Irfan Smajlagic, the head coach of Bosnia men's national handball team, was admitted to the Hall of Fame of European handball in a ceremony on Monday night in Vienna, among 60 legendary handball players.

The event was organised to mark the 30th anniversary of the European Handball Federation (EHF), which for the first time introduced the Excellence Awards and its Hall of Fame.

“We are delighted to honour the legends of our game at the culmination of the 30th anniversary of European handball. Introducing the EHF Excellence Awards and the Hall of Fame puts the spotlight at the best players of the season and pays tribute to those who have left a mark on the sport of handball. Their sporting achievements speak of their greatness and we are proud to give recognition to players who have shaped our game,” EHF President Michael Wiederer said on this occasion.

The season 2022/23 of European handball has put the spotlight on the history made over the past three decades, with old handball records being broken and new ones set, the EHF said, adding that the culmination of the year, in which the European Handball Federation celebrates its 30th anniversary, is when the EHF honours legends of the game and introduces them to the first Hall of Fame of European handball.