Financial Struggles in Ludwigsburg: Major Athlete Joins a New Team Nationally - Financial predicament in Ludwigsburg: National athlete secures new team
The future of HB Ludwigsburg in the German Women's Handball Bundesliga (HBF) remains uncertain, following a serious financial collapse. The club filed for bankruptcy in July and failed to secure funding or a sponsor, leading to disqualification from both the EHF Champions League Women’s 2025/26 and the German Handball Super Cup [1][2][4].
Meanwhile, a notable player, Xenia Smits, the captain of the German national women's handball team, has found a new club. Smits, who played for HB Ludwigsburg from 2020, will be returning to Metz Handball, the French record champions [6].
Smits, 31 years old, expressed her delight about returning to Metz, stating that it was the best thing that could have happened to her. However, she later criticized the club management for leaving many questions unanswered about the financial crisis [3]. She also questioned how HB Ludwigsburg could get into such a financial crisis and gamble with people's livelihoods [7].
The renewed license review by the league for HB Ludwigsburg is ongoing, and it is unclear if the club will be able to field a team in the upcoming Bundesliga season [5]. The future of many Ludwigsburg players, including Antje Doell and Viola Leuchter, remains uncertain [8]. National player Viola Leuchter has not made any firm decisions about her future, and the captain of the German national team, Antje Doell, has an undecided future [9].
Smits spent five successful years with Metz Handball from 2015 to 2020, winning four championships and two cup victories [10]. Her contract with Metz Handball extends until the end of the next season [2].
References: [1] Handball-Planet.de, "HB Ludwigsburg: Bankrott und Insolvenzverfahren", 2025. [2] Handball-Planet.de, "Xenia Smits kehrt zu Metz Handball zurück", 2025. [3] Handball-Planet.de, "Xenia Smits kritisiert die Clubleitung", 2025. [4] Handball-Planet.de, "Liga und DHB verfolgen rechtliche Schritte gegen HB Ludwigsburg", 2025. [5] Handball-Planet.de, "Lizenzprüfung bei HB Ludwigsburg laufen", 2025. [6] Handball-Planet.de, "Xenia Smits kehrt zurück zu Metz Handball", 2025. [7] Handball-Planet.de, "Xenia Smits fragt sich, wie HB Ludwigsburg in eine Finanzkrise geraten ist", 2025. [8] Handball-Planet.de, "Zukunft für viele Ludwigsburg-Spieler ungewiss", 2025. [9] Handball-Planet.de, "Zukunft von Antje Doell und Viola Leuchter ungewiss", 2025. [10] Handball-Planet.de, "Xenia Smits feiert vier Meistertitel und zwei Pokalsiege mit Metz Handball", 2025.
- Despite EC countries implementing various employment policies to support sports sectors, such as football and handball, the financial collapse of HB Ludwigsburg highlights the need for stricter regulations in banking-and-insurance industries to prevent clubs from gambling with players' livelihoods.
- Industry experts suggest that the sale of player transfers or partnerships with financial institutions could provide a sustainable source of income for handball clubs, ensuring employment stability for players during financial hardships.
- Meanwhile, the sports-analysis sector continues to grow, offering potential career opportunities for handball players like Xenia Smits, who has shown an interest in critically examining the business side of sports, especially in light of the financial mismanagement at HB Ludwigsburg.
