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Montenegro find new coach: Legend Šola replaces Roganovic

14 Feb. 2023

Montenegro find new coach: Legend Šola replaces Roganovic

After Montenegro finished in 17th place at the 2023 IHF Men's World Championship in January, coach Zoran Roganović ended his five-year stint as the coach of the emerging European side, citing the failure to extend Montenegro's chances to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

With plenty of talent at their disposal, Montenegro are still in an excellent position to develop further. The Montenegro Handball Federation (RSCG) board reacted quickly by appointing a new coach, the ninth in the team's history.

The former Croatia goalkeeper Vladimir "Vlado" Šola was the chosen candidate, with the former RK Zagreb, Telekom Veszprém HC and GWD Minden goalkeeper taking over the position effective immediately at the start of February.

"I see this challenge as a great honour. Montenegro is a country that has produced a lot of quality handball players and is currently playing good handball, and it also has a great perspective. It's really a pleasure to work in such conditions," said Šola after the appointment was made official.

One of the great goalkeepers of Croatia during his playing career, Šola was a true star in his national team, becoming a World Champion at Portugal 2003 and an Olympic champion at Athens 2004 and winning five medals in total at major international competitions with the Croatian men's national team.

He had 132 international matches for Croatia between 1991 and 2005 while also securing the bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and at the EHF EURO 2012 as the goalkeeping coach of Croatia.

His coaching experience also saw Šola take over Russian side Zvezda Zvenigorod, Qatari side Al Duhail and Chinese team Beijing Sport University, but also coaching Croatian sides RK Dubrava, HC PPD Zagreb and MRK Dugo Selo before signing up for Montenegro men's national team.

The first challenge for Šola will be a doubleheader against Slovenia in the EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers, with Montenegro trying to secure their sixth consecutive berth for the European competition.

"The first of two qualifying matches against Slovenia awaits us in exactly one month, and it will be difficult to do something new in such a short time. Therefore, I have to rely on what the previous selector coach, Zoran Roganović, did, having done an immense job. I do not say this as a courtesy. I really believe it," concluded Šola.