# German handball captain appointments 2026‑27

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-handball-captain-appointments-202627
> Updated: 2026-07-29T04:22:58.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026 German handball clubs announced their captains for the 2026‑27 season. TSV Hannover‑Burgdorf named veteran Marian Michalczik as captain, succeeding Marius Steinhauser, while retaining Hannes Feise as co‑captain. FC Hansa Rostock’s long‑time skipper Franz Pfanne confirmed his intention to stay in the role, highlighting the squad’s preparation and potential leadership contributors such as vice‑captain Marco Schuster and midfielder Kenan Fatkic. A week later HSV Hamburg appointed 25‑year‑old Austrian Elias Kofler as captain. Kofler, under contract until 2030, will serve as the primary link to sport director Jogi Bitter and emphasized a hands‑on leadership style. Both clubs stressed continuity and confidence in their leadership groups as they entered pre‑season training.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-29: Elias Kofler appointed captain of HSV Hamburg handball team

Elias Kofler (25) becomes HSV Hamburg handball captain, pledging leadership duties and a cabin tradition for the 2026‑27 season.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hsv-hamburg-handball-appoints-elias-kofler-as-captain

### 2026-07-21: German Handball Clubs Name Captains for 2026‑27 Season

TSV Hannover‑Burgdorf named Marian Michalczik captain, while FC Hansa Rostock’s Franz Pfanne aims to stay captain, both clubs stressing continuity for the 2026‑27 handball season.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-handball-clubs-name-captains-for-202627-season

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Cite as: German handball captain appointments 2026‑27. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-handball-captain-appointments-202627