# Croatia men's national handball team

The Croatia national handball team (Croatian: Hrvatska rukometna reprezentacija) represents Croatia in international men's team handball competitions and friendly matches. The handball team is controlled by the Croatian Handball Federation (HRS).
Croatia has often been described as an international force in handball, having won the gold medal at the Olympic Games twice and one World Championship title, and played in the final of the European Championship three times. The Croatian national team's victory at the 1996 Olympics is often credited as one of the biggest upsets in the history of handball. The Croatian national team have also won a so-called "international double", winning the gold medal at the World Championship (2003) and the Olympics (2004).

## History of handball in Croatia and Yugoslavia (1904–1991)
### Handball in Austria-Hungary (1904–1918)

The word handball in the Croatian region was first used by Franjo Bučar in 1904 to describe the German game Schleuderball in the journal Sokol. The earliest documented forms of playing handball in these areas appear in 1911 at the gymnasium of Pazin, which is, among other things, due to the programs for education in Istria, as part of the then-Austrian coast, coming from the education center in Graz. At the time, handball was included in high school programs closing ceremony in Croatia. The type of handball was a form of Czech handball and was adopted by the Osijek and Vukovar students from Prague.

### Between the two world wars (1918–1941)

In the early beginnings of Croatian handball, venues played both field handball and handball. Students were mostly attracted to field handball as it was played on existing football fields, while handball was played on makeshift courts. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the first public handball match in the Croatian region and the wider neighborhood was played at a high school in Varaždin on 29 May 1930 under the guidance of physical education teacher Zvonimir Šuligoj. Since that game and until 1950, field handball was played exclusively in public in Croatia and Yugoslavia on football fields with eleven players on each side. The first handball courts in Yugoslavia was opened at a high school in Zagreb on 1 June 1935.

### The establishment of Croatian Handball Federation and the first Croatian national team (1941–1945)

At the beginning of World War II, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia disintegrated. Most of the territory inhabited by Croats became part of the newly formed Independent State of Croatia (NDH) on 10 April 1941. As part of the new state, the Croatian Handball Federation (HRS) was established for the first time in history on 2 October 1941 in Zagreb. The place of foundation is recorded to be at the Croatian Sports home in Jurišićeva, Zagreb. HRS is the umbrella organization of handball in the ISC coordinated the work of a dozen clubs and until 1944 organized national championships. The first Croatian handball team was established shortly after the formation of the NDH, with the first practice-match training held on 12 October 1941 under the guidance of head coach Dragutin Pehe. The team's first and only international match was played on 14 June 1942 against Hungary in Budapest, where they lost 0:9. The field handball match was played in front of 30,000 spectators at the then-NEP Stadium (since 2002 Ferenc Puskás Stadium) and was a prelude to the meeting of the Croatian and Hungarian football teams. Under the direction of the coach Ante Škrtić, the players for Croatia were Vlado Abramović, Irislav Dolenec, Žarko Galetović, Zvonko Leskovar, Todor Marinov, Viktor Medved, Krešo Pavlin, Vlado Šimanović, Stjepan Širić, Josip Žitnik, goalkeeper Branko Kraljand, who was considered the best Croatian player on the field, and reserve goalkeeper Zdenko Šurina. HRS stopped functioning in 1944 due to the world war.

### Handball in SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1991)

Following the end of World War II in 1945, the territory of the Independent State of Croatia was included in the newly established SFR Yugoslavia and work immediately began on rebuilding the handball sport in Yugoslavia. That same year, the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association Croatian was founded, while the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association of Yugoslavia was established in May 1948. HRS was restored on 19 December 1948, in which, in accordance with the national policy of the new Yugoslav state, the name was changed to the Croatian Handball Association (RSH). Handball Federation of Yugoslavia (RSJ) was established on 17 December 1949 in Belgrade by pooling national and provincial associations, and it became a member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) in 1950.
After the end of World War II, most field handball players of the NDH completed courses and became instructors or referees in handball. Some became members of the field handball national team of Yugoslavia and played in its first international match, played on 19 June 1950 at the stadium in Stadion Kranjčevićeva in Zagreb, against Belgium. Yugoslavia won 18:3 playing with nine players from Zagreb, one from Split and one from Sarajevo.
Since the end of World War II and until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the best Croatian handball players in field and team handball were selected to play for the national team of Yugoslavia. As part of the national team, Croatian players competed at 17 major competitions and won seven medals, including two Olympic gold medals and one World Championship gold medal. During this period, the team also won five gold medals in five appearances at the Mediterranean Games (1967, 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1991), two gold and one bronze medal at the World Cups held in 1971, 1974 and 1984 in Sweden, two bronze medals at the handball Super League held in 1981 and 1983 in Germany, and a silver medal at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle.
At the World Junior Championship in 1987 in Rijeka, a nucleus generation of players that would define the 1990s for the Croatian national team came to light. Alvaro Načinović, Iztok Puc, Vladimir Jelčić and others were instrumental in helping Yugoslavia win the championship, and their talent and knowledge were later incorporated as seniors in the Croatian national team's first success after independence of the country.
| Place | Croatians in the team of Yugoslavia | Croatian head coaches |
| 10th place at WC 1952 | Irislav Dolenec (player) | Ivan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec |
| 5th place at WC 1955. | Irislav Dolenec (player), Stjepan Korbar | Ivan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec |
| 8th place at WC 1958 | Jerolim Karadža, Lovro Manestar, Božidar Peter, Zlatko Šimenc?, Ivan Špoljarić | Ivan Snoj |
| 9th place at SP 1961. | Anton Bašić, Ivan Đuranec, Zvonko Jandroković, Jerolim Karadža, Božidar Peter, Zlatko Šimenc? | Ivan Snoj |
| 6th place at WC 1964 | Vojislav Bjegović, Vinko Dekaris, Ivan Đuranec, Lujo Györy, Jerolim Karadža, Zvonko Kocijan, Josip Milković, Vladimir Vićan, Albin Vidović, Zlatko Žagmešter | Ivan Snoj |
| 7th place at WC 1967 | Vinko Dekaris, Ivan Đuranec, Hrvoje Horvat, Jerolim Karadža, Branko Klišanin, Josip Milković, Miroslav Pribanić, Dobrivoje Selec, Ninoslav Tomašić, Ivan Uremović, Vladimir Vićan | Ivan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec |
| Gold medal at MG 1967 | Hrvoje Horvat, Miroslav Klišanin, Josip Milković, Ivan Uremović, Albin Vidović | Ivan Snoj / Vlado Štencl |
| Bronze medal at WC 1970 | Hrvoje Horvat, Marijan Jakšeković, Dragutin Mervar, Josip Milković, Miroslav Pribanić, Zlatko Žagmešter | Ivan Snoj / Vlado Štencl |
| Gold medal at WC 1971 | | Ivan Snoj |
| Gold medal at OG 1972 | Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Miroslav Pribanić, Dobrivoje Selec, Albin Vidović, Zdenko Zorko | Ivan Snoj / Vlado Štencl |
| Bronze medal at WC 1974 | Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko Zorko | Ivan Snoj / Josip Milković |
| Gold medal at WC 1974 | | Ivan Snoj |
| Gold medal at MG 1975 | Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Miroslav Pribanić, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko Zorko | Ivan Snoj |
| 5th place at OG 1976 | Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko Zorko | Ivan Snoj / Pero Janjić |
| 5th place at WC 1978 | Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Željko Vidaković, Zdenko Zorko | Ivan Snoj / Zdravko Malić |
| Gold medal at MG 1979 | Pavle Jurina, Željko Vidaković, Zdravko Zovko, Željko Zovko | |
| 6th place OG 1980 | Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran | |
| Bronze medal SC 1981 | | |
| Silver medal at WC 1982 | Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran, Zdravko Zovko | |
| Bronze medal SC 1983 | | |
| Gold medal at MG 1983 | Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran, Željko Vidaković, Zdravko Zovko | |
| Bronze medal at SC 1984 | | |
| Gold medal at OG 1984 | Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Zdravko Zovko | |
| Gold medal at WC 1986 | Mirko Bašić, Zlatko Saračević | |
| Bronze medal at OG 1988 | Mirko Bašić, Boris Jarak, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić | |
| 4th place at WC 1990 | Mirko Bašić, Nenad Kljaić, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić, Ratko Tomljanović | |
| Silver medal at GG 1990 | Patrik Ćavar, Bruno Gudelj, Nenad Kljaić | |
| Gold medal at MG 1991 | Tomislav Farkaš, Valter Matošević | |

