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History
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In the following pages you will find the most important landmarks in the Reds’ 110 year history.
12th April 1896
The Hannoverian Football Club (HFC) was first founded in 1896 by school pupils. However the only sports on offer were rugby and athletics.
25th June 1899
A football branch of the club was finally established.
14th May 1900
The founding of “The Hannoverian Football Association”
12th July 1913
HFC merges with the Hannover Ball Club 1898 to form the Hannover Sporting Club 1896. Along with football and athletics, tennis, cricket, fist ball, and hiking were also on offer.
August 1919
Paul von Hindenburg, later German President, becomes honorary chairman of the club.
1931
Inauguration of the club’s new home in Hans-Böckler-Allee.
1932
On May 1st 1932 Robert Fuchs becomes the first full-time manager of a first division team with Hannover 96. He stayed at the helm for 14 years. Up until that point a club committee along with the team captain had taken the training sessions.
1935
Hannover 96 reach the German Championship final. Fritz Deike and Edmund Malecki become the club’s first national players. In the following thirty years Hannes Jakobs, Ludwig Männer, Ludwig Pöhler and Helmut Sievert were also capped for their country.
1936/37
Two more players, Helmut Sievert and Ludwig Männer, appear in national colours.
1938
Hannover 96 celebrate their first major success by being crowned German Champions on July 3rd 1938. The strong favourites FC Schalke 04 were beaten 4:3 after extra-time in the second final in front of almost 95,000 fans. The goals for 96 are scored by Richard Meng (9. Min.), Richard Meng (70 Min.), Johannes Jakobs (88 Min.) and Erich Meng (117 Min.). The first final on June 26th 1938 had ended 3-3 after extra-time and therefore the match had to be replayed.
10th April 1945
The allies occupy Hannover. Like all the other clubs Hannover 96 is temporarily disbanded.
August 1945
The club is re-established as the Hannover Sporting Club 1896.
September 1945
A mixed team from Hannover 96 and Arminia Hannover win their first post-war match 6-0 against a British Army team.
1946
To celebrate their 50th anniversary Hannover 96 play FC Schalke 04, but go down 6:1.
May until November 1948
Hannover are relegated from the Oberliga (the highest league) to the County League, but a few months later are allowed to play in the first league again in place of Holstein Kiel.
1st July 1952
Helmut "Fiffi" Kronsbein becomes manager of Hannover 96 and over the next five years builds up a legendary reputation.
23th May 1954
After winning the Northern Championship, Hannover go on to be crowned German champions in 1954. Hannover were the surprise winners in the final beating the favourites 1. FC Kaiserslautern 5:1 in Hamburg. Their opponents had five future World Cup winners in their ranks. The goals for 96 were scored by Tkotz (44 Min.), Kohlmeyer (47 Min.o.g.), Wewetzer (77. Min.), Kruhl (80 Min.) and Paetz (86 Min.). A day later over 200,000 fans celebrate the team’s colossal success at the Station Square.
26th September 1954
Opening of the Niedersachsen Stadium.
1958
The official relocation of Hannover 96 to the Eilenriede Stadium, which after the demolition of the cycling track becomes their home for many years. However home games are still played in the Niedersachsen Stadium.
26th June 1960
Under manager Hannes Kirk Hannover 96 win the German Amatuer title for the first time with a 3-0 victory over BV Osterfeld.
1963
Opening of the club’s new home on Clausewitzstraße.
6th May 1963
The Bundesliga is established, but Hannover 96 are not in it. Their application is rejected and Eintracht Braunschweig are chosen as the representatives for Lower Saxony.
11th August 1963
Hannover make a successful start to the regional league season with a convincing 4-0 victory over Victoria Hamburg. Under manager Helmut Kronsbein the club reach the promotion play-offs.
27th June 1964
Hannover 96 win the 1964 German amateur title under manager Hannes Kirk with a 2-0 victory over SV Wiesbaden.
28th June 1964
Promotion to the 1st Bundesliga! In front of a 70,000 crowd Hessen Kassel are beaten 3-1.
1964/65
Hannover get off to a flying start in the 1st Bundesliga. They beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 and go top of the league. This is followed by a 2-0 home victory against 1. FC Köln which sees Hannover remain in 1st place. They end their first season in the Bundesliga in an outstanding 5th place under manager Kronsbein, and break the league record with an average attendance of 46,000. Goal poacher Walter Rodekamp is selected for the national side and soon scores his first goal for Germany.
