2024-01-03 11:13:31
After almost 20 years and 236 international matches, the ÖHB is ending the cooperation. The search for a successor begins before the home European Championships.
An era in Austrian handball came to an end on Wednesday. After almost 20 years and 236 international matches, the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) has announced the separation from women’s team boss Herbert Müller. The German, who was born in Romania, looked after the ÖHB women for the first time in an international match on May 26, 2004 and led the team to eight major events. The association is looking for a successor who will lead the women’s team at the home European Championships.
The separation came after the analysis of the World Cup in November and December in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, in which the Austrians celebrated two victories in the group phase but were unsuccessful in the main round. “We made this decision together with a heavy heart, but together with Herbert Müller we came to the conclusion that new impetus was needed in the national team. “Herbert Müller deserves a big thank you for his commitment to Austrian women’s handball, which went far beyond his role as team boss,” explained ÖHB President Markus Plazer.
“I support this decision, but at the same time I am proud and grateful for the past two decades and everything we have achieved together. I wish the team and the ÖHB much success for the upcoming tasks and the home EURO 2024,” said Müller. Under the 61-year-old, the women’s national team qualified for the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2021 and 2023 World Championships as well as the 2004, 2006 and 2008 European Championships. Highlights of his era also included victories against the then reigning world champion France at the 2004 European Championship and the reigning Olympic champions Denmark at the 2005 World Cup and Russia in the 2018 European Championship qualification.
Müller is leaving as Europe’s longest-serving women’s team boss, and the search for a successor now begins. The ÖHB wants to present a new team boss at the beginning of February at the latest in order to prepare the selection for the home European Championships from November 28th to December 15th (together with Hungary and Switzerland). In Austria the games are played in Innsbruck and the final location, Vienna. (APA)
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