Farewell interview – Renato Sulic

 

Renato Sulic spent ten seasons (nine on the court) in the first team of Veszprém and he leaves our club as nine-time Hungarian Champion and ten-time Hungarian Cup winner. We were talking with him about his years at the “Építők”.

 

It was not a good season because the expectations were to get into the Champions League Final4 and win everything in Hungary. This is normal here, these are always the goals because Veszprém has a great team year by year and it gets built up continuously.

 

 

I spent here a lot of years, all together ten, so approximately the half of my career. During this period I had four coaches and all of them had different systems. I am proud of myself because I could fit into their imaginations and I could perform well in every system. I find it a big success.

 

I am 38 years old so the Bundesliga or the French league were not on the table. Hungary has been appropriate for me so far and I could imagine myself in a similar competition and the Polish league is like this. It was also very important for me that I will be able to play in the Champions League. This is why I decided to join to Plock however I have would like to stay in Veszprém one more year.

 

In Veszprém the Champions League title has always been the goal because this is one of the biggest clubs in world. Winning the CL was always a dream for me. Beside these things everything was perfect for me here, even Croatia is quite close.

 

I was young 24 years old when that accident happened. After that only my earliest comeback mattered so I was working on it like a crazy. But it did not go so easily because a lot of problems came out like thrombosis and embolism. Everybody expected that my recovery will last three months but finally it was one and half year. But nobody, neither the doctors believed that I would be able to play again in this level. But I never doubted it. I was working very hard and finally everything was OK. It was very serious accident that is why I am especially happy that I could play again in the same level like before when I was already world champion. I could not accept that not much after fulfilling my dreams everything broke down in one moment. I needed big mental strength to fight that battle but I won in the end.

 

I was a long time ago so I do not remember on the details. But I remember that the start was good. I signed the contract and we won the games. I was working hard and optimistic. Then the years were coming and going. At the end I had nine years here.

 

 

A lot of people come and go in the team and the club during these years. Today I have many friends in Veszprém and I can visit them anytime to drink a good coffee. It is important for me.

 

I would highlight the fans and the atmosphere that you can find in this city.

 

I did not travel too much but I always liked Budapest.

 

I think 2013/14 was the best one.

 

I had a lot of good games but for me the most important is always to bring my best and not the statistics. I always want to bring 100% from me so I always want to feel at the end of the game that I could do it. And of course the final result must be OK as well. Sometimes you score ten goals, sometimes you miss 5 shots but it is another thing. Life is like this. You cannot win always, you cannot be the best always.

 

I do not remember one like this.

 

 

The most painful was the lost final against Kielce while the best one the first qualification to the Final4 because the participation in Cologne was always a big dream for me.

 

I have a long career and I played against a lot of great players. I think it would be incorrect to say only one.

 

This is like the case of my children. I try to tell them how to live and show them as many things as possible. The situation is the same with the youngsters. I enjoy to share with others my experiences and help them not only on the court but off the court. When earlier Zivan Pesic came here I spent with him a lot of times just like with other young guys like now Uros (Borzas). I also try to do everything on the court to help to for example Blagi (Blagotinsek), explain him things and teach him what he needs. For me this is the most important thing because I guess if I can give and teach something to somebody in this way then it is the biggest gift. And if somebody says to me that I could help him and he could learn from me then it is a gift to me as well. The experience is very important for me. I experienced a lot during my life and If I can share something from it with somebody then it is a good thing.

 

 

At first you have to be professional. You have to live for it. Now that I have finished it in Veszprém I can tell that everybody but really everybody said to me that they have maybe never seen a player like me. Everybody said that I am one of the most professional player they have ever met. This is such a thing I will never forget. So all in all the essence: you have to live for handball. If you really want to be successful in it then you have to live in a professional way. This is the only way to stay on the highest level for a long time. I have been doing it for 20 years. I am almost 39 years old and I plan to retire at 40. By the way the mental strength is always very important.

 

Veszprém itself and everything in it: the people, the city. I have spent here a lot of times…

 

I am proud that I could be the player of Veszprém for ten years but I am also a little bit sad, because I cannot finish my career here. But the life must go on, the show must go on. This is already the past. But like I said before, for me the most important that I know I can come back anytime to Veszprém friends will be waiting for me and with them I can sit town to a table to drink a good coffee or have a nice dinner. This connection will stay forever. Moreover I hope that after my retirement I will have chance to watch some good games in the Veszprém Arena together with Carlos Perez and the other legends of the club.

 

 

 

Photos: Dávid Vörös