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Kickers Offenbach
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Offenbacher Fussball-Club Kickers, commonly known as Kickers Offenbach, is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun. From 1921 to 1925 they were united with VfB 1900 Offenbach as VfR Kickers Offenbach until resuming their status as a separate side, Offenbacher FC Kickers.[1] The team plays its home games at the Stadion am Bieberer Berg.
Key Information
History
[edit]The club became one of the founding members of the Nordkreis-Liga in 1909, where it played until the outbreak of the war. In post-First World War Germany, Kickers played in the Kreisliga Südmain (I), winning this league in 1920, 1922 and 1923.
The club played as a mid-table side in the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen through the late 1920s and early 1930s. German football was re-organized in 1933 under the Third Reich into sixteen first division Gauligen. Kickers joined the Gauliga Südwest, where the team immediately captured the title and entered the national playoffs for the first time. They fared poorly there, but did manage to raise their overall level of play in the following seasons, going on to win five consecutive divisional championships from 1940 to 1944.[2]
In the early 1940s, the Gauliga Südwest had been split into the Gauliga Westmark and the Gauliga Hessen-Nassau, where Kickers played. Their best post-season result came in 1942 when the team was able to advance as far as the semi-finals in the national championship rounds before they were decisively put out 0:6 by Schalke 04, who were on their way to their sixth championship as the era's most dominant side. By 1944, Allied armies were rolling through Germany and the Gauliga Hessen-Nassau did not play the 1944–45 season. In their 1953 Asian Tour, they played twelve matches.[3]


Entry to the Bundesliga and scandal
[edit]The club found itself in the new Regionalliga Süd (II) and play in the Bundesliga would have to wait until 1968. The team was immediately relegated, but returned to the upper league for play in 1970–71. In addition to their return to the Bundesliga, the club would win one of its few honours in 1970 with a 2:1 German Cup victory over 1. FC Köln.
However, the end of the 1971 season would find Kickers Offenbach at the centre of the Bundesliga scandal. The club president, Horst-Gregorio Canellas, went to the German Football Association (Deutsche Fussball Bund or German Football Association) after being approached by a player from another team looking for a cash bonus for that club's effort in beating one of Offenbach's rivals in the fight against relegation. Receiving no help from league officials, Canellas began gathering evidence of how widespread the payoffs were. In the end more than fifty players from seven clubs, two coaches, and six game officials were found guilty of trying to influence the outcome of games through bribes, but Canellas was unable to save his club from relegation. The club central to the scandal – Arminia Bielefeld – would not be punished until the following season, too late to save Offenbach.[4]
The scandal had a negative effect on the young league and contributed to plummeting attendance figures. One outcome of the whole affair was the further evolution of German football; salary restrictions were removed and the 2. Bundesliga also became a professional league. Kickers immediately returned to the top level. The best finish was 7th in the 1972–73 season. They were leaders for 5 rounds and beat Bayern Munich 6–0 in the 1974–75 season but were relegated to the second level in the 1975–76 season.
Decline and recovery
[edit]Kickers spent the next seven years in the 2. Bundesliga before making a return to the Bundesliga for just a single season in 1983–84. In 1985, financial problems led to the club being penalized points and driven into the third division amateur Oberliga Hessen. They recovered, only to be denied a licence in 1989, and were sent back down again. By the mid-1990s they again slipped into the Oberliga Hessen (IV). They appeared in the final of the national amateur championship in 1994 where they lost 1–0 to Preußen Münster. Offenbach returned the 2. Bundesliga in 1999 and were immediately relegated after a 17th-place finish. In each of these seasons the team took part in the national amateur championship, winning the title in 1999.
The club next appeared in the 2. Bundesliga in 2005. After two lower table finishes, Kickers were relegated to the 3. Liga on the final day of the 2007–08 season following a 3–0 defeat to fellow strugglers VfL Osnabrück.
