Cup in 1995.

Coaching Career Transitions

Since retiring from play, Vujović has held numerous coaching roles across several countries. He guided the Slovenian national team to a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championship, marking the nation's best performance at the tournament. His managerial history includes successful periods with clubs such as Vardar, where he secured multiple Macedonian titles, and Zagreb. He currently serves as the head coach for RK Nexe Našice and the Qatar men's national handball team.