Ivan Balić's retirement has been written about for years, and now that story has come to an end. Thirty-six-year-old Ivano has to play one more game in Wetzlar before returning to Croatia and assuming the position of coordinator of the Croatian national team, and before that, due to the great interest of the German media, he held a press conference where he said goodbye to his professional career 'in advance'.
"The end came very quickly. I feel I can still run for an hour, but I have to accept that it's not realistic anymore. It's time to finish. My back is better and I hope it won't let me down in the last game. I'm glad that when looking back, I see a successful career and that my health served me," said Balić and answered the question that handball Croatia has been asking itself in recent years.
Despite all his playing successes, he does not see himself as a Croatian coach or coach.
"No, it's not for me. I'm definitely not for the coach because every day you have to worry about a large number of players. And not only about the way they play, but also about their psychological state".
In addition to saying goodbye to Veclara with chosen words, Balić also recalled his greatest success in the Croatian national team.
"For me, 2003 was special and the World Championship in Portugal, when we won the first major title. However, an athlete should never be satisfied with one title, but should always look for more," Ivano concluded.
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