On 18 July 2012, the club's new ground was opened under the name Sparda-Bank-Hessen-Stadion with a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. The club was refused a 3. Liga licence at the end of the 2012–13 season and was relegated to the Regionalliga, with SV Darmstadt 98 taking its place. The club, €9 million in debt, could have faced insolvency and a restart at the lowest level of the German football league system.[5]
The club won the Regionalliga Südwest in 2014–15 and earned the right to take part in the promotion round to the 3. Liga, where they missed out on promotion to Magdeburg. The loss was overshadowed by approximately 40 Offenbach supporters storming the field in the 84th minute and forcing a twenty-minute interruption to the return leg.[6]
Recent seasons
[edit]The recent season-by-season performance of the team:[7][8]
Kickers Offenbach[edit]
|
Kickers Offenbach II[edit]
|
- 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. Also in 2008, the majority of football leagues in Hesse were renamed, with the Oberliga Hessen becoming the Hessenliga, the Landesliga becoming the Verbandsliga, the Bezirksoberliga becoming the Gruppenliga and the Bezirksliga becoming the Kreisoberliga.
Current squad
[edit]- As of 1 October 2025[16]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Coaches
[edit]The managers of the club:[17]
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Franz Nagy | 1922 |
| Rudolf Keller | 1926 |
| Mac Pherson | 1927 |
| Rudolf Keller | 1928 |
| Paul Oßwald | 1946–1958 |
| Bogdan Cuvaj | 1958–1962 |
| Hans Merkle | 1962–1964 |
| Radoslav Momirski | 1964–1965 |
| Kurt Baluses | 1965 – Feb. 1968 |
| Kurt Schreiner | Mar. – Jun. 1968 |
| Paul Oßwald | Jul. 1968 – Nov. 1969 |
| Kurt Schreiner | Dec. 1969 |
| Willi Keim | Dec. 1969 |
| Zlatko Čajkovski | Jan – Jul. 1970 |
| Kurt Schreiner | Aug. 1970 |
| Aki Schmidt | Sep. 1970 |
| Rudi Gutendorf | Sep. 1970 – Feb. 1971 |
| Kuno Klötzer | Feb. 1971 – Jun. 1972 |
| Gyula Lóránt | Jul. 1972 – Mar. 1974 |
| Otto Rehhagel | Apr. 1974 – Dec. 1975 |
| Zlatko Čajkovski | Jan. – Oct. 1976 |
| Udo Klug | Nov. 1976 – Jun. 1978 |
| Horst Heese | Jul. 1978 – Jun. 1980 |
| Franz Brungs | Jul. 1980 – May 1982 |
| Lothar Buchmann | Jun. 1982 – Mar. 1984 |
| Hermann Nuber | Mar. 1984 – Jun. 1984 |
| Fritz Fuchs | Jul – Dec 1984 |
| Horst Heese | Dec 1984 – Jun 1985 |
| Wilfried Kohls | Jul 1985 – Jun 1986 |
| Franz Brungs | Jul 1986 – May 1987 |
| Robert Jung | May 1987 – Jun 1987 |
| Dieter Renner | Jul 1987 – Mar 1989 |
| Nikolaus Semlitsch | Mar 1989 – Dec 1989 |
| Hans-Günter Neues | Dec 1989 – Apr 1990 |
| Kurt Geinzer | Apr 1990 – Jun 1992 |
| Lothar Buchmann | Jul 1992 – Oct 1994 |
| Valentin Herr | Oct 1994 – Apr 1995 |
| Wilfried Kohls | Maz 1995 – Jun 1995 |
| Wolfgang Uschek | Jul 1995 – Dec 1995 |
| Ronny Borchers | Jan 1996 – Apr 1997 |
| Wilfried Kohls/Jörg Hambückers | Apr 1997 – Jun 1997 |
| Hans-Jürgen Boysen | Jul 1997 – Oct 1999 |
| Peter Neururer | Oct 1999 – Aug 2000 |
| Dragoslav Stepanovic | Aug 2000 – Sep 2000 |
| Knut Hahn | Sep 2000 – Oct 2000 |
| Wilfried Kohls | Oct 2000 – Oct 2000 |
| Knut Hahn | Nov 2000 – Nov 2000 |
| Dieter Müller/Oliver Roth | Nov 2000 – Dec 2000 |
| Ramon Berndroth | Dec 2000 – Aug 2003 |
| Lars Schmidt | Aug 2003 – Mar 2004 |
| Hans-Jürgen Boysen | Mar 2004 – Jan 2006 |
| Wolfgang Frank | Jan 2006 – Oct 2007 |
| Jørn Andersen | Nov 2007 – May 2008 |
| Hans-Jürgen Boysen | May 2008 – Oct 2009 |
| Steffen Menze | Oct 2009 – Feb 2010 |
| Wolfgang Wolf | Feb 2010 – Feb 2011 |
| Thomas Gerstner | Feb 2011 – May 2011 |
| Arie van Lent | May 2011 – Feb 2013 |
| Rico Schmitt | Feb 2013 – Jan 2016 |
| Oliver Reck | Jan 2016 – Jun 2018 |
| Daniel Steuernagel | Jul 2018 – Sep 2019 |
| Steven Keßler | Sep 2019 – Dec 2019 |
| Angelo Barletta | Dec 2019 – Dec 2020 |
| Sreto Ristić | Jan 2021 – Jun 2022 |
| Alexander Schmidt | Jul 2022 – Sep 2022 |
| Ersan Parlatan | Oct 2022 – Apr 2023 |
| Christian Neidhart | Jul 2023 – |
Source: Book "Kickers Offenbach – die ersten hundert jahre" ("Kickers Offenbach – the first hundred years")
Notable players
[edit]- Past (and present) players who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles can be found here.
