Goggi’s treble with three clubs

There will be plenty of players playing in their third VELUX EHF FINAL4 on 1 and 2 June in Cologne, as powerhouses THW Kiel and FC Barcelona Intersport have qualified for the third time in four years.

However, only one player will wear his third different jersey at Cologne: Icelandic international Gudjon Valur “Goggi” Sigurdsson.

In 2011 he was part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with Rhein Neckar Löwen, finishing fourth. One year later he went a step further with AG Kobenhavn, winning the third place match. Now, in 2013, he has arrived with THW Kiel and his dream is to skip the second rank and finish on top of the podium.

In this interview with ehfCL.com, the 33-year-old left wing, who joined the defending VELUX EHF Champions League winners in 2012, tells about his dream of raising the golden arm, his achievements and the completely different roles he had played in Cologne before.

ehfCL.com: Is Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson comparable with a fine wine – improving with age?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: I don’t know if a professional athlete can be compared with wine, but I was very lucky that in my whole career I never had been hit hard by injuries.

The last two seasons were luckily without any major injury – but I work really hard to be as fit as possible when facing major challenges.

ehfCL.com: Did you know that you are the only player who represents his third club in three years at Cologne?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: Yes, we found it out a few weeks ago. It was not planned to have this treble, but of course I am absolutely happy to be back at this event.

ehfCL.com: What was the difference in your previous two participations with Rhein Neckar Löwen and AG Kobenhavn?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: My role in 2011, when I was told by the club that I had to leave at the end of the season, was more as a spectator than a player at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and during the whole end of the season, as Uwe Gensheimer was on the court for nearly 60 minutes.

In AGK it changed completely, I had an important role in a brilliant team where it was really fun to be successful. In 2012 Cologne was the major highlight for me and my club with full anticipation and strain, I experienced the VELUX EHF FINAL4 as it is meant to be: the biggest thing you can achieve.

ehfCL.com: Your coach and Icelander Alfred Gislason said that the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is bigger than the Olympic Games. Do you agree as an Olympian, who had won the silver medal in 2008?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: Yes and no. As an overall spectacle, of course, the Olympic Games are much bigger. 10,000 athletes live in a village and you meet big sporting celebrities every day.

But when you look upon the performing levels and the sporting point of view, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is really bigger. 20,000 spectators, four matches at the highest level and an incredibly high quality.

World Championships and Olympic Games take place over two weeks, in Cologne 120 minutes decide everything. The players are fresh and fit, as they have played nine matches in 12 days – just look at the previous semi-finals and finals of the major events.

At Cologne everybody is fully prepared and you will recognise it in the level of the performances during this compact event.

ehfCL.com: 120 minutes separate your club from defending the title. Do you see Kiel as the favourite?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: We have two objectives. Firstly to win the semi-final and then to win the final, just like all four teams coming to Cologne.

We won’t go there saying that we are satisfied with finishing third or fourth, but we do not call ourselves favourites. If anybody else does, that is fine for us and we will take this role.

ehfCL.com: In 2011 and 2012 you missed out on the final, would just getting through the semi-final be something special for you?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: I hope that it will be third time lucky for me. After the fourth place in 2011 and third in 2012, I really would enjoy skipping second place and going directly to the top of the podium, especially as my whole family will be in the LANXESS arena and it would be a great pleasure to celebrate this title with them.

ehfCL.com: What is your opinion on the winners’ trophy, do you like it?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: Everybody has adapted to it and likes it now. I really would like to raise this golden arm.

It is not the look, but the value of the trophy and this trophy for me personally also represents the long journey we had to Cologne.

For one year we worked so hard, focussing on reaching Cologne and dreaming of winning the trophy again. In every training session, when we crucified ourselves, we were inspired by this trophy. In the end you struggle for one year to be there in Cologne for 120 minutes of handball, this trophy was our motivation.

ehfCL.com: To successfully defend the VELUX EHF Champions League title would complete silverware haul for THW Kiel after winning the German league and cup. Could you ask for any more from your first season at Kiel?

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson: I played for ten years in Germany and never became German champion, so this was one of my biggest personal objectives and I am happy that I reached this goal already in my first season.

When I was in Denmark it was different to become champion, as it is much, much harder to win this title in Germany and now I am really looking forward to finishing the season with a third trophy.