SG Flensburg-Handewitt explained

Clubname:SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Fullname:Spielgemeinschaft Flensburg-Handewitt
Short Name:SGFH
Ground:Flens-Arena, Flensburg
Capacity:6,300
Chairman:Holger Glandorf
Manager:Aleš Pajovič
League:Handball-Bundesliga
Season:2023–24
Position:3rd of 18
Website:https://www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.de/
Colour1:Navy
Colour2:Red
Pattern La1:_redborder
Pattern B1:_redcollar
Pattern Ra1:_redborder
Pattern Sh1:_redsides
Leftarm1:151550
Body1:151550
Rightarm1:151550
Shorts1:151550
Pattern La2:_redborder
Pattern B2:_redcollar
Pattern Ra2:_redborder
Pattern Sh2:_redsides
Shorts2:151550

SG Flensburg-Handewitt is a professional handball club from Flensburg and Handewitt in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Currently, they compete in the Handball-Bundesliga and EHF European League. They play home matches at Flens-Arena. Since forming in 1990, the club has been one of Germany's most successful teams domestically and in European tournaments. The club is best known for winning the EHF Champions League in 2014 by defeating arch-rivals THW Kiel in the final 30–28.

History

SG Flensburg-Handewitt was created in 1990 following a merger of the handball divisions of TSB Flensburg and Handewitter SV.[1] The first season of the club (1990–1991) took place in the 2. Handball-Bundesliga, with SG finishing in fourth position under Zvonimir Serdarušić. In 1992, they were promoted to the top division as SG Flensburg-Handewitt for the first time, winning every league fixture. In their first season in the top-flight, SG finished sixteenth, though they were spared relegation due to the liquidation of TSV Milbertshofen. The following year, under the leadership of Anders Dahl-Nielsen, SG were fourth and from that point, equalled that placement or better in each season until the 2008/09 season.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt acquired their first major trophy with the 1996/1997 EHF Cup by defeating Danish side Virum-Sorgenfri HK 52–42 on aggregate in the final. Three consecutive DHB-Pokal titles (2003/04 vs TUSEM Essen, 2004/05 vs HSV Hamburg, and 2005/06 vs THW Kiel) followed, as did success in the league, with a championship victory in the 2003/04 season. Flensburg defeated HSG Nordhorn-Lingen at Flens-Arena in round 33 to secure their very first title with a game to spare. Slovenian club RK Celje did however, prevent a third trophy that year for SG by winning the 2003-04 EHF Champions League final against them. The 2004-05 and 2005-06 league campaigns both saw Flensburg finish second behind THW Kiel. In 2007, SG once again lost the Champions League final, this time they were defeated by "Landesderby" rivals THW Kiel.

In 2010, former player Ljubomir Vranjes became the new coach and it was under him that SG Flensburg-Handewitt won the EHF Champions League final at their third attempt, beating THW Kiel 30–28 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. During Vranjes' time as coach of SG, they also won the DHB-Pokal for a fourth time, beating SC Magdeburg on penalties. Maik Machulla took over from Vranjes as head coach in 2017, and consecutive league titles (their second and third successes) followed in the 2017/18 and 2018/2019 campaigns. The 2017/18 title was secured on the final day of the season with a 22–21 victory over Frisch Auf Göppingen. The following year, SG once again took the title on the final day, winning 27–24 away at Bergischer HC. Machulla was sacked in April 2023 after Flensburg lost three vital matches in just eight days. They were defeated 38–31 by Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the DHB-Pokal semi-finals, 35–27 at Flens-Arena by BM Granollers in the EHF European League quarter-finals, and then 29–19 by THW Kiel in the Nordderby in a crucial Handball-Bundesliga game. In the 2023-24 season with Nicolej Krickau as head coach, Flensburg missed out on qualification for the 2024-25 EHF Champions League by finishing 3rd in the Handball-Bundesliga. They were also defeated in the semi-finals of the DHB-Pokal by MT Melsungen, though they were victorious in the 2023-24 EHF European League final, defeating Füchse Berlin.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt holds a reputation as being a perennial "second-place" club – with three league titles the team has also finished runner-up fourteen times. In addition to this, they reached each of the seven DHB-Pokal finals between 2011 and 2017, losing six of them. The club has however, won all the competitions it has participated in at least once except the IHF Super Globe, and it is the only club to have won four different European Cups (one EHF Champions League, two EHF Cup Winners' Cup, two EHF European League titles and one EHF European Cup in addition to several finals), as well as the three different German national competitions (three German championships, four DHB-Pokal and three DHB-Supercup).