Honours
[edit]The club's honours:
League[edit]
Cup[edit]Reserve team[edit]
Regional[edit]
Youth[edit]
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Kickers Offenbach II
[edit]Kickers second team played in the Amateurliga Hessen (III) from 1971–74 until being disbanded after the 1973–74 season. The reconstituted side reappeared in the Amateuroberliga Hessen (III) in 1984, but were sent down after the relegation of the senior side from the 2. Bundesliga. The amateur's next appearance of note was in the Oberliga Hessen (IV) in 1999 in a campaign that ended in relegation after a 15th-place finish. In 2008–09, it returned to the Hessenliga and finished in fourth place. After six seasons in the league the team finished 18th in the Hessenliga in 2014 and was relegated to the Verbandsliga.[18]
Recent managers
[edit]Recent managers of the team:[19]
| Manager | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Steffen Menze | 1 July 2005 | 30 June 2006 |
| Ramon Berndroth | 1 July 2006 | 30 June 2008 |
| Steffen Menze | 1 July 2008 | 30 June 2009 |
| Jürgen Baier | 1 July 2009 | 30 June 2010 |
| Günter Stiebig | 1 July 2011 | 30 June 2013 |
| Alexander Conrad | 1 July 2013 | Present |
References
[edit]- ^ Grüne, Hardy (2001). Vereinslexikon. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag ISBN 3-89784-147-9
- ^ Grüne, Hardy (1996). Vom Kronprinzen bis zur Bundesliga. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag ISBN 3-928562-85-1
- ^ Neil Morrison (12 November 2015). "Kickers Offenbach (West Germany) Asian tour 1953". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger (2002). Tor! The Story of German Football. WSC Books ISBN 0-9540134-5-X
- ^ Ruhl: "Ein bitterer Tag für den OFC" (in German) kicker.de, published: 3 June 2013, accessed: 4 June 2013
- ^ 3. Liga: Magdeburg, Würzburg, Bremen II steigen auf Archived 1 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Weltfussball.de, published: 31 May 2015, accessed: 1 June 2015
- ^ Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv Archived 22 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine (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
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ 30 Jahre Bundesliga, DFB special edition booklet
- ^ "Mannschaft/Offenbacher Kickers". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Kickers Offenbach .:. Trainer von A-Z Archived 22 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, accessed: 5 December 2011
- ^ Kickers Offenbach II at Weltfussball.de Archived 18 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in German) accessed: 5 December 2011
- ^ Kickers Offenbach II .:. Trainer von A-Z Archived 18 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, accessed: 5 December 2011
External links
[edit]- Official website (in German)
- The Abseits Guide to German Soccer
- Kickers Offenbach at Weltfussball.de (in German)
Kickers Offenbach
View on GrokipediaHistory
Formation and early years (1901–1932)
Kickers Offenbach was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant on Herrnstraße in Offenbach am Main, Hesse, by a group of football enthusiasts who had departed from established local clubs such as Melitia, Teutonia, and Viktoria to form their own association.[5] The club adopted the name Offenbacher Fußballclub Kickers 1901 e.V., reflecting the English influences prevalent in early German football terminology. Ludwig Boss served as the inaugural president, overseeing the club's initial organization and activities.[6] The debut match took place later that year against 1. Bockenheimer FC 1899, resulting in a 2:1 victory for the Kickers, marking a promising start to their competitive involvement in the burgeoning local football scene.[7] In its formative years, the club engaged in regional amateur competitions, joining the Nordkreis-Liga in 1909 to compete at a higher level within Hessian football structures. Success came in the post-World War I era with a championship in the Kreisliga Odenwald during the 1912–13 season, establishing the Kickers as a competitive force in local play. The team transitioned to the Kreisliga Südmain, where they secured titles in 1920, 1922, and 1923, demonstrating consistent performance and drawing larger crowds to matches against regional opponents, including early encounters with rivals from nearby Frankfurt.[8][9] The club's growth during this period was bolstered by the establishment of red and white as its official colors, symbolizing local pride and unity in the amateur football landscape. In 1921, Kickers merged with VfB 1900 Offenbach to form VfR Kickers Offenbach, a union aimed at strengthening resources and competitive standing, though the clubs separated in 1925 to resume independent operations. This era laid the groundwork for broader participation in southern German football, with the team playing on fields like the Exerzierplatz before moving to a dedicated facility at Heylandsruhe in 1907 and inaugurating the Bieberer Berg stadium in 1921.[10][8][7]Rise during the Third Reich era (1933–1945)
