The European table tennis community mourns the passing of former German international and highly respected coach Peter ENGEL, who died on Friday at the age of 72.
Born on 13 January 1954, ENGEL represented Germany 40 times between 1975 and 1983, competing at two World Championships and three European Championships. At national level, he became German Singles champion in 1984, having previously won the German Doubles title alongside Jochen LEISS in 1978. He was also a five-time German team champion and enjoyed success in European club competition, including winning the European Champions Cup with ATSV Saarbrücken in 1986.
Following his playing career, ENGEL dedicated more than three decades to coaching and player development across Europe and beyond.
ENGEL served as national coach of the Netherlands from 1994 to 2000 before moving to Spain, where he played an important role in the development of a generation of young players, including Galia DVORAK, Sara RAMIREZ and Marc DURAN. He later coached the Spanish women’s national team from 2009 to 2012.
ENGEL’s international coaching career also took him to India before he returned to Germany, where he continued working with young players. In 2020, he became national coach of Luxembourg. Most recently, he remained actively involved in the sport as coach of TTG Bingen/Münster-Sarmsheim in the German Women’s Bundesliga.
Throughout his long career as a player and coach, Peter ENGEL made a significant contribution to table tennis, sharing his knowledge and experience with generations of players in numerous countries.
The European Table Tennis Union extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends and the entire table tennis community.
PHOTO: Manfred Schillings
