Bayer Giants Leverkusen
| Bayer Giants Leverkusen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1961 |
| League | Pro A (2nd division) |
| Team history |
TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1961-1983) TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1983-2000) Bayer Giants Leverkusen (2000-present) |
| Arena | Wilhelm Dopatka Halle (3,500 seats) |
| Based in | Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Colors | white and red |
| Head coach |
 Stephan Ruers |
| Championships |
14x German Champion: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 10x German Cup Champion: 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995 |
| Website | www.Bayer-Basketball.de |
Bayer Giants Leverkusen is a professional basketball club, part of the Bayer Leverkusen sports club based in Leverkusen, Germany. It currently plays in Pro A, German second league.
Based on the number of titles, Leverkusen is the most successful team in the history of German Basketball.[1] In 2009, the Bayer company cut down sponsorship and the club went down to Germany's Pro B (3rd division) to restructure. The license for the Basketball Bundesliga was transferred to the newly formed Giants Düsseldorf.
History
Founded as TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1961, the club moved up to first division Basketball Bundesliga in 1968. The club won 5 national championships and 4 German Cups as TuS 04 Leverkusen before it changed its name and continued its dominance as TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Until today, the club has won more national titles than any other German basketball team.[2]
To the disdain of all of its supporters, in 2008 the Bayer company decided to make dramatic cuts in its sponsorship for the team and simply focus on its football operations and amateur athletics. This move forced the club's basketball team to cede its Basketball Bundesliga license to the newly formed Giants Düsseldorf and move down to Germany’s 3rd Division Pro B to restructure.
Thousands of club supporters gathered in the streets of Leverkusen to protest the company’s move.[3][4]
On 2013, the club promotes to Pro A.
Season by season
| Season | Tier | League | Pos. | Postseason | German Cup | European competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Champion | Cup Winner's Cup Round of 16 |
| 1990–91 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Champion | Champions Cup quarterfinalist |
| 1991–92 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | – | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1992–93 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Champion | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1993–94 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Semifinalist | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1994–95 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Champion | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1995–96 | 1 | Bundesliga | 1 | Champion | Runner-up | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1996–97 | 1 | Bundesliga | 4 | Semifinalist | – | Euroleague Group stage |
| 1997–98 | 1 | Bundesliga | 8 | Quarterfinalist | – | EuroCup Round of 32 |
| 1998–99 | 1 | Bundesliga | 4 | Semifinalist | – | Korać Cup Group stage |
| 1999–00 | 1 | Bundesliga | 2 | Runner-up | – | Korać Cup Group stage |
| 2000–01 | 1 | Bundesliga | 3 | Semifinalist | Third position | SuproLeague Regular season |
| 2001–02 | 1 | Bundesliga | 5 | Quarterfinalist | – | Korać Cup Round of 16 |
| 2002–03 | 1 | Bundesliga | 8 | Quarterfinalist | – | Regional Challenge Cup North Runner-up |
| 2003–04 | 1 | Bundesliga | 8 | Quarterfinalist | – | – |
| 2004–05 | 1 | Bundesliga | 13 | – | – | – |
| 2005–06 | 1 | Bundesliga | 10 | – | – | – |
| 2006–07 | 1 | Bundesliga | 8 | Quarterfinalist | – | – |
| 2007–08 | 1 | Bundesliga | 6 | Quarterfinalist | – | – |
| 2008–09 | 4 | 1. Regionalliga | 1 | Promoted | – | – |
| 2009–10 | 3 | Pro B | 7 | – | – | – |
| 2010–11 | 3 | Pro B | 8 | Round of 16 | – | – |
| 2011–12 | 3 | Pro B | 11 | – | – | – |
| 2012–13 | 3 | Pro B | 5 | PromotedChampion | – | – |
2009-2010 Roster
| 4 |  |
Florian Trmal | Small Forward |
| 5 | |
Max Brauer | Shooting Guard |
| 7 | |
Tom Spöler | Small Forward |
| 9 | |
Farid Sadek | Shooting Guard |
| 10 |  |
Rodney Foster | Point Guard |
| 12 | |
Ben Spöler | Center |
| 13 | |
Lennard Jördell | Power Forward |
| 13 | |
Matthias Wojdyla | Small Forward |
| 15 | |
Moritz Thimm | Center |
| 17 | |
Sven Hartmann | Shooting Guard |
| 20 | |
Matthias Mauksch | Shooting Guard |
| 22 | |
Mathis Mönninghoff | Shooting Guard |
| 24 | |
Mostafa Shukoor | Shooting Guard |
| 40 | |
Hunter Henry | Power Forward |
Roster updated 03-31-2010
Notable players
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References
- ↑ http://www.leverkusen.com/bayer04/index2.php?site=history/index_e.html
- ↑ http://www.leverkusen.com/bayer04/index2.php?site=history/index_e.html
- ↑ http://www.rp-online.de/bergischesland/leverkusen/nachrichten/leverkusen/Giants-Fants-buhen-Dezernenten-aus_aid_545344.html
- ↑ http://www.rettet-die-giants.de/content/view/62/33/
External links
- Team Homepage (German)
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