Due to their proximity to Scandinavia, SG typically have top international players from Denmark, Sweden and Norway in their squad. Danish right winger Lasse Svan became the club's all-time leading appearance maker during the 2021/22 season, overtaking legendary left winger and fellow Dane Lars Christiansen. At the most recent World Men's Handball Championship, the victorious Danish squad featured six Flensburg players.

Club information

Kit manufacturers

scope=col style="color:white; background:#000080"Periodscope=col style="color:white; background:#000080"Kit manufacturer
–2013 Hummel
2013–2023 Erima
2023– Hummel

Supporters

There are four official fan clubs of SG Flensburg-Handewitt. The largest is called "Hölle Nord" (Hell North). The other three are called "Die Wikinger" (The Vikings), "Nordlichter" (Northern Lights) and the "Alte Garde" (The Old Guard).[2] Club songs include "Hier regiert Flensburg-Handewitt" by Andreas Fahnert and "Unvergleichliches".

Cooperations

SG Flensburg-Handewitt have sporting partnerships with SønderjyskE Herrehåndbold, VfL Lübeck-Schwartau, Lugi Handboll, DHK Flensborg and Flensburg Academy.

Rivalries

The main rival of SG Flensburg-Handewitt is fellow Schleswig-Holstein side THW Kiel. The two clubs compete in the "Nordderby" and have regularly and closely fought for national championships and in finals of the DHB-Pokal. As of May 2022, 106 matches have been contested between the two sides, with THW winning 64 and SG with 38 victories.[3]

The other rival of SG is HSV Hamburg. Due to HSV's financial issues and subsequent license removal, Flensburg and Hamburg did not play each other for more than five years until the rivalry was renewed in October 2021 when SG won 33–27 in Hamburg.

Attendances

scope=col style="color:white; background:#000080"Seasonscope=col style="color:white; background:#000080"Average
2011–20125,622
2012–20135,553
2013–20145,680
2014–20155,819
2015–20166,026
2016–2017 6,088
2017–20185,984
2018–20196,060
2019–20206,019
2020–2021382
2021–20223,710
2022–20235,864
2023–20246,183

Accomplishments

Winners: 2003–04

Final performances

SeasonCompetitionOpponentScore
1991–92DHB-Pokal TUSEM Essen20–19 19–20 4–5 (P)
1993–94DHB-Pokal SG Wallau-Massenheim14–17
1996–97EHF Cup Virum Sorgenfri22–25 30–17
1997–98DHB-Supercup TBV Lemgo33–35
1997–98EHF Cup THW Kiel25–23 21–26
1997–98EHF City Cup BM Ciudad Real27–27 26–21
1999–00DHB-Pokal THW Kiel25–30
2000–01DHB-Supercup THW Kiel20–19
2000–01EHF Cup RK Metković22–24 25–23
2001–02EHF Cup Winners' Cup BM Ciudad Real22–31 32–27
2002–03DHB-Pokal TUSEM Essen31–30
2003–04DHB-Supercup TBV Lemgo28–32
2003–04DHB-Pokal HSV Hamburg29–23
2003–04EHF Champions League RK Celje28–34 30–28
2004–05DHB-Supercup HSV Hamburg24–25
2004–05DHB-Pokal THW Kiel33–31
2005–06DHB-Supercup THW Kiel34–36
2006–07EHF Champions League THW Kiel28–28 27–29
2010–11DHB-Pokal THW Kiel24–30
2011–12DHB-Pokal THW Kiel31–33
2011–12EHF Cup Winners' Cup VfL Gummersbach34–33 32–28
2012–13DHB-Supercup THW Kiel26–29
2012–13DHB-Pokal THW Kiel30–33
2013–14DHB-Supercup THW Kiel29–26
2013–14DHB-Pokal Füchse Berlin21–22
2013–14EHF Champions League THW Kiel30–28
2014–15DHB-Pokal SC Magdeburg27–27 5–4 (P)
2015–16DHB-Supercup THW Kiel26–27
2015–16DHB-Pokal SC Magdeburg30–32
2016–17DHB-Pokal THW Kiel23–29
2017–18DHB-Pokal Rhein-Neckar Löwen26–30
2018–19DHB-Supercup Rhein-Neckar Löwen26–33
2019–20DHB-Supercup THW Kiel32–31
2020–21DHB-Supercup THW Kiel24–28
2023–24EHF European League Füchse Berlin36–31

Sports Hall information

Flens-Arena has been the home court of the club since its completion in 2001. In April 2023, the naming rights for the arena became free, as the agreement with local brewery Flensburger Brauerei ended.

