It was not until Thursday that it became completely clear that Norwegian Glenn Solberg, who took over after the European Championship 2020, is leaving the post as national team captain for Sweden's men's handball team.
Now it's going to be a quick turnaround. Since the message comes after the Olympic Games, the time is a bit short. Now we have started working on looking at potential candidates and begun working from a list of names, says general secretary Robert Wedberg.
No schism
Is there any schism behind Solberg's decision to leave?
Absolute not. It's a demanding job and it has been a bit special since there have been more tournaments with the Olympic Games and the pandemic. It has become six tournaments in fewer years than usual.
Are you open to the new national team captain also coaching a club team on the side?
Yes, but we are open to everything. In the best of worlds, we have fully employed coaches, which we have had for a while. Now we have, for example, released that Tomas Axnér (women's national team captain) can double-job and then we strengthen the leadership team around, says Wedberg.
"Working full-time"
Axnér has also been the head coach for top club Esbjerg in the Danish women's league since this season. Even Kristján Andrésson – Solberg's predecessor – double-jobbed at the end of his national team captaincy. Then Andrésson was coach for the men's team in the German top club Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
Sweden plays its World Championship premiere against Japan on January 16 in Oslo and the hope is that a new national team captain will be employed as soon as possible.
We are working full-time on the issue, we have done so for a few days. We haven't rested, says Robert Wedberg.
Glenn Solberg's contract also extended over the home European Championship 2026.
