View source for Hannover 96

{{Short description|German professional football club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname           = Hannover 96
| fullname           = Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896 e.V.
| image              = Hannover 96 Logo.svg
| upright            = 0.8
| alt                = crest
| current            = 2025–26 Hannover 96 season
| founded            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1896|4|12}}
| nickname           = ''Die Roten'' (The Reds)
| short name         = 96
| ground             = [[Niedersachsenstadion]]
| capacity           = 49,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heinzvonheiden-arena.de/allgemeines|title=General information about the Heinz von Heiden Arena|access-date=2024-03-02|language=de}}</ref>
| chrtitle           = President
| chairman           = [[Martin Kind]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Hannover 96: Struktur |url=https://www.hannover96.de/ueber-96/struktur |website=Hannover 96 |access-date=25 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501040652/https://www.hannover96.de/ueber-96/struktur |archive-date=1 May 2025 |language=de}}</ref>
| manager            = [[Christian Titz]]
| mgrtitle           = Head coach
| league             = {{German football updater|Hannover}}
| season             = {{German football updater|Hannover2}}
| position           = {{German football updater|Hannover3}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.hannover96.de/|hannover96.de}}
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}}

'''Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896''', commonly referred to as '''Hannover 96''' ({{IPA|de|haˈnoːfɐ ˌzɛksʔʊntˈnɔʏntsɪç|IPA}}), is a German professional sports club based in [[Hanover]], the capital of [[Lower Saxony]]. Its senior men's [[Association football|football]] team competes in the [[2. Bundesliga]], the second tier of [[German football league system|German football]], after spending 30 seasons in the top-flight [[Bundesliga]] between 1964 and 2019. Founded on 12 April 1896, the multi-sport association has more than 22,000 members, making it the largest in Lower Saxony.

Hannover 96 have won the [[German football championship]] twice (1938 and 1954) and lifted the [[DFB-Pokal]] in 1992, becoming the first second-division side to do so. The club also hold three [[2. Bundesliga]] titles and have twice reached the quarter-finals of European competition, in the [[1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup]] and the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League]].

Since 1959 Hannover have played at the 49,000-capacity [[Niedersachsenstadion]], a venue for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] and [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 FIFA World Cups]] and [[UEFA Euro 1988]]. The club enjoys strong local support and contests the fiercely disputed [[Lower Saxony derby]] with regional rivals [[Eintracht Braunschweig]].

==History==
===Foundation to the Second World War===
{{Commons|Hannover 96 kits}}
The club was founded on 12 April 1896 as '''Hannoverscher Fußball-Club 1896''', upon the suggestion of [[Ferdinand-Wilhelm Fricke]], founder of the [[Deutscher FV 1878 Hannover]].<ref>[http://www.hardy-gruene.de/textproben-hannover.htm Die Roten – Die Geschichte von Hannover 96] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201151225/http://www.hardy-gruene.de/textproben-hannover.htm |date=1 February 2009 }} {{in lang|de}} Hardy Grüne website – Text samples on his book on the history of Hannover 96. Retrieved 25 January 2009</ref> Their initial enthusiasm was for athletics and [[Rugby football|rugby]]; football did not become their primary interest until 1899.{{cn|date=January 2024}} Most of the membership of Germania 1902 Hannover became part of 96 in 1902, while others of the club formed Hannoverscher Ballspielverein. In 1913, they merged with Ballverein 1898 Hannovera (formed in the 1905 merger of Fußballverein Hannovera, 1898 Hannover, and Hannoverscher BV) to become '''Hannoverscher Sportverein 1896'''. Hannoverscher FC's colours were black-white-green, but they played in blue, while BV played in red. The newly united team kept black-white-green as the club colours, but they chose to take to the field in red, giving the team the nickname ''Die Roten'' ("The Reds").{{cn|date=January 2024}} The team's third jersey is{{when|date=January 2024|reason=when 'is' this? 1913?}} in the club's official colours.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The club made regular appearances in the national playoffs through the early 1900s, but was unable to progress past [[Eintracht Braunschweig]], planting the seeds of{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} a rivalry that has survived to this day. HSV continued to field strong sides and make national level appearances on into the 1920s.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='on into the 1920s'?}} During [[Nazi Germany|Nazi rule]], German football was re-organized into 16 top-flight leagues in 1933 and Hannover became part of the [[Gauliga Niedersachsen]]. They appeared in the country's final rounds in 1935 and sent representatives to the national side the next year. They won their first national championship in 1938, in what was one of the biggest upsets in German football history,{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} when they beat [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]], the most dominant side in the country in the era. The two sides played to a 3–3 draw before Hannover prevailed{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} 4–3 in a tension-filled{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} re-match. In 1942, the team moved to the newly formed [[Gauliga Braunschweig-Südhannover]].

