BVB Handball Superstar Tess Lieder Announces Retirement

Tess Lieder, the experienced goalkeeper of Borussia Dortmund’s women’s handball team and 2019 World Champion, has announced she will retire from professional handball this summer.

The Dutch star shared the news on Friday through an emotional post on her personal Instagram account. “After dedicating my heart and soul to this beautiful game called handball for 26 years, it’s time to say goodbye. This sport has given me more than I could ever give back and… oh my, what a journey it has been!” Lieder wrote.

In her post, which included snapshots from throughout her handball career, Lieder also addressed her younger self:
“If you had told five-year-old Tess that she would win championships and trophies across Europe, earn medals at European and World Championships, represent her country twice at the Olympic Games, and have the time of her life – she wouldn’t have believed you.”

Throughout her career, Lieder played in Germany for VfL Oldenburg, SG BBM Bietigheim, and most recently for Borussia Dortmund. She joined BVB in the summer of 2023, shortly after giving birth to her daughter Flo in November 2022. She is married to former footballer Mart Lieder, who ended his career last summer at Dutch second division side FC Eindhoven.

Lieder’s greatest achievement came in 2019, when she became a world champion with the Dutch national team. In her announcement, the 31-year-old goalkeeper also highlighted the challenges of being a professional athlete:
“Everyone sees the medals, the photos with trophies, and the big smiles. But what they don’t see are the hours spent alone at home waiting for the next training session, the endless hours put into practice, the pursuit of perfection, and the disappointment when things don’t go as hoped despite all the hard work,” she admitted.