Ivan Cupic: Vardar's shirt is heavy and not for everyone

Culture and traditions at the heart of the club

After walking back through the door last season, the legendary Ivan Cupic immediately set the bar high, culminating in the Red-Blacks lifting the Macedonian Super League title for the first time since 2022 and thus earning a comeback to the EHF elite club competition after a four-season absence.

"I've spoken a million times about Vardar, Skopje, Macedonia, Komiti [Vardar's fans] and the people who love the club. I felt at home from the first day. I consider Vardar, Skopje and Macedonia my second home,” begins Cupic.

The Croatian legendary player turned coach highlights one of Vardar’s best assets — their culture, which he tries to pass on to his squad.

“Vardar have a culture and a tradition that is incredible and that probably suits my sporting character very well. It was like that when I was a player, and now, as a coach, together with my coaching staff, I try to explain and capture that culture to all the players. I try to make them believe in it, learn to live with it, merge and synchronize with that culture.

“I always say that there are not many world-class players who have had the privilege and chance to play for Vardar. Not everyone can play for Vardar and not everyone can be a coach of Vardar. We feel that and we are aware of that. I try to explain it to them and I tell all the players.

“Some of the new players watched Vardar on TV and are still not aware of what that means. But when they come to the packed Jane Sandanski arena, they will understand how much love and how much tradition this club has. It's not a matter of just one love, but of one life. It takes time to understand that, but when you understand it, then everything you say about Vardar will be related to that," adds Cupic.

The excitement in Skopje is growing fast ahead of the new EHF Champions League campaign and especially after HC Vardar 1961 came within a few goals of securing a place at the EHF Finals last season, but Montpellier Handball's first-leg advantage proved crucial in the end.

"That's in the past. We had a great season in the EHF European League and were very, very close to qualifying for the final four. Montpellier was a bit better and deservedly progressed. We certainly gained a lot and learned a lot from those matches. 

“Of course, there is excitement [about the new Champions League season]. We have created a young and ambitious team. Hardly any of our players have experience of playing in the Champions League with their previous clubs. For all my players, it will be a great experience. Of course, I, as their coach, and all the players, are looking forward to the start of the Champions League," opens up Cupic.

The return among the elites

The EHF Champions League winners from 2017 and 2019 are placed in the unpredictable group B alongside MT Melsungen, HBC Nantes and Orlen Wisla Plock, with HC Vardar 1961 set to open the new campaign in Germany. Interestingly enough, the club defeated the reigning EHF European League champions twice in the main round last season and MT Melsungen are led by none other than Roberto Garcia Parrondo, former Vardar coach, having coached Ivan Cupic himself.

But, despite the tough competition, the Croatian is targeting a place in the top two.

"We train and work in that direction [towards finishing in the top two]. We don't look at who we play with and we don't look at the table. We certainly have our own math and our own calculation. We play with top, elite teams, but we will certainly look for our chance. We believe that we can get a good and positive result. 

“Like every coach, I hope that we will stay healthy and that we will welcome the start of the Champions League prepared, motivated and healthy. I'm not only looking forward to facing Parrondo, who was my coach and under whose guidance I played. He's an excellent, top coach, who has an excellent career behind him. I'm also looking forward to meeting other colleagues, coaches who have been established in top clubs for years. That is certainly a great motivation for me as a young coach," analyses Cupic.

The power of the fans

Skopje is eagerly awaiting Vardar's first home match in the EHF Champions League since 2022 and HBC Nantes are coming to the Jane Sandanski arena for the high-octane clash on 16 September. Also, with Ivan Cupic having played both as a fan favourite and opponent in Skopje during his career, the 40-year-old fully understands the grasp of what it means to play in a sold-out arena.

"We can't wait [for the first home match]. That's what we live and work for. I'm sure that Komiti, like all the people in Skopje who love and support Vardar, are eagerly awaiting that match after four years. In my humble opinion, the Jane Sandanski arena will be small for all the people who love Vardar and who will want to come and watch the first home match against Nantes.”

Returning to the elite club competition is no easy challenge, but the energy and atmosphere created by the packed arena might just be the boost that Vardar need to perform at their best.

“It's a very, very hot court. I have experience from the period when I didn't play for Vardar and came to Skopje with other clubs, then when I played for Vardar, as well as from last year, when I was the coach of Vardar. I can truly say that it is the hottest pitch in Europe and that it's very difficult to play there. But we, as a team, have to justify that. We have to have a connection with the Jane Sandanski arena and feel that energy. With our play, our behavior and our attitude towards the jersey, together with our fans, we have to create a nice atmosphere. I really want us to have an extra player in all home matches in the Champions League."

Fresh energy in the squad

The Macedonian champions strengthened the squad over the summer with seven new players: Milan Bomaštar, Leon Ljevar, Marko Gjorcheski, Abdelhak Mohab Mohamed, Nikolche Nechovski, Boban Popovski, as well as Mattéo Fadhuile, who is the standout signing for the side. The 24-year-old was the second-highest scorer in France's top tier last term, with 204 goals, and he is already taking a key role in pre-season, alongside Jaka Malus, who was the club's top scorer in the EHF European League last season with 65 goals.

"Not only Mattéo, but all the players we brought in this season are great reinforcements and a great addition to the team from last year. Considering that last year we started making a kind of selection, we moved from quantity to quality. We added internationals from Croatia, Egypt, France and Serbia to the team. I'm sure that not only on paper, but also on the court, we will look better, more qualitative and more powerful. That is the direction in which Vardar should move,” explains Cupic, while also mentioning the importance of working together as a team:

“One player does not make Vardar. We must have a team, we must have a locker room and we must all be together. Not only Mattéo, but all the other players will be of great help and support to our club in achieving its goals next season."

New season, new objectives

Finally, the Macedonian Super League is gaining prominence as one of the best leagues across Europe, with no less than four clubs — HC Vardar 1961, HC Eurofarm Pelister, HC Ohrid and HC Alkaloid — vying for the title. As reigning champions, defending the double crown is one of Vardar's ultimate goals alongside going as far as possible in the EHF Champions League Men this season.

"We want to defend the title and that's why we are preparing and training. The other teams — Pelister, Alkaloid and Ohrid — are serious competitors and have serious quality. That's why the league is strong. It's certain that this year will be a marathon and a difficult season ahead of us.”

The competition is undoubtedly high both in the national league and on the European stage, and Cupic chooses to focus on the development of the team:

“But I want to talk about Vardar, my team and my club. I don't want to go into it and explain what Alkaloid, Pelister or Ohrid are doing well. We have to be focused on ourselves and know that nothing will come by itself this season either. We have to be at our best in every training session in order to lift the trophies in 10 months. That's how we set ourselves up from day one and that's how we want to continue working and winning.

“I hope that when we draw the line in June, we will be champions. I think as a club we would be happy if we continued to play in the Champions League and won the double crown again. Given the quality, the budget and what is set before us, those are realistic goals. But I think that if the team is healthy, if we work well and if we are a synchronized family, we can do something more. That requires a little luck, knowledge and our fanaticism. If we're synchronised and if everything is right, I think we can achieve all our goals. That is what we are working towards — not to lose matches," concludes Cupic.

Photos © Denis Dukovski (main & in-text), Axel Heimken (in-text)