21.09.2011, 09:00
Mix of talent and experience

Women’s EHF Champions League countdown, part 7: FC Midtjylland (DEN)

Mix of talent and experience

It took seven long years to raise another trophy, but then FC Midtjylland could celebrate two cups only within three weeks.

Three years after changing the name from Ikast to Midtjylland and playing under the umbrella of the well-known football club, the women’s handball team played their most successful season since 1998 when they became Danish champions and winners of the European City-Cup.

In 2011 it was nearly the same story – but an even more difficult attempt, as top stars like Gro Hammernseng and Katja Nyberg just had returned to Norway.

First FCM won the all Danish EHF Cup final against Holstebro in May, then Midtjylland finished the final series of the Danish league successfully against Randers and became national champions for the second time in their club history.

But despite this success coach Kenneth Jensen was dismissed and replaced by another highly successful Dane: Ryan Zinglersen, who had coached several Danish and international teams including Hypo Niederösterreich and German men’s Bundesliga team Melsungen before.

But not only the coach changed, also some experienced players left FCM before the upcoming season: Isabel Blanco (to Larvik) and Tonje Nostvold (to FCM’s Group Phase opponent Byåsen) returned to their mother country Norway, Alette Stang signed in Aalborg.

But Midtjylland grabbed their chances to sign two Danish national team players from Arhus: Gitte Brögger Led and Maibritt Kviesgaard, member of the All Star team of the EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark and Norway.

Also the Dutch talent Nycke Groot arrived in Ikast from their EHF Cup final opponent Holstebro.

The current squad is a mix of on the one hand highly talented Danish youth and junior players, who won several titles and medals in the last years in all youth competitions and on the other hand experienced players from Denmark and abroad.

One key figure is Swedish shooter Linnea Torstensson, awarded Most Valuable Player of the EHF EURO 2010, aside the Danish internationals Trine Troelsen and Laerke Möller.

Also their superb goalkeeper couple Ingrid Ödegaard (NOR) and Sabine Englert (GER) are keys to success.

In the preparation phase for the upcoming season Midtjylland won the highly ranked tournament in Wittlich (GER), taking the trophy ahead of current EHF Champions League title holders Larvik HK.

In Midtjylland’s club history the best result in the EHF Women’s Champions League was reaching the semi-finals in 2003, but aside of that Midtjylland won four European Cups since 1997.

Three questions to coach Ryan Zinglersen

Ryan Zinglersen: We feel great euphoria in and around Ikast since we qualified for the EHF Champions League.

It is our objective to reach the Danish finals again, at least to proceed to the Main Round of the EHF Champions League and then if possibly further on. But we know that we have to face tough opponents.

Even as German champions Thüringer HC are debutants in the EHF Champions League, it is always difficult to face a team coached by Herbert Müller.

Buducnost is a class of their own – and it will be very special for all our fans to see Bojana Popovic again, who left enormous footprints in Denmark.

And even as we know that it is terribly hard to play in Podgorica we are looking forward to this atmosphere. And Byasen is also tough to beat.

We have a huge number of young players in our squad, who never played in the EHF Champions League before, but I am sure that we can stand the pressure.

I think we can prove why we represent the Danish league in this competition.

Ryan Zinglersen: It is absolutely incredible for the club, the players and our fans to be among the 16 best teams of Europe.

We are really looking forward to this season as to play EHF Women’s Champions League always means something special.

It is a great experience for all of us to face the best players in the world.

Ryan Zinglersen: We played the tournament with all European Cup winners of last season in Hungary and I was really impressed by the performing level of Györ.

But I believe that Larvik – despite the loss of Heidi Löke – can catch up with them.

Another contender for the semi-finals will be Viborg, even as they had to pass through qualification.

Valcea and Volgograd might be two more candidates – and I have the hope that we can be among those top four teams, but we need some time to see where we stand.

Club facts – FC Midtjylland (DEN)

Newcomers: Gitte Brøgger Led (SK Århus), Maibritt Kviesgaard (SK Århus), Nycke Groot (Team Tvis/Holstebro), Louise Svalastog (KIF Vejen)

Left the club: Tonje Nöstvold (Byåsen/NOR), Isabel Blanco (Larvik/NOR), Alette Stang (Aalborg DH)

Coach: Ryan Zinglersen, since 2011 (before Kenneth Jensen)

Qualification for the 2011/2012 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Danish champions

EHF Women’s Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 6
Semi-finalist: 2002/03
Quarter-finals: 1998/99, 2004/05
Main Round: 2008/09
Group Phase: 2003/04

Other EC records:
Cup Winners Cup Winner: 2003/04, Semi-finalist: 1999/00
EHF Cup Winner: 2001/02, 2010/11, Finalist: 2006/07, Semi-finalist: 2007/08
City Cup Winner: 1997/87, Finalist: 1996/97, Semi-finalist: 1994/95

Danish champion: 1998, 2011
Danish Cup winner: 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001

Further information

Find more information on FC Midtjylland HERE.

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TEXT: Björn Pazen