Simon Pytlick recently paid tribute to Mikkel Hansen on social media, and his words sparked strong emotions in the former world star.
– To be completely honest, those words actually mean more than some of the titles I have won, he told Danish TV 2 Sport.
Mikkel Hansen has meant a great deal to Danish handball – not least to Denmark’s superstar Simon Pytlick. The left back took to Instagram in recent days to honor one of the greatest handball players of all time in a heartfelt post.
“Mikkel didn’t just give me space when I was the new guy on the team – he helped me find my place. That generosity inspires me just as much as his wrist, and it is that kindness I want to thank him for, a few weeks after our World Championship title in Oslo,” the player wrote, among other things.
Hansen himself was not expecting the tribute from Pytlick, TV 2 reports, and he told the newspaper that the words truly touched him.
– I had no idea he was going to write such kind words. On Wednesday, I sat down on the couch to watch Aalborg in the Champions League, and just before the match started, I read his post. I felt both moved and proud at the same time and had to send him a message to thank him for the beautiful gesture, said Hansen.
He continued:
– To be completely honest, those words actually mean more than some of the titles I have won.