MSV Duisburg


MSV is the club of the Meiderich district of Duisburg, but is pretty much the flag bearer of the city. It's only city rival would be Hamborn 07, and that would have to be classified as a "Hah-hah". Nevertheless, being in the Ruhr assures plenty of enemies closeby.

MSV has certainly become a model elevator team is the last few years, bouncing up and down between the top flight and 2nd division. The club has never been known for stylish football, but has generally favored a hard-working physical play, with occasionally a gifted technical player to carry the team. In that sense, it's pedigree is very typical of football in the Ruhr Valley

Founded in 1902, MSV had never managed to win anything, unless you consider the German Amateur championship in 1987, which falls in the "who cares?" category. Nevertheless, the club has traditionally invested in a strong youth program. In the 1st year of the Bundesliga in 1963, MSV managed to play well and finish runner up to 1.FC Köln. However, that is pretty much the highpoint of top division football. Nevertheless, through the 1960s-70s, MSV was a fixture in the Bundesliga. Generally in the lower half of mid-table, with an occasional forray into the top. Players such as Detlef Pirsig, Michael Bella, Klaus Wunder and Ronnie Worm provided grit and determination for the scrappy Zebra squads. During this period, Dusiburg was known as a fine producer of youthful prospects.

However by the 1980s, the talent was beginning to dry up and MSV was struggling. They hopped on the elevator, generally in the "down" direction. It wasn't until the end of the decade that they wer eback on top.

The 1990s saw another period of "stability" in the sense they were back in the Bundesliga for a few years, then dropping down into the 2nd. The 2000s saw more of the same, although the platform was now the 2.Liga, with an occasional forray into the top flight.

In 2013, the long grating financial problems took their toll. After another ho-hum Zweite Liga campaign, MSV was denied an operating license by the DFB, and were forcibly relegated down to the 3rd division for the first time in 25 years.

Fullname Meidericher Spielverein 02 e.V. Duisburg
City Duisburg (Nordrhein-Westfalen). Pop: 512,000 (2002), 485,000 (2014)
Address Westender Straße 36, Postfach 12 04 38, 47138 Duisburg
Phone: (0203) 429240 Fax: (0203) 4292444
Colors The famed horizontal blue and white stripes on the shirt. Pants are usually white. The team mascot, not sursprisingly is a zebra.
Nickname Zebras, Meidericher
Stadium MSV-Arena. Capacity: 31,000 (20,000 seats)
This state-of-the-art soccer-only stadium is being built on the skeleton of the old Wedaustadion. Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2004, at the cost of some 45 million euros. During construction, there is reduced capacity of about 20,000. For details, see www.msv-arena.de .
MSV had played at the legendary Wedaustadion (capacity 30,000). This facility was built in 1926, and went through a major renovation in 1965. (until then, there were no covered seats). Still, it was a decripit facility with the typical surrounding track removing the fans from the action, so the new Arena is a welcome addition.
Tickets Seem pretty reasonable (2004). A goal-end standing goes for only 6 euros, and most seats are around 13-27 euros. The most expensive seats ("VIP Lounge") are 50 euros.
Supporters Their fans are dedicated, but they don't have many outside the town. Averaged about 9,500 in 2004 (2.Liga). New stadium should help. Bundesliga peak was 23,000 (1994).
Friends Fan friendships exist with SC Freiburg, FC St.Pauli and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Foes Naturally, they consider Schalke, Dortmund, Gladbach, etc. to be their rivals, but those fans are more concerned about others and don't pay much attention to the Zebras. Nevertheless, as with all Ruhr clubs, the rivalry is fierce. Recently, perhaps Bochum would be the closest to a true rival, because they're roughly in the same class.
Heroes Bernd Dietz , who among other things captained Germany's 1980 Euro Championship squad. Ronnie Worm, who came out of their youth program in the early 1970s and is still their all time leading Bundesliga scorer. Defender/midfielder Detlef Pirsig from the same era was another fine player.
Zeroes
Beer König-Pils is the locally brewed beer and the fan favorite. "KÖPI" as the Pils is known is the most popular. A few drink the "Alt".
Pub Grub According to our sources, the food is "pretty bad", but the Bratwurst is half-way decent. Perhaps the new stadium will also bring about improvement here as well. The plan is for a "Fankneipe" (bar) called Zebrastelle and an additional 8 snack bars.
The Net Official club site is www.msv-duisburg.de . A typical graphics heavy site, but has some decent info.
For the fan perspective, look at Ultras site, www.ultras-duisburg.de or the officially sponsored Fan-Projekt



		MSV Duisburg

2016-17 (III)   3.Liga						
2015-16 (II)    2.Liga			16th
2014-15 (III)   3.Liga			2nd			
2013-14 (III)   3.Liga			7th			
2012-13 (II)    2.Liga			11th	license denied, forcibly relegated
2011-12 (II)    2.Liga			10th
2010-11 (II)    2.Liga			8th
2009-10	(II)	2.Liga			6th
2008-09 (II)    2.Liga			6th
2007-08 (I)     Bundesliga		18th
2006-07	(II)	2.Liga			3rd
2005-06	(I)	Bundesliga		18th
2004-05	(II)	2.Liga			2nd
2003-04	(II)	2.Liga			7th
2002-03	(II)	2.Liga			8th
2001-02	(II)	2.Liga			11th
2000-01	(II)	2.Liga			11th

1999-00	(I)	Bundesliga		18th
1998-99	(I)	Bundesliga		8th
1997-98	(I)	Bundesliga		8th
1996-97	(I)	Bundesliga		9th
1995-96	(II)	2.Liga			3rd
1994-95	(I)	Bundesliga		17th
1993-94	(I)	Bundesliga		9th
1992-93	(II)	2.Liga			2nd
1991-92	(I)	Bundesliga		19th
1990-91	(II)	2.Liga			2nd

1989-90	(II)	2.Liga			10th
1988-89	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordrhein	1st
1987-88	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordrhein	1st
1986-87	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordrhein	2nd
1985-86	(II)	2.Liga			20th
1984-85	(II)	2.Liga			13th
1983-84	(II)	2.Liga			3rd
1982-83	(II)	2.Liga			11th
1981-82	(I)	Bundesliga		18th
1980-81	(I)	Bundesliga		12th

1979-80	(I)	Bundesliga		14th
1978-79	(I)	Bundesliga		13th
1977-78	(I)	Bundesliga		6th
1976-77	(I)	Bundesliga		9th
1975-76	(I)	Bundesliga		10th
1974-75	(I)	Bundesliga		14th
1973-74	(I)	Bundesliga		15th
1972-73	(I)	Bundesliga		10th
1971-72	(I)	Bundesliga		14th
1970-71	(I)	Bundesliga		7th
1969-70	(I)	Bundesliga		15th
1968-69	(I)	Bundesliga		12th
1967-68	(I)	Bundesliga		7th
1966-67	(I)	Bundesliga		11th

		Meidericher SV

1965-66	(I)	Bundesliga		8th
1964-65	(I)	Bundesliga		7th
1963-64	(I)	Bundesliga		2nd	


(c) Abseits Guide to German Soccer : www.abseits-soccer.com