Kretzschmar Won’t Wait for Hanning: Handball Icon to leave Fuchse Berlin in 2026
The most interesting saga in German handball has come to an end. The “alpha and omega” of Füchse Berlin, Bob Hanning, kept delaying his decision on whether the successful duo – coach Jaron Siewert and sporting director Stefan Kretzschmar – would be offered new contracts in the summer of 2026 after their current ones expire. Media sparring between the two began, and that clearly didn’t sit well with the legendary German left winger, who ended the whole saga with a statement on Instagram.
Kretzschmar will leave the club at the end of the 2025/2026 season. As for the fate of the coach, who has been on the bench since 2020 and who led the team from the Max-Schmeling-Halle to its first title last season, it remains a matter of speculation.
Kretzschmar’s message:
“Dear handball friends, dear fans of Füchse Berlin,
After more than five years as sporting director of Füchse Berlin, I have decided to take a new path after the end of the current season. The 2025/26 season will be my last at this special club. It has been an incredibly intense and formative time.
In recent years we have continuously developed at Füchse, both in sporting and structural terms: from 4th place in the first year, through 3rd place in the second and third, 2nd place with Champions League qualification in the fourth, and finally the German championship in the fifth. Added to that were two Supercup wins, the EHF European League title, and a Champions League final. These successes are the result of hard work, vision, a phenomenal team, a great coaching staff, and our passionate fans. It has been a great joy to walk this path with you. I also want to thank the shareholders and the management who gave me this opportunity. For me, it was an enormous privilege and a special highlight of my career to celebrate the first German championship with Füchse in my hometown of Berlin.
Public discussions about strategic direction do not benefit the club. In order to relieve media pressure and put the focus on our ambitious goals this season, I am announcing my decision today. Until June 2026, I will work and fight with full passion to achieve these goals.
I am convinced that with its strong foundation, Füchse will remain a top address in Europe and attract more and more fans. Now the full focus is on the current season, which will bring us many challenges. Let’s face them together!
Yours,
Kretzsche”
The club’s statement:
“Stefan Kretzschmar has contributed greatly to the club’s development within its framework conditions and led it to sporting titles, crowned by the first German championship in the club’s history in June this year. Füchse Berlin is extremely grateful to Stefan Kretzschmar for his services to the club. The shareholders will now make entrepreneurial decisions on how to best shape the future of the club in light of this development. The team’s focus is now on the DAIKIN Handball-Bundesliga match on Wednesday against FRISCH AUF! Göppingen and the top clash on Saturday against SC Magdeburg.”
