1. FC Saarbrücken
Encyclopedia
1. FC Saarbrücken is a German association football club
based in the city of Saarbrücken
, Saarland. The club began its existence as the football department of Turnverein Malstatt formed in 1903. That department split off in 1907 to form the independent football club FV Malstatt-Burbach and on 1 April 1909 was re-named FV Saarbrücken.
in 1919, where it played with moderate success, a second place in the leagues last season, 1922–23 being its best result. From 1923, the club played in the Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
– Saar division, winning the title there in 1927–28 but missed out on qualification to the new Gauliga
in 1933.
. The next year they only made it as far as the quarterfinals where they were put out by 1. FC Nuremberg. During the last years of World War II in 1943–1945 the team had played as a combined wartime side (Kriegsspielgemeinschaft Saarbrücken) with SC Altenkessel
.
The German state of Saarland, where the city of Saarbrücken is located, was occupied by the French
after the war. They made various efforts to see the state become independent of Germany or join France. In sport this was manifested as separate 1952 Olympic and 1954 World Cup teams for Saarland
and the establishment of a short-lived football league for the state called the Ehrenliga. In 1948, 1. FC Saarbrücken was one of a number of sides forced out of German football, but unlike other clubs they did not play in the puppet league: instead the strong side became part of the French second division as FC Sarrebruck. They won the division handily, six points clear of Girondins Bordeaux, but were refused promotion into the French first division to avoid the potential embarrassment of having a German side romp through the league.
Saarbrücken withdrew from the league and began play in a series of friendlies over the next two years. They organized a tournament in 1949–1950 called Internationaler Saarland Pokal (International Saarland Cup) that had them play fifteen home matches against teams from Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. The top three sides then joined hosts Saarbrücken in a playoff round, which the home team eventually won in a 4–0 victory over Stade Rennais UC of France. The next year fellow Saarlanders VfB Neunkirchen
co-hosted the tournament which this time included more German sides. The tournament was abandoned for 1952 as agreement was reached to allow teams from the Saarland re-admission to the German Football Association
.
This episode in the history of German football would play itself out with the odd appearance of a separate side from Saarland in the 1954 World Cup preliminary rounds. Without a proper home in either of the German or French leagues, Saarland had established a separate football association with membership in FIFA
. 1. FC Saarbrücken sent ten players to that national side and the Saarlanders acquitted themselves well, finishing second in their group ahead of Norway
and behind group winner West Germany. Saarbrücken would also make an appearance in the 1956 European Cup as Saarland's representative and go out against AC Milan in the first round, after winning its away leg.
in 1952 and continued their winning ways by capturing the division and advancing to the national final for the second time, dropping a 1:2 decision to VfB Stuttgart
. They continued to field strong sides but over the next decade could only manage one more Oberliga title, in 1961.
In 1963, Germany finally saw the creation of a top flight national league with the formation of the Bundesliga. Sixteen teams were selected to play in the new league based on their performance, financial health and a geographical distribution intended to fairly represent all parts of the country. The first eight selections were straight forward and included divisional champions and the national finalists. Saarbrücken's selection to the new league was arguably the most controversial as the club's recent record was not as good as their divisional rivals Neunkirchen, FK Pirmasens
and Wormatia Worms
. The belief is that their advantage lay in the fact that the club had a long association with Hermann Neuberger
, an extremely influential figure in German football – and a member of the selection committee.
At the end of the inaugural Bundesliga season in 1963–1964 Saarbrücken found themselves dead last, seven points short of safety. The club was relegated to the second tier Regionalliga Südwest
where they finished strongly in each of the next three seasons, but were unable to advance through the Bundesliga promotion rounds. They were finally able to make their way back to the top flight after a first place finish in the 2nd Bundesliga Süd
in the 1976 season. After two seasons there the team returned to second division and by 1981 had slipped to the Amateur Oberliga Südwest
(III). There were two more turns in the Bundesliga, in 1986 and 1993, both ending in relegation. A financial crisis in 1995 led to the club being denied a license and had them sent down to the Regionalliga West/Südwest
(III). Saarbrücken has since become an "elevator crew" with frequent moves between tier II through V football. During this time the club remained a strong local side with a half dozen Saarland-Pokal wins to its credit.
. In May 2010, they finished champions of Regionalliga West
in 2009–2010 season and promoted to the 3. Liga with making two consecutive promotions. They started slowly at this level, but finished in 6th place having won the last 9 games of the 2010–11 season.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
based in the city of Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
, Saarland. The club began its existence as the football department of Turnverein Malstatt formed in 1903. That department split off in 1907 to form the independent football club FV Malstatt-Burbach and on 1 April 1909 was re-named FV Saarbrücken.
