Rot-Weiß Ahlen
Encyclopedia
Rot Weiss Ahlen is a German football club
based in Ahlen
, North Rhine-Westphalia
. Until 2006 the club was known as LR Ahlen for its major sponsor, but underwent a name change when the sponsor withdrew its support after the team was relegated to the Regionalliga
(III) in that year.
After World War II attempts to rebuild local teams failed until members of eight pre-war clubs came together to form TuS Ahlen in 1948. The new side went on to many decades of routine play in the local upper leagues. In 1991 they were faced with a financial crisis and demotion to lower level play. A local benefactor, Helmut Spikker, helped bail the team out through the support provided by his firm, cosmetics manufacturer LR International.
Now on a firm footing TuS Ahlen enjoyed an impressive run of success through the early 90s beginning with a Berzirksliga Westfalen (VII) title in 1992 and promotion to the Landesliga Westfalen (VI). In each of the following three seasons TuS earned another championship and promotion; out of the Landesliga, through the Verbandsliga Westfalen-Nordost (V) and Oberliga Westfalen (IV), leading to the Regionalliga West/Südwest (III).
Leichtathletik Rasensport Ahlen was formed on 1 June 1996 when TuS Ahlen merged with Blau-Weiß Ahlen to begin play in the Regionalliga West/Südwest in 1996–97. The club's rise was stalled and they made a bid again move up by signing a number of players with Bundesliga experience for 1998–99. However, they could only manage a sixth place finish and subsequently unloaded their expensive talent. Living more within their means, the side earned promotion with a second place result in 1999–2000 and a 2–1 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin
in the playoff round to advance to the 2. Bundesliga
. Ahlens best result came in their debut in the second tier when they ended sixth. The team slipped to become a lower tier side and lingered for another five seasons before a 17th place result led to their demotion in 2006.
After being relegated LR Ahlen lost the support of its major sponsor and underwent a name change to become Rot-Weiß Ahlen on 31 May 2006. Chairman Spikker also left the club at the end of August with his successor being vice-president Heinz-Jürgen Gosda. The team returned to 2. Bundesliga
play after finishing as champions of the Regionalliga Nord
in 2007–08. With the end of the 2009-10 season, Ahlen was relegated to the 3rd Liga
, and the following year to the fifth NRW-Liga despite a 17th place finish outside the drop down zone because of insolvency.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
based in Ahlen
Ahlen
Ahlen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is part of the District of Warendorf and is economically the most important town in that district. Ahlen is part of the larger Münster region, and of the historic Münsterland area....
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. Until 2006 the club was known as LR Ahlen for its major sponsor, but underwent a name change when the sponsor withdrew its support after the team was relegated to the Regionalliga
Regionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
(III) in that year.
History
The club has its roots in the local sides of the early 1900s formed by coalminers who played pickup games after work. In 1917, Freie Sportclub Union (FSCU) Ahlen was founded and became one of the region's best known teams, playing in the second tier leagues of the time. The rise of the Third Reich saw the club disbanded as over three-quarters of its members were foreigners making the side politically unpalatable to the regime. A new club, Tus Germania Ahlen, was formed in 1933. This side merged with the strong local club Wacker Ahlen to create the town's largest sports association.After World War II attempts to rebuild local teams failed until members of eight pre-war clubs came together to form TuS Ahlen in 1948. The new side went on to many decades of routine play in the local upper leagues. In 1991 they were faced with a financial crisis and demotion to lower level play. A local benefactor, Helmut Spikker, helped bail the team out through the support provided by his firm, cosmetics manufacturer LR International.
Now on a firm footing TuS Ahlen enjoyed an impressive run of success through the early 90s beginning with a Berzirksliga Westfalen (VII) title in 1992 and promotion to the Landesliga Westfalen (VI). In each of the following three seasons TuS earned another championship and promotion; out of the Landesliga, through the Verbandsliga Westfalen-Nordost (V) and Oberliga Westfalen (IV), leading to the Regionalliga West/Südwest (III).
1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin is a German association football club based in Berlin. It is one of two sides in the city bearing the name Union that emerged during the Cold War and played in East Germany, while the other played in the west. The club currently plays in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga.-Foundation to...
in the playoff round to advance to the 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. Ahlens best result came in their debut in the second tier when they ended sixth. The team slipped to become a lower tier side and lingered for another five seasons before a 17th place result led to their demotion in 2006.
After being relegated LR Ahlen lost the support of its major sponsor and underwent a name change to become Rot-Weiß Ahlen on 31 May 2006. Chairman Spikker also left the club at the end of August with his successor being vice-president Heinz-Jürgen Gosda. The team returned to 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
play after finishing as champions of the Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nord
The Regionalliga Nord is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the northern and eastern part of Germany. It covers ten of the sixteen states of Germany...
in 2007–08. With the end of the 2009-10 season, Ahlen was relegated to the 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
, and the following year to the fifth NRW-Liga despite a 17th place finish outside the drop down zone because of insolvency.
