Klaipėdos Dragūnas Welcomes the New Year with a New Coach

January 20, 2025

Klaipėdos Dragūnas, last season’s bronze medal holders in the Baltic Handball League, is starting the New Year and the league’s second half with a fresh face at the helm. The club has announced the appointment of Spanish coach José Luis Villanueva López, who takes over following the departure of his compatriot Juan Antonio Moreno Rodríguez.

According to Club Director Artūras Juškėnas, the decision to part ways with Coach Moreno Rodríguez was reached by mutual agreement, with the contract officially ending in late December. In a press release issued on January 6, Dragūnas confirmed Villanueva López as the new head coach.

Juškėnas expressed gratitude to the outgoing coach for his contributions, saying:
“We sincerely thank Juan Antonio Moreno Rodríguez for his efforts, dedication, and hard work, which have helped us grow and achieve significant victories. We wish him the very best in his future professional and personal endeavors.”

The newly appointed coach, José Luis Villanueva López, brings extensive experience to the role. At 61 years old, he has worked with various Spanish men’s and women’s handball teams and has coached youth national teams for both boys and girls. Most recently, he has held coaching positions in France and Italy since 2021.

Currently, Klaipėdos Dragūnas sits in second place in the Baltic Handball League standings. The team has had an impressive season so far, securing nine wins, one draw, and one loss across 11 games, accumulating a total of 19 points. Despite this strong performance, they are narrowly edged out of first place by Estonia’s Polva Serviti, who also have 19 points but lead due to goal difference.

With a new coach and a promising position in the league, Klaipėdos Dragūnas looks poised to continue their pursuit of success in the Baltic Handball League.

Klaipėdos Dragūnas’ next game is scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 17:00 local time. They will face the Estonian handball club Viljandi HC at their home venue.