WHC Metalurg () is a women's handball club from Skopje, North Macedonia. The team currently competes in the Macedonian women's First League of Handball.
History The club was established in 1964 under the name MIK and played in the amateur handball league of SR Macedonia. In the seasons 1967 ,1968 and 1970 MIK became winner of the handball league of SR Macedonia. In 1973 the club was renamed to RK Skopje. Finally in 1975, RK Skopje achieved their greatest success, participation in the First Yugoslav Handball League. In 1978, RK Skopje won the Yugoslav Cup for the territory of SR Macedonia. From then until the dissolution of former Yugoslavia, RK Skopje played in the Second Yugoslav Handball League.
After the independence of Macedonia in 1991, RK Skopje competed in the Macedonian women's First League of Handball, and the club played in the EHF Women's Cup Winners' Cup in 1994 and in the Women's EHF Challenge Cup the following year.
In the season 2007/08 the club got a strong sponsor, and under the name ŽRK Metalurg Skopje, unbeaten entered in the Macedonian women's First League of Handball. In the 2009/10 season ŽRK Metalurg Skopje won the Macedonian Championship and the Macedonian Cup without losing a point. The following season the club again won the league title and domestic cup. In the 2011–12 season, they had their best showing in Europe by making it to the Last 16 of the Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup. They followed that up with their third straight domestic double crown.
After long domination of WHC Vardar in the season 2018-19 WHC Metalurg Skopje made a big come back winning the championship of Macedonia again. They have reached the final of the Macedonian cup, but lost the final game against WHC Kumanovo.
In the 2021–2022 season, after nine years, Metalurg reached the National Cup Final Four. Competing against more experienced opponents, Metalurg won the Cup title for the sixth time. In the semifinals, they faced defending Cup winners and champions Kumanovo. After trailing 10–12 at halftime, they came back to win 25–21. In the final, Metalurg faced Gjorche Petrov, the team with the most trophies in the country. Although Gjorche Petrov were considered the favorites, Metalurg led 14–10 at halftime and maintained their advantage in the second half, winning 30–27. Eva Mladenovska, aged 15, was named the most valuable player of the final after scoring nine goals, adding to her 10 goals in the semifinal.
Arena Avtokomanda (Macedonian: "Автокоманда") is an indoor sports arena located in Skopje, owned and used by Metalurg handball club. It's a small arena with its own fitness center and canteen restaurant. It has a capacity of 2500 people, 2000 seated and 500 standing.
Accomplishments
Championship of Macedonia Winners (8): 1967, 1968,1970, 1985, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019
Macedonian Cup Winners (6): 1978,2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022
Challenge Cup Semi-Finalist (1): 2009/10 WRHL Women Finalist (1) : 2011/12 Third place (1) : 2009/10
European record
Season Competition Round Club 1st leg 2nd leg Aggregate 2017–18 Challenge CupR3 Rincón Fertilidad Málaga 14–31 14–37 28–68
Team Current squad Squad for the 2025–26 season WHC Metalurg SkopjeGoalkeepers 1 Sofija Geshovska 12 Anastasija Todorova 16 Mila Vaseva Right Wingers 9 Elena Ivanovska 33 Jana Gjoshevska 91 Sara Ristovska Left Wingers 8 Anastasija Nikolovska 15 Marija Tasevska 99 Mina Gjurchevska Line players 7 Marija Petreska 13 Aleksandra Kolovska
Left Backs 32 Iva Bozhinoska 31 Jana Kalajdzievska 11 Marija Jankulovska Central Backs 4 Petra Jershek 18 Ivana Arsenievska 36 Nena Nestoska Right Backs 19 Iva Mladenovska 10 Ana Marija Kolarovska 5 Marija Guguljanova
Technical staff Head Coach: Julijana Damchevska Assistant Coach: Krsto Petrushevski Physiotherapist: Filip Jovanovski Director: Filip Hristov
References
External links Official Website EHF Profile Macedonian Handball Federation Women's Regional Handball League