VfL Osnabrück

Football club infobox
clubname = VfL Osnabrück


fullname = Verein für Leibesübungen
von 1899 e.V. Osnabrück
nickname = The Violets
founded = 1899
ground = Osnatel-Arena (formerly Bremer Brücke)
capacity = 18,415
chairman = flagicon|Germany Dr. Dirk Rasch
manager = flagicon|Germany Claus-Dieter Wollitz
mgrtitle = Head Coach
league = 2. Bundesliga
season = 2007-08
position = 2. Bundesliga, 12th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=9400d3|body1=9400d3|rightarm1=9400d3|shorts1=9400d3|socks1=9400d3
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

VfL Osnabrück is a German football club in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony.

History

Foundation to WW2

The club has its origins in the coming together on 17 April 1899 of the memberships of the "wild" clubs "Antipodia", "Germania", and "Minerva" to create "Fußball Club 1899 Osnabrück". This group joined "Osnabrücker Ballverein 05" in 1920 to play as "BV 1899 Osnabrück".

Predecessor Osnabrücker BV 05 was the product of the 1905 merger of "Fußball Club Edelweiß 1902 Osnabrück" and "Fußball Club Alemannia Osnabrück". This club made an appearance in the quarterfinals of the regional Westdeutsche (West German) final in 1910 where they were decisively put out (2:9) by "Duisburger SV".

The merger that created "Verein für Leibesübungen Osnabrücker" took place in 1924 when "BV" was joined by "Spiel- und Sport Osnabrück". Prior to 1921, "SuS" had played as the football department of the gymnastics club "Osnabrücker Turnverein 1861", created in 1914 when "Fußball Club 1903 Olympia Osnabrück" and "Fußball Club Teutonia 1902 Osnabrück" became part of "TV".

Established 24 June 1902, Teutonia Osnabrück also had quarterfinal appearances in the Westdeutsche final to its credit, dropping decisions to "FC Mönchengladbach" in 1908 (0:3), and "BV Dortmund" (3:4) in 1909.

"VfL" was formally incorporated on 8 March 1925, but part of the membership of the newly formed association soon left to create a separate side called "Sportclub Rapid Osnabrück" – styled after well known club Rapid Vienna. "Rapid" came back to the fold thirteen years later in 1938 and the re-unified club adopted the light-purple colours of the returning footballers. [Grüne, Hardy (2001). Vereinslexikon. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag ISBN 3-89784-147-9]

After the re-structuring of German football leagues in 1933 under the Third Reich, "Osnabrück" played second division football until winning promotion to the Gauliga Niedersachsen (I) in 1935. They were relegated after their first campaign, but returned to the top flight in 1937, capturing the division title in the 1938-39 season. The Gauliga Niedersachsen was then split into two divisions, and in each of the following two seasons "VfL" took the Niedersachsen-Nord title. They went on to the overall division title in 1940 by beating "Hannover 96" (3:2, 2:2), but lost their defense of that title to the same club the following year (1:1, 1:3). Their Gauliga titles in 1939 and 1940 put "VfL" into opening round group play for the national championship, but they were unable to advance. [Grüne, Hardy (1996). Vom Kronprinzen bis zur Bundesliga. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag ISBN 3-928562-85-1]

Post-War era

After World War II, the club returned to play as "1. FSV Osnabrück" but again took up their traditional name in 1946. The team played in the Oberliga Nord (I) and delivered credible performances that left them standing fourth in the league's all-time table behind well-known sides "Hamburger SV", "Werder Bremen", and "FC St. Pauli".

Failed Bundesliga ambition

The Bundesliga was formed in 1963 as Germany's new top flight professional league. "The Violets" did not qualify for play there and were seeded into second division Regionalliga Nord. They had opportunities to advance through the promotion rounds in five consecutive years beginning in 1969, but were unable to break through. For three decades the club remained a tier II fixture in the Regionalliga Nord (1963-74) and the 2. Bundesliga (1974-84, 1985-93). They played a single season in the Amateur Oberliga Nord (III), but only narrowly escaped relegation in 1979 when "FC St. Pauli" was instead sent down when they were refused a license over their financial situation. A highlight of the period was a 5:4 victory over "Bayern Munich" in a 1978 DFB-Pokal (German Cup) match-up.

Current

Since 1994 the club has been part of the Regionalliga Nord (III), making cameo appearances in the 2. Bundesliga in 2000-01 and 2003-04. On the final day of their 2006-07 campaign, "VfL" again won promotion to second division play, and were then able to avoid being immediately sent down once more by finishing out of the relegation zone in 14th place in 2007-08.

Recent seasons

Honours

*Oberliga Nord (II) champions: 1969, 1970, 1971
*Oberliga Nord (II) vice-champions: 1972, 1973
*Oberliga Nord (III) champions: 1985, 1999, 2000
*Oberliga Nord (III) vice-champions: 1995, 2003
*Gauliga Niedersachsen (I) champions: 1939, 1940
*German amateur champions: 1995

Notable past players

*flagicon|GER Udo Lattek
*flagicon|USA Joe Enochs

=Players=

Current squad

"As of July 19, 2008:"

"For recent transfers, see List of German football transfers summer 2008."

=External links=
* [http://www.vfl.de Official team site]
* [http://www.abseits-soccer.com/clubs/osnabrueck.html The Abseits Guide to German Soccer]