Handball coach Bengt “Bengan” Johansson is dead. He is undoubtedly the most successful coach in Swedish handball history. After a long illness, he died at the age of 79, as the association announced today, Monday. The report said that his influence on both Swedish and international handball cannot be overstated.
Johansson, who hails from Halmstad, coached his country’s men’s national team from 1988 to 2004. During this period, the Swedish “Bengan Boys” became world champions twice and European champions four times. They also won Olympic silver three times.
Johansson was a circle runner during his playing career. He played for Handbollspojkarnas IF and SoIK Hellas in Stockholm and from 1971 to 1976 for HK Drott. Johansson played 83 times for the Swedish national team from 1964 to 1972. Among other things, the Swede took part in the Olympic Games in Munich.
