ØIF Arendal is a Norwegian handball team located in the municipality of Arendal in Agder county, Norway. Since 2009, they have competed in the highest league for men's handball clubs in Norway.
The team colours are red and black. They play their home matches at Sparebanken Norge Amfi Arendal, with the playing court dressed in red and black.
History The club was founded on April 1, 1929. The club was promoted to the top division in the 2008/2009 season. Former international Preben Vildalen also played for the promoted team.
Before their 2009 top division debut season, the men's team was separated into a distinct legal entity under the multi-sport club Øyestad IF Allianse, which is when they got their current name: ØIF Arendal (legally: Øyestad IF håndball elite). The original Øyestad sports club men's team (Øyestad IF håndball) plays at the national third level and partners with ØIF Arendal as a feeder team.
The team debuted in the elite series on September 26, 2009, defeating Runar Sandefjord 27–24 at home. They finished fourth in 2010 and 2011.
In the 2012/2013 season, the team moved from the Nedeneshallen sports hall to the new Sparebanken Sør Amfi (renamed Sparebanken Norge Amfi Arendal in 2025).
On 30 December 2014, ØIF won the Norwegian Cup for the first time after defeating Bodø HK 23–22 in the final. ØIF won the Norwegian League in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Team
Current squad Squad for the 2026–27 seasonhttps://oifarendal.no/spillerstall/ ØIF ArendalGoalkeepers 1 Kristijan Jurisic 12 Sivert Jonson Tryggestad 16 Mads Venemyr 16 Vladyslav Shyriaiev Left Wingers 9 Ask Kristian Langerød-Nilsen 27 Sebastian Løvlie Simonsen 32 Benjamin Swan Right Wingers 4 Lukas Sørensen Nordahl 7 Viktor Vlastos 81 Sander Løvlie Simonsen
Line Players 6 Victor Aunsbjerg Lyngsø 13 Fater Chalhoub 17 Adrian Hesslekrans Backs 8 Victor Baltzer Hansen 10 Magnus Langeland 11 Mathias Wahlstrøm 14 Tobias Skonnord Hansen 15 Kurt Albin Sebastian Broman 19 Marius Giske Nordaas 21 Lars Eivind Stärk Gurrich 25 Kristian Jakobsen Stranden 31 Simen Rekdal Hansen
Technical staff Head coach: Josip Vidovic Assistant coach: Kenny Ekman Physiotherapist: Harald Eiker Berg Physiotherapist: Preben Jørgensen
Transfers Transfers for the 2026–27 season
Joining Albin Broman (RB) from IF Hallby Kristian Jakobsen Stranden (WB) from Elverum Håndball Sivert Jonson Tryggestad (GK) from Runar Sandefjord Lars Eivind Stärk Gurrich (WB) from Halden Tobias Skonnord Hansen (CB) from Follo HK Fater Chalhoub (LP) from Kragerø Vladyslav Shyriaiev (GK) from AK28 Benjamin Swan (LW) from Øyestad IF
Leaving Vemund Norheim Ask (LB) to Kolstad Håndball Sverre Rodvelt Asser to KRS Topphåndball Mikkel Milling-Hansen to Stralsunder HV Pelle Motzkus Boesen to Club Balonman Cangas Simen Westby Johansen (quitting) Dagur Gautason to KA Akureyri
Transfer History
Transfers for the 2025–26 seasonJoining Sverre Rodvelt Asser (RB) from Åsane håndball Dagur Gautason (LW) from Montpellier Handball Mads Venemyr from Øyestad IF Kristoffer Vervik Kristiansen from Øyestad IF Eivind Andre Dale Kylland from Øyestad IF Simen Rekdal Hansen from Øyestad IF Mikkel Milling-Hansen (LP) from Ryger handball Victor Baltzer (LB) from Faaborg ØH Victor Aunsbjerg Lyngsø (LP) from KIF Kolding
