Aside from being the first step in Jurgen Klopp's management journey, Mainz is also famous for its impressive carnival season, which lasts for months. In celebration and for the fifth year running, Bundesliga regulars FSV Mainz 05 have launched a special edition Carnival kit, which they will wear on pitch when they host Bayer Leverkusen on 8 February.
The shirt, made by Lotto, utilises a cult favourite Mainz design from the 90s and incorporates it with the traditional colours of the festival. The Carnival greeting of “HELAU” is printed on the upper back, while Mainz's main shirt sponsor Kömmerling has agreed to let the club use their seasonal motto “Unser Traum Lebt” (Our Dream Lives) in place of their logo on the kit.
Traditionally, carnival season in Mainz begins on November 11 at 11:11 and continues through to Ash Wednesday. However, the event peaks in February or March in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, hence the jersey’s appearance now. With the start date of the celebrations as inspiration, only 1,111 jerseys were released, and they sold out almost immediately. Soz about that.
