The Rhein-Neckar Löwen’s search for a coach is over. Maik Machulla will take over the Mannheim team from summer 2025.
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen have hired Maik Machulla as coach for the coming season. The club confirmed this on its website on Monday. Accordingly, Machulla signed a three-year contract with the current seventh-place team. In a press release, Löwen managing director Holger Bachert describes Machulla as an “experienced and hungry coach” who has already proven that he can coach teams to titles.
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen want to play for the title again with Machulla
The 47-year-old has been a coach at SG Flensburg-Handewitt since 2012 – initially as assistant to Ljubomir Vranjes, then as head coach from 2017. During this time he won the German championship twice (2018 & 2019) and the Supercup once (2019). “What was just as important to us: With the style of play he practices in Flensburg, he comes very close to the lion handball as we imagine it and is therefore an ideal fit,” said managing director Bachert
Machulla, who was released from top Danish club Aalborg Handbold at the beginning of November, explained: “The people involved, the squad, the club’s environment, its sporting philosophy and the current squad with its qualities and potential: all of this convinced me that the Rhein-Neckar Löwen is the right place for me.”
Machulla has to cope without top star Knorr
However, Machulla will have to deal with at least one fundamental personnel change in his future squad: national team star Juri Knorr is leaving the Lions in the summer, the playmaker is moving to Machulla’s former club Aalborg.
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen announced last week that to let the contract of head coach Sebastian Hinze (45) expire at the end of the season due to “different views on the sporting concept”..
Broadcast on Monday, December 23rd, 2024 9:00 a.m., SWR Aktuell in the morning, SWR Aktuell