27th June 1965
Hannover become the 1965 German Amateurs’ Champions under manager Hannes Kirk. SV Wiesbaden are beaten again, this time 2-1.
1965/66
On September 18th the Reds record their highest ever Bundesliga victory thrashing Borussia Neunkirchen 6-0. On April 23rd 1966 Hannover part ways with their first manager „Fiffi“ Kronsbeim. Hannes Kirk becomes the new coach and the Reds finish the season in 12th place.
1966/67
Under Horst Buhtz the Reds end the season in ninth place.
1967/68
Striker Hans Siemensmeyer makes his international debut on 27th September 1967 and celebrates with two goals in the 5-1 victory over France – quite some debut. The Reds end the season in tenth place under Karl-Heinz Mühlhausen. The manager took over on February 13th 1968 and at 30 years and 8 months was the youngest Bundesliga manager ever.
1968/69
Under “Cik” Cajkowski the Reds finish the season in eleventh place and on May 10th 1969 Jupp Heynckes receives one of his 39 national caps whilst playing for Hannover 96.
1969/70
Hans Pilz is manager during this season in which Hannover 96 finished 13th. Both Skoblar and Heynckes leave the team at the end of the season.
1970/71
Hannover 96 finish in 9th place under the management of Helmut Johannsen. The 70/71 season is regarded as one of the greatest scandals in Bundesliga history. Many clubs are investigated for bribery, although the Reds are not one of them.
1971/72
Under manager Hans Hipp Hannover just avoid relegation and finish in 16th place.
1972/73
Hannover escape relegation on the last day of the season under coach Hannes Baldauf. After the derby defeat to fellow strugglers Eintracht Braunschweig the Reds stay up with a convincing 4-0 win away at Wuppertaler SV. The result secured 16th place and sent their Lower Saxony neighbours Braunschweig (who lost 2-1 to Fortuna Düsseldorf) down.
1973/74
After 10 years in the top flight Hannover finish 18th under Helmut Kronsbein and are relegated.
1974/75
Under manager Kronsbeim the promotion challenge goes fantastically. Finishing in first place Hannover go straight back up to the top flight.
1975/76
With a 16th place finish Hannover 96 drop back into the 2nd division under Hannes Baldauf’s stewardship, and the club face mounting debts. Hannover are allowed to keep their professional licence, but only with certain conditions.
1976/77
Under Kronsbein Hannover finish the season in fifth place and miss out on their aim of an immediate return to the top flight.
1977/78
Once again Hannover 96 finish 5th under Helmut Kronsbien and remain in the second division. They keep their professional licence, again under strict conditions.
1978/79
With manager Toni Burghardt at the helm Hannover finish 15th in the 2nd division (north) and hit a new low both in footballing and financial terms.
1979/80
Under Diethelm Ferner Hannover 96 finish in third place in the 2nd division (north) and just miss out on promotion.
1980/81
The national second division is founded and having finished fourth under Ferner Hannover 96 qualify for it.
1981/82
Hannover 96 finish their first season in the inaugural national second division in fifth place.
1982/83
In this season Hannover only manage 12th place in the second division, with Gerd Bohnsack as manager.
1983/84
Under manager Werner Biskup Hannover 96 end the season in 14th place in the second division.
1984/85
On June 9th 1985 Hannover 96 finally gain promotion to the 1st division. In front of 60,000 fans Werner Biskup’s side beat Hertha BSC Berlin 2-0 to secure their passage to the top flight.
1985/86
On the 21st November promotion-winning manager Biskup is dismissed due to his alcohol problems. His successor was Jürgen Rynio. Hannover 96 finish in 18th place under Helmut Kalthoff, who replaced Jörg Berger, himself Rynio’s successor.
1986/87
Under manager Jürgen Wähling Hannover 96 top the league and ease their way back to the first division. Hannover clinched promotion with four games remaining, beating FC St. Pauli 4-3.
1987/88
The Reds finish the season in tenth place under manager Wähling.
1988/89
After a strange season Hannover end up in last place and go down. Manager Wähling signs Hans Siemensmeyer and Reinhard Saftig, but even they can’t save the club from relegation.
1989/90
Hannover 96 are granted their 2nd division licence under strict conditions. President Fredo Henze steps down. Under manager Michael Krüger 96 finish 8th in the 2nd division and are forced to sell star player Siggi Reich because of their financial difficulties.
1990/91
With manager Michael Lorkowski at the helm Hannover 96 end the season in 10th place in the second division.
1991/92
Under Michael Lorkowski Hannover 96 reach the promotion play-offs, only to finish fifth and thus miss out on promotion to the 1st division.
