Just over two years on from taking the role as Hungary men’s head coach (March 2022), José María Rodríguez Vaquero, better known as Chema Rodríguez, has overseen consistent qualification for his team at major events, the minimum required for one of handball’s most historic nations.

First up, he guided the team to an ultimately frustrating eighth-place finish at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship. Wins against Republic of Korea (35:27) and Iceland (30:28), combined with a loss against Portugal (20:27), saw his side safely move out of the preliminary round and into the main round.

A tough loss against co-hosts Sweden (28:37) did not deter the Hungarians, who followed it up with wins against Brazil (28:25) and Cape Verde (42:30) to secure a quarter-final spot against reigning champions – and eventual winners – Denmark. That last eight match saw a one-sided 23:40 loss against the Danes, swiftly followed by a 5-8 placement round defeat to Norway (25:33) and 7/8 placement loss to Egypt after additional time (35:36).

Rodriguez’s team swiftly moved on to the 2024 EHF EURO, where they grabbed fifth place after defeating Slovenia in the 5/6 placement match. To get there, wins against Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia were earned in the preliminary round with losses against Austria, Germany and France in the main round and victory against Croatia seeing the side out of the semi-finals, but ensuring a chance for a top five finish.

A few months later, in March, qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was confirmed – their first since London 2012 and just third since 1992 – with wins against Tunisia and Portugal in the qualification tournament, combined with another loss to Norway.

And a second tournament qualification was secured a few months after that – with CRO/DEN/NOR 2025 confirmed thanks to a 33:26 away win and 36:23 home win against Lithuania in their European Qualification Phase 2 double header.

With world championship qualification secured, Hungary could then focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but it would prove to be a disappointment. After an expected opening day win against Argentina, they then lost their next four games against Egypt, Norway, Denmark and France to finish 10th out 12th.

Rodriguez is known for integrating players across age groups into his senior team and, after reaching an agreement with clubs in Hungary, an unofficial national team camp was held at the end of September featuring young players, many of whom who won silver at the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship and bronze at the 2024 EHF Men’s Youth European Championship.

A business-like performance in their first two 2026 European Championship qualification matches saw Hungary ease to wins at home, against Slovakia (37:32) and away in Finland (32:23) in November.

Following a busy 2024, Rodriguez named a 35-man squad for CRO/DEN/NOR 2025, with a wide range of experience and youth including, many of whom play their club handball in Hungary, joined by those who ply their trade in Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Romania, France and Spain.

The extended squad contains eight of the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship silver medal-winning team, including tournament All-star right back, Zoran Ilic, the multi-talented right wing Bence Imre and centre back Gergő Fazekas, plus youngsters Kristóf Palasics, Zsolt Krakovszki, Tamás Papp, Máté Ónodi-Jánoskúti and Péter Lukács.

Whichever young players make the squad cut to 18, they are likely to be joined by the experienced and key trio of centre back Mate Lékai – who made his IHF Men’s World Championship debut in 2011 – goalkeeper Roland Mikler – well into his second decade as a senior national team player – and line player Bence Bánhidi. Between them, the trio have nearly 600 senior appearances for their country.

“It will be a special world championship for us because we will play the preliminary round – and hopefully the main round – near the Hungarian border, in Varazdin,” said coach Rodríguez to ihf.info.

“We hope that the arena will be almost packed with Hungarian fans, who can help us a lot. In the last two world championships we were able to qualify for the quarter-finals and our target in 2025 is the same, at the beginning of this new Olympic Games cycle.

“We have the core of our team [ready]. We would like to surprise every opponent and make our supporters happy in January and February.”

Hungary’s final preparations for their 23rd IHF Men’s World Championship appearance will comprise of two phases: from 16 to 22 December and 3 to 10 January, which includes two matches against Serbia, away (8 January) and at home, in Szeged (10 January).

Key players: Bence Banhidi (line player), Richard Bodo (left back), Bence Imre (right wing)

Qualification: Qualification Europe - Phase 2 (69:49 aggregate win against Lithuania)

History in the competition: 1958: 7th, 1964: 8th, 1967: 8th, 1970: 8th, 1974: 7th, 1978: 9th, 1982: 9th, 1986: Silver medal, 1990: 6th, 1993: 11th, 1995: 17th, 1997: 4th, 1999: 11th, 2003: 6th, 2007: 9th, 2009: 6th, 2011: 7th, 2013: 8th, 2017: 7th, 2019: 10th, 2021: 5th, 2023: 8th

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group D (Hungary, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Guinea)