The EHF European League is now kicking off its group stage, which, as usual, spans six matchdays. SG Flensburg-Handewitt will face Fraikin BM Granollers in its opening match. The game starts Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at the GGW Arena.
This consistency is remarkable. When Asobal—the predecessor to today’s league—was founded in 1965, BM Granollers was already a member. The club has never been relegated since then and has now begun its 62nd year in Spain’s top division. Initially, it was even more successful than its illustrious neighbor, FC Barcelona, winning an impressive ten championships between 1959 and 1974. The White-and-Blues were the first winners of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, which was introduced in 1976. In 1995 and 1996, the EHF Cup found its way to Catalonia twice, though the club’s golden age of titles had already come to an end by then. Nevertheless, there were repeated bursts of momentum that ensured BM Granollers remained among the top teams in the Liga Asobal. For example, the “Palau d’Esports de Granollers” was built for the 1992 Olympic Games. It seats 5,700 spectators. In 2004, Fraikin, a leading commercial vehicle rental company, became the team’s title sponsor.
The Fraikin BM Granollers
Roster The coach is the team’s constant: Antonio Rama played for Granollers as a child and began coaching at an early age. In 2018, he took over as head coach. Before last season, Fraikin BM Granollers underwent a major overhaul and finished third in the Asobal League—just behind La Rioja. In the EHF European League, the Spanish team failed to secure a single victory in the main round. This summer, only three young players were added to the roster. The club places a strong emphasis on young talent. The center and left backcourt positions are filled with a whole host of young, promising handball players: Ferran Castillo, Gerard Domingo, Juan Palomino, and Jan Duran. Only playmaker Bruno Reguart, who briefly played for TVB Stuttgart, has a bit more experience. The players on the right wing have excellent handball genes. Marcos Fis’s father was once a German champion with THW Kiel. Pablo Urdangarin’s parents are Infanta Cristina of Spain and former Spanish professional handball player Iñaki Urdangarin. The team’s veteran is Adrià Figueras. “We’re under pressure to improve on last season’s results,” says the 38-year-old captain and pivot.
