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David Späth (born 29 April 2002) is a German handball player for Rhein-Neckar Löwen and the German national team.[1][2][3]
| David Späth | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_OrT.jpg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born |
29 April 2002 Kaiserslautern, Germany | ||
| Nationality | German | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Rhein-Neckar Löwen | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Senior clubs | |||
| Years | Team | ||
2019– | Rhein-Neckar Löwen | ||
| National team 1 | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Germany | 7 | (0) |
|
1 National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2023 | |||
Club career
editHaving begun his handball career at the age of six, Späth played for a variety of teams based in his hometown of Kaiserslautern, before joining the under-19 team of Bundesliga team Rhein-Neckar Löwen in 2018, where he finished second in the German A-Jugend (age group) championship in his debut season.[4] As a result of injuries sustained by Andreas Palicka and Mikael Appelgren, the main team's goalkeepers, Späth made 26 appearances in the 2020–21 Bundesliga season, earning praise for performing well despite his inexperience.[5][6] He also made his international club debut in the EHF European League, a competition which the team ended in third place.
The following year, Späth continued playing for both the main team and the reserve squad until November, when a collision with the goal post caused him to sustain an ACL injury which prevented him from playing for almost a year.[7] He made his return at the back end of 2022 in a game against HSV Hamburg. Having fought his way into the position as starting goalkeeper, Späth played a large role in clinching the 2023 DHB-Pokal, saving three seven-meter throws in what he called the "biggest moment of [his] career" to date.[8] Späth signed a contract extension that summer, one that would keep him at the club until 2027.[9]
International career
editSpäth represented Germany at the 2021 European U-19 Championship, where Germany won gold. He was chosen for the All-Star team as Best goalkeeper.[10] He also participated at the 2023 Junior World Championship where Germany won gold again, and he was once again in the All-Star team.[11]
He debuted for the German national team in November 2023 against Egypt, and was selected for the team for the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship.[12] Späth came into the tournament in the role of backup keeper to Andreas Wolff, a European Champion and mentor to the eleven-years younger Späth.[13] The debutant shone through in a group stage match against North Macedonia, where a string of saves and Späth's impassioned celebrations made headlines.[14][15] The team finished fourth, with Späth having a save percentage of 28% compared to Wolff's 35%.[16]
Individual awards
edit- All-Star Team as Best goalkeeper at the 2021 European U-19 Championship[10]
- All-Star Team as Best goalkeeper at the 2023 Junior World Championship[11]
References
edit- ^ "Späth, David". EHF. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Player profile". handball-world. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Biografie". rhein-neckar-loewen. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Ein Tor fehlt zum Titelgewinn". 1 June 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ skysport: Unverhofft kommt oft: Bubi-Torwart führt die Löwen zum Sieg, 8 November 2020, retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ handball-world. "TUSEM Essen "am Torwart gescheitert" - Löwen-Yongster David Späth macht bestes Bundesligaspiel". handball-world (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ handball-world. "Nächster Torwart-Schock für die Rhein-Neckar Löwen: David Späth fällt mit Kreuzbandriss aus". handball-world (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ handball-world. "Rhein-Neckar Löwen verlängern mit David Späth". handball-world (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ Ofenloch, Rüdiger (18 September 2023). "Rhein-Neckar Löwen verlängern mit David Späth - Rhein-Neckar Löwen - LIQUI MOLY HBL". Rhein-Neckar Löwen (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Germany dominate final to claim M19 EHF EURO 2021 crown". eurohandball. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ a b "All Star Team At Germany/Greece 2023 Revealed". IHF. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ Ulrich, Ron (1 January 2024). "(S ) Handball: Der sagenhafte Aufstieg des David Späth". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ sportschau.de, Handball-EM: Wolff und Späth - Ziemlich beste Kollegen (in German), retrieved 30 January 2024
- ^ Glocke, Die (15 January 2024). "Torwart-Talent David Späth, der Vulkan aus der Pfalz". www.die-glocke.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ sportschau.de. "Handball | EM: Nach klasse Leistung: Kaiserslautern jubelt mit David Späth". sportschau.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "Zahlen von Deutschlands Handballern bei der Handball-EM". handball-world (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2024.