Fortuna Düsseldorf (Germany)

Düsseldorfer Turn- und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 eV, to give Fortuna Düsseldorf their full title, is a football club from the industrial city of Düsseldorf in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region. The club were formed as part of the Turnverein Flingern gymnastics club in 1895, with the team moving to play home games at Lichtplatz from 1908.

Two other local clubs, Düsseldorfer Fußballklub Spielverein, who were founded in 1908, and Fortuna (earlier FK Alemania), who were formed in 1911, amalgamated to form Düsseldorfer Fußball-Club Fortuna 1911 in 1913. Another club, TV Flingern, joined forces to create Düsseldorfer Turn- und Sportverein Fortuna on 15 November 1919. 

The club moved to a new home ground at Vennhauser Straße. In the 1920's Fortuna began to win honours, picking up four Bezirksliga district titles and providing their first German international player, Ernst Albrecht. In 1930, the club moved grounds once again, this time to Flinger Broich or Fortunaplatz, as it was otherwise called in the Flingern district of the city. 

In 1933, the club were crowned as German champions after winning the national championships and defeating the prominent FC Schalke 04 3-0 in the final in Cologne. Legendary player Paul Janes was in the side with the goals coming from Paul Mehl, Georg Hochgesang and Felix Zwolanowski for the team coached by Heinz Körner.

During the period in which the Third Reich was in power, Fortuna were placed in Gauliga Niederrhein, one of sixteen top-tier divisions. After finishing runners-up in 1933-34 and 1934-35, the team would become dominant, winning the next five titles.

Paul Janes Stadion

The glory seasons ran from 1935-36 to 1938-39. In 1936, Fortuna reached the national final, where they went down in extra time to 1. FC Nürnberg. The following year, the team lost to Schalke 04 in the final of the Tschammerpokal, the predecessor of the DFB Pokal. Once peace had been restored, the club were placed in Oberliga West. 

They were mainly a mid-table team having moved across the city to the Rheinstadion in 1953. In 1956-57, Fortuna reached the final of the DFB Pokal German Cup, where they were defeated by Bayern München in Augsburg. Further finals followed in 1957-58 and 1961-62. Both campaigns ended in defeat to VfB Stuttgart in Kassel and then to 1. FC Nürnberg in Hannover.

The Rheinstadion in its prime

Fortuna were not selected as one of sixteen founder members of the Bundesliga in 1963, but they did gain a place after winning the Regionalliga West title in 1965-66 with Kuno Klötzer as head coach. However, their spell in the top flight lasted just one season. In 1970, Fortuna returned to Fortunaplatz for a couple of seasons while the Rheinstadion was rebuilt. 

The team went on to win promotion to the Bundesliga in 1970-71, for a spell that lasted sixteen years. Third place finished came in the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons as Reiner Geye and Klaus Budde scored the goals for the side coached by Heinz Lucas. 

The team reached another DFB-Pokal in 1977-78, this time losing 2-0 to local rivals 1. FC Köln at Gelsenkirchen's Parkstadion. On the 9th December 1978, Fortuna hammered Bayern Munich 7-1 at the Rheinstadion in the Bundesliga. To see Bayern's largest-ever Bundesliga defeat, click here.

At the end of the 1978-79 season, Fortuna embarked on a magnificent run in the UEFA European Cup Winners' Cup as Universitatea Craiova, Aberdeen, Servette and Baník Ostrava were defeated to set up a final with FC Barcelona under coach Dietrich Weise. The match in Berne was a classic encounter with Fortuna eventually going down 4-3 after extra time. 

Standout players at the time were brothers Thomas and Klauss Aloffs, Bernd Zimmermann and Rudi Bommer. Thomas Aloffs and Wolfgang Seel, with a brace, were the scorers in the final. To see the final, click here.

Fortuna were relegated in 1986-87, but they returned in 1988-89 as 2. Bundesliga champions with Sven Demandt scoring the goals for the side coached by Aleksandar Ristić. Between 1990 and 1992, the club went through a succession of coaches until the return of the Bosnian.

He was tasked with restoring top-flight status after relegation in 1991-92, yet in his first year back, the club dropped to the third tier Oberliga Nordrhein, where the team won the 1993-94 title with Richard Cyron top scoring. Fortuna went on to promotion back to the Bundesliga the following season.