## Modern Croatia national handball team (1991–present)
### Official formation and first competitions (1991–1996)

On 30 May 1990, Croatia began the process of creating the independent state, and soon established the modern Croatian handball team. The first international match of the Croatian handball team was played on 14 January 1991 in Zagreb, in Kutija Šibica. It was a friendly match with Japan which ended in a draw 23:23. The team was coached by Josip Milković with assistant coach Lino Červar and the players were Patrik Čavar, Tonči Peribonio, Vlado Šola, Ivica Obrvan, Nenad Kljaić, Iztok Puc, Ratko Tomljanović, Bruno Gudelj, Željko Zovko, Stjepan Obran, Tomislav Farkaš, Robert Ipša, Ivo Glavinić and Goran Stojanović. The dissolution of Yugoslavia that followed, Croatia gained full independence on 8 October 1991 the Croatian Handball Association (RSH) in 1992 restored the original name of the Croatian Handball Federation (HRS), and on 10 April 1992 became a member of the International Handball Federation (IHF), and 23 July 1992 members of the European Handball Federation (EHF).
Taking fourth place at the 1990 World Championship in Czechoslovakia the Yugoslav national team was placed among the nine best teams of the tournament, which acquired them the right to participate in the upcoming 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Because of the war and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, this team was disqualified, and should it was supposed to be specified who will replaced them in the games. Since the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) was provisionally recognized on 17 January 1992 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and since Croatia had already on 22 May 1992 become a member of the United Nations, Croatian handball players had conditions to perform at the Olympic Games in 1992. This unfortunately did not happen. Although Croatia in terms of game was handball superpower, it was decided that Yugoslavia would be replaced by Iceland at the games as they finished tenth at the 1990 World Championship. Adverse effects of certain officials in the IOC prevented even the option of maintaining an additional qualifying tournament like the one held for the Croatian basketball players. Croatia also missed the 1993 World Championship in Sweden, because the World Championship in 1990 was an elimination tournament for this championship.
The following years, in spite of the short history of the country brought the Croatian team very significant results in important competitions. Croatia won its first official competition at the Mediterranean Games in 1993 in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Croatia won gold. At the first ever European Championship in 1994 held in Portugal the team was led by Zdravko Zovko they won their first medal at this first major international competition. The group stage ended with Croatia finishing behind then powerful Russians, but in front of the French, led by the famous Jackson Richardson. In the semi-finals, the Swedes were better and Croatia played the third place match and won in a dramatic match against Denmark. Sweden won the tournament demolishing the Russians in the final with 13 points. A year later at the 1995 World Championships in Iceland Croatia relatively went easily from group stage to the quarter final where there was brought a rarely seen drama. Tunisia was defeated after penalty shootout. Then the team beat Egypt in the quarter finals and Sweden men's national handball team in the semi-finals. In the final they the French were too big an obstacle for Zovko guys won their first Croatian World Championship silver medal. Sweden won the bronze defeating Germany. The next year at the European Championship in 1996 in Spain, Croatia, was led by Abas Arslanagić. Croatia lost took fifth place with victory over the Czech Republic where the match was led by Vladimir Nekić because Arslanagić quit after Croatia failed to enter the semi-finals. The championship was won by Russia.
* Bronze medal at European Championship 1994 in Portugal
* Silver medal at World Championship 1995 in Iceland
* Fifth place at European Championship 1996 in Spain

### Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics

On the second Olympics in which Croatian athletes performed under the banner of the Croatian flag and won their first gold medal. This was won by the athletes who were least expected to win it, handball players. They were sent off to Atlanta without hope, because at the European Championship in 1996 they had finished in a weak fifth place, and relations in the national team were bad. Coach Abas Arslanagić quit during the end of the European championship and the national handball selection was filled with confrontation and fights. 38 days before the Olympic Games, the team was taken over by coach Velimir Kljaić, whose statement: "Will go back swimming if we don't win a medal" no one took seriously.
Before the Olympics there were still problems. Preliminary matches didn't offer much optimism. A few days before the start of the handball tournament a friendly encounter with Algeria was not played to the end. The Croatian players left the court because the Algerians went too far with their abusive playing and hurt three players, Goran Perkovac, Slavko Goluža and Nenad Kljaić.
The opening match of the Olympic games against Switzerland was tough. A victory was achieved in an already lost match. The Swiss led by as much as 6 goals, but then the goal was kept safe with a superb save from Venio Losert who just during the Olympic Games celebrated his 20th birthday. Making it a minimal victory, scoring in the 55th second before the end of the match, Patrik Ćavar brought a stellar victory.
The next two matches against Kuwait and hosts United States were easy victories. This was followed by the decisive encounter to enter the semi-finals, where there were only the two first-placed teams from each group.
The match with the then current Olympic and European champions Russia had a shocking finale. The Russians were leading by four points, but the Croats were arriving. The last minute was not for the faint of heart, but from the Russian roulette though the Croats came out as winners. One her of this triumph for the semi-finals was Valter Matošević. 40 seconds before the end of the match, when the result was 24:24, he defended a penalty shot from Torgovanov. Another hero was Božidar Jović, who just 3 seconds before the siren rang scored the winning goal.
The last match in the group was with the Swedes. This was the one in which yoneou could choose an opponent in the semi-finals, but Kljun omitted Patrik Ćavar, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević and Irfan Smajlagić from the match. Croatia was defeated with nine goals difference, but without their poker aces there wasn't much to expect. The defeat did not have larger significance, except that it took to save face. In the semi-finals they waited for the French who were World Champions. Croatian handball showed the best possible way to respond to defeat in the final of the 1995 World Championship in Iceland. Engaged and disciplined, Croatian players did a great job and ensured the silver medal the same brightness as did the water polo team.
In the grand finale again Croatia faced the Swedes. In the semi-finals they defeated Spain, who later won the bronze medal. It was a great generation that only needed an Olympic gold medal to complete their collection. They probably hoped that Croatia was not with those who were missing against Sweden would not much raise the quality that they could be threatened. In the end their plans were foiled, and the Vikings failed to win. After starting 0: 1 followed by a brilliant game from the players Kljaić chose and the series of 6:1. The defense was solid and impenetrable and the attack varied and deadly. Perkovac great led his boys and Božidar Jović was the revelation of the tournament. Worried only in the final Zlatko Saračević was not playing properly, but Kljaić brought the perfect replacement, Zoran Mikulić. Although the Croatians twice led with seven goals difference, the second half offered drama. Swedes switched to defense 4–2 which created big problems. Decreased the difference and 6:30 minutes before the end came at just hit behind. Croatian handball players still in those crucial minutes they had never trembled hands.
Thirty seconds before the end of the line player Nenad Kljaić scored a crucial goal for the final 27:26 and brought a glorious victory. With the sound of sirens was created indescribable celebration and parquet Georgia Dome in front of 25,000 visitors in the hall and millions of TV viewers, which is today known caterpillar gold handball. It was the biggest win in the history of Croatian sport. The handball players were not yet aware of this gold they had placed around his neck President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Antun Vrdoljak, who previously predicted 6 Atlanta medal and otherwise announced "As running from the day he was born" at Zagreb's main square. Still not running, but the handball players after returning from Atlanta to thousands of fans being greeted at the airport and on Jelačić Square. And they did the famous caterpillar crawl.
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Valter Matošević, Venio Losert |
| Back players | Zlatko Saračević, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zoran Mikulić, Slavko Goluža, Bruno Gudelj, Valner Franković |
| Line players | Nenad Kljaić, Alvaro Načinović, Božidar Jović |
| Wing players | Irfan Smajlagić, Patrik Ćavar, Vladimir Šujster, Vladimir Jelčić |
| Coaching staff | Velimir Kljaić (Head coach), Milan Rončević (assistant and fitness coach), Zdenko Zorko (GK coach), Stanislav Peharec (Somatoped), Damir Suman (kinesiotherapists), Vladimir Nekić (tehniko), Josip Guberina (director) |

### A series of poor results (1996–2002)

After winning the Olympic gold medal on 4 August 1996 it was followed by a slow decline in the Croatian national team and the change of generations in which the handball players were far from winning a medal. It started when Croatia was knocked-out in the round of 16 of the World Championships. In Japan in 1997, Croatia was knocked out by Spain 31:25 and was ranked in 13th place. In Egypt 1999 they were knocked-out by Yugoslavia 30:23 leaving Croatia in 10th place. In France 2001 the national team would lose in the next round after two extra time (4 × 5 minutes) stopped Ukraine 37:34 (29: 29/33: 33) finishing in 9th place. At the European Championships in 1998, 2000 and 2002 finished in 8th, 6th and 16th place. Croatia in 2000 hosted the European Championship, they had high expectations from this tournament but they weren't fulfilled. After the defeat from Slovenia in the match for fifth place Croatia took only 6th place and failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The national team is also lost its ability to defend the gold from Atlanta in Sydney.

