Team battles in handball sport. - Magdeburg on track for a potential quadruple with their third championship win.
SC Magdeburg has clinched its third German handball championship title, dating back to 2001 and 2022. The team led by Bennet Wiegert now has their sights set on the perfect quadruple, which they'll attempt on June 8 and 9 in Cologne. Their goal is to defend both the DHB Cup and the Meisterschaft titles in the Champions League.
With an impressive 34:21 (19:11) win against the Rhein-Neckar Lions, the SCM secured the championship a game before the Bundesliga finale. The award ceremony will take place on Sunday following the team's final home game against HSG Wetzlar at 4:30 pm.
After twenty-eight minutes into their match in Mannheim, the SCM had already built up a commanding ten-goal lead (19:9). The top scorers were Daniel Pettersson with six goals for Magdeburg and Juri Knorr with five for the Rhein-Neckar Lions. Speaking to Dyn, the television broadcaster, Wiegert reminisced about the recent departure of Uwe Gensheimer: "He's one of the greatest handballers our world and Germany have ever had."
Throughout this season, SCM has only experienced two defeats: a 26:31 loss against the Berlin Füchse and a 27:28 loss against the TSV Hannover-Burgdorf. There was also a 27:27 draw with SC DHfK in Leipzig and a 29:29 draw in Melsungen. "We've earned the right to compete for all the trophies," stated Wiegert, who has overseen the sports department at the SCM since 2016. During his tenure, the ten-time DDR champion has guided his team to a total of eight championships.
The Success Story of SC Magdeburg
Bennet Wiegert, whose father is a Moscow Olympic champion, is often referred to as the "Quality Dad" of the Elbe River. His approach to maintaining a perfect balance between high-level sports and a family-friendly club culture has made him a fan favorite. It's his playing strategy that is equally appealing, which prioritizes agile, swift players and rapid positional play from a firm and powerful defense. Wiegert's long-term plans for success were evident in the recent contract extension of Simon Töller until 2028.
After a remarkable streak of 30 games where SCM failed to lose, Wiegert's beard had to be shaved off for the first time since the 29:29 draw in Melsungen. Despite the setback, Wiegert remains a well-respected figure in the league. "Now he's one of the best coaches in the world. I never would have thought that in the past," mused Wiegert's former teammate Stefan Kretzschmar, who serves as sporting director for the Füchse in Berlin. Their clubs were bitter title rivals up until the 28:31 victory in Magdeburg.
The Icelandic duo of Omar Ingi Magnusson and Gisli Kristjansson are the driving force behind the success of the Elbestaedten. Both are exceptional in one-on-one situations, display sound game understanding, and show nerves in crucial moments. Right-handed Magnusson received the title of HBL Player of the Season in 2022, was the top scorer during the 2022 European Championship, and is nearly impossible to forget. Playmaker Kristjansson, who often plays on the left, is a reliable workhorse despite his many injury setbacks. The Icelander who was named the most valuable HBL player in the previous year is back in top form.
The controversy surrounding the doping case of their goalkeeper Nikola Portner seems to have been resolved. With the Swiss sidelined due to a positive test during the final phase of the season, the team turned to the Spanish goalkeeper Sergey Hernandez, who delivered a remarkable performance in the Final Four, leading them to the DHB Cup victory.
