Schalker International: Zack Wehbe

How did you become a Schalke fan?
I became a Schalke fan in 2010 because blue is my favourite colour. I used to watch the Bundesliga as a kid and liked Kevin Kuranyi. He is one of the reasons why I fell in love with the club.

What’s supporting Schalke in Lebanon like?
It’s really weird to see a Schalke fan in Lebanon. I had a tough time supporting them and watching them because no one cared about their matches, so it’s difficult to watch them here in Lebanon. A lot of people support Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern, or an English club.
So, supporting Schalke is very rare!

Have you ever been to Germany or watched a Schalke game live?
Actually, I was born in Germany and lived there for a couple of years, but I’m not a Schalke fan because of that. I didn’t watch a lot of football in Germany so that’s a big reason why I never got a chance to go to any football stadium. But one of my dreams is to visit the VELTINS-Arena because the fans are very crazy and I always sing with them at home!

Do you have a favourite Schalke player?
My all-time favourite Schalke player has to be Raúl! I took him as an inspiration when I was a kid because of his wonderful goals. I will never forget his goals vs. Inter and his goal vs. FC Köln. I also used to like Leon Goretzka before he left.

What’s your favourite Schalke match of all time?
Inter Milan 2-5 Schalke! It was crazy to see Schalke beating the reigning UCL champions to put them out of the competition! I felt so lucky to see my club reach the semi-finals for the first time ever. My friends were surprised and it made them respect Schalke more.

What makes Schalke special?
I think their history and their loyal fans. Schalke are a famous and traditional club in Germany and it’s so sad to see them playing in the 2. Bundesliga. Also, supporting a team that doesn’t win every game feels more special and increases the passion because you can’t predict the outcome of the match. For example, no one expected us to beat Real Madrid 4-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2015!

Finally, why would you recommend becoming a Royal Blue?
I would recommend becoming a Royal Blue because you will enjoy a lot of good moments with Schalke especially if you go and visit the VELTINS-Arena and support them with the fans in the Nordkurve. That’s always been one of my dreams! I can also say that it’s not bad to support one of the three biggest teams in Germany, as you can be proud of their history.