Newcomers Holstebro seeking international experience

Newcomers Holstebro seeking international experience

After three successful seasons in the EHF Cup, including their very first EHF Cup Final at Nantes in 2013, TTH Holstebro are ready for the next step in their development. This season will be their first adventure in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

“We are very proud to play against the best teams in Europe. We look forward to having close, intense matches and we will do everything we can to be a tough opponent. The Champions League will provide our club and the team with international experience. We will fight to make it to the next round,” says new club director John Mikkelsen; a former Holstebro player, who played 404 matches for TTH.

The biggest success for the club thus far was winning the EHF Cup with their women’s team and now, TTH Holstebro has high hopes in their maiden voyage in the men’s major club competition.

The squad of Patrick Westerholm and Sören Hansen underwent some changes prior to the season. In total, ten players left TTH, including cornerstones Swede Jonas Larholm and Anders Oechsler. Among the new arrivals are Swedish talent Victor Östlund, as well as Icelandic international Vignir Svavarsson.

Apart from building up a new team, TTH hopes to reach the Danish league play-offs and the Champions League Last 16, but to get their they will have to overcome the likes of Dinamo Bucuresti and HBC Nantes in Group D. “We hope to gain some international experience,” says team captain Peter Balling.

TTH Holstebro (DEN)

Qualification for the 2016/17 VELUX EHF Champions League season: runners-up in Denmark

Newcomers: Martin Hansen, Jonas Porup, Vignir Svavarsson, Kasper Kildelund, Anders Agger, Shadrach-Amie Nsoni, Viktor Östlund, Rasmus Lind

Left the club: Patrick Wiesmach, Anders Oechsler, Søren Tau, Jonas Hansen, Nicolai Neupart, Jonas Larholm, Sigurbergur Sveinsson, Mathias Bitsch, Frederik Ladefoged, Simon Gade

Coach: Patrick Westerholm, Sören Hansen (since June 2015)
Team captain: Peter Balling
 
Opponents in the group phase: Zaporozhye, Nantes, Besiktas, Bucuresti and ABC/UMinho in group D
 
VELUX EHF Champions League record:
Participations (including 2016/17 season): 1

Other EC record:
EHF Cup Final: ranked third 2012/13
Quarter-final: 2014/15
Group phase: 2015/16
EHF Cup Winners’ Cup: Quarter-final 2009/10

Danish champion: -
Danish Cup winner: 2008