Sports · Other Sports · 1 day ago
Rhein-Neckar Löwen dismiss Maik Machulla and appoint Michel Abt as coach
Rhein-Neckar Löwen, a handball club from Mannheim, Germany, have dismissed head coach Maik Machulla with immediate effect.
He has also been removed from his role as squad planner.
The club made the decision after losing 29–33 at home to ThSV Eisenach.
That was the Löwen’s fourth defeat in eight league games, leaving them 11th in the table.
The club said the team had not turned its preparation and promising play into positive results.
Assistant coach Michel Abt, who has a long history with the club, will take over as head coach.
The club has yet to decide who will serve as assistant coach, and says it will also consider the future role of its sporting director.
Rhein-Neckar Löwen dismissed head coach Maik Machulla with immediate effect and appointed assistant coach Michel Abt as his replacement.
The club announced the decision on October 12 after a disappointing start to the Handball-Bundesliga season.
The Löwen had lost 29-33 at home to ThSV Eisenach, their fourth defeat in eight league matches, and were 11th in the table.
Machulla was also relieved of his duties as squad planner.
The club said Abt knows the team and is confident he can have a positive influence as head coach.
- Who
- Rhein-Neckar Löwen dismissed Maik Machulla and appointed Michel Abt as head coach.
- What
- Machulla was relieved of his head-coach and squad-planner duties with immediate effect.
- When
- The club announced the decision on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The Rhein-Neckar Löwen are a Handball-Bundesliga club based in Mannheim.
- Why
- The club cited the team’s failure to achieve positive results and its disappointing home performance against ThSV Eisenach.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Löwen lost 29-33 at home to ThSV Eisenach, their fourth defeat in eight league matches.
The club announced Machulla’s immediate dismissal and appointed assistant coach Michel Abt as head coach.
- Machulla’s duties
- Head coach and squad planner
- New head coach
- Michel Abt
- Age
- Machulla: 49; Abt: 36
- Latest result
- 29-33 home loss to ThSV Eisenach
- League position
- 11th after eight matches
What people are saying
Despite many good approaches and strong preparation, the team has not managed to achieve positive results in the competitive season so far.
Michel carries the Löwen DNA in him and knows the team.
I respect the club’s decision, even though I would have very much liked to continue working with this team.
The Löwen are close to my heart, and I am sure that together, as a club with this team, we can embark on a successful path.
Sources
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