The German Handball Association surprisingly fired Christian Prokop. Alfred Gislason is the new national coach. The Icelander is no stranger and has already had some success.
Gislason will have his first game as national coach on March 13 against the Netherlands. For handball fans, however, there is no stranger on the sidelines. Because the Icelander was last coach of the THW Kiel for eleven years and led the North Germans to six championship titles and two Champions League triumphs.
Gislason has rebuilt a ruin
He is also a compatriot of Dagur Sigurdsson, who won the gold medal at the European Championship with the Germans in 2016. Gislason has had a farm in Saxony-Anhalt for around 18 years, which he bought as a ruin and prepared himself. “I took over a complete ruin that had mostly collapsed. But it was worth it,” says Gislason in a video by THW Kiel. Today the courtyard has been renovated and shines in new splendor. The rose garden is a special place. There, the handball coach often recharges. He says: “You forget the time and switch off completely. That is the valuable thing about it.” There is also a vegetable garden in the yard.
The new German national coach: Alfred Gislason. (Source: Sven Simon / imago images)
Gislason is known for its perfectionism. “If I start something, I have to do it completely until the end,” says the 60-year-old. A characteristic that also fits his previous trainer stations. Gislason was a trainer in Magdeburg for seven years, he also remained loyal to his last trainer position at THW Kiel from 2008 to 2019 and then took a break of his own choice. He was the first coach to win the Champions League with two different clubs. Both in 2002 with the SC Magdeburg, as well as in 2010 and 2012 with the THW Kiel.
His wife supports him
He always receives backing from his wife Kara. In a video of THW Kiel, he enthuses: “My wife is very strong. I would call her a very good assistant coach at the Bundesliga level, even if she didn’t play handball. She also criticized me, as I sometimes do on the field. Mostly more critical than everyone else. ” His wife also knows the other side of the coach: “Family is important to him. He is always a loving family man.”
Gislason is one who takes his responsibility seriously and continues to push his team even if successful. Daniel Narcisse once said that he was in a bad mood 340 out of 365 days a year. Gislason said: “At the time, I really wanted to keep the zero, even if it was clear that we had been champions for a long time. I wanted to take the chance. I thought if we could do it, nobody could do it.”
A quote that shows what lies ahead for the DHB. Gislason is a successful trainer. But also someone who can put pressure on them to achieve their goals. And next year the handball World Cup is already in Egypt.
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