Following the Nazi reorganization of German football in 1933, which established the 16 regional top-tier Gauligen, Kickers Offenbach was integrated into the Gauliga Südwest, encompassing parts of Hesse, the Palatinate, and the Saarland.[11] The club quickly adapted to the new professionalized structure, securing the inaugural championship in the 1933–34 season with 11 wins, 8 draws, and 3 losses, finishing ahead of FK Pirmasens.[12] This triumph qualified them for the national playoffs, where they competed in Group 3 but were eliminated after recording 1 win, 3 draws, and 2 losses, including a playoff loss to SV Waldhof Mannheim.[11] The club's dominance intensified in the early 1940s amid the escalating World War II, as the Gauliga Südwest was divided into the Gauliga Westmark and Gauliga Hessen-Nassau in 1941. Kickers Offenbach captured five consecutive regional titles from the 1939–40 to 1943–44 seasons, first in the Gauliga Südwest (1939–40 and 1940–41) and then in the Gauliga Hessen-Nassau (1941–42 to 1943–44).[11] These victories highlighted their regional supremacy, with standout performances including a 4–0 win over TuS Helene Altenessen in the 1940–41 national group stage.[11] Their deepest national run came in 1942, reaching the German football championship semi-finals after defeating Werder Bremen 4–3 in the quarter-finals, only to fall 6–0 to eventual champions FC Schalke 04; they then lost 4–0 to Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin in the third-place match.[13] Key figures during this era included forward Erich Nowotny, who scored crucial goals in playoff matches, and versatile players like Anton Picard, Rudolf Staab, and brothers Harry and Rudolf Staab, who anchored the defense and midfield in squads that often featured local talents amid wartime constraints.[14] Coaching details are sparse, but the team relied on tactical discipline under figures like player-managers navigating the era's amateur-professional hybrid. World War II severely disrupted squad availability, with many players conscripted into military service, leading to reliance on youth and reserves; matches continued irregularly until 1944–45, when Allied bombings and travel restrictions halted play, contributing to an "obscure decade" of instability for the club.[15] Pre-war infrastructure developments centered on the Stadion am Bieberer Berg, opened in 1921 as a basic venue with wooden stands accommodating around 10,000 spectators, which served as the club's home and hosted intense regional derbies against rivals like Eintracht Frankfurt and FSV Frankfurt, fostering local passion in the Main-Hessen area.[16] These encounters, often drawing large crowds, underscored Kickers Offenbach's role as a pillar of Hessian football identity before wartime disruptions overshadowed further expansions.[16]Post-war recovery and Bundesliga entry (1946–1969)
Following the end of World War II, Kickers Offenbach resumed competitive play in the newly formed Oberliga Süd, one of five regional top-tier leagues in West Germany, starting in the 1945–46 season. The club demonstrated resilience amid the post-war challenges, achieving steady improvement through the late 1940s and 1950s, with notable consistency including championships in the 1948–49 and 1954–55 seasons, where they recorded 21 wins and 17 wins respectively. They also finished as runners-up in 1956–57, 1958–59, and 1959–60, securing national runners-up positions in the German football championship finals of 1950 and 1959.