By Ben McFadyean.
With newly-promoted Alemannia Aachen, and Energie Cottbus, the third tier in the season ahead has become even more of a must-see league. Some fans may have hoped the four-time champions 1. FC Kaiserslautern, who draw over 40,000 on average at their home ground the Betzenberg, would have dropped back in, and MSV Duisburg, a historic club with a massive following, would have stayed up, however, either way in 24/25 season there are plenty of reasons to follow the 3. Liga.
The coming season will mean more derbies than ever in a league of Traditionsklubs; including Arminia Bielefeld, VfL Osnabrück, 1860 Munich, Rot-Weiss Essen, and Dynamo Dresden. Will this be the season DFB Pokal semi-finalists 1. FC Saarbrücken go one better and reach the second tier? Or can 1860 make the breakthrough? Will the giants of Eastern Germany, Dynamo Dresden fulfil their promise? The league will again be fiercely contested in the season ahead. Here is a season preview:
Europe’s highest attendance in the third tier and historic grounds
In 2023/24 the attendance in the 3. Liga for the first time surpassed that of the EFL League 1 and now stands at 9,500 on average per game. This league is popular, there is outstanding football played and in some incredible grounds. The coming season might just be the most attractive 3. Liga season yet, with more Bundesliga stalwarts than ever who will set the pace at the top of the league.
Clubs in the 20-team division this season include a club many neutrals have been waiting to see for a long time former Bundesliga side newly promoted Alemannia Aachen, the black and yellows who have a long Bundesliga history are back and will be on every German fan’s bucket list to visit. Also in the league in the coming season are another club with a great history the champions of the last East German league in 1990 Hansa Rostock. Rostock were relegated from the second tier and will be playing local derbies against Dynamo Dresden, and Energie Cottbus, two more clubs that bring plenty of DDR-Oberliga history — the East-German league between 1948 and 1991 — to the competition.
Neutrals will also be looking forward to visits to the Bielefelder Alm, the home of former Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld where one of the most passionate crowds awaits. So looking ahead which are likely to be the top challengers, the also-rans, and the relegation candidates?
Surprises among the title contenders
Whilst the historic clubs in the league can be expected to be one among the challengers there will also be some unexpected teams among those fighting for promotion:
1. FC Saarbrücken
Based in the federal state of Saarland, which has historically been part of France and Germany, 1. FC Saarbrücken is one of the oldest football clubs in German history. Founded in 1903, even in a country accustomed to the 50+1 model of member ownership, Saarbrücken is unusual as their home ground the Ludwigsparkstadion is wholly owned by the local city council. Despite the stability that the municipal ownership has provided the club, the black and blues have suffered from ups and downs since their first season in the Bundesliga, which they joined as a founding member in 1963. Saarbrücken has bounced between the third and the fourth tier in recent years in the past two decades.
Saarbrücken however did achieve two runners-up spots in the top tier of German football in 1943 and 1952. ‘De FC’ as the club are known finished in an impressive fifth spot in 22/23, making history by reaching the semi-final of the DFB Pokal in 2020, what’s more becoming the first fourth-tier team to achieve that feat. A feat they famously repeated in 2024, knocking out not one but three Bundesliga sides including Bayern Munich in the process.
The club are led by former Kaiserslautern midfielder, one of the most talented coaches at this level, Rudi Ziehl. Saarbrücken finished in fifth looking ahead to 23/24, they have done well in particular to add Germany U20 goalkeeper Philipp Menzel from Austria Klagenfurt to replace Tim Schreiber who has returned to RB Leipzig. Left-back Till Schumacher also from first-tier Klagenfurt is another strong capture. A further good transfer is that of midfielder Sebastian Vasiladis from 1860, who is among the league’s top transfers this summer. This season Saarbrücken are among the top contenders to win the league.
Dynamo Dresden
Founded in the German Democratic Republic, former East Germany, in 1953, the ‘Yellow and Blacks’ are based at the 32,000 capacity Rudolf Harbing Stadion. Originally associated with the police, Dynamo won eight titles and finished in second the same amount of times. Also won the East German Cup, the FDBG Pokal, seven times.
Dynamo whose derby is against BFC Dynamo Berlin, as opposed to local rivals 1. FC Lok Leipzig were promoted to the Bundesliga, as a result of finishing second in the final season of the East German league after the reunification in 1991/92.
After relegation from the Bundesliga in 1995, the club spent the period up to 2006 between the fourth and third tiers of German football. Before in 2011 returning to the 2. Bundesliga for a stay which was only interrupted by relegation to the third in the pandemic hit the 2020/21 season.
The highlight of the club’s history was reaching the semi-final of the UEFA Cup, now Europa League, in the season 1988-89, which they lost narrowly to VfB Stuttgart over two legs.
In 23/24 Dresden missed the third-place play-off place by just one point to Jahn Regensburg. they have done outstandingly well to sign Tim Schreiber from RB Leipzig who was among the best keepers in the past season on loan at Saarbrücken. A strong reinforcement also comes in the form of midfielder Croatian Vinko Sapina from Essen.
