Coach Jicha makes history: Kiel doesn't know how to celebrate CL triumph

Wednesday December 30th 2020

Coach Jicha makes history
Kiel doesn't know how to celebrate CL triumph

Arrived as an outsider, THW Kiel sensationally wins the Champions League. But after the fourth triumph in the highest European competition, the German handball record champion is initially not entirely sure how to really enjoy the success.

When the newly crowned Champions League winners of the THW Kiel returned to the team hotel in Cologne-Deutz, Sander Sagosen secured the coveted "arm with the golden ball", the trophy of the premier class, for a snapshot. "Hello, you," wrote the exceptional Norwegian player on Instagram about a photo that showed the coveted trophy on a white mattress. He also posted an emoji with a kissable mouth.

One thing was clear: the German record champions wanted to celebrate after storming Europe's handball throne. But what could that look like in Corona times? "Unfortunately I don't know what is allowed," said the outstanding THW keeper Niklas Landin after the 33:28 (19:16) against FC Barcelona, ​​through which the THW had triumphed in the premier class for the fourth time.

Steffen Weinhold sounded far more optimistic. Shortly before leaving for the hotel, the international promised a small party. "I'm not worried that we will have a nice night," said the strong veteran after the surprisingly clear final in the empty Cologne arena. The Kiel team wrestled their favorite Barça with great passion.

"I have no idea where we conjured this up"

The THW celebrated the most surprising of its four triumphs in the Champions League. Before the delayed "Final4" of the 2019/20 season, the team of coach Filip Jicha was more of an outsider. Substitute weakened, and much more stressed than the form strong Catalans.

But Cologne, so Jicha said, "has its own laws". Indeed. Kiel fought, it burned – and pulled the opponent's teeth, especially with a strong cover and thanks to goalkeeper Landin. "I have no idea where we conjured this up. You just get an extra push when you play a final," said Landin, referring to the great burden on his team, which the day before after a semi-final thriller with overtime against the Hungarian top team Veszprem HC moved into the final.

Jicha said: "Barça were not used to playing games like this for two days in a row. We did." In 2010 and 2012, today's THW coach triumphed with the zebras as a player in the most important European club competition, and now he is celebrating the greatest success of his young coaching career. The title is sweetened with a prize money of 500,000 euros, which THW can really use in the economically difficult Corona period. "The win feels incredible," said the 38-year-old Czech. He is the first handball player to win the premier class as a player and coach with the same club.