HB Ludwigsburg has long been considered Germany’s flagship club in women’s handball. The bankruptcy is not just a setback for the club. In the year of the home World Cup, this has from far-reaching episode. What does that mean for German women’s handball?
The phone of handball player Xenia Smits has hardly been standing still since the insolvency proceedings of its association HB Ludwigsburg became known. “Everyone is now reporting on the bankruptcy, I have been giving interviews all the time for two weeks. But victories or titles, there was little attention in the past.” Smits sounds sobered in the stiff with the sports show.
It has been clear since Monday evening: HB Ludwigsburg cannot close the financial gap, the players are no longer tied to their contracts. A bitter setback for the entire German women’s handball.
Four months until the home World Cup
“A black day for women’s handball”says Anja Althaus, former international and team manager of the DHB women in the sports show interview. The bankruptcy has far -reaching consequences, she says – especially with regard to the upcoming home World Cup.
Six Ludwigsburg players are in the squad of the German national team. So far, this has been a great advantage, says Smits. “You are re -recorded again. The routine now gives way to uncertainty.
“It is the worst time so shortly before the start of the season, so shortly before the World Cup. The mental burden, a new club, a move – the whole life is mixed up”according to DHB team manager Althaus. National coach Markus Gaugisch wants to “support his players as much as possible”, he says about the DHB. He wanted to continue his plans for the home World Cup as it was planned. However, he will also keep an eye on the changing situation and adapt it.
Ex-national player Anja Althaus has been a team manager for German handball players since 2024
Club search begins
“If I want to play the World Cup, then I need a new club”, Says Smits. This is how their club and national team colleagues Antje Döll, Jenny Behrend, Mareike Thomaier, Viola Leuchter and Nicole Roth. “It is not so easy to find something good at such a late time. We have to see what we have for options at all. There are also no so many clubs that still have the opportunity to sign new players at short notice”, ” So smits.
The financial situation is tense with many clubs in women’s handball, the budgets are scarce, the season planning is actually already completed at this time. Most top clubs should also be missing from the funds to hire top players at short notice.
“The Ludwigsburgers are almost everything top players. Of course there will be clubs who want these players, but of course the negotiating position is not good for the players”, “ says Althaus.
HB Ludwigsburg so far flagship club
HB Ludwigsburg, which acted under the name SG BBM Bietigheim until the 2023/24 season, won six German championship titles in the past eight years. There are also four German cup wins, six super cups and seven participations in the Champions League with the 2023/24 final.
“Ludwigsburg was the draft horse in the German league. They created great conditions to promote professionalization in women’s handball and thus also driven other clubs to position themselves more professionally”explains Althaus.
Smits confirms this: “I believe that a lot has developed in the Bundesliga. Most professionalize themselves. But Ludwigsburg was one step ahead of the conditions, the conditions were great. It is not so many for nothing that have been played here.” Conditions that are not a matter of course in the HBF. The gap in women’s handball is wide open, many players at clubs in the HBF are not professionals, study or work on the side. It is not a good sign that the HBF painting figure fails.
Missing importance?
The fact that Ludwigsburg was able to develop into a top club was mainly due to the commitment of the fashion manufacturer Olymp. They had already announced in June 2024 to reduce their marketing activities. “Maybe in Bietigheim you have rested on the mighty main sponsor for too long”, says CEO Christian Köhle the Sportschau, “We knew that this commitment was finally.”
Christian Köhle, Chairman of HB Ludwigsburg
“The overall economic environment and the failure of the short -term promising sponsorship negotiations” mentioned the association as a trigger for the bankruptcy application. The association wrote to over 250 companies and companies to close the financial gap – so far without much encouragement.
“The players did a professional job, have won many titles and then you can see that nobody is interested – with sponsorship acquisition and acceptance in society”, says Köhle frustrated. It shows the lack of appreciation in society.
“Bake smaller rolls”
“Less dream, accept more,” said ex-Bundesliga player Tobias Reichmann in a column of handball world. In view of the lack of interest and the financial problems, women’s handball had to “bake smaller rolls”.
Conclusions that neither Köhle, Althaus and Smits can understand. “That is thinking why we don’t get ahead in women’s handball. It is a shame that it is said that a woman must not dream and has to wait until a man invests instead of supporting himself within the sport”criticized Althaus, “Of course we have to address and improve the critical points, but we also need a better system.”
Where to start?
“I think the right people have to sit in the right places, this applies to the clubs, but also to the league and the associations. The money correctly distributed”, says Xenia Smits and insists on stronger youth work, “If the number of talents and quality increases there, the quality of the league and the national team will also increase. And that is also important for sponsors and donors. “
With increasing attention and appreciation, she would only give interviews – according to hope – and give sporting success.