Karlsruhe SC

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Full name: Karlsruher Sport-Club Mühlburg-Phönix e.V.

Nickname(s):
- KSC

Founded: 6 June 1894

Stadium: Wildparkstadion (Capacity 32,306)

Chairman: Hubert H. Raase
Manager: Edmund Becker
League: Bundesliga

Honours

German champions:
1909 (as Phoenix Karlsruhe)

German Cup winners:
1955, 1956

2. Bundesliga champions:
1984, 2007

South German champions:
1909, 1958, 1960, 1975

Regionalliga Süd champions:
1969, 2001

UEFA Cup:
1993-94 (semifinals), 1996-97 (third round), 1997-98 (third round)

UEFA Intertoto Cup:
1996

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Karlsruhe clinch Bundesliga promotion

SC Karlsruhe will be back in the German first division next season after a nine-year absence following a 1-0 victory over Unterhaching on Sunday.The victory puts Karlsruhe 11 points clear at the top of the second division. If second-placed Hansa Rostock fail to win on Monday at Rot-Weiss Essen, Karlsruhe will be assured of the title.

A capacity crowd of 29,500 was in Karlsruhe's Wildparkstadion to celebrate promotion thanks to a 67th-minute strike from Edmond Kapllani.

After 31 of 34 matches, Karlsruhe are on 66 points. Four clubs are in contention for the two remaining promotion places: Rostock, with a game in hand, on 55 points, MSV Duisburg, Greuther Fuerth and SC Freiburg (all 54).

Kaiserslautern's chances of an immediate return to the top flight were dented with a 3-2 defeat at Augsburg which leaves them in sixth place on 50 points.

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Well done KSC! Looking forward to see them in 1.BL.
I'm happy for a fact that another Albanian will be playing in Bundesliga, and overall in one of europe's top leagues.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Congrats to KSC!

Kahn and Scholl came from Karlsruher's youth academies, maybe they have some new promising youngsters.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Monday's draw between Hansa Rostock and Rot-Weiss Essen ensured that Karlsruher SC cannot be overtaken at the top of the 2. Bundesliga.


Second-placed Rostock now trail KSC by ten points, with a maximum of nine available from their remaining matches.

Which means that coach "Ede" Becker's side are now sure to return to the top flight as 2. Bundesliga champions of the 2006-07 season.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Well done!

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Ede Becker, head coach of 2. Bundesliga champions Karlsruher SC, talked to bundesliga.de about the current season and the next one.

Edmund "Ede" Becker is the architect of Karlsruher SC's success.

The 50-year-old has been at the club for more than 30 years (with short interruptions). Starting as a player, he has gone on to be reserves coach, assistant coach and now head coach.

He took over on January 13th 2005. He helped to avoid relegation in 2005 and steered KSC in sixth place last season.

This year Karlsruhe ended a nine-year absence to return to the Bundesliga as champions of the 2. Bundesliga.

bundesliga.de: Congratulations on promotion, Edmund Becker. How long did you celebrate on Sunday - as long as your players?

Edmund Becker: No, not that long, but I've been celebrating until 3 or 3:30 a.m.; you have to celebrate accordingly when you reach such a goal, and it doesn't matter who stays up how long or who drinks how much. As coach you have to turn a blind eye to it. There's only one thing: Celebrate!

bundesliga.de: Promotion for KSC had loomed for a long time. Did you already had a feeling, prior to the win in Rostock, that you're going to reach the finishing line?

Becker: I always had the feeling that the team absolutely wanted to reach the goal promotion. But football is unpredictable. If we had lost in Rostock, things could have become tight in the home match against Unterhaching. We could have got our nerves which would have the made the task even more difficult. But you could see in Rostock that the team had the absolute will to win.

bundesliga.de: You've already played in the Bundesliga, now you're back as a head coach next season - a personal dream come true?

Becker: Yes. Actually it was never my effort to be in the spotlight and coach a Bundesliga team. But now that things have turned out that way, I have to say that I'm at the summit of my sporting career. I personally rate the job of Bundesliga coach higher than that of a Bundesliga player, because you have much more responsibility as a coach. It's absolutely a dream come true.

bundesliga.de: You're likely to have one of the smallest budgets of all Bundesliga clubs. Are there any other goals than to stay up?

