Fernando Latorre Departs Benidorm Handball Club: A Look at the Departure and Its Aftermath
Fernando Latorre, the long-time coach of TM Benidorm Handball Club, will not return to the bench for the team in the upcoming season. This decision was confirmed in a statement released by the Benidorm organization on Monday. The arrangement leaves Latorre still guiding the squad through the remainder of the current campaign, a period marked by reflection and transition for players and staff alike.
According to the club, Latorre will continue to lead the team until the season concludes. He informed the players of his decision to step away this afternoon in Altea, just before the team resumed practice after the competition break. His exit marks the end of a storied era in which he helped shape the team’s trajectory and identity on the court.
Born in Alicante, Latorre has been a central figure in Benidorm’s history. He was the architect of the club’s ascent to the Asobal League for the first time in 2014. That achievement established a lasting legacy and set a new benchmark for the club. In subsequent seasons, he managed to keep the team among Spain’s top division sides, including a notable run that saw the club secure top-flight status in two consecutive terms. His relationship with Benidorm has endured through both triumphs and transitions, with the coach’s second tenure ending in February 2017 when he stepped down from his role then.
Since returning to the bench for the 2019-20 season, Latorre has overseen some of the most historic moments in the club’s history. Under his leadership, Benidorm reached the Copa del Rey final in 2020, marking the team’s best domestic showing to date. In the following season, the club finished in fourth place, a high-water mark and a testament to the stability and ambition he instilled. The campaign also saw Benidorm participate in European competition for only the second time, highlighting the team’s growing footprint on the continental stage. This season, the club has gained entry into the EHF Europa League group stage for the first time, signaling a new chapter in Benidorm’s European journey. The narrative of Latorre’s coaching era is tightly interwoven with the club’s rise and its ongoing pursuit of higher competitive horizons.
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In its official memo, TM Benidorm stated that Latorre’s decision to leave the club was taken with mutual agreement and that the timing would not disrupt the club’s activities through the end of the season. This clause underscored a professional separation designed to maintain continuity for the players and staff during the transition period. The announcement also framed the departure as a personal and professional turning point for Latorre, while reaffirming the club’s gratitude for his extensive contributions and devotion to Benidorm’s growth and success.
“Latorre has been and will remain part of the club’s history, and Benidorm will always be his home,” the statement noted. It added that the club’s leadership hopes his next ventures will be prosperous and meaningful, both on and off the court, and it conveyed best wishes for his future challenges. The parting was described as amicable, with appreciation and respect shaping the tone of the club’s public message. The takeaway for supporters is clear: the organization recognizes the pivotal role Latorre played and will carry forward the momentum generated during his tenure, while quietly beginning to chart the next phase of leadership for the team.