Mirko Bašić

As of January 9, 2014

Mirko Bašić ( born September 14, 1960 in Bjelovar, Yugoslavia ) is a former Croatian handball goalkeeper, who is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history of handball.

Career as a player

Association

The large 1.88 keeper began 1972 playing handball at RK Partizan Bjelovar, the dominant club at that time Yugoslavia. Only 17 years old he made his debut in the European Cup of Champions. His first title he won in 1977 and 1979. A year later he moved to Metaloplastika Sabac, where he was to be part of a century team that should win from 1982 to 1988 the Yugoslav championship and the Cup three times. In the European Cup of Champions, he lost the final in 1984 in the seven-meter throw against Dukla Prague, but triumphed in 1985 and 1986. Overall, he was at least six times in a row in the semifinals. During his time in Sabac he also performed the obligatory military service. After a brief stop at RK Zagreb Medveščak Zagreb, he joined the French LNH to Vénissieux handball, with whom he won the championship in 1992. He then joined the financially strong emerging OM Vitrolles and won the 1993 European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994 and his second French title. With now 33 years he interrupted his career for two and a half years. After his return, he reached Badel Zagreb three times in a row the Champions League final, but lost each of the all-powerful FC Barcelona. After his career at the end of 2002 Medveščak he gave up due to the violation of Arpad Šterbik a brief comeback for two European games at the Hungarian master Fotex Veszprém in March 2003.

National

With the Yugoslav junior national Bašić was vice-champion in 1979 and world champion in 1981. A year later, he was defeated by the Yugoslavian Men's National Team at the 1982 World Cup despite five held seven meters in the finals of the Soviet Union. At the Olympic Games in 1984, the team won the gold medal, as well in the World Cup 1986. At the Olympic Games in 1988 reached one bronze. In 2000, he returned at the European Championships at home again in the Croatian national team back. Overall, the goalkeeper denied at least 133 caps for Yugoslavia, 47 for Croatia.

Career as a coach

Since his career end Bašić assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for RK Zagreb was (until 2010) and the Croatian national team. He heads together with other former top goalkeepers since 2011 annual international training camps for Jugendtorleute in Croatia.

Private

His daughter Sonja Bašić is also national player, but on the position back center of the room.

Achievements

RK Partizan Bjelovar:

• Yugoslavian Champion 1977, 1979

With Metaloplastika Sabac:

• Yugoslavian Champion 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
• Yugoslavian Cup Winner 1983, 1984, 1986
• European Cup of Champions 1985, 1986
• Finalist European Cup of Champions 1984

RK Zagreb Medveščak Zagreb:

• Yugoslav champion in 1990

With Venissieux Handball:

• French Champion 1992

With OM Vitrolles:

• European Cup Winners' Cup in 1993
• French Champion 1994

With Badel 1862 Zagreb:

• Croatian Champion 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
• Croatian Cup Winners 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Champions League finalists in 1997, 1998, 1999

With the Yugoslav national team:

• Junior World Champion 1981
• Junior Vice World Champion 1979
• Olympic champion in 1984
• Olympic bronze medal in 1988
• World Cup 1986