### First Červar era (2002–2010)

Once the team reached bottom with their results, being ranked last or in 16th place at the 2002 European Championship, in March 2002 the Federation entrusted Lino Červar and with him the team that suffered a seven-year drought medal in two years was created into the world champions and Olympic winners. In the period between these two gold medals Croatia is still ranked 4th place at the European Championships in 2004 in Slovenia. With Červar in charge Croatia would be at the top of the handball world.
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Vlado Šola, Valter Matošević, Mario Kelentrić |
| Back players | Petar Metličić, Ivano Balić, Blaženko Lacković, Slavko Goluža, Tonči Valčić |
| Line players | Božidar Jović, Renato Sulić, Igor Vori |
| Wing players | Mirza Džomba, Nikša Kaleb, Vedran Zrnić, Goran Šprem |
| Defensive players | Denis Špoljarić, Davor Dominiković |
| Coaching staff | Lino Červar (Head coach), Irfan Smajlagić (Assistant coach), Mirko Bašić (GK coach), Josip Feldbauer (Doctor), Milorad Sakradžija (Fizioterapist), Antun Arić (Fizioterapist), Ivica Udovičić (tehniko), Ratko Balenović (Director) |
With the arrival of Lino Červar and a maturing exceptionally talented new generation including a young Ivano Balić, the revival of the national team culminated at the 2003 World Championship. The start of the competition was disastrous. Croatia lost in their first match to Argentina who was at the time a punching for serious national teams in official competitions. Although the first half led with 5 goals, but 14 minutes before the end of the match conceded 6 goals. At the end of the match, Croatian handball players fired five successive attacks, and Mirza Džomba 20 seconds before the end missed the equalizer. How Croatian players badly played that match was proven by the fact they missed 6 penalty shots. During halftime of the second match against another underdog Saudi Arabia Croatia was losing with 2 differences and was playing desperately. Yet the team found strength to win this match. The turning point was marvelous – the group's dramatic victories in the end against giants Russia, France and Hungary securing first place to the second part where the Croats were convincing against Egypt and Denmark. In semi-finals the match went into overtime (4 × 5 minutes) defeating the Spaniards 39:37 (26: 26/31: 31) and in the grand final they outscored Germany 34:31 and won their first title of world champions and wrote surely one of the most beautiful story's in the history of Croatian sport.
In January 2004 Croatia played at the 2004 European Championship in Slovenia. They got to the semi-finals where they were knocked out by the hosts 25:27. They finished in fourth place losing the third place match to Denmark 27:31.
In Summer 2004 the Olympics were held in Athens. The national team continued its dominating play and were undefeated in all eight matches played. They defeated Iceland, Slovenia, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Greece and Hungary before getting to the final. In a dramatic final Croatia defeated Germany 26–24 and with the title of world champions they won the Olympic gold. In the last 5 minutes of the match went a goal ahead for Croatia, and then Nikša Kaleb who had not scored no goal with 3 consecutive goals sealed a great victory. The gold was an even greater success considering the fact that Croatia traveled to Athens without their best line player Renato Sulić who was recovering from a car accident, without important defense player Tonči Valčić and without Patrik Ćavar who was ill.
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Vlado Šola, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević |
| Back players | Petar Metličić, Ivano Balić, Blaženko Lacković, Slavko Goluža, Drago Vuković |
| Line players | Igor Vori |
| Wing players | Mirza Džomba, Nikša Kaleb, Vedran Zrnić, Goran Šprem |
| Defensive players | Denis Špoljarić, Davor Dominiković |
| Coaching staff | Lino Červar (Head coach), Irfan Smajlagić (Assistant coach), Zdenko Zorko (GK coach), Miljenko Rak (Fitness coach), Milorad Sakradžija (Fizioterapist), Josip Feldbauer (Doctor), Stanislav Peharec (Somatoped), Davor Urek (Tehniko), Ivica Udovičić (Director) |

## Rivalries

Croatia has developed several handball rivalries. Their most played rivalry is against France, which is often considered to be one of the biggest modern handball rivalries since the end of the Cold War, since Croatia, Denmark, Spain and France are the most successful nations in handball both in Europe and worldwide. Their second biggest rivalry is with neighbors Slovenia, whom they played 14 times, winning 9 games and losing 5. In recent years, a rivalry with Spain has also developed, sometimes called the Mediterranean derby. Other rivalries include Denmark, Poland, Germany, Serbia and Hungary.

## Results at international competitions

Prior to 1991, Croatia men's national handball team played as a part of Yugoslavia men's national handball team.
Croatia played its first match on 14 January 1991 in Zagreb. Team's first opponent was Japan and the match ended tied 23–23.

### Overview of achievements at major international competitions

| Year | Summer Olympics | World Championship | European Championship |
| 1994 | | | |
| 1995 | | | |
| 1996 | | | 5th |
| 1997 | | 13th | |
| 1998 | | | 8th |
| 1999 | | 10th | |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | | 6th |
| 2001 | | 9th | |
| 2002 | | | 16th |
| 2003 | | | |
| 2004 | | | 4th |
| 2005 | | | |
| 2006 | | | 4th |
| 2007 | | 5th | |
| 2008 | 4th | | |
| 2009 | | | |
| 2010 | | | |
| 2011 | | 5th | |
| 2012 | | | |
| 2013 | | | |
| 2014 | | | 4th |
| 2015 | | 6th | |
| 2016 | 5th | | |
| 2017 | | 4th | |
| 2018 | | | 5th |
| 2019 | | 6th | |
| 2020 | Did not qualify | | |
| 2021 | | 15th |
| 2022 | | | 8th |
| 2023 | | 9th | |
| 2024 | 9th | | 11th |
| 2025 | | | |

### Medal count (major competitions)

Updated after 2025 World Handball Championship
| Competition | | | | Total |
| Olympic Games | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| World Championship | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| European Championship | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 3 | 7 | 5 | 15 |
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

### Competitive record (major competitions)

| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Olympic Games (6 times) | 42 | 31 | 0 | 11 | 1191 | 1081 | +110 |
| World Championship (16 times) | 123 | 89 | 6 | 28 | 3577 | 3065 | +512 |
| European Championship (16 times) | 114 | 66 | 10 | 38 | 3077 | 2938 | +139 |
| Total | 279 | 186 | 16 | 77 | 7845 | 7084 | +761 |

### Summer Olympics
#### Competitive record at the Summer Olympics

| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1992 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Final | | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 183 | 168 | +15 |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Final | | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 238 | 211 | +27 |
| 2008 | Fourth place | 4th | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 218 | 199 | +19 |
| 2012 | Third place | | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 230 | 183 | +47 |
| 2016 | Quarterfinal | 5th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 174 | 164 | +10 |
| 2020 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | Preliminary round | 9th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 148 | 156 | −8 |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2032 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | Qualified: 6/8 | Qualified: 6/8 | 42 | 31 | 0 | 11 | 1191 | 1081 | +110 |
| Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | 57 | 44 | 0 | 13 | 1660 | 1451 | +209 |

#### Competitive record in qualifying rounds

| Year | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Qual |
| 1992 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | N/A |
| 1996 | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | 2nd at the 1995 World Champ | yes |
| 2000 | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | 10th at the 1999 World Champ | no |
| 2004 | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | 1st at the 2003 World Champ | yes |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 72 | +28 | yes |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 65 | +37 | yes |
| 2016 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 71 | +13 | yes |
| 2020 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 81 | 0 | no |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 81 | +21 | yes |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 469 | 370 | +99 | 4/5 |

