Arne Senstad and Poland two more years together
The Polish Handball Association (ZPRP) announces the extension of the contract with coach Arne Senstad, under which he will remain the head coach of the Polish women’s national team at least until the end of the 2026 Women’s European Championship, which will be held, among other countries, in Poland.
Arne Senstad began his role as the head coach of the Polish women’s national team in August 2019. Under his leadership, the White and Reds have qualified for all major international tournaments, except for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In his first years in Poland, the Norwegian coach stabilized the team’s performance at a mid-second-tier level. During the 2020 European Championship, Poland finished in 14th place, at the 2021 World Championship – 15th, at the 2022 European Championship – 13th, and at the 2023 World Championship – 16th.
A breakthrough came in November 2024, when the Polish team, competing on Austrian, Swiss, and Hungarian courts in the 2024 European Championship, broke into the top ten, securing 9th place. This is the third-best result in the history of Poland’s participation in the continental championship and the highest placement in 18 years, since their 8th-place finish at the 2006 European Championship.
Arne Senstad’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of January 2025, following the last tournament, to allow him to submit a full report. After reviewing its contents, the decision was made to extend his contract for another two years. The decision, made by ZPRP President Sławomir Szmal, was approved by the ZPRP Board on Monday, February 24.
“I appreciate the tremendous work and commitment of the group that coach Senstad has built. I am confident that the team will do everything to bring joy to our fans during the 2026 European Championship, which will be held in our country,” commented Sławomir Szmal, President of the Polish Handball Association.
“After the last European Championship, we all wanted to continue working together because we know that we can achieve even more and further develop our team and Polish handball. I am happy that President Sławomir Szmal shares this vision, so finalizing the details of our continued cooperation was not difficult. I am convinced that with this group of players and my staff, we can achieve even better results. We are all working hard towards a common success. I believe I made the right decision, which will benefit me, the national team, and Polish handball,” said head coach Arne Senstad.
In the coming days, a detailed interview with the coach will be published, in which he will discuss the background of the contract extension and his plans for the team’s development.
To secure a place at 2025 Women’s World Championship, Poland will have to overcome North Macedonia in a two-legged qualification playoff. The first match will take place in Poland on April 9, with the return leg scheduled for April 12 in Bitola. In December 2026, the Polish women’s national team will compete in the 2026 Women’s European Championship, which will be played, among other locations, in Poland.
PHOTO: ZPRP/Pawel Bejnarowicz
