Valdemaras Novickis

Valdemaras Novickis played most of his career from 1974-93 with Granitas Kaunas, except short spells with BM Málaga in Spain in 1988-89 and with VfL Bad Schwartau in Germany in 1989-90. Starting as a center backcourt player, he switched to back center position during the latter part of his career and in the mid-1980s was considered as one of the world’s best defensive players. With Granitas, Novickis won the IHF Cup in the 1986/87 season, finishing as a runner-up in that competition the next season. At the Soviet Championships, he won silvers in 1981 and 1985 and bronzes in 1979 and 1986, and with Bad Schwartau won the 2. Bundesliga in 1990.

Novickis was on the Soviet national team for more than a decade from 1977-88, serving as team captain from 1985-88. He was Olympic champion in 1988, won silver at the 1980 Olympics, was a World Champion in 1982, and added a World Championship silver in 1978. He also won the IHF Supercup in 1985 and gold at the 1977 World Junior Championships.

Novickis retired from playing in 1993 and from 1993-2019 worked as head coach of Granitas Kaunas. From 1993-2000 he also served as head coach of the Lithuanian national team. His son Vladas Novickis also became an international level handball player.