### World Championship
#### Competitive record at the World Championship

| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1993 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1995 | Final | 2nd | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 246 | 211 | +35 |
| 1997 | Round of 16 | 13th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 148 | 146 | +2 |
| 1999 | Round of 16 | 10th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 141 | 145 | −4 |
| 2001 | Round of 16 | 9th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 188 | 152 | +36 |
| 2003 | Final | 1st | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 270 | 243 | +27 |
| 2005 | Final | 2nd | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 316 | 273 | +43 |
| 2007 | Quarterfinal | 5th | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 308 | 246 | +62 |
| 2009 | Final | 2nd | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 298 | 228 | +70 |
| 2011 | Main Round | 5th | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 271 | 213 | +58 |
| 2013 | Semi-final | 3rd | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 266 | 202 | +64 |
| 2015 | Quarterfinal | 6th | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 258 | 224 | +34 |
| 2017 | Semi-final | 4th | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 254 | 233 | +21 |
| 2019 | Main Round | 6th | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 250 | 220 | +30 |
| 2021 | Main Round | 15th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 156 | 152 | +4 |
| 2023 | Main Round | 9th | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 207 | 167 | +40 |
| 2025 | Final | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 286 | 234 | +52 |
| 2027 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2031 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | Qualified: 16/20 | Qualified: 16/20 | 132 | 95 | 7 | 30 | 3863 | 3289 | +574 |
| Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | 144 | 106 | 6 | 32 | 4234 | 3447 | +787 |

#### Competitive record in qualifying rounds

| Year | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Qual |
| 1993 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | N/A |
| 1995 | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | 3rd at the 1994 Euro | yes |
| 1997 | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | 5th at the 1996 Euro | yes |
| 1999 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 171 | 152 | +19 | yes |
| 2001 | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | 6th at the 2000 Euro | yes |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 50 | +17 | yes |
| 2005 | defending champion | defending champion | defending champion | defending champion | defending champion | defending champion | defending champion | yes |
| 2007 | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | yes |
| 2009 | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | yes |
| 2011 | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | 2nd at the 2010 Euro | yes |
| 2013 | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | 3rd at the 2012 Euro | yes |
| 2015 | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | 4th at the 2014 Euro | yes |
| 2017 | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | 3rd at the 2016 Euro | yes |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 63 | 51 | +12 | yes |
| 2021 | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | Top four at the 2020 Euro | yes |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 43 | +27 | yes |
| 2025 | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | Qualified as co-host | yes |
| 2027 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2031 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 371 | 296 | +75 | 4/4 |

### European Championship
#### Competitive record at the European Championship

| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1994 | Semi-final | | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 165 | 161 | +4 |
| 1996 | Preliminary Round | 5th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 154 | 150 | +4 |
| 1998 | Preliminary Round | 8th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 145 | 150 | −5 |
| 2000 | Preliminary Round | 6th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 146 | 139 | +7 |
| 2002 | Preliminary Round | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 89 | −19 |
| 2004 | Semi-final | 4th | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 222 | 221 | +1 |
| 2006 | Semi-final | 4th | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 229 | 228 | +1 |
| 2008 | Final | | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 212 | 203 | +9 |
| 2010 | Final | | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 207 | 194 | +13 |
| 2012 | Semi-final | | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 216 | 201 | +15 |
| 2014 | Semi-final | 4th | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 229 | 206 | +23 |
| 2016 | Semi-final | | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 250 | 219 | +31 |
| 2018 | Fifth place match | 5th | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 204 | 187 | +17 |
| 2020 | Final | | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 227 | 205 | +22 |
| 2022 | Main Round | 8th | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 185 | 181 | +4 |
| 2024 | Main Round | 11th | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 216 | 204 | +12 |
| 2026 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | Qualified: 17/18 | Qualified: 17/18 | 114 | 66 | 10 | 38 | 3077 | 2938 | +139 |
| Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | Including qualifying rounds | 170 | 112 | 13 | 45 | 4697 | 4242 | +455 |

#### Competitive record in qualifying rounds

| Year | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Qual |
| 1994 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 214 | 166 | +48 | yes |
| 1996 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 161 | 137 | +24 | yes |
| 1998 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 145 | +21 | yes |
| 2000 | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | yes |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 56 | +15 | yes |
| 2004 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 52 | +10 | yes |
| 2006 | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | 4th at the 2004 Euro | yes |
| 2008 | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | 4th at the 2006 Euro | yes |
| 2010 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 252 | 180 | +72 | yes |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 137 | +31 | yes |
| 2014 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 161 | 135 | +26 | yes |
| 2016 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 191 | 148 | +43 | yes |
| 2018 | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | yes |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 174 | 148 | +26 | yes |
| 2022 | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | 2nd at the 2020 Euro | yes |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 56 | 46 | 3 | 7 | 1620 | 1304 | +316 | 10/10 |

### Mediterranean Games

| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1993 | Final | | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 117 | +43 |
| 1997 | Final | | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 121 | 115 | +6 |
| 2001 | Final | | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 127 | +22 |
| 2005 | Final | | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 107 | 103 | +4 |
| 2009 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2013 | Final | | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 158 | +8 |
| 2018 | Final | | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 139 | 120 | +19 |
| 2022 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2030 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | Qualified: 6/8 | Qualified: 6/8 | 25 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 682 | 623 | +59 |

## Team
### Current squad

Roster for the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship.
Head coach: Dagur Sigurðsson
* No.
* Pos.
* Name
* Date of birth (age)
* Height
* App.
* Goals
* Club
* 1
* GK
* Dominik Kuzmanović
* (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22)
* 1.93 m
* 28
* 1
* VfL Gummersbach
* 5
* CB
* Domagoj Duvnjak
* (1988-06-01) 1 June 1988 (age 36)
* 1.98 m
* 263
* 785
* THW Kiel
* 6
* RW
* Mario Šoštarič
* (1992-11-25) 25 November 1992 (age 32)
* 1.93 m
* 27
* 110
* OTP Bank-Pick Szeged
* 9
* RB
* Luka Lovre Klarica
* (2001-09-25) 25 September 2001 (age 23)
* 1.97 m
* 33
* 78
* RK Zagreb
* 10
* P
* Josip Šimić
* (2000-05-10) 10 May 2000 (age 24)
* 1.94 m
* 0
* 0
* 1. VfL Potsdam
* 11
* LB
* Zvonimir Srna
* (1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 27)
* 2.02 m
* 35
* 83
* RK Zagreb
* 13
* CB
* Ivano Pavlović
* (2003-03-19) 19 March 2003 (age 21)
* 1.91 m
* 1
* 1
* RK Zagreb
* 18
* CB
* Igor Karačić
* (1988-11-02) 2 November 1988 (age 36)
* 1.91 m
* 124
* 303
* KS Kielce
* 20
* RB
* Mateo Maraš
* (2000-12-17) 17 December 2000 (age 24)
* 2.03 m
* 27
* 40
* Tatabánya KC
* 30
* LB
* Marko Mamić
* (1994-03-06) 6 March 1994 (age 31)
* 2.02 m
* 89
* 123
* SC DHfK Leipzig
* 33
* CB
* Luka Cindrić
* (1993-07-05) 5 July 1993 (age 31)
* 1.81 m
* 119
* 339
* Veszprém KC
* 35
* GK
* Ivan Pešić
* (1989-03-17) 17 March 1989 (age 35)
* 1.94 m
* 66
* 1
* HBC Nantes
* 39
* LW
* David Mandić
* (1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 (age 27)
* 1.89 m
* 57
* 141
* MT Melsungen
* 41
* CB
* Tin Lučin
* (1999-08-16) 16 August 1999 (age 25)
* 1.97 m
* 39
* 96
* RK Nexe Našice
* 51
* RB
* Ivan Martinović
* (1998-01-06) 6 January 1998 (age 27)
* 1.94 m
* 51
* 233
* Rhein-Neckar Löwen
* 52
* P
* Leon Šušnja
* (1993-08-05) 5 August 1993 (age 31)
* 2.04 m
* 23
* 22
* Orlen Wisła Płock
* 53
* P
* Marin Šipić
* (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996 (age 28)
* 1.90 m
* 77
* 143
* HC Kriens-Luzern
* 57
* RW
* Filip Glavaš
* (1997-05-06) 6 May 1997 (age 27)
* 1.84 m
* 42
* 133
* RK Zagreb
* 62
* LW
* Marin Jelinić
* (1996-12-07) 7 December 1996 (age 28)
* 1.94 m
* 40
* 102
* OTP Bank-Pick Szeged
* 93
* P
* Veron Načinović
* (2000-03-07) 7 March 2000 (age 25)
* 2.04 m
* 38
* 84
* Montpellier Handball

