Although the ball isn’t rolling during the winter break, the soccer world doesn’t stand still during the Christmas season. We look back at some unusual stories.
The Christmas season, including the winter break, is a peaceful time for many, but for many clubs, there has been plenty of activity during these days in the past.
We look back at some curious stories, including those from FC Schalke 04, MSV Duisburg, and Wuppertaler SV.
Harsh punishment for a missed flight
Michael Delura is currently the coach of Rot-Weiss Essen’s U19 team. During his playing career, he played for FC Schalke 04 and VfL Bochum, among others, and is known not only for his footballing acumen but also for his friendly nature.
However, his good upbringing proved to be his undoing in the winter of 2003 when he was an 18-year-old Schalke prospect. While the other S04 players were already boarding the plane for the Christmas party, Delura obediently waited in line at the check-in counter and didn’t make it on board in time. As punishment, coach Jupp Heynckes sentenced him to a week of shoe-shining in the locker room.
“Our equipment manager Enrico Heil was quite pleased with me,” Delura explained. “He would have hired me on the spot.” Heynckes apparently thought so too and brought Delura to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2007.
GDR talent beats up MSV managing director and gets kicked out
In the summer of 1990, shortly before reunification, MSV Duisburg signed Marco Köller from FC Berlin. The then 21-year-old defender was considered one of the greatest talents of the collapsing GDR and was expected to help the Zebras secure promotion to the Bundesliga.
Köller fought his way through, and MSV Duisburg spent the winter break at the top of the table. But Köller was still causing trouble at the Christmas party: while intoxicated, he punched then-MSV managing director Dirk Keiper in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Following the ugly incident, the club immediately terminated Köller’s contract, after which the once-promising young star faded into obscurity. In the end, Duisburg still secured promotion to the Bundesliga as runners-up behind Schalke 04.
WSV Coach Leaves Too Early and Is Barred from Returning
Unlike Köller, Werner Kasper was fired not for drinking too much, but for drinking too little. During the Christmas party in December 2004, the then-coach of Wuppertaler SV went home as early as 10:15 p.m., which sent longtime club boss Friedhelm Runge up in arms.
According to Runge, the early departure was “not exactly a sign of boundless identification with the club.” Kasper was subsequently let go after only about five months as coach of the regional league team.
“Not in the mood” – Christoph Daum cancels 1. FC Köln’s celebration
In the winter of 2006, 1. FC Köln’s Christmas party was canceled due to the team’s lackluster performance in the Bundesliga. After the 2-3 loss to Arminia Bielefeld on the final matchday before the winter break, coach Christoph Daum was in no mood to party.
“I don’t feel like sitting there and celebrating. It’s canceled,” Daum declared, putting a stop to the festivities.
It didn’t help, however, because in the end, Cologne finished seventeenth in the table and were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga along with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and MSV Duisburg.
The “Cowboy Boot Affair” involving Stefan Effenberg
At FC Bayern Munich’s Christmas party in 2000, Stefan Effenberg wore cowboy boots and red lederhosen. Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was anything but pleased with his player’s evening attire.
“That wasn’t the ideal appearance for a captain,” Hitzfeld told the Munich media at the time, announcing further measures: “We’ll probably have to set more rules and be stricter.”
Effenberg reacted defiantly to his coach’s criticism: “I dress the way I think is right,” he told the media. “If that doesn’t suit you, I don’t give a damn. You can go ahead and write that.”