"Ludwigsburg's primary athlete expresses distress"
HB Ludwigsburg's Financial Collapse Casts Doubt on Future Participation in Bundesliga and Champions League
HB Ludwigsburg, a stalwart of the Women's Handball Bundesliga, finds itself in a precarious position following a recent insolvency filing. The club's financial instability has raised concerns about its participation in both the Bundesliga and the upcoming Champions League season.
The insolvency application, filed approximately two weeks before early August 2025, prompted league officials to withdraw HB Ludwigsburg from competitions such as the Handball Super Cup. Thüringer HC took their place in the season opener event, replacing HB Ludwigsburg in the women's match held in late August.
The financial crisis has garnered criticism and uncertainty regarding Ludwigsburg's future in the Bundesliga and Champions League. League representatives fear that more than 20 games might be lost this season due to the club's collapse.
Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc, a long-time top player for HB Ludwigsburg and fan favourite, is among those affected by the financial collapse. Kudlacz-Gloc, aged 40, had planned to play one last season in Ludwigsburg before retiring, but the insolvency application has disrupted her plans.
The financial collapse has caused uncertainty and potential hardships for the players, including Kudlacz-Gloc, who must now decide quickly on whether to stay in Ludwigsburg for lower wages, switch teams, or retire. The league has kept the door open for HB Ludwigsburg to start in the new Bundesliga season, but has announced another license review.
Captain Xenia Smits of HB Ludwigsburg is reportedly in negotiations with a top international club, while Kudlacz-Gloc has turned down all offers due to mental strain caused by the financial instability. Despite this, HB Ludwigsburg has not yet ruled out a start in the new Bundesliga season.
Kudlacz-Gloc, who has celebrated seven German championships and eight cup victories in her career, had previously experienced insolvency when her then-club HC Leipzig lost its first division license in 2017. Despite the challenges, she believes she still has a lot to offer to the handball world.
The future of HB Ludwigsburg in the new Bundesliga season is expected to become clearer next week, with more clarity regarding their potential participation in the Champions League yet to emerge.
[1] Handball-Planet.de, "HB Ludwigsburg Insolvenz: Bundesliga-Aufsteiger Thüringer HC nimmt Handball Supercup-Spiel der Ludwigsburgerinnen wahr", 2025. [2] Handball-Planet.de, "HB Ludwigsburg Insolvenz: Experten kritisieren Finanzverhalten der Ludwigsburger", 2025.
- The financial instability of HB Ludwigsburg has brought uncertainty about their participation not only in the Bundesliga but also in football competitions such as the Champions League.
- Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc, a renowned football player and fan favourite of HB Ludwigsburg, is grappling with the disruption of her plans for one final season in Ludwigsburg, causing doubts about her future in football.
