Team Esbjerg

Team Esbjerg
Full name	Team Esbjerg Elitehåndbold A/S
Short name	Esbjerg
Founded	1991
Arena	Blue Water Dokken
Capacity	2,996
President	Bjarne Pedersen
Head Coach	Tomas Axnér
League	Bambusa Kvindeligaen
2023–24	1st
Club colours
Home Away
Website Official site

Team Esbjerg

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Location of Team Esbjerg

Team Esbjerg is a professional women's handball team based in Esbjerg, Denmark, that competes in the Bambusa Kvindeligaen and the 2024–25 Women's EHF Champions League. They play their home matches in Blue Water Dokken, which have capacity for 2,996 spectators. They play games in red shirts and black shorts.

The coaching team consists of Swedish international Tomas Axnér and Christian Køhler. ^[1]

History

Team Esbjerg was founded in 1991, as a cooperation between KVIK Esbjerg and Esbjerg Håndboldklub (EHK). They compete the Danish Handball League for the first time in 1999, but they relegated the following year. They have been part of the league, since 2004.

They have won the Danish Championship twice. Once in 2016, after beating FC Midtjylland Håndbold in the final. They lost the first final match 20–17, but won the second 24–19, after a dramatic penalty shootout. Again in 2019, they also beat Herning-Ikast Håndbold, in two matches, with the scores 28–20 and 19–20. ^[2] They also won the Danish Women's Handball Cup in 2017, after beating København Håndbold, with the score 31–20. ^[3]

Over time, the club has had many notable and significant players, like Rikke Zachariassen, Ulrika Toft Hansen, Lotte Grigel, Gøril Snorroeggen, Maibritt Kviesgaard, Kari Aalvik Grimsbø, Emily Stang Sando, Marta Mangué, Laura van der Heijden, Angelica Wallén, Ida Bjørndalen and Sandra Toft Galsgaard.

Kits

HOME
2018–20	2020-

AWAY
2015-17	2018-19	2020-

Honours

• EHF Champions League :
  • Bronze: 2024
  • Semifinalist: 2022, 2023
• EHF Cup :
  • Silver: 2014, 2019
• Danish Championship :
  • Gold: 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024
  • Silver: 2015, 2022
• Danish Cup
  • Winner: 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Silver: 2011
  • Bronze: 2018
• Danish Super Cup
  • Winner: 2015, 2019, 2022

Arena

• Arena: Blue Water Dokken
• City: Esbjerg
• Capacity: 2,996
• Address: Gl. Vardevej 82, 6700 Esbjerg

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2024–25 season.

Goalkeepers 12 Anna Kristensen 16 Amalie Milling Wingers LW 17 Elin Hansson 24 Sanna Solberg-Isaksen RW 20 Marit Røsberg Jacobsen (pregnant) 27 Anne Tolstrup 29 Sarah Dekker 38 Mia Emmenegger Line players 03 Kaja Kamp 10 Kathrine Heindahl (pregnant) 11 Rikke Iversen 28 Merel Freriks

Back players LB 14 Judith van der Helm 22 Line Haugsted 25 Henny Reistad CB 04 Michala Møller 08 Live Rushfeldt Deila RB 09 Nora Mørk (pregnant) 15 Nina Koppang 18 Mette Tranborg

