Claes Hellgren

Claes Hellgren (born 27 February 1955) is a Swedish former handball player who played as goalkeeper, sports commentator and handball coach. In 1979 he was named Swedish Handballer of the Year.

Club career Hellgren started playing for the Irsta HF first team in the Division 3, the third tier in the 1972–73 season. After two seasons he moved to IF Guif, where in his first season was promoted to the Swedish top flight. In the four seasons Hellgren spent at the club they ended in the playoff once, where they lost in the semi-final to SoIK Hellas.

Afterwards, he moved to IK Heim, where he reached playoffs in four out of five seasons with the club, and became Swedish champions in 1982 and 1983. They also reached the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1978/80 where they lost to CB Calpisa Alicante.

In the 1983 summer, he, together with Björn Jilsén, became the two first Swedish players to join a foreign club, when they moved to Tenerife to join Coronas Tres de Mayo, He also participated in the World Championship 3 times; in 1978, 1982 and 1986.

For a long time he held the record for most caps for the Swedish national team, but was eventually overtaken, and he was the first Swedish player to achieve 200 international matches.

Personal life Hellgren was born in Norrköping to Anna-Carin and Swedish swimmer Rune Hellgren.