SpVgg Bayreuth

SpVgg Bayreuth
Full nameSpielvereinigung Oberfranken Bayreuth 1921 e.V.
NicknameDie Altstädter (the Oldtowners)
Founded1921
GroundHans-Walter-Wild-Stadion
Capacity21,500
ManagerLukas Kling
LeagueRegionalliga Bayern (IV)
2024–25Regionalliga Bayern, 5th of 18

SpVgg Bayreuth is a German football club based in Bayreuth, Bavaria. Apart from coming within two games of earning promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979, the club also reached the quarter finals of the DFB-Pokal twice, in 1977 and 1980.

History

Historical chart of the club's league performance

1921 to 1945

Founded in 1921 when the side left gymnastics oriented sport club TuSpo Bayreuth, SpVgg Bayreuth was one of many clubs banned and replaced with a state-sanctioned organization in 1933 during the Nazi campaign against existing sports and other social organizations. A handful of club members reformed a rump side called FSV Bayreuth to carry on the activities of the original association. This team was made up largely of soldiers stationed locally, which resulted in a constantly changing lineup as they were transferred in and out of the area. The old club was quickly resurrected after World War II.

1945 to 1963

The club initially stood in the shadow of two local rivals, FC Bayreuth and VfB Bayreuth, with the later taking out the Amateurliga Nordbayern (III) title in 1956. SpVgg had earned promotion to this league in 1954, having won the 2. Amateurliga Oberfranken-West title that year and then dominated its promotion round.[1]

The club achieved good results in the Bayernliga and managed to win its division in 1959. The team then went on to beat southern champions Schwaben Augsburg in the finals for the Bavarian title.[2] As the Bavarian champions, the club was entitled to enter the promotion round to the 2. Oberliga Süd, where it had to overcome VfR Pforzheim 2–1 after extra time in a narrow decider for promotion to the second division.[3]

The club spent three seasons in the second tier of Southern German football, achieving a remarkable fifth place in its first year. The second season was a struggle against relegation and, in the third and last one, it was sent down back to the Bayernliga again.[4]

A fourth place in the last season before the league reform in 1963 saw the club qualify for the new single-division Amateurliga Bayern from 1963.

1963 to 2013

After the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963, Bayreuth played as a third division team until 1969. Another Amateurliga championship meant promotion to the second tier once more, now the Regionalliga Süd. It proved a short stay and SpVgg was narrowly relegated, losing a decider to ESV Ingolstadt 5–2 after finishing on equal points.[5]

Back in the Bayernliga, the club won an undisputed championship, losing only two out of their 34 games, 15 points clear of the second-placed Wacker München.[6] After another difficult first year in the second division, the club established itself in the league, coming fourth in 1973 and fifth in 1974, results that proved enough to qualify for the new 2. Bundesliga Süd.

The club did quite well in the new league and they came close to moving up to the Bundesliga in 1979 after a second-place finish in 2. Bundesliga Süd (the southern division of 2. Bundesliga), but lost in the promotion round 1–1 and 1–2 to Bayer Uerdingen. It managed to qualify for the new single-division 2. Bundesliga in 1981, too, but the first season in this league was very disappointing and the team was relegated to the Oberliga in 1982, having come last.

The team became a top-side in the Oberliga but took until 1985 to take out the league title again and returned to the second division.

Although relegated to Amateur Oberliga Bayern (III) in 1988 and 1989, the team was spared further demotion when clubs that had finished ahead of them were denied licences due to their financial problems. Bayreuth could not evade relegation after a third consecutive poor finish in 1990, and in 1994 slipped further still to the Bayernliga (IV). A strong campaign returned the side to the Regionalliga Süd (III) for 2005–06. The club was denied a license for the Regionalliga in the 2006/07 season and forcibly relegated to the 4th division Bayernliga. The club won the Bayernliga title for a seventh time, building up a convincing margin to the second placed team, and fulfilling the on-the-field qualification to the Regionalliga. On 11 June 2008, the club was refused a licence for this league and has to remain in the Bayernliga.[7][8] The club's financial trouble however continued, having to declare insolvency on 22 October 2008, despite sitting second in the league.[9]

In the 2010–11 Bayernliga season, the club unsuccessfully struggled against relegation, dropping down to the Landesliga after a 1–2 extra-time loss to Bayern Hof in a relegation decider.

