The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour driven by Nissan got under way in Dortmund this weekend, with local hero Lars Ricken wowing fans in the football-mad city in north-west Germany.
A one-club man throughout his 14-year career, Ricken owns a piece of UEFA Champions League history having scored just 16 seconds after coming off the bench in Dortmund’s 3-1 victory over Juventus in the 1997 final. It remains the quickest-ever goal by a substitute in a UEFA Champions League decider.
Ricken was on hand to welcome an old friend to Dortmund, and admitted that the UEFA Champions League anthem still gives him goosebumps – he even uses it to help his two young children get to sleep!
UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour dates
28–29 September: Dortmund (Germany)
5–6 October: London (UK)
12–13 October: Lyon (France)
19–20 October: Paris (France)
26–27 October: Turin (Italy)
2–3 November: Barcelona (Spain)
9–10 November: Madrid (Spain)
Ricken’s heart says Dortmund will be the ones lifting the trophy in Madrid next May, though he would also like to see former BVB coach Jürgen Klopp go one step further with Liverpool. His head, though, thinks Juve might prevail following the summer addition of serial winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour will also visit a select number of Nissan retailers across Europe along the various routes, giving even more local fans unrivalled access to an elite European football experience. Stay tuned to the official UEFA Champions League social media channels for more information.
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