Berlin's Foxes clinch the German Handball Championship title for the debut time!
Glorious Victory: The Foxes Strike Gold in the Bundesliga
Let's celebrate history in the making! The Foxes triumphantly clinched their debut title in the club's prestigious journey with a nail-biting 38:33 win against the Rhein-Neckar Lions in the finale. This momentous victory came after a tough fight, leaving their opponents, SC Magdeburg, to settle for second place, trailing by just one point.
The title race was a fierce battle, with the defending champions' attempt to retain their crown falling short against SG BBM Bietigheim.
A Bumpy Beginning for the Foxes
With 13,200 spectators witnessing the action in Mannheim, the Foxes got off to a shaky start, finding themselves 0:3 behind in the opening minutes due to a series of mistakes in both offense and defense. To turn things around, head coach Jaron Siewert called a timeout around the 19th minute, hoping to get his team back on track. Despite the comeback attempt, the Foxes still trailed by three goals at halftime.
But in the second half, the Foxes raised their game, with Danish world and Olympic champion Mathias Gidsel being nearly unstoppable by the Lions' defense. Gidsel led the scoring chart with ten goals. Left wing Tim Freihofer was also impressive, finishing accurately, and goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev’s performance greatly improved, even allowing Lasse Ludwig to take over at times.
After 18 minutes, the guests managed to grab the lead for the first time at 27:26. The game finally went the way the Foxes had hoped, pleasing the multitude of Foxes fans in the SAP Arena and the roughly 1,500 supporters watching the public viewing at Badeschiff on the Spree in Berlin.
"Determination and Gidsel: The Recipe for Success"
According to club leader Bob Hanning, the club's prosperous journey is a testament to "true grit and perseverance." Hanning, the former DHB vice-president, has been steering the ship in Berlin for 20 years, leading the transformation from a second-division team to the current world championship contender.
"I don't dance to anyone's tune. I've been doing this for 20 years, from Monday morning at 7:00 AM to Sunday evening at 11:00 PM. I haven't done this for a corporation or a patron," remarked Hanning about his tireless efforts.
Hanning acknowledges that sheer hard work alone doesn't guarantee championships. Without Gidsel, the Foxes likely wouldn't have won the Bundesliga. After extending Gidsel's contract until 2029 in the winter, the team promised to strengthen the squad in the coming years.
Already, it seems as if the team is perfectly balanced, and Gidsel has fulfilled his Bundesliga dreams. The squad boasts a star ensemble featuring the world's best player, Mathias Gidsel, and homegrown talents like national player Nils Lichtlein and Tim Freihofer, who have stepped up their game to top-tier performances, all under the watchful guidance of sports director Stefan Kretzschmar.
Next weekend, the two title contenders will face off in the Champions League Final Four, competing for Europe's handball crown. Berlin will square off against Nantes, while Magdeburg takes on record champions FC Barcelona.
Despite a bumpy start in the Bundesliga, the Foxes' determination and the exceptional performance of Mathias Gidsel, a Danish world and Olympic champion, led them to an eventual victory.
With the championship title now secured, the Foxes' focus shifts to their upcoming Champions League Final Four match, where they will challenge Nantes for Europe's handball crown.
