Handball: Fourth newcomer: Lions get Serbs Abutovic

The German champion Rhein-Neckar Löwen has signed his fourth newcomer for the next season. Serbian international Ilja Abutovic moves from champions league winner Vardar Skopje to Mannheim.

The 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract until 2021. Previously, the lions had already taken on the services of Jannik Kohlbacher (HSG Wetzlar), Steffen Fäth (Füchse Berlin) and Jesper Nielsen (Paris St. Germain) is secured.

“With Ilja, our defensive campaign continues to gain quality in the coming season, and I am very much looking forward to working with him,”said Lion coach Nikolaj Jacobsen, commenting on the commitment of the 2.02-metre-long defensive specialist, who is at home in the left back.

“We have followed his development closely and now have the chance to bring him into the Bundesliga and our team,”said Managing Director Jennifer Kettemann. At the same time, it confirmed that Kristian Bliznac’s expiring contract with Sweden will not be renewed.

“Ilya is one of the best defenders in Europe for me. He has played a major role in the success story of Vardar Skopje in recent years,”said sports director Oliver Roggisch.