Change of armband for Les Bleus. Ludovic Fabregas was elected the new captain of the French handball team on Monday, replacing Luka Karabatic, who wished to step down as he was unable to continue his career. “project” to the 2028 Olympic Games.

“I discussed it with +Gino+ (coach Guillaume Gille, editor’s note) some time ago. It was something I wanted to do: the French team is entering a new four-year cycle, and four years is a long time, so I can’t project myself that far ahead.“Luka Kabaratic told reporters on Monday. The youngest of the Karabatic brothers, aged 36 (162 caps), hands over the armband to Fabregas (28, 149 caps) after the failure of the Olympic Games, where Les Bleus were eliminated in the quarter-finals and where he himself was below his usual level.

“It seemed rather unlikely or rather unrealistic to imagine that he could be part of this cycle that will take us all the way to Los Angeles (Olympics-2028) and the World Cup-2029 (which France will organize with Germany, editor’s note). He also wanted to pass on the armband, which led to a moment of election: the players elected their captain.“explained Gille, coach of Les Bleus, who has been meeting at the Maison du Handball in Créteil (Val-de-Marne) since Monday for the first time since the Olympic Games.

“A real opportunity and a source of pride” for Fabregas

They face Sweden on Wednesday in Orleans and Norway on Saturday in Stavanger as part of the EHF Euro Cup 2026.

Gille stressed that “it is jointly that this decision (had fallen)“. “(It comes from) both Luka’s initiative and the +process+ that we’ve had for a few seasons now: at the start of the season there’s often a sort of vote of confidence to see if the representatives are still the right ones.“said the coach.

Fabregas, a defensive pivot like Luka Karabatic but also playing in attack, received “the armband with great pleasure“. “It’s a real opportunity and a source of pride, and I hope to fulfil this mission to the best of my ability. It’s not necessarily an easy task, and the responsibility is all the greater given the situation we’re in. It’s a very exciting challenge from both a personal and collective point of view.“added the player from Veszprem (Hungary), Olympic (2021), World (2017) and European (2024) champion.

“I know that the French team and the captaincy are in good hands”said Luka Karabatic, who has been captain since autumn 2022, taking over from Valentin Porte who decided to concentrate solely on his role as a player. Porte retired from international football this summer when Nikola Karabatic and Vincent Gérard ended their careers.

“I got a bit old at the start of this new course, a lot of iconic players have stopped. My role has evolved a little, and I’m more of an old-timer who can stand on his own two feet.“explained Luka Karabatic.