Manuel Zehnder risks a lot, but it comes out well. Now the top scorer of the last Bundesliga season wants to get Switzerland off to a good start in the European Championship qualifiers.
It's a special story that perfectly describes Manuel Zehnder's character. In 2022, the 25-year-old playmaker will move from Suhr Aarau to Erlangen in the Bundesliga. After a difficult season, he is loaned out to Eisenach, where his sponsor Misha Kaufmann works as a coach. Zehnder takes off and becomes the first Swiss top scorer in the Bundesliga with 277 goals. Only three times has a player in arguably the best handball league in the world scored more goals in a single season.
Legal dispute with former club
Erlangen is pleased with the positive development. Those responsible intend to build a team around Zehnder for the future. However, Zehnder has other plans and terminates his contract, which runs until 2026, at the end of May. He believes he is in the right because he signed electronically using a special app and, according to German employment law, a signed original is required for fixed-term contracts to be valid, otherwise the employment relationship is deemed to be permanent.
However, Erlangen does not accept the termination, which is why a legal dispute arises. Zehnder wants to settle the matter in an accelerated procedure, but this is rejected twice. Although he is in contact with a number of clubs, there is a great deal of uncertainty because the main proceedings can drag on. He is aware that, in the worst-case scenario, he may not be allowed to play the whole season.
"I have my principles," says Zehnder. "I'm not someone's character. If I don't feel comfortable somewhere or what I do isn't appreciated, I don't belong there. I wouldn't have regretted my decision - no matter what happened." Zehnder's courage to stand up for himself paid off in the end. On August 21, it is announced that he has signed a two-year contract with Magdeburg.
Schmid attests to Zehnder's rare qualities
The East Germans are one of the top teams in handball. At the end of May, they won the championship title for the second time in the last three seasons and for the third time overall. They will also triumph in the Champions League for the fourth time in 2023. "Everything is bigger, the teammates are better, which leads to a higher level of training," says Zehnder, describing the differences to his previous stations.
It goes without saying that the great competition affects his playing time; he was undisputed at Eisenach. "I'm never satisfied. No matter how much I play," says Zehnder. "But it's fun to measure myself against these top players every day and get better." How does Swiss national coach Andy Schmid rate Zehnder's early days at Magdeburg? "He has highs and lows. I recognize my first year in the Bundesliga (which was difficult)." You have to give such top players the feeling that you're bringing them something. Otherwise they won't pay attention to you. "You only get acceptance with performance. He no longer gets all the freedom from the coach, but is now out after two or three mistakes."
Nevertheless, Schmid thinks highly of Zehnder. "He is blessed with an individual quality that not many players have." But he still has to learn when to take responsibility and when to relinquish it. "If he can do that, he has the potential to be world class."
A very special game
As a director in the national team, he is Schmid's extended arm, setting him guard rails. Thursday's game in Mannheim is all the more special for Zehnder as he also has a German passport because of his mother. Playing for Germany was definitely an issue for him. How does he see the chances against the Olympic silver medalists? "Germany are definitely the favorites. However, we showed against Slovenia (in the World Cup qualifiers) that we can play against top teams and even beat them on certain days."
On Sunday, Austria will be the second opponent in the European Championship qualifiers in Schaffhausen. It's a key game, as Switzerland and Austria normally decide the 2nd place in Group 7 between themselves - the fourth team is Turkey. The top two teams in each group are guaranteed a place at the European Championship finals in Denmark, Sweden and Norway at the start of 2026. Then there are the four best third-placed teams. "Sunday is extremely important. But before that, we absolutely want to beat Germany," says Zehnder.
SDA
