Ivano Balić
Croatian handball player (born 1979) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ivano Balić (pronounced [ǐʋano bǎːlitɕ, - bǎ-]; born 1 April 1979) is a Croatian former professional handballer who is currently part of the coaching staff at RK Split.[1] Renowned for his speed, creativity, movement and charisma as a player, Balić won the 2003 World Championship and the Olympic gold medal in 2004 with the Croatian national team, and thirteen titles playing for clubs in Croatia, Spain and Germany.[2][3] He also earned two World Championship silver medals (2005, 2009), two silver and one bronze European Championship medal (2008, 2010, 2012), and one Olympic bronze medal (2012) with the national team.
Ivano Balić | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Ivano Balić | ||
Born |
(1979-04-01) 1 April 1979 (age 45) Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Centre back | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | RK Split (coaching staff) | ||
Senior clubs | |||
Years | Team | ||
1997–2001 | RK Brodomerkur Split | ||
2001–2004 | RK Metković Jambo | ||
2004–2008 | Portland San Antonio | ||
2008–2012 | RK CO Zagreb | ||
2012–2013 | Atlético Madrid | ||
2013–2015 | HSG Wetzlar | ||
National team | |||
Years | Team | ||
1998–1999 | Croatia U-20 | ||
1998–1999 | Croatia U-21 | ||
2001–2012 | Croatia | 198 | (535) |
Teams managed | |||
2021–2023 | Croatia (assistant) | ||
Medal record |
Regarded as one of the greatest players in handball history, Balić was voted the most valuable player in five consecutive major international competitions and is one of only four male handball players to receive the IHF World Player of the Year award on more than one occasion (2003, 2006).[4][2][3][5] In 2010, he was voted the best handball player in history in an online poll organized by the International Handball Federation (IHF).[6] Balić was inducted into the European Handball Hall of Fame in 2023.[7]