===Post-War era===
[[File:Hannover Performance Chart.png|260px|thumb|Historical chart of Hannover 96 league performance]]
In common with most other German organizations, the club was dissolved after the [[World War II|Second World War]] by occupying Allied authorities. A combined local side was assembled{{by whom|date=January 2024}} in August 1945 and the next month a mixed group of players from Hannover 96 and Arminia Hannover played their first post-war match against a British military team.{{cn|date=January 2024}} HSV was later formally re-established as '''Hannoverscher SV''' on 11 November 1945, before re-adopting its traditional name on 27 April 1946.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The club resumed league play in 1947 in the first division [[Oberliga Nord (1947-63)|Oberliga Nord]] and was relegated, but quickly returned to the top-flight in 1949. Hannover 96's next appearance in a national final would not come until 1954 when they soundly{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} defeated [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] 5–1. The beaten side included five of the same players who would go on later that year to win Germany's first [[1954 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in a surprise victory known as the [[1954 FIFA World Cup final|Miracle of Bern]]. In 1963, the [[Bundesliga]], Germany's new professional football league, began play with 16 of the nation's top teams. Hannover played in the [[Regionalliga Nord (1963–74)|Regionalliga Nord]] (II) that season, but earned promotion to the senior circuit in the following year. The club's advance to the Bundesliga in 1964 was well received,{{by whom|date=January 2024}} as they set a league attendance record in their first year, averaging 46,000 spectators a game.{{cn|date=January 2024}} 96 played at the upper level for a decade, until they were relegated to the [[2nd Bundesliga Nord (1974–81)|2nd Bundesliga Nord]] for the 1974–75 season.{{cn|date=January 2024}} They returned quickly, but again went down, this time to spend 17 of the next 20 years in the second tier.

===Reunification to present===
[[File:Bvb hannover.jpg|thumb|left|Hannover 96 against [[Borussia Dortmund]] in September 2006]]
The club faced financial problems in the late 1970s and again in the early 1990s.{{cn|date=January 2024}} Then, in 1992, Hannover's performance would lead them to earn their first [[DFB-Pokal]] and help to secure stable finances.{{cn|date=January 2024}} That run included victories over Bundesliga sides [[Borussia Dortmund]], [[VfL Bochum]], [[Karlsruher SC]], [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] and [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], as they became the first lower division side to win the competition. The team's low point came with demotion to [[Regionalliga Nord]] (III) for two years in 1996–98.

Hannover went on to acquire new players, many of whom went on to play for the [[Germany national football team|national team]] – notably [[Gerald Asamoah]], [[Sebastian Kehl]] and [[Fabian Ernst]].{{cn|date=January 2024}} 96 returned to tier II play in 1998, and to the Bundesliga in [[2001–02 2. Bundesliga|2002]] on the strength of a record-setting 75-point season.{{cn|date=January 2024}} Since their promotion, the club have consolidated in the top flight, consistently earning mid-table finishes under several managers. Coach [[Dieter Hecking]] was brought in just weeks into the [[2006–07 Bundesliga|2006–07 season]] after a poor start under [[Peter Neururer]], in which the club lost the first three matches by a combined 11 goals.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The [[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08 season]] showed some early promise,{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} with  pre-season wins over [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] and [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].{{cn|date=January 2024}} However, they earned mixed results in their opening six Bundesliga matches. The team then put together a three match winning run, capped by a 2–0 win at champions [[VfB Stuttgart]], to enter into the top six. Following the winter break, Hannover after some poor performances, which they turned around to be defeated only two times in their last 11 matches of the season. This secured a points record of 49 for ''Die Roten'' in the Bundesliga, thus ending them in eighth place.

