Enric Masip

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Barcelona, Enric Masip spent the majority of his career in his home town. However, his handball career began in the youth ranks of BM Granollers, where he played until joining the ranks of FC Barcelona in 1990 under Valero Rivera. 

Masip quickly became the number one centre back in the Palau Blaugrana, and captained the ‘Dream Team’ during the 1990s when they were almost unbeatable. 

Barcelona and Masip won the European Champions Cup - the precursor to the EHF Champions League - in 1991 for the first time, becoming the first Spanish side to lift the top trophy and breaking four years of Soviet dominance. With Masip an integral part of the effort, Barcelona reached the final of the EHF Champions League for the first time in 1996, winning the title by beating fellow Spaniards Elgorriaga Bidasoa 46:38 on aggregate.

That was the start of an epic, historic run of fortune for Barça, who notched up another four Champions League titles in a row before Portland San Antonio finally took the title from them in 2001. Barcelona’s next title would come in 2005, after Masip retired. 

Masip played 205 matches for Spain during his career, winning Olympic bronze and EHF EURO silver and bronze.

He retired from playing in 2004 due to a persistent back injury, but stayed at Barcelona for almost another decade, predominantly as technical secretary of the club’s handball section. 

He also set up the ‘Campus Enric Masip’, a not-for-profit training camp for young people, focused particularly on giving opportunities to those with limited financial resources, or suffering from mental illness or cancer. The project celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2023.