Key Figures
The SAP co-founder: In the little village of Stebbach, everything changed for TSG Hoffenheim on June 4, 1989. The team lost 2-4 after extra time and were relegated to the Kreisliga after a disastrous season. One of the roughly 1,000 spectators at this tragedy was Dietmar Hopp — and he decided to act. What followed was the most remarkable rise in German football history…
The professor: The "architect of success" arrived in Hoffenheim in 2006 and managed to lead the team from the third tier to the Bundesliga within two seasons. The promotion to the 2. Liga was immediately followed by a march through to the top flight. After the sensational "autumn championship" in 2008, Rangnick left Hoffenheim in 2011 and went on to shape the footballing philosophy of the Red Bull empire.…
The first Bundesliga goal: The Bosnian striker scored Hoffenheim's first-ever Bundesliga goal. On the opening matchday in August 2008, in the 3-0 win at Energie Cottbus, he netted in the 18th minute. In October he was named "Player of the Month," then became autumn champion with Hoffenheim…
The Brazilian world star: The Brazilian striker secured a 1-0 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt with his first Bundesliga goal on April 16, 2011. When Firmino arrived from Brazilch Hoffenheim wechselt, bezeichnet ihn die lokale „Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" als sportlichen Fehlgriff. Die vier Mil…
The boy coach: The youngest successful coach in Bundesliga history at the time first stepped into the spotlight in Hoffenheim. As a youth coach, he became the youngest U19 championship-winning coach with the TSG's U19s. In 2015, he became head coach at just 28 — and promptly led Hoffenheim to a Champions League place by 2018.…
