- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1984
- 1983
- 1982
- 1981
- 1980
- 1979
- 1978
- 1977
- 1976
- 1975
- 1974
- 1973
- 1972
- 1971
- 1970
- 1969
- 1968
- 1967
- 1966
- 1965
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
- 1960
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
- 1954
- 1953
- 1952
- 1951
- 1950
- 1949
- 1948
- 1947
- 1946
Campino, front man of the "Toten Hosen", presenting Fortuna Cologne's new strip for 2001
Source: JKP GmbH & Co. KG, Düsseldorf
Sports
Punks buy footballer!
A most unusual rescue operation in Düsseldorf: the "Die Toten Hosen", a punk band with local roots, buys a new defender for the floundering soccer team Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Actually, they can't afford to foot the whole bill for the man Fortuna wants to sign. Fullback Anthony Buffoe is too dear for the band: "just his right leg, but it's the thought that counts!" jests front-man Campino. But their contribution of DM 150,000 is still very sizeable.
How do they raise the money? It's quite simple, really: a "Fortuna mark" is set aside on every ticket sold during their 1989 tour - even for gigs in the "hostile territory" of soccer-rivals Cologne, as the "Toten Hosen" (literally "Dead Trousers", colloquial for "nothing doing") assure their fans.
The band has been performing since 1982, and by 2001 they have long since become commercially successful old punks who can afford to give the Fortuna a leg-up once again.
This time they put up a whole million, which makes them Fortuna's No 1 sponsor and secures them a place of honour on the team's shirts for two years: the footballers now take to the field sporting the band's emblem, a grinning skull, on their chests.
The unwavering support of the "Toten Hosen" is remarkable: Fortuna have since been relegated several times but the band doesn't care. Status doesn't matter.
Philipp Sanke
