Countdown 13: IK Sävehof
Swedish side IK Sävehof were one of the biggest surprises in the past season, and they want to continue this pattern. The club from Partille is the only team to qualify directly for the Men’s VELUX EHF Champions League and Women's EHF Champions League, both teams became Swedish champions again, with the men’s team celebrating their hat-trick of titles after 2010 and 2011. New coach Magnus Johansson, successor of Mikael Franzén, made a big signing in Norwegian top talent Kent Robin Tønnesen. On the other side of things, Emil Berggren, one of their top scorers left to Bergischer 06 in Germany.
 Making it to the Last 16 and developing their young team are the major goals at Sävehof and they also plan to repeat good run at titles in Sweden.
Sävehof manager Peter Möller is looking forward to the new VELUX EHF Champions League season, but knows how good their opponents in the Group Phase will be: “We were placed in probably the best group with both finalists of the last season THW Kiel and Atlético Madrid and beside that we are in with top teams Veszprém and Celje.”
But team captain Robert Johansson is hoping for something positive against those top guns: “It will be a challenge to play against those really great clubs. We will fight to the end, we want to reach the Last 16.”
Three questions to coach Magnus Johansson:
ehfCL.com: What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League?
Magnus Johansson: To reach the knock-out stage you can see the difference in training we have put a lot of energy in to increase the fitness and strength training.
ehfCL.com: What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Magnus Johansson: We represent Sweden on the international stage. It is great to play against the best teams in Europe.
ehfCL.com: What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and why?
Magnus Johansson: THW Kiel and Atletico Madrid.
IK Sävehof (SWE)
Qualification for the 2012/2013 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Swedish Champion
Coach: Magnus Johansson, since May 2012, forerunner Mikael Franzén is new coach in Alingsås
Newcomers: Kristian Bliznac (Alingsås HK) Kent Robin Tønnesen (Haslum HK/Norway) plus six players from youth team
Left the club: Niclas Barud (Ålborg/Denmark), Anton Blickhammar (Falk/Norway), Emil Berggren (Bergischer 06/Germany), Robert Månsson (Malmö), Jesper Parker (end of career), Alen Kulenović (Bosnia), Erik Fritzon (end of career), Gabriel de Santis (Kristiansund/Norway)
 VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2012/2013 season): 5
Last 16 (2): 2004/2005, 2011/2012
Group Stage (2): 2005/2006, 2010/2011
Other EC records:
Challenge Cup
Semi-final 2002/2003
Swedish champion: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012
No cup competition in Sweden
Further information
Find more information on Sävehof HERE.
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TEXT: Björn Pazen / bc
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