My drawing of Rheinstadion and some Fortuna kits
Click on the image to enlarge it.

The 1995-96 Bundesliga campaign saw the team consolidate before going back down in 1996-97. Igli Tare scored goals but couldn’t prevent Düsseldorf from relegation to Regionalliga West/Südwest at the end of the 1998-99 season. League restructuring saw a move to Regionalliga Nord for 2000-01, a season that almost saw Fortuna drop down another level. 

However, there would be no escape in 2001-02 as Fortuna were relegated to Oberliga Nordrhein. The club were in huge financial trouble, moving out of Rheinstadion to play at the Paul Janes Stadion as Fortunaplatz had been re-named from 1990 in honour of their former hero, with the arena also housing Fortuna Düsseldorf II. 

Local punk band Die Toten Hosen assisted in sponsoring the club for a couple of seasons. Promotion to Regionalliga Nord was achieved in 2003-04 as Oberliga runners-up, where the club stabilised, aided by goals from Marcus Feinbier and Marcel Podszus for Uwe Weidemann’s side. 

The club received a boost in 2005 as the club moved into the new LTU Arena on the site where Rheinstadion formerly stood. A third place in 2007-08 under Norbert Meier, with Axel Lawaree top scoring, saw Fortuna secure a place in the newly formed 3. Liga. A runner-up spot in the inaugural season saw Fortuna go up to 2. Bundesliga thanks in part to the goals of Marco Christ. 

The 2009-10 season saw the team narrowly miss out on another promotion after finishing in fourth place at the re-named Espirit Arena. After an average following campaign, Fortuna started the 2011-12 season in great form, as they headed the table for some time.

They eventually won promotion back to the 1. Bundesliga via a playoff win over Hertha BSC Berlin. Team captain Andreas Lambertz became the first German player to be promoted three times with the same club. However, the spell in the top flight lasted just one season as Fortuna were relegated on the final day of the 2012-13 season after defeat to Hannover 96. 

The relegation led to the sacking of manager Norbert Meier, who was replaced by Mike Büskens, who lasted just a few months before Lorenz-Günther Köstner came in after the winter break. After another mid-table finish in 2013-14, Oliver Reck came in as the new team trainer. Recl lasted just one poor season before giving way to new boss Taşkın Aksoy. 

The chief trainer merry-go-round continued at the Esprit Arena in 2015-16 as Fortuna fought against relegation, with Frank Kramer, Marco Kurz and Friedhelm Funkel all having spells in charge of the team. Funkel's appointment gave the club some stability as Fortuna finished the 2016-17 campaign towards the wrong end of the table, but safe from relegation. 

However, greater things were to come in the following campaign. The goals of Rouwen Hennings and Benito Raman, prompted by midfielder Florian Neuhaus, saw Fortuna win promotion back to the top flight before sealing the title with a 3-2 away win against fellow promoted side 1. FC Nürnberg.

After a rocky start in 2018-19, Fortuna stabilised to finish tenth with Benito Raman and Dodi Lukebakio netting ten goals. Uwe Rösler was appointed as coach in January 2020, with the team struggling during the disrupted season in which Hennings again led the way. Fortuna spurned several opportunities in vital matches before slipping to relegation at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

Daniel Thioune came in as trainer in 2021-22, leading the side to fourth place the following season. In 2023-24, Fortuna played VfL Bochum in the promotion playoff and won the first leg 3-0 away. Yet, they somehow lost the return game by the same score before being denied promotions after a penalty shootout. The season had seen Christos Tzolis score regularly.

Fortuna Düsseldorf will play in 2. Bundesliga in the 2025-26 season.

My visits

Fortuna Düsseldorf 1 Bayern München 2 (Saturday 14th October 1989) Bundesliga (att: 55,000)

I was on my first ever trip outside the UK with some pals from the Gas Club in Scarborough on a mini holiday in the Rhine Valley. We arrived in Germany on Friday afternoon, with the coach stopping for an hour or so in Bonn for our driver Derek to have his designated rest. Naturally enough, without further ado, we headed for a bar.

The establishment we chose had various football mementoes hanging up. We managed to get through to the barman that we wanted to know the fixtures for the following day, with this being in the days before the internet and the same coverage that would later be taken as normal. It was established that the game that stood out was Düsseldorf v Munich, with Scottish international Alan McInally getting great reviews back home while starring for Bayern.

