Arpad Sterbik

Arpad Sterbik Capar (Hungarian: Sterbik Árpád, Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈʃtɛrbik ˈaːrpaːd]; Serbian: Арпад Штербик / Arpad Šterbik; born 20 November 1979) is a retired handball player who represented the national teams of Yugoslavia (later known as Serbia and Montenegro) and Spain.[1][2]

Arpad Sterbik
Personal information
Full name Arpad Sterbik Capar
Born (1979-11-20) 20 November 1979
Senta, Yugoslavia
Nationality Serbian
Hungarian
Spanish
Height 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior clubs
Years Team
0000–2001
 RK Jugović
2001–2004
 MVM Veszprém
2004–2011
 BM Ciudad Real
2011–2012
 Atlético Madrid
2012–2014
 FC Barcelona
2014–2018
 RK Vardar
2018–2020
 Telekom Veszprém
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2006
 Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro 120 (0)
2008–2020
 Spain 78 (0)
Teams managed
2020–
 Telekom Veszprém (GK coach)
Medal record
Representing  FR Yugoslavia
World Championship
1999 Egypt
2001 France
Representing  Spain
World Championship
2013 Spain
2011 Sweden
European Championship
2018 Croatia
2016 Poland

Born in Senta, SFR Yugoslavia, Sterbik is an ethnic Hungarian from Serbia who acquired Hungarian citizenship shortly after playing in Hungary[3] and holds Spanish citizenship per post naturalization process. Internationally he has represented Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Spain, winning a World Championship bronze medal and one gold. On club level, he has league and cup titles both in Hungary and Spain, and most notably he won the EHF Champions League, the premier continental club competition in Europe. His performances were acknowledged several times, having been named Hungarian Handballer of the Year in 2002 and IHF World Player of the Year in 2005.

Career

Sterbik grew up by the nearby town of Ada.[4] He began his career by RK Jugović,[5] and moved to Hungary to play for Fotex KC Veszprém in 2001. Sterbik, as an ethnic Hungarian, could get the Hungarian citizenship in a simplified process just after few months, thus freeing a foreign player quota (that time Hungarian teams could have 2 foreign players in their match squad). It also made him available to play for the Hungarian national team, however, he never made an international appearance for Hungary.[4] Sterbik remained in Veszprém until 2004, during which period he won three Hungarian league and as many Hungarian cup titles. In 2002 he reached with Veszprém the EHF Champions League final, just to fell short against SC Magdeburg with an aggregate score of 48–51. In the same year he was voted Hungarian Handballer of the Year.[6]

In 2004 he moved to Spanish side BM Ciudad Real and soon became one of the most prominent keepers in the Liga ASOBAL. While playing for Ciudad Real (2004–2011) and its successor Atlético Madrid (2011–2012), he was named the best goalkeeper of the league five times in a row (2006–2010) and in 2006 he also got the Liga ASOBAL MVP Award.[7] Additionally, he was awarded the IHF World Player of the Year title by the International Handball Federation in 2005.[7][8] Sterbik spent seven seasons by Ciudad Real and won four Spanish league and two Spanish cup titles. He went successful with Ciudad Real in the EHF Champions League as well, having won the title three times. In 2008, in his fourth season in Spain, Sterbik has gained Spanish citizenship and decided to represent Spain on international level.[9]

In 2012, after eight successful seasons in Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid, Sterbik switched to league rivals FC Barcelona Handbol, having signed a four-year contract with the Catalan team.[10]

On 14 June 2014, Sterbik has agreed to join RK Vardar from Macedonia. With this club, Sterbik won 2 titles in two years in the Macedonian Handball League as well as 2 Cup titles. In addition, with RK Vardar, in season 2014–2015, he managed to enter the quarter final of the EHF Champions League and to be part of the top 8 handball teams in Europe. In the same year, they finished fourth in Gazprom's SEHA League. In April 2016, they won the second place in the Final 4 tournament of the SEHA League (lost the final against Veszprem with 26–28). Sterbik has earned many individual awards with RK Vardar too. He was selected in the dream-team of the SEHA League for 2015–16, and also, he was recognized several times as a best goalkeeper of particular rounds of the EHF Champions League.

On international level Sterbik played for Yugoslavia and Spain; he received bronze medals at the 1999 World Championships and at the 2001 World Championships with Yugoslavia, and added another World Championship bronze and a gold with Spain to his medals tally in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Personal

Sterbik is married to Hungarian economist Mónika Horváth. The couple has twin children, Laura and Noel (b. 2010).[11][12] Arpad's sister, Andrea Sterbik is also a professional handballer who plays for Hungarian top division club Kiskunhalas NKSE.

Achievements

Individual awards

References
  1. "Spain roster for the 2013 World Championship" (PDF). International Handball Federation. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  2. "Arpard Sterbik Profile". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  3. Simon, József (27 June 2018). "A világ legjobb kapusa számára Magyarország a végállomás". nemzetisport.hu. Nemzeti Sport.
  4. "Sterbik, a hármas állampolgár" (in Hungarian). Samsungsport. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  5. "EURO 2012 without two big stars – Szmal and Sterbik injured". Handball Planet. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  6. Mosonyi, József (8 December 2011). "Csárli a csúcson – negyven felett" (in Hungarian). Kezilabda.hu. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  7. "Arpad Sterbik Biography". FC Barcelona official website. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  8. Previous World Handball Players (Retrieved on 26 January 2008)
  9. "Rutenka could lose the Spanish citizenship". Handball Planet. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  10. "Arpad Sterbik at F.C Barcelona Intersport until 2016!". Handball Planet. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  11. "Nagy László és Sterbik is aranyra vágyik" (in Hungarian). Nemzeti Sport. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  12. "Sterbik: A magyarok ellen félre kell tennem a lelki kérdéseket" (in Hungarian). Nemzeti Sport. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
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