03.09.2012, 07:20
Countdown part 1: THW Kiel

German titleholders look to defend Bundesliga and VELUX EHF Champions League trophies

COUNTDOWN PART 1: THW KIEL

Five titles in one season, a record for eternity in German Bundesliga with 34 victories in 34 matches and their third trophy in the VELUX EHF Champions League: The season 2011/12 was a remarkable milestone in the successful history of THW Kiel. The German record champions took the title in May in Cologne after beating Atletico Madrid in the final – and after winning this major club competition already in 2007 and 2010.

But now the “Zebras” have to cope and to adapt with major changes in their squad: Key player Kim Andersson (SWE) left to KIF Kolding in Denmark  after he had originally signed a contract at later-on bankrupt Danish side AG Kobenhavn. And Andersson, silver medallist at the Olympic Games in London, was one of the key figures at THW. His successor in the right back position is Serbian Marko Vujin, arriving from MKB Veszprem (HUN),  additionally Kiel signed three strong former Kobenhavn players.

The transfers of left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (ISL) and Rene Toft Hansen (DEN)  had been confirmed in an early stage of the previous season, right before the start of the new season, Kiel signed Olympic Games top scorer Niclas  Ekberg (SWE).

With this renewed squad coach Alfred Gislason is aiming high again: “It is always the objective of THW Kiel to win all possible titles. Our major aims  are to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and to become German champions again”, the Icelandic coach said. Even before the start of the VELUX EHF Champions League season - in which Kiel face Atletico already in the Group Stage – they defended their title of the German Super, however failed to repeat last year´s success at the IHF Super Globe in Doha, Qatar, after Atletico took revenge for their recent defeat in the final.

Hoping for sold outs and another trip to Cologne

Club manager Klaus Elwardt hopes that Cologne will be the final destination in the VELUX EHF  Champions League again. "We have quite tough opponents in the Group Stage, but this is good for  us  and our spectators. We hope that our arena will be sold out for every match of the VELUX EHF  Champions League, the ticket sale has started perfectly. 

"I think that Veszprem and Madrid are our major contenders in the fight to win this group. But like our squad, both teams are in a state of transition. So you have to wait and see which teams cope best with this situation.”

The team captain Marcus Ahlm also feels another spring trip to Cologne is more than expected: "It is our biggest objective to be part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in this season again. This is the biggest club handball event in the world and I have great memories of our participations in the LANXESS-Arena. In my opinion it is a coincidence that no defending champions were able to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in the upcoming season by now. We will try to change this series in this season.

"For our development and performances in the VELUX EHF Champions League it has always been an advantage to face strong teams already in the  Group Stage. Again our aim will be to reach a top position in our group, which then enables us to have a good base for the knock-out stage. Our  group is well-balanced, so it is hard to predict, which team will rank first in the end. But we will try to win all matches to finish as table-topper after  ten matches."

CLUB FACTS - THW Kiel (GER)

Coach: Alfred Gislason, since 2008

Qualification for the 2012/2013 VELUX EHF Champions League season: German champions

Newcomers (including former club): Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (AG Kobenhavn, DEN), Rene Toft  Hansen (AG Kobenhavn, DEN), Niclas Ekberg (AG Kobenhavn , DEN), Patrick Wiencek (VfL Gummersbach, GER), Marko Vujin (MKB Veszprem, HUN)

Left the club (including new club): Henrik Lundström (Redbergslids Göteborg, SWE), Kim Andersson (KIF Kolding, DEN), Tobias Reichmann (HSG Wetzlar, GER), Daniel Kubes (MT Melsungen, GER),  Milutin Dragicevic (HCM Constanta, ROU)

Season’s objective (in national league and VELUX EHF Champions League): To defend the German title and reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2012/2013 season): 16

Winner (3): 2006/2007, 2009/2010, 2011/2012

Final (3): 1999/2000, 2007/2008, 2008/2009

Semi Final (2): 1996/1997, 2000/2001

Quarterfinal (5): 1998/1999, 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2010/2011

Group Phase (2): 1994/1995, 1995/1996

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:

Winner 1997/1998, 2001/2002, 2003/2004

German champion: 17 (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 und 2012)
German Cup winner: 8 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 und 2012)

Further information

Find more information on THW Kiel HERE.

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TEXT: Bjorn Pazen