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Zlatko Portner

1962 – 2020

Serbian handball player and manager

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About Zlatko Portner

Lived 1962 – 2020 (aged 58). Zlatko Portner was a Yugoslav handball player.

Zlatko Portner (; 16 January 1962 – 23 September 2020) was a Serbian handball coach and player who won the 1986 World Championship. He also competed for Yugoslavia in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Club career After playing for Crvenka, Portner joined Yugoslav champions Metaloplastika, becoming a member of the squad that won consecutive European Cup titles (1984–85 and 1985–86). He also won six consecutive national championships with the club.

During the 1989–90 season, Portner joined Barcelona as a replacement for his compatriot Milan Kalina. He reunited with his former Metaloplastika teammate Veselin Vujović, helping the club win the European Cup in 1991. The next year, Portner went to France and spent two seasons with Vénissieux Rhône-Alpes (1992–1994). He later also played for Swiss teams BSV Bern, TV Zofingen, and BSC Grosshöchstetten.

International career At international level, Portner represented Yugoslavia in two World Championships, winning the 1986 edition in his debut appearance. He was also a member of the team that won the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Coaching career While playing in Switzerland, Portner started his coaching career with BSV Bern. He also served as head coach of several other Swiss teams.

Personal life Portner was the father of fellow handball player Nikola Portner, who represents Switzerland internationally.

Honours Metaloplastika Yugoslav Handball Championship: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 Yugoslav Handball Cup: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86 European Cup: 1984–85, 1985–86 Barcelona Liga ASOBAL: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 European Cup: 1990–91

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Important facts

People in Zlatko Portner's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Zlatko Portner's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zlatko Portner?

Serbian handball player and manager

When was Zlatko Portner born?

Zlatko Portner was born on 16 January 1962 in Ruma.

When did Zlatko Portner die?

Zlatko Portner died on 23 September 2020 in Switzerland.

What was Zlatko Portner's occupation?

Zlatko Portner was a handball player.

What nationality was Zlatko Portner?

Zlatko Portner was Yugoslav.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Zlatko Portner

· Wikidata: Q207168

· DBpedia: Zlatko Portner

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Zlatko Portner. https://biography.guide/zlatko-portner/

MLA: "Zlatko Portner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/zlatko-portner/.

Chicago: "Zlatko Portner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/zlatko-portner/.

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