Metz Handball

{{short description|Sports club in Metz, France}}

{{Infobox handball club

| image = 185px

| fullname = Metz Handball

| short name = Metz HB

| founded = 1965

| ground = Les Arènes

| capacity = 4,500 / 5,000

| chairman = Thierry Weizman

| chrtitle =

| manager = Emmanuel Mayonnade

| league = Ligue Butagaz Énergie

| season = 2024–25

| position = Champion

| website = https://metz-handball.com/

| colour1 = yellow

| colour2 = blue

|pattern_la1=_metzhb_1415h

|pattern_b1 =_metzhb_1415h

|pattern_sh1=_metzhb_1415h

|pattern_ra1=_metzhb_1415h

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|body1 =FFFF00

|leftarm1 =FFFF00

|shorts1 =1A37FF

|pattern_la2=_metzhb_1415a

|pattern_b2 =_metzhb_1415a

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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.

{{location map+|France

|float=right

|width=261

|alt=Location of Metz Handball

|caption=Location of Metz Handball

|places=

{{Location map~|France|France|lat=49.1311099|long=6.1112848|label=Metz|position=bottom}}

}}

History

Over the past few decades, Metz Handball has become 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 wasn't until 1968, with the creation of the women's team, that the club became well-known in the sport.{{cite web|title=History of Metz Handball|url=https://metz-handball.com/le-club/a-propos-du-club|website=metz-handball.com|date=June 2023|language=fr}}

Second-place finishers in France and semi-finalists in the Cup of Cups in 1977, the men's team gave ASPTT Metz its first prestige on a major stage. But in the shadow of the men's team, the women's team progressed year after year until being promoted in 1986 to France's top tier, without being relegated since. The coach of the team at that time was Frenchman 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.{{cite web|title=History of Metz Handball|url=https://metz-handball.com/le-club/a-propos-du-club|website=metz-handball.com|date=June 2023|language=fr}}

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.{{cite web|title=History of Metz Handball|url=https://metz-handball.com/le-club/a-propos-du-club|website=metz-handball.com|date=June 2023|language=fr}}

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 Women's EHF Champions League and won their first European medal by finishing third.{{cite web|url=https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/women/2021-22|title=EHF Final4 Women 2022|publisher=European Handball Federation}}

=Name=

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

Results

File:Coupe de France 2016-17 Metz vainqueur 2017-05-27.jpg]]

;National competitions

  • French Championship:
  • Winners (27): 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Runners-up (7): 1991, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2021
  • French Cup:
  • Winners (13): 1990, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Runners-up (7): 1987, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2018
  • French League Cup:
  • Winners (7): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
  • Runners-up (1): 2004

;International competitions

European record

class="wikitable"

|+ Record{{cite web|url=https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/women/2023-24/news/en/draw-promises-exciting-group-phase-in-women-s-top-flight|title=European record - Metz Handball|publisher=EHF|access-date=27 June 2024}}

Season

! Competition

! Round

! Club

! Home

! Away

! Aggregate

rowspan=10|2024–25

|rowspan=10|EHF Champions League

|rowspan=7 style="text-align:center;"|Group stage
Group A

|{{flagicon|HUN}} FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria

|style="text-align:center; | 24–19

|style="text-align:center; | 23–26

| align=center rowspan=7| 1st

|{{flagicon|ROU}} CSM București

|style="text-align:center; | 27–24

|style="text-align:center; | 31–32

{{flagicon|SLO}} RK Krim

|style="text-align:center; | 34–30

|style="text-align:center; | 25–34

{{flagicon|NOR}} Storhamar HE

|style="text-align:center; | 24–20

|style="text-align:center; | 29–29

{{flagicon|DEN}} Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub

|style="text-align:center; | 30–22

|style="text-align:center; | 27–28

{{flagicon|CRO}} RK Podravka Vegeta

|style="text-align:center; | 35–31

|style="text-align:center; | 26–28

{{flagicon|ROU}} CS Gloria Bistrița

|style="text-align:center; | 28–26

|style="text-align:center; | 28–34

style="text-align:center;"|Quarterfinals

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Brest Bretagne Handball

|style="text-align:center; | 33–32

|style="text-align:center; | 26–29

|style="text-align:center; | 62–58

style="text-align:center;"|Semifinals

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Odense Håndbold

|colspan=3 style="text-align:center; | 29–31

style="text-align:center;"|Third place

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Team Esbjerg

|colspan=3 style="text-align:center; | 30–27

Team

=Current squad=

:Squad for the 2025-26 season

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Goalkeepers

;Wingers players

;LW

;RW

;Line players

{{Col-2}}

;Back players

;LB

;CB

;RB

{{Col-end}}

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:90%; font-size:100%"

