József Éles
Encyclopedia
József Éles is a former Hungarian
international handball
player and handball coach who is currently in charge at the Dominican Republic women's national team
.
to a podium place in 1991. His performances attracted the attention of domestic powerhouse KC Veszprém
, which ran under the name Bramac SE at the time, and Éles was signed by the Bakony-side team in the summer of 1991.
He spent thirteen years in Veszprém and won an impressive ten Hungarian Championship and as many Hungarian Cup titles. During his spell at the club, Veszprém transformed to an acclaimed and feared opponent on continental level as well: they lifted the EHF Cup Winners' Cup trophy in 1992, after beating TSV Milbertshofen
in the finals. They were only one step away to repeat their success in the next season, however, this time they fell short against OM Vitrolles
.
. The handballer was brought to the hospital of Kiskunhalas
in serious but not life-threating conditions, where he was diagnosed broken collarbone, brain concussion and torn knee ligaments. He went through several operations, however, it was doubtful whether he will be able to play professional handball again. He left the hospital on July 18, and began a long rehabilitation process in Veszprém. He fully recovered from his injury and returned to the field on a pre-season friendly tournament in Germany
on 29 August 2001.
finals in 2002, where they faced SC Magdeburg
. After winning the first leg on a two goals difference, the German team showed their class and turned the things around with a 30–25 victory on home soil.
In early 2003 there were rumors about the possible departure of Éles as he was linked with many clubs including THW Kiel
, HSG Nordhorn
and TV Grosswallstadt
. He finally signed a two year contract with AO Filippos Verias, where he joined former legends Aleksandr Tuchkin
and Vyacheslav Atavin
. Yet in the summer of 2003 there was organized a farewell match for Éles between his old and new club. The left back has worn his legendary number 6 shirt the very last time, that was eventually retired after the game.
In December 2004, while still under active contract with Verias, he got a special offer from GC Amiticia Zürich, which wanted to sign him as a player and coach. After his contract was terminated by mutual agreement with immediatey effect, the transfer move could be finalized and Éles joined the Swiss club in January. Under his guidance the team performed excellent, and finished second at the end of the season. However, after a rich businessman, Arnold Schuler took over the club and merged it with Grasshoppers, the things have changed quickly. Schuler had his plan and Éles was released to make space for his own players and staff. Not much later he was approached by TV Endingen, the team that finished just behind Amiticia in the second division campaign that year. Éles accepted a one year deal and since then he concentrates fully on his coaching career.
. His first major tournament was the 1992 Summer Olympics
, where the Hungarian team placed seventh. One year later he participated on the 1993 World Championship
in Sweden, where despite Hungary
finished on a disappointing eleventh place, Éles topped the scoring charts with 41 goals. On the 1997 World Championship
he was in inspired form once again and finished second on the top scorers' list with 59 goals, only three short to Yoon Kyung-shin
. He was present on further two World Championships in 1995 and 1999, and also played on the 1994 European Championship
.
as early as March 2008 with only five matches left from the ongoing Romanian championship. His mission to keep the purple-whites in the top division failed on the field, but due to the expansion of the league his team maintained their Liga Naţională
membership.
Éles revealed his wish to train a Hungarian team earlier, and although Poli became a mid-table team with a strengthened squad in the following season, when in October 2008 he was offered a contract by Gyöngyösi FKK, he did not hesitate too long and joined the Nemzeti Bajnokság I outfit. He achieved his first success as coach with Gyöngyös, when took the Hungarian Cup bronze medal after beating Ferencvárosi TC. Since finalists SC Pick Szeged
and MKB Veszprém already secured their place in the Champions League
, with this bronze medal Gyöngyös also earned a spot in the Cup Winners' Cup for next year. However, despite the good results in the cup, the club get relegated from the Hungarian championship at the end of the season and Éles was sacked.
