Staffan Olsson will be the new national coach of the Dutch handball players from 1 September. The Swede was appointed on Tuesday as the successor to Erlingur Richardsson, who had to resign after a disappointing World Cup.
The 58-year-old Olsson makes his debut in mid-October during the European Championship qualifier against Belgium. The trainer won a silver medal as national coach of the Swedish handball players at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Olsson had the Swedish team under his wing for eight years. He also coached Hammarby and Paris Saint-Germain in his own country. “I’m really looking forward to coaching the Dutch handball players,” says Olsson.
“It is an interesting challenge to develop the team and get to know Dutch handball. It will be fun and inspiring to train and coach a team that plays attractive handball.”
Thanks to a wild card, the Dutch handball men will still participate in the World Cup next year. It is their first World Cup since 1961. In the draw last month, the Netherlands was paired with Norway, Argentina and North Macedonia.