The history of Energie Cottbus
Milestones and background from the club's history, in chronological order.
More milestones and background for each event.
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
First promotion to the DDR-Oberliga
A 1–1 draw against Vorwärts Stralsund secures Energie their first promotion to the DDR-Oberliga.
After losing 7–0 at Riesa a week earlier, a draw against their remaining challenger is enough.
Cup final and the breakthrough
A third-tier club reaches the DFB-Pokal final
Energie beat Karlsruher SC 3–0 in the semi-final.
Eduard Geyer’s third-tier side reach the final in Berlin, producing one of the great cup stories of the 1990s.
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.
After a goalless first leg, the tie is decided at Stadion der Freundschaft, where Detlef Irrgang scores twice.
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.
Just three years after entering the 2. Bundesliga, Eduard Geyer’s team reach the Bundesliga for the first time.
Bundesliga debut in Bremen
Energie’s Bundesliga debut ends in a 3–1 defeat at SV Werder Bremen.
It begins the first of three consecutive seasons in Germany’s top division.
The first Bundesliga win
Energie record their first Bundesliga win by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0.
After three opening defeats, the promoted side take their first three points at Stadion der Freundschaft.
A Bundesliga starting eleven without a German player
Eduard Geyer fields eleven foreign players in the goalless draw against Wolfsburg.
For the first time in Bundesliga history, a team’s starting line-up contains no German player.
