Weidenfeller reveals: Klopp's ritual before BVB matches | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund enjoyed great success under Jürgen Klopp. Now BVB legend Roman Weidenfeller has revealed a curious habit of his former coach.

A quick cigarette just before kick-off? Jürgen Klopp apparently indulged in one, at least during his successful years at Borussia Dortmund. His former BVB goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has now spoken about it—and shared stories about other prominent footballers too.

Weidenfeller knows Klopp very well. The 2014 World Cup winner played a total of 280 matches in goal under the now 59-year-old. Together, they experienced one of the most successful periods in Dortmund’s recent history. During that time, BVB won two German league titles and lifted the DFB-Pokal once.

On the RTL talk show “Black. Red. Klopp—the International Football Talk,” Weidenfeller looked back on their time together. Host Riccardo Basile wanted to know whether the coach and goalkeeper had a particular pre-match ritual. One of Klopp’s habits immediately sprang to Weidenfeller’s mind.

Weidenfeller reveals: Klopp smoked before BVB matches

“I think it’s pretty well known that he enjoys the occasional cigarette—even before a match,” the former Germany goalkeeper said. That did not mean Dortmund’s dressing room became a smoking area, though. Klopp reportedly went outside for his cigarette. “Not in the dressing room, but outside it. I think that’s still all right,” Weidenfeller clarified.

Photo: IMAGO

The former BVB goalkeeper had more stories to tell on the subject. Apparently, there were also a few smokers among former Germany internationals. Asked who else had reached for a cigarette during his career, Weidenfeller named Bernd Schneider among others: “Schnix, meaning Bernd Schneider, would have a quick one.”

His recollection of Oliver Neuville is even more unusual. The former Germany striker reportedly even treated himself to a few puffs during half-time on occasion. Weidenfeller summed up those scenes as follows: “When a match was flowing particularly well, there would be two people standing there taking a quick puff.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.