Squad information
No.	Nat.	Player	Position	Date of Birth	In	Contract until
2		Line Haugsted	Left back	11 November 1994	2024	2028
3		Kaja Kamp Nielsen	Line Player	29 April 1994	2020	2025
4		Michala Møller	Centre Back	16 February 2000	2021	2026
8		Live Rushfeldt Deila	Centre Back	15 January 2000	2023	2026
9		Nora Mørk	Right Back	5 April 1991	2022	2026
10		Kathrine Heindahl	Line Player	26 March 1992	2022	2025
11		Rikke Iversen	Line Player	18 May 1993	2023	2026
12		Anna Kristensen	Goalkeeper	25 October 2000	2023	2026
14		Judith van der Helm	Left Back	13 January 2005	2025	2026
15		Nina Koppang	Right Back	31 May 2002	2025	2027
16		Amalie Milling	Goalkeeper	27 December 1999	2022	2025
17		Elin Hansson	Left Wing	7 August 1996	2024	2026
18		Mette Tranborg	Right Back	1 January 1996	2020	2025
20		Marit Røsberg Jacobsen	Right Wing	25 February 1994	2018	2026
24		Sanna Solberg-Isaksen	Left Wing	16 June 1990	2017	2026
25		Henny Reistad	Left Back	9 February 1999	2021	2027
27		Anne Tolstrup Petersen	Right Wing	7 March 1995	2022	2026
29		Sarah Dekker	Right Wing	8 March 2001	2025	2026
38		Mia Emmenegger	Right Wing	17 January 2005	2025	2028

Transfers

Transfers for the season 2025–26

Joining Judith van der Helm (LB) (from OTTO Work Force/VOC Amsterdam) (with immediate effect 1 January 2025) Sarah Dekker (RW) (from HSG Bensheim/Auerbach) (with immediate effect 1 January 2025) Mia Emmenegger (RW) (from Vipers Kristiansand) (with immediate effect 27 January 2025) Merel Freriks (P) (from Vipers Kristiansand) (with immediate effect 27 January 2025) Nina Koppang (RB) (from Vipers Kristiansand) (with immediate effect 27 January 2025) Katharina Filter (GK) (from Brest Bretagne Handball) Helene Kindberg (RB) (from København Håndbold) Tabea Schmid (P) (from København Håndbold) Olivia Löfqvist (P) (from Storhamar HE)

Leaving Luciana Rebelo (RB) (with immediate effect 1 January 2025) Amalie Milling (GK) (to Ikast Håndbold) Mette Tranborg (RB) (to Ferencvárosi TC) Kathrine Heindahl (P) Kaja Kamp (P) Merel Freriks (P) (to CSM București)

Technical staff

• Head coach: Tomas Axnér
• Assistant coach: Christian Køhler
• Goalkeeping coach: Tim Winkler
• Sportdirector: Thomas Hylle
• Teamleader: Helle Kongsbak
• Physiotherapist: Kenneth Hansen
• Physiotherapist: Daniel Bargsteen
• Video: Jes Juncker-Jensen

Former notable players

• Sandra Toft (2017–2019)
• Rikke Poulsen (2019–2023)
• Stine Bodholt Nielsen (2014–2016)
• Rikke Schmidt (2012–2014)
• Lotte Grigel (2008–2015)
• Maibritt Kviesgaard (2013–2018)
• Rikke Zachariassen (2006–2018)
• Annette Jensen (2018–2022)
• Maria Mose Vestergaard (2014–2019)
• Elma Halilcevic (2017–2021)
• Kari Aalvik Grimsbø (2010–2015)
• Kristine Breistøl (2018–2024)
• Vilde Ingstad (2016–2023)
• Marit Malm Frafjord (2018–2022)
• Siri Seglem (2007–2009)
• Emily Stang Sando (2013–2017)
• Gøril Snorroeggen (2010–2013)
• Betina Riegelhuth (2015–2016)
• Ida Bjørndalen Karlsson (2014–2018)
• Ine Karlsen Stangvik (2017–2018)
• Rikke Granlund (2018–2021)
• Julie Bøe Jacobsen (2022–2024)
• Johanna Ahlm (2013–2015)
• Angelica Wallén (2010–2013)
• Filippa Idéhn (2015–2017)
• Jenny Alm (2015–2017)
• Jessica Helleberg (2011–2013)
• Anna-Maria Johansson (2009–2011)
• Ulrika Toft Hansen (2015–2018)
• Clara Monti Danielsson (2018–2020)
• Marta Mangué (2007–2011)
• Lara González Ortega (2016–2018)
• Nerea Pena (2020–2021)
• Estavana Polman (2013–2022)
• Laura van der Heijden (2014–2017)
• Katarina Tomašević (2007–2009)
• Kristina Liščević (2017–2019)
• Arna Sif Pálsdóttir (2010–2011)
• Rut Arnfjörð Jónsdóttir (2017–2020)
• Paule Baudouin (2008–2010)
• Mouna Chebbah (2008–2010)
• Sonja Frey (2019–2021)
• Dinah Eckerle (2021–2023)
• Kelsi Fairbrother (2010–2013)
• Beyza Irem Türkoglu (2021–2023)
• Beatrix Benyáts (2004–2006)

