Würzburger Kickers

Würzburger Kickers is a German association football club playing in Würzburg, Bavaria. In pre-World War II football, the club has competed briefly at highest level, in the Bezirksliga Bayern and, during the war, in the Gauliga Bayern. Post-war, it made a single appearance in professional football in the southern division of the 2. Bundesliga in 1977–78. After a long stint in amateur football, dropping as low as the seventh tier, the club began a recovery. Kickers reached professional football again in 2014–15 after winning promotion to the 3. Liga and the following season were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga.

Würzburger Kickers
Full nameFußball-Club Würzburger Kickers e.V.
Nickname(s)Rothosen (Red Shorts)
Founded17 November 1907 (1907-11-17)
GroundFlyeralarm Arena, Würzburg
Capacity13,090
PresidentDaniel Sauer
ManagerBernhard Trares
League2. Bundesliga
2019–203. Liga, 2nd of 20 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Foundation and early years

FC Würzburger Kickers was founded on 17 November 1907 by local high school students under chairman Georg Beer, soon replaced by Alfred Günzburger.[1] The club gained promotion to the Kreisliga Bayern in 1912 and establish themselves in the league.[2]

Founded in 1907 by high school students, the team has played for most of its history as an unknown local side, although they did manage three seasons in the Bezirksliga Bayern, from 1930 to 1933, and two single season appearances in the Gauliga Bayern (1940–41, 1942–43) one of sixteen top-flight division established in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich.

1920s to the Second World War

Until the Second World War, Kickers continued to be the determining force in Würzburg football, with FV 04 Würzburg only being able to catch up in the late 1920s.

The club was relegated in the 1922/23 season and subsequently missed out on joining the newly formed Bezirksliga Bayern the next season.[3] Kickers were eventually promoted back to the top division for the 1930/31 season, joining rivals FV 04, where they remained until the league was dissolved in 1933.[4]

Kickers were not selected to join the new Gauliga Bayern and did not reach the top division again until 1940/41 where they were subsequently relegated.[5] Towards the end of World War II, Kickers were forced into a merger with FV 04 to play together as the wartime side (Kriegspielgemeinschaft) KSG Würzburg. The unified club spent two seasons in last place in the Gauliga Bayern (Gruppe Nord). Play was interrupted as the war progressed and the team was disbanded at the end of the conflict.

Kicker's stadium at Randerackerer Straße was also completely destroyed by a bombing raid during the war.[1]

Post-war football and rise to the 2. Bundesliga Süd
Historical chart of Würzburger Kickers league performance after WWII

After the Second World War, TSV Würzburg joined the Kickers and the club was renamed SV Würzburger Kickers. The club became part of the Landesliga Bayern (II) and put on some strong performances through the 1950s in the Amateurliga Bayern (II-III) but never quite managed a breakthrough. During this time the club moved to the newly built Stadion am Dallenberg in 1967. The club was finally promoted in 1976/77 to the 2. Bundesliga Süd, however they were relegated back to the renamed Bayernliga the following 1977/78 season.

1980s to 2012

Kickers stayed in the Bayernliga until they were relegated in 1983 due to financial difficulties contributed to the fourth division Landesliga Bayern-Nord, which became a fifth tier league in 1994. The club remained in the lower tiers of amateur football with the exception of brief appearances in the Bayernliga in 1990/91 and 1997/98.

Two difficult seasons over 2002–2004 saw the club descend through the Bezirksoberliga Unterfranken (VI) to the Bezirksliga Unterfranken (VII). Kickers recovered and returned to the Oberliga Bayern on the strength of a 2nd place in the 2007–08 Landesliga season where the club met local rival Würzburger FV there for the first Würzburg league derby since 1998–99.

