Steffen Freund about the Revierderbies: An appeal to the fans!

Steffen Freund about the Revierderbies: An appeal to the fans!

A sporting delight from the Ruhr area – the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 – is sorely missed by many fans. One man who contributed a lot to this duel both on the pitch and in conversation is Steffen Freund. Freund, who played for both clubs and is still active in the football scene, recently shared his thoughts on the derby and his time in football. Loud ovb-online.de He said that the absence of the district derbies since the 2023/24 season has deeply affected not only the players, but also the fans.

Steffen Freund, born on January 19, 1970 in Brandenburg, was a sought-after player in the defensive midfield. His career began in BSG Motor Süd Brandenburg and took him via FC Schalke 04, where he played 53 games and scored three goals, to Borussia Dortmund, where he was responsible for 117 games and six goals until 1998. “For me, moving from Schalke to Dortmund was the right decision from a sporting point of view,” said Freund, who appreciates the internationally successful times in Dortmund. After all, BVB was stronger sportingly in the 90s when the rivalry between the two clubs reached its peak.

The history of the Revierderby

The rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 is legendary and dates back to 1924. Schalke dominated the early years of the competition, winning the first Revierderby. But since Borussia Dortmund won against Schalke for the first time in 1947, the tide turned. Since the Bundesliga was founded in 1963, both teams have shaped the league and secured numerous titles. Dortmund have won a total of 34 derby wins, while Schalke have triumphed 32 times, with 30 draws on their record. The last successes celebrated by both sides were shared by the clubs by winning the UEFA Champions League in 1997 (Dortmund) and the UEFA Cup in 1997 (Schalke).

Freund also describes the passionate fan base as the heart of the Revierderby: “It’s about local rivalry and the honor of winning.” The games were marked not only by impressive crowds, but also by some legendary moments, such as the goal by Jens Lehmann, who was a goalkeeper for Schalke in the 1997 derby before later moving to Dortmund, where he celebrated his first Bundesliga title.

The future of football and more

Steffen Freund is optimistic with the return of Miron Muslic as Schalke's new coach. He praises the sporting competence in the club and sees Niko Kovač as a smart move for Dortmund. Freund believes that Dortmund will play for the championship. “The league will remain exciting,” he says, while also expressing concerns about new formats such as the Club World Cup. “Such changes could have a negative impact on players.”

Freund himself has had an impressive career that took him not only in Germany, but also to Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City. With Dortmund he celebrated two championship titles and a Champions League victory. “The 1996 European Championship was the biggest title of my career,” remembers Freund, and the 1997 Champions League was the most important success with the club. Despite his successes, he misses the intense games in the Ruhr area and hopes for the derby to return next season.

The Revierderby remains a central topic in German football and is still feverishly awaited by fans. The passionate arguments on the pitch and the emotions surrounding the games are simply incomparable.