By 
Holstein Kiel
The city of Kiel has long been thought of as a rich sporting city–it is home to one of the best handball teams in the world and the famous sailing event, Kiel Week. Now, it aims to reach the first division of football as well. After four seasons in Bundesliga 2, Holstein Kiel is in the Bundesliga’s play–off for a second time.
The team nicknamed “Die Störche” (the Storks)knocked on the door to the top–flight in 2018, but they lost out to VfLWolfsburg in the relegation play–off.
However, following their recent run of good form, which also saw them reach the semi–finals of the DFB Cup(beating FC Bayern Münchenin the second round), the club from the far north finished the 2021–21 season in third place. This leaves the door open for their first-ever promotion to the Bundesliga–providing they win the relegation play-offs.
Background
Founded: 7 October 1900
Club colours: Blue–White–Red
Titles:
•German champions 1911–12
•German Amateur Champions 1960–61
StadiumName: Holstein Stadion
Capacity: 15,034
Player to look out for
•Jae–sung Lee –a South Korean winger and player in the South Korea national team
Meet the coach
Ole Werner took over as head coach of Holstein Kiel in September of 2019, with the club 16thin the Bundesliga 2 table. One and a half years later, he is close to finally reaching Holstein’s historic promotion. Slightly younger than Julian Nagelsmann, Ole Werner is currently the youngest coach in German professional football. Having played for Holstein Kiel, he later coached several of the club’s youth teams, before taking up his current position. He is yet another prime example of German clubs developing coaching talents.
Special things to know about Holstein Kiel Holstein
Kiel established a partnership with the San Francisco Glens in 2019, that includes multiple visits between youth players and coaches, exchanges of ideas, training, and further education and development. In the future, Holstein Kiel plans for its first team to visit the West Coast of the U.S. to expand the relationship even further.
