Gergő Iváncsik retires

“Dear Handball Fans,

It was just like yesterday when I first held a handball in my hands. Memories of me and my brother watching my father's games and later playing still lives in me vividly. Later as we started to get interested in handball we could sit through a whole game but playing stayed the main priority.

The moment I realized that I really want to play this game I did everything I could to not just play but to measure if I am capable of doing it in a top level. I was curious to see what I can achieve in it. Once I became old enough to understand what my father achieved in handball I had one goal only. To achieve those things myself and later to achieve more. I felt like I really love this sport and this is what I would like to be doing when I grow up. This is how my career started and I was moving step by step onwards.

I started playing in Győr up until the promotion to the first céass. Later the biggest break-through for me was to sign to Veszprém at the age of 18. I would not have dreamt about spending 17 beautiful years at this club. Looking back at the first 5-6 years I did not even know where my head was, shocked by the experience of playing in this club with those players. I felt like this club honored me with a contract so I should honor them by working the hardest way I could, bringing the maximum out of myself to show them that I have a place in this team. I think I could accomplish it because I was able to spend 17 beautiful years here filled with memories I can only wish to the young players to experience something like this.

Unfortunately the time always comes in a man's life when he has to change, stepping towards new goals. This time in my life comes right now. I said goodbye to the handball in Veszprém: the Club, the team and the supporters. Which is even harder: saying goodbye to handball itself. It was a long and terribly hard choice to make. I had to make a decision if I still want to play handball or if I would like to focus on the next chapter in my life. Thank God I had opportunities and one of them was to stay at the Club as a youth coach. I decided to go with that option. From now on I will fully focus on passing on my knowledge and my love for this sport to the children. With the help of Péter Gulyás I would like to help the youth academy as much as I can.

It is a hard period in my life right now as I am finishing my career as a player but at the same time I stand in front of the new challenges positively. The goals I wanted to achieve had been achieved, from now on I would like to concentrate on the new chapter of my life.

First of all I would like to thank the support of my family because they always stood beside me even in the tougher periods. I would like to thank especially my father for introducing me to this sport and for always believing in me. I would like to thank the Club, the Supporters and the City for all the support and help! I feel like I cannot say enough thanks for all of these because what I got here in these 17 years are cannot be described but has to be lived. These memories cannot be taken away from me. So again with all capitals: THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

Veszprém, 14/06/2017

Best regards:

Gergő Iváncsik”