My big debut:
I first appeared on the team photo for the 1992/93 Bundesliga season. I’ve obviously grown a little since then… My white-and-red croc egg was found on the Neckar beach on 1 July 1992, and I emerged from it on 22 August!
...the competition...
The ones I was up against when I went for the job of one of the best-loved mascots in Germany! To choose from among all of the suggestions that were sent into VfB at the time, a jury was drawn up to make an initial selection. They narrowed it down to the last six candidates for the position of Bad Cannstatt’s chief entertainer.
Then it was time for the showdown, with a poll of fans carried out in the stadium, and I was the one chosen by an overwhelming majority of supporters. Since then, I’ve been the undisputed No.1 in all of Swabia!
...the first Fritzle comic...
My first-ever comic revealed the details behind my birth, my first day at VfB and other snappy Fritzle secrets. Want to find out more? Then watch this slideshow. And by the way, I first hatched from my egg at the opening home game of the 1992/93 season against 1. FC Nürnberg.
...how I came about my name...
As is often the case with newborns, I didn’t have a name for a while, and so a lot of people called me ‘A-league-ator’. My friends at the natural history museum in Stuttgart have recently proven though that I am definitely a crocodile. On 6 June 1993, just before my first birthday, there was a big telephone vote on the "Sport im Dritten" TV show, with callers choosing between Fetz, Julius, Alwin, Joschi and Fritzle. The result came in at 22.28 CET, with 43.3 per cent decided on the name Fritzle – and that was my official naming ceremony!
...greatest memory to date...
250,000 people filled the streets of Stuttgart on 19 May 2007 to greet the newly-crowned German league champions and their mascot. Never before had a crocodile taken to the streets in his own car as part of the parade. I then had the honour of having my name entered into the city’s official visitors’ book.
...hitting the heights!!!
Now you know everything there is to know about how I started out at VfB and went on to hit the heights as a mascot. You’re a Fritzle expert, and no-one will be able to catch you out. If there’s anything else you are wondering about, then send me an e-Mail. I love answering questions!