New coach to guide Randers through tough group

A new coach, several new players, a new director (Per Rasmussen) and the hope to proceed: this is the base of Randers HK ahead of their second straight participation in the Women’s EHF Cup Group Phase.

Last year only one goal was missing to make it to the semi-finals, this time the former Danish champions have high hurdles to take ahead already in the group phase as they face French champions Brest, Kuban Krasnodar (Russia) and SCM Craiova (Romania).

Niels Agesen was coach of Nykøbing when the Danish club eliminated Randers in the EHF Cup Quarter-finals last season – and later won the domestic league. Now Agesen is the new head coach of Randers after succeeding Ryan Zinglersen. He leads one of three Danish sides in the group phase.

Apart from aiming for a top eight ranking in the domestic league, Agesen hopes to gain international experience.

“We were drawn into a very tough group. Kuban is the favourite to win in my opinion, but both Brest and Craiova are strong teams with many international players,” says Agesen, adding that another Russian side, Lada, are his main favourites to lift the trophy. “I think we can learn a lot from playing against such great teams.”

Randers HK (DEN)

Qualification for EHF Cup Group Phase 2017/18: Round 3, 22:23, 26:23 against BNTU-BelAZ Minsk (BLR)

Newcomers: Mathilde Juncker (SK Aarhus), Rikke Thorngaard (Randers HK juniors), Lærke Christensen (SK Aarhus), Cecilie Hansen (Ringkøbing), Anne Sofie Hjort (SK Aarhus), Martina Thörn (FC Midtjylland), Sara Johansson (Sweden)

Left the club: Kathrine Heindahl (Odense), Mie Højlund (Odense), Cecilie Greve (Nykøbing Falster), Lotte Vestergaard (end of career), Jovana Risovic (Hungary), Martine Moen (Norway)

Coach: Niels Agesen (since June 2017, successor of Ryan Zinglersen)

Team captain: Clara Monti

Opponents in group phase: Krasnodar, Brest and Craiova in Group A

Women’s EHF Champions League records:
Main Round: 2012/13
Group Phase: 2010/11, 2011/12

Other EC records:

Cup Winners’ Cup:
Last 16: 2011/12, 2014/15

EHF Cup:
Winner: 2009/10
Semi-final: 2015/16
Quarter-final: 2008/09, 2016/17

City-Cup:
Finalist: 1999/2000

Danish league: 2012
Danish cup: 2010