The last team he managed up to date is the women's handball club Kiskunhalas NKSE. He took the hot seat in October 2009, when the club was at the very bottom of the table without a single point. Éles could not make miracle and Kiskunhalas finished second from behind at the end of the season. As a result, his contract was not extended, but as he stated it was a very useful experience for him. He never worked with women before and he was pleasantly surprised. He felt they work more diligent and more humble than men, and also added that if he had to choose at the moment, he would rather train women in the future.
On 15 February 2011 Éles was appointed as the head coach of the Dominican Republic women's national team
and was set the goal to reach a podium place on the forthcoming Pan American Games and thus qualify for the 2011 World Championship
. In order to fulfil this plan, the team will train in Hungary for two months, starting from early April and will play friendly matches against Hungarian club teams.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
international handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
player and handball coach who is currently in charge at the Dominican Republic women's national team
Dominican Republic women's national handball team
The Dominican Republic women's national handball team is the national handball team of Dominican Republic and is governed by the Dominican Republic Handball Federation....
.
Early career and Veszprém success
Éles started his career in Budapest Spartacus SC in the Hungarian second division. He moved to first division side Pemű-Honvéd in 1989 and led the team of the little town of SolymárSolymár
Solymár is a village northwest of Budapest, beyond the 3rd and 2nd districts of the city: Nagykovácsi, Pilisszentiván, Pilisvörösvár, Csobánka, Pilisborosjenő, and Üröm...
to a podium place in 1991. His performances attracted the attention of domestic powerhouse KC Veszprém
KC Veszprém
Kézilabda Club Veszprém is a Hungarian handball club from Veszprém, that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and the EHF Champions League. One of the most successful teams in the country, Veszprém have won the Hungarian Championship a record 19 times and took the Hungarian Cup title an unprecedented...
, which ran under the name Bramac SE at the time, and Éles was signed by the Bakony-side team in the summer of 1991.
He spent thirteen years in Veszprém and won an impressive ten Hungarian Championship and as many Hungarian Cup titles. During his spell at the club, Veszprém transformed to an acclaimed and feared opponent on continental level as well: they lifted the EHF Cup Winners' Cup trophy in 1992, after beating TSV Milbertshofen
TSV Milbertshofen
TSV Milbertshofen is a sports club based in Milbertshofen a suburb in the north of Munich, Germany. The club, which can trace its history back to 1905, achieved its greatest successes in handball, volleyball, table tennis and football...
in the finals. They were only one step away to repeat their success in the next season, however, this time they fell short against OM Vitrolles
SMUC Marseille
SMUC Marseille is a team handball club from Marseille, France. Currently, SMUC Marseille competes in the French First League of Handball.Between 1989 and 2000 the team was called OM Vitrolles-Accomplishments:*National Championship of France: 7...
.
Car crash
On 1 July 2000, in the early hours Éles crashed into a ditch near KiskunmajsaKiskunmajsa
- Twin cities :* Bačka Topola * Gheorgheni * Lommatzsch * Bad–Schönborn * Lubliniec...
. The handballer was brought to the hospital of Kiskunhalas
Kiskunhalas
- Railroad :The city is an important railway junction. It crosses the Budapest-Subotica-Belgrade railway line. The Kiskunfélegyháza railway ends in Kiskunhalas.- Name :...
in serious but not life-threating conditions, where he was diagnosed broken collarbone, brain concussion and torn knee ligaments. He went through several operations, however, it was doubtful whether he will be able to play professional handball again. He left the hospital on July 18, and began a long rehabilitation process in Veszprém. He fully recovered from his injury and returned to the field on a pre-season friendly tournament in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on 29 August 2001.
Playing abroad and first coaching steps
Éles won back his old form, and led his team into the EHF Champions LeagueEHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
finals in 2002, where they faced SC Magdeburg
SC Magdeburg
SC Magdeburg is a German multi-sports club located in the city of Magdeburg, which offers athletics, canoeing, gymnastics, rowing, swimming and team handball. Historically, the club has also had a water polo section as well as a football section that was separated that as 1. FC Magdeburg in 1965...
