Captain Uwe Gensheimer has announced his resignation from the national handball team after the disappointing Olympic tournament.
In addition, national coach Alfred Gislason will have to do without other veterans in the future, as the German Handball Federation (DHB) announced this Thursday.
In addition to Gensheimer, backcourt player Steffen Weinhold (THW Kiel) is no longer available, defense chief Hendrik Pekeler (THW Kiel) wants to take a longer break from the national team and leaves future missions for the DHB selection open.
Goalkeeper oldie Johannes Bitter (HSV Hamburg) only wants to step in in an emergency after missing the Olympic medal in Japan.
"I look back on a long time with the German Handball Federation with pride and gratitude and I will never forget the experiences that came with it," said Gensheimer.
DHB President Andreas Michelmann thanked all players.
"All four are faces of our sport, have excited the audience and motivated many children," he said.
The national team is facing a personnel change.
The 34-year-old from Gensheim last played only a minor role at the tournament in Tokyo, but before that he was one of the pillars of the team.
After his international debut in November 2005, he celebrated his greatest success in the DHB jersey in 2016 when he won bronze with the team at the Olympics in Rio.
In sporting terms, however, the loss of world-class defender Pekeler (30) and backcourt specialist Weinhold (35) weighs heavier for Gislason, and the now 38-year-old Bitter is still one of the best German goalkeepers.