Founded in 1905.
After years of relative obscurity in the regional southwest leagues, Mainz seemed ready to replace Fortuna Köln as a "perennial" 2.Liga club. Given the limited resources, this was a fairly respectable accomplishment.
In 96-97, Mainz had a chance to make history. They played at Wolfsburg in the final game of the 2.Liga season for the last promotion spot. They lost 5-4, but the future looked bright. Instead, it would take several more 2.Liga seasons to really break through.
The 1998-99 season was typical with what the 1990s were. Overall, the club played decently, but never really threatened for one of the top spots. A solid mid-table finish was the reward again to start the new milenium. After a disappointing 14th finish, the next season once again would end in bitter disapointment. An excellent campaign had Mainz with one foot in the Bundesliga, but once again the last round conspired against the club, and they again finished 4th. The next season was even worse, as despite winning 4-1 away at Braunschweig on the final day, the Mainzers had to hear that Frankfurt scored 3 times in the final 5 minutes (including injury time) to edge out by a single goal. In 2004, it was finally time for Mainz. Trailing Aachen by a point into the last match, the Mainzers made short work of Trier 3-0. Meanwhile, Aachen lost at relegation threatened Karlsruhe, and Mainz was in the Bundesliga!
Mainz was number 1 on every pre-season "relegation candidate" list, but managed to surprise everyone and survive. They also managed to garner a spot in the UI-Cup. It was quite a surprise that they managed to stay up for 3 seasons, given the limited resources.
However having tasted the good life, the Mainzers quickly returned, and despite Klopp having moved on to greater things at Dortmund, they established themselves as a solid Bundesliga club.
Fullname |
1.Fußball- und Sport-Verein Mainz 05 e.V.
City |
Mainz (Rheinland-Pfalz). Pop: 185,000
(2002).
| Address |
Dr.-Martin-Luther-King-Weg, 55122 Mainz. | Phone: (06131) 375500 Fax: (06131) 3727033 e-mail: info@mainz05.de Colors |
Red and white. Now like Ajax Amsterdam, with big red block on white shirt.
Used to have checkered red-white.
| Nickname |
| Stadium |
Stadion Am Bruchweg. Capacity: 19,500, (4,500 seats). | Originally built in 1929, it wasn't used by FSV until after WWII. The stadium was expanded in 1997 to around 15,500 allow promotion to the Bundesliga, which seemed a possibility given the previous year's performance. Floodlights were put in the 95-96 season. In 2002, the stadium was apparently increased again. Tickets |
Priced at 9-26 euros (2004), fairly reasonable.
| Supporters |
Recent success has improved things. Averaged almost 15,000 in 2004
(2.Liga) and 20,000 in Bundesliga.
At least four fan clubs have web pages, which is fairly strong.
Nevertheless, traditionally Mainz has not been a big draw. There is an
active "Fan-Projekt", which also publishes a fanzine. (Circulation in 2002
was about 1,100 copies.)
| Friends |
The only non-Mainz links on the official page are to Borussia
Moenchengladbach.
|
Foes |
Eintracht Frankfurt seems to be the leader here. Regional rivalries of
course with 1.FC Kaiserslautern and Waldhof Mannheim.
| Heroes |
Coach Jürgen Klopp brought infectious enthusiasm that led
to the stunning Bundesliga rise.
| Zeroes |
| Beer |
Kirner. A regional brewer in
Kirn, about 60 km west of Mainz. They
brew a Pils, a "Pur" unfiltered, a malty "1798" and a couple of light
beers.
|
Grub and Pub |
| The Net |
There is a strong presence in the net.
Official site at www.mainz05.de .
| |
Recent History: -------------- 2012-13 (I) Bundesliga 7th 2012-13 (I) Bundesliga 13th 2011-12 (I) Bundesliga 13th 2010-11 (I) Bundesliga 5th 2009-10 (I) Bundesliga 9th 2008-09 (II) 2.Liga 2nd 2007-08 (II) 2.Liga 4th 2006-07 (I) Bundesliga 16th 2005-06 (I) Bundesliga 11th 2004-05 (I) Bundesliga 11th 2003-04 (II) 2.Liga 3rd 2002-03 (II) 2.Liga 4th 2001-02 (II) 2.Liga 4th 2000-01 (II) 2.Liga 14th 1999-00 (II) 2.Liga 9th 1998-99 (II) 2.Liga 7th 1997-98 (II) 2.Liga 10th 1996-97 (II) 2.Liga 4th 1995-96 (II) 2.Liga 11th 1994-95 (II) 2.Liga 14th 1993-94 (II) 2.Liga 13th 1992-93 (II) 2.Liga 12th 1991-92 (II) 2.Liga Süd 9th 1990-91 (II) 2.Liga 8th 1989-90 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 1st 1988-89 (II) 2.Liga 19th 1987-88 (III) Am.Oberliga Sdwest 1st 1986-87 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 5th 1985-86 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 5th 1984-85 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 2nd 1983-84 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 8th 1982-83 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 8th 1981-82 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 2nd 1980-81 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 1st 1979-80 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 5th 1978-79 (III) Am.Oberliga Südwest 3rd 1977-78 (III) Amateurliga Südwest 1st 1976-77 (III) Amateurliga Südwest 6th 1975-76 (II) 2.Liga Süd 12th 1974-75 (II) 2.Liga Süd 11th 1973-74 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 5th 1972-73 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 1st 1971-72 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 4th 1970-71 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 7th 1969-70 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 12th 1968-69 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 13th 1967-68 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 4th 1966-67 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 4th 1965-66 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 3rd 1964-65 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 11th 1964-65 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 11th 1963-64 (II) Regionalliga Südwest 4th
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany