1. Irina Nagy Klimovschi (1936-2001)
Medals
Gold at the WCh 1956, 1960 (11 players) and 1962 (7 players)
1960/1961 European Champions’ Cup winner with Stiinta Bucuresti
1963/1964 European Champions’ Cup winner with Rapid Bucuresti
Awards
All-Star goalkeeper WCh 1956 and 1960
Club teams
Progresul Targu Mures, Stiinta Bucuresti, Rapid Bucuresti
National team
136 caps (2 goals)
WCh 1956, 1960, 1962, 1965
2. Mariana Tirca (1962-)
Medals
1995/96 ChL winner with Podravka Koprivnica
Awards
All-Star playmaker WCh 1995
Club teams
Rulmentul Brasov, CS Stiinta Bucuresti, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Podravka Koprivnica, GAS Anagennisi Artas
National team
All-time top-scorer 335 caps (2043 goals)
WCh 1986, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1997
ECh 1996
Active
NO
* Interview with Tirca
3. Valentina Cosma (1963-)
Medals
1995/96 ChL winner with Podravka Koprivnica
Awards
–
Club teams
Terom Iasi, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Podravka Koprivnica, ESC Yutz Handbal
National team
All-time third top-scorer 322 caps (980 goals)
WCh 1986, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1999
ECh 1996
OG 2000
Active
NO
4. Luminita Dinu (1971-)
Medals
Silver at the WCh 2005
2000/2001 and 2002/2003 ChL winner with Krim Ljubliana
2001/2001 ChL winner with Kometal Skopje
2006/2007 CWC winner with Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea
Awards
All-Star goalkeeper ECh 2000 and WCh 2005
Club teams
Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Krim Ljubljana, Kometal Skopje
National team
201 caps (9 goals)
WCh 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
ECh 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008
OG 2000, 2008
Active
NO
5. Steluta Luca (1975-)
Medals
Gold at the Junior WCh 1995
Silver at the WCh 2005
2006/2007 CWC winner with Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea
Awards
–
Club teams
Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Dossobuono Verona, Randers, FCK Copenhagen
National team
All-time second top-scorer 223 caps (1013 goals)
WCh 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
ECh 1998, 2000, 2002
OG 2000
Active
NO
6. Simona Gogarla (1975-)
Medals
Gold at the Junior WCh 1995
Silver at the WCh 2005
Awards
Top-scorer of the ECh 2000
Club teams
CSS Focsani, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Krim Ljubljana, SD Itxako, Gyori ETO, Rulmentul Brasov, Rapid Bucuresti
National team
93 caps (455 goals)
WCh 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005
ECh 1998, 2000
Active
Coach of HCM Ramnicu Valcea
* Profile on Simona Gogarla
7. Carmen Amariei (1978-)
Medals
Gold at the Junior WCh 1995
Bronze at the Junior WCh 1997
2002/2003 EHF Cup Winner with ESBF Besançon
2004/2005 and 2006/2007 ChL winner with Slagelse
Awards
Top-scorer of the WCh 1999
Club teams
Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, ESBF Besançon, Randers, Slagelse, U Jolidon Cluj, Rulmentul Brasov, FCK Copenhagen, Viborg, Terom-Z Iasi, SCM Craiova
National team
All-time 4th top-scorer 182 caps (855 goals)
WCh 1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011
ECh 1998, 2002, 2004, 2008
OG 2000, 2008
Active
NO
8. Cristina Varzaru (1979-)
Medals
Gold at the Junior ECh 1998
Gold at the Junior WCh 1999
Silver at the WCh 2005
Bronze at the ECh 2010
2005/2006, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 ChL winner with Viborg
Awards
All-Star right winger Junior ECh 1998
All-Star right winger Junior WCh 1999
Top-scorer of the 2009/2010 ChL
Club teams
CSS Corabia, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Rapid Bucuresti, Viborg, CSM Bucuresti
National team
178 caps (493 goals)
WCh 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011
ECh 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010
OG 2000
Active
Plays for CSM Bucuresti (ROU)
* Profile on Cristina Varzaru
9. Valentina Ardean Elisei (1982-)
Medals
Gold at the Junior ECh 2000
Silver the WCh 2005
Bronze at the ECh 2010
2006/2007 CWC winner with Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea
Awards
All-star left winger at the WCh 2005 and ECh 2008
Club teams
Universiteatea Remin Deva, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, ZRK Knjaz Milos, HCM Baia Mare
National team
All-time fifth top-scorer 181 caps (735 goals)
WCh 2005, 2011, 2013
ECh 2004, 2008, 2010
OG 2008
Active
Plays for HCM Baia Mare (ROU)
10. Cristina Neagu (1988-)
Medals
Silver at the Youth ECh 2005
Bronze at the Youth WCh 2006
Bronze at the Junior ECh 2007
Bronze at the ECh 2010
2014/2015 ChL winner with Buducnost
Awards
MVP of the Youth ECh 2005
MVP and all-star left back Youth WCh 2006
All-Star left back Junior ECh 2007
IHF Rookie of the year 2009
Top-scorer and all-star left back ECh 2010
IHF World player of the year 2010
All-star left back ECh 2014
Nominated for the IHF World player of the year 2014
Top-scorer of the 2014/2015 ChL
Club teams
Rulmentul Brasov, Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Buducnost Podgorica
National team
111 caps (455 goals)*
WCh 2007, 2009, 2013
ECh 2008, 2010, 2012
OG 2008
Active
Plays for Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
Some thoughts…
- Longest NT career: Cosma 1986-1999.
- One player has won an international cup with every team: Dinu.
- Except for Nagy, all players have played for Oltchim Valcea.
- Two players have never won a European Cup: Gogarla and Neagu**.
- Two players have never won an NT medal: Tirca and Cosma.
The five all-time national team top-scorers are on the list: Tirca, Luca, Cosma, Amariei and Elisei.
In listing the ten most successful Romanians in the history of women’s handball, I have taken into account international medals, awards and recognitions, as well as the players’ contribution to the national team in goals scored and matches played. But let us not forget the difference between our times and the previous era of handball: the IHF award only exists since 1988, the European Championship was first played in 1994, youth competitions were implemented only a couple of decades ago. In short, contrary to the heydays of Romanian handball in the 1960s, today, our players get plenty of chances to stand out.
* Selections and goals of all players until 2012 according to FRH. ** Eventually, Neagu won the Champions League with Buducnost in 2015.