Flensburg return to top of European League power rankings

10. IK Sävehof (SWE)

IK Sävehof were quarter-finalists in the EHF European League 2023/24 and are regular participants on the European stage. Known as a launch pad for top Swedish talent, head coach Linus Ekman’s team are drawn in a quite manageable group. One of their major reinforcements is experienced goalkeeper Peter Johannesson, who is back in Sävehof after a long journey through top European clubs, including EHF Champions League participants GOG.

9. IRUDEK Bidasoa Irun (ESP)

Signing Champions League player and former Spanish international Niko Mindegia from Orlen Wisla Plock, IRUDEK Bidasoa Irun have bolstered their squad with experience. In recent years, the 1995 Champions League winners have constantly been close to making it to the EHF Finals. In the group phase, Irun are likely to be fighting with Limoges for the top position in group B, and mainly count on their home strength.

8. Limoges Handball (FRA)

In the 2024/25 season, Limoges Handball were one of the biggest surprises, making it to the quarter-finals and almost eliminating THW Kiel. Now, they are back on the European stage. After six years in the top division of the French league, the squad has plenty of experience, and being tested every weekend has only made Limoges stronger. Another quarter-final appearance is definitely a possibility.

7. Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP)

Granollers count on one of the biggest up-and-coming talents of international handball, Marcos Fis. Still only 19 years old, the two-time MVP of the Spanish league will play his last season for Granollers before transferring to Barça in 2027. Fis is the son of Champions League winner Julio Fis, and shares the right back position with another familiar name from Spanish handball — Pablo Urdangarín, son of Inaki. Antonio Rama’s young squad will be eyeing up another place in the EHF Finals, after previously reaching that stage in 2023 before failing to make it to the knockout rounds in the last three years.

6. Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)

Former Norwegian national team coach Jonas Wille will bring a Scandinavian style of playing to Kadetten. After failing in the Swiss league finals against Kriens-Luzern, they are on a double mission: grabbing the domestic trophy again and getting far in the European League after being knocked out in the main round two years running. With Icelandic right wing Óðinn Ríkharðsson, Schaffhausen have one of the best European League scorers of the last years in their squad.

5. Elverum Håndball (NOR)

The biggest question before this season is how well Elverum Håndball can adapt to the loss of their coach Børge Lund, who moved to THW Kiel. His successor Laurids Søgaard takes over a well-rehearsed team with five new arrivals. After eight consecutive seasons in the EHF Champions League, they are entering their third year in the European League group phase, relying again on the experience of players such as Kevin Gulliksen as well as lots of young talent.

4. RK Nexe (CRO)

Nexe carry plenty of experience into their seventh straight EHF European League Men season, highlighted by the EHF Finals 2022 in Lisbon. Although they finished only third in the Croatian league below MRK Sesvete, head coach Saša Barišić Jaman’s team can count on players such as Krešimir Kozina and Tin Lučin. Facing Elverum and Saint Raphael Var Handball in the group phase, Nexe have to be ready from the start.

3. VfL Gummersbach (GER)

VfL Gummersbach waved goodbye to Julian Köster and Dominik Kuzmanović at the end of last season, but have signed Alex Dujshebaev, Ignacio Biosca and Nikola Roganović to strengthen their roster. So far, Swede Roganović in particular has had an impressive start for the former European Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup champions. Icelandic coach Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson hopes that his side has learnt from just missing the quarter-finals in 2024/25: Gummersbach are clearly set on going all the way to Hamburg this time around.

2. HC Eurofarm Pelister (MKD)

After three consecutive years in the EHF Champions League, Pelister return to the EHF European League for their fourth campaign, led by a true handball legend: Lino Cervar. Although he is now 76 years old, Cervar is still extremely motivated to go all the way with the Bitola-based side. The squad consists of many Macedonian national team players such as Filip Kuzmanovski and Nikola Mitrevski, as well as international stars like Slovenian Nik Henigman and Brazilian Rudolph Hackbarth. The group matches against Gummersbach will be the early highlights of this competition.

1. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)

After missing out on taking three successive European League victories last season, and ahead of the much-anticipated arrival of Portuguese stars Martim and Francisco Costa in 2027, SG Flensburg-Handewitt are on the hunt for the German league title and another trophy in Hamburg. Despite losing stars such as Johannes Golla and goalkeeper Kevin Møller, coach Ales Pajovic still can count on an impressive squad with players such as Simon Pytlick, Marko Grgić and Emil Jakobsen. With their quality, depth on the bench and their experience, Flensburg are definitely the hottest potato among the 32 teams starting the competition.

Photos © Ingrid Andersen-Jensen, Aleksandar Kotevski, profifoto.ch, Magnus Stenseth