Melsungen/Mannheim (dpa) – Bundesliga star Alexander Petersson ends his impressive handball career in the summer. The Icelander said so.
“I knew this day would come at some point. I really tried everything and put it off for a long time. But it’s over now, my career as a professional handball player is over,” wrote the 41-year-old on Instagram. Petersson is under contract with MT Melsungen until the end of the season and had the best time of his career with the Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
In 2012, the left-hander switched to the North Badeners and won the championship twice with the club, the DHB Cup and the EHF Cup once each, and the German Supercup three times. Petersson came to Germany in 2003 and initially played for HSG Düsseldorf. He was also active for TV Großwallstadt, SG Flensburg-Handewitt and Füchse Berlin, played more than 500 Bundesliga games and won Olympic silver and European bronze with the Icelandic national team.
Many longtime companions commented on Petersson’s post. “Thank you for everything you gave to handball and all your teammates,” wrote German international Patrick Groetzki. League managing director Frank Bohmann ennobled the veteran: “Fully professional, role model. A really big one is leaving the HBL stage.”