11.10.2012, 06:20
Russia name new head coach

Vitaly Krokhin will mastermind the women's national team at EHF EURO 2012

Russia name new head coach

A long era had come to an end after the London 2012 Olympic Games as after nearly 13 years the contract of Evgeny Trefilov as Russian women’s team coach was not been extended as his team had missed three straight semi-finals at major tournaments.

Several coaches - Russian and international - applied to become Trefilov's successor after a jury of the Handball Union of Russia had put out a job ad.

On Wednesday, 10 October, the federation announced their decision: Vitaly Krokhin will coach the team at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia.

Krokhin had been the interim coach of the team at the Golden League tournament in Denmark, where the Russians finished second.

He is one of the most experienced Russian women’s coaches. He started his career, first as a player then as a coach, in Krasnodar, leading club SKIF to the titles in the Soviet championship and in the IHF Cup.

In the mid-1990s, Krokhin moved to the Rostov women’s club, before coaching several other teams.

Some years ago Krokhin formed the Zvezda Zvenigorod team, first led it from the second to the first league and in his first season Zvezda finished third straight away.

Later Krokhin became assistant of new head coach Evgeny Trefilov and became Russian champion, cup winner and took the title in the EHF Champions League in 2008.

In the 2011/12 season Krokhin was member of the coaching staff of Russian championship runners-up Rostov.

Furthermore Krokhin had also been Trefilov’s assistant in the “golden years” of the Russian women’s team with two world championship titles and the Olympic silver medal in 2008.

Now Krokhin is the head coach of the national team. Having signed him, the Russian Handball Federation is currently looking for an assistant.

For more EHF EURO 2012 news go to www.ehf-euro.com

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TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts