Metz Handball Explained

Fullname:Metz Handball
Short Name:Metz HB
Founded:1965
Ground:Les Arènes
Capacity:4,500 / 5,000
Chairman:Thierry Weizman
Manager:Emmanuel Mayonnade
League:Ligue Butagaz Énergie
Season:2023–24
Position:Champion
Website:https://metz-handball.com/
Colour1:yellow
Colour2:blue
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Metz Handball is a French handball club from Metz, France. Founded in 1965 under the name ASPTT Metz, the club has an exceptional track record with some 40 titles won, which is the all-time record for a French women's team sport. Chaired by Thierry Weizman since 2005, the club is becoming increasingly professional and now aims to play a leading role in Europe.

The men's team also played in 1st League between 1971 and 1983, and nowadays plays in Nationale 1 (3rd division) since 2020.

History

Over the past few decades, Metz Handball has become the most prestigious women's handball club in France. It is also one of the oldest institutions playing in the French elite.

The club was created in 1965 under the name of ASPTT Metz, but it wasn't until 1968, with the creation of the women's team, that the club became well-known in the sport.[1]

Second-place finishers in France and semi-finalists in the Cup of Cups in 1977, the men's team gave ASPTT Metz its first prestige on a major stage. But in the shadow of the men's team, the women's team progressed year after year until being promoted in 1986 to France's top tier, without being relegated since. The coach of the team at that time was Frenchman Olivier Krumbholz, who later became the successful national manager for France. Since the promotion, Metz HB has had overwhelming success with 24 National Championships from 1989 to 2022, which is the all-time record in the French Women's First League Championship.[2]

Metz Handball is progressively establishing itself as a strong place in European handball. A first epic saw the Dragonnes reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners Cup in 1999. They then became famous in the EHF Cup where, after several quarter finals, they played a first European final in 2013 but did not manage to win the title. The following seasons, the club gains momentum and shines in the Champions League. Unlucky quarter-finalists in 2017 and 2018, Metz participated for the first time in the Final 4 of Europe's most prestigious competition in 2019, where they finished fourth.[3]

After a season without any trophy in 2021, Metz Handball realizes the most beautiful season of its history. The club won a 24th French Championship title, a 10th French Cup, and became famous in the Ligue Butagaz Énergie with a flawless record: 26 victories in 26 games. For the second time in its history, the Dragonnes participated in the Final 4 of the Women's EHF Champions League and won their first European medal by finishing third.[4]

Name

Results

National competitions
International competitions

European record

Record[5]
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2024–25EHF Champions LeagueGroup stage
Group A		24–19 align=center rowspan=71st
CSM București31–32
RK Krim34–3025–34
Storhamar HE29–29
Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub27–28
35–31
28–26

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2024-25 season

Goalkeepers
Wingers players
  • LW
    • RW
    Line players
    Back players
  • LB
    • CB
    RB
    Information of players out on loan
    PlayerPositionDate of BirthLoan untilCurrent club
    71Mélanie HalterGoalkeeper17 June 20021 July 202430 June 2025 Mosonmagyaróvári KC SE
    11Mia BrkicLine Player11 May 20031 July 202430 June 2026 RK Podravka Koprivnica
    Squad information
    PlayerPositionDate of BirthContract untilPrevious club
    1Camille DepuisetGoalkeeper19 October 199820222025 Bourg-de-Péage Drôme Handball
    6Chloé ValentiniLeft Wing19 April 199520212027 ESBF Besançon
    7Allison PineauCentre Back2 May 198920242025 RK Krim
    8Left Back25 August 199420232025 Győri ETO KC
    9Tyra AxnérLeft Back18 March 200220242027 Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub
    15Anne-Emmanuelle AugustineLine Player10 July 200120242026 OGC Nice Handball
    16Cléopatre DarleuxGoalkeeper1 July 198920242025 Brest Bretagne Handball
    20Laura FlippesRight Back13 December 199420242027 CSM București
    23Zaliata MlamaliLeft Wing 23 February 2003 20232025
    24Emma JacquesRight Back29 November 200120212025
    27Line Player27 August 200220212027 Fleury Loiret HB
    28Lucie GranierRight Wing11 June 199920232027 ESBF Besançon
    29Centre Back21 January 200320242025 Neptunes de Nantes
    31Djazz ChambertinLeft Back24 May 199720232025 OGC Nice Handball
    37Zsófi SzemereyGoolkeeper2 June 199420242026 Mosonmagyaróvári KC SE
    38Petra VámosCentre Back14 September 200020242027 Debreceni VSC
    98Manon ErrardRight Wing9 February 200520242025

    Transfers

    Transfers for the 2025–26 season

    Joining
    Leaving

    Technical staff

    Staff for the 2024–25 season

    Academy

    Training Center

    As of the 2024–25 season[6]

    Goalkeepers
    Left Wingers
    Right Wingers
    Line Players
    Left Backs
    Centre Backs
    Right Backs

    Men's team

    As of the 2024–25 season[7]

    Goalkeepers
    Left Wingers
    Right Wingers
    Line Players
    Left Backs
    Centre Backs
    Right Backs

    Statistics

    Top scorers in the EHF Champions League

    (All-Time) – Last updated on 17 November 2024[8]

    RankNameSeasonsplayedGoals
    1 Grâce Zaadi8300
    2 Sarah Bouktit5271
    3 Chloé Valentini4256
    4 Ana Gros4231
    5 Louise Burgaard5211
    6 Meline Nocandy7198
    7 Jurswailly Luciano10181
    8 Kristina Jørgensen2170
    9 Xenia Smits5162
    10 Laura Flippes6159

    Individual awards in the EHF Champions League

    SeasonPlayerAward
    2018–19[9] Manon HouetteAll–Star Team (Best Left Wing)
    Emmanuel MayonnadeAll–Star Team (Best Coach)
    2019–20[10] Emmanuel MayonnadeAll–Star Team (Best Coach)
    2023–24[11] Chloé ValentiniAll–Star Team (Best Left Wing)
    Sarah BouktitAll–Star Team (Best Line Player)

    Notable former players

    Head coach history

    Claude Guillois1980–1985
    Olivier Krumbholz1985–1995
    Joël Monasso1995–1996
    Patrick Passemard2003
    Bertrand François1996–2003; 2004–2006; 2009–2010
    Dragan Majstrorovic2010
    Sébastien Gardillou2010–2012
    Sandor Rac2006–2009; 2012–2014
    Jérémy Roussel[12] 2014–2015
    Emmanuel Mayonnade2015–

    Stadium

    Kit manufacturers

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: History of Metz Handball. metz-handball.com. June 2023. fr.
    2. Web site: History of Metz Handball. metz-handball.com. June 2023. fr.
    3. Web site: History of Metz Handball. metz-handball.com. June 2023. fr.
    4. Web site: EHF Final4 Women 2022. European Handball Federation.
    5. Web site: European record - Metz Handball. EHF. 27 June 2024.
    6. News: NATIONALE 1 FEMININE 2024-25. 28 November 2024.
    7. News: NATIONALE 1M. 18 November 2024.
    8. Web site: Metz Handball. European Handball Federation.
    9. Web site: All-Star team gets fresh look in 2019. 10 May 2019. eurohandball.com.
    10. Web site: New All-Star Team features three fresh names and returning Neagu. eurohandball.com. 5 June 2020.
    11. Web site: EHF Excellence Awards 2024: These are the season's best players. eurohandball.com. 27 June 2024.
    12. Web site: New coach in Metz as Roussel has responded to call of Chartres. 2021-05-02. handball-world. en.

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