Bundesliga newcomers from tiny town make history

Where is Elversberg?

Elversberg is a small town north-east of Saarbrücken in the small state of Saarland, south-west Germany. As part of Spiesen-Elversberg, the town has a population of around 13,000 but Elversberg alone has just 7,000 people living in it. There is no train station and just three bakeries. 

What is Elversberg’s back story?

The club was formed in 1907, although folded during World War I before reforming in 1918.

In 2013, the club reached the third division alongside RB Leipzig, but they were promptly relegated. After two playoff defeats in 2016 and 2017, the club finally returned to the third division in 2022 and slowly they began to gain a greater reputation.

The club’s surge coincided with the appointment of Nils-Ole Book in 2017 and head coach Horst Steffen, a former Bundesliga player, a year later. Book first joined as a scout before becoming sporting director, where he played a key role in recruitment. Steffen secured back-to-back promotions for the club as they reached the second division in 2023 as a newly-promoted side in the third division. Germany and Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade played a key role in the club’s promotion that year before moving on, and Bayern Munich’s Paul Wanner enjoyed a successful loan spell at the club a year later.

In just their second season in the second division (2024-25), Elversberg were in the promotion playoff. A 95th minute winner from Heidenheim broke their hearts though, as they missed out on the top flight. Steffen left for Werder Bremen, star player Fisnik Asllani returned to Hoffenheim and five other key players departed. Not only did it look like the chance had gone, but the club looked more likely to battle against relegation the following season.

How did Elversberg reach the Bundesliga promoted?

Aided by continuity at leading levels of the club, Elversberg found a way to turn a desperate situation into a remarkable one. What proved particularly helpful was having the father-son duo of Frank Holzer, chairman of the supervisory board, and Dominik, the president, leading the way and also calling the shots at main sponsor Ursapharm.

The appointment of head coach Vincent Wagner from Hoffenheim’s reserve team was understated, but Wagner did not change much from Steffen’s approach. Aided by former Bundesliga legend Mike Frantz, the assistant coach, and team manager Selina Wagner, who won a Champions League with Wolfsburg, the unit off the field appeared as united as the one forming on it.

The departure of star striker Younes Ebnoutalib to Frankfurt during the transfer window and sporting director Book to Borussia Dortmund in March didn’t derail the club’s promotion ambitions. After losing to relegation battlers Fortuna Düsseldorf in the penultimate game of the season, promotion hopes were wobbling once again. But a win on the final day was enough to keep their spot in second thanks to a superior goal difference. The Bundesliga had been reached.

“A friend of mine told me this week: ‘If Elversberg get promoted, then it’s like flying to the moon.’ Well, today we made it to the moon,” Wagner said afterwards.

Where do Elversberg play?

At the Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde, which has a capacity of 10,000 — more than the population of the town. Construction to reach Bundesliga requirements —15,000 capacity — is reportedly not expected to be finished until 2027, though Elversberg have already been granted an exemption to that rule.

Who are the key figures at Elversberg?

The strength of this team appears to be the collective, and the continuity in leadership positions, rather than one or two individuals.

On the field though, Bambase Conte was signed on loan from Hoffenheim and the attacking midfielder was integral to the club’s promotion push. Long-standing goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof enjoyed a strong campaign, as did winger Lukas Petkov who pitched in with 13 goals and seven assists. Striker David Mokwa was bought in January for just €1.5m, but aided the team down the stretch.

The squad’s average age is 25.3, making it one of the younger squads in the second division. Having reportedly made €10m from transfers and spent just €3m on new arrivals, it’s clear what this team’s approach is. But this summer, it will be intriguing to see how the club approaches the transfer market as it looks to build a squad capable of staying in the Bundesliga.

Edited by: Matt Pearson