Darmstadt put Barack Obama's name on the back of a shirt and invited him to come and pick it up in person. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
Darmstadt put Barack Obama's name on the back of a shirt and invited him to come and pick it up in person. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA

Darmstadt's Obama connection

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They may not rank among the giants of German football but SV Darmstadt 98 do have one very prominent long-distance fan. It turns out that former US president Barack Obama follows one single club from Europe's top leagues on Twitter – and it just happens to be the Lilies, Bundesliga underdogs supreme.

"Obviously we'd be delighted to have a visit from Barack Obama. He only needs to give us enough advance notice to get the necessary security measures organised," Darmstadt coach Torsten Frings said in response to the news of the club's VIP supporter.

It remains unclear quite how the 44th president of the United States came to take a particular interest in the modest provincial outfit currently battling the odds to survive another year in the Bundesliga. But new signing Terrence Boyd underscored the offer of hospitality in a video message, suggesting that "Now you've got a little more time for yourself we'd like to invite you to a game of the Lilien at the Böllenfalltor." The Bremen-born USMNT forward signed off with the assurance, "We've got the fitting jersey for you as well, so see you at the Bölle."

- © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA