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Freiburger FC
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Freiburger FC (German: [ˌfʁaɪbʊʁɡɐ ɛfˈtseː] ⓘ) is a German association football club based in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. Freiburger FC were one of the founding clubs of the DFB (German Football Association) in 1900.
Key Information
History
[edit]Founded in 1897, for many decades FFC were the dominant club in the city. Their early successes included a South German title in their second season and a national championship in 1907. The club were also semi-finalists of the Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva, one of the first international football competitions in the world, in 1908. Those wins proved to be the height of their success, and they have not won any significant honours since. In 1916, the club managed to win the Südkreis-Liga but the competition was heavily affected by the war and very localised.
The club belonged to the tier-one Kreisliga Südwest and then the Bezirksliga Baden throughout its existence from 1923 to 1933. They played mid-table in the Gauliga Baden through the 1930s, and after the Second World War, entered the 2. Oberliga Süd.
With the formation of the Bundesliga, Germany's professional football league, in 1963, Freiburg found themselves seeded in the tier II Regionalliga Süd, while SC Freiburg were playing in the Amateurliga Südbaden (III). FFC slipped to that level for three seasons in 1974–77 before playing their way back to 2. Bundesliga. However the team could not draw support and suffered from poor attendance throughout the following five-year period spent in the 2nd division. When they were relegated to the amateur Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 1982, only a saving campaign by fans kept the club out of bankruptcy, while SC Freiburg remained in the 2. Bundesliga on their way to the top flight.
Since 1994, FFC played in the Verbandsliga Südbaden, interrupted by the 1999–2000 season, when the club dropped to the Landesliga for a year. In 2009, the club's decline continued with a more permanent drop to the Landesliga. After finishing third in its first two attempts at promotion the club came second in the Landesliga in 2011–12 and qualified for the promotion round to the Verbandsliga. After a 2–2 draw at FC Radolfzell the club achieved promotion by defeating SC Offenburg 5–1.[1]
Continued financial problems forced Freiburger FC to sell its Möslestadion and enter into a sharing arrangement with Blau-Weiß Wiehre. Their former stadium was taken up by SC Freiburg as a youth facility.
After a twenty-year absence, Freiburger FC returned to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg after winning the Verbandsliga title in 2014 but were relegated again in 2016 season after just two seasons at this level. In the 2018–19 season the club finished second in the Verbandsliga Südbaden and were again promoted to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg.
Venues
[edit]Freiburger FC has played home matches on the sports ground on Schwarzwaldstrasse on the eastern edge of the Freiburg city since 1898. The first international football match in a Freiburg venue took place on this stadium, which could hold up to 6,000 spectators. The Germany national team played an international friendly match against Switzerland on 18 May 1913 and Germany lost by 1–2 in front of 10,000 spectators.[2] In 1922 the FFC moved to the new Möslestadion. In 2000 the club moved to the Schönberg Stadium, and, since 2008, it has been playing in the Freiburg Stadium in Dietenbach.
Honours
[edit]
League[edit]
|
Cup[edit]
|
Recent managers
[edit]Recent managers of the club:[3]
| Manager | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Walter Güntner | 1 July 1989 | 22 November 1989 |
| Ata Lameck | 23 November 1989 | 21 February 1990 |
| Uwe Ehret | 22 February 1990 | 30 June 1993 |
| Maximilian Heidenreich | 1 January 2001 | 30 June 2007 |
| Ralf Eckert | 1 July 2013 | Present |
Recent seasons
[edit]The recent season-by-season performance of the club:[4][5]
| Season | Division | Tier | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | Landesliga Südbaden | VI | ↑ |
| 2000–01 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | V | 10th |
| 2001–02 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 10th | |
| 2002–03 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 6th | |
| 2003–04 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 7th | |
| 2004–05 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 5th | |
| 2005–06 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 11th | |
| 2006–07 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 6th | |
| 2007–08 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 4th | |
| 2008–09 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | VI | 13th ↓ |
| 2009–10 | Landesliga Südbaden 2 | VII | 3rd |
| 2010–11 | Landesliga Südbaden 2 | 3rd | |
| 2011–12 | Landesliga Südbaden 2 | 2nd ↑ | |
| 2012–13 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | VI | 8th |
| 2013–14 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 1st ↑ | |
| 2014–15 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | V | 15th |
| 2015–16 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | 13th ↓ | |
| 2016–17 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | VI | 2nd |
| 2017–18 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 2nd | |
| 2018–19 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 2nd ↑ |
- 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.