I went drinking on the Friday evening with Crusher and Kev Phillips before meeting up with the rest of the gang. Both were very keen on going to the game, so we agreed to make sure we got up and had breakfast to set us on our way. Derek, who wasn't exactly endearing us, gave us the advice that we needed to travel south and across the river to Rüdesheim. 

This needed a costly taxi ride, but we took what he said as gospel. After a couple of liveners at the bar next to the station, we got on board our train, only to find out it went via Koblenz, where Derek was taking the rest of the party on a shopping trip! We arrived on a train that got busier with fans as we approached Düsseldorf after our ride that lasted over three hours. 

We got a few looks as we spoke in English, but the locals were fine once they realised that we weren't Bayern fans. We followed the crowds downstairs to the trams, and we were quickly on a packed service to the Rheinstadion. We managed to work out that we needed tickets in advance, but that was no obstacle. 

Despite the high attendance, the stadium held 76,000 at the time. We went inside and found ourselves on the terracing behind the goal for 12DM, which was around £4 at the time. The Rheinstadion was a beautiful venue, although not perfect for football, as the pitch was surrounded by an athletics track that had hosted the 1977 World Championships. 

There was a continuous lower tier with terracing at each end. Above this tier was a horseshoe-shaped upper level, with the far end open. Seating areas occupied upstairs, apart from a couple of blocks at the far end, where the Fortuna fans stood.

Me and my new friend

Bayern began the game well on top and went ahead after just five minutes through Manfred Schwabl. Much though we were urging on the home side, they doubled their lead on thirty-two minutes when Roland Wohlfarth netted. At half time, we were chatting away, when a bloke came across with a familiar accent. 

He turned out to be in the army based nearby, but came from Sheffield and was supporting Bayern. We had a good chat and he gave us some useful tips about the football out there. Fortuna battled back after the break, but couldn't get a goal back immediately. We wanted to hear the noise if they did. 

On the hour mark, they did get back into the game via a Klaus Augenthaler own goal. Despite the efforts of Uwe Fuchs leading the home forward line, Bayern held out reasonably comfortably to pick up an away victory. We let the crowd drift away as we bought a bratwurst and an alcohol free beer and sat in the upper-tier seats to get a better view. 

This allowed us to get on a tram hassle-free and even get a seat. We were advised that it was best for us to change trains at Cologne on the way back by the man at the Hauptbahnhof. While we were waiting for it to come along, a special train full of Bayern fans went past us. I was wearing a Fortuna hat and received dogs abuse, much to the hilarity of my pals.

We did change at Cologne, and lo and behold, we caught a direct train to St Goar, where we were based. A couple of hours later, we were sitting in the pub having a meal and watching the highlights while drinking away. It was as well that Derek didn't feel thirsty, as we were ready to offer him major feedback!

Fortuna Düsseldorf 4 DSC Arminia Bielefeld 0 (Friday 21st October 2016) 2.Bundesliga (att: 24,153)

Fortuna had been the first ever overseas team I’d seen in their own home back in 1989, and even though I’d been through Düsseldorf many times since as a base for other venues, I was long overdue for a visit to ESPRIT Arena, which stood where the old Reinstadion was previously located.

I’d been to Genk the previous day, over the border in Belgium, for their Europa League clash with Athletic Club. My train took me to Liege before I caught the service to first Cologne and then Düsseldorf.

I’d ordered and paid for my match ticket online and needed to collect it. My plan was to head early to the stadium, but I’d read somewhere that the tourist information office issued tickets. I thought it was worth a go, and sure enough, the office over the road from the main station sorted me out.

Hotels were unusually expensive, so I ended up staying in Oberhausen, twenty-five miles away, with my Saturday afternoon entertainment in mind. Following a siesta and a shower, I headed back to Düsseldorf and then took the U78 train directly to the stadium.

The trains were very busy, but many were not dressed for the game. Their destination was the exhibition centre next door. I found my way inside the entrance to the arena through the security checks. Once inside the box-like structure, you were free to wander around and find your particular gate.

It had been constructed to be multi-purpose with a roof, although that was not allowed to be closed during Fortuna matches under league rules. The concourses had a massive selection of food, drink, sweets and souvenirs. The stadium had two tiers all the way around inside. Both ends had terracing on the lower deck.