The [[2008–09 Bundesliga|2008–09 season]] started poorly for Hannover with losses. However, performance improved with a 5–1 victory of Borussia Mönchengladbach, a 1–0 win over [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] at home, which had not occurred for 20 years, and a 3–0 victory over [[Hamburger SV]]. Hannover settled in the lower-mid-table until the winter break. The second half of the season consisted of inconsistent results,{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='consisted of inconsistent'?}} relying almost entirely{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=how 'almost' is 'almost entirely'?}} on home form to keep the club in the Bundesliga. The club finally achieved an away win with a few games remaining which stabilized them, leading to an 11th-place finish. 

The [[2009–10 Bundesliga|2009–10 season]] was launched, with a new kit being released which included traditional away and alternative kits.{{cn|date=January 2024}} Hannover also signed a new technical director in [[Jörg Schmadtke]]. New signings were [[Karim Haggui]] and [[Constant Djakpa]] from [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]], [[Valdet Rama]] from [[FC Ingolstadt 04|FC Ingolstadt]].{{cn|date=January 2024}} The season started with a late 1–0 loss to [[Hertha BSC]] and a home draw to [[1. FSV Mainz 05|Mainz 05]], after which coach Dieter Hecking resigned voluntarily.{{cn|date=January 2024}} He was succeeded by former assistant [[Andreas Bergmann]].{{cn|date=January 2024}} As the season continued, Hannover again had many key players injured, including the majority of attacking players and key defenders, alongside the [[#Death of Robert Enke|suicide of Robert Enke]], Hannover's German international goalkeeper. Andreas Bergmann was removed as coach and replaced by [[Mirko Slomka]] shortly after the winter break.{{cn|date=January 2024}} [[Arouna Koné]] and [[Élson Falcão da Silva|Elson]] were signed to boost the squad.{{cn|date=January 2024}} Hannover 96 spent the majority of the year in the relegation zone, and with a few wins in the last games of the season, Hannover had to win, and have results elsewhere be favorable to them. Hannover won 3–0, with [[Arnold Bruggink]], [[Mike Hanke]] and [[Sérgio Pinto (footballer, born 1980)|Sérgio Pinto]] all scoring to keep them in the Bundesliga.

In the [[2010–11 Bundesliga|2010–11 season]], Hannover finished in fourth place, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 19 years.{{cn|date=January 2024}} In [[2011–12 Bundesliga|2011–12]], the team opened with a 2–1 win over [[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim|1899 Hoffenheim]], followed by a 2–1 away win against [[1. FC Nürnberg]]. In the play-offs to the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]], Hannover won against [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] 3–2 on aggregate to reach the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage|group stage]]. Shortly before the end of the 2011–12 season, Hannover Technical Director Jörg Schmadtke resigned due to family issues.

Hannover finished bottom of the Bundesliga in the 2015–16 season and were relegated to the [[2. Bundesliga]]. The club chose to keep the majority of their first-team squad together. However, after early in the 2016–17 season, poor performances prompted the club's board to sack manager [[Daniel Stendel]], and appoint [[Andre Breitenreiter]] as their new manager. He led the team to seven wins in the final 11 games, helping the club secure second place behind VfB Stuttgart and return to the top flight.

