SV Elversberg: Promotion to the Bundesliga in sight – the miracle team from Saarland!

SV Elversberg: Promotion to the Bundesliga in sight – the miracle team from Saarland!

SV Elversberg, a small club from Spiesen-Elversberg in Saarland, is currently experiencing a remarkable upswing in the world of football. Under the leadership of coach Horst Steffen, who has been in office for over six years, the club has managed to rise from the fourth division to the Bundesliga playoffs in just three seasons. This is an impressive achievement that has spurred interest and support in the local community. Particularly noteworthy was the 2-1 win against Schalke 04 in the Veltins Arena, which took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,000 spectators.

The club was promoted from the third division in the 2022/23 season and now faces the possibility of promotion to the first division. Unlike financially strong clubs like Hoffenheim, which rely on large investments, Elversberg relies on the support of local businesses and community involvement. The club's main sponsor is Ursapharm, a pharmaceutical company with 833 employees, whose chairman Frank Holzer, himself a former professional footballer, has invested €13 million in the club - mainly in infrastructure and not in player transfers.

Promotion and key players

Over the last five years, the club has spent just €4.83 million on the playing squad, instead focusing on loan players, out-of-contract players and young talent. The home games in the Kaiserlinde stadium are mostly sold out this season. Elversberg's history is characterized by varied successes; the club was founded in 1907 and spent much of its time below the fifth division.

The key players include striker Fisnik Asllani, who is second in the top scorers list in the 2nd Bundesliga, and defender Carlo Sickinger, who praises Steffen's coaching. The defense is led by left-back Maurice Neubauer and right-back Robin Fellhauer, with goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof playing a key role since his move in 2022.

Playoffs around the corner

In the coming days, Elversberg will play against 1. FC Heidenheim in a relegation game that will take place on May 22nd and 26th, 2024. Heidenheim, which plays in the Bundesliga, qualified for relegation in 16th place this season. The first game will be played in the Voith Arena in Heidenheim, followed by the second half of the season in the Waldstadion Kaiserlinde in Elversberg. Heidenheim has had a remarkable season, finishing eighth in the previous season as well as taking part in European competitions.

Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt, the longest-serving coach in German professional football, exudes composure and confidence before the upcoming games. Elversberg has also had a strong season with just one defeat in the last 15 games and is one of the second highest scorers in the league. Promotion to the top division would represent a historic milestone for SV Elversberg, who have never played beyond the third division before.

Coach Steffen emphasizes that the team wants to continuously improve and strives for a better result every year than the previous year. With a strong team spirit and the support of the community, SV Elversberg could actually celebrate a historic promotion to the Bundesliga.