March 2024 marks an important milestone in the ambitious Master Plan of the Malta Handball Association. Through its collaboration with the European Handball Federation(EHF) and the The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, the Malta Handball Association (MHA) has appointed Mr. David Ruch to take Maltese Handball to the next level.
President of the Malta Handball Association Daniel Tabone said “I am truly honored to welcome David into our team. The MHA Management board believe he is the perfect fit as he brings a wealth of hands on experience through his work with top level clubs and the French Handball Federation. I am sure that this experience and mindset will cascade through all levels of the Maltese Handball Community and will ensure that Maltese Handball reaches new heights.”
David Ruch has been involved in coaching, talent identification/development and management of clubs for 25 years. Starting his coaching career near Strasbourg where he was quickly identified and recruited by the French Handball Federation spending four years as a Regional Director.
AS Monaco was the next adventure for David as a General Manager and coach of the professional team for four years. Mr Ruch also led US IVRY in the French First Division coaching well known professional handball players like Diego Simonet and Davor Dominicovic. During this time the team reached the quarter finals of the European League and also a French Cup Final. In 2012, Rouen approached David to set up a new club within a professional set up and he led them to win the 4th National Division Championship unbeaten and also the Regional Cup.
In 2015 an amazing opportunity came beckoning for David as an assistant coach to Mr. Noka Serdarusic where at Paris St German they worked with household names in the Handball scene such as Nicholas Karabatic and Thierry Omeyer leading the team in EHF Champions League and also the French 1st Division.Following this experience in Paris he remained in the capital to work with the French Handball Federation as a development manager whilst for the last four years David was again General Manager at Rouen.
Newly appointed MHA Technical Director David Ruch said “The ambitious project that MHA have is what attracted me to this job. I believe I can share my knowledge and experience with the MHA Management, clubs, coaches and players to instill a philosophy within the Maltese handball community which will result in a bright future for Maltese Handball.”
