In the almost 110-year history of the club, Würzburger Kickers have been in the second division twice. The team from Lower Franconia first achieved promotion in 1977 but the adventure in the second tier ended one year later. Following relegation, the ‘Red Shorts’ ended up in the lower reaches of amateur football with 2003 providing the low point with relegation to the seventh tier Bezirksliga. For many years it was left for the basketball star Dirk Nowitzki to provide sporting representation for the city of 130,000 inhabitants in the north of Bavaria.
It is only in recent years that football has made more positive headlines in Würzburg: With four successive promotions between 2011 and 2016 Würzburg rose like a rocket from the state league to the second division – no other club has achieved the leap from amateur to professional football as quickly. A large part was played by the Würzburg-born and former HSV pro Bernd Hollerbach who took over as coach in the summer of 2014. At the end of the 2015/16 campaign, he led his team to victory in the play-offs against MSV Duisburg to take the Kickers up into the second division. However, in spite of an impressive first half of the season (sixth place on 27 points) the team ended the second season in the second tier in 17th position and that meant relegation to the third division.
Relaunch under Stephan Schmidt
Contrary to the wishes of the club management, Bernd Hollerbach threw in the towel at Würzburg. The coaching position was filled by Stephan Schmidt who previously worked in the youth academies at Wolfsburg and Schalke. This is the third opportunity for Schmidt to establish himself in professional football after two unsuccessful stays at second division clubs Cottbus and Paderborn. Now comes a complete new start. Only eight players remain from last season's second division squad: 16 players have left the club and 16 of arrived. All the squad has third division experience with the exception of three players. Goalkeeper Wolfgang Hesl, defender Sebastian Schuppan and striker Elia Soriano have played in the top two divisions in Germany.
Würzburger Kickers are well advanced in their pre-season preparations as the third division season kicks off in ten days time with a fixture at Meppen. The friendly against the Werkself represents the dress rehearsal for the start of the league campaign.
JAKO have organised the match on the artificial pitch in Hollenbach. The event starts two hours before kick-off at 15.30 CET. Entrance is free for children up to and including the age of 13. 14 to 17-year-olds, school students, students, OAPs and women pay the concession rate of €5. Full price admission is €10.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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