Zeitz to join Veszprém in 2014

Christian Zeitz has been the hero for THW Kiel fans for the last decade, not only for his brilliant goals from the right back position, but also due to his constancy.

However, the world and European champion, Olympic silver medallist and three-time EHF Champions League winner has decided that now is a time for change.

Zeitz will join Hungarian powerhouse MKB Veszprém KC on a three-year deal from 2014 to 2017.

During the negotiations between Zeitz and the two clubs, the question was whether the left hander would transfer to Veszprém right away or have to wait another season.

Still an important player

After THW Kiel failed to find a suitable successor for him - Marcin Lijewski (now Wisla Plock) and former THW player Kim Andersson (KIF Kolding) were potential replacements – Zeitz and the club management agreed on Friday evening that he will remain a “Zebra” until 2014.

“Christian Zeitz will fulfil his contract until 2014 and we are happy that everything is clear now,” said manager Klaus Elwardt, after a long and intense meeting with the player and coach Alfred Gislason.

“Now we can focus on handball and Christian is still an important player for our team,” Gislason was quoted on the THW website.

When his transfer was announced end of June he had hoped to move to his new club straight away, but Laszlo Nagy and his teammates will have to wait one more year for their German newcomer and Zeitz promises that his focus will be purely on Kiel this season.

“I will give all I can to fight for every possible title,” said the 32-year-old.

In Veszprém, Zeitz will meet his former teammate Momir Ilic, who recently moved to the Hungarian club.

Kiel are in Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League and will begin their hunt for the title against either Montpellier or Orlen Wisla Plock, while Veszprém will have to travel to St. Petersburg for their opening Group A encounter in September.