| ↑ Promoted | ↓ Relegated |
Partner clubs
[edit]The club has strong connections to English football club Guildford City F.C., with Guildford being a sister city of Freiburg, and publishes news and results of the later club on its website.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ 2011–12 season statistics Archived 1 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Freiburger FC website, accessed: 12 July 2012
- ^ "International friendly match of Germany". eu-football.info. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Freiburger FC .:. Trainer von A-Z (in German) weltfussball.de, accessed: 23 September 2011
- ^ Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv (in German) Historical German domestic league tables
- ^ Fussball.de – Ergebnisse Archived 18 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Tables and results of all German football leagues
- ^ Guildford City Archived 23 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine FFC website, accessed: 23 September 2011
- ^ Partner clubs Archived 5 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Guildford City F.C. website, accessed: 23 September 2011
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Old website, archived
- Abseits Guide to German Soccer
- Freiburger FC profile at Weltfussball.de
- Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables (in German)
Freiburger FC
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History
Founding and early years (1897–1918)
Freiburger FC was established on 17 December 1897 in Freiburg im Breisgau by a group of former students from the local Gymnasium and Oberrealschule, including key figures such as Ernst Schottelius, Felix Hunn, and others like Liefmann, Karding, Manning, Wagner, Geiss, Haller, Schilling, Burkhart, and Butz.[4] These young men, having played football in precursor school clubs formed in 1893 under the influence of sport-enthusiast teacher Heinrich Rösch, sought to continue their amateur pursuits after completing their Abitur, marking the club as one of Germany's oldest football associations and a product of the burgeoning student-driven football movement in the region.[5] The founders emphasized an amateur ethos, with no professional structures, focusing on camaraderie, physical education, and regional competition among like-minded enthusiasts.[1] As one of the pioneering clubs in southern Germany, Freiburger FC played a pivotal role in the sport's organization, becoming a founding member of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) on 28 January 1900 in Leipzig, where it was represented alongside 85 other associations to unify national football governance.[6] The club quickly established itself competitively, securing its first major honor as South German champions (Süddeutscher Meister) in the 1897/98 season, just one year after inception, by defeating regional rivals in early tournaments that highlighted the unstructured yet passionate nature of pre-league play.[1] Early players like founding member and versatile forward Felix Hunn, who contributed to both organizational and on-field efforts, embodied the club's amateur spirit, while captain Ernst Schottelius led the team with a focus on tactical discipline derived from student athletics.[4] The pinnacle of the club's early era came in 1907, when Freiburger FC captured both the South German championship and the national title, the first for any southern club.[7] In the Südkreis qualification, they dominated the Oberrhein group with victories including 2–0 and 4–2 over Straßburger FV and a resounding 12–0 and 6–2 against FC Mühlhausen 93, showcasing rivalries with Alsatian and Black Forest opponents.[8] Advancing to the South German final, they overcame 1. FC Nürnberg 1–1 (away) and 3–1 (home), then in the national semifinals defeated 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig 3–2, with goals from Burkart and Mayer, before clinching the Deutsche Meisterschaft 3–1 against Viktoria 89 Berlin in the final on 16 June 1907 in Mannheim.[7] Standout amateur players included national team member Dr. Joseph Glaser, a defender who earned five caps between 1909 and 1912 and captained three internationals, and forward Heiner Mechling, who scored on his 1912 debut for Germany.[1] Beyond domestic triumphs, Freiburger FC ventured internationally in 1908, participating in the inaugural Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva in Turin, Italy—one of the world's first club tournaments—where they reached the semifinals before elimination, facing teams from Switzerland, France, and Italy in matches that underscored the club's growing reputation across borders.[9] Within the Südkreis-Liga, introduced in 1908 as a structured regional competition divided into subgroups like Oberrhein to qualify for South German playoffs, the club navigated intense rivalries with powerhouses such as Karlsruher FV and Stuttgarter Kickers, often finishing competitively but falling short of further national berths until wartime disruptions.[1] Their final pre-war highlight was the 1915/16 Südkreis-Liga title, won amid regional league play that emphasized endurance and local derbies, reinforcing Freiburger FC's status as a foundational amateur force in German football before the era's end in 1918.[1]Interwar and World War II era (1919–1945)
