MT Melsungen signs championship architect Siewert until 2030

Health setback after the departure in Berlin

Siewert said in the interview: „Zwei Monate nach meinem Rausschmiss habe ich einen Schlaganfall erlitten, und da bin ich wirklich am Boden angekommen. Da habe ich alles hinterfragt." It was his second stroke after 2022. According to doctors cited in the reports, the second stroke was attributed to a blood-thinning medication that had been prescribed to him after the first stroke.

In the meantime, Siewert says he is doing well again. In a statement from MT Melsungen, he said: „Mir geht's gut und ich kann es kaum erwarten, endlich wieder zu arbeiten." In the coming season he would support the club in an advisory capacity, it was added. His tasks would then include scouting, squad planning, and the concept for youth development work.

Youth development as a central building block

Sporting director Jesper Larsson explained the signing with the club's youth strategy. „In dieser Hinsicht passt Jaron super zu uns", said Larsson. Melsungen wants to develop young players, including international talents who are to be identified at an early stage: „Wir wollen junge Spieler entwickeln. Dazu zählen auch internationale Talente, die wir frühzeitig sichten wollen."

The background to the move is the announced departure of Roberto Garcia Parrondo, who had led Melsungen to triumph in the European League in the past season and thus to the first trophy in the club's history. Parrondo had informed his employer in February that he would like to move to a top international club after his contract expires in 2027. Melsungen responded to this announcement by signing Siewert, who will take over as head coach in the 2027/28 season.

Parrondo's departure paved the way

The signing of the 32-year-old is regarded in the Handball Bundesliga as a remarkable coup. Despite his young age, Siewert had set sporting accents in Berlin and led the capital club — after years in the shadow of the top — all the way to the summit. With his move to northern Hesse, he follows a trend in the league in which clubs are increasingly turning to younger coaches with a clear conceptual focus.

With the move to Melsungen, Siewert will in future not only be active as a coach, but also as a concept developer for youth work. Already in the transitional season, he is to help build up the corresponding structures. Larsson pointed in this context to the long-term contract until 2030, which would enable appropriate planning.