Following voting from a panel of experts and national team coaches, the 2017 IHF World Handball Player of the Year nominations are announced. Handball fans and media now have the chance to vote for the players they believe achieved the most and put on the most impressive performances in 2017.

 

2017 World Handball Player of the Year – male nominees

The male nominees for IHF World Handball Player of the Year represent four nations, and enjoyed considerable success on both a club and national team level in 2017.

 

Sander Sagosen (Norway)

At the age of 22, Sander Sagosen is already a key member of the Norway national team and the Paris Saint-Germain squad. He started 2017 by leading Norway to their first ever medal at the World Championship, as they claimed silver, and was named as the France 2017 All-star Team left back. He finished the 2016/17 season by playing a key role in Aalbog Handball’s Danish championship win, scoring 206 goals in the competition before transferring to PSG for the 2017/18 season.

 

Nikola Karabatic (France)

Nikola Karabatic is the only male player to have won the World Handball Player of the Year title three times, and now has the chance to claim a fourth after taking the award in 2007, 2014 and 2016. In 2017, Karabatic was instrumental in France’s record sixth world title won on home ground in Paris, and was named MVP of the World Championship. On a club level, he won the French Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the French championship. He finished as runner-up in the VELUX EHF Champions League 2017/18, and was named as the All-star Team centre back.

 

Luka Cindric (Croatia)

Luka Cindric began 2017 by cementing his role in the Croatia national team as an important centre back for the squad. The 24-year-old achieved fourth place at the 25th IHF Men’s World Championship in France in January, then only months later enjoyed great success on a club level with HC Vardar. In 2017, the Macedonian team won the SEHA League, their first ever VELUX EHF Champions League title, the Macedonian Cup and the Macedonian Super League with the help of the creative playmaker. They also took the bronze medal at their first IHF Super Globe in August.

 

Domagoj Duvnjak (Croatia)

Long-time Croatia national team stalwart Domagoj Duvnjak was named World Handball Player of the Year in 2013. In 2017, he was part of Croatia’s team that made it to the bronze-medal match at the 2017 World Championship, and was named as the All-star Team centre back at the end of the competition. On a club level, he won the German Cup with THW Kiel.

 

Andy Schmid (Switzerland)

Playing for German side Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Andy Schmid enjoyed a successful club season in 2016/17. The season ended with Löwen claiming the German championship and the DHB Supercup. Schmid was named as the Most Valuable Player in the Bundesliga for the fourth consecutive time in 2017.

 

2017 World Handball Player of the Year – female nominees

Cristina Neagu has the chance to be named IHF World Player of the Year for the fourth time, but the competition is tough amid some of the most notable names in women’s handball.

 

Nora Mørk (Norway)

Norway’s Nora Mørk has been a key member of the national team for several years, playing an instrumental part in their success and consistently being selected in All-star Teams at major competitions. In 2017, she won the silver medal at the 23rd IHF Women’s World Championship in Germany, where she was the All-star right back and top scorer with a total of 66 goals. She joined Hungarian side Györi Audi ETO KC for the 2016/17 season, winning the EHF Champions League and Hungarian championship in her first year with the team. Mørk was also named as All-star right back for the Champions League 2016/17.

 

Stine Bredal Oftedal (Norway)

Alongside Nora Mørk, Norway captain Stine Bredal Oftedal has had many years of international success in the national team. In 2017, she added the World Championship silver medal to her list of achievements, and was named as the Most Valuable Player at Germany 2017 for her 46 assists (top-ranked in this category) and 44 goals, which placed her fifth on the top scorer list. For the 2017/18 season, Oftedal joined Györi Audi ETO KC. 

 

Cristina Neagu (Romania)

Cristina Neagu is widely regarded as one of the best female handball players in history, confirming her reputation with a record three IHF World Handball Player of the Year titles – including two consecutive awards, in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, she was named as the All-star left back of the EHF Champions League while still playing for Buducnost, before transferring to CSM Bucuresti ahead of the 2017/18 season. In her last season with Buducnost, Neagu won the Montenegrin championship and Montenegrin Cup. With Romania, she reached the eighth-finals at the 2017 World Championship, where she tallied 42 goals in six matches.

 

Isabelle Gullden (Sweden)

Centre back Isabelle Gullden is the mastermind behind EHF Champions League powerhouse CSM Bucuresti, as well as the Sweden national team. The playmaker guided Sweden to their best result ever at the Women’s World Championship in December 2017, as they finished fourth, beating their previous achievement of sixth. After claiming the Champions League title with Bucuresti in 2016, she finished third at the FINAL4 in 2017, and also won the Romanian championship, Romanian Cup and Romanian Supercup.

 

Nycke Groot (The Netherlands)

Like Gullden, Dutch centre back Nycke Groot is the creative leader for her national team’s attack. In 2017, she played a key role as The Netherlands reached their second consecutive World Championship semi-final, after first qualifying for the penultimate stage in 2015. At Germany 2017, The Netherlands took the bronze medal after beating Sweden in the 3/4 match. Groot also won the EHF Champions League and Hungarian championship with Györ, as well as being named EHF Champions League MVP and All-star Team centre back.

 

Fans and media can cast their vote as of today until 20 February 2018 by clicking on the respective category below and completing the form.

 

- Player of the Year – Fan vote

- Player of the Year – Media vote

 

Follow the IHF social media channels at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube to know more about the nominees.