Ilija Abutović: “I am a competitor and that is what drives me”

The new EHF Champions League Men 2026/27 season, played in a revamped format with 24 teams, brings several familiar clubs back to the biggest stage, and RK Partizan are among them. It has been 14 years since the Serbian side last featured in the group phase of Europe’s elite club competition, in 2012/13. Serbia last had a club at this level when Vojvodina competed in 2015/16.

The Serbian champions also enter this new chapter reshaped, reinforced and ready for the challenge. With Spanish head coach Raúl González at the helm and nine new players joining the squad, Partizan are eager to make their mark in a challenging group A alongside One Veszprém HC, Füchse Berlin and FC Porto.

Among those bringing vast experience back to Belgrade is former Serbian international Ilija Abutović, left back and defensive specialist who returned to Partizan after 16 years as an EHF Champions League winner — together with Raúl González at Vardar in 2017.

Abutović, who missed early pre-season training with Partizan because of injury, talks about rejoining the club after 16 years as they prepare for their long awaited return to EHF Champions League next month.

eurohandball.com: You are returning to Partizan after 16 years, having spent most of your career abroad. You have never hidden that you are a Partizan fan, so how special is it to come back at this point of your career?

Ilija Abutović: It is honestly difficult to put into words how much this means to me after 16 years. This is where I took the first big steps in my career, and now I am coming back as an established player and a more accomplished person. When I was here the first time, I was practically still a kid and was only starting to learn certain things. Now I am coming back as a player who has played for several top clubs and won trophies, but also as a family man, with my wife and children. Honestly, I am very happy to be back.

eurohandball.com: Partizan have significantly reshaped the squad, bringing in nine new players. How do you see the potential of this new-look team and what will be key to bringing all the pieces together?

Ilija Abutović: Nine players have arrived, as you said, and first of all, there is a lot of work ahead of us. The core of the team that played here in previous years has remained, while the new players and the new coach are now adapting to the new system. We have a lot of experienced players, but also young players with great potential and a lot of determination. We need to bring all of that together as one. It will take some time, but I think we can achieve something good together.

eurohandball.com: Partizan are returning to the EHF Champions League for the first time since the 2012/13 season. How important is this moment for the club and for Serbian handball?

Ilija Abutović: It is very important, first of all for Serbian handball, but also for the city of Belgrade and for Serbia. The Champions League is the highest level of club handball, and I think Serbia deserves to have at least one representative there. It is a great opportunity for us as a team and also for the young players who have not yet experienced this level of handball. I do not think we should put too much pressure on ourselves. We should use this moment, enjoy it and, of course, compete because that is why we are here. Overall, it is a great opportunity for the club, the city and the country, and I think we need to make the most of it.

eurohandball.com: The EHF Champions League has a new format this season, with Partizan facing Veszprém, Füchse and Porto in the group. How do you see the challenge ahead and how important can the home support be?

Ilija Abutović: We have been given a really difficult group. Out of the four teams, we have two who are potential candidates for the EHF FINAL4, so it will be tough. There is not much that needs to be said about Veszprém and Berlin. We all know their quality, the rosters and budgets they have, and how much experience they bring. Then there is Porto, who also have a good team with plenty of Champions League experience. They are used to playing difficult matches and they have been together for a long time, so it will be interesting. We have a mixture of experience and youth. There are quite a few players who have never played in the Champions League, but there are also players who have spent many years in the competition. Everyone can see how difficult our group is, but we are going into it with a positive mindset. We believe in ourselves and we will fight for this city and this club, and try to show ourselves in the best possible light. I think our chance will be at home, with the support of our fans. The atmosphere in the stands can be a very important factor because they can give us a huge boost. I hope they will recognise our effort and our fighting spirit. We will really need them in all the matches ahead and I hope the stands will be full for the Champions League matches, especially at home.

eurohandball.com: You won the EHF Champions League with Vardar under Raúl González and now you will work together again at Partizan. What does it mean to reunite with a coach with whom you shared some of the biggest moments of your career?

Ilija Abutović: Raúl and I know each other very well. He knows me very well and I know him, and personally, I spent the best part of my career working with him. But this is a different story now. What happened in the past is in the past and I am proud of what we achieved together. Now, all of us are trying to build something new together from the beginning. For me, he is the best handball coach, without a doubt. I have huge respect for him. I know how demanding he is and how much of a perfectionist he can be. As players, I think we need to trust him 100 per cent and work hard. There is a lot of work ahead of us. We are training well this preseason and listening to him. There are still plenty of things he is correcting, but step by step I think we will understand everything better as a team, reach a good level and be ready for what awaits us.

eurohandball.com: Having played in Slovenia, North Macedonia, Germany and France, as well as playing for many seasons in the EHF Champions League, how do you see your role in this Partizan team and what still motivates you at this stage of your career?

Ilija Abutović: What motivates me most, honestly, is competition. I love competing, I am a competitor and that is what drives me. As for my role, first of all, I am here because I believe I can still help the team with my experience and everything I have been through, but also by setting an example for the younger players. I do not want to be one of those players who only talks and does nothing. I want to show them through my own example. I still want to fight and compete. This year we have the Champions League, the regional league, the domestic championship and the cup, and we need to be at the right level in all of them. It will be difficult and there will be a lot of matches, but that is why we have a big squad and everyone will be needed. Everyone has to take their opportunity. The younger players should see this as a huge privilege because they will get to play in the Champions League and work with, in my opinion, the best coach in the world.

photos © Anze Malovrh / kolektiff (main); RK Partizan AdmiralBet (first in-text); Richard Walch (second in-text); Nebosja Tejic / kolektiff