Fortuna Düsseldorf, after a strong 3-0 victory in the first leg of the relegation play-off against VfL Bochum, is aiming for promotion to the Bundesliga. Klaus Allofs, a German football legend both as a player and manager, returned to Düsseldorf three and a half years ago, determined to lead the team back to the top flight. Now, at 67 years old, he is on the verge of securing his first promotion as a sporting director in the crucial second leg against Bochum.
In the first leg, VfL Bochum was thoroughly outplayed by Fortuna. Despite their convincing lead, Allofs remains cautious, acknowledging that there is still a tough 90 minutes ahead in the return leg. If successful, this mission would mark a remarkable achievement for Allofs, who made 169 appearances for Fortuna as a player between 1975 and 1981.
After a tumultuous history that saw Fortuna relegated to the third division in 1998 during Allofs’ brief stint as a coach, the club’s journey back to the Bundesliga has been long and arduous. Under Allofs’ leadership, including the appointment of coach Daniel Thioune in February 2022, Fortuna has enjoyed a resurgence, with promotion now within reach. The upcoming match against Bochum could see Allofs finally realize his dream of returning Fortuna Düsseldorf to the top flight after 36 years.