SchalkesOpa

SchalkesOpa, born Robert Schmalohr in 1967 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, is an author, songwriter, and a true son of the Ruhrpott with a heart for storytelling. His “Max” series captivates readers globally: Max und der Traum von Fußball and Max und das Spiel des Lebens (in German) and Playing for the Dream – Max’s Story (in English) tell the moving story of a boy chasing his dreams. A new novel is set for release in September 2025. He’s also working on Kleine Kinder, große Träume, a groundbreaking twelve-volume series on youth football in Germany, with one book for each age group.

As a songwriter, SchalkesOpa has over 100 GEMA-registered songs, many self-composed, 67 self-performed, and texts for artists like Zeitgeistrebellen. Whether on paper or in the studio, he stays true to himself: authentic, relatable, a Ruhrpott soul with heart.