Adverse publicity resulted for the club when a large contingent of ultras travelled to [[England]] for a 2017–18 pre-season game against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]. Supporters caused trouble in the town centre prior to the game. Once inside [[Turf Moor]], they responded to a brief altercation on the pitch after 40 minutes by charging the home fans, tearing out seats and using them as missiles. On police advice the game was abandoned at half-time, with Hannover 96 trailing 1–0.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

== Crest ==
<gallery>
Hannoverscher SV 1896 (historisch 1962 bis 1968 von AnZi).png|1962–1974
Hannover 96 old.svg|1974–1987
Hannover.svg|1987–2005
Hannover 96 logo.png|2005–2007
Hannover 96 od 2007.gif|2007–Present
</gallery>

==Death of Robert Enke==
[[File:Robert Enke Trauerstelle.jpg|thumb|95px|Tributes at [[AWD-Arena]] in Hannover]]
On 10 November 2009, at the age of 32, Hannover's first-choice goalkeeper [[Robert Enke]] died as a result of suicide after he stood in front of a regional express train at a [[level crossing]] in [[Eilvese]], [[Neustadt am Rübenberge]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8353733.stm |title=Germany keeper dies in accident |work=BBC News |date=10 November 2009 |access-date=10 November 2009 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731164944/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8353733.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="confirmed suicide">{{cite web | url = http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11112009/58/international-football-enke-death-confirmed-suicide.html | title = Enke death confirmed as suicide | publisher=Eurosport | date = 11 November 2009 | access-date =11 November 2009}}</ref> Police confirmed a suicide note had been found, but did not publicise its details.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/517056/artikel_robert-enke-zum-tod-des-nationaltorwarts.html | title = Robert Enke (24.08.1977 – 10.11.2009) | language = de | publisher = [[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] | access-date = 1 April 2011 | date = 9 November 2010 | archive-date = 23 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111123013701/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/517056/artikel_robert-enke-zum-tod-des-nationaltorwarts.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> His widow, Teresa, revealed that her husband had been suffering from [[Major depressive disorder|depression]] for six years and was treated by a psychiatrist.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stern.de/sport/fussball/teresa-enke-letzte-hoffnung-liebe-1521152.html | title = Teresa Enke: Letzte Hoffnung Liebe | work = Stern | language = de | date = 11 November 2009 | access-date = 11 November 2009 | archive-date = 14 November 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091114091848/http://www.stern.de/sport/fussball/teresa-enke-letzte-hoffnung-liebe-1521152.html | url-status = live }}</ref> After the death of his daughter Lara in 2006, he struggled to cope with the loss.<ref name="bbcdeath"/>

Upon news breaking of what had happened, many fans immediately gathered at Hannover 96's [[AWD-Arena]] home, where they laid flowers, lit candles and signed a [[Condolence book|book of condolence]]. His former club [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] held a minute's silence before their game that night, and several international matches the following weekend paid the same tribute. As a mark of respect, the German national team cancelled their friendly match against [[Chile national football team|Chile]], which had been scheduled for 14 November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=697278&sec=europe&cc=5739|title=Germany call off Chile friendly|date=11 November 2009|access-date=11 November 2009|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023195751/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=697278&sec=europe&cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref> A minute's silence was also held at all Bundesliga games on 21 and 22 November 2009, as well as at [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]'s game in the [[Taça de Portugal]] - Benfica was another former club of Enke's.<ref name="suicide stuns football">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8353964.stm |title=Goalkeeper suicide stuns football |work=BBC News |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=11 November 2009 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123012859/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8353964.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Germany also cancelled a planned training session and all interviews after his death. [[Oliver Bierhoff]], the national team's general manager, said, "We are all shocked. We are lost for words."<ref name="bbcdeath">{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8353964.stm | work=BBC News | title=Goalkeeper suicide stuns football | date=11 November 2009 | access-date=26 October 2011 | archive-date=22 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122065451/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8353964.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 November 2009, nearly 40,000 attendees filled the AWD-Arena for his memorial service. Enke's coffin, covered in white roses, was carried by six of his Hannover 96 teammates.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.svz.de/nachrichten/home/top-thema/article//ruhe-in-frieden-anruehrender-abschied-von-enke.html | title = Ruhe in Frieden: Anrührender Abschied von Enke | publisher = Schweriner Volkszeitung | date = 15 November 2009 | access-date = 18 May 2010 | language = de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120918061339/http://www.svz.de/nachrichten/home/top-thema/article//ruhe-in-frieden-anruehrender-abschied-von-enke.html | archive-date = 18 September 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He was then buried in Neustadt, outside the city of Hanover, next to his daughter's grave.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.abendblatt.de/sport/fussball/article1270929/Er-war-einer-von-uns-Trauerfeier-mit-vielen-Emotionen.html | title = 'Er war einer von uns' – Trauerfeier mit vielen Emotionen | publisher = Hamburger Abendblatt | date = 16 November 2009 | access-date = 1 April 2011 | language = de | archive-date = 24 February 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100224041459/http://www.abendblatt.de/sport/fussball/article1270929/Er-war-einer-von-uns-Trauerfeier-mit-vielen-Emotionen.html | url-status = live }}</ref> As a further mark of respect for their former teammate, Hannover 96 players displayed the number one in a circle on the breast of their jerseys, as approved by the [[German Football Association]] (DFL), as a subtle tribute for the rest of the [[2009–10 Bundesliga|2009–10 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8379003.stm|title=Hannover pay tribute to Robert Enke with special shirt|work=BBC Sport  |date=25 November 2009|access-date=25 November 2009}}</ref>

