Squad
Holstein Kiel is a historic sport club based in Germany, known for its rich football heritage.
The club competes in the 2. Bundesliga, showcasing its talent in the second tier of German football.
Holstein Kiel made its Bundesliga debut in the 2024–25 season after a successful promotion from the 2. Bundesliga.
Biography
Formation
Holstein Kiel, officially known as Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e.V., is a prominent German football club based in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. The club was formed through the merger of two predecessor teams: Kieler Fußball-Verein von 1900, established on October 7, 1900, and Kieler Fußball-Club Holstein, founded on May 4, 1902. This merger took place on June 7, 1917, during a challenging period marked by World War I, leading to the adoption of the older club's foundation date while retaining the name Holstein.
Early Success and Dominance
From the early 1900s to the 1960s, Holstein Kiel emerged as a dominant force in northern German football. The club achieved significant milestones, including winning the German Championship in 1912 and finishing as runners-up in 1910 and 1930. They also secured six regional titles and were runners-up nine times, establishing themselves as a competitive team in national playoffs throughout the 1920s.
League History and Recent Developments
Holstein Kiel remained a first-division team until the Bundesliga's formation in 1963. After several decades in lower divisions, the club made a notable comeback by gaining promotion to the Bundesliga for the 2024–25 season after finishing as runners-up in the 2. Bundesliga in 2024. However, they faced relegation after just one season in the top tier. The club's rich history is complemented by numerous honors, including multiple championships in regional leagues and the Schleswig-Holstein Cup.
Legacy
Holstein Kiel's legacy is marked by its historical achievements and contributions to German football. The club's resilience and ability to bounce back from challenges reflect its enduring spirit and commitment to the sport, making it a beloved institution in Kiel and beyond.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Foundation to WWII
Holstein Kiel is the product of the merger of predecessor sides Kieler Fußball-Verein von 1900 and Kieler Fußball-Club Holstein. The earliest of these two sides was Kieler Fußball-Verein (later 1. KFV) established on 7 October 1900 out of the membership of the gymnastics club Kieler Männerturnvereins von 1844. Later the club concentrated on track and field athletics. Kieler Fußball-Club Holstein was formed on 4 May 1902 and was renamed Fußball-Verein Holstein von 1902 (FV Holstein Kiel) sometime in 1908. The club quickly became competitive and, in 1910, they reached the German championship final, where they lost 0–1 in extra time to Karlsruher FV. In 1912, they won the German championship with a 2–1 overtime semi-final victory over defending champions Viktoria 89 Berlin followed by a 1–0 win in the final over the previous year's champions, Karlsruher FV. In 1914, the club renamed again after the new branches of hockey and athletics were added, becoming Sportverein Holstein von 1902. On 7 June 1917, 1. Kieler Fussball Verein von 1900 and Sportverein Holstein von 1902, severely weakened by World War I, merged to form the current day club. The new association adopted the foundation date of the older club, while taking up the ground, kit, colours, logo and the name Holstein from SV Holstein Kiel. Through the 1920s, the team made regular appearances in the national playoffs and in 1926 reached the semi-finals where they were eliminated 1–3 by SpVgg…
Since 1947
1947–63 Oberliga Nord (I) 1963–74 Regionalliga Nord (II) 1974–78 Amateuroberliga Nord/Oberliga Nord (III) 1978–81 2. Bundesliga Nord (II) 1981–94 Amateuroberliga Nord/Oberliga Nord (III) 1994–96 Regionalliga Nord (III) 1996–98 Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein (IV) 1998–00 Regionalliga Nord (III) 2000–01 Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein (IV) 2001–07 Regionalliga Nord (III) 2007–08 Oberliga Nord (IV) 2008–09 Regionalliga Nord (IV) 2009–10 3. Liga (III) 2010–13 Regionalliga Nord (IV) 2013–17 3. Liga (III) 2017–24 2. Bundesliga (II) 2024–25 Bundesliga (I) 2025– 2. Bundesliga (II)
- League
- 2. Bundesliga
- League
- Bundesliga
Legacy
National titles
German Championship Champions: 1912 Runners-up: 1910, 1930 German Cup Semi-finals: 1941, 2021 Quarter-finals: 1943, 2012, 2025 Round of 16: 1962, 1966, 1971, 1979, 2019 2. Bundesliga Runners-up – Promoted: 2024 Promotion Playoffs: 2018, 2021 3. Liga Runners-up – Promoted: 2017 Promotion Playoffs: 2015
Regional
Northern German football championship (I) Champions: 1910, 1911, 1912, 1926, 1927, 1930 Runners-up: 1914, 1922, 1923, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932 Gauliga Nordmark (I) Runners-up: 1937 Gauliga Schleswig-Holstein (I) Champions: 1943, 1944 Regionalliga Nord (II) Champions: 1965 Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein (IV) Champions: 1998, 2001 Oberliga Nord (IV) Champions: 2008 Regionalliga Nord (IV) Champions: 2009, 2013 Schleswig-Holstein Cup (Tiers III-IV) Winners: 1978, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017
Reserve team
German amateur championship Champions: 1961 Schleswig-Holstein-Liga Champions: 1961, 1994, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010 Schleswig-Holstein Cup Winners: 1961, 1962, 1966 order: (league/achievement/tier/year)
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e.V., commonly known as Holstein Kiel or KSV Holstein, is a German association football and sports club based in the city of Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. From the 1900s through the 1960s, the club was one of the most dominant sides in northern Germany. Some notable honors from that period include the German football championship in 1912, and being vice-champions 1910 and 1930. Holstein also won six regional titles and finished as runners-up another nine times. They remained a first-division side until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. They made their debut in the Bundesliga in the 2024–25 season after gaining promotion from the 2. Bundesliga in 2024, but were relegated after one season.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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