Once a Lion, always a Lion

It was the most important personal matter at Rhein Neckar Löwen.

What all fans and the club of the German VELUX EHF Champions League participant hoped for, now is reality: Uwe Gensheimer, born in Mannheim, has extended his contract until 2016 true to the motto: “Once a Lion, always a Lion”.

The left wing is playing for his current club since 2003 and despite major offers like from THW Kiel or FC Barcelona Gensheimer decided to stay in “his” city and “his” club.

“The full package is decisive, not money, not the contract. I really feel comfortable here in Mannheim and at the Rhein Neckar Löwen, the settings are perfect. Additionally sportive aspects were part of my decision. It is extra-ordinary how our team developed in the past months.

"We can reach big titles and big results now, and we have major goals ahead. And of course I have a different role to play here as I would have in any other club of the world. So I also feel responsible for Rhein Neckar Löwen," Gensheimer said.

“He is an absolute role model for the club, the city, the team and the region, he is the major key of our squad, so we are absolutely pleased that he said yes to our offer,” said Löwen manager Thorsten Storm.

“He decided to stay for a common way with his club and his friends,” he added.

On Saturday Gensheimer celebrated his 27th birthday – and the fans in the SAP Arena sang not only a birthday song, but cheered for their hero – as their special campaign “Uwe is ours” came to a successful end.

By scoring five goals Gensheimer also paved the way for the clear 37:24 Bundesliga win against Emsdetten on his birthday.

And his big days will continue. For the first time since he had torn his Achilles tendon in the EHF Cup qualification match against Argous in November 2012 the two-time German Handball Player of the Year and 2011 VELUX EHF Champions League top scorer is part of the German national team, which plays three friendly matches at the Supercup on home ground against Sweden, Poland and Egypt from Friday to Sunday.