Handball is more than just a sport in the Marguč household—it is a defining part of the family identity. 

For Mai Marguč, growing up alongside brothers Gašper and Gal meant that handball was always present, shaping everyday life and nurturing a competitive spirit from an early age. 

The siblings have followed parallel paths, each making their mark on the court and inspiring one another with their dedication and achievements. United by shared experiences, countless hours of mutual support, and an unwavering commitment to their craft, the Marguč brothers exemplify how passion, hard work, and family tradition can come together to produce not just talented athletes, but a true sporting legacy.

First it was Gašper, the pacy right wing, who was born in Celje, started handball at local club Celje Pivovarna Laško, then moved to the current champions, Veszprém HC, in 2014, becoming one of the top-10 scorers for the Hungarian powerhouse.

Part of the Slovenia team which won the silver medal at the 2017 IHF Men’s World Championship, Gašper Marguč, who is currently 34 years old, also inspired his younger brother, Gal, to take up handball. After more than a decade at Celje, Gal moved to Croatia, where he played for RK Nexe, before returning to current Slovenian champions, RD Slovan Ljubljana this summer.

And then there’s Mai, the youngest of the Marguč siblings. Aged 19 years old, Mai is not a right wing as Gašper and Gal, rather than a right back, already standing at a towering 1.90m height.

Mai has already made a name for himself as a hot prospect, starting handball also at Celje, where he scored 15 goals in the 2023/24 season of the EHF Champions League Men.

And at the M20 EHF EURO 2024, where he was playing against opponents two years older, he scored 52 goals, underlining his potential. Now, Marguč made a step back in the age category, aged 19 years old, becoming the top goal scorer of the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship after each team played two matches, with 21 goals.

But was it a given that Mai was going to follow into his brothers’ footsteps?

“It runs in family, the passion for handball runs in the family, talent runs in family, so I started also playing handball because of my brothers, also my grandpa played handball, and for this I play handball. It is quite easy,” says the 19-year-old right back.

With an experienced coach on the bench in Marko Šibila, who is also an IHF CCM Lecturer, and some other talented players, like Aljuš Anžič in the squad, Slovenia could be considered one of the dark horses, having experienced players, as well as the desire to get back to the podium, 10 years after their only medal at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.

Back then, the team had players like Blaž Janc or Aleks Vlah in the squad, as well as Mai’s brother, Gal.

So far, the European side has one of the best attacks and one of the best defences, swiftly disposing of the Faroe Islands, 38:25, and Uruguay, 43:14. In both matches, Marguč has been the top scorer of his side, scoring 12 and nine goals respectively, although featuring sporadically against Uruguay, where he scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes before being benched.

“We have a really good defence, also we are very good in transition, we are efficient in our fast breaks, I this is I think it is our best move. It feels fantastic to win the first two matches and I really hope we can get even further,” says the towering right back.

Next, Slovenia face Germany, in a crunch clash which can define their future in the competition. Win on Saturday and they will start the main round with two points, with matches against Iceland and Brazil or Saudi Arabia in the next phase, which can mean an easier path towards the podium.

“We are ready for any opponent. Now we face Germany and we aim to finish first in this group and position ourself better for the next matches,” says Marguč.

The future looks bright for Marguč, who is ready to follow into his brothers’ footsteps and take on the senior national team shirt on him in the close future. His first objectives – playing for the national team in the younger age categories and for Celje – have already been ticked.

With plenty of knowledge in the family, the way is only up for Mai, who has already been spotted by teams throughout Europe, with this 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship serving as another springboard in his career.

“I go step by step, and I want to be one day in the Champions League and win it. Also, my goal is to play for the senior team, that’s my biggest dream,” adds the right back.

Citing Mathias Gidsel as an inspiration, as well as his brothers from the Slovenia handball players, Marguč is just at the beginning of his career. And just looking at his skills, you realise the potential is there to be fulfiled. And the Marguč name can go on for at least one decade at the top of handball.