1. FC Nuremberg

1. FC Nürnberg

Full name	1. Fußball-Club Nürnberg Verein für Leibesübungen e. V.
Nickname(s)	Der Club Die Legende Der Altmeister
Founded	4 May 1900
Ground	Frankenstadion, Nuremberg (Capacity: 48,553)
President	Franz Schäfer
Manager	Dieter Hecking
League	Fußball-Bundesliga
2009/10	1. Bundesliga, 16th
Home colours Away colours

1. FC Nuremberg (German: 1. FC Nürnberg) is a German football club in Nuremberg, Bavaria. It was founded on 4 May 1900 by a group of eighteen young men who had gathered at the local pub called the "Burenhütte" to assemble a side committed to playing football rather than rugby, one of the other new "English" games becoming popular at the time. Today's club offers its members boxing, handball, hockey, rollerblading and ice skating, swimming, skiing, and tennis. After a difficult 2009-10 campaign, they avoided relegation from the first division Bundesliga by beating the third place 2. Bundesliga finisher FC Augsburg in a play-off at the end of the season.

History

Rise of "Der Club"

Team from 1902

First match against Bayern München 1901

By 1909 the team was playing well enough to lay claim to the South German championship. After World War I, Nürnberg would gradually turn their success into dominance of the country's football. In the period from July 1918 to February 1922 the team would go unbeaten in 104 official matches. As early as 1919 they came to be referred to simply as "Der Club" in recognition of their skill and of their style on and off the field, and would go on to become one of the nation's most widely recognized and popular teams.

Nürnberg faced SpVgg Fürth in the first national championship held after the end of World War I and beat the defending champions 2:0. That would be the first of five titles Der Club would capture over the course of eight years. In each of those wins they would shutout their opponents.

The 1922 final was contested by Nürnberg and Hamburger SV but never reached a conclusion on the pitch. The match was called on account of darkness after three hours and ten minutes of play, drawn at 2:2. The re-match also went into extra time, and in an era that did not allow for substitutions, that game was called at 1:1 when Nürnberg was reduced to just seven players and the referee ruled incorrectly they could not continue. Considerable wrangling ensued over the decision. The DFB (Deutscher Fußball Bund or German Football Association) awarded the win to Hamburg, under the condition that they renounce the title in the name of "good sportsmanship" – which they grudgingly did. Ultimately, the Viktoria trophy was not officially presented that year.

After the Glory Years

1. FCN's dominance was already being to fade when they captured their final trophy of the era in 1927 as the game began to evolve into a more quickly paced contest which did not suit their slower, more deliberate approach. While they continued to field strong sides, other clubs rose to the forefront of German football. In 1934, they lost in the final to Schalke 04 a club that would go on to become the strongest side in the era of football under the Third Reich. Nürnberg would capture national titles just before and after World War II in 1936 and 1948 in the first post-war national final, and would also take the Tschammerpokal, the forerunner of today's German Cup, in 1935 and 1939.

Into the Modern Era

The post-war period began with the Club being integrated in the Oberliga Süd, one of the five top divisions in West-Germany at the time. Nürnberg managed to win this league six times until 1963, winning the national championship in 1948. In 1961, 1. FCN captured their eighth national title and appeared in a losing effort in the following year's final. Some consolation was to be had in the team capturing its second German Cup in 1962. Their strong play made them an obvious choice to be amongst the sixteen teams selected to the Bundesliga, Germany's new professional football league, formed in 1963. Der Club played as a mid-table side through the league's early years until putting on a dominating performance in 1968 in which they sat atop the league table from the fifth week of play on to the end of the season on their way to their first Bundesliga title. They promptly went on to the ignominy of being relegated the next year as coach Max Merkel decided his veteran team was too old and so rid the club of its existing players in favour of a dozen newcomers.

It would take the club nine years to recover and return from an exile in the second tier, first the Regionalliga Süd, then the 2nd Bundesliga Süd, that included several failed efforts in the promotion rounds. 1. FCN returned to the Bundesliga for a year in 1978, but played to a 17th place finish and were relegated again. They immediately played their way back to the top flight, but since then their Bundesliga performances have been stumbling ones, characterized by finishes well down the league table and occasional relegation for a season or two. Their best recent result was a fifth place finish in 1988.

The early 1980s also saw the rise of a longstanding and intense friendship between the fans of Nürnberg and those of former arch rival FC Schalke 04. Fans accompany each others on their respective away games, and the two season matches between the teams are generally a very laid-back and hospitable affair for all fans involved.

In the mid-90's Nürnberg had financial problems that led to their being penalized 6 points in the 1995-96 season while playing in the 2. Bundesliga. The club was relegated to the third division as a consequence. Improved management saw the club clawing back and return to the top flight eventually.

However, in 1999, FCN suffered what was arguably the worst meltdown in Bundesliga history. Going into the last game of the season, they were in 12th place, three points and five goals ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt who were sitting in 16th place and seemingly headed to relegation. Nürnberg was closing out the season with what looked to be an easy home game against SC Freiburg who were also facing relegation. Frankfurt was up against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, last season's champions who were in a fight for a UEFA Champions League spot. Therefore FCN had already begun soliciting season tickets for next Bundesliga season in a letter to current season ticket holders within celebrating successfully avoiding relegation.

