A popular club in the western section of the former East Germany, Magdeburg has not been able to followup with GDR era success.
After starting out in 1951 as BSG Stahl, the club was BSG Motor Mitte until 1956. In 1957, as SC Aufbau they began to move up, and played in the top level of GDR soccer, the DDR-Oberliga. After a short name change as SC Magdeburg in 1966 (and relegation), the soccer division became independent, and became known as 1.FC Magdeburg. In the mid 1970s, this was a powerhouse of GDR soccer, winning the title 3 times, and also defeating AC Milan 2-0 in the 1974 European Cup Winners final. However, then the commie bureaucrats decided that BFC Dynamo Berlin would win everything, and Magdeburg slowly sank into obscurity.
A good season in 1998-99, but they eventually fell out of contention. But the decisive followup season would prove to be a bitter disappointment, as FCM failed to qualify for the new Regionalliga. But after one season, they were back, defeating hated enemy Dynamo Berlin in the promotion playoffs. The 2001 season ended bitter. Given up for dead, FCM blasted 13 goals in the last two games to reach salvation. But then insolvency led to a denial of a license, so it was back down to the Oberliga Nordost. Recent efforts have been decent on the field, but a constant struggle to avoid bankruptcy.
Fullname | 1.Fußball-Club Magdeburg
City |
Magdeburg
(Sachsen-Anhalt). Pop: 230,000 (2002).
| Address |
Ernst Grube Stadion, 39114 Magdeburg | Phone: (0391) 8573 223 Fax: (0391) 8110413 Colors |
Blue shorts, white trim, white shorts and socks.
| Nickname |
| Stadium |
Ernst Grube Stadion, located on Friedrich-Ebert Str. Capacity:
25,000 | Original capacity was closer to 45,000. The city has decided to try and be a host for the World Cup 2006, so that would lead to new construction to increase the size to at least 30,000 seats. Tickets |
Quite reasonable, 6-14 euros (2004).
| Supporters |
Pretty decent support. FCM's travelling contingent is probably the largest
in the Regionalliga Nordost. Averaged 2,851 in 2004 (Oberliga).
| Friends |
Eintracht Braunschweig
|
Foes |
Lots. Foremost would be Fortuna Magdeburg, because of the local angle. FC
Berlin, as inheritors of the Dynamo Berlin mantel. Lok Altmark Stendal
fans have it in for FCM, because they feel that Lok was disadvantaged by
GDR bureaucrats. TeBe and Hannover 96 | Heroes |
Jürgen Sparwasser is an eastern hero for his goal against West
Germany in the 74 World Cup. Capped 57 times for the GDR (69-77). Also
from roughly the same period, Martin Hoffmann (66 GDR caps) and
Jürgen Pommerenke (57 GDR caps).
| Zeroes |
| Beer |
Hasseroeder, from a
brewery in nearby Wernigerode
|
Grub and Pub |
Not much. Usual fare of grilled meats, Thüringer Rostbratwurst
| The Net |
The official site is
www.fc-magdeburg.de
Andreas Loge has a decent historical page at
www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/3740/ Also good is www.fcmfans.de , an informative fan
page.
| |
Recent History:
--------------
1966-67 (**) DDR-Liga, Staffel Nord 1st
1967-68 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1968-69 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1969-70 (*) DDR-Oberliga 8th
1970-71 (*) DDR-Oberliga 4th
1971-72 (*) DDR-Oberliga 1st
1972-73 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1973-74 (*) DDR-Oberliga 1st
1974-75 (*) DDR-Oberliga 1st
1975-76 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1976-77 (*) DDR-Oberliga 2nd
1977-78 (*) DDR-Oberliga 2nd
1978-79 (*) DDR-Oberliga 4th
1979-80 (*) DDR-Oberliga 4th
1980-81 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1981-82 (*) DDR-Oberliga 6th
1982-83 (*) DDR-Oberliga 6th
1983-84 (*) DDR-Oberliga 5th
1984-85 (*) DDR-Oberliga 5th
1985-86 (*) DDR-Oberliga 4th
1986-87 (*) DDR-Oberliga 5th
1987-88 (*) DDR-Oberliga 7th
1988-89 (*) DDR-Oberliga 6th
1989-90 (*) DDR-Oberliga 3rd
1990-91 (*) NOFV Oberliga 10th
1991-92 (III) Oberliga Nordost-Mitte 2nd
1992-93 (III) Oberliga Nordost-Mitte 8th
1993-94 (III) Oberliga Nordost-Mitte 7th
1994-95 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Nord 12th
1995-96 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Nord 9th
1996-97 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 1st
1997-98 (III) Regionalliga Nordost 12th
1998-99 (III) Regionalliga Nordost 3rd
1999-00 (III) Regionalliga Nordost 10th
2000-01 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 1st
2001-02 (III) Regionalliga Nord 12th
2002-03 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 1st
2003-04 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 3rd
2004-05 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 5th
2005-06 (IV) Oberliga Nordost-Sud 1st
2006-07 (III) Regionalliga Nord 3rd
2007-08 (III) Regionalliga Nord 11th
2008-09 (IV) Regionalliga Nord 4th
2009-10 (IV) Regionalliga Nord 6th
2010-11 (IV) Regionalliga Nord
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany