Horst Singer, the last living member of the legendary 1955 World Championship handball team, celebrates his 90th birthday. Known for his extraordinary skill and as a multiple German champion, he recalls his early days in Göppingen and the iconic Kempa Trick he pioneered. Despite his age, Singer remains spirited and connected to his beloved Frisch Auf team, wishing for health and their success. He will be honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame on March 8.
Celebrating a Handball Legend: Horst Singer Turns 90
Horst Singer, the last surviving member of the iconic 1955 World Championship handball team, is a celebrated figure in German sports history. A multiple German champion, he has left an indelible mark on the handball world with his extraordinary talent and dedication.
A Visit to the Singer Household
When I contacted Christina Singer to learn more about her father, she shared, “He’s still quite fit, though running isn’t as easy for him anymore—feel free to stop by.” I took her up on the invitation and arrived at the Singer residence in Göppingen. Helga, his wife, warmly welcomed me at the door, and soon I found Horst, affectionately known as ‘Spatz,’ comfortably seated in an armchair. With bright eyes and a welcoming smile, he said, “I’m glad you stopped by.” We began our conversation, reminiscing about his remarkable career as a right winger with a magical left arm. “Anyone can call me Spatz; it’s an honor,” he beamed, reminiscing about his roots in Ulm, where a famous landmark, the Spatz, sits atop the Ulm Minster. After fleeing to Göppingen during a bombing raid in 1944, he began his journey in handball.
Initially, he and his friends were young gymnasts at Frisch Auf, but their true passion blossomed in the historic Schiller gymnasium, where Doctor Heinrich Zeller, later the honorary president of Frisch Auf, trained them. Zeller affectionately nicknamed the 12-year-old Horst ‘Spatz’ because of his Ulm heritage—a moniker that has become synonymous with his remarkable career and the glorious handball era in Göppingen.
Championship Glory and the Kempa Trick
Under the guidance of player-coach Bernhard Kempa, whom Singer regards as the greatest field handball player ever, they achieved victory against SV Polizei Hamburg, clinching the indoor championship title in Krefeld with a score of 10:7. They followed this success with a stunning win on the grass, defeating TuS Lintfort 18:8 in front of a crowd of 21,000 at Stuttgart’s Neckarstadion. This period also marked the introduction of a revolutionary play: the Kempa Trick.
On March 24, 1954, during an unofficial international match against Sweden, Horst Singer executed the first Kempa goal, a defining moment in handball history. “I was running toward the center of the circle when Bernhard Kempa sent the ball high from the left back position,” he recalled. “I jumped, caught the ball mid-air, and threw it into the goal.” This innovative technique changed the game forever.
In 1955, Horst and his talented team triumphed in the field handball World Championship, easily defeating the Czechs and the Swiss in front of 50,000 fans at the Rote Erde Stadium in Dortmund. As a token of appreciation, Frisch Auf rewarded him with a book voucher worth 200 Deutsche Marks for his studies. He later became a senior teacher for sports and geography at the Hohenstauffen Gymnasium in Göppingen, which limited his coaching career to just two months. “My profession took precedence,” he shared.
With Frisch Auf Göppingen, he celebrated numerous championships and achieved the pinnacle of success in 1962, when they became the first German team to win the European Cup of Champions (now known as the EHF Champions League). Remarkably, Göppingen did not have its own handball hall at that time. At 42, Horst played his final Bundesliga match against Hofweier.
A Young Heart at 90
When asked how it feels to be 90, the vibrant handball star quickly replied, “No, I feel much younger—more like 80. However, seeing myself walking with a walker or cane makes me realize that 90 is indeed a remarkable age.” Despite his advanced years, he remains connected to the happenings at Frisch Auf, cheering for the team from his living room, even if he can’t attend games as often as he’d like.
As he prepares to celebrate his milestone birthday on March 2, Horst has heartfelt wishes. “Above all, I wish for health—for myself, my wife, and my children. And perhaps a little hope that my Frisch Auf team avoids relegation.” On March 8, he will be honored with an induction into the newly established Hall of Fame of Frisch Auf Göppingen during a home game against Flensburg. This celebration of his life and legacy is a testament to the enduring impact he has had on the sport of handball.