Dynamo have a balanced squad but they will need former Germany U19 international Christoph Daferner, who has been brought in for leading scorer Jannik Mause, who scored 18 goals and has left for Kaiserslautern, to be a viable replacement. Fans will also look forward to the return of Oliver Batista Meier one of the most consistent players in recent seasons, who has been brought back from Grasshoppers Zurich. Dresden is not just an outstanding city to visit, the 32,000-capacity Rudolf Harbig Stadion is another outstanding reason to Go East.
TSV 1860 München
TSV 1860 München, or ‘Die Sechziger’, played in the Bundesliga between 1963 and 1981 and again between 1995 and 2004. Since then, they have bounced between the second and fourth tiers.
In 2017/18 for the first time in the club’s history, 1860 München were forced to compete in the fourth division due to financial difficulties obtaining a licence for the 2. Bundesliga. Difficulties despite a major stake in the club being bought by Jordanian investor Hasan Ismaik. It has proven to be a mixed blessing with the club lurching from one financial crisis to the next despite selling their 50% stake in the Allianz Arena to Bayern Munich for €11m.
The drop however proved to be something of a blessing when it also resulted in ending the club’s ground share at the unloved Allianz Arena and a return to the historic home ground, the Grünwalder Stadion. The move rekindled the love with much of its fan base and re-established its true identity as Munich’s ‘local club’.
A founding member of the Bundesliga, 1860 were crowned German champions in 1966, and won the DFB Pokal in 1942 and 1964. 1860, who finished in eighth last season, also reached the final of the 1964/65 UEFA Cup Winners Cup where they lost to West Ham United.
1860 have languished in the third tier since their relegation in 2017 and have been frustrated repeatedly finishing fourth twice between 2020 to 2022. the club has limited board room in-fighting and in particular differences with lead investor UAE-based Hasan Ismaik.
The club have the fan base to be a leading club but there has not been enough consistent investment in the team. Ahead of 24/25, coach Argiros Giannikis who joined from AEK Athens in January, has replaced players across all positions. At Centre-back they have brought in a talented replacement for Austrian U21 international Michael Glück, who has left for VfB Stuttgart, in the form of Raphael Schifferl from Austrian first-tier Wolfsberger AC which is promising. Despite minimal investment, the club have reinforced across the squad and in particular have done well to retain leading scorers Morris Schröter and Julian Guttau. !860 can be among the challengers.
VfL Osnabrück
The club that plays in purple and white were founded in 1899, like many sports clubs at the time were focused on gymnastics and only later adopted football. Known as ‘Die Lilla-Weissen, they hold the unwanted record for most seasons played in the 2. Bundesliga, ten, without ever gaining promotion to the Bundesliga.
Between 1968 to 1973 the club finished in a promotion place in the second tier which was then divided into Southern and Northern regions, but they failed in the promotion play-offs to win a place in the Bundesliga. The club remained in the second tier for all, except one season, in the 1980s. In the 1990s they played the first half in the second tier before getting relegated in 1995. Since the turn of the 2000s the club have spent all but seven seasons in the third tier.
The club’s home ground is the Stadion an der Bremer Brücke which was first opened in 1933, a pure football ground, the capacity is 16,100. Their main local rivals, and a must-visit derby, are SC Preußen Münster. Unlike many other relegated second-division teams, Osnabrück’s financial resources are limited, meaning that the club is reliant on creative solutions. For the season ahead VfL have scouted in Switzerland and found their new left-sided duo in Liridon Mulaj, and Bastien Conus. The versatile attacking player Brian Beyer, who joins from French side FC Annecy, spent the majority of his career in Swiss football and is familiar to sporting director Philipp Kaufmann from his time with Swiss giants FC Basel.
Probably the most prominent new signing this season is centre-forward Joel Zwarts, who was unable to show his undoubted potential on the pitch either at Jahn Regensburg or at 1860. In goal, former 1860 Munich number 2 David Richter is set to follow in the footsteps of Philipp Kühn. Perhaps the transfer with the most potential is loan winger Niklas Niehoff, who scored an impressive 17 goals for Holstein Kiel’s second team last season. In Uwe Koschinat they have an experienced coach who has also gained second-tier exposure with SV Sandhausen and Arminia Bielefeld. VfL, who dropped out of the second tier at the end of 23/24, can be expected to finish in the top five.
Best of the rest
Arminia Bielefeld
Arminia Bielefeld dropped from the 2. Bundesliga in 22/23, but have been challenged to reassert themselves fighting relegation in the third tier in the past season. In the coming season ahead the club are still battling financial struggles but they have made smart, rather expensive, investments in the side this summer. The loss of centre-forward Fabian Klos is a big one. To replace him the Arminenhave brought in Jeredy Hilterman a Suriname international who scored an impressive 16 goals for Dutch second division side in the previous season. Improvements have also been made in the centre of midfield, where Lukas Kunze has joined from VfL Osnabrück. In the centre of defence, Dane Joel Felix has moved from Silkeborg IF, where he was a regular in the Danish first tier. In goal, the recently loaned duo of Jonas Kersken and Leo Oppermann were signed permanently. Arminia are more stable and will have nothing to do with relegation, and may surprise a few this season.
