14.10.2013, 04:57
Gudmundsson becomes new Danish national team coach

NEWS REPORT: The 52-year-old Icelander Gudmundur Gudmundsson is going to be the new coach of Denmark's men's national team. He will be replacing Ulrik Wilbek who steps down at the end of this season, focusing on his role as sports director of the Danish Handball Federation

Gudmundsson becomes new Danish head coach

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Gudmundur Gudmundsson was introduced as new national coach of Denmark.

Gudmundsson, who is the head coach of German Bundesliga club and VELUX EHF Champions League participants Rhein-Neckar Löwen, joins the DHF on a three-year contract beginning on 1 July 2014.

The 52-year-old Icelander is no stranger to Danish handball, as he has coached Danish top club GOG (until 2010) and also worked as sports director for AG København.

Gudmundsson also enjoyed a successful career as national coach of Iceland, his greatest achievement being the silver medal his team won at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

"He is a former national coach, he has a brilliant CV, he speaks Danish, he has fine results as Icelandic national coach, including Olympic silver and a bronze at a European Championship (2010), and he is a different type compared to me," said Ulrik Wilbek who, as the Danish Handball Federation's coming sports director, said about his successor.

"I was honoured by being offered this job by the Danish Handball Fedeation, but it was also a difficult decision for me to accept it, as I am also really happy with my current job in Rhein-Neckar Löwen," said Gudmundsson at the press conference.

"However, I feel that this was the right decision, and I hope it will turn out to be good for Danish handball also.

"I realise that succeeding Ulrik Wilbek is a big challenge, but I hope to be able to provide good results for Denmark in the future."

The 55-year-old Ulrik Wilbek has been in charge of the Danish men's national team since March 2005. Prior to that he very successfully coached the Danish women's team.

With the men's team, his greatest triumphs so far have been winning the EHF EURO 2008 and 2012. He also led the Danes to silver medals at the  World Championships 2011 and 2013 as well as to bronze medals at the EHF EURO 2006 and at the World Championship 2007.

In future, he is going to focus on the role as sports director in the Danish Handball Federation, as function he has had since the early autumn of 2012, alongside being the men's team's coach.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / ts