How to pronounce“Schalke”in English

To celebrate the deal, Schalke’s new jersey was unveiled in a ceremony before Schalke and Zenit played a friendly match in Russia.

In 2006, as Gazprom logos were revealed around Schalke’s stadium, German headlines were hailing the Russian gas giant for pumping millions into the German team.

At a press conference announcing the deal, a Gazprom chairman said Schalke’s connections with the German energy sector were why they decided to become their sponsor.

Schalke plays in Gelsenkirchen - a town in Germany’s Ruhr Valley, where much of the country's energy industry is based.

In 2006, Gazprom signed a deal to sponsor the German soccer team FC Schalke 04.

And, over the next few years, the Gazprom logo would become a team symbol displayed at Schalke games and printed on official merchandise.