French
DeutschNeckarsulmer SU (women's handball)
| Sport-Union Neckarsulm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Full name | Sport-Union Neckarsulm e.V. | ||
| Short name | SUN, Sport-Union | ||
| Founded | 1 January 2009 | ||
| Arena | Ballei-Sporthalle | ||
| Capacity | 1,500 | ||
| President | Rolf Härdtner | ||
| Head coach | Thomas Zeitz | ||
| League | Handball Bundesliga Frauen | ||
| 2023-24 | 10th | ||
| Club colours | |||
| |||
| Website Official site | |||
Sport-Union Neckarsulm is the women's handball team of the sports club Sport-Union Neckarsulm, from the town of Neckarsulm in the southwest of Germany. The team competes domestically in the Handball-Bundesliga and the DHB-Pokal. They play their home matches at the Ballei-Sporthalle and usually wear dark navy shirts and shorts.
History
[edit]Early years
[edit]Sport-Union Neckarsulm was founded on New Year's Day in 2009 as Neckarsulmer Sport-Union (NSU) through the merger of Sportvereinigung Neckarsulm 1946 and Sportfreunde Neckarsulm. The name alludes to the NSU Motorenwerke, the predecessor of Audi, which was located in the city of Neckarsulm until 1985. The multi sports club consists of 17 different sections of which the women’s handball section is one of the best known because of their multi-year participation in the Bundesliga, Germany‘s most important handball league.
Climbing up the league pyramid
[edit]After two championship titles in regional fifth and fouth tier leagues, coach Emir Hadzimuhamedović led the team also to promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in the summer of 2013. In the following years, the team established itself there and gained promotion to the Bundesliga as second division champions in 2016.
A big part in the various promotions from regional amateur levels to professional tiers played the successful under-17 team, which won the German championship in 2011. Talented players of this youth team formed an integral part of the first team in later years.[1]
New name and establishment in the Bundesliga
[edit]After promotion to the Bundesliga Neckarsulmer Sport-Union was fighting against relegation for their first three years in Germany’s top tier but eventually managed to stay in the league. With coaches Pascal Morgant and Tanja Logvin at the helm, the team established itself in the following years as a solid force in the Bundesliga with a sixth place finish in the 2020-21 season, the best result to date.
In 2021 Neckarsulmer Sport-Union was forced to change its name and crest due to unwanted associations with the right-wing extremist organization National Socialist Underground, although the abbreviation NSU has a long regional tradition in and around the city of Neckarsulm.[2] Now playing as Sport-Union Neckarsulm the club produced players like Selina Kalmbach or Sarah Wachter who went on to become internationals for Germany.
Season to season
[edit]| Season | Tier | Division | Position | Points | DHB-Pokal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | V | Württembergliga (Nord) | 9th/12 | 19:25 | |
| 2010–11 | V | Württembergliga (Nord) | 1st/12 | 44:0 | |
| 2011–12 | IV | BW-Oberliga | 1st/14 | 50:2 | Round of 32 |
| 2012–13 | III | 3. Liga (Süd) | 1st/14 | 48:4 | |
| 2013–14 | II | 2. Bundesliga | 7th/14 | 27:29 | Round of 16 |
| 2014–15 | II | 2. Bundesliga | 4th/14 | 34:18 | First round |
| 2015–16 | II | 2. Bundesliga | 1st/16 | 53:7 | Quarterfinals |
