BIOGRAPHY
Vid Kavticnik is one of Slovenia’s most successful players, with world and European medals and two EHF Champions League titles under his belt.
Kavticnik was born in Slovenj Gradec, but by the age of 11 was playing handball with RK Gorenje Velenje to the south. He stayed with Velenje until the early days of his senior career, but in 2005 moved to Germany to join THW Kiel, where in 2007 he won his first EHF Champions League on top of several Bundesliga titles.
After four years in Kiel, Kavticnik left for France, where he would spend the rest of his club career. He started out at Montpellier, and was a key part of the club’s first-ever Champions League title in 2018. After leaving Montpellier in 2019 Kavticnik spent one season at each of Pays d’Aix and USAM Nîmes Gard, before his retirement in 2021.
Kavticnik was also integral to Slovenia’s two best-ever results on an international stage. He made his debut for the national team in 2004, when he was 20, and helped the side to their historic silver medal in that year.
The right wing remained part of the national squad for the following 17 years, until his retirement, and when Slovenia beat Croatia 31:30 to take their only World Championship medal so far - bronze - Kavticnik was the most experienced player on the squad by some margin, and captained the squad. He ended his national career with 197 caps and 543 goals.