Sweden put faith in 'Talent of the Year' Hannah Flodman

If Sweden are going to be successful at the Women´s 19 EHF EURO, starting next week in Celje, Slovenia, Hannah Flodman will probably need to be successful as well.

The 18-year-old left back is a key player for the Swedish side with the potential to become a future top player in Swedish and international handball.

“She has all the qualities which characterises an upcoming star player. She has the right spirit and training culture, she possesses a great and varied shot, and she is physically strong and just as good in the defence as in the attack,” says Swedish under-19 coach Ola Månsson.

Flodman has played the whole of the last season for top Swedish club VästeråsIrsta in Elitserien and is joining LUGI in Lund for the coming season, giving her plenty of senior experience.

“She sees that as a further step upwards in her career, and she may very well be right,” adds Månsson who is also head coach for Swedish women´s champions H 65 Höörs HK.

One of Sweden´s greatest talents ever

Flodman’s 86 goals for VästeråsIrsta last season were not the only reason for her LUGI contract. Her effective shooting also contributed to her being awarded Talent of the Year in Swedish women´s handball.

LUGI head coach Dragan Brljevic goes even further than just seeing her as the talent of this year.

“Hannah is one of the greatest talents ever in Swedish women´s handball. I am looking forward to being part of her further development,” he says.

Photo: Hannah Flodman in action at the Women's 17 EHF EURO 2015

Flodman herself is well aware what the last season at senior level has meant to her development.

“I have improved my defensive play in particular over the past year,” she says. “I have become better and reading the opponents and better at tackling.

She also reveals the secret to her shooting accuracy.

“When I was younger, my parents would use to hang hula hoops in the corners of the goal, for which I had to aim,” Flodman explains.

“I have also trained a lot with balls of various weight – light balls, normal balls and heavy balls, and that has helped me too,” she adds, adding that having played since the age of five is also a help.

A foreign career as next step

She admits that leaving Västerås, which has been her club all her life, has been a big step.

“From living with my parents to moving south and living in an apartment in Lund is a big change, but I have considered it to be necessary in order to take the next step in my career,” she says.

“There are still parts of my play I need to work on – my break-throughs, for instance, and I also still need to be stronger physically,” she adds.

But Flodman knows that in order to develop even further, she will need to travel abroad.

“I do want to play abroad and to be professional there. A club in Norway or Denmark might be a good place to start in that respect,” she concludes.