Janni, on his birthday / 17 September 1994 / 1994/95 season, first leg / Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Borussia Dortmund 2:2
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Janni can hardly remember his very first visit to the Westfalenstadion because he was too small. What he does know is that Borussia's cup victory in 1989, which he watched on TV at the age of five, made him a lifelong BVB fan - and that in the years that followed he also proselytised his father, who was always allowed to accompany him to the stadium as a "chaperone". He saw the first BVB game in 1990 at the Bielefeld Alm.
The visit with the family and the fan club "Die Germanen kommen" to the former Ulrich Haberland Stadium in Leverkusen in September 1994 was the day he turned 10 and the jersey on the illustrated moment, along with the ticket and bus pass, was his obligatory annual birthday present. Janni's most vivid memory of the away bus trips is how impressed he was with how much alcohol adults can get into them in a short space of time.
His jerseys usually had the number 9 of Stephane Chapuisat, the idol of his childhood, who also scored Borussia's interim opening goal that day. (Incidentally, Janni still sleeps on a Chappi pillow today. But don't tell anyone, please).
Just as Janni can still list the complete BVB matches in the 94/95 season, including the results, he was also involved as a young fan and later co-founder of the two largest Ultra groups in Dortmund and as a fan spokesman. His love for Borussia even goes so far that he has lived in the founding house of his club at Borsigplatz for several years.
In the meantime, he has changed sides professionally and, as "Head of Culture" and strategic advisor to Aki Watzke, helps shape the club's fortunes and its relationship with the fans. A dream come true, especially because he works closely with "Susi" Zorc, who was his other childhood hero. Life goals? Check.