European Cup hero, honorary captain of BVB and ‘stopper’: Borussia Dortmund was always close to Wolfgang Paul’s heart. This Saturday he turns 85. And he’ll celebrate with 81,000 spectators at Signal-Iduna-Park.
Wolfgang Paul is considered one of the greatest Borussia players of all time. A club legend who made history. BVB captain, European Cup winner, centre half of imposing height (1.86 m) and role model for generations. On January 25, he turns 85. Half a dozen watches hang on the walls of her living room. Almuth Paul serves coffee with homemade cake in cups decorated with watch motifs.
If you didn’t know before, it’s easy to figure out: the former footballer is a trained master watchmaker and ran a jewellery store in Olsberg. For 21 years, until January 2023, he was at the head of the council of elders of Borussia Dortmund. “Wolfgang Paul is from my home region, from the Hochsauerland district. Even when I was young, he was an absolute idol for me as a footballer,” reveals BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke, ‘he was a great footballer and, in addition, he is a wonderful person.’
