alt BRITISH HANDBALL today announced the appointment of Morten Arvidsson (pictured) as head coach of the women’s world class programme, aimed at preparing the British team for the 2012 Olympics.

 

The two-year appointment, which is effective immediately, will see Arvidsson coach the programme on a part-time basis, while he continues with his current role as head coach of German women’s champions, HC Leipzig. 

 

His appointment will run until March 2009, when a full review of the progress of all Olympic sports will be undertaken by UK Sport and decisions taken on the way forward.

 

Arvidsson, 43,, was born in Thisted, Denmark, and has previously coached top Swedish, Norwegian and Danish club sides, including Randers HK and KIF Kolding, as well as coaching the Denmark-B national women’s team between 2003 and 2005. 

 

He took-up his current appointment at HC Leipzig in 2006. 

 

Arvidsson is also a member of the Danish Handball Federation Education Commission, which is responsible for the education of top coaches in Denmark.

 

Stevie Neilson, the chairman of the British Handball Association (BHA), said: “Signing Morten is a significant coup for the British Handball Association and further demonstrates the considerable advances made by the world class programme since it began last year. 

 

"Arvidsson is one of the world’s best coaches and we are confident that his appointment will have a huge impact on the programme.”

 

Arvidsson said: “I could not resist this challenge to try and bring British handball many steps forward. 

 

"It is a big, but really exciting challenge. 

 

"My dream for the British team is of course to make a top class performance at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but I will also try to reach a marvellous achievement with British handball beyond 2012.”

 

Since the world class programme was launched in 2006, the BHA has signed a co-operation agreement with the Danish Handball Federation and, to date, 18 British players have relocated to two specialist handball academies in Denmark, where they also play with local Danish League clubs and more players will follow later this year. 

 

In the UK the BHA has relocated to Sheffield, where the non Danish-base players train regularly.