The stage was set for an improbable outcome. Nürnberg lost 1:2 with Frank Baumann missing a chance to score in the last minute. Every other FCN rival won, including Frankfurt, who whipped FCK 5:1 with three late tallies - this put them ahead on goals scored and sent FCN crashing to 16th place and into a shock relegation. FCN was not relegated because they had fewer points than Frankfurt, nor because of a lower goal differential, but on the third tie-breaker - fewer goals scored.

Current Coach Dieter Hecking

1. FCN rebounded and played in the Bundesliga but still found themselves flirting with relegation from season to season. However, they had comfortably avoided relegation in the 2005–06 season finishing 8th in the Bundesliga. After several years of consolidation, Nürnberg seemed back as a force to reckon with in Bundesliga football. Manager Martin Bader's professional and sometimes even spectacular work till spring 2007 (the signing of former Ajax Amsterdam captain and Czech international Tomáš Galásek, for example, was greeted with enthusiasm), as well head coach Hans Meyer's tactically modern understanding of football, helped Nürnberg to its most successful time in almost 40 years. In May 2007 the cut for the UEFA Cup was sure and after the triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal the Club was in the final of that tournament for the first time since 1982. On 26 May the Club won this final against VfB Stuttgart in overtime 3:2, winning the DFB Pokal again 45 years after the last victory. However in the first round of 2007–2008 the team could convince no more in Bundesliga. As the team had ended up second in UEFA_Cup_2007–08#Group_A in front of later champion Zenit St. Petersburg after defeating Rapid Bucureşti in UEFA_Cup_2007–08#First_round head coach Hans Meyer was allowed to restructurate the team, e.g. buying Jan Koller. In the consequence of no improvement Meyer was replaced by Thomas von Heesen after two legs in second round. The latter one didn't do much better and so FCN was relegated after finishing 16th after losing a 2-0 home match against FC Schalke 04 on the final day. After not meeting the expectations of dominating the 2. Bundesliga von Heesen resigned in August and was replaced by his assistant coach Michael Oenning. After a slow start Oenning was able to guide Nuremberg to a 3rd place finish and a playoff with 16th place Energie Cottbus. Nuremberg won the playoff 5:0 on aggragate and will play in the 1st Bundesliga in 2009.

Rivals

See also:Bavarian football derbys

The SpVgg Greuther Fürth is by far the 1. FCN's biggest and longest standing local rival, going back to the early days of German football when, at times, those two clubs dominated the national championship. Both clubs played together in the 2nd Bundesliga in 2008–09.

On Bavarian scale, the games against FC Bayern Munich are the biggest events of the year, the two clubs being the most successful sides in the state.

Reserve team

The 1. FC Nuremberg II (or 1. FC Nuremberg Amateure) qualified for the Regionalliga Süd on the strength of a third place in the Oberliga Bayern (IV) in 2007–08. The team had been playing in the Oberliga since 1998, finishing runners-up three times in those years. When not playing in the Oberliga, the team used to belong to the Landesliga Bayern-Mitte.

Recent seasons

Honours

Der Club boasted the title of Deutscher Rekordmeister as holder of the most championships for over sixty years (although occasionally having to share the honour with Schalke) before being overtaken by Bayern Munich in 1987.

Germany honours its Bundesliga champions by allowing them to display the gold stars of the "Verdiente Meistervereine" – one star for three titles, two stars for five, and three stars for ten. However, currently only titles earned since 1963 in the Bundesliga are officially recognized. Despite winning the national title nine times, Nürnberg – the country's second most successful side – is not entitled to sport any championship stars.

National

• German Football Championship, Oberliga Süd & Fußball-Bundesliga
  • Champions: 1920, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1936, 1947-48, 1960-61, 1967-68
  • Runners-up: 1922, 1934, 1937, 1961-62
• DFB-Pokal
  • Winners: 1935, 1939, 1962, 2007
  • Runners-up: 1940, 1982
• Süddeutsche Meisterschaft
  • Champions: 1916, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1927, 1929
• Southern German Cup
  • Winners: 1919, 1924
• Bavarian champions: 1907
• Ostkreis-Liga
  • Champions: 1916, 1918
• Kreisliga Nordbayern
  • Champions: 1920, 1921
• Bezirksliga Bayern
  • Champions: 1924, 1925, 1927
• Bezirksliga Nordbayern
  • Champions: 1929, 1932, 1933
• Gauliga Bayern
  • Champions: 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940
• Gauliga Bayern (northern division)
  • Champions: 1943, 1944
• Oberliga Süd
  • Champions: 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1961, 1962
• Regionalliga Süd (II)
  • Champions: 1971
• 2nd Bundesliga Süd (II)
  • Champions: 1980
• 2nd Bundesliga (II)
  • Champions: 1985, 2001, 2004

