EHF Excellence Awards 2024: Shortlist for season MVP confirmed
Following the meeting of the EHF Executive Committee on Thursday in Andau, Austria, the European Handball Federation has released a shortlist of three male and three female players for the MVP of the 2023/24 season.
In the men’s category, Dika Mem (France/Barça) as well Emil Nielsen (Denmark/Barça) and Magnus Saugstrup (Denmark/SC Magdeburg) have been shortlisted as possible MVPs.
For the women’s MVP award, Stine Oftedal (Norway/Györi Audi ETO KC (retired at the end of the 2023/24 season, respectively the 2024 Olympics), Chloé Valentini (France/Metz Handball) and Line Haugsted (Denmark/Györi Audi ETO KC (now Team Esbjerg) are still in the race.
The six players stem from the men’s and women’s 'Team of the Season’ 2023/24' which was announced on 27 June following an online vote which involved players, coaches, media and fans.
The 2023/24 season MVP will be revealed at the EHF Excellence Awards gala on 14 December 2024 at the final weekend of the Women's EHF EURO 2024.
Following the inaugural EHF Excellence Awards in June 2023, this marks the second time that the season’s best players are honoured by the federation.
In the 2023/24 season, Frenchman Dika Mem played a vital role in his nation's EHF EURO 2024 triumph as well for Barça’s victory in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League.
Outstanding performances at the EHF EURO 2024 and in the EHF Champions League also led to the MVP nomination of Danish duo Emil Nielsen (Barça) and Magnus Saugstrup (SC Magdeburg).
Two EHF Champions League winners and one world champion made the next step towards the women’s MVP award. Stine Oftedal played an instrumental role for Györi Audi ETO KC winning the EHF Champions League – a performance which was eventually topped by her being awarded MVP of the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest.
Her teammate, Dane Line Haugsted, was Györ’s outstanding defender in the 2023/24 season, while Chloé Valentini not only shone for Metz Handball but also for France when they won gold at the IHF Women’s World Championship 2023.
Gidsel and Lunde honoured for Olympic performance
The nomination to the MVP shortlist of the EHF Excellence Awards 2024 only took into consideration the players’ performances in the 2023/24 season, the season which was also the basis for the online vote.
However, with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games being the undisputed sportive highlight of the summer, the EHF as a continental federation decided to establish the ‘European Olympic Excellence Award’ dedicated to one European male and one European female player who displayed outstanding performances at the Games.
Following the decision, the first set of the new award will be given to Dane Mathias Gidsel and Norwegian Katrine Lunde.
25-year-old Gidsel won gold with Denmark at Paris 2024. He was named the handball tournament’s MVP and was the event’s top scorer with 62 goals.
In Paris, 44-year-old Lunde added another trophy to her illustrious career when she won gold with Norway – her third after 2008 and 2012 – and just like Gidsel she was awarded MVP of the Olympic handball tournament.
Following the awarding by the EHF, Gidsel and Lunde shall both be officially honoured at the EHF Excellence Awards gala event in Vienna on 14 December 2024.