Following the end of World War I, Freiburger FC integrated into the regional football structure under the Southern German Football Association, competing in the Kreisliga Südwest during the early 1920s before transitioning to the Bezirksliga Baden, the top tier for Baden clubs from 1923 to 1933.[10] The club achieved notable success in this period, including winning the Südwest championship in the 1919–20 season and securing the Bezirksliga Baden title in 1930 with a 4–2 victory over Karlsruher FV in the final.[10][1] These regional titles qualified Freiburger FC for the Southern German championship playoffs, though they often finished mid-table or lower, such as 8th in the 1929–30 final group with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses.[10] The economic challenges of the Great Depression in the late 1920s and early 1930s strained club operations across Germany, including reduced attendance and sponsorship in regional leagues like the Bezirksliga Baden, but Freiburger FC maintained competitive participation through local successes.[11] Political upheaval culminated in the Nazi regime's 1933 reorganization of German football, dissolving the existing regional leagues and establishing the Gauliga system as part of the Gleichschaltung policy to centralize control under the German Football Association (DFB). As Bezirksliga Baden champions, Freiburger FC qualified for the inaugural Gauliga Baden in 1933–34, where they finished as runners-up in the initial season before settling into mid-table finishes throughout the 1930s.[12][13] In the Gauliga Baden, Freiburger FC demonstrated consistency, achieving 3rd place in 1933–34 (21 points from 18 matches) and again in 1938–39 (22 points), alongside 4th-place finishes in 1936–37 and 1939–40.[12] The club also made national headlines in cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the Tschammer-Pokal (precursor to the DFB-Pokal) in 1935 with a 6–2 loss to FC Schalke 04, and advancing to the round of 16 in 1938 after a 3–1 win over Hannover 96.[1] Wartime disruptions from World War II increasingly affected operations starting in 1939, with player shortages due to military conscription leading to reduced match schedules and reliance on youth and reserve players; by 1941–42, the league split into regional groups, where Freiburger FC placed 2nd in the Süd staffel but 4th overall.[12] The 1943–44 season marked the club's final competitive outing in the Gauliga Baden, topping the Süd staffel before finishing 3rd in the endround, highlighted by a 17–0 rout of FC Kickers Haslach, though overall play was limited to fewer than 10 matches amid escalating war efforts.[12] Organized football ceased entirely in November 1944 following the Allied bombing of Freiburg on 27 November, which damaged facilities and ended league activities; the club survived the war through informal training and community involvement, navigating Nazi oversight without reported dissolution.[12]Post-war development and modern period (1946–present)
Following the end of World War II, Freiburger FC reformed in 1946 and resumed competitive play under the temporary name Fortuna Freiburg due to post-war restrictions on original club names. In 1949, the club won the Zonenliga Süd title, securing promotion to higher divisions. By the early 1950s, Freiburger FC had entered the Oberliga Süd, Germany's top regional league at the time, where it competed from 1954 to 1963 with consistent mid-table finishes, such as third place in the 1954/55 season and several placements between fifth and tenth in the late 1950s.[1][14] The introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963 placed Freiburger FC in the second-tier Regionalliga Süd, where it played from 1963 to 1974, achieving notable success including a vice-championship in the 1968/69 season but failing in the promotion playoffs to the Bundesliga after losses to teams like Rot-Weiss Essen. Relegation followed in 1974 to the Amateurliga Südbaden, but the club rebounded by winning the Südbadischer Meister title in 1977, earning promotion to the 2. Bundesliga Süd for the 1977/78 season. Freiburger FC maintained mid-table stability in the second division through 1981/82, qualifying for the unified 2. Bundesliga structure, before relegation at the end of the 1981/82 campaign.