Hansa Rostock
In a season in which their side is in real danger of slipping out of the second tier, Rostock supporters of a certain vintage might prefer to tune out and cast their minds back to far better times, the golden era of1995-2005 when the unfashionable club from the Baltic coast successfully went toe-to-toe with the best in the Bundesliga. A tough-as-nails collective boasting the individual class of Stefan Beinlich, Oliver Neuville, Jonathan Akpoborie and Sergej Barbarez, the Hansa of that period were a match for anyone, good enough to twice achieve a sixth-place finish – in1995-96 and1997-98 – their highest-ever Bundesliga placing.
Prior to the recent success story of Union Berlin, the Rostocker were the original trailblazers for eastern clubs making good in the reunified Germany. Sadly, though, the good times were not to last, as their top-flight competitiveness was eroded by the sale of too many key players, too much faith in inadequate coaches and a lack of sponsorship cash in one of the country’s poorest regions. Relegated from the Bundesliga in 2005, they did manage to bounce back a couple of seasons later, but were promptly demoted again and have operated a ghost train shuttle service between the second and third tiers ever since.
Incredible to think that they started this season on a high, taking maximum points from their first two games and occupying the top of the table. A false dawn, however. Understandably for a club that went nuclear in last summer’s transfer market – bringing in12 new signings and letting13 go – they seem desperately short of cohesion and are among the worst in the league for possession numbers, fouls committed and run intensity. New coach Mersad Selimbegovic has his hands full.