Alemannia Aachen
The Schwarz-Gelben from the Neue Tivoli Stadion are back. An eye-opening average of 20,000 saw the club from the border region with Belgium finally promoted back and as champions of the Regionalliga-West after 11 years stuck in the fourth tier. Coach Sven Backhaus has committed to the club until 2027, and there have been considerable reinforcements brought in over the summer which promise success. All the regular players from the promoted team were persuaded to stay – including 20-goal man Anton Heinz. Gianluca Gaudino is a new defensive midfielder who many German football fans will be watching carefully as he is the son of former Germany international Maurizio. Up-front forward Leandro Putaro has joined from Arminia Bielefeld, he brings additional attacking options. The first season back in the third tier will always be a challenge but the black and yellows are a hugely welcome addition to the league and can finish in the top half of the table.
Borussia Dortmund II
Borussia Dortmund II finished an impressive eleventh last season under coach Jan Zimmerman, but they have had to manage some prominent departures this summer. The main loss is undoubtedly Ole Pohlmann, whose 23 goals in the previous season transformed a forward line that had been struggling since the loss of Bradley Fink and then Justin Djinmah. Pohlmann has moved to FC Rio Ave in Portugal for a transfer fee of €1.6m.
In attack, the hopes will be pinned on António Fóti, the Cypriot has already made several appearances in the 2. Bundesliga for Hannover 96 and brings proven scoring ability. The defence has also been affected by the loss of leading player Franz Pfanne who has departed for Hansa Rostock. Antonios Papadopoulos, who had gained several appearances in the Bundesliga, has recently joined Swiss club FC Lugano. In their place, Yannik Lührs from Hannover 96, and David Lelle from Holstein Kiel II will provide stability in the centre of defence.
In Baran Mogultay, who has joined from MSV Duisburg, and Niklas Jessen of FC St. Pauli U23s the ‘Amas’ also have two new full-backs. Finally, two young wingers, Babis Drakas of VfB Stuttgart U19, and Jordi Paulina from Dutch fourth-tier club USV Hercules have been added. BVB II, like all second-string sides, will be hampered by limited support and in the season ahead a lot will once more depend on how the forward line performs.
The relegation battle
Among those teams likely to be in the relegation zone, expect newly-promoted Hannover 96 II, and VfB Stuttgart II and SC Verl to be among the strugglers, plus sadly two historic and popular clubs Energie Cottbus and Viktoria Cologne.
Participation in the 3. Liga is a mixed blessing for the newly-promoted sides
Looking ahead, the 3. Liga is an impressive league of historical, well-established clubs, which will once again present clubs with a challenge of intense, high-impact football and intense crowds. Whilst they might not always be popular, in particular for the academy players of the Bundesliga’s second sides, including BVB U23s, the league presents a chance to match their skills against the best young talent outside of the top two tiers.
For the newly promoted clubs taking part in the single third tier, unlike the Regionalliga which is divided into five local regions; North-East, North, West, South-West and Bavaria, taking part also however adds considerable additional costs due to the nationwide travel needed, additional security costs associated with much larger travelling fan contingents is also a not small overhead.
The president of former Bundesliga team SpVgg Unterhaching, former Bayern Munich midfielder, Manfred Schwabl recently was quoted in an interview with the Abendzeitung newspaper: “The system, in 3. Liga doesn’t work, because clubs are expected to meet difficult criteria to compete in the third division, the travel costs alone make this league virtually uncompetitive compared to the marginally higher gates achievable in the league”.
A bonus for promoted clubs, however, is the TV revenue. Under the current deal, the third division clubs share a pot of €24m which is divided across the 20 league clubs. This leaves around €200,000 more than clubs in England’s League One. The TV deal in the 3. Liga is also in stark contrast to the €50,000 paid to each club in the fourth tier, the Regionalliga.
Overall, with the average season ticket in the 3. Liga at just €204 in the coming season, although 1860 Munich with a top price of €650 is the exception, for nineteen home games this league is, at an average of €11 per game, not just outstanding value, but it is also a league packed with ‘must-see’ grounds and passionate intense crowds.
This coming 3. Liga season, in terms of the quality of football, is on a par with many second tiers in Europe.
The fixtures for the opening match day of the season are:
Friday, 02.08.2024, 1900 ( All times CET)
TSV 1860 München v 1. FC Saarbrücken
Saturday, 03.08.2024
Rot-Weiss Essen v Alemannia Aachen
SV Sandhausen v VfL Osnabrück
Erzgebirge Aue v Hannover 96 II
Borussia Dortmund II v SpVgg Unterhaching
SC Verl v SV Wehen Wiesbaden
Hansa Rostock v VfB Stuttgart II
Sunday, 04.08.2024 16:30
FC Viktoria Köln v Dynamo Dresden
Energie Cottbus v Arminia Bielefeld
FC Ingolstadt 04 v SV Waldhof Mannheim
All 3. Liga fixtures for 24/25 can be found here:
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