FC Barcelona Handbol

Futbol Club Barcelona Handbol is a professional Spanish handball team based in Barcelona, Catalonia. It is a part of the FC Barcelona multi sports club, and was founded on 29 November 1942. The club competes domestically in the Liga ASOBAL and in the European Champions League. It is the most successful handball club in Spain and Europe with a record number of domestic and international titles.

FC Barcelona
Full name	Fútbol Club Barcelona Handbol
Founded	29 November 1942; 82 years ago (1942-11-29)
Arena	Palau Blaugrana
Capacity	7,500
President	Joan Laporta
Head coach	Antonio Carlos Ortega
League	Liga ASOBAL
2023–24	1st
Club colours
Home Away
Website Official site

History

Early years

The handball section of Futbol Club Barcelona was founded on 29 November 1942 during the presidency of Enrique Piñeyro.^[1] In the beginning handball was played with eleven players per team and did not have a specialized field to play. They used football fields until the late 1950s, when they started to play, as in actual games, with seven players and a covered field.^[1]

In the early stages, competitions were dominated by other teams like Atlético de Madrid and Granollers, breaking their domination few times.

They won their first league title and cup in 1969.^[1] Their homefield Palau Blaugrana was constructed in 1971, where they have played since.^[1]

Valero Rivera era (1983–2003)

Things changed radically with the arrival of one of the best coaches in handball history, Valero Rivera.^[1][2] With him, the team became virtually unbeatable in Spain and in Europe, winning a record of 62 trophies under his rule, including 5 consecutive European Cups.^[3][2]

Post Valero Rivera era (2003–present)

In the summer of 2013, the Barça handball team, conducted by the head coach Xavi Pascual, won the IHF Super Globe trophy, the only trophy that was still missing from the club's trophy cabinet.^[4]

FC Barcelona’s handball team closed out the 2013/14 Liga ASOBAL with a record-breaking winning run. Barça made history this season when they completed their Liga ASOBAL without dropping any points from all 30 match days.^[5]

FC Barcelona successfully defended its IHF Super Globe title in 2014, marking the first time a team has won back-to-back titles since the most prestigious club handball event has been hosted annually in the Qatari capital Doha.^[6][7]

Again, FC Barcelona handball team ended the 2014/2015 Liga ASOBAL season unbeaten for the second consecutive year.^[8]

FC Barcelona handball team won the seven titles disputed the 2014/2015 season, something which had not happened since the 1999/2000 season with Valero Rivera's Dream Team.^[9]

In 2017 FC Barcelona handball was again champion of the IHF Super Globe after beating the German team Füchse Berlin.^[10]

In 2018, the club won the Super Globe trophy again, for the fourth time. In a repeat of last year the team of head coach Xavi Pascual won the IHF Super Globe Final against Füchse Berlin, this time by a five-goal difference, 29–24.^[11]

Again Barça won the IHF Super Globe in 2019, their third in a row. The team led by Xavi Pascual beat THW Kiel 34–32.^[12]

In 2021 Barça regain the European throne six years after the last title, winning the final against Aalborg Håndbold (36–23), at the end of an absolutely impeccable season: 6/6 titles and 61/61 victories.^[13] Xavi Pascual's team secured the section's 10th Champions League and also became the first team to lift the golden net, the new trophy for the European champions from this season, as a replacement for the bronze arm. The title concludes a season with an emotional ending, since it marks the conclusion of a cycle and the goodbye of several players, in addition to David Barrufet, Xavi Pascual and Fernando Barbeito.^[14] Former Dream Team player, Carlos Ortega was chosen to be FC Barcelona's new handball coach for the next three seasons.^[15]

In the 2021–22 season, after the successes achieved the previous season, the azulgrana certified a new sextet, where the only title that escaped was the Super Globe in October. The team won the Spanish Super Cup, the Catalan Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, the Sacyr ASOBAL League, the Sacyr ASOBAL Cup, and finally the Champions League. The team ended the season winning the 11th Champions League in Barça history. Barça revalidated the title in Cologne, being the first team to win two consecutive years with the new final four format, and extended its dominance in the historic record of the Handball Champions League.^[16]