At the end of the 2011–12 season the club qualified directly for the newly expanded Bayernliga after finishing fourth in the Landesliga.[10]

2013 to present

Organisational changes

Logo until 2022

On 8 May 2013, the members of SpVgg Bayreuth made a decision in a general meeting to separate the first men's team and establish Spielvereinigung Oberfranken Bayreuth von 1921 Spielbetriebs GmbH, which was founded on 26 June 2013. They also expanded the club's name to Spielvereinigung Oberfranken Bayreuth von 1921 e.V., including the Bavarian administrative district of Upper Franconia. Out of the 116 members present, 104 voted in favor. Following the separation, the club retained 60% ownership of the operational company, while the remaining 40% was divided between construction entrepreneur Alois Dechant and steel tube chair manufacturer Franz Stegner.[11] After Franz Stegner's death, Erwin Stechert, alongside Alois Dechant, held 20% ownership of the operational company. These 20% were transferred to the association on 4 May 2021. On 13 July 2022, the club also acquired the 20% previously held by Alois Dechant. Currently, Spielvereinigung Oberfranken Bayreuth von 1921 e.V. holds 100% ownership of the operational company.[12]

First-team performances

In 2014, the team achieved promotion to the Regionalliga Bayern and immediately secured a commendable 6th-place finish in the 2014–15 season. In 2021, they made their return to the DFB-Pokal, where they faced Arminia Bielefeld at home in a 6–3 loss.[13]

After a fiercely contested 2021–22 Regionalliga season, in which SpVgg Bayreuth and Bayern Munich engaged in a prolonged battle for the top spot, Bayern Munich II suffered a defeat against Wacker Burghausen in the penultimate match of the season. This loss meant that SpVgg Bayreuth mathematically secured the first-place position and clinched the championship of the Regionalliga Bayern, thus earning promotion to the unified 3. Liga two matchdays before the end of the season. Consequently, Bayreuth returned to professional football after a hiatus of 32 years, commencing from the 2022–23 season.[14]

For the new season, the club decided to revert to the historical club crest from the 1950s and 60s. This strategic move was made in close collaboration with the fan community and underwent a meticulous planning process spanning several months.[15]

Following the promotion, successful coach Timo Rost bid farewell and embarked on a new journey at Erzgebirge Aue.[16] For the 2022–23 season, Bayreuth appointed Thomas Kleine as their new head coach. Kleine had previously served as an assistant coach at Greuther Fürth and Fortuna Düsseldorf.[17] On the fourth matchday of the 2022–23 3. Liga season, the team celebrated their first points and victory at the third level of German football. This achievement occurred in front of 2,712 spectators at their home stadium, the Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion. Alexander Nollenberger scored the decisive winning goal against VfL Osnabrück in the 82nd minute with a left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal.[18] By winning the Regionalliga Bayern in the 2021–22 season, SpVgg Bayreuth also earned qualification for the 2022–23 DFB-Pokal. In the first round, they competed in front of a home crowd at a sold-out stadium (14,700 spectators) against 2. Bundesliga club Hamburger SV but suffered a 3–1 defeat after extra time. Luke Hemmerich netted the opening goal for Bayreuth in the 16th minute from a deflected free-kick, while Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer equalised for HSV shortly before the end of regular time. In extra time, Sebastian Schonlau and Königsdorffer secured the victory for HSV, resulting in a final score.[19] Bayreuth were unable to retain their status as a 3. Liga side two consecutive seasons, and they suffered relegation finishing bottom of the league on 13 May 2023, after a 4–1 loss to Viktoria Köln.[20][21]

Stadium

The club's stadium was originally built in 1967. In 2002 it was renamed the Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion. Hans Walter Wild is the former mayor of Bayreuth.[22]