Becker: Staying up is the main goal, of course. But other goals result from that, for example performing as a unit. And a unit shows if it's intact when the going gets tough.

bundesliga.de: Will you have to change your work?

Becker: Not considerably. I will have to point out that the team must expect setbacks and will have to learn to deal with it. We mustn't panic if three or four successive matches are not so successful. And the same thing apllies to me and to the team as well: you always have to scrutinise yourself and always try to get better.

bundesliga.de: KSC have always been on the up since you took over, but setbacks are likely to come in the Bundesliga. Do you think you're forearmed?

Becker: Yes, I think so. I think that I have the sovereignty and will stick to my way, even in bad times.

bundesliga.de: You're from the Karlsruhe area and are a real role model for the KSC fans. Does that special bond make your work easier?

Becker: No, I don't think so. Of course there is a strong backing when you are successful and win promotion. But in the football business it's normal that you're questioned if you lose or fail to win six, seven or eight matches in a row. Success ranks above everything and there's no alternative.

bundesliga.de: You're at the club for some 30 years, with a short interruption. Can you couch your relationship to the club in terms?

Becker: Of course there is an emotional bond. It's a special relationship if you work as player, reserves coach, assistant coach and finally coach in one and the same club. There have been many highs and lows. If you experience so much together you know which people you can count on - not only in the club but also in the private sector. That's why it's also been a very instructive time for me.

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2. Bundesliga leaders Karlsruher SC have announced that the contracts with midfielder Jan Männer and right back Thomas Kies will not be extended.

Both contracts will run out in the summer.

There is no decision yet whether the contract of striker Jiri Kaufman will be extended.

[Oliver_Kahn]

2. Bundesliga champions Karlsruher SC have signed midfielder Tamas Hajnal from 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The Hungarian stays until 2010.


The 26-year-old put pen to paper under a three-year deal. The contract is valid for Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.

"A very sympathetic club"

Hajnal, who won twelve caps for Hungary, is one of the players head coach Edmund Becker had wanted: "We are delighted that Tamas choose to sign for us. He is a creative player who can also score goals. Additionally he is very good at set-pieces."

"I have followed the club's way for many years, and kSC have always looked a very sympathetic club to me. The coach is doing a very, very good job here. So I think joining KSC is the right step to establish myself in the Bundesliga", Hajnal commented.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bundesliga new boys Karlsruher SC have signed a striker for next season. Alexander Iashvili joins the promoted team from SC Freiburg.


The Georgian international leaves SCF after ten seasons. He scored ten goals in his last year at the Breisgau club.

15 assists

The 29-year-old signs a three-year contract and gets shirt number 20.

Besides his ten goals, which included five from the penalty spot, Iashvili also recorded 15 assists this season.

147 Bundesliga matches

He also brings the experience of 147 Bundesliga matches with him.

"Alexander had various offers from Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs. We get an experienced and skillful striker has qualities will surely help us", KSC sporting director Rolf Dohmen commented.

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Newly-promoted Karlsruhe are targeting a mid-table finish on their return to the Bundesliga, according to general manager Rolf Dohmen.

Although there are still nearly two months to go before the new campaign starts, the 2.Bundesliga champions plan to begin pre-season training this Sunday.

KSC are determined to avoid relegation on their return to the German top flight after a nine-year absence, and have their sights set on a possible top-10 finish.

"Lots of people will laugh at me, but I have a strong opinion that we will stay in the Bundesliga," said Dohmen.

"We want to reach 40 or 42 points, and that should be good enough for a finish between 10th and 13th."

In preparation for life back in the Bundesliga, Karlsruhe have signed several players with top-flight experience.

Freiburg forward Alexander Iaschvili has arrived while Tamas Hajnal, Christopher Reinhard and Christian Timm also know what it takes to perform at the highest level.

And they could yet be joined by Bayern Munich full-back Andreas Gorlitz.