History
The club became part of the tier-one Kreisliga SaarKreisliga Saar
The Kreisliga Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the Prussian Rhine Province from 1919 to 1923...
in 1919, where it played with moderate success, a second place in the leagues last season, 1922–23 being its best result. From 1923, the club played in the Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
The Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
– Saar division, winning the title there in 1927–28 but missed out on qualification to the new Gauliga
Gauliga
A Gauliga was the highest level of play in German football from 1934-45. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the Sports office of the Third Reich.-Name:...
in 1933.
Play under the Third Reich
The team made its way to first division play in 1935 in the Gauliga Südwest, one of sixteen regional divisions established in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich. A league shuffle saw them in the Gauliga Südwest-Saarpfalz in 1940 and they won the division the next year. In 1943 they again won their division – now called the Gauliga Westmark – and advanced through the playoff rounds to the national final where they were defeated 0:3 by Dresdner SCDresdner SC
Dresdner SC is a German multisport club playing in Dresden, Saxony. Founded on 30 April 1898, the club was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900...
. The next year they only made it as far as the quarterfinals where they were put out by 1. FC Nuremberg. During the last years of World War II in 1943–1945 the team had played as a combined wartime side (Kriegsspielgemeinschaft Saarbrücken) with SC Altenkessel
SC Altenkessel
SC Altenkessel is a German football club from the district of Altenkessel in the city of Saarbrücken, Saarland. The club was briefly part of first division play during World War II and after the war played in the Saarlandliga when the state of Saarland was occupied by the French.-History:The club...
.
Post war and French exile
After the war, occupying Allied authorities dissolved all forms of organizations within Germany, including sports and football clubs. The team was allowed to reform late in 1945, but only under the new name 1. FC Saarbrücken. The club played its first three seasons of postwar football in the first division Oberliga Südwest-Nord, winning the division championship in 1946.The German state of Saarland, where the city of Saarbrücken is located, was occupied by the French
Saar (protectorate)
The Saar Protectorate was a German borderland territory twice temporarily made a protectorate state. Since rejoining Germany the second time in 1957, it is the smallest Federal German Area State , the Saarland, not counting the city-states Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen...
after the war. They made various efforts to see the state become independent of Germany or join France. In sport this was manifested as separate 1952 Olympic and 1954 World Cup teams for Saarland
Saarland national football team
The Saarland national football team was the association football team representing Saarland from 1950 to 1956 during the French occupation following World War II...
and the establishment of a short-lived football league for the state called the Ehrenliga. In 1948, 1. FC Saarbrücken was one of a number of sides forced out of German football, but unlike other clubs they did not play in the puppet league: instead the strong side became part of the French second division as FC Sarrebruck. They won the division handily, six points clear of Girondins Bordeaux, but were refused promotion into the French first division to avoid the potential embarrassment of having a German side romp through the league.
Saarbrücken withdrew from the league and began play in a series of friendlies over the next two years. They organized a tournament in 1949–1950 called Internationaler Saarland Pokal (International Saarland Cup) that had them play fifteen home matches against teams from Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. The top three sides then joined hosts Saarbrücken in a playoff round, which the home team eventually won in a 4–0 victory over Stade Rennais UC of France. The next year fellow Saarlanders VfB Neunkirchen
Borussia Neunkirchen
Borussia VfB Neunkirchen is a German association football club based in Neunkirchen, Saarland. The club SC Borussia Neunkirchen was founded out of the 1907 merger of FC 1905 Borussia and SC Neunkirchen.-History:...
co-hosted the tournament which this time included more German sides. The tournament was abandoned for 1952 as agreement was reached to allow teams from the Saarland re-admission to the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
.
This episode in the history of German football would play itself out with the odd appearance of a separate side from Saarland in the 1954 World Cup preliminary rounds. Without a proper home in either of the German or French leagues, Saarland had established a separate football association with membership in FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. 1. FC Saarbrücken sent ten players to that national side and the Saarlanders acquitted themselves well, finishing second in their group ahead of Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
and behind group winner West Germany. Saarbrücken would also make an appearance in the 1956 European Cup as Saarland's representative and go out against AC Milan in the first round, after winning its away leg.
The Return to German Football and Entry to the Bundesliga
Saarbrücken returned to the Oberliga SüdwestOberliga Südwest (1945-63)
The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
in 1952 and continued their winning ways by capturing the division and advancing to the national final for the second time, dropping a 1:2 decision to VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
. They continued to field strong sides but over the next decade could only manage one more Oberliga title, in 1961.
