HC Linz AG

{{Short description|Austrian handball club}} {{Infobox handball club | clubname = HC Linz AG | image = | fullname = Handball Club Linz AG | short name = Linz | nickname = | founded = {{start date and age|1972}} | ground = Sporthauptschule Linz Kleinmünchen | capacity = 1,200<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hclinz.at/saison/heimhalle/ |title=''HEIMHALLE'' |website=hclinz.at |access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref> | chairman = | manager = Milan Vunjak | league = Handball Liga Austria | season = 2024-25 | position = 4th | website = https://www.hclinz.at | colour1 = #0000FF | colour2 = #FFFFFF | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | leftarm1 = ffffff | body1 = 0000ff | rightarm1 = ffffff | shorts1 = 0000ff | socks1 = | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = 0000ff | body2 = ffffff | rightarm2 = 0000ff | shorts2 = ffffff | socks2 = }}

'''HC Linz AG''' is a handball club from Linz, Austria. They currently compete in the Handball Liga Austria.

{{location map+|Austria |float=right |width=261 |alt=Location of HC Linz AG |caption=Location of HC Linz AG |places= {{Location map~|Austria|lat=48.305833|long=14.286389|label=Linz|position=right}} }}

== History ==

The club was founded in 1972. It was promoted to the top division in 1974 and has been in the top division continuously since then. They became Austrian champions seven times (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1995 and 1996) and won the Austrian Cup four times (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997). In the 1993/94 season, the club reached the final of the EHF Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurohandball.com/ec/ehfc/men/1993-94/round/5/finals |title=1993/94 Men's EHF Cup |publisher=European Handball Federation|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

In the 2023-24 season they won their first championship since 1996.

==Crest, colours, supporters==

===Kits===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:65% !colspan=16 ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#0000FF| HOME |- |{{Football kit | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 1E90FF | body = 1E90FF | rightarm = 1E90FF | shorts = 000000 | socks = | title = 28px 2014–15 }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = _whitelower | pattern_b = _whiteshoulders | pattern_ra = _whitelower | pattern_sh = _whiteline | pattern_so = | leftarm = | body = 0000FF | rightarm = | shorts = 0000FF | socks = | title = 28px 2015–16 }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = _whiteborder | pattern_b = _whitecollar | pattern_ra = _whiteborder | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 0000FF | body = 0000FF | rightarm = 0000FF | shorts = 0000FF | socks = | title = 28px 2017–18 }} |}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:65% !colspan=16 ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#0000FF| AWAY |- |{{Football kit | pattern_la = _blacklower | pattern_b = _blackshoulders | pattern_ra = _blacklower | pattern_sh = _whiteline | pattern_so = | leftarm = 000000 | body = | rightarm = 000000 | shorts = 000000 | socks = | title = 28px 2015–16 }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = _blackborder | pattern_b = _blackcollar | pattern_ra = _blackborder | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = | body = | rightarm = | shorts = 000000 | socks = | title = 28px 2017–18 }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _blankleftsideshoulderHB15 | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 808080 | body = 808080 | rightarm = | shorts = 808080 | socks = | title = 28px 2018-19 }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _greyupper_whitehorizontal | pattern_ra = | pattern_sh = _silverbottom | pattern_so = | leftarm = | body = | rightarm = | shorts = | socks = | title = 28px 2019–20 }} |}

