MSV has certainly become a model elevator team is the last few years, bouncing up and down between the top flight and 2nd division. The club has never been known for stylish football, but has generally favored a hard-working physical play, with occasionally a gifted technical player to carry the team. In that sense, it's pedigree is very typical of football in the Ruhr Valley
Founded in 1902, MSV had never managed to win anything, unless you consider the German Amateur championship in 1987, which falls in the "who cares?" category. Nevertheless, the club has traditionally invested in a strong youth program. In the 1st year of the Bundesliga in 1963, MSV managed to play well and finish runner up to 1.FC Köln. However, that is pretty much the highpoint of top division football. Nevertheless, through the 1960s-70s, MSV was a fixture in the Bundesliga. Generally in the lower half of mid-table, with an occasional forray into the top. Players such as Detlef Pirsig, Michael Bella, Klaus Wunder and Ronnie Worm provided grit and determination for the scrappy Zebra squads. During this period, Dusiburg was known as a fine producer of youthful prospects.
However by the 1980s, the talent was beginning to dry up and MSV was struggling. They hopped on the elevator, generally in the "down" direction. It wasn't until the end of the decade that they wer eback on top.
The 1990s saw another period of "stability" in the sense they were back in the Bundesliga for a few years, then dropping down into the 2nd. The 2000s saw more of the same, although the platform was now the 2.Liga, with an occasional forray into the top flight.
In 2013, the long grating financial problems took their toll. After another ho-hum Zweite Liga campaign, MSV was denied an operating license by the DFB, and were forcibly relegated down to the 3rd division for the first time in 25 years.
Fullname | Meidericher Spielverein 02 e.V. Duisburg
City |
Duisburg (Nordrhein-Westfalen). Pop:
512,000 (2002), 485,000 (2014)
| Address |
Westender Straße 36, Postfach 12 04 38, 47138 Duisburg | Phone: (0203) 429240 Fax: (0203) 4292444 Colors |
The famed horizontal blue and white stripes on the shirt. Pants are
usually white. The team mascot, not sursprisingly is a zebra.
| Nickname |
Zebras, Meidericher
| Stadium |
MSV-Arena. Capacity: 31,000 (20,000 seats) | This state-of-the-art soccer-only stadium is being built on the skeleton of the old Wedaustadion. Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2004, at the cost of some 45 million euros. During construction, there is reduced capacity of about 20,000. For details, see www.msv-arena.de . MSV had played at the legendary Wedaustadion (capacity 30,000). This facility was built in 1926, and went through a major renovation in 1965. (until then, there were no covered seats). Still, it was a decripit facility with the typical surrounding track removing the fans from the action, so the new Arena is a welcome addition. Tickets |
Seem pretty reasonable (2004). A goal-end standing goes for only 6 euros,
and most seats are around 13-27 euros. The most expensive seats ("VIP
Lounge") are
50 euros.
| Supporters |
Their fans are dedicated, but they don't have many outside the town.
Averaged about 9,500 in 2004 (2.Liga). New stadium should help. Bundesliga
peak was 23,000 (1994).
| Friends |
Fan friendships exist with SC Freiburg, FC St.Pauli and Eintracht
Frankfurt.
|
Foes |
Naturally, they consider Schalke, Dortmund, Gladbach, etc. to be
their rivals, but those fans are more concerned about others and don't
pay much attention to the Zebras.
Nevertheless, as with all Ruhr clubs, the rivalry is fierce.
Recently, perhaps Bochum would be the closest to
a true rival, because they're roughly in the same class.
|
Heroes |
Bernd Dietz , who among other things
captained Germany's 1980 Euro Championship squad.
Ronnie Worm, who came out of their youth
program in the early 1970s and is still their all time leading Bundesliga
scorer. Defender/midfielder Detlef Pirsig from the same era was
another fine player.
| Zeroes |
| Beer |
König-Pils is the locally brewed beer and the fan favorite.
"KÖPI" as the Pils is known is the most popular. A few drink
the "Alt".
|
Pub Grub |
According to our sources, the food is "pretty bad", but the
Bratwurst is half-way decent. Perhaps the new stadium will also
bring about improvement here as well. The plan is for a "Fankneipe" (bar)
called Zebrastelle and an additional 8 snack bars.
|
The Net |
Official club site is
www.msv-duisburg.de . A typical graphics heavy site, but has
some decent info. | For the fan perspective, look at Ultras site, www.ultras-duisburg.de or the officially sponsored Fan-Projekt |
MSV Duisburg
2016-17 (III) 3.Liga
2015-16 (II) 2.Liga 16th
2014-15 (III) 3.Liga 2nd
2013-14 (III) 3.Liga 7th
2012-13 (II) 2.Liga 11th license denied, forcibly relegated
2011-12 (II) 2.Liga 10th
2010-11 (II) 2.Liga 8th
2009-10 (II) 2.Liga 6th
2008-09 (II) 2.Liga 6th
2007-08 (I) Bundesliga 18th
2006-07 (II) 2.Liga 3rd
2005-06 (I) Bundesliga 18th
2004-05 (II) 2.Liga 2nd
2003-04 (II) 2.Liga 7th
2002-03 (II) 2.Liga 8th
2001-02 (II) 2.Liga 11th
2000-01 (II) 2.Liga 11th
1999-00 (I) Bundesliga 18th
1998-99 (I) Bundesliga 8th
1997-98 (I) Bundesliga 8th
1996-97 (I) Bundesliga 9th
1995-96 (II) 2.Liga 3rd
1994-95 (I) Bundesliga 17th
1993-94 (I) Bundesliga 9th
1992-93 (II) 2.Liga 2nd
1991-92 (I) Bundesliga 19th
1990-91 (II) 2.Liga 2nd
1989-90 (II) 2.Liga 10th
1988-89 (III) Am.Oberliga Nordrhein 1st
1987-88 (III) Am.Oberliga Nordrhein 1st
1986-87 (III) Am.Oberliga Nordrhein 2nd
1985-86 (II) 2.Liga 20th
1984-85 (II) 2.Liga 13th
1983-84 (II) 2.Liga 3rd
1982-83 (II) 2.Liga 11th
1981-82 (I) Bundesliga 18th
1980-81 (I) Bundesliga 12th
1979-80 (I) Bundesliga 14th
1978-79 (I) Bundesliga 13th
1977-78 (I) Bundesliga 6th
1976-77 (I) Bundesliga 9th
1975-76 (I) Bundesliga 10th
1974-75 (I) Bundesliga 14th
1973-74 (I) Bundesliga 15th
1972-73 (I) Bundesliga 10th
1971-72 (I) Bundesliga 14th
1970-71 (I) Bundesliga 7th
1969-70 (I) Bundesliga 15th
1968-69 (I) Bundesliga 12th
1967-68 (I) Bundesliga 7th
1966-67 (I) Bundesliga 11th
Meidericher SV
1965-66 (I) Bundesliga 8th
1964-65 (I) Bundesliga 7th
1963-64 (I) Bundesliga 2nd