"Reaching out to fans"

When the decision was made to change the format of the EHF Men’s Champions League and to introduce the VELUX EHF FINAL4, which was first staged in May 2010, there was a natural choice as to who could be the "face" of the event and promote the VELUX EHF FINAL4 across Europe: Swedish handball legend Stefan Lövgren.

Throughout the 2009/2010 season, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Ambassador, Stefan Lövgren, was busy travelling across the continent to numerous handball events and EHF Champions League matches promoting the event to Europe’s handball fans.

The former star player, who retired from professional handball a year ago from the champion club, THW Kiel, had his enthusiasm confirmed with a spectacular first edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. As a result of this positive cooperation, Stefan Lövgren is back again as the Ambassador for the next edition of the VELUX EHF FINAl4.

To eurohandball.com, Stefan Lövgren confirms that he is just as enthusiastic as ever to continue his job and reach out to even more fans and bring them to the next VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne.

eurohandball.com: Looking back to the first ever VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, what memories do you have of the event?

Stefan Lövgren: Without a doubt, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 was a fantastic event and a huge success! I’m really happy because whoever I meet gives me positive feedback. Whenever I talk to players, to clubs and, most importantly, the fans they are all enthusiastic in their support for this new event. In fact this is the best promotion for the event – word of mouth as fans tell each other and create even more interest in the 2011 event. We can already see this with the huge demand for tickets.

eurohandball.com: Were you also satisfied with the quality of the games – I’m asking you now as a handball expert?

Stefan Lövgren: When did it ever happen before that you could watch so many top-class games over a single weekend? It was the first time ever! The intensity of the matches was fantastic and all of them were highly exciting. We really had four of the very best teams playing in Cologne and as a sports fan you can’t ask for anything more.

eurohandball.com: What is your personal goal in connection with the 2011 VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4?

Stefan Lövgren: In the next months I will talk to fans and clubs and I will ask for even more feedback. Though I was really satisfied with the first edition, some improvements are always possible and necessary. Also, I will try to reach even more people before next May and I will promote our event to an ever wider public.

eurohandball.com: You’ve retired from top level handball. How do you feel about it a year later?

Stefan Lövgren: You know, I tried to stay inside handball and I found quite a nice solution for that… I’m still spending 24 hours a day with handball as I am involved in a number of different activities. I enjoy teaching handball at the academy where I work and I also commentate for Swedish television. So I’m more than happy because my life inside handball continues.

Honours: Stefan Lövgren

Club titles

• 5-times Swedish champion with Redbergslid Göteborg
• 3-times Swedish player of the year in 1996, 2001 and 2003)
• 7-times German champion
• 4-times German Cup winner
• 3-times DHB Supercup winner in 2005, 2007 and 2008
• EHF Champions League Winner in 2007
• EHF Champions League runner-up in 2000, 2008 & 2009
• EHF Cup Winner in 2002, 2004
• EHF Champions Trophy Winner in 2007

National team titles

• Over 1,100 goals for Sweden in 230 games
• World Championship MVP in 1999 and 2001
• All-Star Team member at the European Championship in 2002
• All-Star Team member at the Olympic Games in 2000
• European Champion in 1994, 1998, 2000 und 2002
• World Championship medallist: 1995 (bronze), 1997 (silver), 1999 (gold) and 2001 (Silver)
• Olympic silver medallist in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000)