Handball Bundesliga
Farewell gift for Landin and Sagosen: THW Kiel in front of the title
Wants to crown his departure from Kiel with the championship title: Niklas Landin. photo
© Axel Heimken/dpa
As far as humanly possible, the German handball championship on the last day of the game can no longer be taken away from THW Kiel. With the title, a great wish of two exceptional talents would come true.
When world stars Niklas Landin and Sander Sagosen say goodbye, the championship trophy for THW Kiel is ready to be picked up on a silver platter in the season finale of the Handball Bundesliga.
With a comfortable two-point lead and a goal difference that is 37 goals better than defending champions SC Magdeburg, no one doubts that the record champions will win their 23rd title, even if captain Domagoj Duvnjak before the last game at Frisch Auf Göppingen on Sunday (3:30 p.m./ Sky) warned: “We have one hand on the bowl, but you need two to hold it up.”
Nevertheless: The party preparations on the fjord have long been underway. After returning from Göppingen, the protégés want to celebrate with their fans in the local Wunderino Arena. “We all hope to come back here on Sunday with the championship trophy,” said Duvnjak. A big party on the town hall square of the Schleswig-Holstein state capital is not possible this time because of the preparations for the Kiel Week.
Landin and Sagosen before grand farewell
Landin and Sagosen can already feel the anticipation of the culmination of their time in the Bundesliga, which has lost two outstanding personalities with the world champion goalkeeper from Denmark and the backcourt ace from Norway. “It was a great honor to play here. That was my best handball time – this is the greatest club in the world,” said Landin on Wednesday after the last home game against HSG Wetzlar (38:23).
The 34-year-old father stood between the posts of the THW goal for eight years and during this time won ten titles with the team from Kiel, including the championship twice, the DHB cup three times and the Champions League once. Before he goes home to Aalborg HB, the eleventh trophy should be added on Sunday. “Right from the start it was my greatest dream to send THW into the Champions League and to be able to celebrate with the championship trophy at the end. That looks really good for us,” said Landin about the excellent starting position.
The currently best goalkeeper in the world has a large part in the fact that the Kielers will probably live up to their role as favorites and replace SC Magdeburg on the handball throne again. With 341 saves – that’s a rate of almost 37 percent – Landin is by far the number 1 in the Bundesliga this season.
After the final appearance, Sagosen will also return home – to the Norwegian champions Kolstad IL. “It was my dream to play in this jersey. THW Kiel will always be a big part of my handball heart,” said the 27-year-old, who came from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.
A serious foot injury put him out of action for almost the entire first half of the season. Especially in the final phase of the exciting title fight, the backcourt shooter could be relied on again. “I’ve had ups and downs with my injury. But I’ve always had a lot of fun,” said Sagosen. He now wants to sweeten his farewell with the title: “That’s my big goal. We’ve worked hard for a year for it.”