“I’m hooked: It’s a dream to coach the German women’s national handball team – combined with the prospect of European and World Championships and the Olympic Games.”
Source: Markus Gaugisch on the position of national coach of the German women’s handball team
Easter Monday was the first working day for the new women’s national coach in Hennef. Start of the course to prepare for the two international matches against Greece and the Netherlands. “I was well received. A very warm and open manner that is shown to me,” reveals Gaugisch to SWR Sport.
Double function = double stress
Markus Gaugisch will be another in the coming season Double function as Bietigheim coach and DHB coach, only then does the 47-year-old switch completely to the DHB. “The network between the national team and the Bundesliga can continue to grow through the dual function in the coming season,” hopes DHB sports director Axel Kromer. In Gaugisch, there are stressful times: “I feel ready to do it. It’s just that if you enjoy doing something and if you have a goal and a vision, then that drives you on and brings endless energy.”
Childhood dream of the Olympic Games
Gaugisch signed a contract until 2024, which would be automatically extended to April 2026 if he qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and would therefore also include the home World Cup in December 2025. The DHB has ambitious goals in this regard and Gaugisch has no problems with that. On the contrary: “My personal drive is strongly linked to the idea of being able to help organize a childhood dream myself: namely to take part in the Olympic Games and then, as a result, to take part in a home world championship in 2025.”
Tests and handball of the “Gaugisch brand”
Officially, the Swabian’s working paper applies from July 1st. Nevertheless, Gaugisch will celebrate his debut on April 21st. Then the decisive game in the European Championship qualifier against Greece in Almere, Netherlands, is on the agenda. Not much time for the newcomer to get used to: “We try to use every minute. Henk Groener has consolidated many things and I will of course build on them. Now it’s about enriching the existing framework with my ideas.”
Two days after the game against Greece follows an international match against former world champions Netherlands. A draw against Greece is certainly enough to take part in the European Championship in Slovenia, Montenegro and North Macedonia (November 4th to 20th). The DHB team had won the first leg under the direction of Dutchman Henk Groener with 36:10. Markus Gaugisch has a clear idea of how the journey should continue with him: “We have to clearly lay the foundation in defense. Successful teams have their focus in this area.”
Who is Markus Gaugisch?
Gaugisch, who was born in Göppingen, played with VfL Pfullingen in the Bundesliga during his playing days. As a coach, the father of two led TSV 1893 Neuhausen to the first division in 2012. In the upper house of German handball, he also worked on the sidelines for HBW Balingen-Weilstetten before moving to Bietigheim in 2020. He has won the DHB Cup and the HBF Supercup with the current undefeated Bundesliga leaders.
Source: SWR