Kits

HOME
2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23

AWAY
2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-

THIRD
2021-

Trophies

• IHF Super Globe: 5 – record
  • 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
• EHF Champions League: 12 – record
  • 1990–91, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
• EHF Cup Winner's Cup: 5 – record
  • 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1993–94, 1994–95
• EHF Cup
  • 2002–03
• European Super Cup: 5 – record
  • 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2003–04
• Liga ASOBAL: 32 – record
  • 1968–69, 1972–73, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Copa del Rey: 29 – record
  • 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Copa ASOBAL: 20 – record
  • 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Supercopa ASOBAL: 24 – record
  • 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
• Supercopa Ibérica: 3 – record
  • 2022, 2023, 2024
• Spanish Championship: 6 – record
  • 1944–45, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1956–57
• Catalan Championship: 10 – record
  • 1943–44, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58
• Catalan League: 12 – record
  • 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97
• Pyrenees League: 12 – record
  • 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
• Catalan Super Cup: 12 – record
  • 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Double: 18
  • 1968–69, 1972–73, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Triple Crown: 7
  • 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24

Season by season

Season Tier Division Pos. Notes 1990–91 1 ASOBAL 1st / 1st Champion 1991–92 1 ASOBAL 1st / 2nd Champion 1992–93 1 ASOBAL 2nd / 3rd 1993–94 1 ASOBAL 1st / 1st / ½ 1994–95 1 ASOBAL 2nd 1995–96 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 1996–97 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 1997–98 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 1998–99 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 1999–00 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2000–01 1 ASOBAL 2nd 2001–02 1 ASOBAL 2nd 2002–03 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2003–04 1 ASOBAL 2nd 2004–05 1 ASOBAL 4th 2005–06 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2006–07 1 ASOBAL 4th 2007–08 1 ASOBAL 2nd 2008–09 1 ASOBAL 2nd 2009–10 1 ASOBAL 2nd

Season Tier Division Pos. Notes 2010–11 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2011–12 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2012–13 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2013–14 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2014–15 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2015–16 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2016–17 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2017–18 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2018–19 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2019–20 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2020–21 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2021–22 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2022–23 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2023–24 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion 2024–25 1 ASOBAL 1st Champion

---

• 32 seasons in Liga ASOBAL

Season by season (B team)

Season	Tier	Division	Pos.	Notes
2001–02	3	1ª Nacional	10th
2002–03	3	1ª Nacional	3rd
2003–04	3	1ª Nacional	1st
2004–05	3	1ª Nacional	2nd
2005–06	3	1ª Nacional	1st
2006–07	3	1ª Nacional	2nd
2007–08	3	1ª Nacional	8th
2008–09	3	1ª Nacional	1st / 1st / 2nd
2009–10	3	1ª Nacional	1st / 1st / 1st	Promoted
2010–11	2	Plata	6th
2011–12	2	Plata	1st
2012–13	2	Plata	1st
2013–14	2	Plata	1st
2014–15	2	Plata	3rd
2015–16	2	Plata	5th

European record

Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st leg	2nd leg	Aggregate
2020–21	EHF Champions League	Group Matches (Group B)	HC Motor Zaporizhzhia	42–24	30–25	1st place
			HBC Nantes	30–29	35–27
			PPD Zagreb	45–27	37–33
			Aalborg Håndbold	42–33	35–32
			THW Kiel	29–25	32–26
			Telekom Veszprém	37–30	37–34
			RK Celje	42–28	32–29
		Last 16	Elverum Håndball	39–19	37–25	76–44
		Quarterfinals	Meshkov Brest	40–28	33–29	73–57
		Semifinal	HBC Nantes	31–26
		Final	Aalborg Håndbold	36–23
2019–20	EHF Champions League	Group Matches (Group A)	Paris Saint-Germain	36–32	35–32	1st place
			MOL-Pick Szeged	30–28	28–31
			Aalborg	44–35	34–30
			Flensburg	31–27	34–27
			Celje	45–21	37–25
			PPD Zagreb	32–23	36–19
			Elverum	33–24	30–26
		Quarterfinals		Cancelled
		Semi-final (F4)	Paris Saint-Germain	37–32
		Final (F4)	THW Kiel	28–33

Team

Staff

Staff for the 2025–26 season

• General Manager Xavier O'Callaghan
• Head coach Antonio Carlos Ortega
• Assistant coach Konstantin Igropulo
• Assistant coach Jordi Rosell
• Goalkeeping coach Tomas Svensson
• Physiotherapist Sebastià Salas
• Club doctor Josep A. Gutiérrez

