THW Kiel and Filip Jicha part ways
Filip Jicha is no longer THW Kiel coach after the worst season of the “Zebras” in last two decades.
Here is THW Kiel statement:
The decision not to continue with Filip Jicha into the 2026/2027 season, which officially begins on 1 July, developed over the past few weeks during an in-depth season analysis involving all parties.
“My job is to act based on the conclusions we draw. I would have liked to begin the restart of our newly formed team together with Filip as planned,” said THW managing director Viktor Szilagyi. “But the burden of the sporting development over the past few months weighs too heavily for that.”
Official farewell in the arena
Viktor Szilagyi expressly thanked Filip Jicha for “the many years of cooperation that were always based on trust and mutual respect. For Filip, the daily work was much more than ‘just’ a coaching job. He always had the further development of our THW Kiel in mind and was also willing to accept necessary compromises during certain phases. Although we now have to part ways professionally, Filip will always remain inseparably linked with THW Kiel, because he is one of the defining figures in the history of our club.”
That is why THW Kiel will give him and his family the opportunity at a later date to officially say goodbye to the club and the fans in the Merkur Ostseehalle.
“A day of gratitude”
Szilagyi stressed that anyone who has followed THW Kiel closely is aware of the difficult situation the club has been battling for the past two years.
“Given the many challenges and developments, it would not be right, nor should it suggest, that Filip alone is responsible for the current overall situation. But after a thorough analysis of the past season, we as a club have come to the conclusion that the time has come for a change in this position as well. The new impulse and the different approach that comes with it will help us successfully tackle the tasks ahead and then attack again with our exciting, newly formed team.”
Szilagyi did not reveal who will take over the head coach position for the time being.
“Of course, we know that in the coming days almost every name in world handball will be linked with us. As always, we will not comment on these rumours, but will calmly continue our work, as we have done in recent weeks, and find the best possible solution for THW Kiel. Today, however, is first and foremost a day of gratitude for everything Filip has done for THW Kiel.”
About Filip Jicha
After 16 years of service to THW Kiel, Filip Jicha is the most successful protagonist in the history of the club.
As a player, the now 44-year-old won everything there is to win in club handball with the Zebras between 2007 and 2015 — including seven German championship titles, five DHB Cup trophies and two EHF Champions League titles. In 2010, Jicha was named World Handball Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.
At the end of his playing career, the backcourt player moved to FC Barcelona, before returning to Kiel in 2018 as assistant coach to Alfred Gislason. In the summer of 2019, he became head coach of THW Kiel.
This cooperation also became a success story with many new chapters. In 2020, THW Kiel triumphed in the Champions League under Jicha’s sporting leadership. The Czech became the first handball figure to win the most important trophy in club handball in Cologne both as a player and as a coach.
With Filip Jicha on the sidelines, THW Kiel won the German championship in 2020, 2021 and 2023, the DHB Cup in 2022 and 2025, as well as four Super Cup titles.