Youth

• German Under 19 champions
  • Winners: 1974
  • Runners-up: 1979, 1986, 1989
• German Under 17 championship
  • Runners-up: 1987
• German Under 19 Cup
  • Winners: 1987, 1988, 1993
• Southern German Under 19 championship
  • Winners: 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971
• Bavarian Under 19 championship
  • Winners: 1946, 1956, 1958, 1960–62, 1964, 1965, 1967–71, 1974–77, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1999, 2002, 2009
  • Runners-up: 1950, 1959, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1981–83, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990–94, 1996, 2000, 2008
• Bavarian Under 17 championship
  • Winners: 1977, 1982, 1987, 1990–92, 1996, 1999
  • Runners-up: 1975, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2000
• Bavarian Under 15 championship
  • Winners: 1976, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008
  • Runners-up: 1980, 1982, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2009

Stadium

Frankenstadion August 2006

"Der Club" plays in the communally owned Frankenstadion (former Städtisches Stadion renamed in 1990), which until recently accommodated 48,553 spectators (34,700 seats). The stadium was built in 1928 and was known as Stadion der Hitler-Jugend from 1933 to 1945. Originally having a capacity of 40,000 spectators, it was expanded in 1965 to hold 65,000 and subsequently hosted the 1967 final between Bayern Munich and Rangers, won 1:0 by the German side.

The facility was refurbished for the 1974 World Cup and another recently completed renovation allowed it to seat 45,000 for four preliminary round matches and one Round of 16 contest of the FIFA World Cup 2006.

The Frankenstadion since 2006 bears the commercial name "EasyCredit Stadium" under an arrangement with a local bank. The majority of the fans was in favour of renaming it after club legend Max Morlock, but they have to wait at least six years for that to happen, as this is the period of the contractual arrangement - but by then it might well be named after another product.

Team trivia

• The Club prides itself of two World Cup winning players from its ranks. Striker Max Morlock was part of the 1954 Miracle of Bern side, while goalkeeper Andreas Köpke was part of Germany's 1990 team. In 1961 and 1993 respectively, both were awarded with the honour German Footballer of the Year.

• Nürnberg is the only defending champion to ever go directly from capturing the title (1968) to being relegated the next year (1969).

• 1. FCN hold the unfortunate distinction of having been relegated from the Bundesliga a record seven times.

• The 1927 final between Nürnberg and Hertha BSC Berlin was the first match to be broadcast live and in full on German radio.

• Nürnberg appeared in the first post-World War national championship matches held in 1920 and 1948, winning both times.

• Former coach Hans Meyer is the first trainer to have won the East German FDGB Cup and the DFB Cup.

Famous players and Coaches

Andreas Köpke 2006

Besides a legion of outstanding pre-war players such as Hans Kalb, Heiner Stuhlfauth, Hans "Bumbes" Schmidt, Swiss international Gustav Bark, Georg Hochgesang the Uebelein brothers, to name but a few from the golden era, these are the Club's heroes of more recent times:

The most famous coaches of the modern era would probably be

Outstanding coaches of the earlier years were Izidor "Dori" Kürschner (1921, 1922), Fred Spiksley (1913, 1920s), former player Alfred Schaffer (1930s), Dr. Karl Michalke (1930s), Alwin "Alv" Riemke (1940s–1950s) and former player Hans "Bumbes" Schmidt (1940s, 1950s), who notably did not win a single of his four German Championship titles as coach with Nürnberg, but three of them with the long standing main rivals FC Schalke 04. He was also four times champion as player, thereof three times with the Club, and once with the earlier arch rival SpVgg Fürth.

Manager History (since 1963)

Current squad

For recent transfers, see List of German football transfers summer 2010 and List of German football transfers winter 2009–10.

As of 14 July 2010 (2010 -07-14)^[update]

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Raphael Schäfer 2 MF Timmy Simons 3 DF Per Nilsson 5 DF Andreas Wolf (captain) 6 DF Dominic Maroh 8 FW Christian Eigler 10 FW Albert Bunjaku 11 MF Marek Mintál 12 GK Daniel Klewer 13 MF Jens Hegeler (on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen) 14 MF Róbert Mak 15 MF Christoph Sauter 16 MF Juri Judt 17 MF Mike Frantz

No. Position Player 18 MF Almog Cohen 19 FW Isaac Boakye 20 DF Pascal Bieler 21 MF Dario Vidošić 22 MF İlkay Gündoğan 23 FW Julian Schieber (on loan from VfB Stuttgart) 25 DF Javier Pinola 29 FW Rubin Okotie 30 GK Alexander Stephan 32 GK Daniel Batz 33 DF Felicio Brown Forbes 37 MF Mehmet Ekici (on loan from FC Bayern Munich) 38 DF Philipp Wollscheid

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player DF Matthew Špiranović (at Urawa Red Diamonds until 31 December 2010)

1. FC Nuremberg II squad

Former Chairmen

• Michael A. Roth

External links

• FC Nuremberg
• The Abseits Guide to German Soccer