Μετς Γυναίκες
Μετς Γυναίκες
v
Wikipedia - 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 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 France. 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 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 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