Story of a legend

#A legend is born

The first name of the club was COSMOS, founded in 1982. The creator of this club, whose destiny nobody could imagine, was a unique and charming man, Jean Paul Lacombe, who remained at the head of the club until his death in 1997. Robert Molines, one of his good friends, has taken over the head of the club since that date till this year.

# Going to the top level

In 1988, the club changed his name and became the MPSC (Montpellier Paillade Sporting Club) and in 1992 it reached the French First Division with a brand new name “Montpellier Handball”. Two years later, MHB trained by Patrice Canayer, won its first French Championship title.

# A legend turned to the future

This victory is the starting point of a performance unique in French sport. In just 16 years, MHB has won a total of 33 titles: 13 times French Champion, 10 times winner of the French Cup, 7 times winner of the French League Cup, one Champions Trophy and the legendary European Champions League won in 2003. The club, known today as Montpellier Agglomeration Handball (MAHB) is one of the leading clubs throughout French sport today thanks to this incredible record. 

MAHB, an official provider for the French handball team

In 1995, the French handball team, named the “Barjots” won the World Championship. Two players of Montpellier participated to the victory: Gregory ANQUETIL and Patrick CAZAL.
 
In 2001, the French handball team is now known as the “Costauds”. Eight Montpellier players belonged to this team: Thierry OMEYER, Bruno MARTINI, Grégory ANQUETIL, Patrick CAZAL, Jérôme FERNANDEZ, Didier DINART, Andrej GOLIC, and Laurent PUIGSEGUR.

In 2008, this is the best coronation for this team. The “Golden Olympics medal” won in Beijing is a worldwide event. Four  players from the club belonged to this adventure: Michaël GUIGOU, Cédric BURDET, Daouda KARABOUE, and Joël ABATI.

In 2009, the French team is World Champion with three MAHB players: Michaël GUIGOU, Daouda KARABOUE and Joël ABATI. Pinnacle of achievement in 2010 when the French team signed the first hat trick in the history of team sport: “Olympics Champion, World Champion, and European Champion”. This team enters in the history with three MAHB players: Nikola KARABATIC, Michaël GUIGOU, Daouda KARABOUE.

In January 2011, the French team overflew all sports achievements with a new World Champion title with four MAHB players: Nikola KARABATIC, Michael GUIGOU, William ACCAMBRAY, Samuel HONRUBIA (and six other Experts who played at MAHB in the past: Jérôme FERNANDEZ, Didier DINARD, Franck JUNILLON, Thierry OMEYER, Daouda KARABOUE, and Sébastien BOSQUET).

List of winners

With 36 national and international titles, MAHB is one of the most successful French Clubs, all sports merged, with a historical triple: French Cup, French Championship and Champions League in 2003.

# 2011-2012
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the French Cup,
Winner of the Champions Trophy.

# 2010-2011
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the Champions Trophy,
Quarter-Final Champions League.

# 2009-2010
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the French Cup,
Quarter-Final Champions League.

# 2008-2009
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup.

#2007-2008
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the French Cup.

# 2006-2007
Winner of the French League Cup.

# 2005-2006
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the French Cup,
Quarter-Final Champions League.

# 2004-2005
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Winner of the French Cup,
Semi-Final Champions League.

# 2003-2004
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French League Cup,
Last sixteen Champions League.

# 2002-2003
Winner of the Champions League,
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup.

# 2001-2002
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup.
Quarter-Final Champions League.

# 2000-2001
2nd in the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup,
1st French Club in Quarter-Final Champions League.

# 1999-2000
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup.
2nd ex aequo First round Champions League.

# 1998-1999
Winner of the French Championship,
Winner of the French Cup.
2nd ex aequo First round Champions League.

# 1997-1998
Winner of the French Championship,
First round EHF European Cup.

# 1996-1997
3rd of the French Championship,
Quarter-final EHF European Cup.

# 1995-1996
4th of the French Championship,
Last sixteen of the European Cup of the Champions clubs.

# 1994-1995
Winner of the French Chamionship Nationale 1A,
Last sixteen of the EHF European Cup.

# 1993-1994
3rd of the French Chamionship Nationale 1A,
Last sixteen of the EHF European Cup.

# 1992-1993
5th of the French Chamionship Nationale 1A.

# 1991-1992
Winner fo the French Championship Nationale 1B,
Access to the Nationale 1A. (currently D1 championship)

# 1987-1988
Winner of the French Championship Nationale 2,
Winner of the France Challenge.