Metz Handball is a French

handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the ...

club from

Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. Founded in 1965 under the name ASPTT Metz, the club has an exceptional track record with some 40 titles won, which is the all-time record for a French women's team sport. Chaired by Thierry Weizman since 2005, the club is becoming increasingly professional and now aims to play a leading role in Europe. The men's team also played in 1st League between 1971 and 1983, and nowadays plays in Nationale 1 (3rd division) since 2020.

History

If Metz Handball has become over the last decades the most prestigious women's handball club in France, it is also one of the oldest institutions playing in the French elite. The club was created in 1965 under the name of ASPTT Metz, but it will be necessary to wait a few more years to see the creation of a feminine team in 1968, which make the current fame of the club. Vice-champions of France and semi-finalists of the Cup of Cups in 1977, the men's team gave ASPTT Metz its first prestige. But in the shadow, the women's team progressed year after year until being promoted in 1986 in the best league in France, without ever leaving it since. The coach of the team at that time was French Olivier Krumbholz, who later became the successful national manager for

. Since the promotion, Metz HB has had overwhelming success with 24 National Championships from 1989 to 2022, which is the all-time record in the French Women's First League Championship. Metz Handball is progressively establishing itself as a strong place in European handball. A first epic saw the Dragonnes reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners Cup in 1999. They then became famous in the EHF Cup where, after several quarter finals, they played a first European final in 2013 but did not manage to win the title. The following seasons, the club gains momentum and shines in the Champions League. Unlucky quarter-finalists in 2017 and 2018, Metz participated for the first time in the Final 4 of Europe's most prestigious competition in 2019, where they finished fourth. After a season without any trophy in 2021, Metz Handball realizes the most beautiful season of its history. The club won a 24th French Championship title, a 10th French Cup, and became famous in the

Ligue Butagaz Énergie The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...

with a flawless record: 26 victories in 26 games. For the second time in its history, the Dragonnes participated in the Final 4 of the

EHF Champions League The Men's EHF Champions League is the most important club handball competition for men's teams in Europe and involves the leading teams from the top European nations. The competition is organised every year by EHF. The official name for the men ...

and won their first European medal by finishing third.

Name

* 1967–2002: ''ASPTT Metz'' * 2002–2005: ''Handball Metz Métropole'' * 2005–2009: ''Handball Metz Moselle Lorraine'' * 2009–: ''Metz Handball''

Results

Coupe de France 2016-17 Metz vainqueur 2017-05-27

* French Women's First League Championship: **Winners (24): 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 **Runner-up (7): 1991, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2021 * French Women's Cup Championship: **Winners (10): 1990, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022 **Runner-up (7): 1987, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2018 *French Women's League Cup Championship: **Winners (7): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 **Runner-up (1): 2004 *European

Women's EHF Cup The Women's EHF European League is an annual competition for women's handball clubs of Europe. It is organized by the EHF. It is currently the second-tier competition of European club handball, ranking only below the EHF Champions League. Previo ...

: **Silver: 2013 *European

Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup The Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup was the official competition for women's handball clubs of Europe that won their national cup, and took place every year from 1976 to 2016 (until 1993 organized by IHF instead of EHF). From the 2016–17 season, t ...

: **Semi-finalist: 1999, 2004, 2010, 2011 *European

EHF Women's Champions League The Women's EHF Champions League is the competition for the top women's handball clubs in Europe, organised annually by the European Handball Federation (EHF). It is the most prestigious tournament for clubs, with the champions of Europe's top n ...

: **Bronze: 2022 **Quarterfinalists: 2017, 2018, 2021 **Fourth place: 2019

European record

Team

Current squad

:''Squad for the season 2022–23'' ;Goalkeepers * 1 Camille Depuiset * 99 Hatadou Sako ;Wingers ;LW * 6 Chloé Valentini * 21 Laura Kanor ;RW * 14

Debbie Bont Debbie Bont (born 9 December 1990) is a Dutch handball player for Metz Handball and the Dutch national team. She represented the Netherlands in six World Championships (in Brazil 2011, in Serbia 2013, winning silver in Denmark 2015, bronze i ...

* 70 Julie Leblevec ;PV * 27 Sarah Bouktit * 28 Noémie Barthélémy * 33

Luisa Schulze Luisa Schulze (born 14 September 1990) is a German handball player for Vipers Kristiansand and the German national team. She participated at the 2011 World Women's Handball Championship in Brazil. Achievements *EHF European League: **''Winner ...