Statistics

Top scorers in the EHF Champions League Last updated on 23 February 2025 [4] Rank Name Seasons played Goals 1 Henny Reistad 4 475 2 Kristine Breistøl 5 332 3 Marit Røsberg Jacobsen 6 237 4 Sanna Solberg-Isaksen 6 227 5 Vilde Ingstad 5 202 6 Nora Mørk 3 189 7 Mette Tranborg 4 178 8 Michala Møller 4 147 9 Kaja Kamp 5 146 10 Sonja Frey 2 115

Individual awards in the EHF Champions League Season Player Award 2019–20 [5] Sanna Solberg-Isaksen All-Star Team (Best Left Wing) 2021–22 [6] Sanna Solberg-Isaksen All-Star Team (Best Left Wing)

Head coach history

	Thomas Hylle	1997–2002
	Jan Leslie	2004–2006
	Thomas Hørlyk	2006–2007
	Teddy Barrett	2007–2008
	Jan Paulsen	2008–2011
	Lars Frederiksen	2011–2017
	Jesper Jensen	2017–2024
	Tomas Axnér	2024–present

European record

Champions League

Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st leg	2nd leg	Aggregate
2015–16	EHF Champions League	Qualification tournament	Yenimahalle Bld. SK	32–28
			HCM Baia Mare	21–32
2016–17	EHF Champions League	Group Stage Group D	RK Krim	35–25	22–27	3rd place
			Larvik HK	29–30	24–31
			IK Sävehof	29–18	25–20
		Main Round Group 2	CSM București	20–25	25–33	6th place
			Győri ETO KC	26–32	22–33
			Midtjylland	22–21	26–38
2019–20	EHF Champions League	Group Stage Group B	Rostov-Don	31–26	26–34	2nd place
			CSM București	22–24	25–21
			MKS Perła Lublin	35–22	28–22
		Main Round Group 1	Metz Handball	30–29	31–31	2nd place
			Vipers Kristiansand	35–30	35–31
			Ferencvárosi TC	29–27	25–26
		Quarterfinals	Budućnost Podgorica	Cancelled
2020–21	Champions League	Group Stage Group A	Metz Handball	25–28	29–31	6th place
			Rostov-Don	24–25	24–28
			Vipers Kristiansand	27–27	28–28
			Ferencvárosi TC	21–24	28–24
			CSM București	29–30	26–28
			SG BBM Bietigheim	37–29	33–26
			RK Krim	33–23	10–0
		Round of 16	Brest Bretagne Handball	27–33	27–30	54–63
2021–22	Champions League	Group stage Group A	Brest Bretagne Handball	28–28	23–26	1st place
			FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria	33–27	31–31
			Budućnost BEMAX	35–20	36–25
			CSM București	22–21	29–29
			BV Borussia 09 Dortmund	34–24	32–29
			Rostov-Don	25–18	27–25
			HC Podravka Vegeta	30–17	27–26
		Quarterfinals	CSM București	27–27	26–25	53–52
		Semifinal	Győri Audi ETO KC	27–32
		Bronze match	Metz Handball	26–32
2022–23	EHF Champions League	Group stage Group B	Győri Audi ETO KC	29–31	28–29	3rd
			Metz Handball	35–28	24–26
			CS Rapid București	32–34	35–30
			ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica	28–23	30–20
			Storhamar HE	35–25	34–25
			Kastamonu Bld. GSK	43–27	39–31
			RK Lokomotiva Zagreb	30–18	33–20
		Playoffs	Brest Bretagne	28–25	27–24	55–49
		Quarter-finals	CSM București	32–28	33–31	65–59
		Semifinal	Ferencvárosi TC	29–30
		Bronze match	Győri Audi ETO KC	27–28
2023–24	EHF Champions League	Group stage Group B	Metz Handball	29–27	31–36	2nd
			Vipers Kristiansand	38–37	32–37
			CS Rapid București	30–28	33–24
			FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria	27–23	33–28
			Zagłębie Lubin	36–24	32–26
			RK Krim Mercator	27–33	29–21
			Ikast Håndbold	35–34	37–34
		Quarter-finals	Ferencvárosi TC	29–24	26–25	55–49
		Semifinal	Győri ETO KC	23–24
		Bronze match	Metz Handball	37–33
2024–25	EHF Champions League	Group B	Vipers Kristiansand	30–29	10–0	2nd
			ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica	27–23	26–19
			HB Ludwigsburg	36–31	30–30
			Győri Audi ETO KC	26–28	23–29
			Brest Bretagne Handball	32–33	36–27
			CS Rapid București	39–32	28–26
			Odense Håndbold	39–30	32–23
		Quarter-finals	CSM București

