Handball Bundesliga - Lions legend retires: Gensheimer announces the end of his career
Uwe Gensheimer always knew that this day would come at some point. And yet the long-serving captain of the German national handball team and the Rhein-Neckar Löwen spoke of a "difficult moment" on Friday afternoon when he announced the end of his career in Mannheim. The 37-year-old world-class left winger will retire at the end of this season, although he will remain with the North Baden Bundesliga club in a different role. The two-time German champions want to develop him into a sporting director.
Gensheimer wants to play again
"The Lions are my club. To now have the opportunity to take my first steps here in a new, responsible position means an awful lot to me and fills me with pride," said Gensheimer, who is currently still recovering from a cruciate ligament and meniscus injury. However, his big goal is to say goodbye to his fans on the pitch at his self-proclaimed"heart club" and to play once again: "I'm confident that it will work out."
The Löwen are delighted to have their identification figure back. "Uwe is a club legend. He embodies Löwen like hardly anyone else," said managing director Jennifer Kettemann about the man who joined the club's youth department as a 16-year-old in 2003 and over the years not only became the most important face of the club, but also enchanted the fans with his trick throws.
High praise from former national team player Kretzschmar
In an interview with the "Mannheimer Morgen" newspaper some time ago, former national team player Stefan Kretzschmar even praised him as "the most spectacular left winger there has ever been in Germany. Uwe is the ultimate. The complete Gensheimer package has never existed in this form before, he has revolutionized the left wing position." No question: praise like this has a certain value. Because it comes from a competent source. After all, Kretzschmar himself played left wing in the national team for many years.
Gensheimer has won Germany's Handball Player of the Year award four times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), the Mannheim native has been top scorer in the Champions League three times (2011, 2017, 2018) and once in the Bundesliga (2012). No one has shaped the Löwen's path from Bundesliga promotion (2005) to their first German championship (2016) as much as he has. And apart from a successful intermezzo at Paris Saint-Germain (2016-2019), Gensheimer has remained loyal to the Lions ever since.
Over 900 goals for the national team
The 37-year-old won Olympic bronze with the German Handball Federation (DHB) team in 2016, but missed the European Championship triumph a few months earlier due to injury. The left winger ended his career in the national team after the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He retired after scoring 921 goals in 204 appearances - and then fulfilled his last big dream with the Lions.
After unsuccessfully competing in the DHB Cup finals nine times, Gensheimer's curse ended in April 2023 at his tenth attempt. His mission as a player has been fulfilled since this triumph for the Lions at the latest, but his story at the club is not over. A new chapter follows.
Rhein-Neckar Löwen squad Rhein-Neckar Löwen message Rhein-Neckar Löwen player profile Uwe Gensheimer
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Gensheimer's love for Rhine-Neckar Lions is evident, as he expressed his desire to return to the club in a new role after retiring, aiming to say farewell on the field. His former teammate, Stefan Kretzschmar, praised Gensheimer as the most spectacular left winger in Germany's history. With four Handball Player of the Year awards and numerous top-scorer awards, Gensheimer has significantly contributed to the team's journey from Bundesliga promotion (2005) to their first German championship (2016). Despite a successful stint at Paris Saint-Germain (2016-2019), Gensheimer remained loyal to the Rhine-Neckar Lions.
Gensheimer's career is not limited to his impressive numbers on the court; off the field, he has made a lasting impact as well. His loyalty to the Lions was showcased by ending his Olympic career in Germany and breaking the club's DHB Cup finals curse at his tenth attempt in 2023. As his playing days come to an end, Gensheimer's story continues with a new chapter as he transitions into a new role within the Rhine-Neckar Lions, in his heart club of Mannheim, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Gensheimer's German handball legacy includes being a two-time German champion, winning the Bundesliga top scorer award, and representing the country in numerous international competitions, including the Olympics, where he won bronze in 2016. As a respected player in the German handball scene, Gensheimer joins the likes of his fellow German handball great, Stefan Kretzschmar.
Handball fans from Germany, Baden-Württemberg, and the Rhine-Neckar region will eagerly anticipate Gensheimer's future contributions to the sport in his new role with Rhine-Neckar Lions, as his influence extends beyond the court. The German handball team and Rhine-Neckar Lions will miss Gensheimer's unique style of play, as well as his unwavering dedication to the sport and his club.
After announcing his retirement from Handball Bundesliga, Gensheimer remains committed to the Rhine-Neckar Lions, as his future lies within the club he's proudly called his "heart club."
Source: www.stern.de