Flensburg first played at Wikinghalle, which was built in 1975. They last played there in 1995, having moved to the Flensburger Förderhalle in 1991.

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2024–25 season

Goalkeepers
Left wingers
Right wingers
Line players
Left backs
Centre backs
Right backs

Technical staff

Transfers

Transfers for the 2025–26 season

Joining
Leaving

Transfers for the 2026–27 season

Joining
  • Leaving

    • Transfer History

    Domestic competition

    SeasonTierDivisionPos.WDLPts.
    1990–9122. Handball-Bundesliga4th144832
    1991–9222. Handball-Bundesliga1st260052
    1992–931Handball-Bundesliga16th1251729
    1993–941Handball-Bundesliga4th1841240
    1994–951Handball-Bundesliga4th165937
    1995–961Handball-Bundesliga2nd194742
    1996–971Handball-Bundesliga2nd201941
    1997–981Handball-Bundesliga4th162834
    1998–991Handball-Bundesliga2nd214546
    1999-001Handball-Bundesliga2nd252752
    2000–011Handball-Bundesliga3rd266658
    2001–021Handball-Bundesliga4th214946
    2002–031Handball-Bundesliga2nd281557
    2003–041Handball-Bundesliga1st282458
    2004–051Handball-Bundesliga2nd292360
    2005–061Handball-Bundesliga2nd263555
    2006–071Handball-Bundesliga3rd251851
    2007–081Handball-Bundesliga2nd262654
    2008–091Handball-Bundesliga5th2121144
    2009–101Handball-Bundesliga3rd270754
    2010–111Handball-Bundesliga6th2121144
    2011–121Handball-Bundesliga2nd281557
    2012–131Handball-Bundesliga2nd255455
    2013–141Handball-Bundesliga3rd262654
    2014–151Handball-Bundesliga3rd246654
    2015–161Handball-Bundesliga2nd263355
    2016–171Handball-Bundesliga2nd282458
    2017–181Handball-Bundesliga1st272556
    2018–191Handball-Bundesliga1st320264
    2019–201Handball-Bundesliga2nd20251.556a
    2020–211Handball-Bundesliga2nd324266
    2021–221Handball-Bundesliga4th226650
    2022–231Handball-Bundesliga4th233849
    2023–241Handball-Bundesliga3rd234750
    aDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final table was decided on a points-per-match basis.

