Vlah's game: “I don’t know whether it’s the mind or the body making the choice”

The centre back Aleks Vlah has come a long way since he started playing handball in Koper. Earmarked as a big talent from the early days, the versatile player soon got the opportunity to join Zagreb in his first top-tier season but could not shine through. But when Vlah signed for Celje Pivovarna Lasko in 2021 everything changed.

Vlah went from scoring 88 goals in the 2022/23 season for Celje in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League to signing for Aalborg Håndbold the following year, becoming a leader in the Slovenian national team and most recently being the second top-scorer of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“Time in Celje defined me the most. I started playing more as left back and it gave me a new perspective. I levelled up and it gave me new possibilities in my play. When I was younger, I thought I was not tall enough to play as a back player, especially left. The opportunity I got in Celje and this new way of modern handball, fast handball, allowed it,” says Vlah.

“And not only for me. You don't have to be tall to play as a back anymore. Also, playing left back made me more dangerous as a centre back too.”

Even though Vlah is seen mostly as a centre back, he is not a typical one. With all the assists and great vision he has on the court, he is often among the top scorers both in the club and the national team. That was also one of Vlah's wishes – to be the modern centre back.

“I wanted to be the one that can do a lot for the team. Not only to be there for them, call the actions and make an assist, but also to score if needed. To have more responsibility. And it was a mental thing – you need to believe you can. And with that mindset and style of play, you are tougher to guard. Also, I matured when I realised I could score 10 goals or make 10 assists, and that for me both things are equally important,” explains Vlah.

Vlah admits that while he loves scoring goals, he always knows the team's success matters more. Through experience, the Slovenian international learned to balance between these two things and admit choosing one as a favourite is not an easy thing.

"It’s a tough question, but I have to say I love scoring goals, for sure. But in a team sport like handball, sometimes you need to step back from that aspect. Maybe by doing so, you help the team expand and improve.

“It’s not about you scoring; in the end, it’s about the victory. I also love making assists but here’s more attention on players who score a lot. Maybe that’s the reason. I think sometimes assists are not valued enough,” adds Vlah.

As Vlah's career progressed, he became more comfortable with the weight of responsibility and embraced the pressure. He switched from fearing mistakes to recognising them as an opportunity for growth.

“Now that I’m older and more experienced, I don’t think about the mistakes as much, but earlier on, for sure, as a younger player, you think a lot about not making mistakes. But the truth is, everyone makes mistakes. That’s where you learn the most. These days, it happens more naturally during games. As your team feels you are in the game, sometimes the decision falls on you. I have no problem with that pressure,” he says.

“If you make a mistake, you feel it a bit more in the next match, but you must stay mentally strong. Believing in yourself is crucial. I work on visualising situations sometimes - thinking about how I could change things after a missed shot or a situation in the last match. But it’s hard to predict because each opponent reacts differently. It’s more about working on yourself,” adds Vlah.

When it comes to inspiration during matches, Vlah prefers not to overthink his moves. Instead, he lets the game flow and makes spontaneous decisions. That approach is one of the reasons he can keep opponents guessing about his next move.

“It all happens in the moment. I don’t like to think about it beforehand because if you overthink it, maybe your opponent can predict you. But if you do something unexpected, even you can’t plan it until the last second. If I don’t know what I’ll do, then the defence surely won’t. The decision happens in the moment, and I don’t know whether it’s the mind or the body making the choice. I can’t answer that,” Vlah explains.

While Vlah certainly trusts his instincts, preparation also plays a role in his game. Analysing opponents and watching match footage is part of it, but he knows this will not make him instantly better.

“I like to watch videos and take notes on some basic plays we might play, but you mostly feel it during the game. After a few minutes on the court, you start to sense how the defence is playing, and how they react to different situations. That’s when inspiration kicks in, especially for a playmaker like me, and you make the right decision. Watching videos helps build a foundation, but most teams play similarly. The real creativity happens on the court,” says Vlah.

While fans look in awe when he makes his move on the court and defensive players have a hard time stopping him, Vlah remains focused on constant improvement.

“I always want to work on the game, whether it’s my defence or certain situations in attack. Playing as a centre back brings more opportunities for shots, and I want to improve on those details. At 27, I’ve become more of a complete player, but I always say that the mental aspect is the most important. Staying calm in certain situations and gaining experience are things I want to continue working on throughout my career."

How would he define himself as a player?

“As a left back, I’m not a traditional shooter. My speed is my strength, and I always say I have good timing for crossing or cutting in. As a centre back I love finding situations where I can take advantage of my speed, perhaps shooting between the blocks instead of over them. These are the kinds of advantages that faster, smaller players have when playing against tall defensive lines."

Vlah emphasises that a significant part of his confidence comes from the trust his coach places in him. That trust allows him to play with more freedom, knowing he has the full backing of his team’s leadership.

“Once you believe in yourself, the next most important thing is that your coach believes in what you can do. That trust gives you a kind of confidence boost, and I believe any player is 30% better when they feel their coach trusts them. That’s been key for me,” concludes Vlah.

October 2024

Photos © Kolektiff Images, Victor Salgado, Henrik Hansen