== Team ==

=== Current squad ===

:''Squad for the 2023–24 season''<ref>https://www.hclinz.at/teams/hla-team/</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center; width:50%" |- ! colspan=5 style="background-color:#0000FF;color:white;text-align:#0000FF|HC Linz AG |- | {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Goalkeepers * 16 {{flagicon|AUT}} David Zwicklhuber * 61 {{flagicon|AUT}} Florian Kaiper ;Left Wingers *{{0}}5 {{flagicon|AUT}} Christian Kislinger * 33 {{flagicon|AUT}} Elmar Böhm * 77 {{flagicon|AUT}} Elias Derdak ;Right Wingers * 23 {{flagicon|AUT}} Silas Wiesinger ;Line Players * 13 {{flagicon|AUT}} Jakob Kropf * 92 {{flagicon|CRO}} Jadranko Stojanović * 99 {{flagicon|BIH}} Dejan Golubović {{Col-2}} ;Left Backs *{{0}}7 {{flagicon|CRO}}{{flagicon|BIH}} Mislav Grgić * 11 {{flagicon|AUT}} Leon Ghent * 39 {{flagicon|BIH}} Arnad Hamzić ;Central Backs *{{0}}6 {{flagicon|AUT}} Sinisa Sironjic * 24 {{flagicon|AUT}} Moritz Bachmann * 26 {{flagicon|SLO}} Lucijan Fižuleto * 49 {{flagicon|AUT}} Ajdin Alkic * 66 {{flagicon|AUT}} Daniel Röthig ;Right Backs * 34 {{flagicon|AUT}} Nicolas Paulnsteiner {{Col-end}} |}

===Technical staff=== * Head coach: {{flagicon|SLO}} Milan Vunjak * Assistant coach: {{flagicon|AUT}} Manuel Gierlinger * Fitness coach: {{flagicon|AUT}} Matthias Papke * Physiotherapist: {{flagicon|AUT}} Franz Kainz * Physiotherapist: {{flagicon|AUT}} Christoph Eisner * Club doctor: {{flagicon|AUT}} Dr. Franz Gaderer

===Transfers=== :''Transfers for the 2025–26 season'' {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} ;Joining File:Arrow-up.png * {{flagicon|BLR}} Aliaksei Kishou (GK) from {{flagicon|AUT}} Handball Tirol<ref>https://www.hclinz.at/2025/06/12/neu-im-team-aliaksei-kishou/</ref> * {{flagicon|BIH}} Pavle Petrović (RB) from {{flagicon|MKD}} RK Eurofarm Pelister<ref>https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/en/bosanskiot-bek-pavle-petrovikj-kje-go-napushti-eurofarm-pelister/</ref>

;Leaving File:Arrow-down.gif * {{flagicon|AUT}} Florian Kaiper (GK) to {{flagicon|AUT}} Jags Vöslau<ref>https://www.handball-world.news/artikel/von-wetzlar-getestet-kaiper-findet-neuen-verein-1163211</ref> * {{flagicon|AUT}} Moritz Bachmann (CB) to {{flagicon|AUT}} Jags Vöslau

===Transfer History===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size:95%" |- ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF| '''Transfers for the 2023–24 season''' |- | {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} ;Joining File:Arrow-up.png * {{flagicon|AUT}} Florian Kaiper (GK) from {{flagicon|AUT}} SG Handball West Wien<ref>https://handball-westwien.at/kaiper-paulnsteiner-und-derdak-wechseln-nach-linz/</ref> * {{flagicon|AUT}} Nicolas Paulnsteiner (RB) from {{flagicon|AUT}} SG Handball West Wien * {{flagicon|AUT}} Elias Derdak (LW) from {{flagicon|AUT}} SG Handball West Wien * {{flagicon|CRO}} Jadranko Stojanović (LP) from {{flagicon|AUT}} Alpla HC Hard * {{flagicon|CRO}}{{flagicon|BIH}} Mislav Grgić (LB) from {{flagicon|GER}} TSV Bayer Dormagen * {{flagicon|BIH}} Arnad Hamzić (LB) from {{flagicon|MKD}} GRK Tikveš * {{flagicon|BIH}} Dejan Golubović (LP) from {{flagicon|AUT}} SK Keplinger-Traun

