Since July 2020, Gábor Danyi is also with the Hungarian women’s national team alongside with Gábor Elek, head coach of FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria.
They have a contract until the end of the Olympic Games. At EHF EURO 2020, Hungary finished fifth in their main round group. Now Elek remains the head coach and Danyi has taken a step back. Still, the trainer has to think of two squads and the youngers.
“I think that the Hungarian handball school is just as good as the current top nations’, such as Norway or France. However, there are some differences in thinking and that is why we are behind them, but it also gives us the possibility to evolve.
“There are more and more opportunities to learn from the best, to have better circumstances in handball, to have a career after sport. The players focus more on off-court issues such as diet or psychology which will help them. Yet, it is a long way to catch the best national teams.”
Guiding two teams at the same time is pretty demanding. Especially when only wins are acceptable.
“The load is much bigger. As the work at the club ends, the national team begins and vice versa. It is our weekly cycle. Of course, as the head coach, I also have to take care of my squad at Györ. Everything needs to be prepared, practices, videos, game plans to learn and many other things in a handballer’s life,” Danyi said.
“There is less time to rest and regenerate. However, everything is overwritten by the pride that I am part of the coaching staff of my nation’s handball team. Yet, coaches also need a break to clear their minds, to have free time.”