Martin Hanselmann , a name that is unforgettable in German American football, has had a remarkable career both as a player and as a coach. His commitment and passion for the sport have made him a significant figure in the football community. In this article, we take a comprehensive look at his career and his achievements.
Early years and playing career
Martin Hanselmann began his football career as a player for the Rothenburg Knights, later known as the Franken Knights . Between 1982 and 1993 he played as a quarterback and wide receiver. In addition to American football, Hanselmann was also active in athletics (100m sprint).
Coaching career with the Franken Knights
After his active playing career, Hanselmann switched to coaching. Between 1995 and 2004 he worked as head coach for the Franken Knights , who played in both the GFL and the GFL 2. Under his leadership, the team continued to develop and achieved numerous successes.
Opening of the CTK Sports Park in 1997
An important milestone in Hanselmann's career was the opening of the CTK sports park together with his brother in 1997. In addition to looking after the everyday gym clientele, this sports park became an important center for American football in the region, for camps, courses and support and offers numerous talents and coaches the opportunity to develop. Athletes outside of football also benefit from the expertise and the spatial conditions for athletic development, such as Philipp Pless , goalkeeper of the DFB national futsal team .
Coach of the German national team
In 2000, Hanselmann also took over the position of head coach of the German American football national team , a position he held until 2006. During this time, he led the team to numerous successes:
- 2001 : Winning the European Championship. On August 18, 2001, the German national team, under Hanselmann's leadership, managed to become European champions for the first time. In the final, they defeated the favorites Finland 19:7.
- 2003 : Third place at the World Championship.
- 2005 : A year of highlights. The German team won the silver medal at the European Championships and gold at the World Games in Duisburg. In an exciting tournament, the team beat Sweden in the final.
These successes earned Hanselmann the title of "Coach of the Year 2005" in Germany.
Other coaching positions
After his time as national coach, Hanselmann took on various coaching positions in Germany:
- 2007-2011 : Head coach of the Düsseldorf Panther . He led the Rhinelanders back to the GFL in 2010 and to the semi-finals in 2011 as a newly promoted team.
- 2007 Coach of the youth team AFVBY Warriors
- 2011 : Transfer to second division club Nürnberg Rams .
- 2013-2015 : Head coach of the Cologne Falcons . In 2014 he led the Cologne team to the semi-finals of the GFL, which was the greatest success in the club's history.
- 2016-2019 : Head coach of the Würzburg Panthers . In his first year in office, he managed to lead Würzburg from the Bavarian League to the Regional League. After the 2019 season, he ended his coaching career, but stayed with the club as deputy chairman and sporting director.
- 2019 : Head coach of the Stuttgart Scorpions .
- 2021-2022 : Head coach of the newly founded team Stuttgart Surge in the European League of Football .
- 2023 : Takes over the head coach position at the Cologne Crocodiles in the GFL.
- 2024 : Appointed Head Coach of the youth team AFBY Warriors .
For his services, Hanselmann was voted "Coach of the Year" by the American Football Association of Bavaria in 2016.
Association work
Martin has been training coaches for the Bavarian Football Association AFVBY since 1993. This single fact alone shows the contribution he has made to building the entire football community in Germany.
He headed the trainer training at federal level for the AFVD from 1997-2001.
From 2007 to 2011 he held the position of President of the AFVBY .
A very special project close to Martin's heart is the organization of the Bavarian Coaches Convention . This took place for the first time in 1997 and, thanks to Martin's commitment, grew into the largest coaches convention in Europe. Since Corona, RedZone has taken over the organization, although Martin continues to provide advice.
Further challenges and projects
- 2019: Start of the 247AFS project by Andy Meier. Martin supports in the planning and execution of programs, clinics and camps to promote youth players and coaches
- 2022 : Launch of a football podcast called " Football Hautnah ".
- 2024: Start of Lutz Preyer's German Football Academy , which also focuses on promoting youth players. Here too, Martin supports the planning and implementation.
Martin Hanselmann's career in American football is characterized by impressive successes and a tireless commitment to the sport. As a player and coach, he has promoted numerous talents and made a decisive contribution to the development of American football in Germany. His name will be associated with the greatest moments in German football for a long time to come. In addition to his own successes, his main focus was always on the development and promotion of athletes and coaches, regardless of which team they were active for, and thus contributed massively to the overall development of the sport in Germany.
With the acquisition of the AFBY Warriors, Hanselmann continues his mission to advance American football and inspire the next generation of players.
When talking about the next generation, we must not forget Martin's pride and joy. His son Dominik has already surpassed his father's achievements as a player with a career in the GFL, two German Bowl titles, two European Championship titles and selection to the All Europe Team at the European Championships and is already following in Martin's footsteps as a coach. He coaches the U13 team of the Hamburg Huskies .
Martin’s unwavering commitment and passion for the sport make him a true legend of German American football.
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