Nuremberg Fanzone: Getting to know the 2018/19 Bundesliga new boys
A club with a rich history in German football, Nuremberg are finally back in the big time after years of trying and look set to enrich the Bundesliga in 2018/19.
bundesliga.com has everything you need to know if you're planning a visit to the historic Bavarian city.
Brief history
As one of the forerunners of German football and the Bundesliga, 1. FC Nürnberg - to give them their official title - were founded in 1900 as a rugby club. However, having failed to amass the required numbers for their original sporting endeavour, the founding members opted instead to play football. On account of their fine on-field displays in the early days, they became known as 'Der Club' and were celebrated and respected throughout the nation as the trophies flowed in during the 1920s.
After the Bundesliga formed in 1963, Nuremberg would win their only top-flight title to date five years later. An unwelcome first immediately followed, however, with the Bavarian-based side relegated the very next season. Fast forward to the modern era, and after several attempts to maintain their status among the top tier - becoming something of a 'yo-yo- club' - Nuremberg enjoyed a fourth DFB Cup success in 2007 that opened the way to a UEFA Cup appearance. Following a number of attempts at gaining promotion in recent years, including a narrow play-off defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2015/16, they are now back in the Bundesliga for the first time since the 2013/14 season with what is their eighth promotion to Germany's top division - a new record.
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Coach
Michael Köllner is a sportswriter's dream in terms of his backstory and no less of an inspiration to his young Nuremberg charges. Incredibly, the 48-year-old is at the helm of his first senior side a little over a year since answering Der Club's call. A qualified dental assistant who served for eight years as a medical assistant in the German armed forces, Köllner is also an author, having penned a manual on football tactics. After 15 years working with the DFB, the tactician decided to mix things up by looking at professional football coaching.
Last season
Having occupied a position in the top three since Bundesliga 2 Matchday 15, Nuremberg put the seal on automatic promotion to the top tier with a game to spare. They could have gone up as champions, but lost the winner-takes-all title shootout against Fortuna Düsseldorf on the final day. Not that they’ll have been too many complaints.
Der Club were the division’s second-highest scorers in 2017/18, with Behrens and Swedish striker Mikael Ishak chipping in with most of the goals for a side that boasted as many as 12 different goalscorers.
Stadium
Inaugurated in 1928, the 48,548 all-seater Max-Morlock-Stadion has gone through several name changes over the years, but it currently bears the moniker of one of the club's greatest ever players: Max Morlock, the attacker who racked up 700 goals for Der Club in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Used as one of the grounds that hosted football matches at the 1972 Olympic Games, the Max-Morlock-Stadion was also one of the host cities for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, famously hosting the so-called 'Battle of Nuremberg' between Portugal and the Netherlands, where a FIFA-record four red and 16 yellow cards were dished out.
Getting in
Nuremberg has its own airport, but Munich international offers another route in to the city. It is also well connected in terms of Germany’s major motorways and long-distance train network.
The Max-Morlock-Stadion is located in the south-east of the city. It lies just over 2 miles from Nuremberg’s main railway station, and a little more from the city’s old town. You can get to the stadium with overground (S-bahn) line 2 from the main railway station. Get off at stop Frankenstadion. An alternative is tram 9. From Nuremberg’s old town, you can take tram 6. Get off at stop Dutzendteich or Doku-Zentrum.
Watch on TV
If you can’t make it to the stadium, Bundesliga matches are broadcast around the world. FOX Sports and Univision provide coverage in the United States, while BT Sports are the exclusive broadcaster in the United Kingdom. In Germany, Sky Sports show the majority of matches, with Eurosport hosting one match per week.
Buying the kit
You can get your own Nuremberg jersey from the official club shop HERE.