. After winning the first leg on a two goals difference, the German team showed their class and turned the things around with a 30–25 victory on home soil.
In early 2003 there were rumors about the possible departure of Éles as he was linked with many clubs including THW Kiel
THW Kiel
THW Kiel is a team handball club from Kiel, Germany. Currently, THW Kiel competes in the German First League of Handball and is German record champion with 16 titles....
, HSG Nordhorn
HSG Nordhorn
HSG Nordhorn-Lingen is a team handball club from Nordhorn, Germany. Currently, HSG Nordhorn-Lingen competes in the Second Division of the German Bundesliga, following a mandatory relegation from the First Division in 2009 owing to insolvency.In 2008 Nordhorn won the EHF Cup.-2008/09 Team:...
and TV Grosswallstadt
TV Grosswallstadt
TV Großwallstadt is a team handball club from Großwallstadt. Currently, TV Großwallstadt competes in the First Division of the German Handball Bundesliga and the German Handball Cup.-Achievements:*German First League of Handball: 6...
. He finally signed a two year contract with AO Filippos Verias, where he joined former legends Aleksandr Tuchkin
Aleksandr Tuchkin
Aleksandr Tuchkin is a Russian team handball player and Olympic champion from 2000 in Sydney. He received a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens with the Russian national team....
and Vyacheslav Atavin
Vyacheslav Atavin
Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Atavin is a former Soviet and Russian handball player.During the Soviet period of his career Atavin trained at Dynamo in Astrakhan. He became the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1988 and competed for the USSR National Team between 1988 and 1991. In 1988 he won...
. Yet in the summer of 2003 there was organized a farewell match for Éles between his old and new club. The left back has worn his legendary number 6 shirt the very last time, that was eventually retired after the game.
In December 2004, while still under active contract with Verias, he got a special offer from GC Amiticia Zürich, which wanted to sign him as a player and coach. After his contract was terminated by mutual agreement with immediatey effect, the transfer move could be finalized and Éles joined the Swiss club in January. Under his guidance the team performed excellent, and finished second at the end of the season. However, after a rich businessman, Arnold Schuler took over the club and merged it with Grasshoppers, the things have changed quickly. Schuler had his plan and Éles was released to make space for his own players and staff. Not much later he was approached by TV Endingen, the team that finished just behind Amiticia in the second division campaign that year. Éles accepted a one year deal and since then he concentrates fully on his coaching career.
International
He made his international debut on 24 November 1989 against BulgariaBulgaria national handball team
The Bulgaria national handball team is the national team of Bulgaria. It takes part in international team handball competitions.The team participated at the 1974 and 1978 World Men's Handball Championships....
. His first major tournament was the 1992 Summer Olympics
Handball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Handball competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics:-Medal summary:-References:*...
, where the Hungarian team placed seventh. One year later he participated on the 1993 World Championship
1993 World Men's Handball Championship
The 1993 World Championship for men in team handball was the 13th World Handball Championship. It was held in Sweden.-Teams:- Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:- Group 1:-Group 2:-3rd / 4th place:* - In Stockholm...
in Sweden, where despite Hungary
Hungary national handball team
The Hungary national handball team is the national handball team that represents Hungary in the international matches. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.-Olympic Games record:* 1936 - 4th* 1972 - 8th* 1976 - 6th* 1980 - 4th...
finished on a disappointing eleventh place, Éles topped the scoring charts with 41 goals. On the 1997 World Championship
1997 World Men's Handball Championship
- Final standings :# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # - External links :*...
he was in inspired form once again and finished second on the top scorers' list with 59 goals, only three short to Yoon Kyung-shin
Yoon Kyung-shin
Yoon Kyung-Shin is a Korean handball player. He was voted World Player of the Year 2001 by the International Handball Federation.-Career:...
. He was present on further two World Championships in 1995 and 1999, and also played on the 1994 European Championship
1994 European Men's Handball Championship
-Final ranking:...
.