[1][15] From 1982 onward, the club competed primarily in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg (fourth tier), experiencing periods of stability in the 1980s and 1990s interspersed with relegations, such as drops to the Verbandsliga Südbaden in 1990 and 1994, followed by immediate promotions back in 1991. A further relegation to the Landesliga in 1999 coincided with severe financial difficulties, including near-bankruptcy, which was averted through member donations and creditor concessions, allowing the club to stabilize as an amateur outfit. Subsequent promotions returned Freiburger FC to the Oberliga in 2014 and again in 2019 after winning the Verbandsliga Südbaden.[1] The 21st century has seen Freiburger FC embrace its role in regional amateur football, with a emphasis on sustainable operations and community engagement amid repeated tier fluctuations. The club was relegated from the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 2023 after finishing last with 18 points, dropping to the sixth-tier Verbandsliga Südbaden. In the 2023/24 season, it finished eighth in the Verbandsliga Südbaden. As of November 2025, midway through the 2024/25 season, Freiburger FC sits in 14th place in the same division, reflecting ongoing adaptation to lower-tier competition.[1][14]Club Identity and Facilities
Colours, crest, and kits
Freiburger FC's traditional colours are red and white, drawn from the flag of Freiburg im Breisgau, which features a red cross on a white field, and have been used by the club since its founding in 1897 to symbolize local identity.[16] These colours reflect the club's deep roots in the city and its commitment to representing regional pride. The current crest consists of a bold red "F" centered on a white circular background, flanked by subtle football elements such as a ball and stylized lines evoking motion and heritage.[17] The club's home uniform features a red jersey paired with white shorts.[18] Symbolically, the red and white palette embodies Swabian heritage, evoking the resilience and community spirit of the Breisgau region, while underscoring Freiburger FC's enduring amateur ethos amid professionalized football landscapes.[19]Home grounds and venues
Freiburger FC's earliest home matches took place at the Alter Messplatz, commonly referred to as the Engländerplätze, situated at Schwarzwaldstraße/Möslestraße in Freiburg from 1903 to 1922. This modest field served as the club's initial dedicated venue starting in 1910 and accommodated up to 6,000 spectators. It gained historical significance by hosting Germany's first international football match in Freiburg on 18 May 1913, a 1–2 defeat to Switzerland.[20] In 1922, the club relocated to the newly constructed Möslestadion in the Littenweiler district at Waldseestraße 75, which remained its primary home until 2000. With a normal capacity of 18,000—expandable to 25,000 using temporary stands—the stadium facilitated the club's professional era, including stints in the 2. Bundesliga during the late 1970s, when attendances for prominent fixtures often approached 12,000. The venue endured a major setback in 1953 when fire destroyed its main tribune, but reconstruction enabled reopening by 14 August 1954. Möslestadion also hosted notable friendlies and cup ties, such as a 1982 DFB-Pokal clash against FC Bayern Munich drawing 18,000 fans.[20][21][1] To accommodate renovations at Möslestadion, Freiburger FC temporarily shifted to the Schönbergstadion in the Haslach/Wiehre district at Wiesentalstraße 2 from 2000 to 2008. This facility, with a capacity of 5,000, featured expanded amenities including player cabins and additional fields to support the club's operations during the transition period.[20] The club's current home is the Stadion im Dietenbachpark, known as the Rosskopf-Arena since 2012 sponsorship, located in the Weingarten district at Robert-Ruh-Weg 1 since July 2008. Boasting a capacity of 2,000, the modern amateur-level venue includes a natural grass pitch alongside floodlit artificial turf surfaces, providing essential infrastructure for senior matches and youth training programs.[22][20]Achievements
Domestic league honours
Freiburger FC has achieved several notable successes in German domestic football leagues since its founding in 1897, particularly in regional competitions during the early 20th century and periodic promotions in the post-war era. The club's early dominance in southern German football included two South German championships, which qualified them for national playoffs, though they secured only one national title. In the interwar period, they captured local titles in Baden, establishing regional prominence. Post-World War II, Freiburger FC experienced fluctuations between lower divisions but earned promotions to higher tiers, including a stint in the second division, without claiming top-tier honours. The club's inaugural major honour came in 1898, when they won the Southern German championship by defeating 1. FC Pforzheim 6–1 in the final, having earlier defeated Karlsruher FV 4–3, marking their first regional supremacy.