Mother Jurack stays in Viborg

Saturday Grit Jurack made a successful comeback for Viborg HK in the Champions League semi-final against Larvik HK – only two months and six days after becoming a mother – and on Wednesday the 32 year old German international extended her contract with the ruling Champions League winners for another two years, until the summer of 2012.

"I am really happy to be able to play her for another two years, but after that I reckon it will be the end. I have been in Viborg for a long time and feel very well here. The entire organisation around the team is highly professional, we have a good coach, and Viborg is a place where you win titles. Some world class players will be leaving us after this season, but others who are at the same level, will join us instead, so I am convinced that we will still be in the race for the big titles in the years to come", Grit Jurack said.

"The world’s best right back"

"She is the world’s best right back, and one of the greatest players at all, so it is just wonderful that she is staying in Viborg," head coach Jakob Vestergaard said. "After the birth she is already on her way back to her usually high level, so I am convinced that we are going to benefit a lot from her qualifications in the coming years", he added.

Grit Jurack has played in Viborg since 2004, having won the EHF Champions twice with the team – in 2006 and 2009 – among a lot of other triumphs with the Danish club. She has appeared 187 times for Viborg, scoring 1,030 goals. She has played 287 internationals for Germany – thereby holding the record among female German international players.

Althaus takes two more years in Viborg

Also German international Anja Althaus is going to stay two more years with ruling Champions League winners Viborg HK. The 27 year old pivot joined the Danish top club in the summer of 2007, and her current contract was due to expire after this season, but it has now been extended until the summer of 2012.

"I am really happy about this extension. I could not imagine to go home to Germany or to join any other club than Viborg for that matter. After a tough first season I now feel really well in Denmark, on and off the court," Anja Althaus said.

Head coach Jakob Vestergaard was also a happy man, as the negotiations between the club and Anja Althuas had ended successfully. "During her stay in Viborg, Anja has developed from being a pivot at an internationally high level into being a player in absolute world class. She has been a great part of the success we have had during the past couple of years. She has strengths at both ends of the court and is an extremely vital player to us," Vestergaard said.

Two pivots at international top level

After the extension of Anja Althaus´ contract, Viborg are going to have two pivots at international top level from next season, as the club has previously signed Norwegian international Marit Malm Frafjord from current number two in Norway, Byåsen. Althaus is looking forward to her new partner at the circle line.

"I do not fear any kind of competition from Marit. The opposite is the case. There are lots of matches during a season, and we are two different types of pivots. This should give many tactical options, and hopefully the team can benefit from that," Anja Althaus commented.

Jakob Vestergaard also sees some interesting perspectives with the new pair of line players.

"In international top handball, the pivot is an extremely important position, and now we are going to get the strongest pair in the world there. Both Anja and Marit are strong at both ends of the court," the head coach said.