In Germany we have our first PhD candidate: Holstein Kiel. The team from the far north became national champions in 1912, but it had not previously belonged to the select circle of the 1. Bundesliga, which was founded in 1963.
Before the Second World War, Holstein Kiel was one of the larger clubs in Germany, but when the Bundesliga was founded in 1963, the club from the Hanseatic city of Kiel was already in decline.
Kiel dropped to the 4th level in Germany, but started its way to the top in 2012. Since 2017, it has been part of the 2nd Bundesliga, where it has flirted with promotion twice before.
This season it’s a hit. Trainer Marcel Rapp turned the team without really big stars and without goal scorer – only 1 player reached double figures – into a close-knit whole.
In the penultimate match, a draw against Düsseldorf was enough for Holstein Kiel to start a big party. More than 15,000 fans stormed the field after the final whistle, where they celebrated the promotion with the players.
The supporters of Holstein Kiel marched in procession via the harbor towards the stadium.
2024-05-11 21:24:33
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