Europa League champs Frankfurt receive heroes’ welcome amid big praise
EINTRACHT Frankfurt received a heroes’ welcome on Thursday on their return from Seville with the Europa League trophy, with more than 100,000 fans expected to line the city’s streets.
Tens of thousands had already celebrated well into the night after Frankfurt beat Scotland’s Rangers on penalties in the final in southern Spain.
Later, the fans were inundated by torrential rain during evening’s celebration.
The downpour failed to dampen the mood on the picturesque Römerberg square in the city centre, however, with fans chanting, singing and setting off fireworks as they awaited the team’s arrival by motorcade from the airport.
The Bundesliga team won 5:4 on penalties against Glasgow Rangers on Wednesday in Seville, Spain. It was Eintracht’s first international title win in 42 years.
German Football Federation president Bernd Neuendorf spoke of “a great success for German football which has been represented superbly by Eintracht Frankfurt” and “rewarded itself for its passionate appearances.” German national team coach Hansi Flick praised the victory as “a fantastic success” and added that “Glasner and his coaching staff have done an outstanding job.” Volker Bouffier, the prime minister of Frankfurt’s home state of Hesse who was present at the game, named the club “a true figurehead” and added that “we are very proud of this performance.” The Frankfurt team party in a Seville nightclub lasted until after daybreak, according to the Bild paper, and Glasner vowed: “I will party right through until Saturday - and on Sunday I will go on holiday.” Captain Sebastian Rode said “it will take a few years to realise what it all means” and Trapp said: “We were always
looking for superlatives but there is no words to describe this.” Some 50,000 fans had accompanied the team to Seville where they were however largely outnumbered by Rangers’ travelling contingent,
while 60,000 watched the game on four big screens in Frankfurt’s stadium.
Many of them are expected to be present for the parade as well, and the team can’t wait for it to start. “It was a extraordinary
Europa League journey. Now we are simply happy to celebrate with the fans,” Rode said.
Said Glasner: “The journey doesn’t end here in Seville, it ends at the Römer with our fans.”