West Germany. Ranked 3rd by UEFA. Three teams way above the rest and may be a bit surprising champion, which stayed alone. Dramatic battle for 2nd position decided by goal-difference. Intriguing failure of both club and big star. Interesting generation of coaches coming to maturity.
The vast regional system is too much for thorough presentation, so just a glimpse of Third level:
TSV 1860 Munchen was here, seemingly for good. Top row from left: Frank Wild, Roland Kneißl, Franz Becker, Andreas Löbmann, Michael Karl, Thomas Schwegle, Thomas Renner, Stefan Jaxt.
Middle row: Trainer Thomas Zander, Masseur Hodrius, Rainer Aigner, Jörg Schepers, Andreas Schmid, Thomas Zinkl. Betreuer Hugo Hackl, Zeugwart Reisch.
Sitting: Detlef Bruckhoff, Zdenek Prokes, Joachim Goldstein, Daniel Sciopu, Siegfried Grüninger, Bernd Geesdorf, Klaus Wabra, Kurt Pinkall.
SpVgg Furth kept them company in the Bavarian highest league.
Wormatia Worms used to Second Division was now in Third level too. Third row from left: Ralf Karb, Günter Braun, Stefan Steinmetz, Jürgen Klotz, Helmut Wagner
Middle row: Liga-Obmann Manfred Brassen, Zeugwart Günter Reinhardt, Jozéf Adamiec, Stefan Mauer, Mario Brassen, Jürgen Hebinger, Harald Nägle, Jürgen Fischer, Heinz-Jürgen Schlösser, Trainer Gerd Menne
Sitting: Andreas Großmann, Äaron Biagioli, Günter Pawlitschek, Atilla Miko, Günter Knecht, Erik Strubel, Volker Kühr, Bernd Nathmann, Uwe Eckel, Holger Schneidt
But never mind the unfortunates – the 9 regional champions competed for 4 promotions after the end of the regular season, divided as ever into 2 groups – Southern and Northern. In the South somewhat weaker – if names indicate anything – teams played:
FV09 Weinheim,
SpVgg Unterhaching. Those two were unable to climb up.
Viktoria Aschaffenburg (this may be a picture of the previous season, though) and
1.FSV Mainz 05 won promotion in the Southern German tournament. Good luck to them in the Second Division.
The Northern tournament had 5 teams competing – West Germany had 9 regional championships, one of them West Berlin. May be because of the weird status of this city championship the North had 5 championships. Here well known clubs played, as it turned out.
Preussen Munster lost its chance to climb back to Second Division.
VfL Wolsburg also lost the race for promotion.
MSV Duisburg was the biggest loser – they had to stay in Third level too. Top row from left: Malischke, Vtic, R. Kessen, J. Kessen, Brühl, Haremski, Kober, Lienen, Vössing
Middle row: Telljohann, Notthoff, Tönnies, Puszamszies, Struckmann, Rohr, Ronden, Semlits, Trainer Pirsig
Front row: Zeugwart Schotte, Strunz, Vossnacke, Kellermann, Lörsch, Macherey, Zils, Canini, Masseur Hinkelmann, Mannschaftsarzt Wendt
Well, there were only 2 spots, not enough for all former Bundesliga members. MSV Duisburg lost its chance, but
Eintracht Braunschweig and
Hertha BSC West Berlin managed to win promotions and return to second level at least.
Well, were the newly promoted teams worthy of Second Division football will be seen next season.
A Football Blog