European Cup (handball)

The Handball European Cup is the most important club handball competition for men's teams in Europe and involves the leading teams from the top European nations.

History
On the occasion of its sixth congress from August 31 to September 2, 1956 in Stockholm, the International Handball Federation (IHF) approved that the French Handball Federation (FFHB) organize a competition of European clubs, following a proposal from the magazine L'Equipe and Charles Petit-Montgobert, president of the FFHB and first vice-president of the IHF. Previously, national federations (such as those of Hungary and Romania) had officially given their agreement to the French Handball Federation for the creation of this European Intercity Handball Cup at 7.

This first attempt pitted 12 European clubs against each other in its seven-player version and was won by Sweden's Redbergslids IK, winners of West German Frisch Auf Göppingen, by a score of 21-15 in Paris.

The next 3 years see champions from different countries win the competition while West Germany places a representative in final three times.