Interviews

Far from family, close to dreams – Interview with Zoran Ilić

May 15, 2025

Author:

Milán Ulics

Zoran Ilić moved away from his family at a young age to pursue his handball dreams abroad—today he plays in the Bundesliga and also proves himself as a member of the Hungarian national team. In our interview, he speaks candidly about his beginnings, the challenges, the lonely moments, and also reveals that car cleaning is the best pastime for him in his free time.

How did your career in handball start, and what motivated you to continue your career abroad?

Everyone in the family played handball, so it wasn't difficult to decide what sport I wanted to do. I started the foreign adventure quite young – at 15, I was already at NEKA while my family lived in another country. It started tough, especially because of the language, since I didn't speak Hungarian back then.

What differences do you find between Hungarian and foreign handball, especially in the Bundesliga, where you currently play?

Here, much more emphasis is placed on mental preparation. Every match is a derby, and if you really put in the effort, anything can happen. As we've seen so far, you can't know who will be the champion until the last match. You can beat anyone, and you can also lose to anyone – that's what makes this championship exciting. The matches almost always take place in front of a full house, which means a lot to the players. In Hungary, the championship is not as strong.

What was the biggest challenge you had to face playing abroad? How did you manage to overcome it?

I have two brothers and a sister, and all of us live in different countries. I'd rather say that's the hardest part – I'm always far from them, and we can only meet 1-2 times a year. Sometimes I feel lonely, but that's when I try to keep myself busy. Thankfully, in Hamburg, I met a very kind and helpful Hungarian family who helped a lot, so everything became easier.

You have participated in several international tournaments and qualifiers with the national team. How do you prepare for big challenges, and how do you maintain your motivation?

I prepare for every match by trying to improve and bring my best form, using the experiences gained abroad. It might not always succeed as I wish, but as Chema also says, we're a family, and we always try to help each other. We give our all to achieve the best possible results!

What do you love most about handball?

That I can play with – or even against – players from whom I have learned a lot. Thanks to handball, I have made many friends, for which I am very grateful.

How did playing abroad affect your personal development, and what have you learned from teammates playing in other cultures?

I had to work a lot on my self-confidence, but here in Hamburg, I regained it. Now I dare to do things on the field that I didn't at Veszprém – either because I didn't dare to apply those solutions or because I was too young.

What is your biggest goal for the future, either at the club level or with the national team? What do you expect from the next years in the handball world?

My goal is always to bring my best form. Soon, a world star will be my position partner in Plock, from whom I can learn a lot – I am really looking forward to it!

Do you have any hobbies besides handball, or does handball consume all your time?

In the summer, I generally like to fish at home or, if I am at Lake Balaton, I like cycling or go-karting. But my biggest hobby is car cleaning!


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