| 2016–17 | I | Bundesliga | 12th/14 | 13:39 | Round of 16 |
| 2017–18 | I | Bundesliga | 13th/14 | 10:42 | Round of 32 |
| 2018–19 | I | Bundesliga | 12th/14 | 13:39 | Quarterfinals |
| 2019–20 | I | Bundesliga | 9th/14 | 12:24 | Quarterfinals |
| 2020–21 | I | Bundesliga | 6th/16 | 37:23 | Round of 16 |
| 2021–22 | I | Bundesliga | 7th/14 | 26:26 | Round of 16 |
| 2022–23 | I | Bundesliga | 12th/14 | 15:37 | Round of 16 |
| 2023–24 | I | Bundesliga | 10th/14 | 14:38 | Round of 16 |
| 2024–25 | I | Bundesliga | Round of 16 |
Arena
[edit]Sport-Union Neckarsulm play their home matches at the Ballei-Sporthalle, a multi-purpose arena which hosts up to 1,500 spectators (standing and seated). The arena complex also includes a hall for cultural events for up to 1,000 people as well as a restaurant and a bowling alley.[3] The men’s handball team of the club plays selected matches at the Ballei as well. The arena is among the most visited in the Bundesliga.[4]
- Name: Ballei-Sporthalle
- Location: Neckarsulm, Germany
- Capacity: 1,500 spectators[5]
- Address: Deutschordensplatz 1, 74172 Neckarsulm
The club's most prominent supporters' group is Blaue Wand ("Blue wall"), which is located in sector B of Ballei's Foyer-Tribüne. The Blaue Wand arranges away day travels as well as meet-and-greets with players and staff and is also heavily involved in the organisation of home matches.[6]
| Season | Overall | Average | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | 14,305 | 1,100 | 4th/14 | [7] |
| 2017–18 | 13,541 | 1,041 | 7th/14 | [8] |
| 2018–19 | 13,550 | 1,042 | 6th/14 | |
| 2019–20 | 7,511 | 938 | 9th/14[9] | [10] |
| 2020–21 | 1,217 | 304 | 5th/16[11] | [12] |
| 2021–22 | 9,378 | 721 | 1st/14[13] | [14] |
| 2022–23 | 11,878 | 914 | 5th/14 | [15] |
| 2023–24 | 12,865 | 990 | 5th/14 | [16] |
| 2024–25 |
Team
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- Squad for the 2024-25 season.[17]
| No. | Position | Player | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Height | Year signed | Signed from | End of contract | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||||
| 12 | GK | Johanna Fossum |  | 25 January 2003 | 1,75m | 2024 | Sola HK | 2026 | ||
| 29 | GK | Lena Ivančok |  | 29 March 2001 | 1,84m | 2023 |  RK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2025 | ||
| 66 | GK | Aleksandra Orowicz |  | 7 September 1996 | 1,76m | 2024 |  SG 09 Kirchhof | 2026 | ||
| Wingers | ||||||||||
| 8 | RW | Vasiliki Gkatziou |  | 8 October 1997 | 1,68m | 2023 |  BM Remudas | 2025 | ||
| 19 | RW | Iva van der Linden |  | 19 April 1998 | 1,78m | 2024 |  Boden Handboll IF | 2026 | ||
| 21 | LW | Alessia Riner |  | 8 January 2004 | 1,70m | 2023 | LK Zug | 2025 | ||
| 55 | LW | Rabea Pollakowski | | 26 February 1998 | 1,62m | 2023 | VfL Waiblingen | 2025 | ||
| Line players | ||||||||||
| 5 | P | Kim Hinkelmann | | 16 October 2001 | 1,83m | 2023 |  Holstebro Håndbold | 2025 | ||
| 92 | P | Stefanie Kaiser | | 31 October 1992 | 1,81m | 2024 | HSG Blomberg-Lippe | 2026 | ||
| Backcourt players | ||||||||||
| 7 | LB | Angunn Gudmestad | | 8 May 2001 | 1,67m | 2024 | Aker Topphåndball | 2026 | ||
| 10 | CB | Sinah Hagen | | 12 October 1996 | 1,68m | 2024 | Buxtehuder SV | 2026 | ||
| 11 | CB | Annefleur Bruggeman | | 23 July 1997 | 1,81m | 2022 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 2026 | ||
| 17 | CB | Lynn Holtman | | 7 July 2004 | 1,75m | 2024 | Westfriesland SEW | 2026 | ||
