Vinko Kandija

Vinko Kandija (May 23, 1934 – September 3, 2002) was a Croatian handball player and coach.[1] Kandija won over 40 titles and trophies in the game with male and female teams.

Vinko Kandija
Personal information
Born (1934-05-23)May 23, 1934
Trogir, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Died 9 March 2002(2002-03-09) (aged 67)
Vienna, Austria
Nationality Croatian
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior clubs
Years Team
–
 Split
Teams managed
1966–1970
 ŽRK Trogir (Youth)
1966–1971
 ŽRK Trogir
1971–1980
 ŽRK Radnički Belgrade
1974–1979
 Yugoslavia Women
1980
 Switzerland Men
1980–1981
 Grasshopper HC Zürich
1981–1982
 ŽRK Radnički Belgrade
1983–1985
 RK Budućnost Titograd
1985–1990
 Hypo NÖ
1986–1994
 UHK Volksbank Wien
1992
 Austria Women
1992–1993
 Austria Men
1994–1995
 RK Badel 1862 Zagreb
1995–1999
 RK Krim Mercator
2000–2001
 Austria Women
2002
 SG West Wien

His coaching career led him from club to club, and he achieved excellent results everywhere, especially with women's teams, he won fifty different titles thanks to his persistent work and expertise, becoming one of the most successful and most respected handball coaches in the country and abroad, and because of his style of coaching and leadership, he was named the "last romanticist".[2]

His biggest achievement was winning the Women's European Champions Cup four times and Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup one in 1984–85.[3]

Club career

During his playing days Kandija co-founded the RK Trogir in 1958 witch formed male and female handball departments. Kandija mostly coached the women's youth selections at the club before taking on the senior team who he took to the Yugoslav First League in 1967.[4]

During the 1970s Kandija coached women's side Radnički from Belgrade. With the club he won 8 league titles and four cup titles dominating in Yugoslavia during the decade. The club reached the European Champions Cup semi final in 1974 and 1977, final in 1982 and won the competition in 1976 and 1980. During the 1980–81 season Kandija coached men's team Grasshopper Club Zürich in Switzerland. Kandija move to Titograd in 1983 and coached ŽRK Budućnost for two years winning one league and one cup title and the 1984–85 IHF Women's Cup Winners' Cup.[2]

After his successful run in Budućnost Kandija moved to Austria where he coached women's club Hypo NÖ and men's club SG West Wien (then called UHK Volksbank Wien) at the same time. During this time Kandija 15 titles winning two European Champions Cup with Hypo NÖ and reaching semi-final of EHF Champions League with West Wien. After these feats Kandija was noted as a handball guru in Austria.[5]

Kandija coached RK Badel 1862 Zagreb for one season winning the domestic double and reaching the EHF Champions League final. They lost the match to CD Bidasoa Irún they lost the match by 9 goals on aggregate. The final is well remembered for the riot that happened in the second match in Dom Sportova by the home supporters after Zagreb lost.[6] After Zagreb he coached RK Krim for four seasons. He took the club to their first Women's EHF Champions League final.[7]

National team career

From 1974 to 1979 Kandija was the national team head coach of Yugoslavia women's national handball team. With the team he secured fifth place at the 1975 World Women's Handball Championship and 1978 World Women's Handball Championship.

From February to July Kandija was head coach of Switzerland men's national handball team who he took to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow where the team was placed in eight place. Due to this bad result he was sacked after the tournament.[8]

In 1992 he was appointed head coach of Austria women's national handball team for the upcoming 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The team finished in fifth place. After the tournament he was appointed head coach of the men's team whom he helped qualify for the 1993 World Championship in Sweden. They were knocked out during the first phase of the tournament and finished in 14 place out of 16 teams. In 2000 he was once again appointed head coach of Austria women's national handball team for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Sydney. The team finished in fifth place at the tournament. He also led the team to the 2000 European Women's Handball Championship where the team finished in last place.[2]

Death

Kandija died on 9 March 2002 in Vienna. He died early in the morning due to an illness he was struggling with for some time.[9] His funeral was held on 15 March at the cemetery in Trogir.[10]

Legacy

After his death the city of Trogir named their town sports hall SD Vinko Kandija in honor of him.[11]

Since his death there has also been a tournament held named: Memorijal Vinko Kandija where women clubs he coached participate such as RK Krim and Hypo NÖ with the addition of guests.[12]

Honours
ŽRK Trogir
  • Croatian U-14 Championship (3): 1966, 1968, 1973
  • Croatian U-19 Championship (4): 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970
ŽRK Trogir
ŽRK Radnički Belgrade
ŽRK Budućnost Titograd
Hypo NÖ
UHK Volksbank Wien
RK Badel 1862 Zagreb
RK Krim Mercator
Individual
  • Lifetime achievement award from the city of Trogir – 2002 (post mortem)

References
  1. Zdenko Jajčević (2009). "KANDIJA, Vinko". www.hbl.lzmk.hr (in Croatian).
  2. "In memoriam: Vinko Kandija (25.03.1934.- 09.03.2002.)". zvrk-trogir.com (in Croatian). 26 May 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  3. "Vinko Kandija nach langer Krankheit gestorben" [Vinko Kandija died after a long illness]. www.derstandard.at (in German). 10 March 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. "RK "Trogir"". www.zvrk-trogir.com (in Croatian). 26 May 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. "Vinko Kandija wieder bei West Wien". wienerzeitung.at (in German). 7 April 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  6. "Neredi na RK Zagreb Badel : Elgoriaga – 1995g. (BBB)". www.youtube.com (Video report from HRT news reports) (in Croatian).
  7. "Spomin na rokometno legendo še živi" [The memory of the handball legend still lives]. www.rkkrim.com (in Slovenian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  8. "News Handball Schweiz". www.handball.ch (in German). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  9. Bojan Purić (10 March 2002). "Umro Vinko Kandija" [Vinko Kandija dies]. www.sportnet.rtl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  10. "Osmrtnice". arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr (in Croatian). 15 March 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  11. "Dvorana". www.kktrogir.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  12. Zorica Radojkovic (21 September 2013). "FINALE MEMORIJALA "VINKO KANDIJA": Krim zaustavio Vardar". www.balkanhandball.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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