A final straight line already well marked. Olivier Krumbholz adorned himself with new world gold on Sunday for his announced final season at the head of the French women’s team, which he brought from the depths fifteen years ago to lead it to the top of handball. After the world titles of 2003 and 2017, this third star won against Norway (31-28) in Herning (Denmark) adds to a trophy cabinet completed by the coronation at Euro 2018 and the gold medal at the Olympic Games of Tokyo in 2021. Krumbholz hopes to add a second Olympic title, in seven months in Paris, before bowing out at retirement age – he will celebrate his 66th birthday on July 12.
“After the Paris 2024 Olympics, I will stop,” he announced in September 2022. The possibility exists, however, of seeing him play overtime (the Euro takes place from December 2024) in order to leave his replacement ( or his replacement) the time to free himself from his obligations, or for the French Federation to find the right profile to succeed him. A hypothesis “not preferred but not excluded”, indicates the national technical director Pascal Bourgeais. Krumbholz would agree to postpone his departure for a few months if asked: “I have always been at the service of the federation, it is not my intention to put it in difficulty so close to the exit”, he declared to AFP before the World Cup.
The Lorraine, international player in the 1980s (9 selections), then, past coach, five-time French champion at the head of Messines, has guided since 1998 a selection taken at the bottom of the world scale to make it one of all best: since his return at the beginning of 2016, the Blues have only missed the semi-finals of an international competition at the 2019 World Cup. Because Krumbholz, married to a former international (Corinne), experienced a break of a little over two years far from the French team: left in September 2013, he was recalled in January 2016 to replace Alain Portes.
The coach with the image of the “loud macho” of the beginnings, “innovative and rigorous character, but very tough”, described a few years ago by Philippe Bana, current president of the Federation, has gradually put water in his wine – of which he is a great fan. Raphaëlle Tervel, left winger of the 2003 world champions, remembers for AFP a “very directive” Krumbholz, capable of eruptions of anger: “It was the more I don’t care about you and the more I expect you react, a management method that corresponded to the early 2000s but no longer to today.” The contrast is striking with this World Cup where Krumbholz did not raise the straps of his players, according to them, after the first period completely missed against Angola in the opening (30-29 final score).
“No, I did not go on a retreat with Buddhist monks,” Krumbholz laughed on Saturday, who likes to share witticisms, proverbs and anecdotes in front of the media, of which he is a good client. “It’s a combination of things that I try to bring serenity, otherwise there’s no point in having an experienced trainer,” he added, blue glasses overlooking his imposing build. However, the players do not see him as a Zen master. “Ah no I wouldn’t say that,” laughs Chloé Valentini. “He’s anxious, isn’t he? He may have calmed down compared to before, but from there to being zen, no. You won’t say it again, will you?”, the left winger continues with a laugh.
Captain Estelle Nze Minko, international for almost ten years, goes in the same direction: “Zen, we are not going to push either… But we are not looking for a Zen Olivier either, we want an Olivier… Olivier. I think he has confidence in us.” Krumbholz says he takes “a lot of pleasure working with” this group, which participates in developing tactics: “It works very well as long as the girls prepare their match well: everyone has their place and a place for everyone.” And a place for Les Bleues at the top of world handball.
