Episode 296 - Men's EHF FINAL4 preview with Björn Pazen, Vincent Gerard's Barça adventure
The biggest weekend of the handball calendar is upon us and we celebrate with a big preview of the showdown in Cologne with Björn Pazen and an interview with Vincent Gerard. The Champions League winner and Olympic gold medallist retired after Paris 2024 and battling through a tough season to even get there, but accepted the call from Barça after their own injury problems between the posts. We speak to Vincent about his unexpected comeback, returning to this level, the hardships of last year and what it takes to come out on top in Cologne. With Björn, we dive into the four contenders and Saturday's semi-finals. How will Berlin react after claiming a historic first Bundesliga title and is Mathias Gidsel on the verge of the greatest single season in handball? Can Nantes upset the favourites and reignite the fine tradition of surprise winners? We discuss how reigning champions Barça will shape up after their routine end to the domestic season. And will we see Zombie Magdeburg strike once again with Gisli Kristjannson, or can they go all the way with Felix Claar at the wheel?
13 Juni 1h
The Morning Club - 6 June: Finals everywhere, Sporting's big statement, Lewis Howes chasing dreams
This is a teaser of our latest Morning Club episode, which is available in full exclusively on patreon.com/handballhour It's the wonderful time of the season where we're treated to multi-game league finals in countries like Hungary, Poland and Denmark, which are serving up plenty of drama and entertainment. Ahead of their impending first league title, Berlin announced a spicy new signing but the biggest transfer news is the transfers that won't be happening as Sporting hold on to Costa, Costa and Salvador Salvador. Plus we react to the first episode of entrepreneur and returning handball player Lewis Howes documentary as he chases his Olympic dreams at the age of 42.
6 Juni 16min
Episode 295 - Györ on top again, Lunde's magic, semi-final curse unbroken
Györ are the queens of Europe once again following a weekend where they did not trail for a single minute. We look at their journey to gold and where they had the edge over their Danish opponents, bask in the brilliant glow of Katrine Lunde and wonder where it all went wrong for the two teams still haunted by the semi-final curse.
3 Juni 33min
Episode 294 - Women's EHF FINAL4 preview with Bruna de Paula, Adrian Costeiu and Danijela Vekic
It's time to discover the best women's team in Europe and we look forward to the FINAL4 by chatting to reigning champion Bruna de Paula as she and Györ aim to defend their crown in Budapest. We get Danijela Vekic and Adrian Costeiu together for the first time on the pod to discuss the four contenders, considering what makes Györ favourites again, how newcomers Odense will be a threat and whether Esbjerg or Metz can end their semi-final curse.
29 Maj 43min
Episode 293 - Moller's MVP weekend in Hamburg, Palmarsson retires
Flensburg retained their European League title over the weekend, thanks in no small part to a dominant performance by Kevin Møller in goal. We look back at the action and where the title was won and lost. Aron Palmarsson has announced his retirement at the age of 34, is this kind of player a dying breed? We discuss this and the postponed European Cup final in Skopje.
28 Maj 46min
Episode 292 - Dainis Kristopans on his long and winding handball road and fighting for titles with Melsungen
It's a massive week in the history of MT Melsungen as they compete for a European League title this weekend in Hamburg, then head to Berlin for a Bundesliga title eliminator on Thursday, so who better to speak about it than their biggest man - Dainis Krištopāns. We speak to Dainis about his unusual journey in handball, from Latvia via Slovakia, his development as an all-round player, the greatest weekend with Vardar in 2019 and why his inner-underdog led him to his current home in Melsungen. We also look forward to the title run-in in Germany and this weekend's EHF Finals, where Melsungen take on Flensburg, Montpellier and Kiel.
22 Maj 49min
Episode 291 - Countdown to Cologne commences
Now that we know the semi-final lineup for the FINAL4, the countdown to Cologne can truly begin. We discuss both those who made it and fell at the final hurdle, plus Chris' own injury that will require no late-season replacements.
9 Maj 46min
The Morning Club - 25 April: Quarter-finals deliver the goods, men's and women's CL chat with Danijela Vekic
Berlin and Barça put one foot on the train to Cologne thanks to world-class performances from their star right backs, while two quarter-final ties remain delicately poised. Danijela Vekic joins us to look back at the midweek matches and ahead to the second leg matches in the Women's Champions League. This is a teaser of the episode with the full show and every Morning Club episode available on patreon.com/handballhour
25 Apr 21min
