"I look forward to every home game"

A training session was followed by a special shift for Domen Novak: an interview with the KONTER editorial team. The 27-year-old joined the SG Flensburg-Handewitt from HSG Wetzlar in the summer and recently extended his contract until 2031.

Domen, you already knew the atmosphere of "Hell North" as a guest. What is it like to play in front of this crowd as a member of the home team? And then even a derby?
DomenNovak: It's really fun. I look forward to every home game. The arena is very loud. And there's even more energy in a derby. You're really happy to be part of the home team.

You're often seen jumping after goals or before kick-off. How high can you actually jump?
DomenNovak: I can't say for sure because I haven't measured it for a long time. I do the jump before the kick-off to activate.

Did you used to do high jump or athletics?
Domen Novak: Only at school, I never went to a club training session.

How did you get into handball?
DomenNovak: I started training with my older brother very early on. I was only five or six years old then. I played with friends at my home club Krim Ljubljana until I was 17 or 18 years old. I didn't think about a professional career for a long time. Even when I turned 20, I was still playing in the second division with Slovan Ljubljana. I then spent a year driving an hour almost every day to the small town of Dobova to play in the first division.

The first time you played in Flensburg was not with HSG Wetzlar, but with RK Celje. That was in February 2020. What memories do you have?
DomenNovak: I remember the view of the harbor and our hotel, the Alte Post. I don't remember anything about the game. I scored my first goal in the EHF Champions League in the first leg at home - against Benjamin Burić.

Is RK Celje in Slovenia the logical step if you want to pursue an international career?
DomenNovak: It was back then. In terms of history, the record champions are the biggest club. At the moment, however, RK Celje is a big name without a place in the EHF Champions League. In Slovenia, other teams are better now.

How did the move to HSG Wetzlar come about?
DomenNovak: It actually came about quite spontaneously. It was my greatest wish to play in the Bundesliga one day. A spot became available in Wetzlar due to the departure of Kristian Bjørnsen. HSG is a stable first division team where many players have already developed. It was also a good fit for me.

How were the four years in Hesse? It was the first time you had left your home country of Slovenia...
DomenNovak: Fortunately, my wife was there from the start - it was quite a change. I learned German, which I hardly knew before. And I got to know a lot of nice people. In terms of sport, it was more of a rollercoaster ride. There were a few heavy defeats. But I got a lot of playing minutes, so Wetzlar was an important station for me. I had given my all for four years and Wetzlar helped me. In a career, however, it sometimes happens that you take a different path after playing together.

The first matchday was certainly particularly strange for you: a draw in Wetzlar?
DomenNovak: It was very special to play my first competitive game with my new club at my old club. Losing a point was difficult, but it can always happen in the Bundesliga.

What is different about the SG compared to Wetzlar?
DomenNovak: The SG has a team in which the players have already won so many medals and titles. It speaks for the quality how many world and European champions are here. We play a bit faster, but otherwise handball is handball. The trips are longer and more frequent now, but I'm happy to accept that.

Did you have to think long and hard about switching to the SG?
DomenNovak: No, I wanted to join a top club. I'm glad that it worked out and that I've arrived safely with my little family.

Did you get to know Ljubomir Vranjes, the current sporting director of SG, as coach of the Slovenian national team?
DomenNovak: We had a week together with a few qualifying matches. It's quite possible that he already knew what I was like.

You've always had 77 or 75 as your shirt number. Now it's 63 at the SG. This change has a nice background...
DomenNovak: 63 stands for the birth of my little son. He was born on March 6.

What's it like to be a father?
DomenNovak: I enjoy every moment with my son. There's always something new. He's not walking yet, but that can't take much longer.

What else do you do in your free time? Do you have any other hobbies?
DomenNovak: In summer I like to play tennis with friends, but now it's mainly time with my family that's very important to me. On a day off, we like to go for a walk on the beach or near our home.

At the SG, you met two compatriots, Aleš Pajović and Blaž Blagotinšek. How well did you know each other beforehand?
DomenNovak: I know Blagi from the national team. We've had a few experiences together. I only knew Pajo by sight. Of course, it's nice when you can speak your own language.

You were with the Slovenian national team at the beginning of November. Is that always a special honor for you?
DomenNovak: I always enjoy going to the national team. It's a good team with good friends. We've also achieved some good results in recent years. Last time, however, I was more on the bus than on the plane. We were supposed to travel from Slovenia to a small town in Serbia to play a test match there.

What has been your personal highlight with Slovenia so far?
DomenNovak: It was definitely the 2024 Olympic Games. We were in Paris a week beforehand and played France in a test match. Unfortunately, we couldn't take part in the opening ceremony because we already had our first game the next day. It was a special experience that unfortunately came to an end far too quickly. Almost all the athletes were accommodated in a huge high-rise building. We met athletes from all over the world. We had a very close relationship with the Slovenian volleyball players.

20251014-IAJ12213 — Lots of experience and energy at the SG.

Created by ki