FC Carl Zeiss Jena

GDR CHAMPION 1963, 1968, 1970

Who is Carl Zeiss? Some big East German optics firm. This makes FC one of the few clubs directly sponsored by a company. Actually, the roots go back to 1903, when it was actually founded as the employees club of the Carl-Zeiss company. In the GDR, the club was allowed to remain affiliated with the now state-run comany, although from 1954-66, it was known as SC Motor for some silly reason. The club was "refounded" in 1966 as FC Carl Zeiss, as the soccer section became independant.

CZ was a powerhouse in the DDR-Oberliga, usually battling for the title, although usually as runner-up - 7 times between 1966-1975. The best results have been 3 GDR titles, along with runner up in the 1981 EuroCupwinners Cup finals (losing 2-1 to Dinamo Tbilisi).

Upon reunification, Jena was seeded into the 2.Bundesliga, and initialy had some decent results. After relegation in 1994, they immediately bounced back, again with decent results. But things began to fall apart, as with most eastern "traditional" teams. The 1998-99 campaign was rather lame, as the club certainly expected more than the mid table finish. In the critical year prior to the combined Regionalliga, Carl Zeiss put together a good second half run to qualify for the new league. However, this experience turned out to be crap, as Jena ended up beaten up and in last place. After a few seasons attempting to make it back, by 2005 they won the Oberliga and returned. The 2.Liga experience proved to be too difficult, and the initial year in the 3.Liga was a near disaster, as Jena barely avoided relegation.

Fullname Fußball-Club Carl Zeiss Jena e.V.
City Jena (Thüringen). Pop: 101,000 (2002)
Address Tazendpromenade 2a, 07743 Jena
Phone: (03641) 202020. Fax: (03641) 202022

Colors White shirt, blue pants. Often with some yellow. Road uniform is yellow jersey, black shorts.

Nickname

Stadium Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. Capacity: 12,000 (9,000 seats)
An expansion of additional 2,000 is planned. When built in 1924, it held some 25,000, and was known as Zeiss-Sportplatz Oberaue until 1939.
The official website has a nice circular video tour of the stadium.

Tickets Priced at 7-12 euros (2002). In mid-1970s, attendance averaged almost 14,000, but these days, expect around 4-5,000.
Supporters Averaged 2,755 in 2004 (Oberliga). Some 157 recognized fan clubs, with over 2,000 members. When things aren't going to well, it gets noticeably quiet, although non-die hard fans get very critical. Decent attendance at away games. During GDR days, a good year might average 10,000.
Friends Borussia Moenchengladbach, Erzgebirge Aue. Initial contacts with FC Gütersloh as well.

Foes Biggest rival is Rot-Weiß Erfurt

Heroes 33 GDR internationals. Among the best known are Konrtad Weise (86 caps, 1970-81), Eberhard Vogel (74 caps, 1962-76), Lothar Kurbjuweit (66 caps, 1970-81) and the brothers Roland and Peter Ducke (37 caps, 1958-67 and 68 caps, 1960-75).

Zeroes

Beer Koestritzer, a brewery located in Bad Köstritz is the main sponsor. Their specialty is the famed Koestritzer Schwarzbier, a world class brew. Very popular throughout Thüringen. I usually keep a supply in my frig, so I can attest to it's divine quality :) Braugold was once a sponsor. In addition, Rosen-Pils, from the Rosenbrauerei Pößneck . The Jenaer like their beer :)
Pub Grub The stadium snackbars serve up the famed Thüringer Rostwürstchen, roasted chicken, sandwiches and all sorts of non-alcholic drinks.

The Net The official page is at http://www.fc-carlzeiss-jena.de . It is very nicely done. Frank Cichos and Volker Große run a complete fan page at www.uni-jena.de/~zfc/club.html

Recent History:
--------------

1965-66 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1966-67 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1967-68 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		1st
1968-69 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1969-70 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		1st
1970-71 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1971-72 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		4th
1972-73 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1973-74 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1974-75 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1975-76 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1976-77 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1977-78 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1978-79 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1979-80 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1980-81 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1981-82 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1982-83 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1983-84 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		10th
1984-85 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		7th
1985-86 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1986-87 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		6th
1987-88 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		6th
1988-89 (*)	DDR-Oberliga		8th
1989-90 (*)	NOFV-Oberliga		5th
1990-91	(*)	NOFV-Oberliga 		6th
1991-92	(II)	2.Bundesliga		2nd
1992-93	(II)	2.Bundesliga		8th
1993-94	(II)	2.Bundesliga		17th
1994-95	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost	1st
1995-96	(II)	2.Bundesliga		6th
1996-97	(II)	2.Bundesliga		12th
1997-98	(II)	2.Bundesliga		16th
1998-99	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost	9th
1999-00	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost	4th
2000-01	(III)	Regionalliga Sud	18th
2001-02	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	3rd
2002-03	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	2nd
2003-04	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	2nd
2004-05	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	1st
2005-06	(III)	Regionalliga Nord	2nd
2006-07	(II)	2.Bundesliga		13th
2007-08 (II)    2.Bundesliga		18th
2008-09 (III)   3.Liga			16th
2009-10	(III)	3.Liga			5th
2010-11 (III)   3.Liga			15th
2011-12 (III)   3.Liga

Fullname	Fußball-Club Carl Zeiss Jena e.V.
City	Jena (Thüringen). Pop: 101,000 (2002)
Address	Tazendpromenade 2a, 07743 Jena Phone: (03641) 202020. Fax: (03641) 202022
Colors	White shirt, blue pants. Often with some yellow. Road uniform is yellow jersey, black shorts.
Nickname
Stadium	Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. Capacity: 12,000 (9,000 seats) An expansion of additional 2,000 is planned. When built in 1924, it held some 25,000, and was known as Zeiss-Sportplatz Oberaue until 1939. The official website has a nice circular video tour of the stadium.
Tickets	Priced at 7-12 euros (2002). In mid-1970s, attendance averaged almost 14,000, but these days, expect around 4-5,000.
Supporters	Averaged 2,755 in 2004 (Oberliga). Some 157 recognized fan clubs, with over 2,000 members. When things aren't going to well, it gets noticeably quiet, although non-die hard fans get very critical. Decent attendance at away games. During GDR days, a good year might average 10,000.
Friends	Borussia Moenchengladbach, Erzgebirge Aue. Initial contacts with FC Gütersloh as well.
Foes	Biggest rival is Rot-Weiß Erfurt
Heroes	33 GDR internationals. Among the best known are Konrtad Weise (86 caps, 1970-81), Eberhard Vogel (74 caps, 1962-76), Lothar Kurbjuweit (66 caps, 1970-81) and the brothers Roland and Peter Ducke (37 caps, 1958-67 and 68 caps, 1960-75).
Zeroes
Beer	Koestritzer, a brewery located in Bad Köstritz is the main sponsor. Their specialty is the famed Koestritzer Schwarzbier, a world class brew. Very popular throughout Thüringen. I usually keep a supply in my frig, so I can attest to it's divine quality :) Braugold was once a sponsor. In addition, Rosen-Pils, from the Rosenbrauerei Pößneck . The Jenaer like their beer :)
Pub Grub	The stadium snackbars serve up the famed Thüringer Rostwürstchen, roasted chicken, sandwiches and all sorts of non-alcholic drinks.
The Net	The official page is at http://www.fc-carlzeiss-jena.de . It is very nicely done. Frank Cichos and Volker Große run a complete fan page at www.uni-jena.de/~zfc/club.html