Iker Romero to steer Austria

As a participant, the Spaniard was among the many greats of his time, successful each European competitors at membership stage, together with twice the EHF Champions League, and turning into a World Champion in 2005 with the Spanish nationwide workforce, for which he made 200 appearances. Beginning this summer time, Iker Romero will succeed Aleš Pajovič as head coach of the Austrian males’s nationwide handball workforce. His contract will run for 3 years.

A facet be aware: After starting his skilled profession with BM Valladolid, Ademar León, and Ciudad Actual, Iker Romero moved to FC Barcelona in the summertime of 2003. In the identical yr, a sure Aleš Pajovič joined Ciudad Actual to exchange him. Now, as coaches, the 2 are as soon as once more handing over the baton — this time with the Austrian nationwide workforce.

Romero takes over a nationwide workforce using excessive. In 2020 and 2024, Austria achieved their greatest ever placements on the Males’s EHF EURO, ending eighth. On the 2025 World Championship, they reached the primary spherical for the primary time because the match format was modified in 2019.

As a participant, the 44-year-old was one among Spain’s best. He received nearly every part there was to win at membership stage: two EHF Champions League titles (with FC Barcelona), a number of Spanish Cup and Copa del Rey titles (with Ademar León, Ciudad Actual, and Barcelona), three Spanish League titles (with Barcelona and León), a European Tremendous Cup (with Barcelona), two Cup Winners’ Cups (with Ciudad Actual), and the DHB-Pokal and EHF Cup (now referred to as EHF European League) in 2015 with Füchse Berlin.

For the Spanish nationwide workforce, Romero performed 200 matches and scored 753 objectives — making him second in Spain’s all-time scoring record.

He was a part of the workforce that secured Spain’s first main title on the 2005 World Championship. He additionally received silver on the 2006 EHF EURO, bronze on the 2008 Olympics, and one other bronze on the 2011 World Championship.

His teaching profession started in 2017 as an assistant to Antonio Carlos Ortega, now FC Barcelona’s head coach, at German Bundesliga membership TSV Hannover-Burgdorf. In 2021, he took over his first workforce as head coach, SG BBM Bietigheim, and led them to promotion to the DAIKIN Handball Bundesliga in 2024.

Within the coming season, Romero will nonetheless serve in a twin function — teaching each SG BBM Bietigheim and the Austrian nationwide workforce. From summer time 2026, he’ll focus solely on his function with the ÖHB (Austrian Handball Federation). His contract runs till summer time 2028.

Aleš Pajovič hopes to go away his successor a particular present: qualification for the EHF EURO 2026.

Iker Romero, future ÖHB head coach, said: “Taking up the Austrian nationwide workforce is a good honor for me. For the reason that first dialog, I’ve been desirous about the primary coaching and first match with the boys. The nationwide workforce is doing rather well in the meanwhile. I’m somebody who believes in a system however I’ll preserve the issues which can be working effectively. Will probably be vital to offer the gamers their freedoms, however I can even usher in my concepts. I see potential for enchancment and growth, and that’s what we’ll work on, bringing in my expertise.”

Markus Plazer, ÖHB President, added: “Our essential aim is to proceed alongside the profitable path we’ve began. We’re satisfied that Iker Romero will assist develop the workforce even additional, creating many extra distinctive moments for Austrian handball and the followers. Qualifying for the 2028 Olympics is a dream we hope to realize. Everyone knows it’s an extended and troublesome journey, however this workforce has already confirmed that they’ll push boundaries and obtain extraordinary issues.”

Bernd Rabenseifner, ÖHB Secretary Basic, mentioned: “We’re very glad to have secured such a famend coach for our males’s nationwide workforce! This exhibits how a lot respect the nationwide workforce has gained in Europe in recent times and the way engaging Austrian handball has grow to be for high worldwide personalities. We’re assured that Iker Romero’s appointment will proceed the nationwide workforce’s profitable period underneath Aleš Pajovič — with the purpose of building Austria as a daily participant at main tournaments. We additionally hope that our youth nationwide groups, academies, and golf equipment will profit from Iker Romero’s data, expertise, and work, serving to to take Austrian handball to the following stage.”

Patrick Fölser, ÖHB Sports activities Director, commented: “We’re delighted that Iker Romero selected Austria. His expertise as a Spanish nationwide workforce participant at main tournaments, in addition to his teaching expertise within the German Bundesliga, have been essential components in his hiring. From the primary dialog, he was filled with vitality and sees nice potential within the Austrian males’s nationwide workforce, simply as we do. His dedication to spending important time in Austria ranging from his second contract yr, working intently with youth coaches, was an vital a part of the general idea. Iker is an open, approachable coach with a transparent imaginative and prescient of handball. Alongside his expertise, he brings ardour and enthusiasm, and we’re satisfied he shall be a terrific match for our workforce and for the ÖHB. All these facets satisfied us that he’s the proper man to steer the boys’s nationwide workforce and contribute to the event of Austrian handball.”

Romero will succeed Aleš Pajovič, to whom the ÖHB expresses deep gratitude: “Over the previous six years as head coach, Aleš Pajovič has moved the nationwide workforce a giant step ahead and left an enduring mark on Austrian handball each as a coach and as an individual. Collectively, we now wish to finish his time with a constructive achievement — qualification for the EHF EURO 2026 — and provides him the farewell he deserves in Graz, as probably the most profitable males’s workforce coach in ÖHB historical past.”

Iker Romero – Private Profile

• Born: June 15, 1980, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Achievements as a Participant

• Spain Nationwide Workforce: 200 caps (753 objectives)

• 2005 World Championship – Gold

• 2006 EHF EURO – Silver

• 2008 Olympics – Bronze

• 2011 World Championship – Bronze

• 2× EHF Champions League Winner (Barcelona)

• A number of Spanish Cup and Copa del Rey wins (Leon, Ciudad Actual, Barcelona)

• 3× Spanish League Champion (Barcelona and Ademar León)

• 1× European Tremendous Cup (Barcelona)

• 2× Cup Winners’ Cup (Ciudad Actual)

• 1× EHF Cup (now EHF European League) (Berlin)

• 1× German DHB-Pokal Winner (Füchse Berlin)

Golf equipment as Participant

• 1997–2000: BM Valladolid (Spain)

• 2000–2001: Ademar León (Spain)

• 2001–2003: BM Ciudad Actual (Spain)

• 2003–2011: FC Barcelona (Spain)

• 2011–2015: Füchse Berlin (Germany)

Golf equipment as Coach

• 2017–2021: Assistant Coach, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf (underneath Antonio Carlos Ortega)

• 2021–current: Head Coach, SG BBM Bietigheim