23th May 1992
Hannover 96 celebrate a sensational win in the DFB Cup, beating Borussia Mönchengladbach in a penalty shoot-out to become the first ever 2nd division side to lift the trophy. Keeper Jörg Sievers is the hero, having already inspired the team to an undeserved penalty win over Werder Bremen in the semi-final. The scorers in the penalty shoot-out were: Milos Djelmas, Roman Wojcicki, Jörg Kretschmar and Michael Schjönberg-Christensen. The next day 100,000 fans turn out to give the team a great welcome home.
1992/93
With the cup success Hannover were economically secure and on the way to financial consolidation. On September 30th 1992 the Reds are knocked out of their first European cup match under manager Eberhard Vogel by defending champions Werder Bremen. This unlucky draw sees Hannover go down 3-1 in the first leg, with a 2-1 victory in the return leg not enough to stay in the competition. Hannover 96 finish in 9th place in the second Bundesliga with Vogel at the helm.
1993/94
Hannover 96 secure 12th place in the second Bundesliga under manager Rolf Schafstall and in doing so are saved from relegation.
1994/95
Stefan Mertesacker takes over as caretaker manager after Schafstall leaves the club before the board appoint Peter Neururer as his permanent replacement. Neuruer is then relieved of his duties two games before the end of the season, meaning Milos Djelmas is in temporary charge as Hannover 96 eventually finish the second Bundesliga season in 13th place.
1995/96
Under managers Egon Coordes and Jürgen Stoffregen Hannover 96 finish 16th in the second Bundesliga and are relegated into the third league. The final 4-2 victory against Chemnitzer FC was to no avail. The 100 year anniversary celebrations bring an all time low for the club.
1996/97
With Reinhold Fanz in charge Hannover 96 end the season as the clear leaders of the Regional League and win the NFV Cup. The team find the net 105 times in the course of the season. On May 29th 1997 Hannover have to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Energie Cottbus in their first play-off match. On June 5th 1997 the return leg in Cottbus is notable for an unusual event: in the 74th minute with the scores tied at 1-1 the floodlights go out and after the subsequent pause the Reds go down 3-1. In spite of an outstanding season they miss out on promotion to the second Bundesliga.
1997/98
On September 26th 1997 Martin Kind is named Hannover 96’s new president and replaces Utz Classen in the club’s top role. The battle for the championship is decided two games before the end of the season (7th May 1998) at Eintracht Braunschweig. Thanks to an Asamoah goal the Reds win 1-0 and secure first place once again under Reinhold Fanz, scoring a phenomenal 120 goals. This is followed by victory in the NFV Cup. On May 21st 1998 96 lose the first leg of the promotion-relegation play-off 2-0 to Tennis Borussia Berlin and it was looking inevitable that Hannover fall at the last hurdle. However in the return leg on 24th May 1998 Hannover fight hard and record a 2-0 victory. In the penalty shoot-out goalkeeper Jörg Sievers is the hero, securing victory for the Reds and promotion to the second league.
1998/99
On 8th July 1998 Hannover 96 Sales & Service GmbH & Co. KG is founded. Franz Gerber’s team secure fourth place in the second league and just miss out on promotion to the first Bundesliga by one point.
1999/2000
In the summer break reconstruction of the Niedersachsen Stadium begins. The old wooden benches are replaced by plastic seats and the capacity is reduced to 48,000. Crowd favourites Otto Addo and Gerald Asamoah move to Bundesliga clubs. Franz Gerber leaves the manager’s post to become director of football. In a members’ meeting on 20th December 1999 it is decided that the sporting branch of the club should become a limited company. Hannover 96 finish the season in 10th place in the second Bundesliga under managers Branko Ivankovic and Horst Ehrmanntraut.
2000/01
Under manager Ehrmanntraut and then Stanislav Levy, who replaces him during the closing stages of the season, Hannover 96 finish ninth in the second Bundesliga. After a promising start, the team fell into the bottom half of the table and fought intermittently against relegation.
2001/02
On 30th March 2002, five games before the end of the season, Hannover beat FC Schweinfurt 6-0 to secure their return to the first Bundesliga. The whole of Hannover is caught up in the wave of excitement (promotion). After an unbelievable season Hannover 96 are clear second Bundesliga champions and set a new league record with 75 points.
