Veszprém coach Sabaté to lead Hungarian national team

The head coach of VELUX EHF Champions League participants MVM Veszprém, Xavier Sabaté, is the new coach of the Hungarian men’s national team.

It was announced on Friday that the Spaniard has been given a contract until June by the Hungarian federation, which includes the World Championship 2017 play-offs in which Hungary take on Serbia.

Six months ago Xavi Sabaté was ’only’ the assistant coach of Carlos Ortega at MVM Veszprém, but now the 39-year-old owns two high-profile jobs: not only he is the head coach of Veszprém, but as of 11 March it is his duty to make sure Hungary do not miss two World Championships in a row.

“It is a great honour to coach Hungary. The World Championship play-off against Serbia is a huge challenge and we have to give everything to reach the 2017 tournament,” he said.  

“The World Championship is our main goal, not the generation change in the ranks of the national team,” added Sabaté.

This statement was noted as predecessor Talant Dujshebaev failed to deliver with his team of youngsters at the EHF EURO in January when Hungary only placed 12th.

“My club, whose success will be no less of a priority for me in the coming months, was broadminded to accept the federation’s proposal,” said Sabaté as András Novák, chief secretary of the Hungarian federation, also thanked Veszprém for their support.

Sabaté will appoint his staff in the coming days.

His first game on the Hungarian bench will be in Toulon against Olympic and world champions France in April.