"We need a right-back, and then with 21 players, our squad will be full," added Dohmen in kicker magazine.

"His (Gorlitz's) agent has said that he prefers to stay with Bayern.

"Gorlitz is on holiday until Thursday, but then we will look to talk with him."

Karlsruhe ready for Bundesliga - Yahoo! Sport UK

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bundesliga.de takes a look at matches that will never be forgotten, starting with the 4-4 draw between KSC and Hansa on November 20, 2006.

The 2. Bundesliga Monday night matches are shown live on German sport channel DSF, and they're advertised as "top matches". Naturally not all matches live up to their reputation.

But for the match that was played in Karlsruhe's Wildparkstadion that night the term was nearly an understatement.

First against second

"Top" was already the initial situation: both teams were on top of the standings after twelve matchdays, level on points and - remarkable - both still unbeaten.

The Wildpark was nearly sold out, only in the visiting stands a few places remained empty - understandably so given a journey of nearly 800 kilometres on a Monday evening.

Those Hansa fans present surely must have wished they had stayed at home at first.

3-0 half-time lead

The hosts came out all guns blazing and stormed into a 3-0 lead at half-time, thanks to goals by Edmond Kapllani (6), Massimilian Porcello (16) and Bradley Carnell (28 ).

Especially the 2-0 was well worth seeing. Porcello stunned Hansa keeper Mathias Schober with an unbelievable free-kick from more than 40 metres out.

At half-time KSC president Hubert H. Raase commented that his team's play had been "fascinating", and rightly so.

KSC keep up the pressure

And more of the same followed in the second half. Iranian Amir Shapourzadeh (54) pulled one back for Hansa, but Sebastian Freis (63) restored the three-goal cushion.

Until 15 minutes from time it rather looked like a fifth goal for Karlsruhe than a Hansa comeback. But with victory seemingly secured, KSC had opened the throttle a bit too much.

"We felt too safe"

"We adapted to the collective delirious feeling and maybe even wanted to make them look like fools. We felt too safe and neglected the defence", Edmund Becker analysed after the match.

"If something like that happens, of course it's annoying without measure", the KSC head coach admitted.

15 minutes enough for Hansa

Between the delirious joy and the bitter feelings lay the final quarter of an hour. Shapourzadeh with his second goal (78 ), former German international Christian Rahn (81) and substitute Djordjije Cetkovic (87) equalised for the team from the Baltic Sea.

15 strong minutes had been enough for Hansa to come away with a point. "We showed great character", a happy Hansa coach Frank Pagelsdorf said.

The further course of the season confirmed what the match had already indicated. Both teams won promotion to the Bundesliga in May 2007.

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Karlsruher SC returned to the Bundesliga after a nine year wait. bundesliga.de looks at KSC's championship season.

Karlsruher SC established a new record in their 2. Bundesliga 2006/07 season.

From the first round of play (4-0 at Wacker Burghausen) until the last (3-1 at Greuther Fürth) the Karlsruher team was in a promotion spot in the standings (top 3 places), the first time that's been accomplished in 2. Bundesliga history.

KSC celebrated 21 wins, seven draws and only six losses in their season.

Federico top scorer

KSC's success was the result of a team effort. The offensive game was led by striker Giovanni Federico, whose 19 goals made him the top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga, along with Edmond Kapllani (17 goals).

The midfield effort was led by free kick specialist Bradley Carnell, long shot expert Massimilian Porcello and "clean-up" specialist Godfried Aduobe.

Strong inside defenders

And inside defenders Maik Franz and team Captain Mario Eggimann led a solid defence all season. Keeper Markus Miller consistently rose to the occasion to show his class in goal.

But KSC's promotion is also the result of a lot of hard work behind the scenes, primarily from Coach Edmund Becker and sporting director Rolf Dohmen.

bundesliga.de lets you enjoy a pictorial review of KSC's fantastic 2. Bundesliga championship and Bundesliga promotion season.

Karlsruher SC's season in pictures

[Oliver_Kahn]

Shame Karlsruhe lost Federico to Dortmund, I think he would be like Gekas was last season, if he had stayed