Skjern Handball has entered into a three-year agreement with Oscar Carlén as new head coach, effective from the summer of 2026.
Oscar Carlén arrives in West Jutland with notable results from Ystad IF, where as head coach he led the club to two Swedish championships and two cup titles – including the club's first championship since 1992.
Since 2017 he has been part of Ystad IF – first as assistant coach and in the past five seasons as head coach – while simultaneously serving as head coach for the Swedish B national team.
The move to Skjern Handball is, according to Carlén, a natural next step in his career - based on both the club's sporting ambitions and a strong values match.
- Skjern's core values of respect and accountability suit me very well as a person, and it is something I want to shape the team and the club I coach. At the same time, the aim of being a Top-4 club in Denmark is attractive and very appealing. I want to win. That is why I am coming to the club. We must compete in Europe again and be part of fighting for titles in Denmark, knowing that the competition at the top of Danish handball is tough.
- Skjern is a big club in a smaller town – just like Ystad – and I like that dynamic. The club's focus on academy and youth development appeals to me greatly, and I enjoy working with young players. It also matters that Skjern is a family-oriented club in a safe environment for our children, says Oscar Carlén about the agreement.
Sports director Thomas Klitgaard below explains the decision and the considerations behind the appointment.
- Together with the board, I have gone through a long and thorough process, where there has been great interest in the job and dialogue with many qualified candidates – both domestic and international. It was decisive for us to find a profile that matches both our sporting ambitions, our values and the way we want to develop Skjern Handball. In the overall assessment, Oscar Carlén was the right choice, says sports director Thomas Klitgaard.
Kasper Søndergaard continues in the role of interim head coach for the rest of the season. After the season ends he will return to his previous role as assistant coach when Oscar Carlén takes up the head coach position.
Facts about Oscar Carlén:
- Ended his active handball career in 2013.
- Carlén played, among others, for SG Flensburg-Handewitt and HSV Hamburg in the German Bundesliga.
- He was part of the team that won the Champions League with HSV Hamburg in 2012/2013.
- The former right back played 78 international matches and scored 214 goals for Sweden's men's national team.
- The now 37-year-old head coach is moving to Skjern with his wife and the family's two - soon three - children.