;Leaving File:Arrow-down.gif * {{flagicon|AUT}} Alexander Hermann (LB) ''(retires)''<ref>https://www.hclinz.at/2023/06/20/breaking-bad-news-alex-hermann-beendet-seine-karriere/</ref> * {{flagicon|AUT}} Maximilian Hermann (RB) ''(retires)''<ref>https://www.hclinz.at/2023/04/25/max-hermann-beendet-seine-karriere/</ref> * {{flagicon|AUT}} Markus Bokesch (GK) ''(retires)'' * {{flagicon|SRB}} Dejan Babić (LP) to {{flagicon|AUT}} Alpla HC Hard * {{flagicon|SLO}} Tine Gartner (RW) to {{flagicon|AUT}} Union Handballklub Krems * {{flagicon|SLO}} Tobias Cvetko (LB) to {{flagicon|TUR}} Beşiktaş JK

{{col-end}} |}

==Titles==

* '''Handball Liga Austria''' ** '''Winner (8)''' : 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2024 * '''Austrian Cup''' ** '''Winner (4)''' : 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 * '''EHF Cup''' ** '''Finalist''': 1994

==European record== ===EHF Cup and EHF European League=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Season ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Round ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Club ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Home ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Away ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Aggregate |- |rowspan=5|1993–94 13px ''Finalist'' | align=center| 1/16 |{{flagicon|TUR}} Beşiktaş JK |style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 24–9 |style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 32–21 |style="text-align:center;| '''56–30''' |- | align=center| 1/8 |{{flagicon|CYP}} AEL Limassol |colspan=3; style="text-align:center;"| '''''wo.''''' |- | align=center| 1/4 |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapesti Elektromos SE |style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 24–19 |style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 22–23 |style="text-align:center;| '''46–42''' |- | align=center| 1/2 |{{flagicon|ROU}} Steaua București |style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;"| 21–21 |style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 38–23 |style="text-align:center;| '''59–44''' |- | align=center| Finals | {{flagicon|ESP}} CB Alzira Avidesa |style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 22–21 |style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 19–23 |style="text-align:center;| '''41–44''' |}

===EHF ranking=== {{updated|5/12/2025}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurotopteam.com/handball/club.php|title = Eurotopteam, classement européen des clubs de Handball}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Rank !! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Team !! style="color:white; background:#0000FF"|Points |- |177||align=left|{{flagicon|RUS}} Chekhovskiye Medvedi||16 |- |178||align=left|{{flagicon|ITA}} Handball Meran||16 |- |179||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} ThSV Eisenach||16 |- |'''180'''||align=left|{{flagicon|AUT}} '''HC Linz AG'''||16 |- |181||align=left|{{flagicon|ROU}} CSM Constanța||16 |- |182||align=left|{{flagicon|AUT}} roomz JAGS Vöslau||16 |- |183||align=left|{{flagicon|HUN}} Csurgói KK||15 |- |}

==Former club members==

===Notable former players=== {{colbegin|colwidth=18em}} * {{flagicon|AUT}} Dominik Ascherbauer (2008–2021) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Damir Djukic (2004–2005) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Sebastian Feichtinger (1997–2008) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Patrick Fölser (1998–2000) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Manuel Gierlinger (1991–2003) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Alexander Hermann (2008–2012, 2022–2023) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Maximilian Hermann (2008–2011, 2020–2023) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Ewald Humenberger (1986–1996, 2000–2008) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Antonio Juric (2015–2020) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Florian Kaiper (2023–) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Klemens Kainmüller (1990–2005, 2013–2018, 2019) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Werner Lint (2001–2007) * {{flagicon|AUT}} Manuel Papsch (2002–2016) * {{flagicon|BIH}} Srđan Predragović (2017–2018, 2019) * {{flagicon|HUN}} Zsolt Kontra (1986–1990) * {{flagicon|POL}} Zygfryd Kuchta (1976–1979) * {{flagicon|POL}} Andrzej Szymczak (1976–1980) * {{flagicon|SLO}} Saša Barišić-Jaman (2012–2013) {{colend}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:HC Linz AG}} Category:Handball clubs in Austria Category:Handball clubs established in 1972 Category:Sport in Linz Category:1972 establishments in Austria