| 23 | LB | Munia Smits |  | 23 December 1999 | 1,78m | 2022 | HSG Bad Wildungen | 2026 | ||
| 58 | RB | Lilli Holste | | 25 April 2001 | 1,79m | 2024 | HSG Bensheim/Auerbach | 2026 | ||
| 97 | LB | Veronika Andrýsková |  | 24 May 1997 | 1,92m | 2023 | DHK Baník Most | 2025 | ||
Transfers
[edit]- Transfers for the 2024-25 season.[18]
|
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Technical staff
[edit]- Technical staff for the 2024-25 season.[19]
|
|
Personnel
[edit]Notable former players
[edit]
Maike Daniels- Nina Engel
- Ann-Cathrin Giegerich
- Selina Kalmbach
- Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar
- Nele Reimer
- Luisa Schulze
- Johanna Stockschläder
- Sarah Wachter
Mette Gravholt- Mia Møldrup
Michelle Goos- Lynn Knippenborg
- Anouk Nieuwenweg
Irene Espínola Pérez
Daphne Gautschi- Seline Ineichen
- Celia Schneider
- Chantal Wick
Emilia Galińska
Birna Berg Haraldsdóttir
Valeria Gorelova
Melanie Herrmann
Mirjana Milenković
Alena Vojtíšková
Nives Ahlin
Appearances and Goalscorers
[edit]Competitive matches and goals in the Bundesliga only. As of 1 June 2024.[20] [21] [22]
| Rank | Player | Years | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selina Kalmbach | 2016–2022 | 134 |
| 2 | Sarah Wachter | 2019–2023 | 97 |
| 3 | Irene Espínola Pérez | 2018–2022 | 95 |
| 4 | Seline Ineichen | 2016–2020 | 91 |
| 5 | Nele Reimer | 2017–2020 2021–2022 | 82 |
| 6 | Sharon Nooitmeer | 2021–2024 | 75 |
| 7 | Lynn Knippenborg | 2019–2022 | 72 |
| 8 | Nathalie Hendrikse | 2019–2022 | 72 |
| 9 | Jill Kooij | 2019–2022 | 72 |
| 10 | Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar | 2019–2022 | 72 |
| Rank | Player | Years | Games | Goals | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irene Espínola Pérez | 2018–2022 | 95 | 420 | 4.42 |
| 2 | Nele Reimer | 2017–2020 2021–2022 | 82 | 361 | 4.40 |
| 3 | Lynn Knippenborg | 2019–2022 | 72 | 324 | 4.50 |
| 4 | Nathalie Hendrikse | 2019–2022 | 72 | 280 | 3.89 |
| 5 | Nina Engel | 2022–2024 | 50 | 263 | 5.26 |
| 6 | Seline Ineichen | 2016–2020 | 91 | 206 | 2.26 |
| 7 | Selina Kalmbach | 2016–2022 | 134 | 205 | 1.53 |
| 8 | Lena Hoffmann | 2016–2019 | 52 | 191 | 3.67 |
| 9 | Jill Kooij | 2019–2022 | 72 | 183 | 2.54 |
| 10 | Maike Daniels | 2016–2018 | 48 | 177 | 3.69 |
Former coaches
[edit]Competitive matches in the Bundesliga only. As of 1 June 2024.
| Coach | Nat. | From | To | G | W | D | L | Win%[A] | PPG | Honours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Arnold | | 07/2009 | 06/2010 | — | − | − | − | — | - | ||
| Emir Hadžimuhamedović |  | 07/2010 | 02/2018 | 38 | 9 | 2 | 27 | 23.68 | 0.53 | 1 2. Bundesliga 1 3. Liga 1 BW-Oberliga 1 Württembergliga | |
| Annamária Ilyés (Caretaker) |  | 02/2018 | 03/2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Tanja Logvin | | 04/2018 | 06/2018 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14.29 | 0.43 | ||
| Pascal Morgant | | 07/2018 | 01/2020 | 37 | 9 | 1 | 27 | 24.32 | 0.51 | ||
| Maike Daniels (Caretaker) | | 01/2020 | 06/2020 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 42.86 | 0.86 | ||
| Tanja Logvin | | 07/2020 | 01/2023 | 67 | 32 | 3 | 32 | 47.76 | 1.00 | ||
| Mart Aalderink (Caretaker) | | 01/2023 | 06/2023 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 35.71 | 0.79 | ||
| Thomas Zeitz | | 07/2023 | Present | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 26.92 | 0.54 | [23] |