[23] Nine years later, in 1907, Freiburger FC repeated as Southern German champions and advanced to the national championship playoffs, where they overcame VfB Leipzig 3-2 in the semi-final before clinching the German title with a 3-1 victory over Viktoria 89 Berlin in the final held in Mannheim.[23][10] These triumphs highlighted their early competitive edge against Bavarian and other southern rivals in playoff formats. Pre-World War I, Freiburger FC demonstrated sustained regional strength by winning the Südkreis-Liga in 1916, securing the Oberrhein title amid wartime disruptions that limited national play.[23] In the 1920s, they continued this form with the Kreisliga Südwest championship in 1920, followed by multiple Bezirksliga Baden titles, including victories in 1924 and 1928, which solidified their status as a leading force in Baden football during the interwar years.[23] By 1930, they captured the Bezirksliga Baden outright, defeating Karlsruher FV 4-2 in the final to affirm their local dominance.[23] After World War II, under the temporary name Fortuna Freiburg, the club won the Zonenliga Süd in 1949 before reverting to its original identity.[23] In 1956, they claimed the 2. Liga Süd title, earning promotion to the Oberliga Süd, Germany's then-top regional division, though they could not sustain top-tier presence.[23] The most significant post-war achievement came in 1977, when victory in the Verbandsliga Südbaden (as Südbadischer Meister) and a perfect 12-point record in the promotion round propelled them into the 2. Bundesliga for the 1978–79 season, where they competed against national professionals before relegation.[23] Further promotions followed, including the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg championship in 1984 and Verbandsliga Südbaden in 1991, but no returns to the second tier materialized.[23] In recent decades, Freiburger FC has focused on lower-division stability with key promotions from the Verbandsliga Südbaden, finishing as runners-up in 2018–19 to secure elevation to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg after playoff success.[23][24] Despite these accomplishments, the club has not won Bundesliga or equivalent top-flight titles, reflecting their role as a historic regional contender rather than a national powerhouse.| Season | Competition | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | Southern German Championship | Champions | Defeated 1. FC Pforzheim 6:1 in final (after 4:3 win over Karlsruher FV) |
| 1907 | Southern German Championship | Champions | Qualified for national playoffs |
| 1907 | German Football Championship | Champions | 3–1 win vs. Viktoria 89 Berlin in final |
| 1916 | Südkreis-Liga | Champions | Oberrhein regional title |
| 1920 | Kreisliga Südwest | Champions | Local Baden supremacy |
| 1924, 1928 | Bezirksliga Baden | Champions | Multiple interwar titles |
| 1930 | Bezirksliga Baden | Champions | 4–2 win vs. Karlsruher FV in final |
| 1956 | 2. Liga Süd | Champions | Promotion to Oberliga Süd |
| 1977 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | Champions | Promotion to 2. Bundesliga (1978–79) |
| 1984 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | Champions | Regional third-tier title |
| 2018–19 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | Runners-up | Promotion to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg |
Domestic cup successes
Freiburger FC's involvement in domestic cup competitions dates back to the formative years of organized football in Germany, where regional knockout tournaments served as pathways to national honors. In 1907, the club secured the South German championship through a series of qualifying matches, advancing to the German football championship final, which they won 3–1 against Viktoria 89 Berlin to claim the national title.[25] This success highlighted their early prowess in cup-style formats prevalent at the time.[26] During the interwar period, Freiburger FC participated in the Tschammer-Pokal, the precursor to the modern DFB-Pokal, from 1935 to 1944. Their most notable achievements included reaching the semifinals in 1935, where they lost 2–6 to FC Schalke 04, and the second round in 1938.[27] Post-World War II, the club resumed competitive play and achieved success in regional cups. They won the Landespokal Südbaden (South Baden Cup) in the 1950–51 season, qualifying for national-level exposure.[24] In the inaugural seasons of the DFB-Pokal starting in 1963, Freiburger FC made sporadic but memorable appearances, often as underdogs from lower divisions. A standout moment came in the 1965–66 DFB-Pokal, when the club, competing in the 2. Oberliga Süd, upset Bundesliga outfit Alemannia Aachen with a 4–3 first-round victory before exiting in the round of 16 against Karlsruher SC (1–3).[27] This run exemplified their ability to challenge higher-tier opposition in knockout formats during the 1960s. Further progress occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s; in 1978–79, they advanced to the second round after a 6–1 first-round win over SpVgg Neckarelz, followed by a 2–2 draw (lost 2–3 in replay) against 1. FC Bocholt.