Igor Karacic: I went unpaid 15–18 months while at Vardar
Karacic says he went unpaid for roughly 15–18 months around Vardar's second Champions League triumph and even considered quitting the sport.
Igor Karacic, a member of Vardar's celebrated generation that conquered Europe, revealed a difficult financial side to his time at the Macedonian club.
Karacic: unpaid for more than a year
In an interview titled "Career in the Rearview", the Croatian playmaker said that around the time Vardar secured their second Champions League trophy he went without wages for a prolonged period.
"At Vardar, during the period when we won the second Champions League title I had not taken a salary for about 15 to 18 months. I had to ask my father for money, and at one point I told him I was even thinking of quitting handball," Karacic said.
Karacic was one of the key figures in Vardar's rise to the top of European club handball and his admission sheds light on the financial strains behind the club's sporting successes.
His remarks add to an ongoing conversation about how off-court issues — especially payment delays — can affect players and teams even during peak competitive achievement.
Photo: press material from the event
