1. FC Heidenheim: A Mittelstand club knocking on the door to the Bundesliga
1. FC Heidenheim are currently second in the 2. Bundesliga with a real shot at achieving promotion to the Bundesliga. But who are the club that in more ways than one represent modern Germany?
It is spring, traditionally the time of the year in which Hamburger SV throw away their direct promotion hopes. Relegated at the end of the 2017/18 season, HSV have failed to be promoted for four seasons in a row and are on course to do it again this season as they have now been passed by 1. FC Heidenheim in the 2. Bundesliga standings.
“Heidenheim do an excellent job, and it doesn’t look like any of the top teams are going to lose their form,” HSV striker Robert Glatzel said after his side’s 4-2 defeat to Karlsruher SC. “We have to do our own homework,” Glatzel added when asked whether his team can now catch second-placed Heidenheim, who have collected an unbelievable 50 points from 25 games this season.
Of course, the author of this piece is very much aware of the risk of writing about Heidenheim after dooming Kaiserslautern’s promotion hopes with a feature earlier this season. And there is certainly a risk that the club, located just 17 kilometers west of the Bavarian border and about 93 kilometers east of Stuttgart, could drop out of a direct promotion spot by the end of the season.
Eight points clear of fourth-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf and one point ahead of HSV, there is a better chance than none that we will see Heidenheim at least in the relegation-playoffs, perhaps even against another Swabian club in the form of VfB Stuttgart.
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