SVWW narrow defeat to Champions in season finale
Pros |
History: The history of VfL began on 26 July 1848 – and to this day VfL still bears the year in the club name. In July of that year, an appeal appeared in the "Märkische Sprecher - Kreisblatt für den Kreis Bochum" newspaper for the establishment of a gymnastics club. But the founding of the Bochum gymnastics club did not actually take place until February 1849. The birth of VfL Bochum 1848, as we know it today, came 89 years later through a merger between the gymnastics club Bochum 48, Germania 06 and TuS Bochum. After 22 consecutive years playing in the Bundesliga, the greatest success was the qualification for the UEFA Cup in the 1996/97 campaign under Klaus Toppmöller. The Bochumers reached the last 16 of the competition the following season. Since 2011, VfL have played in the second-tier of German football.
The stadium: VfL Bochum’s home is at Anner Castroper, as has been the case for more than a century – since 1911 to be precise. After the First World War, SuS Bochum’s sports field on Castroper Street became a "real" stadium, which was renamed ‘Ruhrstadion’ by the city of Bochum in 1974. The Ruhrstadion became the rewirpowerSTADION in 2006 and the Vonovia Ruhrstadion 10 years later. Capacity is around 27,599 spectators.
The coach: Thomas Reis, a multiple youth international for Germany, enjoyed a professional career as a defender with Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Bochum, Eintracht Trier, FC Augsburg and Waldhof Mannheim. Born in Wertheim, he coached the VfL youth team from 2011, initially as an assistant and then as head coach. On 6 September 2019, Reis took over as Bochum first team coach, in succession to Robin Dutt.
Head-to-head record: The reverse fixture between VfL Bochum and SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Matchday 3 – their first competitive meeting – had it all. SVWW led 3-0 at the break in Bochum with a brace from Manuel Schäffler and a goal by Max Dittgen. However, after the break, the Bochumers started a brave comeback in front of their own fans and the game ended with a 3-3 draw.