I was standing near the back in the corner with an excellent view and just along from the home ultras, so I got the best of a very impressive atmosphere to say that the stadium was less than half full. It was certainly different from the old Reinstadion.

I was delighted to see that Fortuna had reverted to their all white kit with red trim, as they had worn when I first saw them. Arminia came to the match in a relegation spot. They were being cheered on by a hardcore of visiting fans. They had little to cheer once Fortuna went one up after twenty minutes as Ihlas Bebou set up Axel Bellinghausen to score. 

Things got worse for Bielefeld twelve minutes later following an incident that would decide the match. The game was niggly in parts without anything too nasty. Fortuna were on top, and Lukas Schmitz crossed from the left. Rouwen Hennings went for the header but looked as though he had missed his chance. 

However, referee Christian Dietz thought otherwise. He decided that the forward was impeded by Stephan Salger and pointed to the spot before showing the Arminia man a second yellow card and sending him off. Hennings made no mistake with the penalty to make it 2-0.

I’d decided to wear my Scarborough Athletic rain jacket and red woolly hat. Some locals of my age and above realised I was English and involved me in their celebrations and made me really welcome. They confirmed the reason that rooms were so expensive was that Düsseldorf was staging a huge conference and exhibition for the weekend.

Arminia had to regather, with coach Rüdiger Rehm making a tactical change. They plugged the gaps until the interval when I headed out for a bratwurst and a beer. My place was still there when I returned.

Voglsammer came close for the visitors before the home side stepped up a gear. Bebou on the wing was causing plenty of problems. Ferati made it 3-0 on sixty-seven minutes before Hennings, on loan from Burnley, rounded off the scoring with just over fifteen minutes remaining.

The ultras were in tremendous voice with nearly all the home fans getting behind their team, which was obviously easier as they were playing so well. Coach Friedhelm Funkel must have been a happy man. At full-time, I hung around to see the celebrations between the Fortuna players and the home fans. 

The German clubs have it right, as there seems to be a bigger bond involving everyone at the club. The trains were regularly running back into the city. I alighted at Heinrich-Heine-Allee for drinks in Aldstadt, one of my favourite European areas for nightlife. I headed for the always superb ‘Chicken Bar’ as we have christened it over the years. 

The regular staff were on and I got a place at the bar as it filled with revellers and returning Fortuna fans. The beer was good and the music was right. After quite a long drink, I finished off in the terrific Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel for a couple before grabbing a kebab. 

I took the U Bahn back to Hauptbahnhof for my train home to Oberhausen, where I got lost thinking I knew a shortcut back to the City Hotel where I was staying. It had been a long day but a brilliant evening. My affection for Fortuna had grown stronger.

Fortuna Düsseldorf 1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2 (Wednesday 26th September 2018) Bundesliga (att: 40,046)

I don’t think I could ever tire of trips to Düsseldorf. I had the week off work, and it coincided with a full round of German football fixtures. The game that had actually caught my eye was actually the following evening in the Bavarian city of Fürth. However, I wasn’t going to go all that way just for the one game, so I looked for other fixtures to make up a three-day visit. 

To be honest, Fortuna’s was the pick, as I’d been to the other venues staging games. The first couple of days of my leave had been spent at The Oval watching the final round of county cricket between Surrey and Essex. After a lovely Tuesday night with Nick and Sally, I headed to Southend Airport while finishing the Peshwari Naans from the meal.

My flight ran on time to Köln/Bonn Airport from where I took a couple of trains, changing at Köln Messe/Deutz for the forty-minute ride north along the Rhine. I decided to walk off some good living to my room, predictably getting lost along the way. Not that I was too worried. It showed me a part of Düsseldorf I’d never previously seen. 

I also needed some exercise. It hadn’t passed my attention that I was puffing and blowing a bit, and the trousers were that bit tighter. There was just time for a brief nap and to charge my phone at the KEMPE Komfort Hotel before I headed towards the Altstadt. I headed to the Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei to meet some fellow travelling fans.

The excellent European Football Weekends Facebook group once again led me to meet other fans, including English and German, including a couple of lads from Stockport who were trying to set up a UK supporters club for Bayer Leverkusen. Several fine glasses of alt later, it was time to head to the newly renamed Merkur Spiel-Arena in the latest sponsorship deal. 

