Martin Schwalb becomes the new coach at HC Erlangen – promotion in sight?

Martin Schwalb becomes the new coach at HC Erlangen – promotion in sight?

Handball is in full swing and a significant change is coming: Martin Schwalb, a well-known name in German handball, has been appointed as the new coach of Bundesliga club HC Erlangen. The 61-year-old former national player succeeds Johannes Sellin, who was unable to achieve the desired success as a coach. HC Erlangen is currently at the bottom of the table and finds itself in a precarious situation.

The decision was not without reason. The club announced that Schwalb had spontaneously agreed to steer the club through this turbulent phase. HC Erlangen already had major problems last season, which was characterized by a weak second half of the season and an unconvincing preparation. After four defeats in a row at the start of the new season, the threat to the season's goals was an alarming sign for those responsible.

Experience and success in handball

Martin Schwalb is no stranger to handball. He has served in various roles in the handball field and has extensive experience. After his active career, he was successful as a coach, including at the Rhein-Neckar Löwen and HSV Hamburg. At the former, he was able to work as a coach in the 2020-2021 season, while his time at HSV spanned several years and was crowned with significant successes, including championships and cup successes. Schwalb brought the European Championship title to Germany in 2016 as a member of the national team and can look back on an impressive career.

Interestingly, Schwalb had only given up his position as vice president of HSV Hamburg in August, where he had also worked on rebuilding the team after bankruptcy. This return to coaching is also a step towards applying your expertise and the knowledge you have gained in a critical phase.

The handball coach also gained additional notoriety through a health challenge when he suffered a heart attack in the summer of 2014. Despite these setbacks, Schwalb never gave up and continued to pursue his passion for the sport, making him an inspirational figure.

Objectives and future of HC Erlangen

As the club's management stated, Schwalb was given a two-year contract, which not only promises stability for the coming period, but also reflects belief in his abilities. An immediate goal he wants to achieve is to get the team into calmer waters by the end of the year. The first test for Schwalb is on Wednesday, when he will be on the sidelines in the cup game in Bayreuth against old champions Gummersbach.

Although Sellin has lost his position as head coach, he will remain with the club in another role as part of the coaching team. This is an interesting twist that suggests that HC Erlangen wants to use the strengths of everyone involved to bring the team to a better sporting position.

Overall, Schwalb's return as coach of HC Erlangen could represent a decisive turning point for the club. The next few months will show whether the former national player will manage to lead the team out of the current crisis and perhaps even bring it back to the top places in the table. The fans and those responsible at HC Erlangen can be curious to see how the situation will develop, because handball lovers can hope for an exciting time.