1. FSV MAINZ 05 – THE CLUB

Emotional, fair and familial – this is what 1. FSV Mainz 05 is known for among football fans. The club as a clear philosophy that is key not only on the pitch, but in the club life as well. 1. FSV Mainz 05 became an established Bundesliga club with solid financials, strong ties to the community, countless charitable activities, and great continuity in the club’s leadership. 1. FSV Mainz 05 stands for a real success story in German professional football. During its many years in the second league, the club has evolved from a mousy small union to one of the most popular, most colorful clubs in Germany. It all started to change for 1. FSV Mainz 05 when Juergen Klopp, who was an injured player at that time, became the head coach of the professional team in 2001. With him on the sidelines, the club who constantly feared relegation from the second league into the third, became successful on the pitch, even fighting for the promotion spots to the Bundesliga. The club missed promotion twice in a highly dramatic fashion, but did not stray from their way of playing football and was rewarded with the fans’ sympathy. When 1. FSV Mainz 05 managed to finally promote to the Bundesliga in 2004, not only the whole city was standing behind the club, but also the vast majority of football fans in Germany, as the fairness of the team, the good spirit of the fans and the perseverance of 1. FSV Mainz 05 despite the tragedy of missing promotion twice impressed everyone.