Leaving Sondre Gjerdalen (LP) to Elverum Håndballhttps://www.topphandball.no/artikkel/elverum-signerer-strek-kjempen-sondre-gjerdalen/ Magnus Tveitdal Olsen (GK) Mirko Vicentijevic Örtorp (CB) Birk Hermann Inselseth (RB) to TMS Ringsted Jørg William Fiala Gjermundnes (LB) to Amo Handboll Alexander Løke Gautestad (LP) to Runar Sandefjord Mikkel Sommer Lund to TM Tønder Arni Bergur Sigurbergsson Mathias Wahlstrøm Tengel Østerhus Lindheim
Transfers for the 2024–25 seasonJoining Pelle Boesen (CB) from KIF Kolding Mikkel Sommer Lund (RB) from KIF Kolding Adrian Hesslekrans (LP) from Lugi HF Simen Westby Johansen (GK) from Bækkelaget HE Magnus Langeland (LB) from Kolstad Håndball
Leaving Mathias Larson (CB) to Elverum Håndball Ivan Ereš (GK) to HC Odorheiu Secuiesc
Previous squads 2018–2019 Team Shirt NoNationalityPlayerBirth DatePosition 1 Kristijan Jurisic Goalkeeper 3 Josip Vidović Central Back 5 Kristoffer Pedersen Left Back 6 Martin Lindell Left Back 8 Hermann Vildalen Left Back 9 André Lindboe Left Winger 10 Sondre Paulsen Right Winger 11 Jørg William Fiala Gjermundnes Left Back 12 André Bergsholm Kristensen Goalkeeper 13 Nökkvi Dan Ellidason Central Back 14 Eirik Heia Pedersen Left Back 15 Laurits Mo Rannekleiv Line Player 16 Oliver Trondal Goalkeeper 17 Olaf Richter Hoffstad Left Winger 20 Kjetil Andal Left Winger 22 Jesper Munk Johanson Line Player 23 Maximilian Jonsson Right Back 81 Sander Løvlie Simonsen Right Winger 87 Per Kenny Ekman Line Player
2015–2016 Team Shirt NoNationalityPlayerBirth DatePosition 1 Svenn Erik Medhus Goalkeeper 2 Alexander Friden Central Back 3 Josip Vidović Central Back 4 Haakon Finsrud Left Winger 5 Grunde Sakariassen Left Winger 7 Lars Erik Bjørnsen Right Winger 8 Magnus Jøndal Left Winger 9 David Svenningsen Central Back 10 Sondre Paulsen Right Winger 12 Aasmund Strat Goalkeeper 14 Eirik Heia Pedersen Left Back 15 Laurits Mo Rannekleiv Line Player 16 Markus Evensen Goalkeeper 17 David Andre Rui Left Winger 18 Einar Ingi Hrafnsson Line Player 20 Fredrik Aamodt Langeld Right Back 21 Lars Jakobsen Left Back 24 Robert Markotić Right Back 26 Eirik Køpp Left Back 81 Sander Løvlie Simonsen Right Winger 87 Per Kenny Ekman Line Player
Accomplishments
Norwegian League: (3): 2015, 2016, 2019 (2): 2020, 2021 (1): 2018 Norwegian Cup: (1): 2014 (1): 2021
EHF ranking
Rank Team Points104 HC Berchem46105 Chambery Savoie46106 ØIF Arendal45107 KH Besa Famgas44108 USAM Nimes44
Former club members
Notable former players
Goalkeepers Svenn Erik Medhus (2010–2017) César Almeida (2016–2017)
Right wingers Lars Erik Bjørnsen (2015–2016) Sondre Paulsen (2010–2021)
Left wingers Magnus Jøndal (2014–2016) André Lindboe (2018–2021) August Pedersen (2016–2018)
Line players Håvard Augensen (2009–2011) Frederik Børm (2021–2023) Luigj Quni (2019–2020)
Left backs André Jørgensen (1996–1998, 2010–2015) Hermann Vildalen (2012–2014, 2020–2021) René Bach Madsen (2013–2014) Nico Rönnberg (2013–2014)
Central backs Preben Vildalen (2007–2010) Mario Matic (2019–2024)
Right backs Magnus Søndenå (2021–2023) Nikola Kedžo (2016) Marcus Dahlin (2014–2015)
References
External links
ØIF Arendal at Handball Base