The 2008–09 season proved no success, with Kickers immediately relegated again to the Landesliga, taking until 2012 to win the league again. The team was one of two clubs in the league to apply for a licence in the new tier four Regionalliga Bayern Taking part in the promotion play-off, Kickers earned a bye in the first round and defeated BC Aichach in the second to play in the Regionalliga from 2012. The club was thereby also able to win promotion from the sixth tier to the fourth without playing in the fifth.[6]

Promotions and recent successes

Since promotion in 2012 Kickers have enjoyed a period of renewed success including winning the 2013–14 Bavarian Cup on penalties in the final against SV Schalding-Heining and thereby qualified for the first round of the 2014–15 DFB-Pokal. In the league, the club finished tenth in 2013 and eleventh in 2014.[7] In the 2014–15 DFB Pokal, Kickers knocked-out Fortuna Düsseldorf in the first round but was defeated by Eintracht Braunschweig in the second round. In the 2014–15 season, Kickers won the Regionalliga Bayern and earned the right to take part in the promotion round to the 3. Liga. They faced 1. FC Saarbrücken, runners-up of the Regionalliga Südwest, and won 1–0 away but also lost 1–0 at home. In the necessary penalty shoot-out, Kickers won 6–5 and were promoted to the 3. Liga.

In March 2016, the club's fans protested against a potential merger with local rival Würzburger FV. Kickers had been asked by the Mayor of Würzburg to hold talks about mergers and cooperation with a number of local clubs in order to receive the city's support in a stadium expansion.[8] Kickers finished the inaugural 3. Liga season in third place, thereby qualifying for the promotion play-off and the 2016–17 DFB-Pokal.[9] The club ensured promotion to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time in almost 40 years by winning 4–1 (2–0/2–1) on aggregate against MSV Duisburg.[10] Despite a strong start to the season, finishing the first half in sixth place, Kickers were relegated in seventeenth place back to the 3. Liga at the end of the season.

The club won the 2018-19 Bavarian Cup following a 3-0 victory in the final over neighbours and rivals Viktoria Aschaffenburg.[11]

Honours

Players

Current squad
As of 5 January 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  GER Fabian Giefer
3 DF  GER Niklas Hoffmann
4 DF  GER Lars Dietz
5 DF  GER Leroy Kwadwo
6 DF  GER Tobias Kraulich
7 MF  SVN Mitja Lotrič
8 FW  BUL Vladimir Nikolov
9 FW  GER Dominic Baumann
10 FW  GER Marvin Pieringer (on loan from SC Freiburg II)
11 FW  GER Saliou Sané
12 MF  GER Patrick Sontheimer
14 DF  GER Hendrik Hansen
17 DF  GER Umut Ünlü
19 DF  BRA Douglas
20 FW   SUI Ridge Munsy
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF  GER Luke Hemmerich
22 DF  GER Daniel Hägele (captain)
23 MF  AUT Florian Flecker
25 MF  GER Dominik Meisel
26 DF  GER Lion Schweers
27 MF  COD Nzuzi Toko
28 DF  GER Arne Feick
29 MF  POL David Kopacz
30 DF  BRA Ewerton
33 GK  NED Eric Verstappen
34 DF  GER Frank Ronstadt
35 MF  CZE Martin Hašek
38 DF  GER Robert Herrmann
39 GK  GER Hendrik Bonmann

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  GER Maximilian Breunig (at Admira Wacker)

Recent managers

Recent managers of the club:[12][13]

Manager Start Finish
Predrag Uzelac 1 April 2009 1 October 2009
Dieter Wirsching 1 October 2009 30 June 2010
Anton Kramer 1 July 2010 2 March 2011
Dieter Wirsching 3 March 2011 30 June 2014
Bernd Hollerbach 1 July 2014 30 June 2017
Stephan Schmidt 1 July 2017 2 October 2017
Michael Schiele 2 October 2017 29 September 2020
Marco Antwerpen 30 September 2020 8 November 2020
Bernhard Trares 9 November 2020

Recent seasons

The recent season-by-season performance of the club:[14][15]

