Famous beer advertising
Schalke star impresses with wedding photo in Assauer style
October 12, 2025 – 12:17 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Schalke professional Timo Becker brings back memories of club icon Rudi Assauer with a wedding photo. His ex-girlfriend Simone Thomalla is also thrilled.
Timo Becker is currently unable to help his club Schalke 04 in terms of sport due to a knee injury. But in the meantime, the 28-year-old is dedicating himself to his private happiness: He married his girlfriend Laureen-Estelle – and sparked enthusiasm online with a very special wedding photo.
On Saturday, the central defender shared a photo on Instagram in which he can be seen in a wedding suit with his wife in a white dress. While Becker enjoys puffing on a cigar, his wife has to carry a crate of beer.
The picture is based on a famous beer advertisement that the now deceased ex-manager Rudi Assauer made in the 2000s together with his girlfriend at the time, the actress Simone Thomalla. The commercials for the beer brand, which still gives the Schalke football arena its name today, sparked enthusiasm at the time and even won prizes.
In the commercials and in general, Assauer cultivated his macho image, and the cigar became his trademark. Although Assauer and Thomalla’s relationship ended peacefully in 2009, the commercials were not continued.
16 years later, Becker took up the idea. The professional has a detailed history with FC Schalke, played for the club in his youth and celebrated his professional debut in the royal blue jersey. After stints at Hansa Rostock and Holstein Kiel, he moved back to Gelsenkirchen last summer. Even during his time at other clubs, Becker was part of the Schalke fan curve on days off. Now he is including his favorite club on his wedding day in a humorous way.
The reactions to the photo of the Becker couple were enthusiastic. Professional footballer Lewis Holtby, also a former Schalke player, commented: “Ruuuuudi would be proud! Congratulations Mr and Mrs Ralle” and Bayern star Leon Goretzka, who played for the “Knappen” between 2013 and 2018, wrote “Great cinema”. The campaign was also well received by the photo model: Simone Thomalla included several applauding emojis under the post.