[27] Their deepest postwar DFB-Pokal campaign was in 1981–82, reaching the round of 16 with convincing victories over TSV Woltmershausen (4–0), TuS Celle (5–1), and Holstein Kiel (2–0), only to fall 0–3 to FC Bayern München.[27] The 1990s marked a resurgence in regional cup play, with consecutive Landespokal Südbaden triumphs in 1990–91 and 1991–92, the latter earning entry into the DFB-Pokal where they again reached the round of 16 via wins against Chemnitzer FC (3–1), Karlsruher SC Amateure (3–2), and Rot-Weiß Hasborn (1–0), before a 1–6 defeat to VfB Stuttgart.[24][27] In the Südbadischer Pokal during the 2010s, Freiburger FC frequently competed at the higher stages, demonstrating sustained regional competitiveness despite operating outside professional leagues.Other notable accomplishments
Freiburger FC played a pivotal role in the establishment of organized football in Germany as one of the 86 founding members of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) on January 28, 1900, in Leipzig, contributing to the governance and standardization of the sport during its nascent stages.[6] Club members, including early figures like Gus Manning, were instrumental in forming the Verband Süddeutscher Fußballvereine in 1897, which later affiliated with the DFB and helped shape regional football structures.[28] The club gained early international exposure through participation in the Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva in Turin, Italy, in 1908—one of the earliest international club tournaments—where Freiburger FC advanced to the semi-finals before losing 3-1 to Torino.[29] This competition, organized by the Italian magazine La Stampa Sportiva, featured teams from France, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, marking a significant milestone in the club's cross-border engagements. Additionally, Freiburger FC was among the first German clubs to venture abroad, playing friendly matches against Swiss teams in 1905, which helped foster early European football connections.[1] Freiburger FC has long prioritized youth development and community involvement, establishing its youth department in 1903 to nurture young talent and promote the sport locally.[8] The club's enduring contributions were recognized in 1997 during its centennial celebration, when the DFB honored it as one of Germany's oldest football associations and a founding member, highlighting its lasting impact on the national game.[1] A key aspect of the club's history involves its intense local rivalry with SC Freiburg, stemming from competition for dominance in Freiburg's football scene since the early 20th century. This tension peaked in 1943 when the city administration pushed for a merger between the two clubs amid wartime constraints, but SC Freiburg rejected the proposal, preserving their separate identities and perpetuating the derby tradition.[30]Organization and Current Operations
Management and key personnel
Freiburger FC operates as a registered association (e.V.), embodying the traditional German amateur club model with a volunteer-driven structure that emphasizes community involvement and grassroots football. As of 2025, the club has approximately 641 members, including around 210 youth participants, reflecting its role as a local institution fostering sports across generations.[31][32] The club's leadership is headed by President Marita Hennemann, who has held the position since the early 2010s and focuses on integrating the club deeper into Freiburg's community fabric amid challenges from professional teams drawing away spectators. Under her guidance, the club has prioritized sustainability and local engagement to maintain its amateur ethos. The executive board, known as the Geschäftsführende Vorstände, includes 1st Chairman Andreas Eckert, 2nd Chairman Axel Rees, and 3rd Chairman Michael Musiol, all contributing on a voluntary basis to oversee operations, finances, and youth development. Recent elections in late 2024 added members such as Gregor Mohlberg and Ilir Balija to support the board's efforts.[33][34][35] The head coaching position is currently held by Mohamed Daoudi, appointed in September 2024, who emphasizes a balanced approach to team building with a strong focus on promoting youth talents from the club's academy into the senior squad. His staff includes assistant coach Karl-Luis Dees, goalkeeping coach Fabian Müller, physiotherapist Léon Pfeiffer, and team manager Michael Wagner, all operating within the club's resource-limited, volunteer-supported framework.[36] The evolution of management at Freiburger FC traces back to the post-World War II era, where figures like Hans Wendlandt (1954–1957) helped stabilize the club during its early regional competitions. In the 1970s, coaches such as Wolf-Dieter Siebert and notably Georg Gawliczek (1976–1978) drove key promotions, including the ascent to the 2. Bundesliga in 1977, marking a high point in the club's history. Subsequent decades saw longer tenures, exemplified by Ralf Eckert's 10-year stint from 2009 to 2019, which prioritized defensive solidity and youth integration before transitioning to Jan Ernst (2023–2024) and now Daoudi, adapting to the demands of lower-tier amateur football.[1]Recent seasons and league standings
