FC Energie Cottbus

Energie Cottbus is the flagship team of the Lausitz region on eastern Germany, in the extreme southeast corner of the former GDR.

Energie is a relatively young team. It was essentially founded in 1963. The team of Aktivist Brieske was transferred to Cottbus and merged with the just founded SC Cottbus. In 1966, the soccer section was removed from SC, and the independent BSG Energie was founded, basically under the auspices of a local coal mine. The conversion to FC Energie came with die Wende in 1990.

Energie is one of the few ex-GDR clubs whose best times came after re-unification. The club played mostly in the 2nd division in the GDR, and the few appearances in the DDR-Oberliga were usually met with swift relegation. They are also one of the minority to keep a "GDR style" name. Energie quickly established itself as a solid club, and moved up to the 3rd division by 1994. After only 3 seasons, they had made the jump to the 2nd division.

The 1998-99 season was very trying for Energie. For a long period, they were in the relegation zone, but down the stretch, they got their act together and fought their way out.

1999-2000 will undoubtedly be remembered with fondness throughout the ages. The club surprisingly had a good run early, and then hung tough. On the last day, Energie defeated 2.Liga champions 1.FC Köln to hold 3rd place and promotion into the Bundesliga! And despite all odds, being everyones pick for the 1st relegated team, Energie managed to hold on and stay up. On the other hand, they also made news of a more dubious sort: they became the first team to start no Germans on the pitch. By 2003, they finally were relegated, but not before they had managed to claim some scalps, such as defeating Bayern München. Despite predictions for a swift decline, like some of the other small clubs making cameo appearances at top flight (Ulm, Unterhaching), Cottbus was able to challenge in the 2.Liga, and surprised everybody by getting promoted back to the Bundesliga in 2006.

Fullname Fussball-Club Energie Cottbus e.V.
City Cottbus (Brandenburg). Pop: 106,000 (2002). Also known as "Chosebusz" in Sorbisch.
Address Stadion der Freundschaft. 03042 Cottbus
Phone: (0355) 715041 / 714479 Fax: (0355) 713026
e-Mail: fcenergie@inpetho.de

Colors Red shirt, blue trim. Blue shorts and socks. Also just red with white trim.

Nickname Die Lausitzer

Stadium Stadion der Freundschaft Capacity: 22,500 (4,100 seats)
Originally built in 1930, construction started in 1925 as an unemployment project.

Tickets Priced from 10-20 euros (2003/04). Very hard to get, as the fans pack the small stadium. When they play in the 2.Liga, things might be easier. You can order online at the website.
Supporters Very strong local support! Averaged 12,000 in 2004 (2.Liga), frequent sellouts in Bundesliga. Among the 2.Liga, especially with western clubs, Energie had a bad reputation for hooligan neo-nazi fans. Part of this reflects the Ossi vs. Wessi state of affairs. Undoubtedly, there are plenty of well behaved Energie fans. The club sponsors the Fan-Projekt Cottbus, which has a link on the official website. There is a "Fan-Stammtisch" every 1st Monday of the Month at a local McDonald's.
Friends

Foes

Heroes Only 1 GDR international, Jörg Schwanke (1990). Longtime coach Eduard Geyer led Cottbus into the Bundesliga.

Zeroes

Beer Lübzer
Pub Grub McDonalds. OK, it's a joke, but in the past, every Monday around 7 pm has been a "stammtisch", where fans meet, often with players or team officials. The location is in the Fürst-Pückler-Passage. In the stadium, there are the usual snackbars, along with with a club pub "Energie-Eck".

The Net Official site: www.fcenergie.de, A well done and informative site. In 2004, the headline trumpeted "THE FIGHT CLUB", which is sure to cause amusement among English speakers. (Kämpfen, i.e. to fight, in has a very positive connotation in German/soccer.)

Recent History:
--------------

1965-66	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		3rd
1966-67	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		3rd
1967-68	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		2nd
1968-69	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		5th
1969-70	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		4th
1970-71	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord		4th
1971-72	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel B		3rd
1972-73	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel B		2nd
1973-74	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			14th
1974-75 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		1st
1975-76	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			14th
1976-77 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		5th
1977-78 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		2nd
1978-79 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		1st
1979-80 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		1st
1980-81 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel D		1st
1981-82	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			13th
1974-75 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel B		3rd
1974-75 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel B		4th
1974-75 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel A		4th
1974-75 (**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel A		2nd
1986-87	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			13th
1987-88	(**)	DDR-Liga, Staffel A		1st
1988-89	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			10th
1989-90	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			7th
1990-91	(*)	NOFV-Oberliga Nordost  		13th
1991-92	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost Mitte	3rd
1992-93	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost Mitte	3rd
1993-94	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost Mitte	2nd
1994-95	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost 	 	7th
1995-96	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost 	 	3rd
1996-97	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost 	 	1st
1997-98	(II)	2.Bundesliga		 	8th
1998-99	(II)	2.Bundesliga			11th
1999-00	(II)	2.Bundesliga		 	3rd	
2000-01	(I)	Bundesliga 			14th
2001-02	(I)	Bundesliga			13th
2002-03	(I)	Bundesliga			18th
2003-04	(II)	2.Bundesliga			4th
2004-05	(II)	2.Bundesliga			14th
2005-06	(II)	2.Bundesliga			3rd
2006-07	(I)	Bundesliga			13th
2007-08 (I)     Bundesliga			14th
2008-09 (I)     Bundesliga

Fullname	Fussball-Club Energie Cottbus e.V.
City	Cottbus (Brandenburg). Pop: 106,000 (2002). Also known as "Chosebusz" in Sorbisch.
Address	Stadion der Freundschaft. 03042 Cottbus Phone: (0355) 715041 / 714479 Fax: (0355) 713026 e-Mail: fcenergie@inpetho.de
Colors	Red shirt, blue trim. Blue shorts and socks. Also just red with white trim.
Nickname	Die Lausitzer
Stadium	Stadion der Freundschaft Capacity: 22,500 (4,100 seats) Originally built in 1930, construction started in 1925 as an unemployment project.
Tickets	Priced from 10-20 euros (2003/04). Very hard to get, as the fans pack the small stadium. When they play in the 2.Liga, things might be easier. You can order online at the website.
Supporters	Very strong local support! Averaged 12,000 in 2004 (2.Liga), frequent sellouts in Bundesliga. Among the 2.Liga, especially with western clubs, Energie had a bad reputation for hooligan neo-nazi fans. Part of this reflects the Ossi vs. Wessi state of affairs. Undoubtedly, there are plenty of well behaved Energie fans. The club sponsors the Fan-Projekt Cottbus, which has a link on the official website. There is a "Fan-Stammtisch" every 1st Monday of the Month at a local McDonald's.
Friends
Foes
Heroes	Only 1 GDR international, Jörg Schwanke (1990). Longtime coach Eduard Geyer led Cottbus into the Bundesliga.
Zeroes
Beer	Lübzer
Pub Grub	McDonalds. OK, it's a joke, but in the past, every Monday around 7 pm has been a "stammtisch", where fans meet, often with players or team officials. The location is in the Fürst-Pückler-Passage. In the stadium, there are the usual snackbars, along with with a club pub "Energie-Eck".
The Net	Official site: www.fcenergie.de, A well done and informative site. In 2004, the headline trumpeted "THE FIGHT CLUB", which is sure to cause amusement among English speakers. (Kämpfen, i.e. to fight, in has a very positive connotation in German/soccer.)