Everyone inside the Volkswagen Arena will surely have experienced the home game against Energie Cottbus as an emotional rollercoaster. For one person in particular, however, the emotional journey began even earlier. The VfL fans were determined to pay an impressive tribute to Günter Leich, who recently passed away at the age of 98. The last surviving member of the team that won promotion to the top flight in 1954 and, with an estimated 1,500 appearances in a Wolves shirt, an unrivalled stalwart of VfL Wolfsburg, Leich was honoured in fitting fashion. “1,500 games – shift by shift – Günter, we will never forget you!” read a banner that stretched across the entire Nordkurve and was symbolically adorned, among other things, with a portrait of Leich from his playing days. It was a true goosebumps moment that not only caused a stir inside the stadium, but was also shared directly from the stands across various social media channels.
Inside
Goosebumps before kick-off
“I’ll never forget it”
The gesture was made all the more heart-warming by the fact that the honouree’s widow was there in person. Margret Leich, who has enjoyed a warm relationship with VfL Wolfsburg for many years, happened to be attending one of her Wolves’ home games on this particular day – something she rarely does. Alongside VfL icon Roy Präger, she watched the tribute unfold, deeply moved and almost overwhelmed by the lengths the Green-and-White fans had gone to in honour of her husband. “Everyone who knew him knows how much VfL meant to my Günter. I’m completely lost for words at the amount of effort the young people put in and what they have created here,” said Margret Leich. “My heartfelt thanks to everyone who was involved. I’ll never forget it.”
