Steinar Ege calls time on his career

Former Norwegian national team goalkeeper Steinar Ege has announced the end of his handball career. Like his 13 team-mates at AG København, the 40-year-old found himself without a job when AG were declared bankrupt at the end of July this year.

"I have played handball all my life, and I have been a full time professional for the last 15 years," he said in an official statement.

"This has given me and my family some fantastic experiences, for which I am extremely grateful, and I have achieved some things that very few athletes are allowed to. However, now is the time for me to try something else and to face new challenges.

"Of course it has been a difficult time, but I feel good about deciding to end my career. I would like to thank my family who has always supported me in the choices I have made," added Ege, who won the Danish championship as well as the Danish Cup with AG København in 2011 and 2012.

Ege is in no doubt what was the greatest experience in his long career.

"That was winning the Danish championship final against Bjerringbro-Silkeborg with AG in front of 36,000 spectators in Copenhagen's Parken Stadium in 2011," Ege said in interview with the Danish TV station TV2 Thursday night.

Before joining AG København, Ege also won the Danish championship in 2008 with FC København, whom he joined in 2006 after a spell in the German Bundesliga with VfL Gummersbach and THW Kiel.

On top of this remarkable career at club level, Steinar Ege also played in 262 internationals for Norway before retiring from international handball last year.