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Rotterdam / Berlin (dpa) - The great era of Mr. Wasserball Hagen Stamm ended in defeat.
«It was an honor for me to be able to play against such a great opponent again when we left.
But now it's over.
I have three grandchildren and a big company.
Now other tasks are waiting for me, "said the national coach after the 8:22 against the Olympic runner-up Croatia.
In a total of one and a half decades, Stamm headed the national team for several terms.
Rotterdam's tournament record is five defeats in five games.
His team missed qualifying for the Olympic Games there early.
“I've seen a lot, it's not about me.
But I'm so sorry for the boys, "said the 60-year-old tribe.
The last time German water polo players were represented at the Olympic Games in Beijing was in 2008.
Stamm, who finished third in the Olympic Games in 1984, had targeted the Tokyo year as his last job as national coach.
The most defining figure of German water polo in the past four decades would of course have wanted a different ending.
«I will never get lost to the water polo.
Water polo is my life ”, assured Stamm.
As president of Wasserfreunde Spandau 04, he will stay that way anyway.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210219-99-508351 / 3
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