Mario Kelentrić

Mario Kelentrić (born 30 January 1973) is a Croatian former handball player who played as a goalkeeper, and is currently the goalkeeping coach of the Croatia national team.

Mario Kelentrić
Kelentrić with MT Melsungen in 2009
Personal information
Full name Mario Kelentrić
Born (1973-01-30) 30 January 1973
Gradačac, SFR Yugoslavia
Nationality Croatian
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club RK Sloga Doboj (head coach)
Senior clubs
Years Team
1991–1993
 RK Zaprešić
1993–1999
 RK Medveščak Zagreb
1999–2001
 RK Badel 1862 Zagreb
2001–2002
 RK Pivovara Laško Celje
2002–2003
 RK Metković Jambo
2003–2004
 RK Zagreb
2004–2005
 TUSEM Essen
2005–2006
 RK Agram Medveščak
2006–2007
 Saint-Marcel Vernon
2007–2012
 MT Melsungen
2012–2013
 RK CO Zagreb
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2004
 Croatia 86 (0)
Teams managed
2013–2020
 RK Zagreb (goalkeeping coach)
2019–
 Croatia (goalkeeping coach)
2020–
 RK Sloga Doboj
Medal record
Representing  Croatia
World Championship
2003 Portugal Team Competition
Mediterranean Games
1997 Bari Team Competition
2001 Tunis Team Competition
Super Cup
1999 Germany Team Competition

He has played for clubs in Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and France.

He is noted as being one of the best goalkeepers of Croatia and he was also part of the golden generation witch won the 2003 World Championship in Portugal.

Since 2020 he is the head coach of [[RK Sloga Doboj]].

Career

In 1993 Kelentrić signed with RK Medveščak Zagreb. In his first season with the club he reached the final of the Croatian Cup. During his seven-year stay he reached two more cup finals and was in the top flight for most of his time spent there.

In 1999 he moved to Badel 1862 Zagreb. In his first season with the club he reached the semi-final of the EHF Champions League and won both domestic titles. In 2001 he moved to Pivovara Laško Celje and unfortunately was part of a team that lost the domestic title for the first time since the inception of the Slovenian League.

In 2002 he moved to Metković Jambo but he stayed at the club for only half a season leaving in January 2003 to return to RK Zagreb. In 2004 he left for Germany signing with TUSEM Essen with whom he won the EHF Cup.[1]

Later he had short stints with RK Agram Medveščak and Saint-Marcel Vernon before moving to MT Melsungen where he played for six years. While there he took part in HBL All-Star Game 2009.[2]

He finally retired in 2013 in RK Zagreb.[3]

International career

He appeared for the national team from 1997 to 2004 making 86 appearances notably sporting the jersey number 1.

He played at 1997 Mediterranean Games, 1998 European Championship, 1999 World Championship, 1999 Super Cup, 2001 World Championship, 2001 Mediterranean Games, 2002 European Championship, 2003 World Championship and at the 2004 European Championship.

After the 2004 European Championship national team head coach Lino Červar never called up Kelentrić to play for the national team even though he was the best goalkeeper in Croatia at the time.

Kelentrić has stated numerous time since that he hates Červar for not calling him up for the 2004 Summer Olympics and that he will never forgive him for that.[4]

Honours
Medveščak
Zagreb
Celje
Essen
Individual
  • 2003 Athletes of the Year - Most Successful Men's Team by: COC[5]

References
  1. "Mario Kelentrić ne zaboravlja: 'Červar me otpisao nakon Portugala i zato ga više nikad neću pozdraviti'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian).
  2. "Omeyer in Ligaauswahl zum All Star Game am 7. Juni berufen". archiv.thw-handball.de (in German).
  3. "Kelentrić: "Mirka se ne može nadoknaditi, ali se pozicija može privremeno pokrpati"". hrsport.net (in Croatian).
  4. "'Ne volim ga! To mu ne mogu zaboraviti!'". net.hr (in Croatian).
  5. "2003 Athletes of the Year". hoo.hr (in Croatian).
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