On Saturday, German National Team player Matthias Witthaus made history becoming the nation’s most capped player in his 351st career game. Witthaus surpassed the previous record holder Philipp Crone.
What’s particularly impressive about the feat is that the 29-year old needed only 13 years to climb to the top of the record book, five years less than Crone. Witthaus is also a mainstay on the Germany National team with an impressive 152 caps.
During his time on the National Team, Witthuas has racked up the honors his list of successes includes:
- Olympic champion in 2008
- World Cup in 2002 and 2006
- European Champion 1999, 2003 and 2011
- Indoor hockey world championship 2003 and 2011, I
- Indoor European Champion 2001, 2003 and 2012
- 2004 Olympic Bronze
The record could hold for a long time to come as the forward said on Saturday, “I have rediscovered the fun I have playing hockey.”
The 350th cap was presented by DHB-President Stephan Abel and Sports Director Heino Knuf before the match against India in the Olympic Hockey Stadium in London with 10,000 spectators in attendance. Timo Wess, was honored for 250 games in a DHB-shirt in the same ceremony.
