# HBW Balingen-Weilstetten

HBW Balingen-Weilstetten is a handball club from the city of Balingen, Germany, though they occasionally play in Stuttgart. The team currently plays in the Handball-Bundesliga, Germany's highest handball division.

## History

The club was established from the merger in 2002 of the handball sections of TSG Balingen and TV Weilstetten. This merger was quickly beneficial as HBW Balingen-Weilstetten finished first in the regional championship (Regionalliga) and were promoted to 2. Handball-Bundesliga. HBW became champion in 2006, which meant promotion to the Handball-Bundesliga. The merger has been widely perceived to be successful since the club managed to maintain its position in the top division that season thanks to its thirteenth place out of the 18 participants. The following seasons, the results of the club remained rather constant since it avoided relegation each season by ranking between thirteenth and fifteenth place (first non-relegation). At the end of the 2013/14 season, the team was ranked 16th in the table, so it was eliminated from the sports standings but remained in the Bundesliga because HSV Hamburg was not licensed for the 2014/15 season. The license was finally given to HSV Hamburg, so the 2014–2015 Bundesliga was played with 19 clubs. During the 2014/2015 season, the club achieved its best run in the Championship with an eleventh place but was relegated at the end of the 2016/2017 season due to its seventeenth place. Back in 2. Handball-Bundesliga, the club finished fifth in 2018 then champion in 2019, synonymous with a return to the top flight. HBW have remained in the Handball-Bundesliga since 2019 after a fifteenth-placed season in 2020–21.

## Accomplishments

* 2. Handball-Bundesliga: 2
** Gold: 2006, 2019, 2023

## Crest, colours, supporters
### Kits

HOME :
| 2017–18 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 |
AWAY :
| 2013–14 | 2015–16 | 2017–18 | 2019–20 | 2020–22 |

## Team
### Current squad

    Squad for the 2023–24 season
HBW Balingen-Weilstetten :
Goalkeepers
12 Mohamed El-Tayar
16 Mario Ruminsky
Left wingers
14 Oddur Grétarsson
18 Tim Grüner
23 Mischa Locher
27 Patrick Volz
Right wingers
06 Leo Prantner
20 Tom Hildebrand
24 Elias Fügel
Line players
02 Nikola Grahovac
17 Felix Danner
28 Tobias Heinzelmann
Left backs
04 Filip Vistorop
10 Daníel Þór Ingason
22 Jona Schoch
25 Till Wente
Centre Backs
07 Elias Huber
23 Mika Schüler
26 Lukas Saueressig
Right backs
05 Csaba Leimeter
21 Jerome Müller :

### Technical staff

* Head coach: Tobias Hotz (interim)
* Assistant coach: Matthias Flohr
* Athletic Trainer: Sascha Ilitsch
* Physiotherapist: Wolfgang Kremer-Junk
* Club doctor: Dr. Wilfried Gfrörer

### Transfers

    Transfers for the 2024–25 season

## Previous squads

2013–2014 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 2 | Germany | Fabian Böhm | (1989-06-24) 24 June 1989 (age 35) | Left Back |
| 3 | Germany | Felix König | (1990-10-26) 26 October 1990 (age 33) | Central Back |
| 4 | Germany | Christoph Foth | (1991-01-01) 1 January 1991 (age 33) | Line Player |
| 8 | Serbia | Dragan Tubić | (1985-08-24) 24 August 1985 (age 39) | Right Winger |
| 9 | Germany | Frank Ettwein | (1977-07-26) 26 July 1977 (age 47) | Left Winger |
| 10 | Austria | Roland Schlinger | (1982-09-17) 17 September 1982 (age 42) | Left Back |
| 11 | Germany | Wolfgang Strobel | (1983-12-15) 15 December 1983 (age 40) | Line Player |
| 12 | Germany | Karim Ketelaer | (1993-07-25) 25 July 1993 (age 31) | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Germany | Christoph Theuerkauf | (1984-10-13) 13 October 1984 (age 39) | Line Player |
| 14 | Germany | Daniel Wessig | (1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 15 | Germany | Martin Strobel | (1986-06-05) 5 June 1986 (age 38) | Central Back |
| 16 | Germany | Matthias Puhle | (1985-10-11) 11 October 1985 (age 38) | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Germany | Kai Häfner | (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35) | Right Back |
| 18 | Germany | Michael Kintrup | (1989-03-11) 11 March 1989 (age 35) | Right Back |
| 19 | Germany | Patrick Weber | (1992-06-11) 11 June 1992 (age 32) | Left Winger |
| 20 | Germany | Sascha Ilitsch | (1985-08-08) 8 August 1985 (age 39) | Left Back |
| 21 | Germany | Florian Billek | (1988-07-16) 16 July 1988 (age 36) | Right Winger |
| 24 | Switzerland | Manuel Liniger | (1981-09-10) 10 September 1981 (age 43) | Left Winger |
| 29 | Germany | Nikolas Katsigiannis | (1982-09-17) 17 September 1982 (age 42) | Goalkeeper |
2012–2013 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Slovakia | Miloš Putera | (1982-01-26) 26 January 1982 (age 42) | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Germany | Felix König | (1990-10-26) 26 October 1990 (age 33) | Central Back |
| 4 | Germany | Christoph Foth | (1991-01-01) 1 January 1991 (age 33) | Line Player |
| 5 | Germany | Benjamin Herth | (1985-08-03) 3 August 1985 (age 39) | Central Back |
| 6 | Serbia | Krsto Milošević | (1988-01-06) 6 January 1988 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 7 | Croatia | Mario Vuglač | (1992-01-30) 30 January 1992 (age 32) | Right Back |
| 8 | Serbia | Dragan Tubić | (1985-08-24) 24 August 1985 (age 39) | Right Winger |
| 9 | Germany | Frank Ettwein | (1977-07-26) 26 July 1977 (age 47) | Left Winger |
| 10 | Austria | Roland Schlinger | (1982-09-17) 17 September 1982 (age 42) | Left Back |
| 11 | Germany | Wolfgang Strobel | (1983-12-15) 15 December 1983 (age 40) | Line Player |
| 12 | Germany | Paul Bar | (1990-09-13) 13 September 1990 (age 34) | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Germany | Christoph Theuerkauf | (1984-10-13) 13 October 1984 (age 39) | Line Player |
| 15 | Germany | Daniel Wessig | (1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 16 | Germany | Matthias Puhle | (1985-10-11) 11 October 1985 (age 38) | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Germany | Kai Häfner | (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35) | Right Back |
| 20 | Germany | Sascha Ilitsch | (1985-08-08) 8 August 1985 (age 39) | Left Back |
| 21 | Germany | Florian Billek | (1988-07-16) 16 July 1988 (age 36) | Right Winger |
| 22 | Germany | Fabian Gutbrod | (1988-07-01) 1 July 1988 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 24 | Switzerland | Manuel Liniger | (1981-09-10) 10 September 1981 (age 43) | Left Winger |
2010–2011 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Austria Serbia | Nikola Marinovic | (1976-08-29) 29 August 1976 (age 48) | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Germany | Felix König | (1990-10-26) 26 October 1990 (age 33) | Central Back |
| 4 | Germany | Felix Lobedank | (1984-08-12) 12 August 1984 (age 40) | Right Back |
| 5 | Germany | Benjamin Herth | (1985-08-03) 3 August 1985 (age 39) | Central Back |
| 6 | Germany | Daniel Sauer | (1981-10-18) 18 October 1981 (age 42) | Left Back |
| 8 | Germany | Dennis Wilke | (1985-09-14) 14 September 1985 (age 39) | Right Winger |
| 9 | Germany | Frank Ettwein | (1977-07-26) 26 July 1977 (age 47) | Left Winger |
| 10 | Austria | Roland Schlinger | (1982-09-17) 17 September 1982 (age 42) | Left Back |
| 11 | Germany | Wolfgang Strobel | (1983-12-15) 15 December 1983 (age 40) | Line Player |
| 12 | France | Ivan Zoubkoff | (1977-08-24) 24 August 1977 (age 47) | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | North Macedonia | Vlatko Mitkov | (1981-08-16) 16 August 1981 (age 43) | Right Back |
| 15 | Austria Slovenia | Mare Hojc | (1982-01-05) 5 January 1982 (age 42) | Central Back |
| 17 | North Macedonia | Vladimir Temelkov | (1980-03-26) 26 March 1980 (age 44) | Right Winger |
| 18 | Germany | Jens Bürkle | (1980-01-14) 14 January 1980 (age 44) | Line Player |
| 19 | France | Johan Boisedu | (1979-12-14) 14 December 1979 (age 44) | Left Back |
| 20 | Germany | Sascha Ilitsch | (1985-08-08) 8 August 1985 (age 39) | Left Back |
| 21 | Germany | Sandro Catak | (1984-05-30) 30 May 1984 (age 40) | Central Back |

