Former handball international Jens Tiedtke died

The former handball international Jens Tiedtke is dead. The former Bundesliga professional died after "serious illness" at the age of 39 years. This was announced by TV Großwallstadt, for which Tiedtke played for a total of eight years. "We are stunned and saddened, and we are losing not only a figurehead of the TVG and an exceptionally successful handball player, but rather a very special and unique person," it said.

"I'm incredibly sad," said DHB Vice President Bob Hanning. "Tito was not only a very good handball player, but a remarkable person in every way, who keeps a firm place in our hearts."

Tiedtke graduated in his career 443 Bundesliga games in which he scored 1314 goals. For the DHB selection, with which he was fifth in 2005 World Cup, the circller was successful in 92 caps 92 times. His club stations were beside the TVG still TUSEM food, HC Wuppertal, SG Willstätt / Schutterwald, SG Wallau mass home and the HSG Wetzlar.

Comeback after tumor surgery

In October 2006, a brain tumor was detected at Tiedtke, which was surgically removed. Only seven months later, he celebrated his comeback at the TVG. In 2012 he moved to Wetzlar. When he said goodbye three years later, Tiedtke said, "I've learned to live and survive in recent years, and even though I'm not a World Champion, I'm so damn glad I beat this team." The German men won the world title in 2007.

Before his retirement in the summer of 2016, the family man of two children, who would have turned 40 this Thursday, once again played a season for Großwallstadt.