Nedim Remili has always been a student of the game. Since he was just a junior, he was always trying to find out more, absorbing information like a sponge. He lives and breathes handball and talks with passion about the sport.

Now, in his prime, at 29 years old, Remili is considered one of the best players in the world, named as the All-Star centre back at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, the All-Star right back at the 2017 IHF Men’s World Championship, the All-Star centre back at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the MVP of the EHF EURO 2024.

“If you watch me play handball, I always play with a lot of tactics on my game,” says Remili, after yet another dominating performance in the semi-final of the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, where he scored nine goals in his team’s win against FC Barcelona, 39:34, including four in the extra-time.

His handball IQ and versatility – Remili started as a right back, but can also play as a centre back, like he did for France men’s national team in the past years – has made the French star one of the most sought-after players on the market. 

He started his career at US Creteil, where his father, Kamel, was a player and a general director. Then, he moved to French champions PSG Handball, where he spent six seasons, before signing for Industria Kielce. But after only a few months, Remili joined Veszprem HC, where he has been plying his trade since February 2023.

In a short amount of time, Remili settled and became the fulcrum of Veszprem’s attack, being a key player for the Hungarian side. But when Xavi Pascual, arugably the most decorated coach in the last decades at club level, agreed to lead the team, everything clicked for Remili.

The French back reveled at the prospect of being coached by one of the greatest minds in handball and the connection was instant. At the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, when Remili was not on the court, he is usually sitting on the first chairs of the bench, constantly talking with Pascual about tactics.

“He is a scientist of handball. Of course, I have already learnt a lot from him. He knows this game very well. And he adapts a lot to his players. His commitment is the main thing, his main quality into handball. This commitment he has, the devotion he puts into the game. It is really impressive,” says Remili.

Pascual is definitely a household name in handball. At the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, he won the title five times, being the most decorated coach, sealing the titles in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. After he left, FC Barcelona failed to win the competition.

Then, he won the Machineseeker EHF Champions League three times with the Spanish club, creating a true machine, before leaving for Romanian club Dinamo Bucuresti, where he spent three years, between 2021 and 2024, before signing for Veszprem HC.

“I like his passion for the game. I have the same passion. I am, as well as my teammates, putting everything on the court. Giving everything we got. And when I am playing that way, it is because of him. Hopefully we're going to have a long and amazing journey during this season as well,” adds Remili.

Nevertheless, Pascual is well known for pushing his players to the limit. At time-outs, he can be perceived as very aggressive, in trying to make players as focused as possible. He is demanding and needs all the focus and commitment of his players. In a mix of English and Spanish, Pascual offers instructions in a high-pitched voice. 

But that does not deter Remili or his teammates. In fact, it motivates them even more, to have a coach who demands so much and leads the team by example.

“But sometimes he kills us because he puts more than us into the game. I did not expect for him to be so interested in tactics. But I love it, it is a fantastic experience. This is Pasqui. We have kind of the same passion to the handball, the same commitment,” laughs Remili.

That passion and that commitment helped Veszprem return to the final of the IHF Men’s Club World Championship for the first time since 2015, after the Hungarian side secured their third consecutive win in the New Administrative Capital Hall, 39:34, against Pascual’s former team, FC Barcelona.

Veszprem controlled the match from the first minutes until the 45th minute, when Barcelona mounted a comeback. Nevertheless, Veszprem’s experience helped the Hungarian side bounce back and save a draw, pushing the match into extra-time. There, Veszprem scored 10 times in 10 minutes to take a 39:34 win.

“The recipe has to be perfect. We have to be focused every minute. Defensively we made a good game, really a great one. To win this kind of game, this is the only way to do it. (So the recipe is to give everything, more than 200%. Because against this kind of team, this is the best team in the world, one of the best,” adds Remili.

Now, Veszprem are only 60 minutes away of their third major international trophy, after winning the EHF Men’s Cup Winners’ Cup twice, in 1992 and 2008. And Pascual might just be the key piece of the puzzle left to push a team which played the final in the Champions League four times, losing every time, for big silverware.

It is all about passion, focus and commitment.