In 1963, Germany finally saw the creation of a top flight national league with the formation of the Bundesliga. Sixteen teams were selected to play in the new league based on their performance, financial health and a geographical distribution intended to fairly represent all parts of the country. The first eight selections were straight forward and included divisional champions and the national finalists. Saarbrücken's selection to the new league was arguably the most controversial as the club's recent record was not as good as their divisional rivals Neunkirchen, FK Pirmasens
FK Pirmasens
FK Pirmasens is a German association football club in Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate. The team was formed as the football section of the gymnastics and sports club TV Pirminia Pirmasens in 1903 and became independent in 1914. They took on their current name in 1925...
and Wormatia Worms
Wormatia Worms
VfR Wormatia 08 Worms is a German association football club that plays in Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate. The club and its historical predecessors were regular participants in regional first division football competition right up until the formation of the national top-flight Bundesliga in 1963...
. The belief is that their advantage lay in the fact that the club had a long association with Hermann Neuberger
Hermann Neuberger
Hermann Neuberger was a German football official, and from 1975 to 1992 the seventh president of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund DFB.- External links :*...
, an extremely influential figure in German football – and a member of the selection committee.
At the end of the inaugural Bundesliga season in 1963–1964 Saarbrücken found themselves dead last, seven points short of safety. The club was relegated to the second tier Regionalliga Südwest
Regionalliga Südwest (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Südwest was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
where they finished strongly in each of the next three seasons, but were unable to advance through the Bundesliga promotion rounds. They were finally able to make their way back to the top flight after a first place finish in the 2nd Bundesliga Süd
2nd Bundesliga Süd (1974-81)
The 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1974 until the formation of the single-division 2. Fußball-Bundesliga in 1981...
in the 1976 season. After two seasons there the team returned to second division and by 1981 had slipped to the Amateur Oberliga Südwest
Oberliga Südwest
The Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
(III). There were two more turns in the Bundesliga, in 1986 and 1993, both ending in relegation. A financial crisis in 1995 led to the club being denied a license and had them sent down to the Regionalliga West/Südwest
Regionalliga West/Südwest
The Regionalliga West/Südwest was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1994 to 2000.- Overview :...
(III). Saarbrücken has since become an "elevator crew" with frequent moves between tier II through V football. During this time the club remained a strong local side with a half dozen Saarland-Pokal wins to its credit.
Current
1. FC Saarbrücken finished 16th in 2005–06 and was relegated to the Regionalliga Süd (III). Another poor showing in 2006–07 saw the club in 15th and relegated again, this time to the fourth division Oberliga Südwest, where they narrowly missed out on Regionalliga promotion in 2007–08. However, they finished champions of Oberliga Südwest in 2008–2009 season and promoted to the Regionalliga WestRegionalliga West
The Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga...
. In May 2010, they finished champions of Regionalliga West
Regionalliga West
The Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga...
in 2009–2010 season and promoted to the 3. Liga with making two consecutive promotions. They started slowly at this level, but finished in 6th place having won the last 9 games of the 2010–11 season.
First class
- German championship runners-up: 1943, 1952
- Bezirksliga Rheinhessen-SaarBezirksliga Rheinhessen-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rheinhessen-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Rheinhessen part of the state of Hesse and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the Prussian Rhine Province from 1923 to 1927, when the league was replaced by the Bezirksliga...
(I) champions: 1926 - Bezirksliga Rhein-SaarBezirksliga Rhein-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
(Saar division) (I) champions: 1928 - Gauliga Westmark (I) champions: 1943, 1944 (as KSG Saarbrücken)
- Ehrenliga Saarland (I) champions: 1951
- Oberliga SüdwestOberliga Südwest (1945-63)The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
(I) champions: 1961
Others
- Ligue 2Ligue 2Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
(II) champions: 1949 - Regionalliga SüdwestRegionalliga Südwest (1963-74)The Regionalliga Südwest was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
(II) champions: 1965 - 2nd Bundesliga Süd2nd Bundesliga Süd (1974-81)The 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1974 until the formation of the single-division 2. Fußball-Bundesliga in 1981...
(II) champions: 1976 - 2nd Bundesliga2. Fußball-Bundesliga- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
(southern group) (II) champions: 1992 - Oberliga SüdwestOberliga SüdwestThe Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
(III-V) champions: 1983, 2009 - Regionalliga West/SüdwestRegionalliga West/SüdwestThe Regionalliga West/Südwest was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1994 to 2000.- Overview :...
(III) champions: 2000 - Regionalliga WestRegionalliga WestThe Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga...
