Former Croatian national team coach Hrvoje Horvat has returned home to take charge of RK Zagreb. In a major interview, he revealed his plans for the Champions League, his reliance on the 5-1 defense, family reasons for his return, and who he sees as the main favorites for the European throne.
New RK Zagreb coach and former Croatian national team coach Hrvoje Horvat is intensively preparing his team for a season with a clear imperative: to win both domestic trophies and finally make a breakthrough in the Champions League. After altitude training in Slovenia's Rogla, where the team honed their fitness under the watchful eye of physical trainer Šime Tomašević, Horvat shared key details of his vision with Sportske novosti.
Horvat doesn't hide that defense is an absolute priority in building the team. "From day one, we've focused on the defensive component of the team, and that's how the roster, strengthened with several quality players, was assembled," said Horvat, adding that he looked to the national team as a model. "The national team showed that our specific 5-1 zone can work, and we've been working in that direction during the preparations so far."
Zagreb brought in as many as eight new players during the transfer window, but Horvat avoids comparisons with last season. "It's pointless to draw parallels with last season's team. Players were brought in according to the plan and needs, and each will have their own role," he emphasized. The players' physical condition is at an excellent level, and the individual programs Tomašević assigned during the transition period have been fully completed.
The Champions League draw handed Zagreb an extremely demanding group with the champions of France, Denmark, and Slovenia: Paris, Aalborg, and Celje. "There are no easy opponents. The group is challenging, but I'm optimistic and can't wait for it to start," Horvat said. He also praised the new competition format: "Previously, it was artificially somewhat closed within a circle of the same clubs, and it became monotonous for people. This is a welcome refreshment, an incentive for other smaller clubs and communities."
He is aware of the budget constraints compared to European giants, but he doesn't want that to be an excuse. "We have our solutions; we bridge the gaps daily, and we're on the right track." His return to Zagreb wasn't straightforward because he had a valid contract with Schaffhausen, but reason prevailed. "My signature was one of the last because Schaffhausen was stalling and causing problems. Still, towards the end, I communicated a lot with Zagreb's management, and we finalized the team's contours together."
Even though he had a better contract and less pressure in the orderly Swiss environment, Horvat returned to Croatia. "Zagreb is a big club that is a constant in the Champions League. Working at home is certainly an additional challenge, but Zagreb is working on stabilizing the club and staff and has an excellent project that I liked. The reason for returning was also family; I came back home because we were separated for a long time," he revealed.
In Zagreb, he lives five minutes from the arena, and his family is his biggest support. His daughter Tara is 16, and his 12-year-old son Borna already trains handball at Metalac. "He's left-handed, which is a big plus; he has the potential, and he has that 'handball' gene from his grandfather and father. I don't push him at all; maybe his mother Aleksandra pushes him a bit more. We leave the decision to him; there's no luck if someone pushes you along and you didn't do it out of passion and with a smile."
When it comes to his father, Hrvoje Horvat Sr., one of the best players in handball history, emotions are inevitable. "Handball has always been at home, and it still is, on the 'menu' for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dad still watches and follows everything and has always been well-intentioned. By nature modest and shy, he sometimes doesn't say everything he might think, but he's still my wind at my back and constant support with valuable advice," said Horvat.
And when asked what he would give to have a player like his father in today's roster, Horvat wistfully replied: "Eeeh, if only I had a player like he was. There are few like that..."
He also commented on the current national team led by Dagur Sigurðsson. "Now we again have a good mix of older and younger players, all in their prime and all playing in top clubs. The national team has successfully completed a generational shift, and everything seems much better." He also recalled his tenure marked by COVID and bad luck: "Every lesson has a price, and someone sometimes has to pay it all."
When it comes to the club scene, Horvat sees Veszprém as the main favorite to win the Champions League, especially after they brought in Emil Nielsen from Barcelona. "Now that Nielsen, as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has strengthened that team, Veszprém is the biggest favorite," Horvat believes, adding that Barcelona and Magdeburg are also in the mix. He predicts continued dominance for Denmark at the national team level due to their phenomenal system and deep squad.
After preparations in Hungary (Tatabánya) and North Macedonia (Ohrid), where Zagreb will test themselves against Kielce, Celje, Zamalek, and Vojvodina, the season begins. The first round of the domestic league has been moved to September 5, when Zagreb visits Bjelovar, which is ceremonially opening its new arena. Just four days later, on September 9, the Champions League premiere against Celje at home is scheduled.
"We must win both domestic trophies-that's not up for debate; it's as simple as saying 'good day.' We want to get through the Champions League group stage; we'll do our own math to outsmart someone objectively stronger," Horvat concluded, aware that success in Zagreb could also open the door to a return to the national team bench: "That's primarily an enormous honor, but also a challenge. You dream about it, but right now, only Zagreb is on my mind."
