Dreaming Of Germany
Aléxis Raúl Espinal Soria, Mexico
In a season like no other, Goal Click and Bundesliga have collaborated to tell stories from the heart and soul of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s global fan base. From Mexico and the USA to Kuwait and Leverkusen, five fans shared the highs and lows of their journeys, the anticipation of a title race, and the celebration of a first-ever Bundesliga title.
Aléxis Raúl Espinal Soria is a Chemical Engineering student in Mexico City and a devoted Leverkusen fan with ambitions of moving to Germany.
My name is Aléxis Raúl Espinal Soria. I am 22 years old and I am from Mexico City. I am currently studying Chemical Engineering at UNAM, and for me, football is a lifestyle.
Football can take you places and fulfill your dreams. It can make you cry with happiness or sadness. Football means respect, discipline, and perseverance when you are winning, and just as importantly, when you are losing.
Dedication To Their Team
I watch Bundesliga matches every single weekend of the season and every single time Leverkusen plays. I will even watch reruns of Leverkusen matches when they are replayed during the week.
I like the level of competition in the Bundesliga. Any team can play a great game, even if they are the bottom two in the table.
Bundesliga fans are dedicated to their team, and support them even if they are last in the league. They are always in the stands cheering and they never let their team down. Fans of one team can be together with fans of another and they respect each other.
I also love the culture of the fans in each stadium. There are different traditions around the matches and the way it is experienced around the stadium.
The thing that is most special to me about Bundesliga is the representation of players from all different countries. The league gives a chance to players from all over the world, including my home country of Mexico. I love to see these players compete in Bundesliga matches, I love it.
Growing Up A Germany Fan
I first became a fan of Bundesliga in general just before I turned five years old and the 2006 World Cup was in Germany. I remember going to Kindergarten and watching the matches in these huge stadiums. I decided then and there, I wanted to play for Germany. Then I learned that I needed to be born in Germany to play for them!
I remember screaming like crazy when Germany scored a goal and on my fifth birthday, all I wanted was a Germany jersey. As we did not have much money, I did not get the jersey at that time. But, ahead of the 2010 World Cup, my grandfather bought me a cotton Germany shirt. It was not the national team kit, but it said ‘Germany’ and to me, it was wonderful. I wore it night and day. I wore it to school and to bed and back again. That shirt was so special to me.
For my birthday in 2014, my mom threw me a World Cup themed party. All my friends gave me football-related presents, but my most favorite of all was an unofficial Germany jersey that I was finally able to wear.
During the 2014 World Cup, my mom would take me out of school on the days that Germany played. We watched the Final in a restaurant, and I was the only one in a Germany shirt around all of the Argentina fans. I was also the only one who celebrated the win!
From Aspirin To Leverkusen
How I began supporting Leverkusen is a funny story. I had always liked watching Bundesliga teams, but did not yet have a favorite. At the time, I would also get bad headaches from pressure at school, so I began taking Aspirin to help with the pain. I wanted to learn more about the medication because I discovered it had many uses. As I began to look into who made Aspirin, I came across Bayer. I found out that they were connected with a football team, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who then went on to sign one of my Mexican football idols, Chicharito. I knew then that Leverkusen would be my team.
As I watched Leverkusen play, I only fell more in love with the team - even after Chicharito left. I have never missed watching a match, even if the commentary is in German!
At first I watched the games alone, but as I told my mom about the team, she sat down to watch them with me. Then my dad joined, and later we also watched them with my grandfather and grandmother. My Leverkusen family had grown.
My mom noticed that I was good at tactics, so she bought me a small whiteboard where I could write down the lineups and changes while we watched the games together. I still use that whiteboard today!
Journey To Germany
Ever since I was five years old, I knew that my life would take me to Germany. I wanted to live and play football there. I learned pretty quickly that I was better at football with my hands than with my feet (that is also why I do not dance!), so I was a good goalkeeper. I did better in that role because I could see the whole pitch from behind, which helped me direct my teammates.
I realized that I was probably not good enough at football to play in Germany, so I thought about other ways I could get there. I thought about what I could study here in Mexico to eventually work in Germany.
When I learned more about Aspirin and Bayer, I decided to study chemical engineering so that I could work at Bayer one day. I want to work for the Bayer plant in Lerma, Toluca, Mexico where my grandfather’s house is, learn German, and then transfer to the headquarters in Germany.
The way I see it, once I make it to Germany, I have three options to get involved with Bayer Leverkusen. First, I could work at Bayer during the week and go to Leverkusen matches on the weekend.
My second option could be working at Bayer, while studying to become a football Manager. I could then manage a small Bayer team, and climb up the ladder to eventually become the Leverkusen manager.
My third option could be to work at Bayer, have children, and then support them to become first division football players who eventually debut at Leverkusen.
No matter which path I take, working at Bayer in Germany is the first step and studying Chemical Engineering will help me get there.
Leverkusen Favorites
My favorite all-time Leverkusen player was Chicharito. It was because of him that I knew Leverkusen would be my team. I was upset when he left the team, however I continued to support them. Leverkusen and I have gone through difficult times together, but I am always there supporting them because I love the team.
Florian Wirtz is my favorite current player on the team. The way he plays is amazing. He is a magician! I fell in love with the way he drives the ball, so young and playing like this, without a doubt he will win the World Cup with Germany one day.
Turning The Volume Up
That little whiteboard that my mother bought me years ago is part of my ritual ahead of every Leverkusen match. I write down the players and create possible lineups. I research the opposition, noting their weaknesses and how I would counterattack.
If I am watching the match by myself, I connect my television to my stereo and turn the volume all the way up. I keep the volume up high for the entire match. If I close my eyes, it makes me feel like I am there in the stadium with the team and the fans. I always tell myself that “one day, I will be there”.
I am not religious or anything, but this season I have found myself on my knees praying and it usually goes like this - “Hello God, it is me again. I know I have never asked you for anything, but please let my Leverkusen score a goal.”
Beyond My Imagination
When Leverkusen won their first ever Bundesliga-title, I cried, I screamed, I jumped and I ran like crazy. How could I not?! I cried for more than 30 minutes because it was so magical. After so many years of following the team, we had won the Championship while breaking records and creating streaks along the way.
When I remember that day, it makes me want to cry again because it was extraordinary. It makes me feel like we are at the beginning of a new era for the team and that better things will continue to come.
Every time I talked to my family about my visit to Germany to watch Leverkusen lift the trophy, I would cry with excitement. I thought about this trip every single day before I went and I would get so excited knowing that I would soon get to experience the stadium I have dreamt of in person. It is something I have never imagined. It is unreal but is so special and very exciting.