In the 2016–17 season, Freiburger FC finished 16th in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, resulting in relegation to the Verbandsliga Südbaden. The club spent the next two seasons in the sixth tier, building momentum with consistent upper-table finishes. By the 2018–19 campaign, Freiburger FC secured second place in the Verbandsliga Südbaden, earning promotion back to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg through the promotion playoffs.[37] Following promotion, the team experienced mixed results in the fifth tier. In 2019–20, Freiburger FC placed 8th in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg before the season was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020–21 season saw a challenging finish at 20th, leading to relegation. Despite this, the club returned to the Oberliga for 2021–22, where they ended 14th, narrowly avoiding immediate further demotion but ultimately facing relegation at season's end.| Season | League | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | 16th | Relegated |
| 2018–19 | Verbandsliga Südbaden | 2nd | Promoted |
| 2019–20 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | 8th | Season abbreviated |
| 2020–21 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | 20th | Relegated |
| 2021–22 | Oberliga Baden-Württemberg | 14th | Relegated |
Partnerships and Affiliations
Sister and partner clubs
Freiburger FC maintains an informal collaboration with SC Freiburg, particularly through joint participation in the annual Karl-Heinz Bente-Turnier held in Bahlingen since 1985.[1] The club also fosters international ties via the city's longstanding twinning agreement with Guildford, England, established in 1979, enabling cultural programs.[41] These partnerships emphasize shared training camps and cultural events, promoting cross-border understanding and development in amateur football as of 2025.Involvement in regional football associations
Freiburger FC has been a longstanding member of the Südbadischer Fußballverband (SBFV), the regional football association for South Baden, since its inception on December 12, 1948, when the club was among the 293 founding members.[42] As one of the oldest clubs in the region, founded in 1897, Freiburger FC contributed to the early organizational framework of South Baden football, predating the formal SBFV structure but aligning with its post-World War II establishment to revive and standardize local competitions.[42] The club's influence extended to leadership roles within the SBFV, notably through Josef Glaser, a former Freiburger FC player who captained the 1907 German championship-winning team and earned five international caps for Germany between 1909 and 1912. Glaser served as SBFV president from 1949 to 1964, during which he also held positions on DFB committees, shaping amateur divisions and regional governance; he became the association's first honorary president in 1964 upon retirement.[42] Under his tenure, the SBFV introduced key structural reforms, including the Oberliga Südbaden as the premier regional league in the immediate postwar period, fostering competitive play among amateur clubs like Freiburger FC.[42] Post-1950 developments saw Freiburger FC actively participating in the evolution of South Baden's league system, which the SBFV refined to support amateur football growth. By 1977, the introduction of three Landesliga divisions enhanced promotion pathways from lower tiers, while the Verbandsliga Südbaden became the flagship amateur league in 1978, structures that Freiburger FC navigated through multiple promotions and relegations, including returns to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 2014 and 2019.[42][24] This legacy underscores the club's role in stabilizing and influencing the Oberliga and Verbandsliga frameworks, which integrate with the broader Badischer Fußballverband (BFV) oversight for Baden-Württemberg's amateur ecosystem.[42] In youth development, Freiburger FC maintains an active Jugendabteilung with 15 junior teams competing across SBFV leagues, from Oberliga and Verbandsliga levels down to Bezirk and local tournaments, contributing to the association's over 4,000 youth teams and talent pipelines.[43] The club participates in SBFV initiatives for junior select teams and regional cups, such as the Endspieltag der Jugend, aligning with broader BFV efforts to promote grassroots participation since the 2010s.[42]References
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