! colspan="8" | Information of players out on loan

width="3"|{{Tooltip|No.|Jersey Number}}

!width="3"|{{Tooltip|Nat.|Nationality}}

!width="15"|Player

!width="5"|Position

!width="15"|Date of Birth

!width="5"|{{Tooltip|Since|Out on loan since}}

!width="5"|Loan until

!width="20"|Current club

style="text-align: center;"|11

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|CRO}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Mia Brkic

|style="text-align: center;"|Line Player

|style="text-align: center;"|11 May 2003

|style="text-align: center;"|1 July 2024

|style="text-align: center;"|30 June 2026

|{{flagicon|CRO}} Podravka Koprivnica

style="text-align: center;"|17

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Claire Koestner

|style="text-align: center;"|Centre Back

|style="text-align: center;"|10 February 2006

|style="text-align: center;"|1 July 2025

|style="text-align: center;"|30 June 2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Saint-Amand

style="text-align: center;"|97

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Délia Golvet

|style="text-align: center;"|Centre Back

|style="text-align: center;"|20 October 2005

|style="text-align: center;"|27 November 2024

|style="text-align: center;"|30 June 2026

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Paris 92

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:90%; font-size:100%;"

! colspan="8" | Squad information

width="5"|{{Tooltip|No.|Jersey Number}}

!width="3"|{{Tooltip|Nat.|Nationality}}

!width="20"|Player

!width="10"|Position

!width="15"|Date of Birth

!width="5"|{{Tooltip|In|In the team since}}

!width="5"|Contract until

!width="15"|Previous club

style="text-align: center;"|xx

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|CZE}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Sabrina Novotná

|style="text-align: center;"|Goalkeeper

|style="text-align: center;"|2 July 2000

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|CZE}} Házená Kynžvart

style="text-align: center;"|6

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Chloé Valentini

|style="text-align: center;"|Left Wing

|style="text-align: center;"|19 April 1995

|style="text-align: center;"|2021

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} ESBF Besançon

style="text-align: center;"|xx

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Suzanne Wajoka

|style="text-align: center;"|Left Wing

|style="text-align: center;"|2 January 2001

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|style="text-align: center;"|2026

|{{flagicon|FRA}} ESBF Besançon

style="text-align: center;"|xx

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Lylou Borg

|style="text-align: center;"|Centre Back

|style="text-align: center;"|31 May 2005

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Mérignac Handball

style="text-align: center;"|9

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|SWE}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Tyra Axnér

|style="text-align: center;"|Left Back

|style="text-align: center;"|18 March 2002

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub

style="text-align: center;"|15

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Anne-Emmanuelle Augustine

|style="text-align: center;"|Line Player

|style="text-align: center;"|10 July 2001

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2026

|{{flagicon|FRA}} OGC Nice Handball

style="text-align: center;"|16

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Cléopatre Darleux

|style="text-align: center;"|Goalkeeper

|style="text-align: center;"|1 July 1989

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Brest Bretagne Handball

style="text-align: center;"|20

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Laura Flippes

|style="text-align: center;"|Right Back

|style="text-align: center;"|13 December 1994

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|ROU}} CSM București

style="text-align: center;"|23

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|Congo}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Betchaïdelle Ngombele

|style="text-align: center;"|Left Back

|style="text-align: center;"|23 March 2004

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|SLO}} RK Krim

style="text-align: center;"|24

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Emma Jacques

|style="text-align: center;"|Right Back

|style="text-align: center;"|29 November 2001

|style="text-align: center;"|2021

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

style="text-align: center;"|27

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Sarah Bouktit

|style="text-align: center;"|Line Player

|style="text-align: center;"|27 August 2002

|style="text-align: center;"|2021

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Fleury Loiret HB

style="text-align: center;"|28

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Lucie Granier

|style="text-align: center;"|Right Wing

|style="text-align: center;"|11 June 1999

|style="text-align: center;"|2023

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} ESBF Besançon

style="text-align: center;"|29

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Léna Grandveau

|style="text-align: center;"|Centre Back

|style="text-align: center;"|21 January 2003

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Neptunes de Nantes

style="text-align: center;"|31

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Djazz Chambertin

|style="text-align: center;"|Left Back

|style="text-align: center;"|24 May 1997

|style="text-align: center;"|2023

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|{{flagicon|FRA}} OGC Nice Handball