Current squad

As of 28 February 2025[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.Nation Player
1 GK GERLucas Zahaczewski
2 DF GERJonas Kehl
3 DF GERDennis Lippert
5 DF GEREdwin Schwarz
7 FW GERFelix Heim
8 FW GERPatrick Scheder
9 FW GERChristoph Fenninger
10 MF GERJann George
11 FW GERMarco Stefandl
13 DF GERLeo Eberle
16 MF GERMarco Zietsch
17 MF GERYannick Frey
No.Pos.Nation Player
21 DF GERTobias Weber
23 DF GEROliver Schubert
24 FW GERLevi Kraus
25 MF KOSEroll Zejnullahu
26 MF TURDeniz Koç
27 MF GERMarcel Götz
29 FW GERJannik Graf(on loan from Jahn Regensburg)
30 MF SUINicolas Andermatt
31 GK GERLukas Peterson
37 GK GERNils Lauckner
44 FW GERJermain Nischalke

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.Nation Player
— MF GERMarvin Nöske(at Eintracht Münchberg until 30 June 2025)

Honours

Recent managers

Recent managers of the club:[24]

Manager Start Finish
Marco Schmidt 1 July 2000 30 June 2003
ItalyGino Lettieri11 September 2003 30 June 2006
Norbert Schlegel1 July 2006 30 June 2007
Klaus Scheer 1 July 2007 30 June 2010
Ingo Walther 1 July 2010 30 June 2011
Wolfgang Mahr 1 July 2011 12 November 2011
Klaus Rodler 12 November 2011 31 December 2011
Klaus Scheer 1 January 2012 16 April 2012
Jürgen Dörfler 16 April 2012 30 June 2012
Heiko Gröger 1 July 2012 30 June 2014
Dieter Kurth 30 June 2014 28 September 2014
Christoph Starke 29 September 2014 20 August 2016
Marc Reinhardt 21 August 2016 29 October 2017
Christian Stadler 30 October 2017 13 May 2018
Josef Albersinger 14 May 2018 3 September 2018
Timo Rost3 September 2018 30 June 2022
Thomas Kleine1 July 2022 7 May 2023
Julian Kolbeck7 May 2023 30 June 2023
Marek Mintál1 July 2023 28 April 2024
Lukas Kling29 April 2024

Recent seasons

The recent season-by-season performance of the club:[25][26]

SpVgg Bayreuth
YearDivisionTierPosition
1999–2000Landesliga Bayern-NordV2nd
2000–01Landesliga Bayern-Nord1st ↑
2001–02BayernligaIV7th
2002–03Bayernliga4th
2003–04Bayernliga7th
2004–05Bayernliga1st ↑
2005–06Regionalliga SüdIII10th ↓
2006–07BayernligaIV3rd
2007–08Bayernliga1st
2008–09BayernligaV4th
2009–10Bayernliga9th
2010–11Bayernliga16th ↓
2011–12Landesliga Bayern-NordVI4th ↑
2012–13Bayernliga NordV6th
2013–14Bayernliga Nord1st ↑
2014–15Regionalliga BayernIV6th
2015–16Regionalliga Bayern7th
2016–17Regionalliga Bayern12th
2017–18Regionalliga Bayern17th
2018–19Regionalliga Bayern10th
2019–21Regionalliga Bayern3rd
2021–22Regionalliga Bayern1st ↑
2022–233. LigaIII20th ↓
2023–24Regionalliga BayernIV12th
2024–25Regionalliga Bayern5th
2025–26Regionalliga Bayern
SpVgg Bayreuth II
SeasonDivisionTierPosition
1999–2000
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03Bezirksliga Oberfranken-OstVII1st ↑
2003–04Bezirksoberliga OberfrankenVI1st ↑
2004–05Landesliga Bayern-NordV11th
2005–06Landesliga Bayern-Nord8th
2006–07Landesliga Bayern-Nord18th ↓
2007–08Bezirksoberliga OberfrankenVI15th ↓
2008–09Bezirksliga Oberfranken-OstVIII10th
2009–10Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost6th
2010–11Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost2nd ↑
2011–12Bezirksoberliga OberfrankenVII16th
2012–13Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost9th
2013–14Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost9th
2014–15Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost6th
2015–16Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost2nd ↑
2016–17Landesliga Bayern-NordostVI15th
2017–18Landesliga Bayern-Nordost17th ↓
2018–19Bezirksliga Oberfranken-OstVII5th
2019–21Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost5th
2021–22Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost4th
2022–23Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost2nd ↑
2023–24Landesliga Bayern-NordostVI14th ↓
2024–25Bezirksliga Oberfranken-OstVII2nd
2025–26Bezirksliga Oberfranken-Ost
  • With the introduction of the Bezirksoberligas in 1988 as the new fifth tier, below the Landesligas, all leagues below dropped one tier. 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. With the establishment of the Regionalliga Bayern as the new fourth tier in Bavaria in 2012 the Bayernliga was split into a northern and a southern division, the number of Landesligas expanded from three to five and the Bezirksoberligas abolished. All leagues from the Bezirksli*