### Coaching staff

    As of 29 February 2024
| Role | Name |
| Head coach | Dagur Sigurðsson |
| Assistant coach | Denis Špoljarić |
| Goalkeeping coach | Valter Matošević |
| Conditioning coaches | Miljenko Rak Danijel Brajković |
| Physiotherapists | Goran Krušelj Matija Rajnović |
| Team manager | Ivica Maraš |
| Sporting director | |
| Technique | Zdravko Mirilović |

### Head coaches

* Josip Milković (1990–1991)
* Zdravko Zovko (1991–1995)
* Abas Arslanagić (1995–1996)
* Vlado Nekić (1996; Acting)
* Velimir Kljaić (1996)
* Ivan Duvnjak (1996; Acting)
* Damir Čavlović (1996; Acting)
* Josip Glavaš (1997)
* Ilija Puljević (1997–1998)
* Velimir Kljaić (1998–1999)
* Zdravko Zovko (1999–2000)
* Josip Milković (2000–2002)
* Lino Červar (2002–2010)
* Irfan Smajlagić (2003, 2004, and 2005; Acting)
* Slavko Goluža (2010–2015)
* Željko Babić (2015–2017)
* Lino Červar (2017–2021)
* Hrvoje Horvat (2021–2023)
* Goran Perkovac (2023–2024)
* Dagur Sigurðsson (2024–)

### Captains

* Alvaro Načinović (1992–1996)
* Goran Perkovac (1996–1998)
* Patrik Ćavar (1998–1999)
* Slavko Goluža (1999–2006)
* Petar Metličić (2006–2009)
* Igor Vori (2009–2015)
* Marko Kopljar (2015–2016)
* Domagoj Duvnjak (2017–2025)

### Squads
#### Major tournaments

Croatia squads :
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1993 Mediterranean Games Winners (1st Title)
1 Mirko Bašić
2 Vladimir Jelčić
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Bruno Gudelj
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Ivica Obrvan
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Iztok Puc
12 Vlado Šola
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Ratko Tomljanović
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Tonči Peribonio
19 Zlatko Saračević
Head Coach: Zdravko Zovko
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1994 European Championship – Bronze medal
1 Tonči Peribonio
2 Vladimir Jelčić
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Bruno Gudelj
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Ivica Obrvan
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Iztok Puc
11 Darko Franović
12 Vlado Šola
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Ratko Tomljanović
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
19 Zlatko Saračević
Coach: Zdravko Zovko
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1995 World Championship – Silver medal
1 Venio Losert
2 Boris Jarak
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Tomislav Farkaš
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Mirza Šarić
10 Iztok Puc
12 Vlado Šola
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Ratko Tomljanović
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Zlatko Saračević
Coach: Zdravko Zovko
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1996 European Championship – 5th place
1 Venio Losert
2 Boris Jarak
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Tomislav Farkaš
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Iztok Puc
11 Bruno Gudelj
12 Vlado Šola
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Ratko Tomljanović
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Zlatko Saračević
Coach: Abas Arslanagić, Vladimir Nekić
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1996 Summer Olympics Winners (1st Title)
1 Venio Losert
2 Vladimir Jelčić
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Vladimir Šujster
8 Zoran Mikulić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Iztok Puc
11 Bruno Gudelj
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Valner Franković
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Zlatko Saračević
Head Coach: Velimir Kljaić
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1997 World Championship – 13th place
1 Mirko Bašić
2 Vladimir Jelčić
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Irfan Smajlagić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Mladen Prskalo
7 Tomislav Farkaš
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Iztok Puc
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Venio Losert
13 Patrik Ćavar
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Zlatko Saračević
Coach: Ilija Puljević
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1997 Mediterranean Games Winners (2nd Title)
1 Mario Kelentrić
2 Miro Barišić
3 Goran Perkovac
4 Neno Boban
5 Božidar Jović
6 Mladen Prskalo
7 Igor Kos
9 Goran Jerković
10 Davor Dominiković
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Dragan Jerković
14 Silvio Ivandija
15 Valner Franković
16 Valter Matošević
17 Enes Halkić
20 Mario Bjeliš
Head Coach: Ilija Puljević
vteCroatia squad – 1998 European Men's Handball Championship – 8th place
1 Kelentrić
3 Paljar
4 Bjeliš
5 Jović
6 Baltić
7 Obrvan
9 N. Kljaić
11 Džomba
12 Losert
13 Ćavar
14 Tomljanović
15 Goluža
16 Bašić
17 Saračević
19 Galić
20 Mikulić
Coach: V. Kljaić
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1999 World Championship - 10th place
1 Mirko Bašić
2 Ivica Maraš
5 Božidar Jović
7 Vedran Zrnić
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Davor Dominiković
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Venio Losert
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Tonči Valčić
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Mario Kelentrić
17 Mirza Šarić
18 Milanko Čaprić
20 Zoran Mikulić
Coach: Velimir Kljaić
vteCroatia squad – 2000 European Men's Handball Championship – 6th place
1 Bašić
3 Perkovac
4 Šprem
5 Jović
7 Farkaš
8 Bilić
9 Kljaić
10 Gudelj
11 Džomba
12 Losert
14 Valčić
15 Goluža
16 Matošević
17 Saračević
19 Smajlagić
20 Mikulić
Coach: Zovko
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2001 World Championship - 9th place
1 Mario Kelentrić
2 Nikša Kaleb
3 Renato Sulić
5 Božidar Jović
7 Vedran Zrnić
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Davor Dominiković
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Venio Losert
13 Patrik Ćavar
14 Tonči Valčić
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
19 Petar Metličić
20 Zoran Mikulić
Coach: Josip Milković
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2001 Mediterranean Games Winners (2nd Title)
1 Mario Kelentrić
2 Tihomir Baltić
3 Renato Sulić
4 Ivano Balić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Blaženko Lacković
7 Vedran Zrnić
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Igor Kos
10 Davor Dominiković
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Diego Modrušan
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Goran Šprem
19 Petar Metličić
Head Coach: Josip Milković
vteCroatia squad – 2002 European Men's Handball Championship – 16th place
1 Kelentrić
2 Baltić
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Jović
7 Zrnić
8 Bilić
9 Kos
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
14 Valčić
15 Goluža
16 Matošević
17 Šprem
19 Metličić
Coach: Milković
vteCroatia squad – 2003 World Men's Handball Championship – Gold medal
1 Kelentrić
2 Kaleb
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Jović
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
12 Šola
14 Valčić
15 Goluža
16 Matošević
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2004 European Men's Handball Championship – 4th place
1 Kelentrić
2 Kaleb
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Vukas
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
12 Šola
14 Valčić
15 Goluža
16 Matošević
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2004 Summer Olympics – Gold medal
1 Losert
2 Kaleb
4 Balić
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
12 Šola
14 Vuković
15 Goluža
16 Matošević
17 Šprem
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2005 World Men's Handball Championship – Silver medal
1 Losert
2 Kaleb
4 Balić
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
12 Šola
13 Jeftić
15 Goluža
16 Blažičko
17 Šprem
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
21 Buntić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2005 Mediterranean Games - Silver medal
 Nikola Blažičko
 Damir Bičanić
 Denis Buntić
 Josip Čale
 Ivan Čupić
 Zlatko Horvat
 Tomislav Huljina
 Krešimir Ivanković
 Marin Knez
 Branimir Koloper
 Mario Obrad
 Vladimir Ostarčević
 Ivan Pongračić
 Vjenceslav Somić
 Ljubo Vukić
 Drago Vuković
Head Coach: Lino Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2006 European Men's Handball Championship – 4th place
1 Losert
3 Sulić
4 Balić
6 Lacković
7 Čupić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
12 Šola
13 Horvat
15 Goluža
16 Blažičko
17 Šprem
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
20 Buntić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2007 World Men's Handball Championship – 5th place
1 Losert
2 Kaleb
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
8 Anušić
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
14 Vuković
16 Jerković
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
23 Vukić
24 Valčić
25 Alilović
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2008 European Men's Handball Championship – Silver medal
2 Kaleb
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
12 Somić
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
16 Jerković
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
22 J. Valčić
23 Vukić
24 T. Valčić
25 Alilović
27 Čupić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2008 Summer Olympics – 4th place
1 Losert
3 Sulić
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
9 Vori
10 Dominiković
11 Džomba
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
17 Šprem
19 Metličić
23 Vukić
24 Valčić
25 Alilović
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2009 World Men's Handball Championship – Silver medal
1 Losert
2 Hrvatin
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
17 Šprem
18 Špoljarić
19 Metličić
21 Buntić
22 J. Valčić
24 T. Valčić
25 Alilović
27 Čupić
28 Anušić
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2010 European Men's Handball Championship – Silver medal
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
12 Čarapina
14 Vuković
17 Mataija
20 Bičanić
21 Buntić
24 Valčić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
28 Musa
Coach: Červar
vteCroatia squad – 2011 World Men's Handball Championship – 5th place
1 Šego
3 Marić
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
7 Zrnić
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
11 Matulić
14 Vuković
16 Pešić
21 Buntić
24 Valčić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
28 Musa
29 Ninčević
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – 2012 European Men's Handball Championship – Bronze medal
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
12 Losert
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
20 Bičanić
21 Buntić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
28 Musa
29 Ninčević
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – 2012 Summer Olympics – Bronze medal
1 Losert
4 Balić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
20 Bičanić
21 Buntić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
29 Ninčević
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – 2013 World Men's Handball Championship – Bronze medal
3 Marić
5 Duvnjak
6 Lacković
7 Stepančić
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
16 Ivić
17 Šprem
20 Bičanić
23 Mandalinić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Ćupić
28 Musa
29 Ninčević
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2013 Mediterranean Games - Silver medal
1 Ivan Stevanović
3 Marino Marić
6 Stefan Vujić
7 Tim Thoss
8 Igor Karačić
9 Filip Gavranović
10 Damir Batinović
11 Jerko Matulić
12 Ivan Pešić
17 Lovro Šprem
18 Marko Matić
20 Hrvoje Batinović
24 Nik Dominik Tominec
32 Ivan Slišković
33 Marko Mrđenović
34 Josip Vidović
Head Coach: Slavko Goluža
vteCroatia squad – 2014 European Men's Handball Championship – 4th place
1 Losert
5 Duvnjak
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
14 Vuković
20 Bičanić
21 Buntić
22 Valčić
23 Mandalinić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
28 Musa
29 Ninčević
32 Slišković
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2015 World Championship – 6th place
5 Duvnjak
7 Stepančić
8 Kopljar
9 Vori
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
16 Ivić
18 Karačić
20 Bičanić
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
28 Musa
29 Ninčević
32 Slišković
34 Brozović
Coach: Goluža
vteCroatia squad – 2016 European Men's Handball Championship – Bronze medal
1 Stevanović
3 Marić
5 Duvnjak
8 Kopljar
10 Gojun
13 Horvat
18 Karačić
21 Kozina
25 Alilović
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
29 Kovačević
30 Mamić
31 Šebetić
32 Slišković
33 Cindrić
34 Brozović
Coach: Babić
vteCroatia squad – 2016 Summer Olympics – 5th place
1 Stevanović
5 Duvnjak
7 Stepančić
8 Kopljar
10 Gojun
12 Pešić
13 Horvat
18 Karačić
26 Štrlek
27 Čupić
30 Mamić
32 Slišković
34 Brozović
44 Kozina
Coach: Babić :

