Željko Babić (handballer)
Željko Babić (born 19 May 1972) is a Croatian professional handball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for RK Eurofarm Pelister.
| Željko Babić | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | ||||||||||
| Born |
19 May 1972 Metković, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | |||||||||
| Nationality | Croatian | |||||||||
| Playing position | Right wing | |||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||
| Current club | RK Eurofarm Pelister (manager) | |||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||
1982–1988 | RK PIK Neretva Opuzen | |||||||||
1988–1989 | Badel 1862 Zagreb | |||||||||
| Senior clubs | ||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||
1988–1994 | Badel 1862 Zagreb | |||||||||
1994–1998 | RK Metković Razvitak | |||||||||
1998–2001 | ALPI Pallamano Prato | |||||||||
2001–2003 | RK Metković Jambo | |||||||||
2003–2004 | Gammadue Secchia | |||||||||
2004–2005 | A.S. Pallamano Secchia | |||||||||
2005–2006 | RK Jelsa | |||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||
2007–2008 | RA Balić-Metličić | |||||||||
2008–2009 | RK Metković | |||||||||
2009 | RK Krško | |||||||||
2009–2011 | RK EMC Split | |||||||||
2010–2013 | Croatia (assistant) | |||||||||
2013–2015 | HC Meshkov Brest | |||||||||
2015–2017 | Croatia | |||||||||
2017–2018 | RK Gorenje Velenje | |||||||||
2020– | RK Eurofarm Pelister | |||||||||
Medal record
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Playing career
Babić has played for the following clubs: RK PIK Neretva Opuzen, Badel 1862 Zagreb, Razvitak Metković, Gammaude and Pallamano Secchia, and RK Jelsa. He retired from playing professional handball in 2006.
Coaching career
Babić has worked as an assistant coach under the coaching staff of Slavko Goluža in the Croatia national team, winning the bronze medal at the 2012 European Championship, bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, bronze medal at the 2013 World Championship and the silver medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games.
On 27 February 2015, he was appointed the head coach for the Croatia national team, leading the team at the 2016 European Championship, the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2017 World Championship.[1] On 30 January 2017, it was reported that Babić has been sacked as the head coach of the national team due to a poor run of results and due to finishing fourth in the World Championship held in January at France.
Following the 2017–18 season, Babić was named the head coach of the Slovenian club RK Gorenje Velenje. He parted ways with the club in May 2018.
On 9 January 2020, he was appointed the head coach of RK Eurofarm Rabotnik.[2]
Personal life
Babić was born in Metković, in family of father Ante and mother Nedjeljka Babić. He has brother Ivica, who is a priest and also has a sister. He married his wife Katarina Vukoja. The couple has three children: Greta and Ivan, who are twins, and one more daughter Anđa.
Honours
Player
- Zagreb
- Croatian First League: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94
- Croatian Cup: 1992, 1993, 1994
- Yugoslav First League: 1988–89, 1990–91
- Yugoslav Cup: 1991
- European Champions Cup: 1991–92, 1992–93
- European Super Cup: 1993
- Metković
- Croatian Cup: 2002
- Pallamano Prato
- Serie A: 1998–99
Head coach
- Meshkov
- Belarusian First League: 2013–14, 2014–15
- Belarusian Cup: 2014, 2015
- SEHA League runner-up: 2013–14, 2014–15
- Croatia
- European Championship third place: 2016
References
- "Men's EHF Euro 2016 Poland. Croatia". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- "Željko Babić novi trener Eurofarma". www.balkan-handball.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
Croatia squad – Men's handball – 2016 European Championship – Bronze medal | ||
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