1. FC Kaiserslautern is ready for the 2024/25 second division soccer season after going undefeated in test matches over the summer. (Facebook/1. FC Kaiserslautern)
1. FC Kaiserslautern opens their 2024/25 second division soccer season in Ulm Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. game against newcomer SSV Ulm 1846.
The Bundesliga 2 season gets underway Friday night with two founding members of the Bundesliga, 1. FC Köln (Cologne) and Hamburger SV facing off.
The second division is full of former first-leaguers this season, with 15 of 18 teams having spent at least a season in the top tier.
That includes the Red Devils, a two-time champion, now going into their third season in Bundesliga 2 after being promoted from the third division.
FCK fans will recall last season where their team fought against relegation for most of the season after starting strong.
Fans have reason to be optimistic for the upcoming campaign. The Red Devils went undefeated in test matches prepping for the new season and 16,139 fans came out to see them defeat third division 1860 Munich 2-0 on Saturday during the team’s open house on the Betzenberg.
The Red Devils have a new coach this season in Markus Anfang, who played with FCK between 2002 and 2004. They also have a new captain. The players chose Marlon Ritter to lead them on the field, replacing long-time captain Jean Zimmer.
Ritter got his career as captain off to a good start, scoring the first goal against 1860 and getting the assist for newcomer Jannik Mause’s first goal for the Red Devils.
Besides Mause, Erik Wekesser, Luca Sirch, Florian Kleinhansl, Jannis Heuer and Jan Gyamerah joined the team over the summer. Eight players left the team including Julian Niehues, who joined Bundesliga squad 1. FC Heidenheim.
Kaiserslautern’s first league game at Fritz Walter Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. August 9 against Fürth. The following weekend they head to Ingolstadt for the first round of German cup play against the third division team.
They play against the second newcomer to Bundesliga 2, Preussen Münster, away on Aug. 24 and wrap up the month on the Betzenberg for the Saturday night game Aug. 31 against fellow former Bundesliga side Hertha BSC Berlin.
July 31, 2024 12:02