    European competitions

    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2013–14EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group D) HSV Hamburg27–2427–32align=center rowspan=52nd place
    Velenje35–3128–23
    Aalborg31–2727–26
    La Rioja37–2532–32
    HK Drott33–2537–27
    Quarter-finals24–2225–2749–49
    Semi-final (F4) Barcelona41–39 (penalties)
    Final (F4) THW Kiel30–28
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2014–15EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group B) FC Barcelona33–3727–36align=center rowspan=54th place
    KIF Kolding København27–2021–35
    Wisła Płock35–2829–31
    Alingsås HK31–2127–22
    Beşiktaş31–2727–20
    Last 1621–3028–3349–63
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2015–16EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group A) Paris Saint-Germain39–3232–35align=center rowspan=73rd place
    MVM Veszprém28–2924–28
    THW Kiel37–2723–27
    Zagreb28–2730–23
    Wisła Płock27–2534–30
    Celje30–2030–26
    Beşiktaş33–2534–26
    Round of 16 Montpellier31–3028–2759–57
    Quarter-finals Vive Targi Kielce28–2828–2956–57
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2016–17EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group A)27–2823–26align=center rowspan=74th place
    Paris Saint-Germain33–3422–27
    Telekom Veszprém24–2428–34
    THW Kiel25–2630–22
    Bjerringbro-Silkeborg26–2425–19
    Wisła Płock22–2037–30
    Kadetten Schaffhausen31–2629–26
    Round of 16 Meshkov Brest28–2626–2554–51
    Quarter-finals Vardar24–2627–3551–61
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2017–18EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group B) Paris Saint-Germain33–2921–29align=center rowspan=73rd place
    Telekom Veszprém31–3122–27
    THW Kiel30–3320–20
    PGE Vive Kielce32–3225–25
    Meshkov Brest37–3030–28
    Celje33–2830–27
    Aalborg Håndbold30–2731–24
    Round of 16 IFK Kristianstad27–2426–2253–46
    Quarter-finals Montpellier28–2817–2945–57
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2018–19EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group B) Paris Saint-Germain20–2728–29align=center rowspan=73rd place
    MOL-Pick Szeged27–2528–30
    HBC Nantes29–2934–31
    Motor Zaporizhzhia31–2426–28
    PPD Zagreb29–3122–21
    Skjern Håndbold26–2231–24
    Celje Pivovarna Laško27–2620–23
    Round of 16 Meshkov Brest30–2030–2860–48
    Quarter-finals Telekom Veszprém22–2825–2947–57
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2019–20EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group B) Barça27–3431–27align=center rowspan=75th place
    Paris Saint-Germain29–3030–32
    MOL-Pick Szeged34–2624–24
    Aalborg Håndbold29–3228–31
    Celje Pivovarna Laško29–2625–24
    PPD Zagreb20–1726–25
    Elverum26–1934–28
    Round of 16 MontpellierCancelled due to COVID-19
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2020–21EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group A) Łomza Vive Kielce31–3031–281st place
    MOL-Pick Szeged26–2410–0
    Elverum Håndball37–3530–29
    Meshkov Brest29–2928–26
    Paris Saint-Germain28–2729–28
    FC Porto36–290–10
    Vardar 19610–1026–31
    Last 16 PPD Zagreb10–010–020–0
    Quarter-finals Aalborg Håndbold21–2633–2954–55
    Note: All five matches which could not be played due to COVID-19 restrictions were adjudicated by the EHF as 10–0 losses for the club which could not field a full team. This decision was officially criticised by SG Flensburg-Handewitt in a public statement.[4] [5]
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2021–22EHF Champions LeagueGroup matches (Group B) Łomza Vive Kielce25–3329–376th place
    Barça21–2522–29
    Paris Saint-Germain27–2730–33
    Telekom Veszprém30–2723–28
    FC Porto26–2627–28
    Dinamo București37–3028–20
    Motor34–2722–31
    Play-offs Pick Szeged25–2135–3660–57
    Quarter-finals Barça29–3324–2753–60
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2022–23EHF European LeagueGroup matches (Group B) Ystads IF30–2326–301st place
    Valur33–3037–32
    FTC42–3027–27
    PAUC Handball30–2529–21
    BM Benidorm35–3038–32
    Last 16 SL Benfica33–2839–2672–54
    Quarter-finals Fraikin Granollers27–3531–3058–65
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2023–24EHF European LeagueGroup matches (Group E) Kadetten Schaffhausen46–3224–251st place
    Elverum Håndball38–3533–32
    RK Lovćen42–1935–19
    Main round
    (Group III)    		 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg38–2845–261st place
    RK Vojvodina42–3036–26
    Quarter finals IK Sävehof28–2941–3069–59
    Semi-final (F4) Dinamo București38–32
    Final (F4) Füchse Berlin36–31
    SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
    2024–25EHF European LeagueGroup matches (Group G) MOL-Tatabánya KC44–2739–291st place
    42–2532–28
    HCB Karviná36–3341–31
    Main round
    (Group IV)    		 VfL GummersbachTBDTBDTBD
    Fenix Toulouse HandballTBDTBD

    EHF ranking

    [6]

    Rank Team Points
    7 519
    8 512
    9 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 505
    10 473
    11 410

    Former club members

    Notable former players

    Former coaches

    Seasons Coach Country Trophies
    1990–1993Zvonimir Serdarušić2. Handball-Bundesliga
    1993–1998Anders Dahl-NielsenEHF Cup
    1998–2003Erik Veje RasmussenDHB-Pokal, DHB-Supercup, EHF Cup Winners' Cup, EHF City Cup
    2003–2008Kent-Harry AnderssonHandball-Bundesliga, 2 DHB-Pokal
    2008–2010Per Carlén
    2010–2017Ljubomir VranjesDHB-Pokal, EHF Champions League, EHF Cup Winners' Cup
    2017–2023Maik Machulla2 Handball-Bundesliga, DHB-Supercup
    2023–2025Nicolej KrickauEHF European League
    2025–Aleš Pajovič

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: SG Geschichte . sg-flensburg-handewitt.de.
    2. Web site: Fan clubs. sg-flensburg-handewitt.de.
    3. Web site: 106. Landesderby ist 500. Heimspiel . sg-flensburg-handewitt.de. 20 May 2022 .
    4. Web site: Statement on the assessment of matches in the EHF Champions League.
    5. Web site: Vier Minuspunkte gegen die SG. 26 February 2021 .
    6. Web site: Eurotopteam, classement européen des clubs de Handball .

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