Chapter 323: Chapter 76: Equaling a Legend! Half-Season Champions! Football Faith and a Hundred-Year War! Celebration Banquet, and the Charge for the Championship

What’s more, almost all of them were very familiar with him.

He even saw several of them wearing his number 9 jersey.

This made him very happy.

He accepted every request from the children for autographs and photos.

On the way back, Wang Shuo once again recalled some of the things Coach Gao had said.

Perhaps this was the biggest difference between football in China and in Europe.

Over a hundred years, they had developed from community and street-level clubs, step by step, into powerhouses known to fans all over the world.

Over the past century, for the local residents and the city’s fans, Dortmund had become more than just football. It was a cultural heritage, something more akin to a faith!

That’s right, a faith!

Wang Shuo recalled that in the early days, Dortmund actually had many football clubs.

So why were the Bumblebees able to stand out and become the symbol of the entire city?

Because of the Ruhr Derby against Schalke 04, their rivals from the city of Gelsenkirchen!

It was no longer just a contest between two football teams.

It was a "war" between two cities.

Wang Shuo thought of the national derby between Real Madrid and Barça, and the North West Derby between Manchester United and Liverpool...

He suddenly felt that it was only natural for Chinese football to be so far behind.

In Europe, especially in the developed regions of Western Europe, a century of tradition and accumulation, passed down through generations, has turned countless teams like Dortmund into the cultural and spiritual heart of their cities!

But back in China, this kind of football culture and heritage—one that spans from the streets and communities to the entire city—had never been established.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault, nor was it something that could be built overnight.

After all, who in the past century had the mind or the means to develop football?

...

After finishing the 17th matchday of the Bundesliga on December 19th, Dortmund began a series of busy Christmas activities.

Things finally wound down on the 22nd.

That day, the club booked out a high-end Italian restaurant in the Hombruch District, west of Luckenwalde Castle, for a grand Christmas victory banquet.

Unlike previous team dinners, this time the players were allowed to bring their partners.

It wasn’t just the first-team players attending; Watzke, Zorc, Head Coach Klopp, and the entire coaching staff were all present.

And all of them brought their partners.

The German media had gotten wind of it and were already staked out in front of the restaurant.

Both sides had a tacit understanding.

The media wouldn’t go inside and disrupt the team dinner, and in return, the players and their partners were all dressed to the nines.

You probably wouldn’t believe it, but...

even Klopp was in a suit and tie.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was his signature beard.

Having secured the "winter championship" again, Klopp was clearly over the moon. When he appeared before the press with his wife, he even put on a major display of affection, planting a kiss on her and letting the reporters snap away.

"A bit of a strange sight, isn’t it?"

Wang Shuo stood at the entrance, watching Klopp and his wife’s public display of affection, finding it rather surreal.

Subotic seemed to feel his world had been turned upside down, nodding repeatedly.

"Hey, Wang."

"Hello, Jurgen."

Klopp and his wife walked over to Wang Shuo. After greeting him, Uncle Mustache gave Wang Shuo a careful once-over.

"Whoa, there’s no way you put this outfit together yourself. You don’t have this kind of fashion sense."

’Damn that old show-off!’

’Would it kill you not to take a jab at me?’

Seeing Wang Shuo’s disgruntled expression, Klopp roared with laughter.

"Where’s Lina?" Klopp’s wife, Ulla Sandrock, asked.

"Something came up last minute, so she had to go to Dusseldorf. She’s on her way back now, but she’ll be a little late."

"I absolutely loved some of the pieces she sold at the charity market. I bought several of them."

"Thank you."

The charity market was another one of Dortmund’s annual Christmas activities.

As the name suggests, players or their girlfriends would donate personal items to be sold at the fan shop in Westfalen Stadium, with all proceeds going to charity.

It was an annual event for Dortmund that the players eagerly participated in and the fans adored.

Wang Shuo had donated quite a few items himself.

In the past few months, Adidas alone had sent him countless pairs of sneakers, clothes, and other items.

And that was on top of all the other brands. His house was practically overflowing with stuff.

It was even more extreme for Lina Gerk.

Many fashion brands sent her things, hoping she would wear their clothes, put on their jewelry, or appear in public with their fashion items to help them gain exposure.

How crazy did it get?

An entire room in the small villa Wang Shuo was renting wasn’t enough to hold it all.

It was a good problem to have, in a way.

So this time, he and Lina Gerk had donated quite a lot.

Lina Gerk’s items, in particular, were a huge hit with the female fans.

As they entered, they found the atmosphere inside was already electric.

Everyone was engrossed in lively conversation.

Everyone was quite surprised to see Wang Shuo arrive by himself.

After all, they had all been looking forward to Lina Gerk’s grand entrance.

"Wang, look around! Everyone here is in a pair. Even Götze, Reus, and Grosskreutz brought dates for the first time. I heard Götze had to find one at the last minute."

As Foyelner said this, the entire room erupted in laughter.

Götze looked like he wanted to jump up and throttle him.