The “big bad Wolff” just wants to scare the hell out of his opponents. The German national handball goalkeeper Andreas Wolff now wants to be a leader for everyone and even a role model for the young players. This and other secrets about Germany’s number one, who wears the number 33 on his shirt.
It wasn’t long ago that the 32-year-old, who was always motivated to the core, caused a scandal in the German national team. When Hendrik Pekeler, Patrick Wiencek and Steffen Weinhold canceled the World Cup three years ago in order to be with their families during the corona pandemic, Wolff publicly criticized them. He sees his teammates’ decision “very, very critically. The fact that they are skipping the tournament this year after they have been permanently active in the Champions League bothers me.”
The “big bad Wolff” had struck again – but even faced a lot of headwind from within his own ranks. Looking back, the native Rhinelander says: “I clearly went overboard. Every criticism that came from those in charge or from teammates was absolutely justified. One or two of them even showed some leniency when they said that I met there.” Wolff’s detailed self-criticism can be seen in the sports show documentary “Andreas Wolff – the daredevil in the goal”, exclusively in the ARD media library.
Gislason: “Andreas is an extremely hothead”
National coach Alfred Gislason calls Wolff “an extremely hothead”, knowing full well that the goalkeepers in handball in particular are something like “lone fighters within a team”. Even though Wolff has only just returned from a serious herniated disc, Gislason knows that he cannot do without the class of the (formerly) controversial keeper.
“Andreas is different, he has become more mature. And only because of that he has become a world-class goalkeeper.”
National coach Alfred Gislason
“He can give the team an incredible amount. At the last World Cup he was the best goalkeeper,” praises the Icelander and adds: “Andreas is different, he has become more mature. And only because of that has he become a world-class goalkeeper.” In the opening game of the European Championship against Switzerland on Wednesday, Wolff excelled as he once did in the 2016 European Championship final, saving an incredible 61 percent of the balls on his goal.
Working with a psychologist bears fruit
According to Wolff, he benefited greatly from working with a psychologist. He realized “that I don’t have to carry the whole team on my shoulders” and learned to forgive his own mistakes. Today, Wolff speaks of “blind ambition” – and wants to influence the young players who, like him, were “nervous, tense and always ambitious”. He hopes “that my role in the team is different now. That I also give my teammates the feeling that I respect them, that I value them.”
National goalkeeper Andreas Wolff wants to be there as a leader, especially for the young players.
The secrets of Andreas Wolff
Completely new tones from the “big bad Wolff”, who gave some other interesting insights in a conversation with Sportschau before the tournament.
1. What he is afraid of
Andreas Wolff: “A lot of things ago, actually. But I’m really uncomfortable with snakes. We used to go to the zoo with the school. I looked at a snake in the section with the reptiles – and I really had goosebumps. And then suddenly a classmate came along grabbed the back of my neck and hissed like that. Then I really jumped away.”
2. His lucky number
Wolff: “It’s 33 because I was born on March 3rd.”
3. Why he became a goalkeeper
Wolff: “Because I was very shy at the beginning. My mother took me to training as a little boy – when I was five years old or something. And I was so shy that I didn’t want to take part. Then the trainer said: ‘Then stand up into the goal.’ So I stood in the goal in training. And then I never came out of the goal again.”
4. Has he ever kept a clean sheet?
Wolff: “Yes, once. In the same hall where I did my first handball training. I think that was a D-youth qualifying tournament – and we won 13-0.”
5. His biggest dream
Wolff: “My big dream for me is to somehow become a world handball player. And otherwise just win the Champions League, win the World Cup title and maybe the Olympic title. But the Champions League and the World Cup are probably more realistic. You have more chances there than at the Olympic Games.”
Desiree Krause, sports show, January 10, 2024 11:05 p.m
6. What is your biggest hobby or passion?
Wolff: “Now it’s the family. It used to be gaming, which I also streamed. But I stopped that. I was too tense and too ambitious. Because of that, I think I lost a few viewers. I was too focused instead of just maintaining this relaxed manner. Today I ask myself what I was actually doing.”
7. What role does strength training play?
Wolff: “A big one. I have my own gym at home and I use it every day.”
8. And where does the nickname “the big bad Wolff” actually come from?
Wolff: “It originally comes from the headline of a Swedish newspaper. That’s an obvious play on words, of course. And that coupled with the whole demeanor: I’m very focused during the games and used to be very stubborn. Always looking grim, always serious. And then… It was of course fitting that some journalists simply published one or two controversial statements that might have been made in the background. Today I know who I’m talking to, but also when I can say something and in what tone. I’m there I became more diplomatic.”
Handball national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff
