The history of Energie Cottbus

Key milestones in the club's history, in chronological order.

The key milestones at a glance.

Nicknames through the years Three names tell a story of near misses, late goals and an unbeaten season. Read the storiesClose the stories
1963–1989

The BSG and the DDR-Oberliga

  1. Energie is born

    BSG Energie Cottbus is established from the football section of SC Cottbus on January 31, 1966.

    Location: Cottbus
  2. First promotion to the DDR-Oberliga

    A 1–1 draw against Vorwärts Stralsund secures Energie their first promotion to the DDR-Oberliga.

  3. A third promotion to the Oberliga

    A 1–0 win over Chemie Buna Schkopau clinches Energie’s third promotion to the Oberliga.

  4. Four goals seal promotion

    Energie beat Post Neubrandenburg 4–0 on the final day and return to the Oberliga.

1990–1999

Cup final and the breakthrough

  1. From BSG to football club

    During the political and sporting transformation, BSG Energie becomes FC Energie Cottbus.

    Location: Cottbus
  2. A third-tier club reaches the DFB-Pokal final

    Energie beat Karlsruher SC 3–0 in the semi-final.

  3. The breakthrough into the 2. Bundesliga

    A 3–1 victory over Hannover 96 takes Energie into the 2. Bundesliga for the first time.

  4. The great cup final in Berlin

    Energie lose the DFB-Pokal final 2–0 to VfB Stuttgart.

2000–2009

Six years in the Bundesliga

  1. First promotion to the Bundesliga

    A 2–0 win over 1. FC Köln secures the third promotion place on the final day.

  2. The first Bundesliga win

    Energie record their first Bundesliga win by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0.

  3. The promoted side beat Bayern

    Energie beat Bayern Munich 1–0.

  4. A Bundesliga starting eleven without a German player

    Eduard Geyer fields eleven foreign players in the goalless draw against Wolfsburg.

  5. Piplica’s extraordinary headed own goal

    An extraordinary own goal by goalkeeper Tomislav Piplica costs Energie victory against Gladbach.

  6. The first Bundesliga relegation

    A 3–0 defeat at 1860 Munich confirms Energie’s first Bundesliga relegation with two games remaining.

  7. Back in the Bundesliga

    A 3–1 victory over 1860 Munich secures Energie’s second promotion to the Bundesliga.

  8. Nürnberg bring the Bundesliga years to an end

    After losing the home leg 3–0, Energie also lose the relegation play-off return in Nürnberg 2–0.

2010–2019

Cup run, relegations and new beginnings

  1. Into the cup’s last four again

    A 1–0 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim takes Energie into the DFB-Pokal semi-finals for the second time.

  2. Relegation from the 2. Bundesliga

    A 3–1 defeat at FSV Frankfurt confirms relegation to the 3. Liga.

  3. Late collapse into the Regionalliga

    Two late goals turn Energie’s lead against Mainz’s reserves into a 3–2 defeat.

  4. The return to the 3. Liga

    Following a 3–2 first-leg win over SC Weiche Flensburg 08, a goalless return is enough for Energie.

  5. One goal separates Energie from safety

    Eintracht Braunschweig
    1:1
    Energie Cottbus
    Match 1 · May 18, 2019 · Location: Braunschweig Stadium: Eintracht-Stadion
    Carl Zeiss Jena
    4:0
    1860 München
    Match 2 · May 18, 2019 · Location: Jena Stadium: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld
    Fortuna Köln
    0:2
    Sonnenhof Großaspach
    Match 3 · May 18, 2019 · Location: Köln Stadium: Südstadion

    A 1–1 draw in Braunschweig is not enough for survival because Jena and Großaspach win their simultaneous matches.

Since 2020

The road back to the second tier

  1. Unterhaching block promotion

    After losing 2–1 in Cottbus, Energie also lose the return in Unterhaching 2–0.

  2. Back in the second tier after twelve years

    A 1–0 win at Jahn Regensburg secures direct promotion to the 2. Bundesliga on the final day.