One of the surprise packages of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, Italy, have a new coach, as Bob Hanning was unveiled in the new position during the final weekend of the world handball flagship competition in the Unity Arena in Baerum.

Hanning will replace Riccardo Trillini, the coach who led Italy in the past eight years and supervised the transition from an emerging nation in Europe towards a side which qualified for the IHF Men’s World Championship after a 28-year break, finishing on the 16th place at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, with three wins and three losses in the competition.

“This will be a crucial Olympic cycle, a four-year period, during which it will be necessary to infuse new energy, set even more ambitious goals and keep competitive tension high,” said the President of the Italian Handball Federation (FIGH), Stefano Podini.

Hanning has plenty of experience in handball, having started coaching in his 20s. His first team was TV Cronenberg, then moved to TUSEM Essen, as an assistant coach. Hanning then served as an assistant coach to legendary Germany mastermind Heiner Brand and also served as a coach for the younger age category teams for Germany.

After three years at HSV Hamburg, Hanning was appointed as a managing director at  Füchse Berlin in 2005, while also serving as the vice president of the German Handball Federation between 2013 and 2021.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity and the challenge that awaits us. Continuing the great work of Riccardo Trillini and the team will be a demanding task, but one that I accept with full commitment. To further develop Italian handball we will have to travel this path together, Federation, clubs and players, each doing their part,” said Hanning during the unveiling press conference in Norway.

“Collaboration and unity will be the key to our success. Let's use the current momentum and enthusiasm to further advance Italian handball. I am grateful for the support of all those who love the sport of handball in Italy. Let's face this challenge together.”

The German coach will make his debut in the EHF EURO 2026 Qualification Phase, with a doubleheader against Latvia in March. Italy have a good chance of making the final tournament in the European top competition, after defeating Serbia, 31:30, in November.

Hanning also made the first move at club level, with Füchse Berlin signing Leo Prantner, one of the most impressive Italy players at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, who was his team’s top scorer, with 37 goals.