SG Flensburg-Handewitt narrowly missed the hoped-for qualification for the Champions League as third in the handball Bundesliga. The speculation that head coach Ales Pajovic, who is under contract at the fjord until 2027, would have to pack his bags, had recently become louder again. A successor, Ricardo Costa, has already been traded.
Immediately after the end of the handball Bundesliga season, SG sports director Ljubomir Vranjes announced a critical review of the season on Instagram. “Our demands at SG Flensburg-Handewitt are high. That’s why we are not satisfied with some of the performances and results,” wrote the ex-professional, triggering speculation that there could be a coaching crash in Flensburg.
A premature separation from Ales Pajovic is not an issue – at least for this summer – according to the season analysis. “He has a contract until 2027, we will go into the next season with him,” said advisory board chairman Boy Meesenburg in an interview with “SHZ”. According to the SG boss, it is unclear whether the trainer will remain on the fjord.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt leaves Pajovic’s future open
“Either you extend the contract or not. This is a completely normal weighing process – as with every employee whose contract is expiring. By the way, not only from our side, but also from his side,” said Meesenburg about the future of the 47-year-old Slovenian, who took over from Nicolej Krickau in 2025 when they were third in the table of the past HBL season.
With the commitment to go into the new season with Pajovic, the speculation about Ricardo Costa’s involvement can be put to rest for now. Several online portals have recently repeatedly reported that SG Flensburg-Handewitt is interested in signing the successful Sporting coach from Lisbon. They said they were trying to bring the 49-year-old and his two sons to Germany.
While the transfer of the 21-year-old super jewel Francisco “Kiko” Costa is already fixed, according to a report from “Handballbase”, the North Germans are also said to be looking for his brother Martim. The Portuguese national players from Sporting should move to the best handball league in the world by 2027 at the latest. However, the transfer double whammy has not yet been confirmed.
It is still unclear whether SG Flensburg-Handewitt will also look for Papa Ricardo if the contract with Pajovic is not extended.