3 things we learned this past week: “Hansen’s retirement, Sävehof in Europe & all set for 2024 Euros”

Mikkel Hansen retires after the 2024 Olympics, Sävehof dominates in Europe & now it’s all set for the 2024 Women’s European Championship – that is 3 things we learned this week.

Mikkel Hansen is retiring

Nikolaj Jacobsen and Mikkel Hansen. Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN

Is he the greatest player of all time? No. Is he top 3 all-time? No, not that either. Maybe top 5, but definitely top 10. And considering all the greats that is quite an achievement. The Olympics this summer in France will be the last time we will get to see one of the greatest players of all time take the court. Sad, indeed.

Hansen will of course want to end his illustrious career by taking home another gold medal (he already has 5 gold medals with Denmark) and Denmark has a huge chance of winning it all. But to do so they probably need to defeat France in the final.

Why am I mentioning that? I am from Sweden, but even I hope to see a final battle between Nikola Karabatic (the GOAT) and Mikkel Hansen.

Sävehof dominates in Europe

Sävehofs målvakt Simon Möller. Foto: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN

Sweden, yes. Maybe I am a bit blind to other teams’ success in Europe and that’s why I am focusing on IK Sävehof and what they have achieved in Europe this season. Maybe, but I don’t think so.

If you defeat Hannover-Burgdorf, and clearly so, a team that I would guess has at least double the salary, then you have done something extraordinary.

Next season this team will look a lot different so enjoy them and their handball while it’s possible. Coach Michael Apelgren has signed for PICK Szeged next season. Pivot Felix Möller will join Aalborg Håndbold, his big brother will sign for a huge club (nothing announced yet though), and William Andersson Moberg will take his talents to Fredericia.

But others will soon follow. Faroese wonderkid Óli Mittún, wingers Gustaf Wedberg and Sebastian Spante, and back players Pontus Brolin and Emil Berlin all look ready to play in a bigger league than the Swedish one.

All set for the 2024 Women’s European Championship

Henny Reistad. Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN

Now we know which teams that have qualified for the 2024 Women’s European Championship in Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. The tournament is held from November 28 to December 15 and the teams that have qualified are:

Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Germany, Ukraine, Czechia, Slovenia, Serbia, Iceland, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Portugal, and the Faroe Islands.

24 teams. How it will end up? Norway, France, and Denmark brought home the medals with Sweden and Netherlands as the biggest threats. I know, huge surprise, right?