Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck launches 'Art of Defense' fashion collection
Nico Schlotterbeck has launched his own fashion collection, with the Borussia Dortmund centre-back's 'Art of Defense' range now available through the club's official fan shop.
Schlotterbeck's playing style provides the inspiration, with hand-drawn game scenes incorporated into the fashion and streetwear designs. Heat maps and the 26-year-old's trademark diagonal passes feature prominently across the collection.
The new 'Art of Defense – Inspired by Nico Schlotterbeck' line includes a tracksuit, black T-shirts for adults and children, a white T-shirt, cap and flip-flops, with prices ranging from €25 to €100 in the BVB Shop.
Schlotterbeck has been at Dortmund since summer 2022 and signed a new contract earlier this year that will keep him at the club until 2031. The Germany international is also BVB's vice-captain and has become an increasingly prominent figure around the club.
The launch comes just days after Schlotterbeck returned to competitive action. Having suffered a torn ligament at last summer's FIFA World Cup, he made his comeback in Saturday's 3-0 Bundesliga win over newly promoted Paderborn, going straight into the starting XI and winning 73 per cent of his attempted challenges.
"I missed it so much. It's definitely a kind of addiction we're chasing. Football is an adrenaline rush," Schlotterbeck said after the game. "It was a serious injury, and I'm glad to be back now."
Schlotterbeck also revealed that his comeback had been kept deliberately quiet, with his return coming sooner than anticipated.
"I'd been back on the ball for almost four weeks and started training a week ago," he explained. "We just didn't say much publicly because I didn't want to. The coach asked me yesterday if I was fit. I gave him the go-ahead, and then I knew I'd be playing."
Schlotterbeck is not the only Bundesliga defender to have recently ventured into fashion, with RB Leipzig's David Raum also launching his own label in July.
