Jogi Bitter: An emotional farewell after 657 legendary games!

Jogi Bitter: An emotional farewell after 657 legendary games!

Flensburg, Deutschland - On December 22, 2024, the Hamburg handball arena experienced a memorable farewell: Johannes "Jogi" Bitter, a legend of handball, ended his active career after 657 Bundesliga games in the last match of his career. In a gripping game against SG Flensburg-Handewitt, HSV Hamburg won a 32:32 draw, which not only reflected the team spirit, but also honored bitterly. In front of over 11,500 enthusiastic spectators, the team fought back in a deficit of three goals and earned the point win against the favorite, while bitterly, emotionally, his fans said goodbye, as in a report by Sportschau was recorded.

an emotional farewell

The farewell was not only a sporty highlight, but also an emotional event for everyone present. Bitter, who ended his career after 22 years in the Hamburg jersey, including the 2007 World Cup title, raised his microphone and fought the tears during his acceptance speech: "It was a huge journey ... The cherry on the cream," he explained under the cheers of his fans, who repeatedly celebrated him with chants. During the ceremony, his jersey was drawn with number 1 under the hall corner, a sign of its great importance for the club, such as Hamburg-Handball underlined.

The highlight at the end of his career will be a big farewell game together with his friend and ex-teammate Pascal Hens, which is planned for April 10, 2025 in the Barclays Arena. A team that will be occupied by stars from the handball world will compete against Bitter and Hens, which increases the anticipation for another great event in Hamburg's handball history. The handball not only shaped Jogi, but also gave it many beautiful memories that shape him as humans - reasons enough to celebrate this legendary career.