One of the traditional powerhouses of German handball, SC Magdeburg, rose back to prominence in 2021 by winning the EHF European League Men, the newly introduced second-tier European competition.

Former EHF Champions League Men and German Bundesliga winners Magdeburg were constantly trying to bounce back, yet found themselves leapfrogged by THW Kiel, SG Flensburg-Handewitt or Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

However, under coach Bennet Wiegert, born and bred in Magdeburg, who came to the team in 2015, Magdeburg started to become stronger and stronger, finishing third two times in the Men’s EHF Cup in 2017 and 2018 and also securing the German Cup in 2016.

These small steps were swiftly followed by clinching the first piece of European silverware since 2007, but also cemented by three consecutive third-place finishes in the German Bundesliga. Now, the time is here for Magdeburg to make another stride for greatness, having earned their first IHF Men’s Super Globe berth since 2002, when they finished second, behind Qatari side Al Sadd.

They will joining reigning champions, Barça, and EHF Champions League Men’s finalists, Aalborg Håndbold, as the three European sides to defend the continent’s pride in the IHF Men’s Super Globe 2021.

Magdeburg will be eager to prove their mettle once again in an international competition by trying to extend the winning streak displayed in the EHF European League Men last season. Currently, the German side boast a 12-game winning run in international competitions, having lost only one game out of their last 22.

Their roster makes for a potent line-up, with plenty of experience followed up by impressive youngsters coming of age, like backs Kay Smits and Omar Ingi Magnusson, the latter being the top scorer of the team in the German Bundesliga this season, with 20 goals in the first three games.

But the main strength comes from the experience of a mix of veteran Scandinavian and German players. A Magdeburg player since 2014, this will be the last season for Danish goalkeeper Jannick Green, who has already signed for Paris Saint-Germain Handball from next summer on. Norwegian pair Christian O’Sullivan and Magnus Gullerud bring the chemistry from their national team, while Swedish right wing Daniel Pettersson and German back Philipp Weber are also crucial players for Magdeburg.

Another advantage for the German powerhouse could be their chemistry, with only four new players ushered in this summer, with Smits, Weber and Danish duo Magnus Saugstrup and Mike Jensen being signed to add to the team’s depth.

While the IHF Men’s Super Globe might come in an early stage of the season, Magdeburg have already played three games in the domestic league at the time of writing, winning all three of them, 33:29 against Stuttgart, 28:25 versus Rhein-Neckar Löwen and 30:26 against Wetzlar.

As the differences were not huge, Magdeburg still have plenty of work to do, but the draw for the tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, helped the German side.

They will face Sydney Uni in the first round, with a win sending them into the quarter-final tie against Qatari side Al Duhail. A match against EHF Champions League Men finalists Aalborg Håndbold could be on the cards, testing Magdeburg’s mettle against one of the finest opponents Europe could produce now.

Key players: Jannick Green (goalkeeper), Daniel Pettersson (right wing), Philipp Weber (left back), Omar Ingi Magnusson (right back)

Qualification for 2021 IHF Men’s Super Globe: Wild Card

History in tournament: 2002: 2nd

Photo: Franziska Gora / nebHandball