EHF Cup

Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st leg	2nd leg	Aggregate
2010–11	EHF Cup	Round 3	Buxtehuder SV	28–23	25–29	53–52
		Last 16	HC Dunărea Brăila	25–22	21–20	46–42
		Quarterfinals	FC Midtjylland	21–27	29–24	50–51
2011–12	EHF Cup	Round 3	Anagennisi Arta	31–15	36–14	67–29
		Last 16	Team Tvis Holstebro	28–27	24–27	52–54
2013–14	EHF Cup	Round 3	RK Radnički Kragujevac	26–26	28–24	54–50
		Last 16	DHK Baník Most	28–26	28–21	56–47
		Quarterfinals	Dinamo Volgograd	36–27	30–26	66–63
		Semifinals	Alba Fehérvár KC	24–25	27–26	51–51(a)
		Final	HC Lada	32–32	25–36	57–68
2014–15	EHF Cup	Round 3	RŽK Zagorje	35–26	33–22	68–48
		Last 16	H 65 Höör	33–25	33–28	66–53
		Quarterfinals	Érd NK	28–29	20–28	48–57
2018–19	EHF Cup	Round 3	Paris 92	29–28	31–25	60–53
		Group A	Storhamar HE	25–20	28–28	1st place
			SG BBM Bietigheim	28–27	32–27
			CS Măgura Cisnădie	41–18	32–19
		Quarterfinals	HC Kuban Krasnodar	37–24	37–31	74–55
		Semifinals	Herning-Ikast Håndbold	30–16	23–20	53–36
		Final	Siófok KC	21–21	21–26	42–47

EHF Cup Winners' Cup

Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st leg	2nd leg	Aggregate
EHF Cup Winners' Cup	2012–13	Round 3	Quintus	36–25	26–23	62–48
		Last 16	Rostov-Don	28–31	28–29	56–60
EHF Cup Winners' Cup	2015–16	Round 3	Ardeşen GSK	30–26	22–31	52–57

References

1. Sportslig ledelse - Team Esbjerg
2. "Team Esbjerg er dansk mester". TV2 Sport . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
3. "Team Esbjerg skriver historie - pokalmestre efter stor ydmygelse". TV2 Sport . Retrieved 30 December 2017.
4. "Team Esbjerg". European Handball Federation.
5. "New All-Star Team features three fresh names and returning Neagu". eurohandball.com. 24 August 2021.
6. "Győr quintet headline EHF Champions League All-Star Team". eurohandball.com. 3 June 2022.

External links

• Team Esbjerg's home page (in Danish)
• History of Team Esbjerg (in Danish)