2002/03
On 11th August 2002 a first Bundesliga game for 13 years ends in an unlucky 2-1 defeat to Hamburger SV. On 25th February 2003 the remodelling of the AWD Arena begins with the demolition of the north stand to make it fit for the upcoming World Cup. Hannover 96 finish in 11th place under Ralf Rangnick. After a slow start which saw them record no points in their first four games, the Reds manage to survive thanks to Jiri Stajner’s last minute equaliser in the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. They record just four home wins, compared to eight away victories. Striker Fredi Bobic makes the come back of the year and is recalled to the national side, but moves to Hertha BSC Berlin at the end of the season.
2003/04
After another turbulent season the Reds finish bruised and battered in 14th place. The low points of what was, by the end, a conciliatory season include Jan Simak, who initially fails to find his feet at the club (though would later take Hannover by storm), the long term injury to captain Altin Lala, and the departure of Ralf Rangnick after 23 games. The new manager Ewald Lienen manages to pick up 13 points in 11 games, with an unspectacular 0-0 two games before the end of the season ensuring survival.
2004/05
This enjoyable season is characterised by a series of peaks and troughs. After a poor start the Reds put together a mammoth run of six wins in a row (“Golden October”) which sees them rocket up to fourth place in the table. Central to the success are the excellent defensive displays of the impregnable Robert Enke-Mertesacker/Zuraw partnership. After consistently strong performances Per Mertesacker became a key player in the national side. On 23rd January 2005 the AWD-Arena is inaugurated. But after the winter break things quickly go downhill and at the end of the season the Reds find themselves in the bottom half and just miss out on an Intertoto Cup place. In June 2005 the world’s attention turned to the AWD Arena for the first time as it plays host to FIFA Confederation Cup matches.
2005/06
After a below-par start to the season which, come November 2005, sees the team down in 13th place, manager Ewald Lienen leaves the club. Untold highs are reached under new manager Peter Neururer: ten games without defeat and a new club record. Unfortunately this form cannot be maintained for the last games of the season, with the greatest shortcoming being the failure to capitalise on goal scoring opportunities. Twelfth place in the table as well as a record number of draws (17 in total) results in a rather disappointing conclusion to the season. In June 2006 the AWD-Arena witnesses five World Cup games. Per Mertesacker is a key player in Jürgen Klinsmann’s World Cup side.
2006/07
After the World Cup home grown star Per Mertesacker leaves the Reds for Werder Bremen. In July and August the Rolling Stones and Madonna perform in front of a sell-out crowd in the AWD-Arena. After a shocking start Hannover 96 split with manager Peter Neururer and Dieter Hecking takes charge in time for the fourth game of the season. In January 2007 Christian Hochstätter takes over as sporting director. 96’s goalkeeper Robert Enke is called up to the national side by manager Jogi Löw and makes a sufficiently good impression in the game against Denmark on 28th March 2007 to establish himself in the national set-up. A season of highs and lows ends in an 11th place finish with the Reds having had the chance to qualify for the Intertoto Cup up until the very end of the season.In June 2007 both Genesis and Herbert Grönemeyer perform at the AWD-Arena. (Photo: Singer Phil Collins in a 96 outfit).
2007/08
Hecking’s team is strengthened for the start of the season with the addition of German internationals Mike Hanke and Benny Lauth as well as Sergio Pinto, Gaétan Krebs and Thomas Kleine. Hannover 96 sign a marketing contract with SPORTFIVE. The season begins on 31st July 2007 with a friendly against Real Madrid in the sold out AWD-Arena, which sees the Reds defeat the top Spanish club 3-0.
At the end of the first half of the season the team occupies 7th place in the table. On January 5th 2008 new signing Valerien Ismael starts training with the Reds. On 16th January 2008 Hannover 96 open a new heated training ground at the AWD-Arena. With this €800,000 investment the first team are now able to train all year round. On 30th March 2008 Konstantin Rausch makes his debut against VfB Stuttgart aged 18 years and 15 days, making him Hannover’s youngest ever Bundesliga player. Unfortunately he had to be taken off at half-time with an injury. On 16th May 2008 Germany manager Joachim Löw includes 96’s captain Robert Enke in his Euro 2008 squad. A day later on 17th May 2008 Hannover 96 beat Energie Cottbus 4-0 to secure an eighth place finish with 49 points – their best season for 43 years. 1964/65’s fifth place is the only time Hannover have managed to finish higher in the league. Six players leave the club: Richard Golz, Frank Juric, Dariusz Zuraw, Thomas Brdaric, Sören Halfar and Vahid Hashemian.
On July 12th and 13th 2008 the AWD-Arena hosts the Rugby Sevens European Championship.
