Polytan Soccer Court with PolyPlay S and the BVB logo

A football legend inspires soccer practice and nurtures talents in Dortmund

In Dortmund, football heroes are properly honored, most recently the legendary midfielder Max Michallek, a role model for Borussia Dortmund both on and off the pitch during the 1940s and 1950s. It's uncertain whether his nickname "the Spider" was due to his noticeably long legs or his unmatched ability to weave the game's threads. With BVB, he won the German Championship twice before the Bundesliga was established. Michallek played 292 Oberliga matches and 22 championship rounds for BVB. In 2022, on what would have been his 100th birthday, he was commemorated with a monument – naturally close to Borsigplatz. This is where he grew up and learned to play football. Borsigplatz remains at the heart of BVB, where championships and cup victories are traditionally celebrated on its elongated roundabout. The club was founded nearby and remained deeply rooted in the adjacent Borsigplatz district until the 1950s. Since spring, a steel statue of the BVB legend has stood on a coal pedestal – a nod to the city’s industrial history – in the courtyard between Oesterholzstraße 44 and 54, now officially named Max-Michallek-Platz. This marks the crowning achievement of a comprehensive modernization of the nearly 830 apartments in the Borsig-West district, led by real estate company VIVAWEST. To enhance living and housing quality, properties around Max-Michallek-Platz received redesigned entryways, spacious balconies, and artistically designed facades that prominently feature black and yellow – BVB's team colors – as well as various portraits and legendary quotes from the Dortmund icon. The inauguration was accompanied by the “Place for New Beginnings” campaign, aiming to rejuvenate the Borsig district. At its center is a Polytan Soccer Court, developed by Polytan in collaboration with VIVAWEST, BVB, and HVG Grünflächenmanagement GmbH. These small-field play areas, fully equipped with synthetic turf systems or plastic surfaces, goals, barriers, and ball-catch nets, are a signature of Polytan. In Dortmund’s case, a Soccer Court – historically referred to simply as a playground in the region – was installed from the outset, aiming to encourage children and teenagers to learn and practice football virtually on the streets. Outfitted with our robust and durable all-around surface PolyPlay S, it features the BVB logo and comes in slate grey, which emphasizes the street character while paying homage to BVB's team colors, a gesture we gladly provide. The Max-Michallek-Platz and its meticulously designed Soccer Court are envisioned as a hub for sports and community interaction. A complementary fundraising initiative also enables the organization of football tournaments, holiday camps, and neighborhood festivals. Jan-Henrik Gruszecki, Head of Strategy & Culture at Borussia Dortmund, shared his initial impressions: “Football unites people – particularly here at Borsigplatz. It’s wonderful to witness such a successful football pitch emerge so close to BVB’s cradle, bringing together many individuals.” Above all, it offers a space where future BVB talents can take their first steps, just as Max Michallek once did.