Key

↑ Promoted↓ Relegated

DFB-Pokal appearances

The club has qualified for the first round of the DFB-Pokal one quite a number of occasions, reaching the quarter finals in 1979–80 as its best result:

Season Round Date Home Away Result Attendance
1972–73 DFB-PokalFirst round – first leg 10 December 1972 SpVgg Bayreuth 1. FC Kaiserslautern4–2
First round – second leg 20 December 1972 1. FC KaiserslauternSpVgg Bayreuth 4–0
1974–75 DFB-PokalFirst round 7 September 1974 SpVgg Bayreuth FC Schalke 041–2
1975–76 DFB-PokalFirst round 1 August 1975 Karlsruher SCSpVgg Bayreuth 4–2
1976–77 DFB-PokalFirst round 6 August 1976 Kickers OffenbachSpVgg Bayreuth 4–4 aet
First round – replay 1 September 1976 SpVgg BayreuthKickers Offenbach 4–1
Second round 16 October 1976 SpVgg BayreuthSSV Reutlingen 2–1
Third round 18 December 1976 SpVgg BayreuthFV Hassia Bingen2–1
Fourth round 8 January 1977 SpVgg BayreuthFC Augsburg2–0
Quarterfinals 9 February 1977 SpVgg Bayreuth Rot-Weiß Essen1–2
1977–78 DFB-PokalFirst round 29 July 1977 FC 08 VillingenSpVgg Bayreuth0–1
Second round 20 August 1977 Itzehoer SVSpVgg Bayreuth1–6
Third round 14 October 1977 Karlsruher SCSpVgg Bayreuth 2–0
1978–79 DFB-PokalFirst round 4 August 1978 SV HaidlfingSpVgg Bayreuth0–5
Second round 24 September 1978 SpVgg BayreuthMelsunger FV6–0
Third round 2 December 1978 Bayer 04 LeverkusenSpVgg Bayreuth 1–0
1979–80 DFB-PokalFirst round 25 August 1979 SpVgg BayreuthPreußen 07 Hameln5–0
Second round 29 September 1979 SpVgg BayreuthSpVgg Au/Iller6–0
Third round 12 January 1980 SpVgg BayreuthFC Bayern Munich1–0 18,000
Fourth round 16 February 1980 SpVgg BayreuthTuS Langerwehe5–2 aet
Quarterfinals 6 April 1980 FC Schalke 04SpVgg Bayreuth 3–1
1980–81 DFB-PokalFirst round 29 August 1980 Borussia NeunkirchenSpVgg Bayreuth 1–1 aet
First round – replay 17 September 1980 SpVgg BayreuthBorussia Neunkirchen 2–1
Second round 29 August 1980 SpVgg Bayreuth VfB Stuttgart1–3
1981–82 DFB-PokalFirst round 28 August 1981 SpVgg BayreuthBayer Uerdingen3–1
Second round 11 October 1981 VfB Stuttgart IISpVgg Bayreuth1–2
Third round 30 December 1981 SpVgg BayreuthVfB Oldenburg2–0
Fourth round 9 January 1982 SV Werder BremenSpVgg Bayreuth 2–0
1982–83 DFB-PokalFirst round 27 August 1982 SpVgg BayreuthSpVgg Fürth3–1
Second round 15 October 1982 SpVgg Bayreuth Hertha BSC0–1
1983–84 DFB-PokalFirst round 28 August 1983 FC AugsburgSpVgg Bayreuth 2–1 aet
1984–85 DFB-PokalFirst round 1 September 1984 SpVgg BayreuthSV Mettlach7–0
Second round 13 October 1984 SpVgg Bayreuth SG Union Solingen1–2
1986–87 DFB-PokalFirst round 27 August 1986 SpVgg Bayreuth SG Wattenscheid 090–3
1988–89 DFB-PokalFirst round 6 August 1988 Germania DörnigheimSpVgg Bayreuth0–5
Second round 24 September 1988 SV Werder BremenSpVgg Bayreuth 6–1
1989–90 DFB-PokalFirst round 20 August 1989 1. FC PforzheimSpVgg Bayreuth 4–1
1990–91 DFB-PokalFirst round 4 August 1990 SpVgg Bayreuth Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin0–3
2006–07 DFB-PokalFirst round 8 September 2006 SpVgg Bayreuth Kickers Offenbach0–2
2021–22 DFB-PokalFirst round 7 August 2021 SpVgg Bayreuth Arminia Bielefeld3–6 5,000
2022–23 DFB-PokalFirst round 30 July 2022 SpVgg Bayreuth Hamburger SV1–3 aet 15,000

