The Santander Consumer Bank World Handball Players 2014, Nikola Karabatic and Eduarda Amorim Taleska, will be presented at half-time of the 22nd IHF Women’s Handball World Championship Final in Jyske Bank BOXEN in Herning on Sunday 20 December. 

France’s Karabatic and Brazil’s Amorim receive the awards for their performance throughout 2014, with an IHF expert group proposing players and the ultimate decision lying with fans who have the opportunity to vote online. 

It is Karabatic’s second selection as World Handball Player of the Year after he received the award in 2007, while it is Amorim’s first. As the award is based on performance during 2014, it does not take into account the spectacular performances of these players for their national teams in their title-winning campaigns at the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship or the 2015 IHF Men’s World Championship, though fans undoubtedly had these successes in their minds in addition to their respective accomplishments in club handball. 

Karabatic enjoyed a successful 2014 with France, who won their third European championship title after defeating hosts Denmark 41:32 in the Final. Karabatic was voted the Best Player of the tournament for his performance.  

Both players take to the court regularly in the EHF Champions League, with Karabatic formerly a part of the 2014/2015 FC Barcelona team who raised the VELUX EHF Champions League trophy in Cologne in May, and Amorim winning the women’s title two years running (2013 and 2014) with Györ Audi ETO KC. Karabatic now plays for Paris Saint-Germain Handball after transferring ahead of the 2015/16 season, while Amorim remains with the powerful Hungarian team.