The four crisis clubs have raised half the national team
Updated 2024-03-13 07.43 | Published 2024-03-12 13.12
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They have nurtured half the national team into elite players.
Now the clubs are in crisis.
– I feel sad when I hear the rumors that the club will not exist if they leave, says Jim Gottfridsson about his parent club IFK Ystad.
- The Swedish handball clubs IFK Ystad, Redbergslid, Lugi and Aranäs, which have fostered eight of the national team players, are in crisis.
- Lugi is on the verge of falling out of the handball league for the first time in 31 years and Redbergslid and IFK Ystad are fighting to survive in the Allsvenskan with only two rounds left.
- Jim Gottfridsson, the former IFK Ystad player, urges young players to prioritize playing time over money at the start of their careers.
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The national handball team is together for the first time since the EC in January.
The victory in the bronze match gave a ticket to this summer’s Olympics and therefore they avoid a tough Olympic qualification this week. Instead, it will be a pure training camp in Gothenburg without international matches.
Jim Gottfridsson and Jonathan Carlsbogård believe that they have gotten over the talked about and tough loss against France in the semis.
– But it’s still bitter, says Gottfridsson.
Most of the players in the national team are in the middle of top battles in one of the big leagues and are preparing for the playoffs in the Champions League.
But at the same time, half of them suffer with their old clubs in Sweden. Redbergslid, Lugi, IFK Ystad and Aranäs have nurtured eight of the national team players into elite and/or national team players (see fact box below).
chevron-leftpreviouschevron-rightnextJim Gottfridsson.
1 / 3Photo: Ludvig Thunman / Bildbyrån
FACT
The national team stars who played in the four crisis clubs
Redbergslids IK
Andreas Palicka (2002–08, 2021–22)
Tobias Thulin (2011–19)
Hampus Wanne (2005–11)
Jonathan Carlsbogård (2013-18)
Read HF
Lucas Pellas (2016–20)
Karl Wallinius (parent club −2021)
HK Aranäs
Oscar Bergendahl (parent club −2014)
Hampus Wanne (2011–13)
IFK Ystad
Jim Gottfridsson (parent club −2011)
Read more chevron-left previous
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fullscreen chevron-rightnextLucas Pellas.
1 / 2Photo: Ludvig Thunman / Bildbyrån
Player flight awaits
Now there is a crisis in all four. Lugi is about to leave the handball league for the first time in 31 years. They are fighting with Aranäs to avoid the jumbo place which gives direct relegation.
Last year, most of the champions RIK left the handball league for the first time in over 40 years. Now they are fighting to stay in the Allsvenskan with two rounds left. So does IFK Ystad, who played in the top division as recently as two years ago.
Lugi, RIK and IFK Ystad are also on the verge of ruin and Aranäs is also struggling financially. The players are now fleeing for next season.
Gottfridsson played in IFK Ystad from handball until he was 19 when he left for arch-rival Ystads IF. He has seen IFK’s last two matches.
– I understand that they are having a tough time financially, but it is a team and a club that must be good enough to stay in the Allsvenskan. There are enough players in Ystad to keep IFK in the Allsvenskan.
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full screenJonathan Carlsbogård. Photo: Ludvig Thunman / Bildbyrån
“Want to avoid a complete breakdown”
Busy following the decline?
– Yes, I feel sad when I hear the rumors that the club will not remain if they leave. The decline has been incredibly fast. They were ready for the playoffs when the corona hit in 2020. Now they are fourth last in the Allsvenskan. I myself have played there for free, but now you hear how the young players should have so much.
Young players leaving for better contracts elsewhere?
– I don’t judge anyone. Man, I was brought up to believe that playing time is more important than those extra kroner when you are 17-18 years old. My advice to young players is to choose a club where you think you will get a lot of playing time and skip the money in the beginning, says Gottfridsson.
Carlsbogård played in RIK for five years before becoming a professional abroad.
– Only they avoid relegation directly now so they have the chance to qualify. It would have been very nice to avoid a complete breakdown with relegation two years in a row. RIK is still important for Gothenburg handball, says the Barcelona star.
2024-03-14 06:37:51
#Gottfridsson #feel #sad #hear #rumours
