Newly promoted Hoffenheim are proudly sitting atop the German Bundesliga and pundits and fans worldwide are amazed.
They feel it’s an almost unique event, a newly promoted club starting the new season so well. Unfortunately these people haven’t gotten their facts straight, as they seem to have forgotten about Kaiserslautern.
Not many people will remember this, but back in the 1997-98 season, 1.FC Kaiserslautern actually won the league title in their first season following promotion. They actually did what many Hoffenheim fans secretly hope their club will achieve this season.
The Rhineland-based side, nicknamed “Die Rote Teufel” or “Red Devils", made history when they became the first and only German side in history to win the Bundesliga in their first season following promotion.
Unlike Hoffenheim, Kaiserslautern were big players in the transfer market, as they signed a few expensive newcomers. Their main transfer coup back in the day was the re-signing of Swiss midfield maestro and playmaker Ciriaco Sforza from Internazionale. They also strengthened their squad with Bulgarian international Marian Hristov, German winger Andreas Buck, and a young talent called Michael Ballack.
The Kaiserslautern side was an experienced one. In goal they had a seasoned goalie in Andreas Reinke. The normal back four had a lot of international experience, with players like Czech international Miroslav Kadlec and the tall Dane Michael Schjönberg.
Reliable and sturdy German defenders such as Harry Koch and Axel Roos completed the defence, whilst veteran player and former international Andreas “Andy” Brehme provided cover when needed.
The Swiss midfield maestro Ciriaco Sforza ran the midfield, ably assisted by Andreas Buck, Martin Wagner, and Brazilian winger Ratinho. A very young Michael Ballack made 16 appearances while Marian Hristov also had a big role to play.
Upfront, the attack was “marshalled” superbly by Olaf Marschall, who bagged 21 goals in 24 appearances. Jürgen Rische chipped in with 11 goals with Czech international Pavel Kuka and Marco Reich acting as the main back-ups.
But a team doesn’t win with a strong squad alone. You also need an able manager to make sure the tactics suit the players and to make sure the players get along. As it happened, Kaiserslautern had one of the best German managers ever at the helm during their league campaign in ‘98.
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