German efficiency came to the fore as trains turned around at Heinrich-Heine-Allee as well as the main station. This was handy for grabbing a seat for the journey. The station dealt with the crowds easily at the far end. A large banner reminding fans of the protest at the game hung over one of the bridges.

German football fans were united in protesting at every game during the round against increased ticket pricing, kick-off times, rearranged fixtures and the commercialisation of the game. I was 100% behind this worthy cause. I eventually realised that the club shops sold the €1 A4-sized programme rather than the vendors, as on my last visit. 

I then took an eternity looking for my entrance into my block, probably going a complete lap of the concourse to the away section in both directions. All along, I needed to pop back outside and climb the staircases that took me to the upper tier. I still managed it before kick off, finally climbing the extremely steep steps, which were right up there with the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt.

My seat, which cost €17, with the ticket being printed at home, was in the middle of a row, but many places had not been taken. Instead, I went to the standing area at the back before choosing somewhere at the end of a row, right in the back row. I was amazed by how many supporters arrived throughout the first half.

There wasn’t total silence for the first twenty minutes, but the crowd were mainly applauding politely. The Ultras and their Capos were certainly subdued with no chanting or flags. An occasional “Fortuna, Fortuna” broke out from the seats down the side but soon subsided.

Fortuna made a decent start in the derby on the pitch. Benito Raman and then Rouwen Hennings forced visiting keeper Lukas Hradecky to save smartly on a couple of occasions in the first six minutes.

Lars Bender was close to connecting with a cross from Tin Jedvaj while in a great position for Leverkusen before normal service was resumed in the stands. Both sets of fans applauded each other and made a real noise. The atmosphere had been decent enough on my debut in the new stadium, but it was much louder despite the attendance being just under 15,000, light of capacity. 

It was superbly designed to hold in the noise. I can only imagine what it was like when Fortuna celebrated promotion. Raman went close again before half-time, with all up for grabs in the second half after the hosts had enjoyed the better of the opening period. Bayer took the lead just five minutes after the restart.

A Leon Bailey corner was nodded back by Dominik Kohr for Kevin Volland to head past Michael Rensing in the Düsseldorf net. Bailey missed a gilt-edged chance to double the lead, but Bayer didn’t have to wait much longer for further celebration. Kai Havertz sent in an excellent cross for Volland to add his and his side's second goal on the hour mark. 

Red smoke emanated from a flare in the away standing section. Fortuna’s fans did their utmost to try and lift their heroes. Alfredo Morales and then Julian Brandt exchanged off-target efforts at either end before a Niko Gießelmann cross found the head of Morales, but Hradecky saved. Dodi Lukebakio then came close as Fortuna’s frustration grew.

Jonathan Tah was adjudged to have brought down Gießelmann in the third minute of stoppage time. Hennings stepped up to slot home the spot kick. Fortuna poured forward in what time remained, trying to salvage a point. Leverkusen held on for the points. They’d taken their chances when they arose. The crowds poured out back towards the station. 

My seat was actually the nearest block to the entrance. I must have gone on a real route march before the game! Trains came in quick succession after the game. I wasn’t a fan of the crush as fans tried to force their way forward. Several tempers were being lost. I got on and grabbed a seat back to the old town, ready for a few libations.

A barman at an old favourite, Schumacher Alt, looked shocked when I wanted to pay for one beer. My plan was to use the loo, have one and move on. I got talking to a friendly older local couple who’d been to the match and ended up having four. The good old Hühnerstall had its usual eclectic mix of punters and music before I crossed the road and gave Peter's Diebelstreff a go. 

I’m not sure whether Wednesday was student night, but the bars were busy with youngsters having great fun. The music was a bit out of my taste, so I headed to Sutton's Irish Pub, where two smashing Irish lasses served me. It was meant to be one for the straße that turned into one and a half just to be sociable and to allow the smashed Leverkusen fans time to settle up and head off.

In fairness, I’d have got hammered too if I had to go back to Leverkusen, especially following an away win. Supper was provided at Wurstmeister, where I went for the medium-sized currywurst and chips before I headed home on the U-Bahn to Uhlandstraße.

Düsseldorf had done it again. Great beer, pubs and people with a decent game of football chucked in. It was a shame about the result, but I had far greater concerns when the alarm went off at 5.30am to head to the station for my train south.

The pictures at the top of this page of Rheinstadion and Paul Janes Stadion have been taken from the internet.