Coaching career
Éles functioned first as a player-coach during his late years by GC Amiticia Zürich before turned into a full-time trainer in 2006. After his contract was terminated by the new owner of Amiticia, he signed a one year deal with TV Endingen in May 2007. However, he left the club for relegation struggling CSU Politehnica TimişoaraCSU Politehnica Timişoara
CSU Politehnica Timişoara is a team handball club from Timişoara, Romania, which plays in the Romanian Handball League.-Achievements:*Romanian League:**Winners : 1956, 1991**Runners-up : 1979*Romanian Cup:...
as early as March 2008 with only five matches left from the ongoing Romanian championship. His mission to keep the purple-whites in the top division failed on the field, but due to the expansion of the league his team maintained their Liga Naţională
Liga Naţională
The Romanian Handball League is the men's top Romanian professional handball league. The league comprises fourteen teams.-History:This sport was first played in Romania in 1920. After a visit in Germany, a few physical education teachers introduced this sport in their classes.The Liga Naţională was...
membership.
Éles revealed his wish to train a Hungarian team earlier, and although Poli became a mid-table team with a strengthened squad in the following season, when in October 2008 he was offered a contract by Gyöngyösi FKK, he did not hesitate too long and joined the Nemzeti Bajnokság I outfit. He achieved his first success as coach with Gyöngyös, when took the Hungarian Cup bronze medal after beating Ferencvárosi TC. Since finalists SC Pick Szeged
SC Pick Szeged
SC Pick Szeged is a Hungarian team handball club from Szeged, that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and the EHF Champions League.-Accomplishments:*Nemzeti Bajnokság I:**Gold: 1996, 2007...
and MKB Veszprém already secured their place in the Champions League
EHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
, with this bronze medal Gyöngyös also earned a spot in the Cup Winners' Cup for next year. However, despite the good results in the cup, the club get relegated from the Hungarian championship at the end of the season and Éles was sacked.
The last team he managed up to date is the women's handball club Kiskunhalas NKSE. He took the hot seat in October 2009, when the club was at the very bottom of the table without a single point. Éles could not make miracle and Kiskunhalas finished second from behind at the end of the season. As a result, his contract was not extended, but as he stated it was a very useful experience for him. He never worked with women before and he was pleasantly surprised. He felt they work more diligent and more humble than men, and also added that if he had to choose at the moment, he would rather train women in the future.
On 15 February 2011 Éles was appointed as the head coach of the Dominican Republic women's national team
Dominican Republic women's national handball team
The Dominican Republic women's national handball team is the national handball team of Dominican Republic and is governed by the Dominican Republic Handball Federation....
and was set the goal to reach a podium place on the forthcoming Pan American Games and thus qualify for the 2011 World Championship
2011 World Women's Handball Championship
The 2011 World Women's Handball Championship, the 20th event hosted by the International Handball Federation, will be held in Brazil from 2 to 18 December, 2011.- Venues :The competition will take place in the Brazilian state of São Paulo...
. In order to fulfil this plan, the team will train in Hungary for two months, starting from early April and will play friendly matches against Hungarian club teams.
Personal
He has two sons, Benedek and Zsombor. They train in the Éles Kézisuli, a handball academy that was founded by Éles and wears his name.As player
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I:
- Winner: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Silver Medallist: 1996, 2000
- Bronze Medallist: 1991
- Magyar Kupa:
- Winner: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003
- EHF Champions LeagueEHF Champions LeagueThe EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
:- Finalist: 2002
- EHF Cup Winners' Cup:
- Winner: 1992
- Finalist: 1993
As coach
- Magyar Kupa – men:
- Bronze Medallist: 2009
Individual awards
- Hungarian Handballer of the YearHungarian Handballer of the YearThe Hungarian Handballer of the Year award is an annual prize, which is given to the Hungarian handballer who is considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year....
: 1992, 1993, 1997 - World Championship Top Scorer: 1993
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I Top ScorerNemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers (men's handball)The following list shows the Nemzeti Bajnokság I top scorers season by season....
: 1998