“I have always said that I would stop the day the joy and the game were no longer there”
BARCELONA, 3 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The handball player Mikkel Hansen, one of the best players in the history of Denmark and with the greatest weight in European handball, announced this Wednesday that he will put an end to his career after the Paris Olympic Games this summer, with the aim of add a third Olympic medal.
“I’ve always said that I wanted to stop the day that joy and play were no longer there. But I also think that I have reached a place where I can feel that there are other things that attract me. Therefore, I feel that this summer is the perfect time to leave,” he announced in a massive press conference held together with his club, the Danish Aalborg.
Hansen, a ‘Viking’ who has won almost everything with Denmark and also at club level, added that for almost 20 years he has had the privilege of earning a living from the sport he loves, representing some of the most important clubs. of the world, among them a Barça where he arrived in 2008 as a great figure and where he did not have the expected performance.
“I will always have a huge love for this sport. I don’t think anyone will question that,” said Hansen, who had a contract with Aalborg until 2025 but will hang up his boots this summer after trying to help Denmark achieve Olympic gold in Paris 2024. A challenge that Hansen and the rest of the ‘Vikings’ achieved in Rio 2916. “I would really like to go to the Olympic Games,” he said.
Mikkel Hansen, a great legend of European and world handball, will have to convince the coach, Nikolaj Jacobsen, to include him in the list for Paris 2024. Lately, due to several injuries and a stress pattern, the full-back is not having the expected continuity in his game.
Of course, the Danish Handball Federation sent a reassuring message to the player. “One of the biggest stars in sport has announced his retirement today. Mikkel Hansen is retiring at the end of this season. We keep our fingers crossed that the ’24’ recovers from his injury so he can enjoy one last time on the pitch and pay tribute to him.” for a fantastic career,” they noted.
Hansen, in those almost two decades of his career, was chosen as the best player in the world three times (2011, 2015 and 2018). At club level, he has played for GOG Svendborg, AG Kobenhavn and Aalborg in Denmark, as well as for Barça (2008-2010) – he won an ASOBAL Cup, a Copa del Rey and a Super Cup – and for Paris Saint -French Germain (2012-2022). The big ‘but’ for him is the Champions League.
With Denmark he won an Olympic gold in Rio 2016) and also an Olympic silver in Tokyo 2020 – with an Olympic scoring record thanks to 61 goals in the tournament -. In addition, he has three world gold medals in his record (2019, 2021 and 2023) and a European one, in Serbia 2012.