Seven German league titles with Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Kiel and two Champions League titles have Andreas Palicka gained but in 2020 will be the first time he will be named player of the year in Sweden.
"A leader both on and off the field and with empathy, emotional expressions, enormous focus and spectacular rescues, he has the ability to fire up and lift both his fellow players and the home crowd," says the motivation from the jury consisting of the Swedish Handball Association's elite council and the new Confederation Glenn.
- It was something that was definitely not obvious, so I am extremely grateful, says the goalkeeper himself.
34-year-old Palicka looked forward to his first Olympics this summer but does not hesitate despite the postponement.
- I definitely look at an Olympics, that is the big goal and has been all the time. It was definitely something else again when it was moved forward, he says to the Handball Association.
Last year, defense giant Max Darj from the German Bergischer HC was awarded the prize.
This year's players on the women's side will be presented on Thursday.