Matej Mandić
{{Short description|Handball player (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox handball biography
| name = Matej Mandić
| image = Matej Mandić (RK Zagreb).jpg
| caption = Mandić in 2024
| nationality = Croatian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|5|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| height = 2.05 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = RK Zagreb
| clubnumber = 25
| nationalyears1 = 21–
| nationalteam1 = Croatia
| nationalcaps1 = ?
| nationalgoals1 = ?
| ntupdate = 25 May 2025
}}
Matej Mandić (born 2 May 2002) is a handball player who plays for RK Zagreb. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he represents Croatia men's national handball team.
Biography
Mandić was born on 2 May 2002 in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{Cite web|title=Matej Mandić: Mladi golman koji osvaja Europu; Dio je tandema 'umri muški, Ljubuški'|url=https://net.hr/sport/rukomet/tko-je-matej-mandic-7e743efc-ae28-11ef-b260-829ff0affdfc|website=net.hr|date=19 December 2024|access-date=25 May 2025|language=hr}} He started playing handball for the local club Izviđač and won the title in 2019 and 2021.{{Cite web|first=Davor|last=Kovačević|title=Tko je Matej Mandić: 'U mojoj ulici svi smo rođaci. Pet mjeseci nisam mogao raditi ništa...'|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/tko-je-matej-mandic-u-mojoj-ulici-svi-smo-rodaci-pet-mjeseci-nisam-mogao-raditi-nista-958625|website=24sata|date=15 January 2025|access-date=25 May 2025|language=hr}} Since then, Mandić has been playing for the RK Zagreb.{{Cite web|title=Matej Mandić|url=https://rk-zagreb.hr/aktualni-sastav/rk-zagreb/matej-mandic|website=RK Zagreb|access-date=24 May 2025|language=hr}} He is the cousin of Croatian handball player David Mandić, who also comes from Hardomilje near Ljubuški.{{Cite web|title=Vratarska senzacija: David Mandić i ja smo rođaci i na ponos svog sela i Ljubuškog|url=https://www.jabuka.tv/vratarska-senzacija-david-mandic-i-ja-smo-rodaci-i-na-ponos-svog-sela-i-ljubuskog/|website=Jabuka TV|date=5 January 2024|access-date=25 May 2025|language=hr}}
Mandić helped RK Zagreb to qualify for the European Handball Champions League, breaking his own and other records in the number of shots saved by opponents on goal. His first major championship with the national team was the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship.{{Cite web|title=Seniori: Počela druga faza priprema za Europsko prvenstvo|url=https://hrs.hr/2021/12/26/seniori-pocela-druga-faza-priprema-za-europsko-prvenstvo/|publisher=Croatian Handball Federation|date=26 December 2021|access-date=25 May 2025|language=hr}} He made 22 saves in a match against SC Magdeburg on 20 November 2024.{{Cite web|title=Nevjerojatne 22 obrane Mateja Mandića za slavlje protiv njemačkog prvaka Magdeburga|url=https://rk-zagreb.hr/vijesti/rukomet/nevjerojatne-22-obrane-mateja-mandica-za-slavlje-protiv-njemackog-prvaka-ma|website=RK Zagreb|date=20 November 2024|access-date=25 May 2025|language=hr}}