THW Kiel eyes new beginning after worst season in 23 years

After a disappointing season that saw THW Kiel miss out on European competition for the first time in 33 years, the storied German handball club is embarking on a significant rebuilding phase. The team's sixth-place finish in the 2025/26 season marked its poorest performance in over two decades, prompting a change in leadership.

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We want to get back into an international competition, and we can achieve that if we deliver what's inside us.

Börge Lund, a former THW player, takes the helm as the new head coach, succeeding Filip Jicha who was dismissed in June. Lund, the fourth coach in 33 years, inherits a squad bolstered by four new signings. These include returning right-winger Jarnes Faust, national player Julian Köster, Vincent Büchner, and playmaker Domen Makuc. The club's supervisory board chairman, Kai Kruse, expressed confidence in the new lineup, stating that a healthy team would be a formidable opponent.

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You are at your best when you are yourself.

The financial impact of missing European tournaments has been addressed through a capital increase by shareholders. As the "Zebras" prepare for their league opener against Lemgo on August 27, they will face a final test against Hungarian club Pick Szeged. The club also plans a special farewell for former coach Jicha on September 12.

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If this team stays reasonably healthy, it will be difficult for any team to beat them.