Fun Facts
Julian Draxler: At €37 million, Julian Draxler was VfL Wolfsburg's most expensive signing by the end of December 2019 — a transfer that never quite lived up to its price tag.
Most expensive export: Kevin De Bruyne moved from Wolfsburg to Manchester City in the summer of 2015 for the then-Bundesliga record fee — a transfer that signalled Wolfsburg's brief status as a European destination club.
The club colours: Bernward Elberskirch, district youth welfare officer in 1945, stumbled upon ten football shirts during the search for kit — all green. And so the Wolves became green and white, a colour scheme born from post-war scarcity rather than design.
No "real" Lower Saxony derby: Eintracht Braunschweig fans and Hannover 96 supporters only see each other as the true local rival. Wolfsburg, despite geographical proximity, are not considered a proper derby opponent by either side — a snub that stings.
Pelé in Wolfsburg: Brazilian football legend Pelé visited Wolfsburg in the summer of 1961 to play a friendly with his home club Santos FC. An attendance of 32,000 packed the stadium — a record at the time.
Wölfi and the breathlessness: The Wolfsburg mascot Wölfi once caused a small VfL fan acute breathlessness — a viral moment that became one of the club's most-shared clips on social media.
Penalties: Wolfsburg were involved in the first-ever penalty shootout in DFB-Pokal history. Against Schalke 04, the Wolves lost the shootout — a dubious honour.
The official anthem: The official Wolves anthem is "Grün-Weiß VfL," but a different song is far better known: the terrace chant that echoes around the Volkswagen Arena on matchdays.
Works club forever: Title in hand and VW at their backs. Without the car manufacturer, the club's successes would be unthinkable. VfL Wolfsburg remain, for better or worse, Germany's most prominent works team.