;Back players ;LB * 2

Bruna de Paula Bruna de Paula (born 26 September 1996) is a Brazilian professional handball player for Győri ETO KC and the Brazilian national team. She previously played for Metz. She competed at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark. Indi ...

( c) *8 Ćamila Mičijević * 26 Stelvia de Jesus Pascoal ;CB * 10 Kristina Jørgensen * 11 Tamara Horacek ;RB * 19 Louise Burgaard * 24 Emma Jacques * 61 Valeriia Maslova

Transfers

:''Transfers for the 2023–24 season'' ; Joining * Lucie Granier (RW) ''(from

ESBF Besançon ESBF Besançon is a French women's handball club based in Besançon. They play in the French Women's First League. Honours * French Women's First League: **''Gold:'' 1988, 1998, 2001, 2003 **''Bronze:'' 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 20 ...

)'' * Anne Mette Hansen (LB) ''(from Győri Audi ETO KC)'' * Djazz Chambertin (LB/CB) ''(from OGC Nice Côte d'Azur Handball)'' *

Alina Grijseels Alina Grijseels (born 12 April 1996) is a German handball player for Metz HB and the German national team. She participated at the 2018 European Women's Handball Championship. Achievements *Handball-Bundesliga Frauen Handball-Bundesliga, ...

(CB) ''(from

Borussia Dortmund Handball Borussia Dortmund (''Ballspielverein Borussia 1909 e.V. Dortmund'', ''BVB'', ''BVB 09'') is a German women's handball team from Dortmund. They compete in the Handball-Bundesliga Frauen since 2015–2016 season, the top division in Germany. They ...

)'' * Emma Tucella (RW) ''(from

Metz Handball Metz Handball is a French handball club from Metz, France. Founded in 1965 under the name ASPTT Metz, the club has an exceptional track record with some 40 titles won, which is the all-time record for a French women's team sport. Chaired by Thierr ...

(centre de formation)'' * Zaliata Mlamali (LW) ''(from

(centre de formation)'' ; Leaving * Noémie Barthélémy (LP) (retires) *

(RW) (retires) * Tamara Horacek (CB) ''(to Neptunes de Nantes)'' * Valeriia Maslova (RB) ''(to

Brest Bretagne Handball Brest Bretagne Handball, also knows as BBH, is a French professional handball club from Brest, Brittany. This team currently competes in the French Women's Handball First League from 2016 and the 2021–22 Women's EHF Champions League. In the ...

)'' * Ćamila Mičijević (LB) ''(to Paris 92)'' *

(LB/CB) ''(to Győri Audi ETO KC)'' * Laura Kanor (LW) ''(to Rapid București)'' * Stelvia de Jesus Pascoal (LB) (to ??)''

Technical staff

:''Staff for the 2022–23 season.'' * Head coach: Emmanuel Mayonnade * Assistant coach: Yekaterina Andryushina * Physicak coach: Nicolas Jarzat * Goalkeeping coach: Alexandra Hector * Physiotherapist: Alexandre Pawlowski * Physiotherapist: Pierre Gilet * Doctor: Thierry Weizman

Academy

Training Center

:''As of the 2022–23 season.'' ;Goalkeepers * 16 Fatima Camara * 71 Mélanie Halter ;Left Wingers * 23 Zaliata Mlamali * 25 Sarah Obry * 47 Fantine Philipps ;Right Wingers * 42 Emma Tuccella * 98 Manon Errard ;Line players * 3 Kenza Bougherch * 7 Merle Albers ;Left Backs * 51 Lily Balássi * 20 Laura Fauvarque ;Centre Backs * 9 Délia Golvet * 17 Claire Koestner ;Right Backs * 5 Andela Zagar * 15 Alice Monteillet * 29 Lalie Vernay

Men's team

:''As of the 2022–23 season.'' ;Goalkeepers * 25 Hugo Bordy * 97 Nicolas Balmy ;Left Wingers * 3 Thiebaud Marotta * 9 Geoffrey Bettenfeld * 57 Antonin D'hondt ;Right Wingers * 19 Nathan Andrezo * 44 Xavier Blond ;Line players * 15 Arthur Abate * 93 Médérick Grégoire ;Left Backs * 7 Frederik Olsen * 94 Romain Baumann ;Centre Backs * 17 Adrien Goffin * 14 Guillaume Bettendfeld ;Right Backs * 30 Steven Bello

Statistics

Top scorers in the EHF Champions League

:''(All-Time) – Last updated on 16 February 2023''

Individual awards in the EHF Champions League

Notable former players

Camille Ayglon Camille Ayglon-Saurina (born 21 May 1985) is a retired French handballer who represented the French national team. She competed in three Olympic Games (2008, 2012 & 2016). On 1 December 2016, Ayglon-Saurina was awarded the rank of Chevalier (k ...

