Handball: Filip Jicha sure: 2019 Gislason’s successor at THW

Former world handball player Filip Jicha will succeed Alfred Gislason at German record champion THW Kiel next year. That’s what Filip Jicha says: “I think it will come: I will succeed Alfred in 2019,” said the 35-year-old Czech in an interview with Kieler Nachrichten.

Jicha will be co-coaching the Icelandic team for the coming season. This was announced by THW on Friday. The former backstroke star is awarded a three-year contract on the fjord. Gislasons is tied to the club until summer 2019, the 58-year-old has been training THW since 2008.

Jicha had played for Kiel from 2007 to 2015, and in 2010 the Czech was named world handball player. He won 14 national and international titles with the North Germans, including two Champions League titles, before switching to FC Barcelona. He ended his career in October 2017 due to injury.

Jicha explained to Kieler Nachrichten that he had already acquired his B-trainer licence:”From June to May 2019 I will complete the A-trainer course with the German Handball Federation,” said the father of two, whose children (5 and 8 years) were both born in Kiel.

Filip Jicha can understand doubts about his inexperience in the coaching position, but he also puts them right out of the way:”Alfred got me to be his assistant rather than his co-coach. My competences will be correspondingly greater. I know where I’m going. And I’m gonna give everything I’ve got back to the club.”