Russia searching for new women’s team coach

The Council of the Handball Union of Russia voted in a meeting to recommend that the Ministry of Sports should not renew the contract of head coach Evgeny Trefilov. 

This recommendation is not binding for the minister, but already the Russian Handball Federation has released a job advertisement for a new coach to succeed Trefilov. Domestic and international coaches can apply for the women’s national team coach’s job up until 5 October.

After being eliminated in the Olympic quarter-finals in London by Korea, the Council of the Handball Union of Russia and representatives of Russian women’s top clubs unanimously voted for Evgeny Trefilov to be released from his contract.

Unhappy with the performance of the Russian team in London, the Council as put forward the recommendation that the federation’s coaching committee, heading by Vladimir Maximov, begins the search for a new national team coach.

An interim coach will be required as Russia continue their preparations for the Women’s EHF EURO in December with an international tournament in Denmark beginning of October 2012.

Successful career

Evgeny Trefilov was the Russian women’s national team coach for 13 years – and was “father” of the golden era with four world championship titles (2001, 2005, 2007, 2009), one Olympic silver medal in 2008 and an EHF EURO silver medal in 2006. He also added a men’s World Championshop gold in 1997 as assistant coach to Maximov.

Trefilov has also enjoyed considerable success as a club coach. First with Lada Togliatti, leading them to five Russian championships and the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2002. 

In 2006 he changed from Togliatti to Zvezda Zvenigorod. His new team won the Women’s EHF  Champions League in 2009, the EHF Cup in 2007 and several domestic trophies. 

In 2011 Trefilov returned to Togliatti and added another European Cup trophy by winning the EHF Cup in 2012.

New start for Russia

But his star has been in decline since 2010 – the Russian team has missed three semi-finals in a row – the usual goal of the Handball Union of Russia - first at the EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark and Norway, then at the 2011 World Championship in Brazil and now at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

The committee criticized Trefilov on the one hand for nominating too many players from his own club Togliatti and on the other for his behaviour on the bench towards players and officials during the games.

In spring the Handball Union of Russia changed the men’s national team coach and installed the duo Alexander Rymanov and Oleg Kuleshov as successors to coaching legend Maximov, who resigned after Russia missed the main round at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia and thereby missed the last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games.