[17][18] In 1953, Kickers Offenbach became the first West German club to undertake an Asian tour, playing a series of exhibition matches that marked a significant step in the club's international exposure and the broader professionalization of German football. The tour included victories such as 9–1 over a Philippine select team in Manila on May 23, 1–0 against Kwong Wah from Hong Kong on May 28, and 4–1 over the All-Japan Select team in Tokyo on June 3, alongside matches in South Korea. This pioneering journey helped foster global connections and boosted the club's profile at home.[19] The introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963 prompted a qualification process for the new professional top flight, where Kickers Offenbach advanced from the Oberliga Süd but suffered a 0–3 aggregate defeat to TSV 1860 Munich in the promotion/relegation playoff, resulting in their placement in the second-tier Regionalliga Süd. In this league, the club excelled during the mid-1960s, finishing second in 1965–66, winning the title in 1966–67 with 20 wins and 10 draws, and securing another runners-up spot in 1967–68 behind FC Bayern Hof. These successes earned promotion to the Bundesliga for the 1968–69 season, the club's entry into Germany's professional elite. Parallel to on-field progress, the club invested in infrastructure, with upgrades to the Bieberer Berg stadium—including new stands in 1952, 1956, and 1960, plus floodlights in 1968—enhancing capacity and facilities to support a growing fan base drawn by the team's regional dominance.[20][16] This momentum culminated briefly in the 1970 DFB-Pokal triumph, a prelude to their Bundesliga experiences.[2]Bundesliga participation and the 1971 scandal (1970–1973)
Kickers Offenbach achieved their first major national honor by winning the 1969–70 DFB-Pokal, defeating VfB Stuttgart 1–0 after extra time in the semi-final and 1. FC Köln 2–1 in the final on August 29, 1970, at the Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover. This triumph, accomplished while competing in the Regionalliga Süd, boosted the club's profile and momentum. Following the cup success, Offenbach won the 1970–71 Regionalliga Süd title with 58 points from 30 matches, securing promotion to the Bundesliga through the promotion playoffs by defeating Remscheid 3–1 on aggregate. In their return to the Bundesliga for the 1970–71 season, Kickers Offenbach finished 17th with 27 points (9 wins, 9 draws, 16 losses, 49 goals for, 65 against), resulting in direct relegation as one of the bottom two teams in the 18-team league. Their home debut resulted in a 2–0 victory over MSV Duisburg on September 19, 1970, at the Bieberer Berg Stadion, showcasing defensive solidity with goals from Otto Geisel and Hans-Jürgen Köper. Rivalries intensified with local foes Eintracht Frankfurt, including a 2–2 draw at home on March 20, 1971, which highlighted the competitive Hesse derby atmosphere but did little to lift Offenbach from the relegation zone.[21] The 1971 Bundesliga scandal erupted during the closing stages of the 1970–71 season, with Kickers Offenbach implicated in bribery attempts to secure survival. Club director Horst-Gregorio Canellas approached Hertha BSC players, offering 160,000 Deutsche Marks to intentionally lose their April 1971 match against Offenbach, but Hertha instead accepted a larger bribe from Arminia Bielefeld to defeat them 1–0 in a parallel fixture. Canellas, suspecting broader corruption, secretly recorded a conversation with Hertha's Peter Marx and exposed the scandal at his 50th birthday party on June 6, 1971, by playing the tape, which triggered investigations revealing over 50 individuals involved across multiple clubs.[22][23] Punishments for Kickers Offenbach included a 70,000 DM fine, three-year suspensions for vice president Waldemar Kelin and treasurer Fritz Koch, and a one-year ban for manager Rudi Gutendorf; club president Canellas faced no penalty for his whistleblowing role. Although no points deduction was imposed—unlike for other clubs such as Arminia Bielefeld, which suffered administrative relegation—the scandal severely tarnished the club's reputation and finances, exacerbating sponsorship losses and fan distrust. Relegated on sporting merits at the end of the 1970-71 season, Offenbach responded by winning the 1971-72 Regionalliga Süd title unbeaten, securing immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga. In the 1972-73 season, they achieved their highest finish of 7th place with 35 points from 34 matches (14 wins, 7 draws, 13 losses, 61 goals for, 60 against), but the lingering effects of the scandal hindered long-term recovery efforts and contributed to ongoing financial strain.[24]Decline, financial issues, and revival (1974–present)
