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The Kleins, a well-rehearsed handball family in Nantes
- Updated: November 18, 2016
The ‘handball family’ is often mentioned by players, coaches or officials. And it is true: Handball has even made some families – like in the case of Dominik (33 years old) and Isabell Klein (32).
The two Bavarians got to know each other through handball, they fell in love, they married, they gave birth to little Colin – and still the majority of their lives is handball.
Dominik ‘Mini’ Klein played for Wallau and Großwallstadt before joining THW Kiel in 2006. He had already been a couple with Isabell then.
Some years later, ‘Isi’ made it northwards in Germany, signed for Buxtehuder SV near Hamburg, where she became team captain and national team player. At that moment, her husband Dominik had already been world champion and EHF Champions League winner – both in 2007.
In 2014, both Isi and Mini were still in the national team when little Colin was born. Life changed completely, mainly for Isabell.
From the moment she re-started playing professional handball, the calendar was her best and most important friend and help.
“It is not easy to organise every single hour of a day. When is my training session, when is Dominik’s training? And taking in account that I had to travel two hours to and from Kiel, where we lived, to Buxtehude,” Isabell says.
But they managed it. One year ago, the little family took a decision that changed their life again. Dominik couldn’t agree with Kiel on a long-term contract at the club. And as they were both looking for a new handball challenge, they found it in Nantes.
Dominik signed with HBC Nantes, Isabell joined Loire Atlantique Nantes – both in the first leagues, both in European Cup competitions.
After Dominik played ten years with THW Kiel in the EHF Champions League, his new club was awarded a wild card to be part of Europe’s top club competition for the first time.
Isabell and her new team mates started in the newly merged EHF Cup. On Sunday they have the gate wide open for entering the group phase as they start the return game against Sercodak Dalfsen with a comfortable advantage after their 31:21 win from the first leg in the Netherlands.
HBC is even more successful, being the only unbeaten team among the 28 VELUX EHF Champions League participants. …
