After the Reds started the 2001/2002 2nd Bundesliga season with a lucky 1-1 draw against newly promoted side Union Berlin, very few foresaw the ease with which Ralf Rangnick’s team would dominate the league that year. And after finishing ninth the previous year such a leap up the table was hardly to be expected. By the winter break 96 already occupied 2^nd place and were pushing table toppers Mainz. After a 3-2 win over Union Berlin in the first game of 2002 Hannover found themselves top of the league – a spot they weren’t to give up for the rest of the campaign.

In the 29th game of the season on 30th March 2002 Ralf Rangnick and his team recorded a 6-0 victory against FC Schweinfurt 05 to secure their passage to the top flight. Come the end of the season Hannover were crowned champions with a ten point gap to their nearest rivals, and boasted an impress goal difference of 93 for and 37 against – evidence of their colossal firepower.

Although this outstanding success was built on teamwork and the exceptional work of the management team, there was one player who stood out from the rest with the kind of displays one hardly ever sees in the 2nd Bundesliga. Jan Simak, before departing for Leverkusen at the end of the season, didn’t just score 18 goals from midfield but took the league by storm with his style and creativity. Adding to the flood of goals were Daniel Stendel with 16 to his name and Jiri Kaufman with 11.

After a thirteen year absence from top flight football, Linke, Sievers and co. returned in a blaze of glory, playing their way into the hearts of the German football public with their own inimitable brand of fast attacking football. After this exceptional season, the name Hannover 96 became synonymous with fresh, attractive football!



Photo: Stefan Zwing