style="text-align: center;"|xx

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|HUN}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Anna Albek

|style="text-align: center;"|Right Back

|style="text-align: center;"|2 December 2001

|style="text-align: center;"|2025

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|HUN}} Mosonmagyaróvári KC SE

style="text-align: center;"|38

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|HUN}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Petra Vámos

|style="text-align: center;"|Centre Back

|style="text-align: center;"|14 September 2000

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2027

|{{flagicon|HUN}} Debreceni VSC

style="text-align: center;"|98

|style="text-align: center;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Manon Errard

|style="text-align: center;"|Right Wing

|style="text-align: center;"|9 February 2005

|style="text-align: center;"|2024

|style="text-align: center;"|2028

=Transfers=

:Transfers for the 2025–26 season

{{Col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Image:Arrow-up.gif Joining

{{col-2}}

;Image:Arrow-down.gif Leaving

{{col-end}}

=Technical staff=

:Staff for the 2025–26 season

  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Head coach: Emmanuel Mayonnade
  • {{flagicon|RUS}} Assistant coach: Yekaterina Andryushina
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Physical coach: Samuel Breton
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Goalkeeping coach: None
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Physiotherapist: Alexandre Pawlowski
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Physiotherapist: Pierre Gillet
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Physiotherapist: Charles Balanger
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Doctor: Thierry Weizman
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Video analyst: Edgar Le Denn

Academy

=Training Center=

:As of the 2024–25 season{{cite news

| title = NATIONALE 1 FEMININE 2024-25

| url = https://www.ffhandball.fr/competitions/saison-2024-2025-20/national/nationale-1-feminine-2024-25-25933/

| access-date = 28 November 2024}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Goalkeepers

  • 12 {{flagicon|FRA}} Elihanna Rodrigo Da Costa
  • 66 {{flagicon|FRA}} Fatima Camara (c)

;Left Wingers

  • {{0}}5 {{flagicon|FRA}} Nélya Goval
  • 29 {{flagicon|FRA}} Clara Bonne

;Right Wingers

  • 19 {{flagicon|FRA}} Délia Golvet (to {{flagicon|FRA}} Paris 92 until June 2025)
  • 78 {{flagicon|FRA}} Clémence Castets

;Line Players

  • 22 {{flagicon|FRA}} Alice Giliberto
  • 25 {{flagicon|FRA}} Eléa Ferdilus
  • 88 {{flagicon|FRA}} Marie-Eve Holler

{{Col-2}}

;Left Backs

  • 14 {{flagicon|CMR}} Yvana Antangana
  • 32 {{flagicon|FRA}} Maily Etilopy

;Centre Backs

  • 17 {{flagicon|FRA}} Claire Koestner
  • 57 {{flagicon|FRA}} Anaïs Ababsa

;Right Backs

  • {{0}}3 {{flagicon|FRA}} Ludyvine Kaakil-Talaba
  • 18 {{flagicon|FRA}} Fiona Gooroosamy

{{col-end}}

=Men's team=

:As of the 2024–25 season{{cite news

| title = NATIONALE 1M

| url = https://metz-handball.com/association/nationale-1m/

| access-date = 18 November 2024}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Goalkeepers

  • 25 {{flagicon|FRA}} Clément Tamagna
  • 27 {{flagicon|FRA}} Thibaut Jean
  • 97 {{flagicon|FRA}} Nicolas Balmy

;Left Wingers

  • {{0}}9 {{flagicon|FRA}} Geoffrey Bettendeld
  • 24 {{flagicon|FRA}} Vincent Massaro
  • 28 {{flagicon|FRA}} Romain Rennié

;Right Wingers

  • {{0}}8 {{flagicon|FRA}} Florian Beck
  • 19 {{flagicon|FRA}} Nathan Andrezo
  • 44 {{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Blond

;Line Players

  • 13 {{flagicon|FRA}} Emile Clément
  • 33 {{flagicon|FRA}} Simon Voltz Marty
  • 94 {{flagicon|FRA}} Thibaut Van Deik

