Table Tennis Superstar Ignites Fan Frenzy in German Club Football
- FC Saarbrücken,a club with a history in the bundesliga (including a stint with coach Peter Neururer and US striker Eric Wynalda in the 1992/93 season) and currently competing in Germany’s 3rd division,is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity thanks to the arrival of Olympic champion Fan Zhendong. The Chinese table tennis star, a former world number one and two-time world champion, has sparked a wave of excitement, particularly amongst his vast fanbase in China.
The announcement of Fan’s signing on May 31st dramatically altered the club’s attendance figures. Where home games typically drew around 500 spectators, the first matches in the Joachim Deckarm-Halle were wholly sold out, accommodating 1880 fans. Team manager Nicolas Barrois notes they could have easily doubled that number, prompting the construction of an additional grandstand. Larger events are now planned for the saarlandhalle, which holds 3500 fans, including a December 21st match against Borussia Düsseldorf.
The impact extends beyond game day attendance. Season ticket sales have skyrocketed from a typical 20-50 to a remarkable 500 within just two days, with 90-95% of those purchased by Chinese fans. Fan’s celebrity status necessitates police protection, and his supporters are seizing the possibility to see him compete in a smaller German venue. Interestingly, many Chinese fans with season tickets only attend one or two games, justifying the expense – including a €3000 flight – to guarantee a sighting of their idol. To combat empty seats,the club has implemented a resale platform for tickets.
Fan Zhendong boasts seven million followers on the Chinese social media platform weibo, and 1. FC Saarbrücken’s subscriber count on the platform has exploded from 10,000 to 280,000 since the signing.
Securing Fan’s services required a proactive approach. After learning of his potential interest in playing in Germany, the club leveraged its contacts to communicate directly with the athlete, utilizing English and translation software when necessary. Barrois negotiated with Fan while simultaneously gaining approval from the club to proceed with the signing, carefully calculating the potential revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise. Existing sponsors were eager about supporting the initiative.
While top table tennis players command six-figure salaries, and leading clubs operate on budgets up to €1 million, the investment is notable even for the reigning Champions League winner. Fan is expected to participate in approximately 15 matches across the Bundesliga, Champions League, and Cup competitions, beginning with the second half of the season in November. He has signed a one-year contract.
Fan divides his time between Germany and China, residing in Germany during blocks of multiple games and returning to China for appearances and commitments. While he doesn’t have a personal bodyguard, security personnel are present at home matches.
English serves as the team’s primary language, but the club benefits from the presence of coach Wang Zhi, a native Chinese speaker who has been with the club as 2014, providing Fan with a connection to home within Saarland.
(Originally published in Sport Bild, as part of the sports competence center - Welt, Sport Bild, Bild.)
