Fun Facts
Most fans in Germany know that Hoffenheim are
Most fans in Germany know that Hoffenheim are backed by Dietmar Hopp.
backed by Dietmar Hopp. Less well known are these details.
Hoffe and the goalkeepers: Tim Wiese was the
Hoffe and the goalkeepers: Tim Wiese was the man paid to sit things out, while Tom Starke was a crowd favourite.
man paid to sit things out, while Tom Starke was a crowd favourite. Markus Babbel apparently saw things differently in summer 2012 and drove Starke away. Of all destinations, he went to Bayern Munich, Babbel’s former club, where he would later be German champion six times and a Champions League winner in 2013, even if most of that came from the bench or the stands.
Still, he did make ten Bundesliga appearances as Manuel Neuer’s understudy.
Kevin the emergency stand-in: on 18 May 2013,
Kevin the emergency stand-in: on 18 May 2013, everything was on the line for Hoffenheim away at Dortmund.
everything was on the line for Hoffenheim away at Dortmund. BVB led 1–0 for a long time and Hoffe would have been relegated. Then the incredible twist came in just five minutes.
Sejad Salihović equalised from the spot, Roman Weidenfeller saw red, and because Jürgen Klopp had already made all three substitutions, Kevin Großkreutz had to go in goal. Salihović smashed the next penalty straight down the middle past the emergency keeper. 2–1, Hoffenheim were saved.
Pathfinder for goal-line technology: on 18 October 2013,
Pathfinder for goal-line technology: on 18 October 2013, Bundesliga history was written in Sinsheim.
Bundesliga history was written in Sinsheim. Because there was a hole in the net, Stefan Kießling’s header for Leverkusen ended up in the Hoffenheim goal. No one could explain it, Kießling celebrated only half-heartedly, Hoffenheim stood there baffled, and referee Felix Brych never received the television information that everyone else had.
There was no VAR yet and not even goal-line technology. Leverkusen won 2–1, Hoffenheim protested and lost. But it had a blessed consequence: goal-line technology was introduced for the 2015/16 season.
The prologue to that chapter of football was written two years earlier in Sinsheim.
Kevin almost alone at the top: a Hoffenheim
Kevin almost alone at the top: a Hoffenheim player is the fastest scorer in Bundesliga history.
player is the fastest scorer in Bundesliga history. Kevin Volland beat Manuel Neuer after nine seconds on 22 August 2015. Only Karim Bellarabi managed the same speed.
The first Hoffenheim national-team player was Marvin Compper...
The first Hoffenheim national-team player was Marvin Compper: the central defender was called up by Joachim Löw only once, for the 2–1 defeat to Engla...
The first Hoffenheim national-team player was Marvin Compper: the central defender was called up by Joachim Löw only once, for the 2–1 defeat to England in Berlin on 19 November 2008.
Only once on top: Hoffenheim have finished a
Only once on top: Hoffenheim have finished a season in first place only once in their modern rise, in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 2000/01.
season in first place only once in their modern rise, in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 2000/01. Promotion to the second division in 2007 came as runners-up, as did promotion to the Bundesliga in 2008.
Julian Nagelsmann: when he took over in February
Julian Nagelsmann: when he took over in February 2016, he was exactly 28 years, six months and 15 days old, making him the youngest permanent head coach in Bundesliga history as of December 2019.
2016, he was exactly 28 years, six months and 15 days old, making him the youngest permanent head coach in Bundesliga history as of December 2019. Bernd Stöber had been younger in 1976, but only as a one-match interim at Saarbrücken. Nagelsmann was no stopgap. He was the appointed saviour.
Also in the Akte network
Same chapter · other clubsFun Facts — Update 2020–2026
Andrej Kramaric is TSG Hoffenheim’s record goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
Andrej Kramaric is TSG Hoffenheim’s record goalscorer in
Andrej Kramaric is TSG Hoffenheim’s record goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
the Bundesliga. The Croatian overtook every previous benchmark and established himself as one of the league’s most consistent scorers.
The Hoffenheim model — youth development, data analysis
The Hoffenheim model — youth development, data analysis and professional structures in a village setting — remains a one-off in German football....
and professional structures in a village setting — remains a one-off in German football.
Words of Wisdom — Update
Words of Wisdom — Update...
“We are not the club everybody loves. But
“We are not the club everybody loves.
we are a club everybody has to respect.” — Dietmar Hopp after the insults of 2020.