MAN Truck & Bus
The foals and MAN are going into extra time
The new team bus MAN Lion's Coach shines in the colors of Borussia.
This new addition to the Borussia Mönchengladbach team is a real eye-catcher. Its paintwork in the Borussia colours with the highly visible diamond on the exterior make it unequivocally clear that the MAN Lion's Coach has the youth team on board. And this is not just a recent phenomenon. The successful partnership between MAN and Borussia Mönchengladbach has been firmly established since 2012. This new team bus extends their partnership until at least 2023. There are good reasons behind that: “We need a team bus in which our athletes can switch off and relax, so they can deliver peak performance on the pitch”, says Max Eberl, sports director of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 1900 GmbH, and adds: “We’ve relied on MAN team buses for many years and in all that time we’ve only had good experiences.”
A relaxing and revitalising interior
Their new MAN Lion's Coach has already reinforced these experiences. Just a few days after the bus was handed over to the club, it was safely and comfortably transporting the players, coaches and support staff to the training ground in Harsewinkel, around 200 kilometres away. That’s where the players practise their team tactics for the next Bundesliga season, which gets under way with a high-profile match against Bayern Munich on 3 August. A pleasant journey contributed to the team’s ability to work with such concentration and performance at the training ground. “It’s always special climbing on board a brand new team bus. And this one is really well equipped. I’m already looking forward to our trips to away matches, where we can just sit back and concentrate on the match ahead”, says youth team captain Lars Stindl.
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Successful partnership With the new, exclusively equipped MAN Lion's Coach, the partnership between MAN and Borussia Mönchengladbach is being extended until at least 2023.
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In comfort With a length of 14 metres and 30 first-class passenger seats, the professional footballers can make themselves comfortable on the way to their matches.
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Quality check Borussia players Patrick Herrmann and Lars Stindl (from left to right) test the new passenger seats. They find the adjustable footrests and backrests particularly practical.
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Exclusive equipment The kitchen with fully automatic coffee machine, stainless steel sink and refrigerator provides the necessary refreshment during the journey and leaves nothing to be desired.
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A real eye-catcher The new addition to the Borussia Mönchengladbach team shines in the club's colours. This way, opposing teams can see from afar when the team is on the move.
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Reliable partner The side lettering of the Lion's Coach makes it clear: the players of Borussia Mönchengladbach trust in MAN.
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Ready to go Bus driver Marcus Breuer already feels visibly at ease in the new MAN Lion's Coach and is looking forward to the first journey.
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Attention to detail Even the exterior mirrors of the MAN Lion's Coach feature the Borrusia Mönchengladbach logo.
A quick look at the amenities soon makes it clear why the team is so fond of the MAN Lion's Coach. The 14-metre long bus has over 30 exclusive passenger seats with adjustable footrests and backrests. There are 24 seats that also have electrically adjustable table leg rests. The features also include a kitchen with fully automatic coffee machine, stainless steel sink and fridge to ensure the team is always well looked after. Ambient lighting ensures a feel-good atmosphere during the journey and entertainment is provided by the extensive multimedia equipment with its sound system, two 19-inch monitors and USB sockets.
“The extensive interior fit-out means the players can travel to their away matches in great comfort – a key aspect for the club. This is ultimately where final preparations are made before the match, but also where the team can subsequently regenerate”, says Rudi Kuchta, Head of the Bus Business Unit at MAN Truck & Bus, and adds: “The team bus is simply so much more than just a form of transport.”
The latest levels of safety and technology
This luxurious coach naturally also meets the technical requirements of a top team. It is powered by the 6-cylinder D2676 LOH diesel engine complying with Euro 6. An automated, 12-speed TipMatic transmission with integrated retarder results in a particularly quiet and smooth ride. Albeit the MAN Lion's Coach is not just convincing due to its performance and smoothness, but also in terms of safety. It is equipped with numerous assistance systems like the ESP electronic stability programme, LGS lane guard system with haptic warning, EBA emergency brake assist, rain sensors and the MAN AttentionGuard attention assistant.
The next generation also relies on MAN
Borussia Mönchengladbach doesn’t “just” rely on MAN to transport its professionals: twenty TGE Kombis emblazoned with “Aus Talenten werden Fohlen” (From talents to foals) are in daily use by the club’s next generation. These minibuses collect the young players from their homes. They are however also in service for journeys to training grounds and matches. There were times when the coronavirus pandemic prevented the junior teams from training or competing, so at the end of 2020 one of these vehicles was converted into a cold-busting bus for the homeless. The minibus was used to provide hot meals, hot drinks, blankets and other relief supplies to homeless people. This was a way for Borussia Mönchengladbach and MAN Truck & Bus to jointly support “Wir für MG - Obdachlosenhilfe Mönchengladbach e.V.” – an association that helps homeless people.
