Famous quotes & ad slogans

32 entries

Balls, we need balls!Eier, wir brauchen Eier!2003

A famous quote by goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, accusing his teammates of lacking courage and fighting spirit.

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Oliver Kahn, the long-time goalkeeper of FC Bayern Munich and the German national team, said this line after a disappointing defeat in November 2003. By „Eier“ (literally 'eggs') he means guts, nerve and determination in a colloquial sense – he felt his teammates had played too timidly. The phrase instantly became a catchphrase and to this day stands for demanding more effort and willpower.

What to know

Comes from Oliver Kahn, one of Germany's most famous goalkeepers. - Stammt von Oliver Kahn, einem der bekanntesten deutschen Torhüter.
„Eier haben“ colloquially means 'to have guts/nerve'. - „Eier haben“ heißt umgangssprachlich „Mut/Mumm haben“.
Today it is used (often jokingly) as a call for more effort. - Wird heute (oft scherzhaft) als Aufforderung zu mehr Einsatz benutzt.
A classic among German football quotes. - Ein Klassiker der deutschen Fußball-Zitate.

In use

Come on, guys – balls, we need balls!

Kommt schon, Jungs – Eier, wir brauchen Eier!

▶ YouTube search ↗▶ Video ↗▶ Oliver Kahn Eier wir brauchen Eier ↗

What was it down to? – Down to the Bild newspaper.Woran hat's gelegen? – An der Bild-Zeitung.1990er

A cult interview answer by footballer Andreas Möller that became a catchphrase.

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Andreas Möller (born 1967) was a German attacking player, world champion in 1990 and European champion in 1996. In an interview he was asked what a defeat had been down to and answered, in effect: „An der Bild-Zeitung“ – blaming the press coverage. The clip was picked up by entertainer Stefan Raab in his football parodies and is today a viral internet classic that resurfaces whenever someone is asked the reasons for a failure.

What to know

Comes from footballer Andreas Möller (world champion 1990, European champion 1996). - Stammt vom Fußballer Andreas Möller (Weltmeister 1990, Europameister 1996).
„Woran hat's gelegen?“ is the typical reporter's question after a defeat. - „Woran hat's gelegen?“ ist die typische Reporterfrage nach einer Niederlage.
Became a cult meme through Stefan Raab and the internet. - Wurde durch Stefan Raab und das Internet zum Kult-Meme.
Today it is mostly quoted jokingly when something has gone wrong. - Wird heute meist scherzhaft zitiert, wenn etwas schiefgegangen ist.

In use

So, what was it down to that the exam didn't work out?

Und, woran hat's gelegen, dass die Prüfung nicht geklappt hat?

▶ YouTube search ↗▶ Andreas Möller an der Bild-Zeitung ↗▶ Stefan Raab Möller Interview ↗

I have finished!Ich habe fertig!1998

The closing line of coach Giovanni Trapattoni's legendary rant – in deliberately broken German.

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On 10 March 1998 the Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni, then in charge of FC Bayern Munich, gave a famous press conference in which he vented in German about his players. Lines like „Was erlauben Strunz?“, „schwach wie eine Flasche leer“ (weak like an empty bottle) and the grammatically wrong closing line „Ich habe fertig“ instantly became classics. Today Germans quote „Ich habe fertig“ jokingly to express that they are done with something (or out of patience).

What to know

From Giovanni Trapattoni's rant at FC Bayern (10 March 1998). - Aus Giovanni Trapattonis Wutrede beim FC Bayern (10. März 1998).
Grammatically wrong – the correct form would be „Ich bin fertig“; that's exactly what makes it charming. - Grammatisch falsch – korrekt wäre „Ich bin fertig“; gerade das macht den Charme aus.
Other cult lines: „Was erlauben Strunz?“ and „Flasche leer“. - Weitere Kult-Zitate: „Was erlauben Strunz?“ und „Flasche leer“.
One of Germany's most-quoted football moments. - Eines der meistzitierten Fußball-Zitate Deutschlands.

In use

There, the report is sent off – I have finished!

So, der Bericht ist abgeschickt – ich habe fertig!

▶ YouTube search ↗▶ Video ↗▶ Trapattoni Wutrede Pressekonferenz 1998 ↗▶ Was erlauben Strunz ↗

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