Five months ahead of schedule: the national handball team separates from coach Suter

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In mid-January, the Swiss handball team lost 27:29 to North Macedonia in the third European Championship group match. Now it is clear: that was their last match under the leadership of coach Michael Suter (48).

As the Swiss handball association SHV has announced, they are saying goodbye to Suter with immediate effect. It had been clear for some time that he would resign from his position as national coach. In February 2023, it was already communicated that Andy Schmid (40) would take over the national team in the summer of 2024.

Now, in the joint review of the performance at the European Championships with Suter, the association has decided to end the collaboration five months earlier than planned. Assistant coach Matthias Gysin and goalkeeping coach Jasko Camdzic are also leaving his staff, according to his statement.

“It was a great honor”

Suter has been national coach since the summer of 2016 and was on the sidelines for 91 games. He leaves the team with a balanced record: 43 wins versus the same number of defeats, plus five draws. Under Suter, Switzerland took part in two European Championships (2020 and 2024) and the 2021 World Cup.

“It was a great honor for me to lead the national team as national coach for so long. “I associate wonderful emotions with this time,” Suter said in the statement. He will remain involved in handball in the future. From this summer he will be coach and sporting director at TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen.

Will Schmid take over sooner?

It is still unclear whether Andy Schmid, who recently ended his playing career, will take up his position as Nati coach earlier and not until July 1, 2024. “Who will take care of the team during the March route and the World Cup play-offs against Slovenia in May will be the subject of internal discussions in the coming weeks,” the association said. Schmid is involved in the search for a solution.

During the next meeting, the national team will play a test match against world champions and European Championship finalists Denmark on March 16 (4 p.m.). (beer)

Source : Blick