{{Col-2}}

;Left Backs

  • 12 {{flagicon|FRA}} Lory Altis
  • 45 {{flagicon|FRA}} Antonin Bertrand

;Centre Backs

  • 14 {{flagicon|FRA}} Guillaume Bettenfeld (c)
  • 57 {{flagicon|FRA}} Simon Vauchelet
  • 77 {{flagicon|FRA}} Alexandre Belin

;Right Backs

  • 10 {{flagicon|FRA}} Steven Bello
  • 18 {{flagicon|FRA}} Luka Miojevic

{{col-end}}

Statistics

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Top scorers in the EHF Champions League =

:(All-Time) – Last updated on 1 June 2025{{cite web|url=http://history.eurohandball.com/ec/cl/women/2020-21/clubs/001655/Metz+Handball|title=Metz Handball|publisher=European Handball Federation}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Rank

!class="unsortable"|Name

!Seasons

played

!Goals

style="background-color: #CFECEC;"

!rowspan="1"|1

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Sarah Bouktit

|5

|327

rowspan="1"|2

|style="text-align: left;|{{flagicon|FRA}} Grâce Zaadi

|8

|300

style="background-color: #CFECEC;"

!rowspan="1"|3

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Chloé Valentini

|4

|262

rowspan="1"|4

|style="text-align: left;|{{flagicon|SLO}} Ana Gros

|4

|231

rowspan="1"|5

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|DEN}} Louise Burgaard

|5

|211

rowspan="1"|6

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Meline Nocandy

|7

|198

rowspan="1"|7

|style="text-align: left;|{{flagicon|NED}} Jurswailly Luciano

|10

|181

style="background-color: #CFECEC;"

!rowspan="1"|8

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Laura Flippes

|6

|174

rowspan="1"|9

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|DEN}} Kristina Jørgensen

|2

|170

rowspan="1"|10

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Xenia Smits

|5

|162

{{col-2}}

=Individual awards in the EHF Champions League=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Season

!class="unsortable"|Player

!Award

rowspan="2"|2018–19{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/article/32615|title=All-Star team gets fresh look in 2019|date=10 May 2019|work=eurohandball.com}}

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Manon Houette

|All–Star Team (Best Left Wing)

style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Emmanuel Mayonnade

|All–Star Team (Best Coach)

rowspan="1"|2019–20{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/article/35489|title=New All-Star Team features three fresh names and returning Neagu|publisher=eurohandball.com|date=5 June 2020}}

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Emmanuel Mayonnade

|All–Star Team (Best Coach)

rowspan="2"|2023–24{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/ehf-excellence-awards-2024-these-are-the-season-s-best-players|title=EHF Excellence Awards 2024: These are the season's best players|publisher=eurohandball.com|date=27 June 2024}}

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Chloé Valentini

|All–Star Team (Best Left Wing)

style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Sarah Bouktit

|All–Star Team (Best Line Player)

rowspan="1"|2024–25{{cite web|url=https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/women/2024-25/news/en/ehf-excellence-awards-2025-women-s-team-of-the-season-revealed|title=EHF Excellence Awards 2025: Women’s Team of the Season revealed|publisher=eurohandball.com|date=11 June 2025}}

|style="text-align: left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Chloé Valentini

|All–Star Team (Best Left Wing)

{{col-end}}

Notable former players

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Head coach history

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Claude Guillois

|1980–1985

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Olivier Krumbholz

|1985–1995

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Joël Monasso

|1995–1996

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Patrick Passemard

|2003

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Bertrand François

|1996–2003; 2004–2006; 2009–2010

{{Flagicon|SRB}}

|Dragan Majstrorovic

|2010

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Sébastien Gardillou

|2010–2012

{{Flagicon|SRB}}

|Sandor Rac

|2006–2009; 2012–2014

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Jérémy Roussel{{Cite web|title=New coach in Metz as Roussel has responded to call of Chartres|url=https://www.handball-world.news/o.red.r/news-2-2-13-25576.html|access-date=2021-05-02|website=handball-world|language=en}}

|2014–2015

{{Flagicon|FRA}}

|Emmanuel Mayonnade

|2015–

Stadium

File:Metz 2010 4.1.jpg

  • Name: Les Arènes
  • City: Metz
  • Capacity: 4,500 / 5,000
  • Address: 5 avenue Louis-le-Débonnaire 57000
  • Played in the arena since: 2001-

Kit manufacturers

References

{{reflist}}