30.05.2014, 04:10
The world of handball gathers at Cologne

NEWS FEATURE: Players, legends, stars and officials are eagerly awaiting the start of the VELUX EHF FINAL4

The world of handball gathers at Cologne

Cologne is the place to be for everybody involved in top handball for this weekend. The fifth edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 brings together fans, teams, current and former stars, official and all major stakeholders of handball.

The list of handball stars and top names is long, starting from the full executive board of the European Handball Federation, headed by President Jean Brihault, Vice President Arne Elovsson, Treasurer Ralf Dejaco and Secretary General Michael Wiederer.

Additionally the leadership of the International Handball Federation is present in Cologne: IHF President Hassan Moustafa, Vice-President Miguel Roca and Treasurer Sandi Sola. Aside, the Presidents of a huge number of National Federations like Ivan Vetesi (Hungary) and Bernhard Bauer (Germany) will be in the LANXESS Arena this weekend.

But the list of former and current handball stars is even more impressive: Three times world and four times EHF EURO champion Staffan Olsson (Sweden), who is Swedish national team coach now, former World Handball Player of the Year, Daniel Stephan (Germany, now working as a TV expert for German TV channel Sport 1), Danish record international Lars Christiansen, German legends Stefan Kretzschmar and Oliver Roggisch, former Danish international Nicolaj Jacobsen (coach of Aalborg, who will take over Rhein Neckar Löwen next season), 1978 world champion Kurt Klühspies (now representative of adidas), German female record international Grit Jurack (now ambassador of the project “Handball Stars Go School” in Germany) or former German international Frank von Behren (now TV expert for Eurosport).

The biggest name of others sports present in Cologne, is football legend and by now team captain of FCB, Carles Puyol, world and European champion with Spain and three times winner of the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona, who will together with Barca board member Eduard Coll - support the handball team of FCB.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / br