He will be the national team’s new national team captain

In recent years, Michael Apelgren has been the assistant national team captain next to Glenn Solberg.

The 40-year-old became a candidate to take over the men’s national handball team when the Norwegian surprisingly left the role.

Earlier in October, Apelgren said that the association discussed with several candidates and admitted that he was interested in becoming the association captain.

And now it’s done. Apelgren takes over the national team captain’s job after Solberg, who resigned three weeks ago.

It came on a bit quickly. But when I got a concrete request, I realized how big it is and what a privilege it is and I felt that it was tempting, it was hard to say no. It’s a big day for me personally, says Apelgren in a webcast from the Swedish Handball Association.

Will double work

The Swede, who will be working double time as he has a contract with the Hungarian big club Pick Szeged, will therefore have busy days ahead.

The advantage is that I get to stand on the floor every day and coach. The disadvantage is that I become a little less available and become a little worse at exercising overall responsibility, he says.

Already at the beginning of November, matches against France and Denmark await in the EHF Euro Cup – where the squad is selected on Tuesday – and at the beginning of next year, the European Championship play-offs await, which will be decided in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Apelgren has signed for four years.