Happy Birthday, Hannover 96!

Monday, April 12, 2021, is a very special day in the German city of Hannover. Specifically, the well-known soccer club Hannover 96 is celebrating its 125th anniversary. For the occasion, the club decided to create a special jersey that would truly capture the club’s long and storied history.

In its 125 years, the club has experienced everything from rock bottom to tremendous triumph and has established itself as one of Germany’s most legendary clubs. Hannover 96 became German champions twice and won the DFB-Pokal once, in 1992. For much of the 21st century, the club has been a consistent force in the Bundesliga and also played in the Europa League in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. However, after being relegated in 2019, the club now plays in the 2. Bundesliga.

To celebrate its 125th birthday, the club consulted fans, partners, sponsors, as well as former players, one of whom was Hans Siemensmeyer. Siemensmeyer—also known as "Blonder Hans" (Blond Hans)—cemented his status as a club legend. During his nine-season tenure with Hannover, Blond Hans made a total of 278 appearances and scored 72 goals. He can also be seen in the club’s promo video, which gave a first look at the anniversary jerseys.

The one-off jersey is based on the home kit from the 1971/72 season. The jersey features iconic top-to-bottom red-and-black stripes. On the front, the club's traditional green, black, and white logo has been replaced with just a white 96, giving it a retro look. The jersey sponsor “Macron” and the club’s main sponsor “Heinz von Heiden” remained the same. At the top of the back of the jersey, the years 1896 and 2021 are also shown, along with the club’s name. On the inside of the lower hem, there is a small inscription that reads: “96 Niemals Allein! Wir gehen Hand in Hand,” which translates to “96 Never Alone! We march hand in hand.”

This special jersey is a must-have for collectors and die-hard Bundesliga fans alike.

You can place your bids until April 18 at 3:30 PM.