Of course, no bad word should be said about Henk Groener at the presentation of the "new" on Tuesday afternoon;

The German Handball Federation (DHB) and the now former national coach parted on good terms - as far as that is possible, if both sides are disappointed in the bottom line, there were towering expectations associated with this big name in women's handball.

Groener, 62, had brought the Dutch handball players to the top of the world and should do the same with the DHB women.

But his work from January 2018 onwards was characterized by a dispute with the Bundesliga (HBF) in addition to reasonable successes.

It doesn't work without a league, that should be the realization of the DHB under sports director Axel Kromer, so the association now presented Markus Gaugisch from Göppingen as the new boss after three foreign national coaches.

Kromer said, also looking back at Groener: "It is an advantage for Markus that he is very communicative.

We need a national coach who is in contact with the Bundesliga coaches to promote women's handball."

First clearly, then weakened over the years, Groener had accused the clubs and their players of a lack of professionalism - this was preventing the Germans from advancing to medals.

The angry counterattacks from the league followed immediately after each of the four major tournaments under Groener, and in the end one got the impression that not everyone was pulling together in German women's handball.

In a way, Gaugisch is now in exchange with himself, since he has been training the women of SG BBM Bietigheim since the 2020/21 season.

This and the next season Gaugisch will guide the Bundesliga leaders, then concentrate solely on the DHB.

The 47-year-old family man signed a contract until 2024, which would be automatically extended until April 2026 if he qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games and would therefore also include the home World Cup in December 2025.

Teaching leaves Gaugisch rest

Gaugisch should also be involved in matters of development and talent scouting.

After the end of the school year, he gave up his work as a high school teacher in physical education.

His abilities will be needed immediately, because already on Thursday in the Dutch city of Almere with a mandatory victory against Greece the entitlement to participate in the European Championships in November will be acquired.

Gaugisch thanked his predecessor for an "existing framework" and answered the question of whether the national team would move closer to the league with him: "It is incredibly important that you work together with the clubs.

You have to exchange ideas with the club coaches and the players.” But in a way Gaugisch Groener was right when he said: “In contrast to top foreign clubs, the general conditions in the Bundesliga are different – ​​when players here have 30 to 40 in addition to handball Having to work hours is not ideal.”

The driving force behind Gaugisch's commitment is sports director Kromer.

The two played for VfL Pfullingen in the Bundesliga and trained their sons in Mössingen when they were little.

Gaugisch stands for dynamic, creative, flexible handball, said Kromer.

Gaugisch said he wanted to dare more one-on-one, be less prone to play, and promised more courage and conviction: “The national team as the driving force should bring all women’s handball forward.

I am aiming for the step to the Olympic Games.”