German football's heart is where Dortmund is

My team Dortmund's name was once a synonym for coal, steel, beer - and football.

Borussia Dortmund are a gigantic black and yellow family.

Dortmund's name was once a synonym for coal, steel, beer - and football. But with the first three having disappeared, it is Borussia who bring identity to the city and its people. On Dec 19 the club will celebrate their 100th anniversary - a century of Borussia Dortmund, 27 years of pure passion, at least when talking about myself. But I am not an individual case. Being born in Dortmund one has no other chance than to be a fan of the team who are also known as BVB 09. If your preferences differ you are no Dortmunder. It's all or nothing. That's how it is, and has been for the past century.

Even Franz Beckenbauer, the vice president of the German Football Federation and chairman of our main rivals Bayern Munich, admitted the heart of German football beats nowhere else than in the Ruhrgebiet. I am sure that it was the press that mixed up his words and Beckenbauer originally said that it is Dortmund where the heart beat is louder than anywhere else. That's exactly what I experience whenever there's a match - here or elsewhere.

Borussia Dortmund are not only about the team, but the fans. There are 650 fan clubs around the world and 50,549 season-ticket holders for 2007-2008. It's a gigantic black and yellow family. So admiration and support did not dilute when victories failed to appear. Talent is important, but coherence is fundamental. The club have seen better times - in sporting and financial aspects - but no other German football club have seen better fans than us. And I promise this will never change - take it as an early birthday present.