Benidorm is preparing for another season in Spain’s top handball flight, the ASOBAL league, with the campaign kicking off on Saturday, September 9 at 19:30 along the Santander coast. The Benidorm side enters a tenth straight year at the highest level, bringing a refreshed roster and a new voice in the dugout. Sergio Carballeira steps in to lead the team, taking over from Fernando Latorre, a longtime hallmark of the club whose leadership helped guide Benidorm to a Copa del Rey runner-up finish, a top-four league finish, and the club’s historic ascent to the group stage of the EHF Europa League. This season arrives with a blend of ambition and renewal, aiming for stability and progress in a demanding national league and a growing European challenge.
Sergio Carballeira takes the helm at TM Benidorm as Latorre departs
Carballeira arrives as head coach after a stint guiding the reserve squad and building solid credibility as a developer of talent. The Galician coach recognizes the ambitious ceiling of the squad while stressing that mental steadiness and confidence are essential for performances at the top level. His early message is plain: stay competitive, secure safety in the standings quickly, and then enjoy the process of competing at a high level. The early weeks are pivotal as the team faces direct rivals in the chase for league positioning.
For the season opener, Carballeira will be without Lautaro Robledo for the clash against Sinfín Santander due to administrative hurdles back in the winger’s home country. Filip Vujovic and Lucas Mascariello are contending with lingering injuries that have kept them from full participation, leaving the bench thinner than hoped as the season starts.
Every department at TM Benidorm has undergone substantial changes. A newly established board of directors, led by Jacobo Balongo, has overseen a broad overhaul of the club’s structure. Beyond the bench, the squad has seen a sweeping refresh. Several memorial figures from last season have departed, while a group of younger talents has stepped forward, eager to prove themselves at the highest level.
Jacobo Balongo becomes the new president of Benidorm Handball Club
The new signings for TM Benidorm include Mirko Djurovic, a Serbian defender; Tomasso De Angelis, an Italian specialist; Leo Alonso; Lautaro Robledo from Argentina; David Roca; Krystian Witkowski, a Polish goalkeeper; and Nacho Valles, returning to the club for this phase. The list also features Filip Vujovic from Montenegro, Argentines Santi Barceló, Pablo Vainstein, Ramiro Martínez, and Lucas Moscariello, Lithuanian Rolandas Bernatonis, and Spaniards Pepe Oliver, Samuel Ibáñez, and Juan Carlos Sempere.
The changes extend to the locker room and the court. Preseason revealed the challenge of integrating new signings into a cohesive unit. The head coach’s presence, respected by players, also faces tests from injuries and ongoing bureaucratic processes that limit availability. The early part of the season will test the team’s resilience as it navigates a crowded schedule and a challenging slate of opponents.
Overall, the club remains committed to a strong project. The new leadership seeks to balance talent, depth, and tactical clarity, aiming for steady improvement and consistent performance. The coming months will reveal how well this refreshed Benidorm can translate potential into results, both in the domestic league and on the European stage.