Season Division Tier Position
1963–64 Bayernliga III 12th
1964–65 Bayernliga 4th
1965–66 Bayernliga 3rd
1966–67 Bayernliga 12th
1967–68 Bayernliga 10th
1968–69 Bayernliga 12th
1969–70 Bayernliga 11th
1970–71 Bayernliga 6th
1971–72 Bayernliga 5th
1972–73 Bayernliga 15th
1973–74 Bayernliga 8th
1974–75 Bayernliga 6th
1975–76 Bayernliga 3rd
1976–77 Bayernliga 1st ↑
1977–78 2. Bundesliga Süd II 19th ↓
1978–79 Bayernliga III 13th
1979–80 Bayernliga 14th
1980–81 Bayernliga 5th
1981–82 Bayernliga 3rd
1982–83 Bayernliga 19th ↓
1983–84 Landesliga Bayern-Nord IV 4th
1984–85 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 7th
1985–86 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 9th
1986–87 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 4th
1987–88 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 13th
1988–89 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 4th
1989–90 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 1st ↑
1990–91 Bayernliga III 17th ↓
1991–92 Landesliga Bayern-Nord IV 4th
1992–93 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 11th
1993–94 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 15th
1994–95 Landesliga Bayern-Nord V 9th
1995–96 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 7th
1996–97 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 1st ↑
1997–98 Bayernliga IV 16th ↓
1998–99 Landesliga Bayern-Nord V 9th
1999–2000 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 5th
2000–01 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 8th
2001–02 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 17th ↓
2002–03 Bezirksoberliga Unterfranken VI 13th ↓
2003–04 Bezirksliga Unterfranken VII 1st ↑
2004–05 Bezirksoberliga Unterfranken VI 1st ↑
2005–06 Landesliga Bayern-Nord V 6th
2006–07 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 6th
2007–08 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 2nd ↑
2008–09 Bayernliga 18th ↓
2009–10 Landesliga Bayern-Nord VI 5th
2010–11 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 5th
2011–12 Landesliga Bayern-Nord 1st ↑
2012–13 Regionalliga Bayern IV 10th
2013–14 Regionalliga Bayern 11th
2014–15 Regionalliga Bayern 1st ↑
2015–16 3. Liga III 3rd ↑
2016–17 2. Bundesliga II 17th ↓
2017–18 3. Liga III 5th
2018–19 3. Liga 5th
2019–20 3. Liga 2nd ↑
2020–21 2. Bundesliga II
  • With the introduction of the Bezirksoberligas in 1988 as the new fifth tier, below the Landesligas, all leagues below dropped one tier. With the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 and the 3. Liga in 2008 as the new third tier, below the 2. Bundesliga, all leagues below dropped one tier. With the establishment of the Regionalliga Bayern as the new fourth tier in Bavaria in 2012 the Bayernliga was split into a northern and a southern division, the number of Landesligas expanded from three to five and the Bezirksoberligas abolished. All leagues from the Bezirksligas onwards were elevated one tier.
Key
↑ Promoted ↓ Relegated

Stadium
Main article: Flyeralarm Arena
Flyeralarm Arena (2020)

Kickers have played in three different home grounds through their history beginning with Galgenberg, also known as Kugelfang, for two years sharing the ground with local rivals Würzburger FV (formally known as FV 04 Würzburg).

From 1909 to 1967 the club played in Sanderau at the Randersacker Straße stadium before being forced to move due to the expanding city.

Since 1967 the club have played at the Stadion am Dallenberg which currently has a capacity of 13,090 (4,000 seated). In 2013 flyeralarm acquired the naming rights to the stadium which has since been known as flyeralarm Arena.[16] The facility was renovated in 2005 and equipped with floodlights in 2014. In preparation for the 2016/17 season in the 2. Bundesliga the stadium was expanded and under soil heating was added at a cost of €2 million.[17]

Supporters and rivalries

The Würzburg derby is a fierce local rivalry with Würzburger FV, and the fans have a hostility with fans of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[18]

Reserve team

The club's reserve team won promotion to the tier five Bayernliga for the first time after defeating VfL Frohnlach in the play-off for the 2016–17 Bayernliga.

The Würzburg derby
See also: Bavarian football derbies

The Würzburg derby between Würzburger Kickers and FV Würzburg 04 was first played in 1908 with Kickers winning 5–0. The 2009–10 season was the 19th time, the two clubs played in the same league since 1963, during which time FV folded in 1981 before being reformed.[19] The derby has only beenplayed on professional level only once, in the 1977–78 2. Bundesliga Süd season.[20]

Results since 1963
Season League Teams Home Away
1964–65 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 2–1 1–5
1965–66 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 0–1 1–1
1970–71 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–1 2–1
1971–72 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 1–3 4–1
1972–73 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 1–0 3–1
1973–74 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 2–1 0–0
1974–75 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–0 1–0
1975–76 Amateurliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–0 1–1
1977–78 2. Bundesliga Süd Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 4–0 2–2
1980–81 Amateur Oberliga Bayern Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 0–0 1–1
1991–92 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 1–2 1–3
1992–93 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 5–1 3–0
1993–94 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–3 0–5
1994–95 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 4–1 1–5
1996-96 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–0 1–1
1996–97 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 3–2 0–0
1998–99 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 4–0 0–1
2008–09 Bayernliga Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 1–2 2–5
2009–10 Landesliga Bayern-Nord Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 4–1 0–2
2018–19 Bavarian Cup Würzburger FV – Würzburger Kickers 0–4