Following their initial Bundesliga stint, Kickers Offenbach suffered relegation at the end of the 1974–75 season, marking the beginning of a prolonged decline despite an impressive early-season 6–0 victory over Bayern Munich that briefly placed them atop the table.[2] The club returned to the Bundesliga for the 1983–84 campaign after several years in the 2. Bundesliga but managed only a single season before another relegation, followed by a historic consecutive drop to the third tier in 1985—the first such instance in German professional football.[2] These setbacks were exacerbated by mounting financial pressures, including a near-bankruptcy in 1985 that imposed a points deduction and forced the team into the Oberliga Hessen, where they oscillated between regional leagues through the 1980s and 1990s.[2] Financial woes persisted into the 21st century, culminating in full insolvency proceedings in 2013 with debts exceeding €9 million, which led to the denial of a 3. Liga license and an administrative relegation to the Regionalliga Südwest.[25] This crisis underscored a pattern of instability, with the club having faced multiple near-collapses saved by local support, including fan-driven initiatives to stabilize operations.[26] Amid these challenges, the 2012 reopening of the renovated Bieberer Berg Stadium—funded in significant part through fan contributions and community efforts—provided a symbolic boost, replacing the aging facility with a modern 20,500-capacity venue compliant with professional standards.[27] Signs of revival emerged in the late 2000s, as the club entered the newly formed 3. Liga in 2008 following relegation from the 2. Bundesliga, offering a brief period of stability in the third tier until further demotion in 2012.[2] Key milestones included winning the Regionalliga Südwest title in the 2014–15 season, securing a promotion playoff spot despite ultimately falling short, and capturing the Hessen Cup in 2015 and again in 2024, which granted entries to the DFB-Pokal.[28] These successes highlighted growing fan engagement and on-field competitiveness, though inconsistent results kept the club in the fourth tier for much of the ensuing decade. As of November 2025, Kickers Offenbach compete in the Regionalliga Südwest, where they continue to target promotion to the 3. Liga amid ongoing efforts to address lingering financial constraints through sustainable management and supporter backing. The club's trajectory reflects resilience, with periodic cup triumphs and league challenges underscoring a commitment to revival in the face of historical adversities.[2]Recent seasons
First-team results (2015–present)
Since their revival in the mid-2010s following financial challenges, Kickers Offenbach's first team has primarily competed in the Regionalliga Südwest, the fourth tier of German football, with consistent mid-table to upper-table finishes but no successful promotions. The club briefly participated in the 3. Liga during the 2008–09 season before relegation due to licensing issues, providing historical context for their post-2015 stability efforts in regional leagues.[3] The following table summarizes the first team's league performance from the 2014–15 season onward, including position, points, and goals scored/conceded. Data reflects full seasons except for 2025–26, which is ongoing as of November 2025.| Season | League | Position | Points | Goals For:Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Regionalliga Südwest | 13th | 21 | 30:33 |
| 2024–25 | Regionalliga Südwest | 2nd | 64 | 75:42 |
| 2023–24 | Regionalliga Südwest | 11th | 46 | 58:49 |
| 2022–23 | Regionalliga Südwest | 7th | 55 | 48:38 |
| 2021–22 | Regionalliga Südwest | 3rd | 76 | 67:26 |
| 2020–21 | Regionalliga Südwest | 3rd | 87 | 80:32 |
| 2019–20 | Regionalliga Südwest | 8th | 32 | 29:28 |
| 2018–19 | Regionalliga Südwest | 5th | 59 | 61:34 |
| 2017–18 | Regionalliga Südwest | 3rd | 66 | 68:43 |
| 2016–17 | Regionalliga Südwest | 12th | 44 | 49:39 |
| 2015–16 | Regionalliga Südwest | 4th | 64 | 67:49 |
| 2014–15 | Regionalliga Südwest | 1st | 79 | 55:22 |
Reserve-team results (2015–present)
