Scandal in front of the main stand: “Say goodbye quietly,” goes the old song. But that was not enough for Wolfgang Kleff. At the end of his Gladbach spell, after a short stay at Hertha BSC, the 35-year-old veteran goalkeeper joined Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1982 and immediately became a crowd favourite.
Despite strong performances, his contract was not renewed in May 1984. On the penultimate home matchday, he was allowed to start one last time. In the 73rd minute he had had enough: he feigned an injury, asked to be substituted, and cheerfully began a lap of honour. The crowd adored “Otto”, and he gave them what they wanted.
Then came the scandal in front of the main stand: Kleff turned around, bent forward, and bared his backside – seemingly to the main stand, but especially to club president Bruno Recht, who had decided not to renew his contract. “For the fans I’ll give my last shirt, for some others only my ass,” Kleff explained afterwards.