Paule Baudouin Paule Baudouin (born 25 October 1984) is a French handball player, playing for the French club Fleury Loiret HB and for the French national team. She was born in Saint Denis. She made her debut on the French national team in 2004. She competed ...

* Chloé Bulleux *

Cléopâtre Darleux ''Cléopâtre'' is an opera in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Payen. It was first performed at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on 23 February 1914, nearly two years after Massenet's death. ''Cléopâtre'' is one of three o ...

* Béatrice Edwige * Laura Flippes * Laura Glauser * Tamara Horacek * Manon Houette */ Melinda Jacques-Szabó *

Nina Kamto Njitam Nina Kamto Njitam (born 25 June 1983) is a French handball player, born in Cameroon. She plays for the French national team. She participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, where the French team placed fifth, and in the 2012 Summer Olymp ...

* * Laurisa Landre * Amandine Leynaud *

Marion Limal Marion Limal (born 1987) is a French handball player. She plays for the French club Brest Bretagne Handball and for the French national team. She participated at the 2009 World Women's Handball Championship The 2009 World Women's Handball C ...

Stéphanie Ludwig Stéphanie Ludwig (born 29 November 1972) is a French handball player. She was born in Casablanca, Morocco. She competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics, when the French team finished 6th. She was part of the French team that won gold medals at the ...

Nodjialem Myaro Nodjialem Myaro (born 5 September 1976 in N'Djamena, Chad) is a French handball player. She won silver at the 1999 World Championship and gold in 2003. She also competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.Claudine Mendy Claudine Mendy (born 8 January 1990, in Mantes-la-Jolie, France) is a French handball player. She plays for the club Bourg-de-Péage Drôme Handball and for the French national team. In the upcoming 2015-2016 season the left back will play fo ...

* Gnonsiane Niombla *

Allison Pineau Allison Marie Pineau (born 2 May 1989) is a French handballer for RK Krim and the French national team. She won gold medal at the 2017 World Championship, 2018 European Championship and 2020 Olympic Games. She was voted World Handball Player ...

Katty Piejos Katty Tolla Piejos, (born 21 August 1981 in La Trinité, Martinique, French West Indies) is a French handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players e ...

* Linda Pradel * Sophie Remiatte * Maakan Tounkara *

Isabelle Wendling Isabelle Wendling (born 30 January 1971, in Boulay-Moselle) is a French handball player and member of a former World Champion France national team. She became World Champion in 2003, when France won the 2003 World Women's Handball Championship i ...

* Grâce Zaadi * Justina Praça * Klaudija Bubalo * Kristina Franić (Elez) * Ivana Kapitanović * * Lenka Černá * Lara González *

Xenia Smits Xenia Smits (born 22 April 1994) is a Belgian-born German handball player for SG BBM Bietigheim and the German national team. Achievements *EHF European League: **''Winner'': 2022 *Bundesliga: **''Winner'': 2022 * LFH Division 1 Féminine: **''W ...

Andrea Farkas Andrea Farkas (born 1 September 1969) is a former Hungarian international team handball goalkeeper who currently works as goalkeeping coach for Dunaújvárosi NKS. Among her achievements with the national team is an Olympic bronze medal from ...

* Marina Vukčević (Rajčić) * Jurswailly Luciano *

Yvette Broch Yvette Broch (born 23 December 1990) is a Dutch professional handball player, who plays for Győri ETO KC and the Dutch national team. She is also known for being a runner up on the fourth season of '' Holland's Next Top Model''. She completed i ...

* Ekaterina Andryushina */ * Kristina Liščević * Tatjana Medved * Svetlana Ognjenović *

Slađana Pop-Lazić Slađana Pop-Lazić ( sr-cyr, Слађана Поп-Лазић; born 26 July 1988) is a Serbian handball player for Brest Bretagne Handball. She played for the Serbian national team. Individual awards *French Championship The French rugby leag ...

* Ana Gros * Olga Peredery

Head coach history

Stadium

*Name:

Les Arènes ''Les Arènes'' is a painting by Vincent van Gogh executed in Arles, in November or December 1888, during the period of time when Paul Gauguin was living with him in The Yellow House. The bullfight season in Arles that year started on Easter Su ...

*City:

*Capacity: 5,000 *Address: 5 avenue Louis-le-Débonnaire 57000 *Played in the arena since: 2001-