A former right back who played for teams in Montenegro, Serbia, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Spain, Lebanon and Qatar, Zoran Roganović was a true globetrotter.

But the longest stay for the Montenegrin player turned head coach was in Sweden, where he spent over 15 years at H43 Lund, Lugi FF and HK Malmö as a player and then six years at Eskilstuna Guif as a coach, during his five-year stint as the Montenegro men's national team coach, where he also coached at the 2023 IHF Men's World Championship.

During his stay in Sweden, his son, Nikola, was born. And he quickly followed his father footsteps, starting handball since a young and emerging as one of the hottest talents in the world of handball in his age category.

One year ago, Nikola Roganović was instrumental in helping Sweden seal the third European title at the M18 EHF EURO, after the ones in 1997 and 2018, becoming the most decorated team in the history of the competition.

Roganović was his team’s top scorer in both the final against Denmark, where he scored six times, as well as in the whole competition, which he finished with 53 goals. And he was also selected as the MVP of the M18 EHF EURO 2024, confirming his credentials as one of the best players of his generation.

Interest was high in Roganović, with several foreign clubs being interested in snapping him up, but he decided to follow his father, who switched teams this season from Eskilstuna Guif to HK Malmö, signing with the third-placed side in the Swedish league for the next two years.

“My father and my brother were the ones that made me fall in love with the sport. Right now, I really like it and enjoy every minute that I play,” says Roganović, who is now shining at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship for Sweden.

At Egypt 2025, the Scandinavian side has been flawless, as the only team to enter the quarter-finals on a five-match winning streak, the only team which has won all their matches so far before the quarter-final against Norway.

They have also been a true machine in attack, scoring the second largest number of goals, 189, in the five matches they played, just eight goals less than Spain, as well as having the largest number of shots in the competition, 279, boasting a free-flowing, high-octane attack.

And Roganović, the team’s starting centre back, is pivotal for this success, as whenever things get tough for Sweden, he is slotted back into the line-up, just like he did in the team’s last win, 39:34, against Austria.

The centre back who turned 19 years old in July scored six of his seven goals in the second half, when Sweden staved off a Hungary comeback, which cut into the Scandinavian side’s lead from nine goals to only two goals.

“When I play, I don't feel an extra pressure, after being the MVP of the EURO last year. But, of course, outside the court, you can always feel some pressure, if someone is watching or anything. However, right now, when I play, I don't feel any pressure,” says the centre back.

With a team providing depth and talent on both sides of the ball, Sweden are playing a modern type of handball, with speed and determination. So far, they scored at least 34 goals in each match and put 39 past both Switzerland and Hungary in the main round.

“We have been on a very good roll with five wins in a row, so we feel very good for the quarterfinals,” adds Roganović.

But their test against Norway, which lost only against Germany and drew against Slovenia in the main round, is set to be the toughest one for the Scandinavian side, which has never played the final at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.

So far, Sweden finished third and won the bronze medal three times – at Bahrain 2007, Tunisia 2009 and Argentina 2011 and have never made the top-10 in the last two editions, finishing 11th in 2019 and 17th at Croatia 2023.

“We are in a really good shape right now, with five wins in a row. And, of course, we want to do as we did last year, win the World Championship. It would be a very big thing and a big honour for my country,” adds the centre back.

There are three matches left for Sweden and no room for mistake. Roganović has been the top scorer of the side, with 28 goals, but his efficiency is floating at around 50%, therefore in need of an improvement.

But he is also the top assists provider in the competition, with 29 in five matches, six more than any other player, meaning that his role in Sweden’s attack is not only to shoot, but also to create chances for his teammates, which provides a platform for them to shine.

Therefore, Roganović is primed to shine. Now and in the future. As his idol – besides his father and brother – Nikola Karabatić did. But right now, at Egypt 2025, a new page of history is ready to be written.