Stuttgarter Kickers Stuttgarter Kickers This club will almost always remain in the shadow of the much larger VfB, but despite limited resources, they have often risen to the occasion to surprise. All things considered, you have to admire the spunk and determination of the club, and they truly have one of the classic team logos in German soccer to boot.
The club was founded in 1899, with the "deliberate exclusion of rugby." Originally, "Kickers" was spelled with a "C". Generally, the concentration has been exclusively, although ping-pong and field hockey made inroads. Happily, the hockey players were "kicked" out in the late 1950s, allowing thereby allowing focus on more worthwhile endeavors, such as soccer referees.
Success on the field was rather limited, but by the late 1970s and early 1980s, the club had established itself as a regular fixture in the 2nd division. After 14 straight 2.Liga years, in 1987/88 they achived the tremndous feat of reaching the DFB Cup final and promotion into the Bundesliga. This high flight lasted only one season, but by 1991, they were back in the Bundesliga. However this return proved to be bittersweet, as not only were the Kickers relegated, but rivals VfB Stuttgart took the whole enchilada, winning the Bundesliga title.
The next few seasons were crap, as Kickers basically paid the price, and eventually had to spend a couple of years in the Regionalliga. After a couple of seasons, they were back in the 2.Liga, were they have generally played decently. The 1998-99 season was rather lame for Kickers, and foretold further difficulties. The next year, the team collapsed, and despite a late season rush, the Kickers were only able to secure a 1-1 draw at already relegated Karlsruhe. An injury time goal by St.Pauli in their match meant that Kickers were relegated on goal difference. Luckily for them, a couple of weeks later, they were reprieved, as Tennis Borussia Berlin was denied a 2.Liga license, and were forcibly relegated. No matter, as in 2001, it was time to pay the piper and go down.
Since then, Kickers has really struggled. Although mostly unimpressive in the then 3rd level Regionalliga, the club qualified for the new combined 3.Liga. This proved to be a disaster, as Kickers got off to a horrible start, and despite some late season decent performances, they finished dead last. As a result, Kickers is now in the 4th level, their worst in recent club history.
| Fullname |
Sportverein Stuttgarter Kickers e.V.
| Foes |
Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg).
Pop: 587,000 (2002)
| Address |
Königsstraße 56, Postfach 700443, 70597 Stuttgart | Phone: (0711) 767100 Fax: (0711) 767110 eMail: info@stuttgarter-kickers.de Colors |
All blue with white trim. Road uniform is yellow jersey, blue shorts,
yellow socks. For some odd reason, they also have a yellow-black striped
jersey with black shorts. | Nickname |
Die Kickers (now that's a surprise!), also Die Blauen (the
Blues) or Die Blauen-Götter (the Blue-Gods).
| Stadium |
Waldaustadion. Capacity: 11,544 (1,380 seats) | Originally built in 1905, the last major refurbishment was done in 1976. It was known as Stadion Degerloch until 1998. Located beneath the high Fersehenturm (TV tower), so it should be easy to find. This small stadium is owned by the city. During the two flights in the Bundesliga, they played in the Neckarstadion along with VfB. Tickets |
Not much of a problem at all. 7-30 euros, with VIP cards for 58 euros
(2004).
| Supporters |
There is an officially supported fan club, FADSKI (Fan Abteilung der
Stuttgarter Kickers). It costs some 30 euros to join, and you supposedly
get
advantages, such as bus tours to away games, ticket and merchandise
purchase. Perhaps they organize street battles with visiting "firms" like
Millwall. (Just kidding!) If you plunk down 20 euros, you can get the
Kickers-CD, which has various songs, including four by the team.
| Friends |
|
Foes |
Obviously VfB Stuttgart, although they rarely play. Karlsruhe is a
regional rival.
| Heroes |
13 German internationals, the best known is Edmund Conen (1934-42).
Eugen Kipp scored the only goal game in Germany's first
international victory
in 1909.
| Zeroes |
| Beer |
Schwaben-Bräu, part
of the combo with Dinkel-Acker.
|
Pub Grub |
| The Net |
Official site:
www.stuttgarter-kickers.de .
Among the fan pages are Heiko Koehler's www.kickers-stuttgart.de/
, which includes more historical detail. Also good is Timo's page timos.here.de/
| |
Recent History
--------------
2012-13 (III) 3.Liga 20th
2011-12 (IV) Regionalliga Süd 1st
2010-11 (IV) Regionalliga Süd 2nd
2009-10 (IV) Regionalliga Süd 9th
2008-09 (III) 3.Liga 20th
2007-08 (III) Regionalliga Süd 10th
2006-07 (III) Regionalliga Süd 4th
2005-06 (III) Regionalliga Süd 8th
2004-05 (III) Regionalliga Süd 9th
2003-04 (III) Regionalliga Süd 9th
2002-03 (III) Regionalliga Süd 15th
2001-02 (III) Regionalliga Süd 12th
2000-01 (II) 2.Bundesliga 17th
1999-00 (II) 2.Bundesliga 15th
1998-99 (II) 2.Bundesliga 13th
1997-98 (II) 2.Bundesliga 12th
1996-97 (II) 2.Bundesliga 5th
1995-96 (III) Regionalliga Süd 1st
1994-95 (III) Regionalliga Süd 2nd
1993-94 (II) 2.Bundesliga 16th
1992-93 (II) 2.Bundesliga 15th
1991-92 (I) BUNDESLIGA 17th
1990-91 (II) 2.Bundesliga 3rd
1989-90 (II) 2.Bundesliga 4th
1988-89 (I) BUNDESLIGA 17th
1987-88 (II) 2.Bundesliga 1st
1986-87 (II) 2.Bundesliga 7th
1985-86 (II) 2.Bundesliga 6th
1984-85 (II) 2.Bundesliga 9th
1983-84 (II) 2.Bundesliga 8th
1982-83 (II) 2.Bundesliga 5th
1981-82 (II) 2.Bundesliga 7th
1980-81 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 3rd
1979-80 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 3rd
1978-79 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 9th
1977-78 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 10th
1976-77 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 10th
1975-76 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 16th
1974-75 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 16th
1973-74 (II) Regionalliga Süd 6th
1972-73 (II) Regionalliga Süd 8th
1971-72 (II) Regionalliga Süd 11th
1970-71 (II) Regionalliga Süd 10th
1969-70 (II) Regionalliga Süd 12th
1968-69 (II) Regionalliga Süd 4th
1967-68 (II) Regionalliga Süd 4th
1966-67 (II) Regionalliga Süd 4th
1965-66 (II) Regionalliga Süd 5th
1964-65 (II) Regionalliga Süd 7th
1963-64 (II) Regionalliga Süd 14th
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany