RB Leipzig is a German association football club based in Leipzig, Saxony. The club is supported by energy drink-maker Red Bull who purchased the license of fifth division side SSV Markranstädt with the intention of advancing the re-modeled club to the top-flight Bundesliga within ten years. In their inaugural season, RB dominated the NOFV-Oberliga Süd (fifth division) in 2009–10 and as a result were promoted as champions to the Regionalliga Nord (fourth division) for the 2010–2011 season.
[edit] History
Founded in May 2009, RasenBallsport Leipzig is the fourth football involvement of Red Bull, which already runs football clubs including Red Bull Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria, the New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Brasil in Campinas, Brazil. The name differs from these other teams' names due to the statutes of the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) which prescribe how a sponsor's name is used as part of a club's identity.[1][2] Unlike its other sports teams, the Leipzig club cannot carry the Red Bull name or be fully owned by the company. The German Football Association requires a club to hold 51% of its shares, Red Bull will therefore only be able to acquire 49% of the club.[3]
RB Leipzig aims to play first division Bundesliga football within the next eight to ten years. It began with the purchase of the playing licence of fifth division side SSV Markranstädt. The new club retained the Oberliga team as well as all other football teams of SSV and kept on coach Tino Vogel.[4] In 2010, the team moved from their old ground to play their home games in the Zentralstadion which was renamed Red Bull Arena.[5]
It has been speculated that Red Bull will invest 100 million Euros in the club over the next ten years.[6] Instrumental in the deal was Michael Kölmel, owner of the Zentralstadion in Leipzig.[7] Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull, openly speaks of the possibility of the club winning a German championship.[8] The last time a team from Leipzig won the German championship was almost one hundred years ago, in 1913, when VfB Leipzig captured the title.
Huub Stevens, coach of Red Bull Salzburg, would like to see cooperation between the two clubs, and also suggested a friendly to be played between the two sides in Leipzig.[9]
[edit] Past Seasons
[edit] Criticism
The investment in SSV Markranstädt by Red Bull is not the company's first attempt to enter the Leipzig football scene. In 2006, it tried to purchase FC Sachsen Leipzig, a club with a rich tradition, but also plagued by constant financial trouble. After months of fan protests which deteriorated into violence, the company abandoned the plan.[10]
Protests also greeted plans to invest in SSV Markranstädt, but to a much lesser extent. Apart from the use of weed killer that damaged the pitch at Stadion am Bad and some destroyed advertising, opposition was non-violent.[6] In a survey carried out by the newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung, 70% of the questioned residents of Leipzig welcomed the initiative. Public support for action against the involvement was low as football in Leipzig had reached rock-bottom, according to the Alliance of Active Football Fans.[10] FC Sachsen Leipzig had its Regionalliga Nord (IV) licence revoked at the end of the 2008–09 season when the club became insolvent, while local rival Lokomotive Leipzig failed to earn promotion. Neither club has criticised Red Bull's investment,[10] despite all three clubs playing in the same league in 2009–10. Steffan Kubald, chairman of Lokomotive Leipzig, dubbed the club the Bayern Munich of the Oberliga, meaning RB Leipzig is the team to beat.[11]
[edit] Honours
[edit] Affiliated clubs
The following clubs are affiliated with RB Leipzig:
[edit] Coach history
[edit] Stadium
The Red Bull Arena during a friendly against FC Schalke 04
The club played most of its home games in its inaugural season in the Stadion am Bad, which holds 5,500 spectators and is the old homeground of the SSV Markranstädt.[12] Since 1 July 2010 home games have been played at the Red Bull Arena also known as Zentralstadion with 44,345 seats.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Notable former players
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Die Rasensportler von Leipzig
- ^ [1] (German) Statutes of the DFB, see §15
- ^ Red Bull’s Global Brand Expands: RB Leipzig Launched Pitchinvasion.net, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ RB Leipzig startet "Mission Bundesliga" (German) mdr.de, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Red Bull In Leipzig – Wir würden selbst den Teufel mit offenen Armen empfangen. Spiegel online, 17 June 2009
- ^ a b East German football gets the kick it needs The Independent, published: 24 June 2009, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Der RB Leipzig kommt (German) Der Tagesspiegel, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Mateschitz: Titel mit RB Leipzig prinzipiell moeglich (German) sport1.de, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Stevens will Kooperation mit RB Leipzig (German) RP Online, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ a b c Red Bull Wants to Caffeinate Small Soccer Club Spiegel online, published: 19 June 2009, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Lizenz fur RB Leipzig (German) Bild.de, accessed: 25 June 2009
- ^ Stadion am Bad, Markranstädt (Deutschland) Weltfussball.de, accessed: 25 June 2009
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Peter Pacult
FC Red Bull Salzburg
SSV Markranstädt
New York Red Bulls
Red Bull Brasil
Red Bull Ghana
