Nemzeti Bajnokság I (Women's handball)
Current season, competition or edition: 2016–17 season
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| Countries | Hungary |
|---|---|
| Confederation | EHF |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Relegation to | Nemzeti Bajnokság I/B |
| Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Magyar Kupa |
| International cup(s) |
EHF Champions League EHF Cup Winners' Cup EHF Cup |
| Current champions | Győri ETO (12th title) |
| Most championships | Vasas (15 titles) |
| TV partners | M4 Sport |
| Website | http://www.keziszovetseg.hu |
The Nemzeti Bajnokság I (English: National Championship I, commonly abbreviated NB I) is the top professional league for Hungarian women's team handball clubs. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.
The first edition of the women's handball league was held in 1951. That year only four teams participated, playing once against each other. Csepeli Vasas SK were crowned champions as they got equal points to Budapest Vörös Meteor Közért, but were superior on goal difference. Next season Vörös Meteor took revenge and secured the title just ahead of Csepel.
The forthcoming years were characterized by long term team hegemonies: Budapesti Spartacus SC won seven titles between 1960 and 1967, whilst Vasas SC were awarded thirteen gold medals between 1972 and 1985.
Turning into the nineties, Ferencvárosi TC managed to appear in the dominant role. In the 1992–93 season, after topping the table in the regular season, they bled to death in the playoffs yet, but a year later there was nothing to stop them. Until 2002 another five league title landed in the hands of Ágnes Farkas and co. The lone team which managed to interrupt their run was the Radulovics-led Dunaferr in 1998. The Dunaújváros-based team won five titles altogether until 2004, when, after finished on the podium an incredibly nine times in row without having won the title, finally Győri Graboplast ETO KC lifted the championship trophy.
Since then ETO with the support of their new main sponsor, car manufacturer Audi, have won all but one titles.
At the beginning only four teams entered the National Championship. Later, the league have been expanded, first to 12, later to 14 teams. There was a short living try with 16 teams in two groups but the idea got dropped just after five seasons. Since 2006 the league is made up of 12 teams. The championship was held in one calendar year until 1987, when they switched to autumn-spring format. Interestingly, in the 2003–04 season Austrian top club Hypo Niederösterreich played in the league as a guest team, however, their results did not count towards the final ranking.
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