The reserve team of Kickers Offenbach, known as Kickers Offenbach II, has competed in the lower tiers of Hessian regional football since 2015, primarily serving as a development platform for young talent while navigating frequent promotions and relegations. Following relegation from the Oberliga Hessen in 2014, the team entered the Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd (sixth tier) for the 2014/15 season but struggled to maintain consistency in subsequent years.[33] In the 2015/16 season, Kickers Offenbach II finished 14th in the Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd with 31 points from 32 matches and a goal difference of 0, resulting in relegation to the Gruppenliga Hessen-Süd (seventh tier). The team responded strongly the following year, securing promotion back to the Verbandsliga by winning the Gruppenliga title in 2016/17. However, their return was short-lived; in 2017/18, they were relegated again after finishing near the bottom of the Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd. The side then spent several seasons in the Gruppenliga, often competing competitively but without immediate promotion until a dominant 2023/24 campaign.[33]| Season | League | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd | 14th | Relegated |
| 2016/17 | Gruppenliga Hessen-Süd | 1st | Promoted |
| 2017/18 | Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd | 16th | Relegated |
| 2018/19–2022/23 | Gruppenliga Hessen-Süd/Frankfurt Ost | Mid-table (typically 4th–8th) | No promotion/relegation |
| 2023/24 | Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost | 1st | Promoted (69 points, 120:30 GD) |
| 2024/25 | Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd | 9th | 49 points, 79:84 GD |
| 2025/26 | Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd | 3rd | Ongoing (31 points, 32:20 GD as of November 2025) |
Squad and staff
Current first-team squad (2025–26 season)
As of November 19, 2025, Kickers Offenbach's first-team squad for the 2025–26 season comprises 26 players competing in the Regionalliga Südwest, with an average age of 25.8 years and five foreign players (19.2%). No injuries or loans are currently reported for first-team members.[36] The squad is organized below by position, including squad numbers, player names, ages, nationalities, contract expiry dates, and estimated market values.Goalkeepers
| No. | Player | Age | Nationality | Contract Expiry | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannes Brinkies | 32 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €150k |
| 37 | Jannik Horz | 22 | Germany | 30 June 2027 | €75k |
| 16 | Angelo Tramontana | 24 | Germany/Italy | 30 June 2026 | €50k |
| 33 | Nikolas Tatomirovic | 18 | Serbia/Germany | 30 June 2026 | €25k |
Defenders
| No. | Player | Age | Nationality | Contract Expiry | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Noel Knothe | 26 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €200k |
| 14 | Kristjan Arh Cesen | 28 | Slovenia | 30 June 2026 | €150k |
| 27 | Jayson Breitenbach | 27 | Germany | 30 June 2027 | €175k |
| 20 | Dominik Crljenec | 25 | Germany/Croatia | 30 June 2027 | €150k |
| 3 | Maximilian Rossmann | 30 | Germany | 30 June 2027 | €225k |
| 22 | Luca Stellwagen | 26 | Germany | 30 June 2027 | €150k |
| 31 | Ronny Marcos | 32 | Mozambique/Germany | 30 June 2027 | €200k |
| 32 | Vincent Moreno-Giesel | 23 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €100k |
| 24 | Ouassim Karada | 20 | Germany/Morocco | 30 June 2026 | €75k |
Midfielders
| No. | Player | Age | Nationality | Contract Expiry | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Daniel Dejanovic | 24 | Germany/Croatia | 30 June 2027 | €150k |
| 17 | Marc Wachs | 30 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €175k |
| 4 | Jona Borsum | 20 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €75k |
| 34 | Chernoh Bah | 18 | Germany/Sierra Leone | 30 June 2026 | €50k |
| 28 | Tom Reuter | 17 | Germany | 30 June 2028 | €25k |
Forwards
| No. | Player | Age | Nationality | Contract Expiry | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Onur Ünlücifci | 28 | Germany/Türkiye | 30 June 2026 | €200k |
| 7 | Stephan Mensah | 25 | Germany/Ghana | 30 June 2026 | €175k |
| 11 | Keanu Staude | 28 | Germany/Egypt | 30 June 2026 | €150k |
| 10 | Boubacar Barry | 29 | Germany/Guinea | 30 June 2027 | €225k |
| 9 | Valdrin Mustafa | 27 | Kosovo/Germany | 30 June 2027 | €250k |
| 21 | Ron Berlinski | 31 | Germany | 30 June 2026 | €200k |
| 19 | Jelle Goselink | 26 | Netherlands | 30 June 2027 | €225k |
| 23 | Kilian Skolik | 22 | Germany/France | 30 June 2026 | €100k |
