Chartres Spanish international pivot Adrian Figueras has won late recognition. But, at 33, he is a major player in our championship.
At 25, he was still playing with the Barcelona reserve
If he is now one of the essentials of the Spanish selection, eight years ago, the current pivot of Chartres (1m93, 95 kg) remained a solid resident… of the Barcelona reserve team. Without really having had the opportunity to break into the prestigious Catalan team, the native of Barcelona hung on and reaped the fruits of his labor.
Toni gerona, his coach at Chartres, was already his coach with the Barcelona reserve
The current Chartres coach, since 2019, knows his longtime player. From the time when Figueras wore the colors of the Blaugrana reserve team: ” We knew he had the potential to go to this level, but Xavi Pascual wanted stronger pivots who defend “recalls the former coach of Tunisia.
He is double European champion with Spain
It is with los Hispanos that Figueras has built the bulk of his record. In 2018 and 2020, respectively in Croatia and Sweden, Austria and Norway, the Spanish international (since 2016) won the European Championship twice against the Swedes (29-23) and the Croats (22-20).
He was bronze medalist at the 2021 World Cup
In 2021, in the midst of a pandemic, Spain ranks 3rd in the competition in Egypt. Adria Figueras wins a new charm. This time, the metal is bronze. To get this 3rd place, the Spaniards get the best of France (35-29).
An excellent physio handball player
He was a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
A few months before the Worlds, the Spain of Figueras once again pulls out of the game this time in Japan. Catchy, the Spaniards were beaten in the semi-finals by Denmark (23-27), but recovered against Egypt (33-31). On August 7, they climb on the 3rd step of the podium.
He studied physio before coming to Nantes
In order to replace Nicolas Tournat who left for Kielce, for the 2020/2021 season, Nantes had signed Adria Figueras. A formidable scorer, the Spanish international pivot was seen by his compatriot Alberto Entrerrios as “a player who has enormous offensive qualities. He holds the position perfectly in the two-on-two game, has a very good grip on the ball and a great reading of the game. This will give us a lot of possibilities and complementarity ». When this player came to take up the Nantes challenge, France knocked on his door. This was a good thing since Figueras had just finished his physio studies.
He was twice voted best player in the Spanish league
According to the adage, no one is a prophet in his country. But if Figueras struggled to make his mark in Barcelona, he exported his talent elsewhere. And in particular at Granollers between 2014 and 2020, a club in the Barcelona suburbs, tired of playing the leading roles in the Spanish second division. As a result, he will be voted MVP of La Liga Asobal twice in 2016 and 2018.
Figueres to make Chartres shine
He is under contract until June 2023
When Chartres hired Adria Figueras, the Eure-et-Loir club made a big splash. Arrived straight from Nantes, the Spanish international pivot has signed up for two seasons, i.e. until June 2023: “I am happy to join Chartres. On a personal level, I wanted to continue in the French championship. It is a very attractive championship ».Coach Toni Gerona described the arrival as “a willingness of the team to improve and aim for more ambitious goals for the future”.
He’s a happy dad
Father of two little girls, Adria Figueras attaches extreme importance to the family context. This great football and basketball fan admits: “For me, it’s important that they feel good and fit in “. The best way to best express the quintessence of your handball by living in an optimal private context.
For him, the French championship is the best in Europe
A very effective player in attack, he also frees up a lot of space for his teammates, while attracting a lot of attention from the defense. Adria Figueras is full of praise for the quality of the French championship: “I want to enjoy the Starligue for several years. I think they work very well in all areas. It really is one of the best leagues in the world ».
