With the triumph, Wiegert delivered his masterpiece in the seventh year of his tenure. The 40-year-old, who was a player in the first and so far only title win in 2001 under today’s national coach Alfred Gislason, is considered the architect of Magdeburg’s success. Since the son of the 1980 Olympic champion Ingolf Wiegert took over as coach in 2015, progress has been continuous.
Only two Bundesliga defeats
The triumph of the traditional club, which brought in ten East German championship titles and won the European Cup in 1978 and 1981 – the predecessor of the Champions League – had long been apparent. The team around the Icelandic backcourt aces Gisli Kristjansson and Omar Ingi Magnusson only lost two Bundesliga games this season – in Flensburg and against Kiel. “To experience that is madness,” said Kristjansson.
“With Bennet Wiegert, we have succeeded in strengthening the squad once again. The newcomers have hit the ground running,” said SCM Managing Director Marc-Henrik Schmedt, describing the formula for success. In addition, the champion was largely spared injuries or corona failures over the course of the season. This is how the long-awaited jump to the top was achieved after Magdeburg had always occupied third place behind the top duo THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt since 2018. “It wasn’t easy, but we did very well throughout the season,” said Kristjansson.
The reward is the return to the Champions League, which the club won in 2002. With the exception of goalkeeper Jannik Green (Paris Saint-Germain) and Magnus Gullerud (Kolstad IL), who are leaving the club, the club and its top performers are making long-term plans. “I hope this isn’t the last title,” said backcourt player Marko Bezjak.