Werder Bremen

The River Peninsula Club – Four-time German champions and European Cup Winners' Cup holders.

Sportverein Werder Bremen von 1899 e. V., commonly known as Werder Bremen, Werder or simply Bremen, is a German professional sports club based in Bremen. Founded on 4 February 1899, Werder are best known for their professional association football team, who compete in the Bundesliga, the first tier of the German football league system. Bremen share the record for most seasons played in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, and are ranked third in the all-time Bundesliga table, only behind Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

Quick Facts

Full name: Sportverein Werder Bremen; von 1899 e. V.
Nickname: Die Werderaner (The River Islanders); Die Grün-Weißen (The Green-Whites)
Short name: Werder, Bremen
Founded: 4 February 1899
Ground: Weserstadion
Capacity: 42,100
Chairman: Hubertus Hess-Grunewald, de
Manager: Daniel Thioune

Lore & Background

Werder have been German champions four times, have won the DFB-Pokal six times, the DFL-Ligapokal once, the DFL-Supercup thrice, and the European Cup Winners' Cup once. The team's first major trophy was the 1960–61 DFB-Pokal; they last won the cup in 2008–09. Bremen's first German championship came in 1964–65, and their latest in 2003–04, when they won the double. In European football, Werder won the 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup, and were runners-up in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. Bremen have played at the Weserstadion since 1909. The club shares a rivalry with fellow northern German club Hamburger SV, known as the Nordderby. In April 2022, Werder had over 40,000 members.

Reader's Guide

Werder Bremen was founded on 4 February 1899 by a group of 16-year-old students. The name 'Werder' alludes to the riverside field where they first played. In 1900, the club was one of the founder members of the German Football Association (DFB). Werder won the Gauliga Niedersachsen in 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, and 1941–42. After World War II, the club was recognized as one of the top two teams in northern Germany, along with Hamburger SV. Werder won their first DFB-Pokal in 1960–61 and their first Bundesliga title in 1964–65. Under manager Otto Rehhagel, they won the Bundesliga in 1987–88 and 1992–93, and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991–92. Thomas Schaaf led the club to the double in 2003–04. Werder were relegated in 1979–80 and again in 2020–21, but returned to the Bundesliga after one season each time.