#### Minor tournaments

Croatia squads :
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 1999 Super Cup – 2nd place
1 Mario Kelentrić
2 Vladimir Jelčić
5 Božidar Jović
6 Alvaro Načinović
7 Tomislav Farkaš
8 Zvonimir Bilić
9 Nenad Kljaić
10 Ratko Tomljanović
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Venio Losert
14 Tonči Valčić
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
17 Vedran Zrnić
18 Denis Špoljarić
20 Zoran Mikulić
Head Coach: Zdravko Zovko
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2004 World Cup – 8th place
1 Mario Kelentrić
2 Nikša Kaleb
3 Renato Sulić
4 Ivano Balić
5 Ivan Vukas
6 Blaženko Lacković
7 Vedran Zrnić
9 Igor Vori
11 Mirza Džomba
12 Vlado Šola
14 Tonči Valčić
15 Slavko Goluža
16 Valter Matošević
18 Denis Špoljarić
19 Petar Metličić
Head Coach: Irfan Smajlagić
vteCroatia squad – Men's handball – 2006 Statoil World Cup Winner (1st Title)
1 Venio Losert
3 Renato Sulić
4 Ivano Balić
5 Ivan Vukas
6 Blaženko Lacković
7 Vedran Zrnić
8 Marko Bagarić
9 Igor Vori
10 Davor Dominiković
11 Mirza Džomba
14 Drago Vuković
16 Dragan Jerković
17 Goran Šprem
18 Denis Špoljarić
19 Petar Metličić
20 Damir Bičanić
23 Ljubo Vukić
Coach: Lino Červar :

