Bánhidi’s game: “I like when I have to fight with the backs — it requires a bit of swagger”

Bence Bánhidi's name has become a concept in handball: The 130 kg Hungarian guy who cannot be suppressed by the defensive wall and who is not only dangerous in attack, but also disciplined and hardworking in front of his own goal. The 29-year-old line player took the long way to become an international star.

Like the vast majority of young children in Hungary, Bánhidi started playing football, but a sharp-eyed physical education teacher pointed out that, with his body type, he belongs on the handball court.

“At first, I was attracted to football because of my friends. Since I did well in small ball throwing in gym class and I was tall enough, I was transferred to handball. I didn't regret it, even though I didn't know what was ahead of me at that time. I became aware of it later, when I was one of the little kids who ran onto the pitch to wipe up the drops of sweat during the match of the men's team of Győr, which played in the Hungarian first division at the time. I really enjoyed it. Maybe the humility was in me even then,” says Bánhidi, reliving the initial first steps of his career and his change of sports.

It was not immediately obvious that Bánhidi was meant for handball. Playing for Győr, he struggled with fitness problems when his body was “strained” after several training sessions a week in Balatonfüred. 

“I loved the game — otherwise I wouldn't have made such a big sacrifice to leave my family home in Győr. But it looks like handball became my destiny. Although I should add that I left a small door open: I went to a law enforcement secondary school. I admired the work of emergency police officers. If things hadn't turned out that way with handball, I would have had a plan B. Fortunately, this was not necessary," says the 208 cm player, who made his debut in the adult national team at the age of 18.

Balatonfüred is notable for another reason in Bánhidi's career. It was there that he decided his position would not be left back, but line player. 

“It suited my body much better. I fell in love with being a line player at the very beginning. There was no question that I would stay there. Even then, I liked to fight — to fight for my place and for the ball on the court. At the next stop of my career, at Szeged, I learned a lot of tactical skills from my coach, Juan Carlos Pastor,” says Bánhidi, who joined the club in 2015. 

“We have always spent a lot of time analysing the opposing teams by video. With a slight exaggeration, we did not get up from the chair until we had analysed the movement of the opponent's players down to the last centimetre, and the two-on-two situations. As for the professional guidance and instructions I was given by Pastor: Before I arrived in Szeged, I typically performed the various movements instinctively. Pastor made me a conscious line player who is aware of a great many details such as having to lower his centre of gravity against tall defenders.

"In my first two years in Szeged, we repeated these movements to the point of boredom, until it worked automatically. Pastor often remarked that we should never deviate from the path we had started. And after each success, let's not get to be conceited. Let's continue with the same humility as before.

“I owe him a lot. If I didn't meet Pastor, I might not be anywhere now.”

Bánhidi feels that Pastor has shaped his personality a lot. Since 2022, Bánhidi has been captain of Szeged, aside from being a key player for the side. 

“I have a lot more responsibility than before. When Pastor appointed me, I was suddenly embarrassed that I, a 26-year-old player at the time, was explaining something to my teammate who was nine years older than me. But I got used to it. It took me a year or two to get used to this role. Today I really like it, and the responsibility that comes with it is not a problem," says Bánhidi.

Most players come to each match with a detailed shooting analysis in their heads. Bánhidi is not one of them. 

“I know that vast majority of players consider it essential to analyse goalkeepers. They even make video recordings before the match. I'm not like that. I don't tend to confuse my thoughts. The match situation decides what to choose. If the shots are not successful, I try to switch and find a good solution next time. I've been looking forward to the games like this for years,” says Bánhidi.

“At the same time, I have rituals. On the day of the match, I always sleep for an hour, usually three hours before the start. And I always spray perfume on myself three times before going on the field.”

Bánhidi is cheerful and feels very comfortable in his post. After the Champions League 2018/19 season, when he scored 75 goals, and the Men’s EHF EURO 2020, where he was named in the All-star Team despite Hungary ranking ninth in the competition, he finds he receives more attention from defenders.

“From that time, two or three people in the defence wall were watching me. In a way, this was the turning point. I was taken more seriously on the international stage than before,” says Bánhidi.

Bánhidi has dealt with several injuries in his career, including problems with his spine, but nothing discouraged him. Due to his commitment to the sport, he can still talk about his position with incredible enthusiasm. 

“The life of line players is terribly hard. Often two or three people pick on them, but I enjoy it. Off the court, I consider myself a good boy, but on the court I always have a bit of a badass in me. You cannot assert yourself without it, otherwise you will be oppressed. We, line players, give and get slaps at the same time.

“A good line player is not only agile — he also has to be able to close well. Considering physical strength, ours is the deadliest post. At the same time, you have to adapt to modern, fast handball. You have to be able to keep up with the pace, especially when you play in defence, and for 50 minutes you perform your task either in front of the opponent's goal or in front of your own goal,” says Bánhidi, who has won the Hungarian championship three times with Szeged. 

“We typically have to communicate with the centre back, a relationship that has worked well between Dean Bombac and myself for many years. Since I am also on the field as a defender, obviously I share my thoughts with my defender mate during the match, not to mention that, as a team captain, I have extra duties. For example, if I see that the tactics are not being implemented, I say so. And I communicate with the referee if the situation requires it.”

Bánhidi adds that he never wanted to be like anyone — he had no role models. But he liked the style of the late Marian Cozma from Veszprém, who died in tragic circumstances in 2009. He also tried to learn a few things from Spanish legend Julen Aguinagalde.  

“I'm 29 years old, but I'm still learning a lot. Our new coach, Michael Apelgren, who arrived before the 2024/25 season, and Jonas Källman, the former Szeged legend, mix the characteristics of the Scandinavian handball school with the Spanish style. Our style has changed, and I believe that something very good can come out of this in the long term," concludes Bánhidi.

October 2024

main image © Eliza Sólya