Olympic champion in Tokyo, the French handball team is back on the court this weekend in Norway for the first stage of the 2020-2021 Golden League.

With a new captain: Valentin Porte succeeds the glorious veteran, Michaël Guigou (39), who retired internationally this summer with a final coronation.

The appointment of the 31-year-old Montpellier (151 caps for 372 goals), vice-captain since November 2020, is logical, according to coach Guillaume Gille.

“The fact of having appointed Valentin, with the support of Michaël Guigou, during this last period, proves the esteem that we have for him in this function, the place he holds within the group and the skills which he has to take on this kind of responsibility, ”announced the disconnector on Tuesday at the Maison du handball.

⛵️New caps, new captain for the Blues!



⭐️ @ ValHand28 succeeds Michaël Guigou for the armband!



⚔️ @LKARABATIC_Off will be vice-captain #BleuerFier #Handball pic.twitter.com/OpFMNbPpGE

- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) November 2, 2021

“We are therefore in a form of continuity, of a passing of the baton between generations, between Michaël who embodies the great history of handball and Valentin, with his many experiences and his experiences in the French team, for whom the It is time to put your hands on the wheel and take on other responsibilities.

"

Already "freelance" three times

Valentin Porte, trained in Toulouse before joining Montpellier in 2016, admits to having granted himself "a period of reflection" "before accepting Guillaume's proposal".

"I spoke with a few players and the positive feedback confirmed me in the idea of ​​accepting", continues the one who has already worn the armband three times as "interim", during a Golden League stage in 2018 then twice in 2021 (France-Greece and Norway-France, during the Olympic tournament).

The thirty-something readily defines himself as "old school."

I am attached to the primary things of sport: victory, the life of the collective, the warm-up, all those basic things that are a bit of the old school.

I am proud that my way of being pleases.

The No. 28 of the Blues will be supported by Luka Karabatic, promoted vice-captain, from Saturday against Denmark, then Sunday against Norway.

Sport

Handball: It is stainless ... The eternal Nikola Karabatic extends to PSG

Sport

Handball: Didier Dinart, former coach of the Blues, becomes the new general manager of the Nice club

  • Captain

  • Languedoc-Roussillon

  • Michael guigou

  • Montpellier

  • France Handball Team

  • Handball

  • Valentine's door

  • Sport