Last 16 berth is Maximov’s landmark birthday wish

Just like in Croatia (RK PPD Zagreb) it’s almost impossible to bet on the champions of the Russian Super League since the foundation of Chekhovskie Medvedi, successor of ZSKA Moscow in 2002, who have taken the Russian throne each and every season.

The Bears just celebrated their 15th straight championship title and after they had missed the Russian Cup one year ago, they reclaimed the double again in 2015.

All of the success is founded on one name - one of the most successful coaches in the history of handball: Vladimir Maximov. On 14 October, four days after their fourth group match of the new VELUX EHF Champions League season, legendary Maximov will celebrate his 70th birthday, yet the former Russian national team coach has no thoughts of retiring.

The new season will offer some challenges for Maximov to integrate more young Russian talents in his squad. Some experienced stars moved abroad such as Alexander Dereven (Skopje), Dmitry Zhitnikov (Plock) and Sergei Shelmenko (Zaporozhye). The biggest name among the new arrivals is Oleg Skopintsev, arriving from Zaporozhye.

The previous VELUX EHF Champions League season was a lesson for Maximov and his squad: Despite having the seventh best scoring record of all 24 group phase participants, the Bears were the only team without any win in this stage - the main problem was the defence, as no other competitor conceded more goals than the Russians.

Now they aim for a revival in Group C, in which Chekhov will face La Rioja, Brest, Porto, Vojvodina and Presov. “Our aim is to proceed to the Last 16,” says club manager Alexandr Safonov. Therefore, the Russians need to finish in the top two of their group and win the subsequent play-off.

“You cannot underestimate any of our opponents, as each team is strong,” team captain Dmitry Kovalev says, adding: “We aim for good results and to proceed to the next stage.”

The best result of the Moscow Region based team was qualification for the very first VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010.

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS)

Qualification for the 2015/2016 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Russian champions

Newcomers:  Alexander Kotov, Dmitry Shelestyukov (both Kaustik Volgograd), Ruslan Parshutin (Dinamo Astrakhan), Oleg Skopintsev (Motor Zaporozhye)

Left the club:  Dmitry Zhitnikov (Orlen Wisla Plock), Alexander Dereven (Vardar Skopje), Sergei Shelmenko (Motor Zaporozhye), Maxim Makarov (N/A)

Coach: Vladimir Maximov (since 2000)

VELUX EHF Champions League record:
Participations (including 2015/16 season): 15
Semi-finalist (1): 2009/10 (fourth ranked at the VELUX EHF FINAL4)
Quarter-finalist (2): 2008/09, 2010/11
Last 16 (3): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13
Main Round (1): 2007/08
Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2011/12, 2014/2015
Round 2 (1): 2000/01

Other achievements:

Cup winners’ Cup
Winner: 2005/06

Russian champions: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Russian cup winner: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015