# Kosovo men's national handball team

The Kosovo national men's handball team is the national handball team of Kosovo, representing the country in international competition. The team is governed by Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competitions in 2014, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

## History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953, Handball Federation of Kosovo was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation.
In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship.
Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Handball Federation of Kosovo began operating independently.
In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.
After a difficult start, Kosovo's national team has started to gain notoriety in international competition. After twice winning the bronze medal in the international IHF Trophy for emerging nations, in Kosovo 2015 on home soil and as well in Bulgaria 2017 the team is no longer considered an emerging nation. Kosovo after this tournament advanced to the 2nd phase of qualification for EURO 2020.
Following a lengthy campaign in the 2020 European Men's Handball Championship qualification where Kosovo defeated Israel and drew Poland, the team won a direct spot in the second phase of the upcoming 2022 qualification tournament.
Most recently, at the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship – European qualification tournament, Kosovo drew with Italy and defeated Georgia to take the second place, behind Romania, in the qualifying group.

### EHF European Championship

* 2018 European Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
* 2020 European Men's Handball Championship - Phase 2 Playoffs (did not Qualify)
* 2022 European Men's Handball Championship - Phase 2 Playoffs (did not qualify )
* 2024 European Men's Handball Championship - In progress

### IHF Handball World Championship

* 2017 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
* 2019 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
* 2021 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)
* 2023 World Men's Handball Championship - Round 1 (did not qualify)

## IHF Emerging Nations Championship

| Year | Position | Pld | W | D | L |
| Kosovo 2015 | | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Bulgaria 2017 | | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 |

## Team
### Current squad

* The squad selected for the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship qualification matches.
* Updated: 22 December 2022
* Head coach: Bujar Qerimi
* No.
* Pos.
* Name
* Date of birth (age)
* Height
* App.
* Goals
* Club
* 2
* RW
* Agon Bajqinovci
* (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 25)
* 1.86 m
* 5
* 2
* KH Prishtina
* 5
* PV
* Kastriot Jupa
* (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 31)
* 1.88 m
* 56
* 189
* LHC Cottbus
* 11
* CB
* Valon Dedaj
* (1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 (age 35)
* 1.75 m
* 42
* 164
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 12
* GK
* Flamur Gërbeshi
* (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 (age 34)
* 1.88 m
* 18
* 0
* IFK Karlskrona
* 14
* RB
* Drenit Tahirukaj
* (1998-04-28) 28 April 1998 (age 26)
* 1.92 m
* 28
* 82
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 18
* LW
* Florian Rexha
* (2001-11-29) 29 November 2001 (age 23)
* 1.88 m
* 2
* 0
* KH Vëllaznimi
* 21
* RB
* Arbios Mushkolaj
* (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 24)
* 1.90 m
* 7
* 3
* KH Deçani
* 24
* PV
* Luigj Quni
* (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 (age 28)
* 1.91 m
* 36
* 49
* GC Amicitia Zürich
* 25
* LB
* Festim Mustafa
* (1998-05-22) 22 May 1998 (age 26)
* 2.02 m
* 10
* 2
* KH Kastrioti
* 26
* RW
* Drilon Tahirukaj
* (1995-08-28) 28 August 1995 (age 29)
* 1.80 m
* 41
* 88
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 27
* LW
* Lulëzim Shabani
* (1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 (age 26)
* 1.89 m
* 18
* 18
* KH Kastrioti
* 28
* GK
* Haris Berisha
* (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 (age 28)
* 1.99 m
* 33
* 1
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 31
* LB
* Bujar Ramosaj
* (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 29)
* 1.99 m
* 23
* 11
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 33
* LB
* Jon Muqolli
* (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25)
* 1.90 m
* 18
* 9
* KH Besa Famgas
* 33
* CB
* Leonard Gegaj
* (2001-10-02) 2 October 2001 (age 23)
* 1.80 m
* 13
* 9
* Vinslövs HK
* 35
* PV
* Rron Ramadani
* (1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 (age 28)
* 1.92 m
* 10
* 0
* KH Prishtina
* 35
* LB
* Atdhe Basholli
* (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 (age 26)
* 1.95 m
* 2
* 0
* AM Hallo Essen
* 68
* CB
* Egzon Gjuka
* (1995-05-17) 17 May 1995 (age 29)
* 1.92 m
* 35
* 105
* KH Besa Famgas
* 77
* LW
* Matej Taçi
* (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 22)
* 1.80 m
* 4
* 4
* GRK Varaždin
* 91
* GK
* Liridon Zena
* (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 (age 33)
* 1.90 m
* 15
* 0
* RK Rudan Adria Oil
* 94
* CB
* Shaban Zogaj
* (2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 (age 22)
* 1.90 m
* 6
* 9
* Aalborg Håndbold