Current squad

Squad for the 2025–26 season

Goalkeeper 01 Viktor Gísli Hallgrímsson 12 Emil Nielsen Left Wingers 06 Daniel Fernández Ian Barrufet Right Wingers 18 Blaž Janc 20 Aleix Gómez Line players 03 Antonio Bazán Legasa 72 Ludovic Fabregas 82 Luís Frade Òscar Grau

Left Backs 09 Jonathan Carlsbogård 19 Timothey N'Guessan Central Backs 35 Domen Makuc 45 Seif El-Deraa 88 Petar Cikusa Right Backs 10 Dika Mem (c) Djordje Cikusa

Transfers

Transfers for the 2026–27 season

Joining

Leaving Emil Nielsen (GK) (to ONE Veszprém) [17]

Transfer History

Transfers for the 2025–26 season

Joining Ludovic Fabregas L(P) from ONE Veszprém Viktor Gísli Hallgrímsson (GK) from Wisła Płock[18] Seif El-Deraa (CB) from Limoges Handball[19] Daniel Fernández (LW) from TVB Stuttgart[20] Ian Barrufet (LW) back from loan at MT Melsungen[21] Djordje Cikusa (RB) back from loan at Montpellier Leaving Vincent Gérard (GK) (retires) Melvyn Richardson (RB) to Wisła Płock[22] Hampus Wanne (LW) to HØJ Elite Thiagus dos Santos (LB) to ONE Veszprém Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (GK) to THW Kiel[23] Aitor Ariño (LW) to Füchse Berlin[24] Juan Palomino (LB) to BM Granollers Pol Valera (CB) to FC Porto

Notable former coaches

• Antonio Lázaro
• Josep Vilà
• Sergio Petit
• Miquel Roca
• Valero Rivera (1983–2003)
• Xesco Espar (2004–2007)
• Manolo Cadenas (2007–2009)
• Xavier Pascual Fuertes (2009–2021)
• Antonio Carlos Ortega (2021–present)

Notable former players

See also: Category:FC Barcelona Handbol players

• Mikel Aguirrezabalaga
• David Barrufet
• Joan Cañellas
• Alberto Entrerríos
• Raúl Entrerríos
• Rubén Garabaya
• Juanín García
• Mateo Garralda
• Òscar Grau
• Rafael Guijosa
• Demetrio Lozano
• Enric Masip
• Xavier O'Callaghan
• Antonio Carlos Ortega
• Salvador Puig
• Lorenzo Rico
• Albert Rocas
• Iker Romero
• Joan Sagalés
• Víctor Tomás González
• Cristian Ugalde
• Iñaki Urdangarín
• Arpad Šterbik
• Andrei Xepkin
• Eric Gull
• Senjanin Maglajlija
• Muhamed Memić
• Danijel Šarić
• Siarhei Rutenka
• Marco Oneto
• Patrik Ćavar
• Davor Dominiković
• Venio Losert
• Igor Vori
• Marko Kopljar
• Michal Kasal
• Filip Jícha
• Lasse Andersson
• Joachim Boldsen
• Mikkel Hansen
• Kasper Hvidt
• Lars Krogh Jeppesen
• Kevin Møller
• Casper Ulrich Mortensen
• Jesper Nøddesbo
• Ali Zein
• Kiril Lazarov
• Borko Ristovski
• Jérôme Fernandez
• Nikola Karabatić
• Yanis Lenne
• Cédric Sorhaindo
• Christian Schwarzer
• Erhard Wunderlich
• László Nagy
• Aron Pálmarsson
• Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson
• Frode Hagen
• Glenn Solberg
• Kamil Syprzak
• Bogdan Wenta
• Alexandru Dedu
• Konstantin Igropulo
• Mladen Bojinović
• Ivan Lapčević
• Petar Nenadić
• Dejan Perić
• Nenad Peruničić
• Dragan Škrbić
• Jure Dolenec
• Luka Žvižej
• Mattias Andersson
• Mathias Franzén
• Magnus Jernemyr
• Jonas Larholm
• Fredrik Ohlander
• Johan Sjöstrand
• Tomas Svensson
• Walid Ben Amor
• Wael Jallouz
• Petrit Fejzula
• Milan Kalina
• Zlatko Portner
• Veselin Vujović
• Veselin Vuković