Fortuna Düsseldorf – the sleeping giant of German football awakes
We all know famous, well-supported and once-great clubs that have now fallen on harder times. The loyal, long-suffering fans of these sleeping giants still remember former triumphs and dream that one day the good times will return. Now and then a strong start to the season, a string of good performances or the emergence of a talented player re-ignite the hope that this will be their year. Fans learn to live from a diet of mid-table mediocrity spiced up by occasional battles against relegation and runs for promotion. But the size of the club and numbers and passion of its fans lead everyone to think it could and should be doing better than this.
Until very recently Fortuna Düsseldorf was definitely a sleeping giant.
From historic club to elevator side
The club was founded in 1895. In the 1920s and 1930s, it was one of the top sides in Germany, winning the league and cup as well as providing players for the national side. In the 1970s and 1980s, it became a household name once more, achieving 16 years in the Bundesliga, two cup final wins, and a series of international appearances. But since the 1980s Fortuna has been what the Germans call an elevator side, moving up and down the leagues. At one point they fell as far as the fourth division before climbing right back to the top tier and were last in the Bundesliga in the 2012/13 season.
The good times return
But Fortuna fans have stayed loyal through the bad times as well as the good. Average attendance is around 25,000 and 12,000 fans bought season tickets at the beginning of the 2017/18 season. Not bad for the second division. And fans’ loyalty has been fully rewarded, because they have experienced a remarkable season. Fortuna secured a return to the Bundesliga with two games to spare.
A short introduction
This short ebook is about the history of this club, its many triumphs and disappointments, the life-stories of its best-known players and coaches.
But it will also help you plan a football trip to Germany and show you where you can find out more about this fascinating club, its fans, and its home city and region.
Above all, I hope this book will inspire you to come to Germany and experience for yourself the thrills of a game at the ESPRIT Arena. If you do, I am sure you will return many times.
Fortuna Düsseldorf – the sleeping giant of German football
We all know famous, well-supported and once-great clubs that have now fallen on harder times. The loyal, long-suffering fans of these sleeping giants still remember former triumphs and dream that one day the good times will return. Now and then a strong start to the season, a string of good performances or the emergence of a talented player re-ignite the hope that this will be their year. Fans learn to live from a diet of mid-table mediocrity spiced up by occasional battles against relegation and runs for promotion. But the size of the club and numbers and passion of its fans lead everyone to think it could and should be doing better than this.
Fortuna Düsseldorf is most definitely a sleeping giant.
The club was founded in 1895. In the 1920s and 1930s, it was one of the top sides in Germany, winning the league and cup as well as providing players for the national side. In the 1970s and 1980s, it became a household name once more, achieving 16 years in the Bundesliga, two cup final wins, and a series of international appearances. But since the 1980s Fortuna has been what the Germans call an elevator side, moving up and down the leagues. At one point they fell as far as the fourth division before climbing right back to the top tier and were last in the Bundesliga in the 2012/13 season.
But Fortuna fans have stayed loyal through the bad times as well as the good. Average attendance is around 25,000 and 12,000 fans bought season tickets at the beginning of the 2017/18 season. Not bad for the second division.
This short ebook is about the history of this club, its many triumphs and disappointments, the life-stories of its best-known players and coaches.
But it will also help you plan a football trip to Germany and show you where you can find out more about this fascinating club, its fans, and its home city and region.
Above all, I hope this book will inspire you to come to Germany and experience for yourself the thrills of a game at the ESPRIT Arena. If you do, I am sure you will return many times.