DFB Cup appearances

The club has qualified for the first round of the German Cup nine times:

Season Round Date Home Away Result Attendance
1978–79 First round 4 August 1978 SC Herford Würzburger Kickers 2–1
1980–81 First round 30 August 1980 Würzburger Kickers TSV Hirschaid 2–1 (a.e.t)
Second round 4 October 1980 Würzburger Kickers Fortuna Düsseldorf 0–2
1981–82 First round 28 August 1981 SV Neckargerach Würzburger Kickers 4–2
2014–15 First round[21] 17 August 2014 Würzburger Kickers Fortuna Düsseldorf 3–2 (a.e.t) 10,500
Second round 28 October 2014 Würzburger Kickers Eintracht Braunschweig 0–1 12,000
2015–16 First round 8 August 2015 Würzburger Kickers SV Werder Bremen 0–2 (a.e.t) 9,706
2016–17 First round 20 August 2016 Würzburger Kickers Eintracht Braunschweig 1–0 (a.e.t) 6,384
Second round 25 October 2016 Würzburger Kickers TSV 1860 Munich 3–4 12,142
2017–18 First round 12 August 2017 Würzburger Kickers SV Werder Bremen 0–3 8,090
2019–20 First round 10 August 2019 Würzburger Kickers TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 4–5 (p) 10,000
2020–21 First round 14 September 2020 Würzburger Kickers Hannover 96 2–3 0

Source:"DFB-Pokal" (in German). Weltfussball.de. Retrieved 20 January 2020.

References
  1. "Geschichte | FC Würzburger Kickers e.V." www.wuerzburger-kickers.de (in German). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  2. "FRG 1912–13 | Claudio Nicoletti" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  3. "FRG 1922–23 | Claudio Nicoletti" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  4. "FRG 1931–32 | Claudio Nicoletti" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. "FRG 1940–41 | Claudio Nicoletti" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  6. Das war die Relegation 2012 auf Verbandsebene (in German) fupa.net, published: 7 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012
  7. Regionalliga Bayern table 2013–14 kicker.de. Retrieved 16 June 2014
  8. "Würzburg: Ein Punkt fehlt noch – Wirbel um "Fusion"" [Würzburg: One more point required – Storm over merger]. kicker.de (in German). Kicker. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. "Aue wieder zweitklassig, Würzburg sicher Dritter" [Aue back in second division, Würzburg secures third place]. kicker.de (in German). Kicker. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  10. "Würzburg jubelt! Aufstieg in 2. Liga perfekt" [Würzburg celebrates! Promotion to Second Division achieved] (in German). Weltfussball.de. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  11. https://www.wuerzburger-kickers.de/de/kickers/profis/spielberichte/toto-pokal-finale-3-0-in-aschaffenburg-kickers-feiern-toto-pokal-sieg-und-dfb-pokal-einzug
  12. Würzburger Kickers .:. Trainer von A-Z (in German) weltfussball.de. Retrieved 4 June 2013
  13. Würzburger Kickers Chronik (in German) fupa.net. Retrieved 4 June 2013
  14. Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv (in German) Historical German domestic league tables
  15. Fussball.de – Ergebnisse Archived 7 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Tables and results of all German football leagues
  16. "Kickers-Stadion am Dallenberg hat neuen Namen". mainpost.de (in German). 6 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  17. "Würzburg: Neuer Look für die Flyeralarm-Arena". ANTENNE BAYERN (in German). 29 June 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  18. http://www.faszination-fankurve.de/index.php?head=Auseinandersetzungen-vorm-Derby-in-Wuerzburg&folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=13878
  19. Würzburger Derby feiert Geburtstag (in German) Mainpost. Retrieved 13 June 2008
  20. Landesliga Bayern-Nord tables Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Manfreds Fussball Archiev. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  21. DFB-Pokal 2014/2015 1. Runde, Würzburger Kickers – Fortuna Düsseldorf (in German) Weltfussball.de. Retrieved 21 August 2014
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