## EHF ranking

    As of 9 December 2021
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 218 | Limoges Handball | 13 |
| 219 | SC Ferlach | 13 |
| 220 | Cesson Rennes MHB | 13 |
| 221 | HBW Balingen-Weilstetten | 13 |
| 222 | Kolstad Håndball | 12 |
| 223 | Viljandi HC | 12 |
| 224 | KH Kastrioti | 12 |

## Former club members
### Notable former players

* Florian Billek (2012–2014)
* Fabian Böhm (2013–2016)
* Matthias Flohr (2016–2019)
* Fabian Gutbrod (2011–2013)
* Kai Häfner (2011–2014)
* Pascal Hens (2016–2017)
* Benjamin Herth (2003–2013)
* Nikolas Katsigiannis (2012–2014)
* Stefan Kneer (2006–2008)
* Yves Kunkel (2015–2017)
* Jörg Kunze (2005–2007)
* Jürgen Müller (2003–2007)
* Philipp Müller (2008–2010)
* Christian Ramota (2008)
* Martin Strobel (2005–2008, 2013–2020)
* Christoph Theuerkauf (2012–2016)
* Martin Ziemer (2011–2012)
* Mare Hojc (2009–2011)
* Klemens Kainmüller (2006–2007)
* Romas Kirveliavičius (2018–2021)
* Nikola Marinovic (2009–2011)
* Roland Schlinger (2010–2014)
* Nikola Stevanovic (2021–2022)
* David Szlezak (2004–2005)
* Markus Wagesreiter (2008–2010)
* Tobias Wagner (2016–2018)
* Robert Weber (2008–2009)
* Faruk Vražalić (2014–2015)
* Viachaslau Saldatsenka (2017)
* Matej Ašanin (2014–2016)
* Kristian Bećiri (2021–)
* Vladimir Božić (2014–2016)
* Davor Dominiković (2015–2017)
* Mario Vuglač (2011–2012)
* Martin Kovář (2007)
* Tomáš Mrkva (2016–2019)
* Miloš Slabý (2004–2009)
* Mike Jensen (2019–2021)
* Simon Sejr (2021–)
* Morten Slundt (2012)
* Johan Boisedu (2010–2011)
* Rock Feliho (2007–2010)
* Olivier Nyokas (2014–2016)
* Yann Polydore (2014–2015)
* Ivan Zoubkoff (2003–2004, 2009–2011)
* Alexandros Alvanos (2011–2012)
* Spyros Balomenos (2008–2009)
* Alexandros Vasilakis (2014–2016)
* Nándor Fazekas (2015)
* Oddur Grétarsson (2017–)
* Daníel Þór Ingason (2021–)
* Sigtryggur Daði Rúnarsson (2017–2018)
* Cho Chi-hyo (2007–2009)
* Vlatko Mitkov (2010–2011)
* Filip Taleski (2019–2020)
* Vladimir Temelkov (2009–2011)
* Vladan Lipovina (2019–2022)
* Radivoje Ristanović (2014–2016)
* Gerrie Eijlers (2008–2009)
* Gleb Kalarash (2021)
* Milan Kosanović (2006–2008)
* Krsto Milošević (2012–2013)
* Aleksandar Stanojević (2006–2007)
* Dragan Tubić (2012–2015)
* Manuel Liniger (2012–2014)
* Miloš Putera (2012–2013)
* Peter Johannesson (2015–2017)
* Markus Stegefelt (2016–2018)
* Marouen Maggaiz (2017–2018)

### Former coaches

| Seasons | Coach |
| 2004–2013 | Rolf Brack |
| 2013–2015 | Markus Gaugisch |
| 2016 | Frank Bergemann |
| 2016–2017 | Rúnar Sigtryggsson |
| 2017– | Jens Bürkle |