Schippers: "An out of the ordinary year with a special conclusion"

In an interview, Borussia’s chief executive Stephan Schippers gave his assessment of 2022. He spoke about the “Legends of the Park” event as well as the average crowd numbers this Bundesliga season up until now.

Mr Schippers, on Saturday a really special event took place at BORUSSIA PARK in the form of the “Legends of the Park” event. What was the highlight of the day for you?

Stephan Schippers: This brilliant day was characterised by the still young history of our stadium and those that played there and it cannot be broken down into one particular moment. It was the many encounters with those who spent time at BORUSSIA PARK over almost 18 years which made it so special. Some of them played here for ten years, others maybe just a season. That, all in all, so many accepted our invitation makes us very proud as a club. It is nice to see how many people have come back to us and shown that they see us as more than “just” an employer.

But if you had to pick a particular moment?

Schippers: Then, it would probably be the group photo of all our former players in the foreground and the fans in the background. I believe that everyone in the stadium here felt that this meeting of different Borussia generations was a one-time experience. In relation to this, I would also like to say a huge thank you to all the employees who were involved in the preparation and putting-on of this event, as well as the fans who welcomed the legends so warmly, and all the players who accepted our invitation to come back to BORUSSIA PARK.

And at the same time Borussia was able to do some good…

Schippers: Exactly. We are pleased that all proceeds from ticket sales after costs are deducted will go to social institutions from the region. For example, we will be donating to Mönchengladbacher Tafel, the homeless charity “Wir für MG”, Diakonische Werk, Café Pflaster, the campaign “Freizeit behinderter Jugendlicher” and the Child Protection Association in Germany at Ortsverband MG. We will announce the exact donation amount on our channels in the second half of January, when the exact amount has been determined.

From a Borussia perspective, how would you sum up 2022?

Schippers: We don’t need to beat around the bush in saying that it was an out of the ordinary year for Borussia – with the legends game a special conclusion. You can maybe split the year into a complicated first half and a good second half. It was important for the club that after the changes to the sporting director and the head coach coach roles we managed to quickly get back to calmer waters. I think that you have to give huge praise to those responsible on the sporting side.  Roland Virkus and Daniel Farke have succeeded in creating a positive atmosphere – and have taken the fans with them.

You've just mentioned it. An average of 51,178 fans have attended the last eight home games at BORUSSIA PARK this Bundesliga season. If this level of support is maintained until the end of the season, it will be the third-highest attended Bundesliga season in Borussia’s history.

Schippers: This is something that needs to be really specifically singled out, because it is not just the case that the fans have joined us this year with this new beginning from a sporting side and really accepted it, there is also the fact that it is not an easy situation financially for lots of people at the moment. So, we really appreciate that BORUSSIA PARK is so well attended and that we can rely on our fans.

What do the coming weeks look like, what is Borussia’s timetable until the end of the year?

Schippers: The team is already back in training and, apart from a break for Christmas and a short break for New Year, will be training. Operations at the office will be scaled down a bit until the 5th January 2023. Colleagues from different departments should be able to take a few days to take a break so that they come back fresh and raring to go in the new year. I’d like to take this opportunity in the name of the executive directors, the board and the whole team to wish all of our fans and partners a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.