Vestergaard to leave Oltchim

Danish coach Jakob Vestergaard, who led CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea to this year’s Women’s EHF Champions League’s Semi-Finals, has announced he will leave the club at the end of this season.

Oltchim has already been crowned champion of the national league for the 19^th time in the club’s history, but the Romanian powerhouse is starting to lose its best players. The announcement that Vestergaard, an integral part of the team, will leave follows the departure of Ionela Stanca and Allison Pineau in the last two months.

According to the Romanian club, the 38-year-old Dane wants to return to his country of birth for personal reasons, largely to spend more time with his family. However, he will still lead Oltchim in their last two matches of the Romanian league this season, which will be played in the second week of May.

The two-time winner of the Women’s EHF Champions League (with Viborg in 2009 and 2010) is very appreciative of his time in Râmnicu Vâlcea, where he became a fan favourite. Oltchim has won 29 matches from the 32 played with Vestergaard at the helm.

“Romanian handball is wonderful and has a lot of opportunities. Oltchim was an enjoyable experience and we hoped to qualify for the final (of the EHF Champions League), but that’s handball,” stated Vestergaard to Romanian newspaper Prosport.

“We thank Jakob for his service and wish him the best of luck in his endeavours,” was Oltchim’s official position regarding the departure.