The history of Energie Cottbus
Key milestones in the club's history, in chronological order.
The key milestones at a glance.
Categories
Competitions
Nicknames through the years Three names tell a story of near misses, late goals and an unbeaten season. Read the storiesClose the stories
The BSG and the DDR-Oberliga
Energie is born
BSG Energie Cottbus is established from the football section of SC Cottbus on January 31, 1966.
First promotion to the DDR-Oberliga
A 1–1 draw against Vorwärts Stralsund secures Energie their first promotion to the DDR-Oberliga.
A third promotion to the Oberliga
A 1–0 win over Chemie Buna Schkopau clinches Energie’s third promotion to the Oberliga.
Four goals seal promotion
Energie beat Post Neubrandenburg 4–0 on the final day and return to the Oberliga.
Division champions and a fifth Oberliga promotion
BSG Energie Cottbus2:0
Motor SchönebeckMatch 1 · May 14, 1988 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der FreundschaftMotor Babelsberg2:1
BFC Dynamo IIMatch 2 · May 14, 1988 · Location: Potsdam Stadium: Karl-Liebknecht-StadionA 2–0 win over Motor Schönebeck secures Energie’s fifth promotion to the DDR-Oberliga.
Cup final and the breakthrough
From BSG to football club
During the political and sporting transformation, BSG Energie becomes FC Energie Cottbus.
A third-tier club reaches the DFB-Pokal final
Energie beat Karlsruher SC 3–0 in the semi-final.
The first Regionalliga championship
A 2–1 win at FC Sachsen Leipzig makes Energie early champions of Regionalliga Nordost.
The breakthrough into the 2. Bundesliga
Hannover 960:0
Energie CottbusFirst leg · May 29, 1997 · Location: Hannover Stadium: NiedersachsenstadionEnergie Cottbus3:1Hannover 96Second leg · June 5, 1997 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der FreundschaftA 3–1 victory over Hannover 96 takes Energie into the 2. Bundesliga for the first time.
The great cup final in Berlin
Energie lose the DFB-Pokal final 2–0 to VfB Stuttgart.
Six years in the Bundesliga
First promotion to the Bundesliga
A 2–0 win over 1. FC Köln secures the third promotion place on the final day.
The first Bundesliga win
Energie record their first Bundesliga win by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0.
The promoted side beat Bayern
Energie beat Bayern Munich 1–0.
A Bundesliga starting eleven without a German player
Eduard Geyer fields eleven foreign players in the goalless draw against Wolfsburg.
Piplica’s extraordinary headed own goal
An extraordinary own goal by goalkeeper Tomislav Piplica costs Energie victory against Gladbach.
The first Bundesliga relegation
A 3–0 defeat at 1860 Munich confirms Energie’s first Bundesliga relegation with two games remaining.
Back in the Bundesliga
A 3–1 victory over 1860 Munich secures Energie’s second promotion to the Bundesliga.
Nürnberg bring the Bundesliga years to an end
Energie Cottbus0:3
1. FC NürnbergFirst leg · May 28, 2009 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft1. FC Nürnberg2:0Energie CottbusSecond leg · May 31, 2009 · Location: Nürnberg Stadium: easyCredit-StadionAfter losing the home leg 3–0, Energie also lose the relegation play-off return in Nürnberg 2–0.
Cup run, relegations and new beginnings
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.
Relegation from the 2. Bundesliga
A 3–1 defeat at FSV Frankfurt confirms relegation to the 3. Liga.
Late collapse into the Regionalliga
Two late goals turn Energie’s lead against Mainz’s reserves into a 3–2 defeat.
The championship is decided early
A 2–0 win in Luckenwalde makes Energie early champions of Regionalliga Nordost.
The return to the 3. Liga
SC Weiche Flensburg 082:3Energie CottbusFirst leg · May 24, 2018 · Location: Kiel Stadium: Holstein-StadionEnergie Cottbus0:0SC Weiche Flensburg 08Second leg · May 27, 2018 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der FreundschaftFollowing a 3–2 first-leg win over SC Weiche Flensburg 08, a goalless return is enough for Energie.
One goal separates Energie from safety
Eintracht Braunschweig1:1Energie CottbusMatch 1 · May 18, 2019 · Location: Braunschweig Stadium: Eintracht-StadionA 1–1 draw in Braunschweig is not enough for survival because Jena and Großaspach win their simultaneous matches.
The road back to the second tier
Champions before the final round
Energie Cottbus1:0
Babelsberg 03Match 1 · May 21, 2023 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft
Rot-Weiß Erfurt2:2
BSG Chemie LeipzigMatch 2 · May 21, 2023 · Location: Erfurt Stadium: SteigerwaldstadionEnergie beat Babelsberg 1–0 and win Regionalliga Nordost again.
Hottmann’s hat-trick brings the cup
Energie win the regional cup final against Luckenwalde 4–1.
Unterhaching block promotion
Energie Cottbus1:2
UnterhachingFirst leg · June 7, 2023 · Location: Cottbus Stadium: Stadion der FreundschaftUnterhaching2:0Energie CottbusSecond leg · June 11, 2023 · Location: Unterhaching Stadium: Alpenbauer SportparkAfter losing 2–1 in Cottbus, Energie also lose the return in Unterhaching 2–0.
Championship and direct promotion
A 2–0 win at Hertha BSC’s reserves secures the championship ahead of Greifswald.
The double and a tenth cup win
A week after promotion, Energie beat Babelsberg 3–1 in the regional cup final.
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.
