DHfK Leipzig hires Spaniard Alonso as new head coach

SC DHfK Leipzig has signed Raúl Alonso as its new head coach. The 46-year-old Spaniard comes from the North Macedonian champion RK Eurofarm Pelister and signed a two-year contract until June 30, 2027, as the handball Bundesliga club announced. Alonso succeeds Runar Sigtryggsson, who the club parted ways with prematurely after the weakest season in the German top flight.

Alonso knows German handball. He began his coaching career in 2008 with the Rhein-Main Bienen in the women's Bundesliga (until 2009), before becoming assistant coach to Alfred Gislason at THW Kiel from 2010 to 2015. After spells as head coach in Austria and Belarus, the Spaniard returned to the Bundesliga in 2021, initially as sporting director at HC Erlangen, before also becoming the club's head coach from January 2022 to June 2023. He then ended his tenure as sporting director in Erlangen in 2024.

"It's a real stroke of luck that we were able to find someone so quickly and inspire him to join SC DHfK Leipzig who fits the bill perfectly. He has a lot of experience from various top clubs. His signing is the next important step on our hard road back to success," said Leipzig's manager Karsten Günther. Leipzig only finished 13th last season.