- Thanks to Kieran Holden for making us aware of the rare goalkeeper shirt
Borussia Dortmund will spend Christmas on top of the Bundesliga, six points clear of Bayern Munich.
There have been occasions in the past when Dortmund have launched special Christmas shirts, but, while that isn’t the case in the current season, Friday’s win at third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach did see a special edition worn.
The same day, December 21, marked the closing of the last operating coal mine in the Ruhr region and so, instead of usual sponsor Evonik’s logo, the front of the Dortmund shirts featured the message, “Danke kumpel!” (“Thanks, mate!”). Two nights previously, Schalke had also paid tribute to the end of the industry when they hosted Bayer Leverkusen.
As well as the message on the shirt, Goalkeeper Roman Bürki wore a different shirt to usual. So far this season, the custodian has used the ‘premium’ Puma style, as given to Arsenal, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille (incidentally, the dark red style is actually marketed as the Dortmund third shirt but the chances of it being worn by the outfield players is remote).
Perhaps due to issues involved in getting a goalkeeper kit at short notice so as to put the special message on for the Moenchengladbach game,
Bürki wore the teamwear goalkeeper style, with the dark red paired with white. He also wore leggings under his shorts due to the cold temperature.
The commemorative shirts will be auctioned in January to raise money for Christliches Jugenddorfwerk Deutschland, a Christian youth charity).
