Kiel German champions again

It was a usual and well-known picture: Sparkling wine and beer were flowing all over in the Sparkassenarena, the spectators were singing “Ole, hier kommt der THW” (Here comes the THW) and the players were dancing on the court. THW Kiel made it again – and they made it in style. By beating Bundesliga runners-up and EHF Cup semi-finalist Rhein Neckar Löwen 31:25 on Tuesday evening (14 May), THW Kiel added another title to their accolade and became German champions for the 18th time.

After they had won their ninth German Cup trophy four weeks ago after a final victory against VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finallist SG Flensburg-Handewitt they defended their second title of this season again in a clear way. Despite some changes in the team – Kim Andersson left and some newcomers had to be integrated – and knowing that their record winning season 2011/12 when they won all 34 Bundesliga matches was not repeatable, the team of THW Kiel marched through in a dominant way.

Rhein Neckar Löwen finally had been the only hunter of the “Zebras” after surprisingly topping the table after the first half of the season, but Kiel had more constance and stability since the world championship break in January – and when all hunters lost their matches two weeks ago, the gate was widely open to secure the title four rounds before the end of the season.

Now the team of coach Alfred Gislason have the historic chance to become the first German club ever to defend a triple title. Kiel had been triple winners (German league, German cup and VELUX EHF Champions League) already twice in 2007 and 2012 – but never before managed to raise the same three trophies each one year later. To beat Löwen on Tuesday meant the ninth domestic double strike.

THW are the first defending VELUX EHF Champions League champions to make it again to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne one year later. On 1 June they will face their country-fellows of HSV Hamburg in the semi-final – and dream to be part of the final one day later.

Since years THW hold all domestic records in German handball by 18 championships and nine cup trophies. From 2005 until now they became German champions eight times in nine seasons, as their series was only interrupted in 2011, when Hamburg took their one and only title by now.
And HSV coach Martin Schwalb was one of the first to congratulate THW for their 18th title: “They again played an incredible season and are well-deserved champions”, he said.

For Gislason, who was „showered“ by a huge beer by Filip Jicha during his live TV interview with TV station Sport 1, it was “a tough season and it was absolutely clear that we would not be able to have a winning strike of 34 matches again. But nevertheless we never let loose this season, we always showed the clear will to defend our titles,” said Gislason.