20.12.2007, 04:30
Viborg appoint new sports director

While Torben Østergaard has been appointed for the vacant sports director position of the women's team, left winger Gitte Aaen signs new contract with the club.

Viborg appoint new sports director

Viborg HK appoint new sports director. As Eurohandball.com reported earlier, current sports director, Michael Hansen, will leave the club for another job from the New Year. His successor was found inside the club: current sports director of the men’s club, Torben Østergaard, will take over the job for the entire club as of 1 January.

This means that Torben Østergaard will be responsible for the strategy around the team, as well as for signing new players and contracts.

Two managers wanted

With the new responsibilities of Torben Østergaard, Viborg HK will make changes in the structure of the club. Østergaard is going to be assisted by two managers – one responsible for the women and one for the men. They will be in charge of their respective teams in close cooperation with the head coaches, Tomas Ryde and Søren Hildebrand.

The two managers will also be in charge of scouting and improving new talents. They will be appointed later.

“I am glad that we promoted Torben Østergaard to sports director. We know him very well and we also know his qualities,” Viborg’s managing director Peter Cassøe said about the nomination of Østergaard.

"His great knowledge about handball as well his financial qualification guarantee that he is the right man to be in charge of our league teams,” Peter Cassøe added.

Gitte Aaen stays with Viborg

Meanwhile, 26-year old left winger of the women’s team, Gitte Aaen, extended her contract. The new agreement is valid until the summer of 2010.

Gitte Aaen played 9 international matches for Denmark so far. She joined Viborg from another Danish league club, Frederikshavn Fox in the summer of 2006. Since then she matured into an important player for Viborg – not least this season when the regular left winger, Henriette Mikkelsen, is on maternity leave.

Great development

“Gitte Aaen has gone through a great development with us, and I think she possesses such great qualities that she ought to be a regular player in the Danish national team,” Viborg’s sports director, Michael Hansen, said.

“At the same time Gitte is a really nice girl and she is extremely focused and determined to train hard. We are really happy that she is going to stay in the club for the coming years,” Michael Hansen added.

“Viborg is a great club with ambition to win everything. Of course this is my ambition too. I feel fine in the town Viborg and I also like to be part of this team,” Gitte Aaen said when her new contract was announced.

“I reached an age when things have to be perfect. In Viborg there is a really great environment and a professional attitude that you probably won’t find in any other club. Things simply work here,” she added.

TEXT: Peter Bruun