Four wins in four matches. Two of them in extra-time, against two European sides. A fantastic performance, where players and staff worked in mutual agreement to bring the first international trophy since 2008 and the most prestigious one in the history of the Hungarian club, earmarking the start of a new era.

Veszprém HC emerged as the winners of the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, merely months after the ambitious Hungarian club appointed the most decorated coach in the history of modern club handball, Xavi Pascual, as their new coach, signalling yet another ambitious challenge.

And with a fantastic line-up, whose chemistry worked wonders from the start of the season, Veszprém HC delivered wins against FC Barcelona and SC Magdeburg to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

Yet Veszprém’s preparations for the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship did not go entirely to plan. Merely three days before the start of the competition, the Hungarian side conceded their maiden loss of the season, 30:39, in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, against Sporting CP.

The loss might have come as a shock for many, but for coach Xavi Pascual and the team, it was a moment to reflect, come back stronger and accept that in the first stages of such a project, losses are inevitable and no team can stay undefeated when it faces some of the best sides in the world.

“When we build a team, we have better games and worse games. This is completely normal, this is the continuity, this is what happens in sports. But, if we had won against Sporting, for example, who knows if we would have had enough to win this tournament. The team sometimes requires attention and care, it is not easy,” said Veszprém’s coach, Xavi Pascual, for the official site of the Hungarian club.

Pascual is the most decorated coach in the history of the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, winning the title five times with FC Barcelona. Now, the challenge is even bigger, because his current club is one of the most ambitious in Europe, only to lose the final of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League four times in their history.

Therefore, the aim is to win titles, to win international trophies and the resilience shown by the Hungarian side at the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship is exactly what Veszprém failed to show in key moments in their history.

It is also a testament of how strong the current iteration of the Hungarian club is, especially due to their depth and versatility. Yehia Elderaa won two Player of the Match awards in the New Administrative Capital Hall. When Elderaa did not score in the final, other players stepped in.

Take, for instance, the performance of Hugo Descat and Nedim Remili, the French pair, who shined for Veszprém. Both made the All-Star team of the competition and finished in the top-10 goal scorers, with Descat on the second place, with 27 goals and Remili 10th, with 10 goals.

“If someone tells me that we will have one defeat by October, I say it is impossible. We are in a good position. We are club world champions. I think this is very important. I am proud of my team, who fought from the beginning. We had two injured players who couldn't help us in the first games, but they did a lot for us in the semi-finals and the final. We still need to improve, this was just the first step this season. We need to maintain this momentum to be ready for the next challenges,” added Pascual.

But probably the most important thing which Pascual changed was the mood in the team, with all the players chiming in, especially in difficult moments, such as the team time-outs, where Pascual barks orders in a mix of Spanish, English and even some words in Hungarian, learnt in the past months.

Remili was also seen during the moments he was on the bench discussing tactics with Pascual, with other players also listening closely to their coach. That unity helped Veszprém navigate the difficult moments, such as the semi-final against FC Barcelona, Pascual’s former team.

After 45 minutes in which the Hungarian team led the match, Barcelona came back and had a two-goal lead in the closing stages, erased by Veszprém, which sent the match into extra-time. There, in 10 minutes, Veszprém scored 10 times, to secure a 39:34 win.

The same scenario took place in the final, where Magdeburg bounced back after a slow start, pushing the match into extra-time, where Veszprém, once again, emerged victorious, as they players fought for every ball, every attack, trying to put every stop on the court.

“We are trying to build something great here and we managed to make history yesterday, it feels really good. And definitely hopeful for the future. It was a great pride for me to be the captain of this team in this tournament. This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life, as I was captain for the first time, and a successful one at that,” said Remili.

All considered, after Veszprém won their maiden title at the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, the Hungarian side, which was awarded a wild card for this edition, will return for the next one, trying to create a dynasty, just like Pascual did with Barcelona in the mid-2010s.

And with this spirit, everything is possible. For the first time in many years, Veszprém look to have a clear plan, which they stick to regardless of the results.