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Having spent a total of 34 seasons in the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum are hardly “newcomers” to the top–flight of German football. Having said that, their last season in the Bundesliga was in2010 –which makes their once established nickname “Die Unabsteigbaren” (the Ones who cannot be relegated) part of football history.
In 2021–22, the club from the former mining town in the Rhein–Ruhr region is finally returning and they bring another essential part of football culture with them. The region is the largest urban area in Germany and given that it is also home to clubs such as Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund, Bochum is all about football. Similar to other former mining towns, Bochum is known to embrace the famous German football culture and VfL Bochum’s fans will certainly enrich the Bundesliga with their dedication and passion.
Background
Founded: 14 April 1938
Club colours: Blue–White
Titles:
- Bundesliga 2 champions: 1993–94, 1995–96, 2005–06
- DFB–Pokal finalists: 1967–68, 1987–88
StadiumName: Vonovia–Ruhrstadion
Capacity: 27,599
Player to look out for
•Silvère Ganvoula–a Congolese striker who also plays for the Congo national team
Meet the coach
Thomas Reis is yet another example of successful homegrown coaches at German clubs. As a player, he celebrated two promotions with VfL Bochum to the Bundesliga in 2000 and 2002. As a coach, he assisted several youth and women’s teams of VfL Bochum until he took over the senior squad in September of 2019 –his first-ever post as a head coach in professional football. Now, Reis has achieved the feat of securing promotion to the Bundesliga with VfL Bochum as both player and coach.
Special things to know about VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum is known as a football “talent factory”, where stars such as İlkay Gündoğan, Christoph Kramer and Leon Goretzka have played in their youth. FC Bayern München midfielderGoretzka was born in Bochum and played for VfL Bochum for over a decade, and remains very much connected to the club and its fans. For him, it will be very special to line up against Bochum in the Bundesliga.
