Niclas Ekberg sets a point for a long and successful professional career in Kiel. And at the same time, he leaves a cryptic answer regarding possibly playing in the Olympics with Sweden this summer.
This is an extraordinary and somewhat unique club career that this "final four" weekend takes its final bow in front of sold-out crowds in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne.
In twelve years, right-back Niclas Ekberg has worn Kiel's jersey. He has found the net with clever penalties, on quick counter-attacks and with knotted corner kicks. So many times that he took over the club's goal record from Magnus Wislander himself last year. Six titles in the Bundesliga and one in the Champions League have also been achieved.
But now it's over.
This summer, the 35-year-old Ekberg will move back to Ystads IF to conclude his handball career in the city where it all began.
The final weekend with Kiel was not at all what he had hoped for. In Saturday evening's Champions League semifinal against Barcelona, Kiel suffered a rather humiliating 18-30 defeat – and the dream of a perfect ending for Ekberg vanished.
On the court, he closed his eyes in disappointment as Kiel players clapped each other after the loss. Then they walked off together and thanked the fans who had supported the team from the stands.
He has been overwhelmed with love after the announcement that this season will be his last with the Nord Germans. Before summer is over, "Eki" – as he is called in Kiel – will also be honored with a farewell match in front of the home crowd.
It's been almost two and a half years since Ekberg shot a long-awaited EM gold to Sweden in Budapest, with a penalty in the last second of the final against Spain.
After the home World Cup last year, he thanked himself in Blågult and therefore raised both eyebrows when he was recently selected for the preliminary roster for the Olympics in Paris.
From the national team, it was communicated that Ekberg was taken out primarily as a reserve, in case of a situation with injuries on the right-back position.
When Ekberg himself is asked by TT how his role in the preliminary roster should be interpreted, he is more vague:
So you're leaving an opening to play in the Olympics?
Coach Glenn Solberg, who is present on the stands during the "final four" in Cologne, will present his Olympic team in Gothenburg on Monday morning.
+ Glenn Solberg will select 17 players on Monday, but only 14 will make it to the final Olympic team. The remaining three will be reserves in Paris.
+ The likely final team:
Goalkeepers: Andreas Palicka, Tobias Thulin.
Left-back: Hampus Wanne, Lucas Pellas.
Midfield: Max Darj, Oscar Bergendahl.
Right-back: Daniel Pettersson, Sebastian Karlsson.
Left-wing: Jonathan Carlsbogård, Karl Wallinius.
Midfield: Felix Claar, Jim Gottfridsson.
Right-wing: Albin Lagergren, Lukas Sandell.
+ Three question marks
Can Mikael Appelgren regain a goalkeeping spot after being recently named the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga?
Can Lukas Nilsson – in the Champions League final with Ålborg – snatch Karl Wallinius's place as left-back?
Can Niclas Ekberg reevaluate his no to the national team and make a comeback to play in the Olympics?
