Former FIFA World Cup winner plans to suit up for German hockey team

With the German hockey league (DEL), kicking off next month, many teams are in need of financial support, especially with not being able to host fans, and gain revenue from ticket sales. Former FIFA World Cup winner, Lukas Podolski, stepped up to the plate, and made a deal with fans of his local team, Kolner Haie. If they purchased 100,000 virtual tickets to help out the team, Podolski said he would suit up for one game with the team.

“I am extremely happy for the Haie, that we got the 100 000 tickets. I just want to say thank you to all the people and companies that helped us,” said Podolski, “Once everything is a little more calm we'll sit together with the club to see how this continues. Whatever it will look like: I am looking forward to being a Haie player.”

Podolski, 35, has played for a number of clubs across Europe including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Galatasaray, and currently he is playing Turkish club, Antalyaspor. Internationally, Podolski played in 130 matches for Germany from 2004 until 2017, scoring 49 goals. He was apart of Germany's World Cup winning team in 2014.

After play was suspended back in March for the 2019-20 season, plans for the 2020-21 season were halted last month, but earlier this week it was confirmed that the new DEL season will kick-off on December 17th.

Lukas Podolski will play a game for his local hockey team, @Koelner_Haie_72, after pledging to do so if 100,000 virtual tickets were sold to help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic 👏

Their season restarts in December 🏒 pic.twitter.com/Zv8rAkFtga— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 19, 2020

Source: Bardown

MUST READ

11 minutes ago  |  By Jonathan Ouimet Dylan Larkin has narrowed it down to three teams and a trade is imminent

37 minutes ago  |  By Jonathan Ouimet Friedman reveals a big name just exited the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching race

1 hour ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau What Brady Tkachuk just said about the trade rumors is getting everyone talking

2 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau It's over for two key NHL players and a major announcement just followed

3 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau Rod Brind'Amour just ignited a massive Stanley Cup Final controversy

4 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau Things just got a lot worse for the Canadiens after very bad new development

5 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau Bad news just dropped for the Maple Leafs and it's getting ugly

5 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau What a doctor just said about William Carrier's injury is getting attention across the NHL

MORE STORIES