László Sótonyi Named Hungary’s New Head Coach
The coach who recently led Hungary’s junior national team to the European Championship title has been appointed head coach of the Hungarian senior men’s handball team.
“First of all, I would like to warmly congratulate László Sótonyi and the men’s junior national team on winning the European Championship gold medal. The team achieved a fantastic and historic result,” said Hungarian Handball Federation president Ferenc Ilyés at the start of the federation’s press conference.
“Perhaps today’s announcement does not come as a surprise. The Hungarian Handball Federation has appointed László Sótonyi as head coach of the senior men’s national team on a three-year contract. Following the unsuccessful World Championship play-off against Serbia in May, we said that the federation had decided that a change was needed at the helm of the national team.
“László Sótonyi’s name came up very quickly. We soon managed to reach an agreement with him, and I would like to wish him every success. I believe that he can bring the same work ethic, commitment and, hopefully, success to the senior national team that he demonstrated while leading several youth generations.
“His role with the junior national team will now come to an end, while the junior team’s coaching staff will be reorganised following the conclusion of this summer’s youth competitions.
“László Sótonyi will serve as a full-time national team head coach, meaning that he will no longer remain head coach of NEKA. However, he will continue to maintain links with the academy, particularly because it provides direct insight into the players who could progress into the senior national team.
“I would also like to thank the National Handball Academy for its cooperation. By putting the interests of Hungarian handball first, the academy approached the matter in a very constructive manner.”
László Nagy, a member of the Hungarian Handball Federation’s executive board, primarily spoke about the national team’s upcoming challenges.
“The senior national team is not in an easy situation, as it failed to qualify for the World Championship in January. The new squad will meet for the first time in November and, only a few days later, will immediately have to play European Championship qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.
“The Faroe Islands are also in our group, and we will face them in the spring. In order to hold on to the final hope of qualifying for the Olympic Games, the first and obvious task is to reach the 2028 European Championship. At this point, it is probably not worth looking any further ahead than that.
“As for the coaching staff, the new head coach has been given a free hand in selecting his team. We expect to make further announcements regarding the staff soon.
“As head coach of the junior national team, László Sótonyi has also had an insight into the work of the senior team in recent years. It is also worth highlighting that ten members of the team that won the silver medal at the 2023 Junior World Championship have already participated in a senior international tournament.
“I therefore believe that his appointment is a logical decision. I wish him and the national team every success.”
“For every working coach, this is the pinnacle of the profession,” said newly appointed head coach László Sótonyi.
“I once dreamed of reaching this level, and now I have managed to achieve it. I am aware of the difficulties and challenges involved, but the work I have done so far will provide important support in overcoming them.
“I already have clear ideas about the kind of work I would like to carry out with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for its trust, my family for its support and NEKA for allowing me to take on this new role despite my existing contract.
“A connection with the academy will remain, because as head of the men’s department I would like to continue supporting the work of my colleagues.
“As far as the coming period is concerned, we are currently one step behind. I am fully aware that senior handball is different from junior handball. I also understand that the leading group in international handball is extremely competitive, with very little separating the teams and matches often being decided by the smallest details.
“We are one step behind because our rivals will play a large number of matches at the World Championship, while we will miss out on those games.
“In the coming period, it will be particularly important for me to analyse the team thoroughly. I also want to establish very good relationships with the clubs so that I can closely follow the work, development and playing time of the national team players.
“A key issue is for as many Hungarian players as possible to compete in the Champions League and regularly face high-pressure situations at the highest possible level. That is the only way we can become competitive.
“I am really looking forward to the coming period. Those who know me are aware that I am a perfectionist. I will do everything possible to build a competitive Hungarian national team.
“The primary objective is to qualify for the next European Championship, from where there is still a very slim possibility of earning a place at the Olympic Games. As long as there is a chance, there is also hope, so we will begin our work with the aim of trying to achieve it.
“The process of forming the coaching staff is ongoing. Once it has been completed, we will naturally inform the supporters and the public,” concluded the newly appointed national team head coach.
László Sótonyi
Date of birth: 20 April 1970
Playing position: Centre back
Clubs as a player
- Csurgó, 1980–1982
- Veszprém KC, 1982–1989
- PEMÜ Honvéd, 1989–1992
- Veszprém KC, 1992–1998
- Santander, 1998–2000, Spain
- Zaragoza, 2000–2001, Spain
- Otmar St. Gallen, 2001–2002, Switzerland
Hungary national team record
190 appearances and 518 goals between 1990 and 2001.
Achievements as a player
Hungary:
- Seventh place at the 1992 Olympic Games
- 11th place at the 1993 and 1999 World Championships
- 17th place at the 1995 World Championship
- Fourth place at the 1997 World Championship
- Seventh place at the 1994 European Championship
- 10th place at the 1996 European Championship
- Sixth place at the 1998 European Championship
- 10th place at the 1989 and 1991 Junior World Championships
Club level:
- Three-time Cup Winners’ Cup finalist: 1993, 1997 and 1999
- Five-time Hungarian champion: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998
- Four-time Hungarian Cup winner: 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998
- World university champion in 1997
Coaching career
- Nagykanizsa, 2003–2005
- Százhalombatta, 2005–2008
- Fehérvár KC, 2008–2009
- Balatonfüred, 2010–2014
- Csurgó, 2014–2017
- Hungary men’s national team assistant coach, 2014–2016
- Hungary men’s B national team head coach, 2017–2019
- National Handball Academy coach and head of the men’s department, 2018–2026
- Hungary men’s junior national team head coach, 2019–2026
- Hungary men’s senior national team head coach from 1 August 2026
Achievements as a coach
- Junior World Championship silver medal in 2023
- Junior European champion in 2026
- Fifth place at the 2022 Junior European Championship
- 12th place at the 2024 Junior European Championship
- Third place in the Hungarian championship in 2012 and 2014
- Third place in the Hungarian Cup in 2010 and 2024
- Fourth place in the Hungarian Cup in 2025
- Hungary’s Youth Coach of the Year in 2023
Hungary’s schedule for the 2026/27 season
2–8 November 2026
National team week
European Championship qualifiers:
- 4/5 November 2026: Hungary vs Montenegro
- 7/8 November 2026: Kosovo vs Hungary
January 2027
National team preparation period
8–14 March 2027
National team week
European Championship qualifiers:
- 10/11 March 2027: Faroe Islands vs Hungary
- 13/14 March 2027: Hungary vs Faroe Islands
3–9 May 2027
National team week
European Championship qualifiers:
- 5 May 2027: Montenegro vs Hungary
- 9 May 2027: Hungary vs Kosovo
