Alba Berlin is losing its captain: Johannes Thiemann will leave the capital city club this summer after six years
There had been rumors about a possible departure of the captain for some time. On Saturday, the club and player made the separation official. Thiemann will therefore not extend his expiring contract and will look for a new challenge. The 30-year-old has been repeatedly linked with top clubs from other European countries, but his new club has not yet been confirmed.
“It was a really difficult decision to leave Alba. I not only made a lot of friends in Berlin, but also found a home. I am very grateful to the entire Alba family for their support and unconditional backing,” Thiemann is quoted as saying in the Berliners’ announcement.
The 30-year-old big man wore the Albatross jersey for six years, won five titles with them and played in the Euroleague. In the early 2020s, the Trier native was part of the Berlin team that dominated the national scene under Spanish Head Coach Aito with attractive and entertaining team basketball and won three championship titles in a row. In recent years, Thiemann, who was previously under contract in Ludwigsburg and Bamberg, has become the team’s leader and captain. The 2.06-metre international and world champion has also developed rapidly as a player
“We are naturally very sad to have to say goodbye to JT after six years. He has contributed a great deal to our culture in recent years and shaped Alba’s history – both in terms of sport and character,” said Sporting Director Himar Ojeda. “But first and foremost, we are incredibly proud of him and his development with us. JT was not only a key player on the court, but also an absolute leader off it as captain. He will always be a part of the Alba family.”
Thiemann played a total of 359 games for Berlin, which puts him in 10th place in the club’s internal rankings. He is currently preparing for the Olympic tournament with the German national team. It is the conclusion of the three-year plan announced by national coach Gordon Herbert, which led to bronze at the home European Championships in 2022 and gold at the World Championships in 2023.
As part of his preparations, Thiemann will also make his last appearance in Berlin for the time being: He will face Japan with the DBB team next Friday in the Uber Arena near Ostbahnhof.