(IV) champions: 2010
Youth
- German Under 19 championship runners-up: 1969
- German Under 17 championship runners-up: 1996
Recent seasons
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1999–00 | Regionalliga West/Südwest Regionalliga West/Südwest The Regionalliga West/Südwest was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1994 to 2000.- Overview :... (III) |
1st ↑ |
| 2000–01 | 2nd Bundesliga 2. Fußball-Bundesliga - Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20... (II) |
8th |
| 2001–02 | 2nd Bundesliga | 16th ↓ |
| 2002–03 | Regionalliga Süd Regionalliga Süd The Regionalliga Süd is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany... (III) |
6th |
| 2003–04 | Regionalliga Süd | 3rd ↑ |
| 2004–05 | 2nd Bundesliga (II) | 12th |
| 2005–06 | 2nd Bundesliga | 16th ↓ |
| 2006–07 | Regionalliga Süd (III) | 15th ↓ |
| 2007–08 | Oberliga Südwest Oberliga Südwest The Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system... (IV) |
5th |
| 2008–09 | Oberliga Südwest (V) | 1st ↑ |
| 2009–10 | Regionalliga West Regionalliga West The Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga... (IV) |
1st ↑ |
Current squad
Notable players
|
Peter Eich -External links:... Thomas Winklhofer -Honours:* Austrian Football Bundesliga winner: 1994, 1995, 1997, 2007.* Austrian Supercup winner: 1994, 1995, 1997.-External links:... Norbert Schlegel Norbert Schlegel is a German football manager and a retired player who is currently coaching SV Memmelsdorf.-External links:... Herbert Martin Herbert Martin is a German former footballer who spent the majority of his career with 1. FC Saarbrücken. He was the leading goal scorer for the Saarland national football team with six goals, while the team existed between 1950 and 1956.-External links:* at worldfootball.net... Michael Preetz Michael Preetz is a retired German football player. He played mostly for German Bundesliga club Hertha BSC and is currently working in Hertha's management.- Managing career :... Dieter Müller Dieter Müller is a former German footballer, who is currently the chairman of Kickers Offenbach.He appeared in twelve senior matches, scoring nine goals for Germany. He played in the 1976 European Football Championship and the 1978 FIFA World Cup. In his spell with 1... Werner Lorant Werner Lorant is a former German football player and manager.-Playing career:The defender and defensive midfielder commenced his professional career 1970 in the second division with Westfalia Herne. 1971 he moved to Borussia Dortmund. There he was part of a side that lost 1-11 against Bayern... |
Heinz Vollmar Heinz Vollmar was a Saarland and German football player.Vollmar belongs to those Germany international players that have represented other nations in their international career as well... Jonathan Akpoborie Jonathan Akpoborie is a former Nigerian football player who spent the majority of his playing career in Germany.- Career :... Karsten Hutwelker Karsten Hutwelker is a German former footballer who played as a right wing-back. He is now manager of Wuppertaler SV.-External links:*... Thomas Stratos Thomas Stratos is a Greek football coach and a former player who currently manages SC Wiedenbrück 2000.-External links:... Mustapha Hadji Mustapha Hadji in Ifrane, Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco is a former Moroccan footballer.-Early life:Hadji was born in Ifrane, Morocco. He immigrated with his family to France.-Club career:Mustapha Hadji began playing football there... Wenanty Fuhl Wenanty Fuhl is a retired Polish football player.-External links:... Stefan Beckenbauer Stephan Beckenbauer is a Munich-born former footballer, the son of Franz Beckenbauer. Beckenbauer's career began with FC Bayern Munich, the same place where his father saw the most success, before he transferred to local rivals TSV 1860 München. He also played for 1. FC Saarbrücken both inside and... Marc Ziegler Marc Ziegler is a German footballer who plays for VfB Stuttgart as a goalkeeper.-Football career:VfB Stuttgart was immersed in a goalkeeping crisis after the defection of legendary Eike Immel to England's Manchester City in the 1995 summer... Mike Frantz Mike Frantz is a German football striker who currently plays for 1. FC Nuremberg in the Bundesliga.In July 2008 he moved to 1. FC Nuremberg.-External links:* * at 1. FC Nuremberg... Jonathan Jäger Jonathan Jäger is a French professional footballer currently playing for German club SC Freiburg.Jäger joined Freiburg from 1. FC Saarbrücken in 2007, after finishing as joint top-scorer in the Regionalliga Süd for the season.... Mahir Saglik Mahir Sağlık is a German–born Turkish professional footballer who plays as a striker for FC St Pauli.- Career :Sağlık signed a three-year deal for VfL Wolfsburg in September 2008. On 1 February 2009, he was loaned out to Karlsruher SC until the end of the season... Joe-Max Moore Joe-Max Moore is a former American soccer forward who played for the United States national team in three World Cups. He played professionally for clubs in Germany, England and the United States. He finished his career with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer... |
- All past (and present) players who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles can be found here.