Recent seasons
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1999–2000 | Regionalliga West/Südwest Regionalliga West/Südwest The Regionalliga West/Südwest was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1994 to 2000.- Overview :... (III) |
2nd (promoted) |
| 2000–01 | 2. Bundesliga 2. Fußball-Bundesliga - Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20... (II) |
6th |
| 2001–02 | 2. Bundesliga | 8th |
| 2002–03 | 2. Bundesliga | 12th |
| 2003–04 | 2. Bundesliga | 12th |
| 2004–05 | 2. Bundesliga | 13th |
| 2005–06 | 2. Bundesliga | 17th (relegated) |
| 2006–07 | Regionalliga Nord Regionalliga Nord The Regionalliga Nord is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the northern and eastern part of Germany. It covers ten of the sixteen states of Germany... (III) |
13th |
| 2007–08 | Regionalliga Nord | 1st (promoted) |
| 2008–09 | 2. Bundesliga 2. Fußball-Bundesliga - Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20... (II) |
10th |
| 2009–10 | 2. Bundesliga | 18th (relegated) |
| 2010–11 | 3rd Liga 3rd Liga The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2... |
20th (original 17th;relegated due to insolvency) |
Honours
- Bezirksliga Westfalen champions: 1993
- Landesliga Westfalen champions: 1994
- Verbandsliga Westfalen Nordost champions: 1995
- Oberliga Westfalen champions: 1996
Current squad
Head Coach:- Joachim Krug
Managers
- 1 July 1996 – 18 August 1997 Wolfgang Sandhowe
- 19 August 1997 – 13 October 1998 Klaus BergeKlaus BergeKlaus Berge is a former German football player and current manager of DSC Wanne-Eickel.As player he most notably played for FC Schalke 04 and FC Saarbrücken....
- 14 October 1998 – 11 September 2000 Franz-Josef Tenhagen
- 20 September 2000 – 27 November 2001 Peter NeururerPeter NeururerPeter Neururer is a German football manager.-Career:Neururer had a minor playing career in the lower leagues before moving into coaching at TuS Haltern and SG Weitmar...
- 30 November 2001 – 24 November 2002 Uwe RapolderUwe Rapolder-External links:...
- 25 November 2002 – 2 January 2003 Uwe FuchsUwe FuchsUwe Fuchs is a German football coach and former football player. He is the current manager of VfL Osnabrück.-Middlesbrough:...
- 3 January 2003 – 25 May 2003 Werner LorantWerner LorantWerner Lorant is a former German football player and manager.-Playing career:The defender and defensive midfielder commenced his professional career 1970 in the second division with Westfalia Herne. 1971 he moved to Borussia Dortmund. There he was part of a side that lost 1-11 against Bayern...
- 3 August 2003 – 14 November 2003 Stefan KuntzStefan KuntzStefan Kuntz is a former German professional footballer and since April 2008 chairman of the German football team 1. FC Kaiserslautern....
- 24 November 2003 – 1 March 2005 Ingo Peter
- 7 March 2005 – 25 October 2005 František StrakaFrantišek StrakaFrantišek Straka is a Czech former football player and manager.-Playing career:Straka played most notably for Sparta Prague. In 1988 he moved to Germany and spent the rest of his playing career there. He played for Czechoslovakia and was a participant in the 1990 FIFA World Cup...
- 26 October 2005 – 14 May 2006 Paul LinzPaul LinzPaul Linz is a German football manager and former football player, playing as a striker.-Playing career:...
- 15 May 2006 – 29 October 2006 Bernard DietzBernard DietzBernard Dietz is a former German football player and manager.-Club career:A defender and sweeper in his professional career, Bernard Dietz played in 495 Bundesliga matches for MSV Duisburg and FC Schalke 04, scoring 70 goals in his Duisburg years and seven in his days with FC Schalke 04 in the top...
- 30 October 2006 – 30 June 2007 Heiko Bonan
- 1 July 2007 – 3 March 2009 Christian WückChristian WückChristian Wück is a retired German football player and a football manager currently managing Holstein Kiel.-External links:...
- 3 March 2009 – 16 April 2009 Bernd Heemsoth
- 16 April 2009 – 20 September 2009 Stefan EmmerlingStefan EmmerlingStefan Emmerling is a German retired football player and a football manager currently in charge of FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt.-External links:* at transfermarkt.de...
- 20 September 2009 – 14 October 2009 Andreas Zimmermann
- 14 October 2009 – 30 June 2010 Christian HockChristian HockChristian Hock is a retired German football player and a football manager who currently managing Hessen Kassel.-External links:...
- 1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011 Arie van LentArie van LentArie van Lent is a Dutch-German former footballer.-Career:Van Lent dreamed of being with Ajax Amsterdam in his youth, but spent almost his entire professional career as a journeyman in Germany, mostly on the bench of Werder Bremen or in second-division sides and below. Later, he became a...
- 1 July 2011 - 15 November 2011 Thomas Berndsen