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It’s official! FC Schalke 04 have collaborated with suppliers 11teamsports and adidas to create a special jersey. Young members of the club took inspiration from the iconic fan song “FÜR IMMER MEIN VEREIN” (“Forever my club”) when designing the shirt, as it can be worn by any and every S04 supporter, “EGAL OB JUNG, OB ALT, EGAL OB GROß, OB KLEIN” (“Whether young or old, whether big or small”). Wearing your favourite team’s kit has been, is, and will continue to be an expression of love for a club.
Nine members aged between 18 and 25 got the exclusive opportunity to design a special kit for the club, which Karel Geraerts’ side will wear during their home clash against SC Paderborn 07 on Saturday (9/3). The collaboration between 11teamsports and adidas, as well as Schalke’s shirt sponsor VELTINS and sleeve sponsor Mulex, who graciously allowed for their branding to be removed from the shirt, has made the release of the special jersey possible.
The design process was marked by energy and creativity. The candidates attended two inspiration workshops – one of which was held at the prestigious adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach – led by designers from Schalke’s kit suppliers. “We created a basis for the design in Herzogenaurach and applied the finishing touches in subsequent meetings. We’re unbelievably proud that our team is going to wear the kit at the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday. Looking back, there are a lot of moments that stand out in my memory, which I’m very thankful for, like visiting the stadium, making new friends, but, most of all, designing a shirt for my team and putting passion and love into every little detail,” said Lina, a 19-year-old Schalke member who was part of the design team.
The jersey is dark blue with white trim and combines elements from several eras of Schalke’s history – the shirt features the 1924 S04 badge as we mark the 100th anniversary of the design, with the central placement of the logo underlining the retro character of the design. The connection between historic and modern is reflected in a hologram of the retro badge and its modern counterpart. The centre of the jersey features the fan slogan “FÜR IMMER MEIN VEREIN” (“FOREVER MY CLUB”), while the nape of the neck bears the words “EGAL OB JUNG, OB ALT, EGAL OB GROß, OB KLEIN,” (“WHETHER YOUNG OR OLD, WHETHER BIG OR SMALL”), reflecting the club’s inclusive identity. The design is completed by a subtle floodlight pattern on the front of the shirt to represent the Parkstadion and SCHALKE printed on the back.
Matthias Tillmann, CEO at FC Schalke 04, is impressed by the shirt: “ For that reason, I am especially happy that Schalke fans will be able to buy and wear the shirt from Thursday. The shirt pays homage to the history of the club, while the slogan on the chest nods to the present – we hear those words week in, week out from our incredible fans. I would like to give special thanks to the partners involved in making this project possible: 11teamsports, adidas, Mulex and VELTINS.”
“The idea of working with adidas, the representatives at FC Schalke 04, and above all, with the club’s young fans on a project like this excited and motivated us from the offset. It was inspiring to receive ideas and suggestions directly from the fan base and to have the team present the final product. We hope the fans of FC Schalke 04 enjoy the shirt, and we’re thrilled that another fantastic collector’s item will become a part of the club’s long history,” shared Rolf Gramer, Senior Director Proclubs Europe of 11teamsports.
€50,000 worth of proceeds made from the limited edition shirt will be donated to Schalke hilft! Following the match against SC Paderborn, the match-worn jerseys will be auctioned off via the platform United Charity, with 100% of the profits going to the club’s foundation. The young members themselves will decide on the recipient of the donations, which is why the foundation, committed to providing aid to people from Gelsenkirchen and the surrounding region, will be represented on the sleeve of the kit.
