Werder Bremen

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 (lit. 'North derby'). In April 2022, Werder had over 40,000 members.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over a rain-slicked pitch in Gelsenkirchen. Black and white stripes clashed with green and white under the heavy German sky. The crowd chanted not out of hatred, but anticipation—a reminder that to be great in Germany, you must beat the giants from Bremen.

Reader's Guide

Werder secured their place in the 1963–64 Bundesliga, the competition's inaugural season, by finishing second in the 1962–63 Oberliga Nord. The club won their first German championship in 1964–65. They were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 1979–80, won the 1980–81 2. Bundesliga Nord title, and were promoted back. Under manager Otto Rehhagel, Werder won the Bundesliga in 1987–88 and 1992–93, and the DFB-Pokal in 1991 and 1994. Thomas Schaaf led the team to the double in 2003–04. Bremen finished 17th in 2020–21 and were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, then finished runners-up in the 2021–22 2. Bundesliga and won promotion back after one season.

Did You Know?

• Werder's name 'Werder' is the German word for 'river peninsula', alluding to the riverside field where they first played.
• The club was founded on 4 February 1899 by 16-year-old students who won a football in a tug of war tournament.
• Werder won their first DFB-Pokal in 1960–61, defeating 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2–0 in the final.
• In 1992–93, Werder became the first German club to reach the group stage of the newly rebranded UEFA Champions League.
• The club's 'Wunder von der Weser' refers to a 5–3 comeback win against Anderlecht in the 1993–94 Champions League after trailing 3–0.