### Medal-winning squads

* Gold medal at the 1993 Mediterranean Games: Tonči Peribonio, Mirko Bašić, Goran Perkovac, Alvaro Načinović, Ivica Obrvan, Bruno Gudelj, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Ratko Tomljanović, Vlado Šola, Vladimir Jelčić, Patrik Ćavar, Irfan Smajlagić, Nenad Kljaić
** coach: Zdravko Zovko
* Bronze medal at the 1994 European Championship: Zvonimir Bilić, Patrik Ćavar, Darko Franović, Slavko Goluža, Bruno Gudelj, Vladimir Jelčić, Nenad Kljaić, Valter Matošević, Alvaro Načinović, Ivica Obrvan, Tonči Peribonio, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić, Vlado Šola, Ratko Tomljanović
** coach: Zdravko Zovko
* Silver medal at the 1995 World Championship: Goran Perkovac, Irfan Smajlagić, Alvaro Načinović, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Patrik Ćavar, Ratko Tomljanović, Vlado Šola, Valter Matošević, Zvonimir Bilić, Slavko Goluža, Božidar Jović, Venio Losert, Boris Jarak, Tomislav Farkaš, Mirza Šarić
** coach: Zdravko Zovko
* Gold medal at the 1996 Olympics: Patrik Ćavar, Valner Franković, Slavko Goluža, Bruno Gudelj, Vladimir Jelčić, Božidar Jović, Nenad Kljaić, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević, Zoran Mikulić, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić, Vladimir Šujster
** coach: Velimir Kljaić
* Gold medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games: Goran Perkovac, Valter Matošević, Valner Franković, Božidar Jović, Miro Barišić, Mario Bjeliš, Goran Jerković, Mirza Džomba, Enes Halkić, Davor Dominiković, Silvio Ivandija, Igor Kos, Dragan Jerković, Neno Boban, Mario Kelentrić, Mladen Prskalo
** coach: Velimir Kljaić
* Gold medal at the 2001 Mediterranean Games: Ivano Balić, Tihomir Baltić, Zvonimir Bilić, Davor Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža, Božidar Jović, Mario Kelentrić, Igor Kos, Blaženko Lacković, Valter Matošević, Diego Modrušan, Goran Šprem, Renato Sulić, Vedran Zrnić
** coach: Josip Milković
* Gold medal at the 2003 World Championship: Ivano Balić, Davor Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža, Božidar Jović, Nikša Kaleb, Mario Kelentrić, Blaženko Lacković, Valter Matošević, Petar Metličić, Vlado Šola, Denis Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Renato Sulić, Tonči Valčić, Igor Vori, Vedran Zrnić
** coach: Lino Červar
* Gold medal at the 2004 Olympics: Ivano Balić, Davor Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Slavko Goluža, Nikša Kaleb, Blaženko Lacković, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević, Petar Metličić, Vlado Šola, Denis Špoljarić, Goran Šprem, Igor Vori, Drago Vuković, Vedran Zrnić
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2005 World Championship: Venio Losert, Nikša Kaleb, Ivano Balić, Blaženko Lacković, Vedran Zrnić, Igor Vori, Davor Dominiković, Mirza Džomba, Vlado Šola, Zoran Jeftić, Slavko Goluža, Nikola Blažičko, Goran Šprem, Denis Špoljarić, Petar Metličić, Denis Buntić
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2005 Mediterranean Games: Damir Bičanić, Nikola Blažičko, Denis Buntić, Josip Čale, Ivan Čupić, Zlatko Horvat, Tomislav Huljina, Krešimir Ivanković, Marin Knez, Branimir Koloper, Mario Obad, Vladimir Ostarčević, Ivan Pongračić, Vjenceslav Somić, Ljubo Vukić, Drago Vuković
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2008 European Championship: Nikša Kaleb, Renato Sulić, Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Blaženko Lacković, Igor Vori, Davor Dominiković, Vjenceslav Somić, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vuković, Dragan Jerković, Denis Špoljarić, Petar Metličić, Josip Valčić, Ljubo Vukić, Tonči Valčić, Mirko Alilović, Ivan Čupić
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2009 World Championship: Venio Losert, Mateo Hrvatin, Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Blaženko Lacković, Vedran Zrnić, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Ivan Pešić, Goran Šprem, Denis Špoljarić, Petar Metličić, Denis Buntić, Josip Valčić, Tonči Valčić, Mirko Alilović, Ivan Čupić, Dalibor Anušić, Ivan Ninčević
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2010 European Championship: Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Blaženko Lacković, Vedran Zrnić, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Goran Čarapina, Drago Vuković, Vedran Mataija, Damir Bičanić, Denis Buntić, Tonči Valčić, Mirko Alilović, Manuel Štrlek, Ivan Čupić, Željko Musa, Luka Raković.
** coach: Lino Červar
* Bronze medal at the 2012 European Championship: Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Blaženko Lacković, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Venio Losert, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vuković, Damir Bičanić, Denis Buntić, Mirko Alilović, Manuel Štrlek, Ivan Čupić, Željko Musa, Ivan Ninčević
** coach: Slavko Goluža
* Bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics: Venio Losert, Ivano Balić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Blaženko Lacković, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vuković, Damir Bičanić, Denis Buntić, Mirko Alilović, Manuel Štrlek, Ivan Čupić, Ivan Ninčević
** coach: Slavko Goluža
* Bronze medal at the 2013 World Championship: Mirko Alilović, Filip Ivić, Ivan Čupić, Zlatko Horvat, Manuel Štrlek, Lovro Šprem, Marko Kopljar, Luka Stepančić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Jakov Gojun, Damir Bičanić, Drago Vuković, Stipe Mandalinić, Blaženko Lacković, Igor Vori, Marino Marić, Ivan Ninčević
** coach: Slavko Goluža
* Silver medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games: Ivan Pešić, Ivan Stevanović, Hrvoje Batinović, Lovro Šprem, Jerko Matulić, Nik Dominik Tominec, Marino Marić, Filip Gavranović, Ivan Slišković, Stefan Vujić, Marko Matic, Luka Stepančić, Robert Markotić, Igor Karačić, Damir Batinović, Josip Vidović
** coach: Slavko Goluža
* Bronze medal at the 2016 European Championship: Ivan Stevanović, Marino Marić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Marko Kopljar, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Igor Karačić, Krešimir Kozina, Mirko Alilović, Manuel Štrlek, Ivan Čupić, Antonio Kovačević, Marko Mamić, Luka Šebetić, Ivan Slišković, Luka Cindrić, Ilija Brozović
** coach: Željko Babić
* Silver medal at the 2020 European Championship: Marino Marić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Matej Hrstić, Luka Stepančić, Zlatko Horvat, Josip Šarac, Igor Karačić, Željko Musa, Marko Mamić, Luka Cindrić, Ilija Brozović, Vlado Matanović, David Mandić, Valentino Ravnić, Marin Šipić, Marin Šego, Matej Ašanin
** coach: Lino Červar
* Silver medal at the 2025 World Championship: Dominik Kuzmanović, Domagoj Duvnjak, Mario Šoštarič, Luka Lovre Klarica, Josip Šimić, Zvonimir Srna, Ivano Pavlović, Igor Karačić, Mateo Maraš, Marko Mamić, Luka Cindrić, Ivan Pešić, David Mandić, Tin Lučin, Ivan Martinović, Leon Šušnja, Marin Šipić, Filip Glavaš, Marin Jelinić, Veron Načinović
** coach: Dagur Sigurðsson

### Notable players

* Alvaro Načinović
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996
* Irfan Smajlagić
** part of the all-star team of the 1995 World Championship as the best right wing
** Best Croatian handballer of 1995 by CHF & SN
** part of the all-star team of the 1996 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
* Patrik Ćavar
** Best Croatian handballer of 1994, 1997 and 2000 by CHF & SN
** top scorer and part of the all-star team of the 1996 Olympic tournament as the best left wing
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996
** Best % of goals scored for the national team – 5.33
** 2nd top goalscorer of the national team – 639 goals
* Ivano Balić
** IHF World Player of the Year 2003 and 2006
** Croatian Sportsman of the Year: 2007
** MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2004 European Championship as the best centre back
** part of the all-star team of the 2004 Olympic tournament as the best centre back
** MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2005 World Championship as the best centre back
** MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2006 European Championship as the best centre back
** MVP of the 2007 World Championship
** top scorer and part of the all-star team of the 2008 European Championship as the best centre back
* Mirza Džomba
** part of the all-star team of the 2003 World Championship as the best right wing
** MVP and top scorer of the 2004 European Championship
** part of the all-star team of the 2004 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 2004
** part of the all-star team of the 2005 World Championship as the best right wing
** Best Croatian handballer of 2005 by CHF & SN
** Best right wing in the history by EHF
** All-time goalscorer of the national team – 719 goals
* Valter Matošević
** 2nd best goalkeeper at 1995 World Championship
** Best Croatian handballer of 1995 by CHF & SN
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
** Record in the national team for the number of saves in one match – 24
* Slavko Goluža
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996, 2004 and 2009
** Best Croatian handball player by CHF & Sportske novosti: 2001
** Trophy MOO for sports and promoting optimism: 2007
* Igor Vori
** best defence player of the 2008 European Championship
** MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best pivot
** part of the all-star team of the 2010 European Championship as the best pivot
* Ivan Čupić
** part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best right wing
** part of the all-star team of the 2012 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
* Blaženko Lacković
** part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best left back
* Jakov Gojun
** best defence player of the 2010 European Championship
* Manuel Štrlek
** part of the all-star team of the 2010 European Championship as the best left wing
** part of the all-star team of the 2016 European Championship as the best left wing
* Vedran Zrnić
** part of the all-star team of the 2011 World Championship as the best right wing
* Marko Kopljar
** part of the all-star team of the 2012 European Championship as the best right back
* Domagoj Duvnjak
** IHF World Player of the Year 2013
** part of the all-star team of the 2013 World Championship as the best playmaker
** part of the all-star team of the 2014 European Championship as the best centre back
** part of the all-star team of the 2017 World Championship as the best centre back
** MVP of the 2020 European Championship
* Venio Losert
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
** 3rd best goalkeeper at 2004 Summer Olympics
* Davor Dominiković
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 2004
* Iztok Puc
** Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996

### Statistics
#### Most appearances

| Name | Matches | Position | Years |
| Domagoj Duvnjak | 257 | CB | 2006–2025 |
| Igor Vori | 246 | LP | 2001–2018 |
| Venio Losert | 211 | GK | 1995–2015 |
| Slavko Goluža | 204 | CB, LP | 1991–2006 |
| Ivano Balić | 198 | CB | 2001–2012 |
| Blaženko Lacković | 195 | OB | 2001–2013 |
| Zlatko Horvat | 191 | W | 2005–2020 |
| Valter Matošević | 191 | GK | 1992–2004 |
| Goran Perkovac | 190 | LB | 1992–2000 |
| Vedran Zrnić | 189 | W | 2001–2010 |
| Mirza Džomba | 185 | W | 1997–2008 |
| Petar Metličić | 175 | OB | 1997–2009 |
| Davor Dominiković | 174 | D, OB | 1997–2008 |
| Manuel Štrlek | 173 | W | 2010–2021 |
| Jakov Gojun | 166 | D | 2008–2018 |
| Mirko Alilović | 164 | GK | 2006–2018 |
| Drago Vuković | 157 | CB/OB, D | 2004–2014 |
| Ivan Čupić | 156 | W | 2005–2024 |
| Mirko Alilović | 152 | GK | 2006–2018 |
| Božidar Jović | 151 | LP | 1995–2003 |
| Zvonimir Bilić | 147 | OB | 1995–2002 |
| Nenad Kljaić | 145 | LP | 1991–2001 |
| Tonči Valčić | 144 | OB | 1999–2010 |
| Marko Kopljar | 137 | OB | 2008–2018 |
| Vlado Šola | 132 | GK | 1991–2006 |
| Denis Špoljarić | 131 | D | 2003–2009 |
| Denis Buntić | 131 | OB | 2005–2018 |
| Patrik Ćavar | 120 | W | 1991–2003 |
| Goran Šprem | 109 | W | 1999–2009 |
| Alvaro Načinović | 105 | LP | 1992–2000 |
| Renato Sulić | 100 | LP | 2001–2008 |