A. ^ Win percentage is rounded to two decimal places.
Honours
[edit]- 2. Bundesliga
- Champions (1): 2016
- 3. Liga (Süd)
- Champions (1): 2013
- Baden-Württemberg Oberliga
- Champions (1): 2012
- Württembergliga
- Champions (2): 2011, 2024 (Second team)
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
[edit]| HOME | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
           2018-19 | |||||
| AWAY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
     2018-19 | |||||
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Main shirt sponsor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009/10 – 2010/11 | H2O | Autohaus Weilbacher | |
| 2011/12 – 2012/13 | Hummel | TDS Informationstechnologie AG | |
| 2013/2014 | ProTouch | ||
| 2014/2015 | Fujitsu | ||
| 2015/2016 | Bäckerei Härdtner | [24] | |
| 2016/17 – 2020/21 | Erima | Kaufland/Lidl | [25] |
| 2021/22 – 2023/24 | Joma | [26] | |
| 2024/25 – | Erima | [27] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Als die Neckarsulmer B-Juniorinnen die deutsche Meisterschaft feierten". Heilbronner Stimme. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Jetzt ist klar: Neckarsulmer Sport-Union benennt sich um". Heilbronner Stimme. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Ballei und Festhallen". City of Neckarsulm. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Alle Statistiken: Zuschauer". Handball Bundesliga Frauen. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Diesmal steht das Gerüst bei der Sport-Union Neckarsulm". Heilbronner Stimme. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Blaue Wand". Fanblock Blaue Wand. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ » Zuschauer Archived 6 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine (in German) handball-world, Spectator figures 2016–17. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ » Zuschauer Archived 14 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in German) handball-world, Spectator figures 2017–18. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, several matches were played behind closed doors.
- ^ » Zuschauer Archived 11 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine (in German) handball-world, Spectator figures 2019–20. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, the majority of matches were played behind closed doors.
- ^ » Zuschauer Archived 17 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine (in German) handball-world, Spectator figures 2020–21. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, some matches were played behind closed doors.
- ^ » Zuschauer Archived 2 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine (in German) handball-world, Spectator figures 2021–22. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ » Zuschauer (in German) Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2022–23. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ » Zuschauer (in German) Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2023–24. Retrieved 06 June 2024
- ^ "2024/25 squad". Handball Bundesliga Frauen. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Sport-Union trennt sich von Rückraum-Spielerinnen – Gkatziou bleibt ligaunabhängig". Heilbronner Stimme. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Maurice Meister und Matze Treiber sind bei der Sport-Union die Vorarbeiter des Erfolgs" (published 3 August 2024). 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Sport-Union Neckarsulm". Handball Bundesliga Frauen. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "1. Bundesliga » Statistiken". Handball.net. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "1. Handball Bundesliga Frauen". handball-world. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Buchmann, Nils (February 8, 2023). "Neckarsulmer Neustart mit Thomas Zeitz". Heilbronner Stimme. p. 17.
- ^ "Maike Daniels verlässt die Neckarsulmer Sport-Union". June 2021.
- ^ "Aufsteiger Neckarsulm präsentiert neuen Ausrüster". June 2016.
- ^ "Joma wird neuer Ausrüster der Sport-Union Neckarsulm". July 2021.
- ^ "Sport-Union möchte bei Fans und Vorstand für einen niedrigeren Blutdruck sorgen". August 2024.