NEWS
Third Relegation in a Row? German Traditional Club in Freefall
The "Spatzen" were still playing in the 2. Liga two years ago. If the trend cannot be stopped, the reality next season will be the Oberliga.
SSV Ulm has seen better days: The traditional German club played in the Bundesliga in the late 90s as a sensational promoted team.
Survival in the league was not achieved back then, and within four years, they plummeted all the way to the Oberliga.
No Win, Just Three Points
Is a similar scenario unfolding approximately 25 years later? The "Spatzen", who have had former BW-Linz player Oliver Wähling under contract since summer, were still playing in the 2. Bundesliga in the 2024/25 season, but have been directly relegated to the Regionalliga in the last two years.
And even there, things are not going well this year: After seven matchdays, Ulm is at the bottom of the table with only three points. They have not yet secured a win in this Regionalliga season. Their last full victory in the league was five months ago: In mid-April, while still in the 3. Liga, they won 2-1 against TSV Havelse.
LAOLA1 previously highlighted SSV Ulm and TSV Havelse in a "Gateway to the World" feature.
Fans are Fuming
Against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday, they suffered yet another defeat (1-2), and the fans clearly expressed their displeasure after the final whistle. A resounding chorus of boos and an occasional raised middle finger were directed at the team as they faced their supporters.
Furthermore, calls of "Jungwirth out" loudly demanded the dismissal of coach Daniel Jungwirth. The coach showed understanding: "A big thank you to our fans, who once again gave their all today – I more than understand their displeasure, we are all sad," he said. "All I can say is, we're putting everything into it," a hint of desperation also resonated in his words.
"Only Together"
"One must understand that the fans react this way, we feel the same. There's no point burying our heads in the sand," goalkeeper Radomir Novakovic told the "Schwäbische Zeitung". The past years have clearly left their mark on the club, despite another reshuffle in the summer. Novakovic admitted that psychological reasons certainly play a role.
"It only works together, and we will do everything to achieve that," he proclaimed, setting the rallying cry for the coming weeks, in which there is only one goal: to stabilize as quickly as possible and avoid a third consecutive relegation.
