The Sporto Brands awards were created in 2013, in association with the Mediana Institute for Market Research, and the honors are split into three categories: sportsman, sportswoman and sporting club. For evaluating the competing clubs, Mediana devised eight criteria for success: brand awareness, results, global context, distinguishing features, the club’s positive image, the quality and frequency of performance, and public perception of the brand. 

The “Bears” of Zagreb beat the PPD handball team and the NK Rijeka soccer team to retain the title as the best Croatian sports club brand, and the KHL is proud to offer its heartfelt congratulations. Keep the winning habit, Medvescak! 

“What could be better than recognition of all our hard work by the people? For us at Medvescak, nothing can beat this! It is the best thing,” said Ranko Vucinic, Medvescak Director of Communications, as he accepted the award. “So we are very proud that for three years running, public opinion has recognized us as the best sports brand in Croatia and one of the best three brands in the region.” 

Some very illustrious names were among the victors: Slovenian soccer club Maribor, Serbia’s fierce rivals, Partizan and Red Star Belgrade, while joining the KHL men on the honors list for Croatia was Luka Modric, the renowned Real Madrid midfielder, and Sandra Perkovic, the Olympic, world and triple-European discus champion.