Source:"DFB-Pokal". Weltfussball.de (in German). Retrieved 29 May 2009.

References

  1. ^Die Bayernliga 1945–1997(in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1997, page: 29. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  2. ^Die Bayernliga 1945–1997(in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1997, page: 42. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  3. ^Die Deutsche Liga-Chronik seit 1945(in German), publisher: DSFS, page: I 141, published: 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  4. ^Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform(in German) author: Ludolf Hyll, page: 201 + 205 + 209, published: 1988. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  5. ^Die Deutsche Liga-Chronik seit 1945(in German), publisher: DSFS, page: I 49, published: 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  6. ^Die Bayernliga 1945–1997(in German) publisher: DSFS, published: 1997, page: 106. Retrieved 14 June 2009
  7. ^Aufstieg Regionalliga Süd (in German) Weltfussball.de. Retrieved 13 June 2008
  8. ^Keine Lizenz für die SpVgg (in German) SpVgg Bayreuth website. Retrieved 13 June 2008
  9. ^Insolvenzverwalter hat das Sagen SpVgg Bayreuth website (in German). Retrieved 29 October 2008
  10. ^Das war die Relegation 2012 auf Verbandsebene(in German) fupa.net, published: 7 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012
  11. ^"Lokalsport: Bayreuth gründet SpVgg Oberfranken GmbH – Frankenpost". Frankenpost (in German). 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  12. ^"Spielvereinigung Oberfranken Bayreuth 1921 Spielbetriebs GmbH, Bayreuth | Firmenauskunft". Creditreform (in German). Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^Hacker, Alina (8 August 2021). "Stimmen zum Pokalfight gegen Bielefeld". SpVgg Bayreuth (in German). Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  14. ^"Regionalliga: FC Bayern II verliert, Bayreuth ist Meister". BR24 (in German). 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023.
  15. ^Wolfrum, Stefan (7 August 2022). "SpVgg Bayreuth: Logo-Änderung "kein Alleingang des Klubs"". Nordbayerischer Kurier (in German). Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  16. ^"Timo Rost verlässt SpVgg Bayreuth: "Darf mich bei allen hier bedanken" – Das ist sein neuer Club". Bayreuther Tagblatt (in German). 21 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  17. ^Hacker, Alina (31 May 2022). "Der neue Trainer ist an Bord". SpVgg Bayreuth (in German). Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  18. ^"Dank Nollenberger: Bayreuth holt den ersten Sieg in der 3. Liga". kicker (in German). 13 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  19. ^"SpVgg Oberfranken Bayreuth 1:3 Hamburger SV". German Football Association (in German). 30 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. ^Wolfrum, Stefan (13 May 2023). "SpVgg Bayreuth: Abstieg nach 1:4 gegen Köln besiegelt". Nordbayerischer Kurier (in German). Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. ^"Ein Abstieg zum Debüt: Kolbecks bittere Premiere mit Bayreuth". kicker (in German). 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  22. ^Rundfunk, Bayerischer (11 March 2016). "Bayreuth: Wirbel um Sanierung des Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadions | BR.de" (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  23. ^"Kader" (in German). SpVgg Bayreuth. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  24. ^SpVgg Oberfranken Bayreuth » Trainerhistorie(in German) weltfussball.de. Retrieved 5 April 2011
  25. ^Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv(in German) Historical German domestic league tables
  26. ^Fussball.de – Ergebnisse(in German) Tables and results of all German football leagues
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