10.09.2015, 11:40
Maiden voyage for the young Scandinavians

The wait took 62 years - and it ended in spring 2015: For the first time since 1953, IFK Kristianstad became Swedish champions

Maiden voyage for the young Scandinavians

After ranking among the top teams in the Swedish league in the previous years and qualifying for the EHF Cup Group Phase two seasons ago, the team of former world and EHF EURO champion Ola Lindgren now is making their maiden voyage in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

For Lindgren it is his second appearance in this competition after being coach of German side Rhein Neckar Löwen.

And the coach counts on a young and almost all-Scandinavian squad, but success always causes interest from other clubs. So some cornerstones of the previous season like Markus Olsson, Magnus Dahl (both to Danish Champions League participant Skjern) or Jonathan Stenbäcken (Lemgo/Germany) left Kristianstad.

A new player with the most international experience is Iranian international Iman Jamali, who arrives on loan from 2015 Champions League finalist MKB Veszprem.

Thanks to the Swedish ranking in the EHF seeding list, Kristianstad will cruise into the Group Phase on their maiden voyage: Having their first ever Champions League match on home ground with the Scandinavian duel against their Danish counterparts Kolding, they will additionally face defending champions FC Barcelona, Kielce, Vardar Skopje, Szeged, Löwen and Montpellier in Group B.

Having the lack of international experience in mind, the targets are clearly set: “We are the newcomers and see our Champions League participation as an inspiring challenge in which we might gain some points on home ground.

We hope to arrange memorable home events in our arena and to entertain our fans with fast and creative handball,” club manager Nikolas Larsson says.

Kristianstad and their legendary mascot Krustis aim to have sold-out matches with 5000 fans. “Our group is a tough one with Barcelona and Kielce in the favourite role,” says Larsson, who in general expects that being part of the Champions League is “an important step for us in our ambition to grow and expand the club.”

Team captain Johan Jepson is looking forward to his first ever away game in the VELUX EHF Champions League in Barcelona on 26 September: “We have been drawn into a challenging group and as the captain and the oldest player it will be an honour and a challenge to lead the team in our first Champions League participation in our club’s history.”

IFK Kristianstad (SWE)

Qualification for the 2015/2016 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Swedish champions

Newcomers: Nebojsa Simic (HK Malmö), Inge Aas Eriksen (Stord), Richard Hanisch (Hamburg), Marcus Dahlin (Arendal), Iman Jamali (on loan from MKB Veszprem)

Left the club: Markus Olsson (Skjern), Jonathan Stenbäcken (Lemgo), Daniel Lindgren (Varberg), Dan Beutler (HK Malmö), Magnus Dahl (Skjern)
Coach: Ola Lindgren (since February 2012)

Opponents in the Group Phase: Barcelona, Kielce, Vardar, Kolding, Szeged, Löwen, Montpellier in Group B

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2015/2016 season): 1

EHF Cup
Group Phase: 2013/14

Swedish champions: 1950, 1952, 1953, 2015

TEXT: Björn Pazen / bc