SV Elversberg, a newly promoted club, shocked the German football faithful on Saturday following a 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Ursapharm-Arena in Elversberg.
The little-known football club from south-west Germany, close to the border of France, enjoyed a moment of history by going up 3-0 against one of the Bundesliga’s strongest teams in their first game before Bayer Leverkusen were able to return two goals to end the game 3-2.
Their debut performance was one that will live long in the memory as the side that, just a few years ago, was playing in the country’s regional leagues, defeated Bayer Leverkusen, who won the league two years ago.
“We did it step by step, and it didn’t feel like a fairy tale for the people here because they are so strong in their decision-making and very clear in how they want to play, and we want to act as a club,” Josef Welzmuller, Elversberg’s technical director, said.
According to him, the team’s progress to the German top-flight league has been deliberate. “It might sound like the rise has been a rush, but at every stage the floor was solid before the next one was built.”
With three promotions in the past five years, Elversberg have swiftly climbed from the fourth tier of German football to the top flight.
Their coach Vincent Wagner had described staying up this season as a challenge “like a journey to Mars,” but Elversberg are well-versed in defying the odds, and will aim to do so again this season.
He hinted before the match that Elversberg was ready to defy the odds.
“For us, the Bundesliga feels so far away at times. And yet, if you set aside the infrastructure and the money and just focus on playing football, we can,” Wagner said.
A key figure in Elversberg being able to rise as quickly as they have was Ole Book.
A former footballer in Germany’s lower leagues, Book joined Elversberg in 2017 as a scout, and within a year was promoted to sporting director.
Book had an eye for spotting talented youngsters and giving them the platform to showcase their emerging talent by becoming key players in the Elversberg team.
However, the question now is: are
Elversberg ready for the Bundesliga after defeating a former champion of the German top-flight football league?
“The team is ready for the Bundesliga,” said Welzmuller, the club’s technical director.
According to him, the past few seasons have been exceptional for the town and the club. However, a difficult season lies ahead.
But the fans and residents of the town are excited by the challenge, and according to its sporting director, the club is represented everywhere when you walk through the streets.
“When you walk or drive through the town at the moment, you see Elversberg flags all around, and you see people walking around with the team’s merchandise like a hat or jersey, which makes us all feel very proud.
“I feel like the club is part of the life of the people here,” Welzmuller said.
Elversberg have shown they are not here to make up the numbers with a dominant win against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
