Eggert’s arrival boosts Skjern’s hopes

For the fourth time ever, Skjern Handball will be taking part in the EHF Champions League. Indeed, for the first time since 2004, the Danish runners-up hope to make it to the Last 16.

One reason for the confidence this season, which is the 25th anniversary season of the club (the club was founded in 1992), is the addition of a 2014 VELUX EHF Champions League winner to their squad: Anders Eggert.

Three questions before the new season:

What has Skjern learnt from their last Champions League experience two years ago?

After a 12 years absence from the competition, Skjern were back in the 2015/16 season , just a short while after playing in the EHF Cup 2014/15 in Berlin, where they finished third.

Two years ago, the Danes made it to the group phase knockout, but were eliminated by Meshkov Brest.

As they are already familiar with two of their opponents for this season from that season, namely, Elverum and Schaffhausen, Skjern hope to go further this year.

The squad is nearly all Scandinavian players - is this an advantage?

Besides the Serbian international Tibor Ivanisevic, all the Skjern players come from Scandinavian countries:  Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and even the Faroe Islands.

In terms of the benefits this may have for communication, team identity, and playing cohesively in a typical Scandinavian style, coach Ole Nørgaard may be on to something.  

Will Skjern make it to the Last 16?

The squad is well-balanced, with some young guns, and some experienced stars such as new team captain Bjarte Myrhol or the new arrival Anders Eggert.

A crucial factor will be how the new arrivals fit in, and replace players such as Sören Pedersen or Lasse Mikkelsen.

While Skjern are among one of the three or four favourites to win their group, they would face a major hurdle in the group phase knockout, where they could meet a tough team such as Montpellier or Zaporozhye.

Making it to the Last 16 is possible, but difficult.

“We do not fear any of the teams in our group, but we have, naturally, respect for all the teams, who have a lot of experience from earlier Champions Leagues participation,” says captain Myrhol.

Under the spotlight: Anders Eggert

Anders Eggert has returned home to Denmark. Indeed, it is not his first time playing for Skjern, as his 11-year stint at SG Flensburg-Handewitt was interrupted by the 2008/09 season, which he spent on loan to Skjern.

This 2012 EURO champion, top-scorer and silver medalist at the 2013 World Championship, EURO runner-up in 2014, and 2014 Champions League winner is a goal machine from the left wing position and the seven metre line.

His signing has given a major boost of interest in Skjern. Indeed, in the 2018/19 season, another current Flensburg top star will join Eggert: the playmaker Thomas Mogensen.

Self-esteem

After getting a taste of the Champions League two years ago, and after gaining more international talent, Skjern are ready to take the next step: clinching a berth in the Last 16.

“We are looking forward to the challenges,” says coach Ole Nørgaard, who expects a huge number of physically strong players in group C.

In general, “being a part of Champions League attracts players, sponsors, and makes our municipality proud.”

Team captain Myrhol, who had played in Germany for a long time before, the composition of the group is interesting from one aspect:

“Some journeys in Europe can take a lot time, which gives less time for recovery. On this point I think, we have been lucky this year. The clubs and places Skjern Handball are visiting, seem to be fine.”

Fun fact

If you have two players with the same name, it might be a family affair - in the case of Skjern’s Konradssons it is definitely not.

Centre back Jesper Konradsson is Skjern’s new arrival from Sweden, (Alingsas), while left back Tandri Mar Konradsson is from Iceland.

What the numbers say

Since the implementation of the current playing system in 2009/10, the Last 16 has only once been without a Danish team (2015/16), and in most cases, there were two Danish sides who reached this stage of the competition.

Thus, the statistics and history can give Skjern and indeed, Danish champions Aalborg, some hope.

Skjern Handball (DEN)

Qualification for the 2017/18 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Danish runners-up

Newcomers: Anders Eggert (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Emil Nielsen (Århus Håndbold), Jonathan Stenbäcken (TBV Lemgo), Jesper Konradsson (Alingsås HK), Christoffer Cichosz        (Mors-Thy Håndbold), Mathias Gliese, Mads Houmøller (both Skjern youth team)

Left the club: Søren Pedersen (Aalborg Håndbold), Emil Bergholt (TM Tønder Håndbold), Morten Balling (Skanderborg Håndbold), Jesper Dahl (Nordsjælland Håndbold), Lasse Mikkelsen (MT Melsungen), Thomas Klitgaard, Magnus Dahl, Daniel Svensson (all retired)

Coach: Ole Nørgaard

Team captain: Bjarte Myrhol

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2017/18 season): 4

Last 16 (1): 2003/04

Group Phase (2): 1999/2000, 2015/16

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:

Semi-final 2006/07, 2014/15 (third ranked at the EHF Cup Finals)

Cup Winners Cup:

Quarter-final 2005/06

EHF Challenge Cup:

Winners 2001/02, 2002/03

Danish champion: 1999

Danish Cup:  3 titles (1999, 2014, 2016)