#### Top scorers

| Name | Goals | Average | Position | Years |
| Domagoj Duvnjak | 771 | 3.00 | CB | 2006–2025 |
| Mirza Džomba | 719 | 3.89 | W | 1997–2008 |
| Patrik Ćavar | 639 | 5.33 | W | 1991–2003 |
| Manuel Štrlek | 600 | 3.16 | W | 2010–2021 |
| Zlatko Horvat | 590 | 2.51 | W | 2008–2020 |
| Igor Vori | 590 | 2.39 | P | 2001–2018 |
| Ivan Čupić | 577 | 3.90 | W | 2005–2024 |
| Blaženko Lacković | 571 | 2.93 | OB | 2001–2013 |
| Vedran Zrnić | 571 | 2.03 | W | 2001–2010 |
| Slavko Goluža | 545 | | CB, LB | 1991–2006 |
| Ivano Balić | 535 | 2.70 | CB | 2001–2012 |
| Zvonimir Bilić | 500 | | OB | 1995–2002 |
| Petar Metličić | 471 | 2.83 | OB | 1997–2009 |
| Iztok Puc | 325 | 2.23 | OB | 1991–1998 |
| Marko Kopljar | 322 | | RB | 2005–2018 |
| Denis Buntić | 293 | | RB | 2005–2018 |
| Irfan Smajlagić | 290 | | W | 1991–2000 |
| Goran Šprem | 277 | | W | 1999–2009 |
| Zlatko Saračević | 244 | | OB | 1992–2000 |
| Luka Stepančić | 241 | | OB | 2013– |
| Igor Karačić | 236 | 2.41 | CB | 2013– |
| Luka Cindrić | 229 | 2.66 | CB | 2014– |
| Tonči Valčić | 226 | | OB | 1999–2010 |
| Renato Sulić | 221 | | P | 2001–2008 |
| Drago Vuković | 210 | | OB | 2004–2014 |
| Davor Dominiković | 205 | | OB | 1997–2008 |
| Damir Bičanić | 176 | | OB | 2005–2020 |
| Alvaro Načinović | 165 | | P | 1992–2000 |
| Nikša Kaleb | 152 | | W | 1999–2010 |
| Ivan Slišković | 140 | | OB | 2013– |
| Zeljko Musa | 118 | 0,81 | W | 2017– |
| Ivan Martinović | 107 | 3.96 | OB | 2019– |
| Božidar Jović | 100 | | P | 1995–2003 |
Players that played for Croatian National Handball Team after the breakup of Yugoslavia and collected 100+ caps combined for Yugoslavian and Croatian National Handball Teams.
| Name | Matches | Position | Years |
| Nenad Kljaić | 214 | OB | 1987–2001 |
| Valter Matošević | 213 | GK | 1989–2004 |
| Goran Perkovac | 202 | OB | 1988–2000 |
| Zlatko Saračević | 181 | OB | 1981–2000 |
| Mirko Bašić | 180 | GK | 1979–2000 |
| Iztok Puc | 147 | OB | 1988–1998 |
| Alvaro Načinović | 144 | P | 1988–2000 |
| Tonči Peribonio | 139 | GK | 1986–1994 |
| Patrik Ćavar | 135 | W | 1989–2004 |
| Irfan Smajlagić | 123 | W | 1987–2001 |
| Zoran Mikulić | 62 | OB | 1989–2001 |
| Boris Jarak | 40 | | 1988–1996 |

## Record against other teams

As of 22 January 2025
Key :
* Positive total balance (more wins)
* Neutral total balance (equal W/L ratio)
* Negative total balance (more losses)
| National team | Total | Total | Total | Total | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | World Championship | World Championship | World Championship | World Championship | European Championship | European Championship | European Championship | European Championship | Mediterranean Games | Mediterranean Games | Mediterranean Games | Mediterranean Games | Qualifications | Qualifications | Qualifications | Qualifications |
| National team | Pld | W | D | L | Pld | W | D | L | Pld | W | D | L | Pld | W | D | L | Pld | W | D | L | Pld | W | D | L |
| Algeria | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Angola | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentina | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austria | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Bahrain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Belarus | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Chile | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| China | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cuba | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Czech Republic | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Denmark | 20 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Egypt | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| France | 25 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Germany | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greece | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Greenland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hungary | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Iceland | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Iran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Italy | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kuwait | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latvia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lithuania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Macedonia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Montenegro | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Morocco | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norway | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Poland | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portugal | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Qatar | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Romania | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Russia | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Serbia * | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Slovakia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Slovenia | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| South Korea | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 29 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tunisia | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Ukraine | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total (53) | 359 | 259 | 18 | 82 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Biggest wins

Double digit goal difference
| Olympic Games | World Championship | European Championship | Mediterranean Games | Qualifications |
| +19 vs. Brasil (33–14) 2008 +11 vs. China (33–22) 2008 +11 vs. Denmark (32–21) 2012 +10 vs. South Korea (31–21) 2012 | +29 vs. USA (41–12) 2001 +27 vs. Australia (42–15) 2011 +23 vs. Australia (36–13) 2013 +21 vs. Cuba (41–20) 2009 +20 vs. Argentina (38–18) 2011 +20 vs. Australia (38–18) 2005 +20 vs. Cape Verde (44–24) 2025 +19 vs. Iran (41–22) 2015 +19 vs. Kuwait (40–21) 2009 +18 vs. South Korea (41–23) 2007 +18 vs. USA (40–22) 2023 +15 vs. Chile (37–22) 2017 +15 vs. Argentina (33-18) 2025 +14 vs. Egypt (30–16) 1995 +14 vs. Bahrain (36-22) 2025 +13 vs. Argentina (36–23) 2005 +13 vs. China (34–21) 1997 +13 vs. Morocco (35–22) 2007 +12 vs. Morocco (33–21) 1995 +12 vs. Morocco (36–24) 2023 +11 vs. Algeria (31–20) 2013 +11 vs. Bahrain (43-32) 2023 +10 vs. Spain (32–22) 2009 | +14 vs. Poland (37–23) 2016 +13 vs. Ukraine (38–25) 2022 +11 vs. Belarus (33–22) 2014 +10 vs. Macedonia (34–24) 2016 +10 vs. Serbia (32–22) 2018 +10 vs. Spain (39–29) 2024 | +8 vs. Greece (33–25) 2005 | +20 vs. Chile (35–15) 2012 +20 vs. Finland (34–14) 2010 +19 vs. Finland (39–20) 2010 +15 vs. Japan (37–22) 2008 +14 vs. Japan (36–22) 2012 +14 vs. Turkey (40–26) 2016 +13 vs. Slovakia (34–21) 2010 +12 vs. Greece (32–20) 2010 +12 vs. Romania (34–22) 2012 +11 vs. Algeria (37–26) 2008 +11 vs. Netherlands (35–24) 2016 +11 vs. Slovakia (32–21) 2014 +10 vs. Bahrain (32–22) 2016 +10 vs. Turkey (32–22) 2016 |

### Biggest losses

| Olympic Games | World Championship | European Championship | Mediterranean Games | Qualifications |
| -11 vs. Sweden (27-38) 2024 -9 vs. Sweden (18–27) 1996 -7 vs. Qatar (23–30) 2016 | -12 vs. Denmark (26–38) 2021 -11 vs. Russia (20–31) 1997 | -15 vs. Russia (14–29) 1998 -12 vs. FR Yugoslavia (22–34) 2002 -10 vs. Denmark (20–30) 2008 | -7 vs. Spain (21–28) 2005 | |

## Awards

The Croatia national handball team has received numerous award throughout the years.

### Senior squad

* Sportske novosti awards team of the year: 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2009
* Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
* Selection of the most successful athletes by COC male team: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009
* Selection of the most successful athletes by COC for promoting Croatia: 2003, 2004 and 2012
* Ivica Jobo Kurtini Award – 2004

### U-19 squad

* Dražen Petrović Award: 2007 and 2009