THW Kiel parts ways with Filip Jicha; Børge Lund reported as likely successor
THW Kiel parts ways with head coach Filip Jicha after a disappointing season for the German record champions; Norwegian Borge Lund is reportedly set to succeed him.
Immediate split announced by club
THW Kiel confirmed on Monday that it has parted company with head coach Filip Jicha. The decision was announced after reports in local media naming Jicha’s departure and a possible successor.
Club management framed the move as a response to on-field results and the need to change course for the coming season. The statement confirmed that sporting performance over recent months had become the decisive factor in ending the partnership.
Sporting decline and European absence
Kiel’s management pointed to a weak season as the primary reason for the change at coach. The team finished sixth in the domestic league and, for the third consecutive year, failed to qualify for the EHF Champions League.
As a result, THW Kiel will not participate in any European club competition next season for the first time in 33 years. That prolonged absence from continental competition intensified pressure on leadership to take decisive action.
Legacy and titles under Jicha
Filip Jicha, 44, assumed the head coach role in 2019 after succeeding Alfred Gislason. During his tenure as coach, Kiel won the EHF Champions League in 2020 and captured multiple domestic titles, including German championships in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
The club also secured the German Cup twice under Jicha’s stewardship, in 2022 and again in 2025. Jicha’s history with Kiel extends beyond coaching; he played for the club from 2007 to 2015 and is widely regarded as one of the defining figures of the club’s modern era.
Børge Lund named as reported successor
Norwegian coach Børge Lund, 47, has been reported by local press as the likely successor to Jicha. Lund has been in charge at Elverum Håndball since 2020 and previously played for Kiel between 2007 and 2010, a background that could smooth a potential transition.
Club sources cited in the reporting said Lund is seen as an immediate frontrunner because of his recent coaching work in Norway and his familiarity with the Kiel environment. The club has not yet issued a formal appointment, but media coverage indicates negotiations are underway.
Club leadership explains rationale and next steps
THW Kiel’s managing director, Viktor Szilagyi, said the organization must act on lessons from recent performance and acknowledged the difficulty of making the change. Szilagyi said he had hoped to start a new chapter with the reformed squad alongside Jicha, but described the sporting trajectory as a weight too heavy to ignore.
The club indicated it will proceed with planning for the coming season while searching for a new coach, and that sporting directors will present a roadmap for squad development and competition objectives. Supporters and stakeholders will be briefed as further decisions are finalized.
Filip Jicha’s contract situation had suggested continuity: the club and the Czech coach agreed to an extension through 2028 in October. That earlier extension underscores the abruptness of the split and highlights the scale of concern within the club hierarchy following the latest results.
Implications for the squad and recruitment
Kiel faces an immediate period of uncertainty as it prepares to enter a season without European fixtures and with a reshaped coaching setup. The absence from continental competition may influence transfer negotiations and sponsorship planning, and the new coaching appointment will be central to attracting and retaining top players.
Club officials will need to balance short-term recovery with longer-term strategy, including rebuilding momentum in domestic competition and re-establishing a pathway back to the Champions League. The choice of successor and any subsequent changes in staff or playing personnel will be watched closely by rivals and fans alike.
The coming days are likely to bring further announcements from THW Kiel about the coaching post and the club’s plan for returning to form. For now, the organisation has opted for a clear managerial break after a season that fell short of its established standards.
