15.05.2008, 04:02
Viborg win title and find new coach

The 2006 CL winners leave a busy period behind: Viborg won the Danish League and found their new coach. Ryde's former assistant was promoted to coach the team.

Viborg win title and find new coach 

Viborg HK won the 11th Danish championship of their history. They won the final of the play-offs at home against Ikast/Bording by 34-27.

After Viborg had eliminated Slagelse in the semi-finals and Ikast knocked FCK Håndbold out, Viborg and Ikast were ready for the finals. Both teams are also qualified for the Champions League next season.

Viborg won the first game by 32-27 at home, but Ikast managed to win by six goals at home – 30-24.

Compensation for the CL

“It is a fantastic feeling. It was a great game and it feels fantastic to win after so close finals! Finishing with a gold medal is also a good compensation for failing to win the Champions League,” said left winger and former Danish international, Christina Roslyng Christiansen. She played her last matches at top level.

“This is probably the most awesome Danish championship I have ever seen. We won the title after such close matches and Viborg Stadionhal is simply the greatest handball hall in the world,” found Rikke Skov who was top scorer together with Bojana Popovic. Both scored 8 goals.

Assistant coach promoted

Viborg have found the man who will succeed Tomas Ryde at the end of the season.

As many guessed, the new head coach is former assistant coach, Jakob Vestergaard. His assistant will be former Viborg player and currently Skive HK coach, Mette Klit.

“Jakob Vestergaard is a modern, highly professional and extremely competent handball coach, with great personality. Jakob has gained a lot of experience from the Danish league and from the Champions League. We find it extremely positive that the right man proved to be ‘in house’ already,” Viborg´s sports director, Torben Østergaard said, as the contract with Vestergaard was officially confirmed.

Announcing changes

“Of course I will use the experience I got with Tomas, but the players will undoubtedly feel that they have a new boss. My style is more controlling and I’m going to give priority to physical trainings, while I also want to make my mark on the way we play.

“We will have to become more mobile in defence. Our attacking play will have to be more team-orientated and the counter-attacks also need to be stronger,” said Jakob Vestergaard, who has been with Viborg HK since December 2006. Before then he was assistant coach of Ikast/Bording EH.

TEXT: Peter Bruun