Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas celebrates his triumphant return to THW Kiel!

Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas celebrates his triumphant return to THW Kiel!

Last Sunday, November 9th, 2025, the Wunderino Arena in Kiel experienced a sporting spectacle when THW Kiel played against Bergischer HC. For many fans, however, the game was not only a must-see, but also a day of return for Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas. After tearing his cruciate ligament, the goalkeeper was back in the THW squad for the first time and was enthusiastically received by the 9,701 spectators.

In an exciting match, Kiel won 43:35 after leading 24:22 at halftime. Eric Johansson, who was sidelined with a flu-like infection, and Magnus Landin, who was unable to play due to adductor problems, left coach Filip Jicha with slight personnel concerns before the game. The failures at Bergischer HC didn't make things any easier either.

A successful comeback

Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas celebrated an impressive comeback: after just 20 minutes of play, he came on as a substitute and immediately parried his first throw. He expressed pride about his return and the support of his team. “It's an incredible feeling to be back on the pitch,” explained the player. His return was a significant moment in the current season not only for him, but also for the fans.

After the break, Kiel picked up the pace and the lead grew to 34:28. THW dominated the game and showed a strong performance. But not all decisions were without controversy. In the 58th minute, Lars Kooij received a red card after a foul, causing coach Jicha to express concern about the refereeing decisions and question the protection of his players.

Next challenges

With the victory, THW Kiel has consolidated its position in the league, but new challenges are already just around the corner. On Tuesday the team will play in the European League against BSV Bern, where those responsible are counting on continued good performance. It seems that the lights in the Wunderino Arena are brightly lit and THW Kiel will do everything in its power to delight the fans there too.

Away from the field, there are also interesting developments in the world of names. The name Gonzalo, as our goalkeeper bears it, has its roots in the Germanic language and is derived from Saint Gonzalo, who lived in the 12th century. In Spain it is a common first name associated with important historical figures. It remains to be seen whether THW Kiel will be able to achieve top results with “Gonzalo” not only on the pitch but also outside of it.

So we can only hope that THW Kiel will present us with exciting stories in the coming games like that of Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and his comeback. It will be exciting to see what surprises the next games will have in store.