==Stadium==
Hannover 96 plays in the [[Niedersachsenstadion|Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena]], built in 1954 as the "Niedersachsenstadion", which 2025 has a capacity of 49,000 spectators.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Heinz von Heiden Arena - Hannover Living |url=https://hannover-living.de/en/location/heinz-von-heiden-arena/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Before the year 2013, the arena was called "AWD-Arena".<ref name=":0" /> But after changing the sponsor the stadium name was changed to "HDI-Arena". During the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]], the stadium was the site of four first round matches and one Round of 16 match.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The stadium had also served as a site for matches in the [[FIFA World Cup 1974|1974 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 1988]].

==European Cups history==
<ref>[https://archive.today/20130222153055/http://kassiesa.nl/uefa/clubs/search/fm.php?search=hannover Hannover in Europe]</ref>
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Season
! Round
! Club
! Home
! Away
! Aggregate
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup]]
| [[1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup#First round|R1]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|GER}} [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| 2–1
| 1–3
| 3–4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=7 | [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round#Play-off round|Play-off]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]]
| 2–1
| 1–1
| 3–2
|-
| rowspan=3|[[2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage|Group]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|BEL}} [[Standard Liège]]
|| 0–0 || 0–2 ||0–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|DEN}} [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
|2–2
|2–1
|4–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|UKR}} [[FC Vorskla Poltava|Vorskla Poltava]]
|| 3–1 || 2–1 || 5–2
|-
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Round of 32]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|BEL}} [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]]
|| 2–1 || 1–0 || 3–1
|-
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Round of 16]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|BEL}} [[Standard Liège]]
|| 4–0 || 2–2 || 6–2
|-
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Quarter-finals]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Atlético Madrid]]
|| 1–2 || 1–2 || 2–4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=6 | [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League#Third qualifying round|Q3]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|IRL}} [[St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St. Patrick's Athletic]]
|| 2–0 || 3–0 || 5–0
|-
| [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League#Play-off round|Play-off]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Śląsk Wrocław]]
|| 5–1 || 5–3 || 10–4
|-
| rowspan=3|[[2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage|Group]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|NED}} [[FC Twente|Twente]]
|| 0–0 || 2–2 || 2–2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Levante UD|Levante]]
|| 2–1 || 2–2 || 4–3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Helsingborgs IF|Helsingborg]]
|| 3–2 || 2–1 || 5–3
|-
| [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Round of 32]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]]
|| 1–1 || 1–3 || 2–4
|}

==Honours==
The club's honours:
* '''[[List of German football champions|German Championship]]'''
** Champions: [[1938 German football championship|1938]], [[1954 German football championship|1954]]
* '''[[DFB-Pokal]]'''
** Winners: [[1991–92 DFB-Pokal|1991–92]]
* '''[[2. Bundesliga]]'''
** Champions: [[1974–75 2. Bundesliga|1975]], [[1986–87 2. Bundesliga|1986–87]], [[2001–02 2. Bundesliga|2001–02]]

===Regional===
* '''[[Oberliga Südhannover/Braunschweig|Südkreisliga]]'''
** Champions: 1921, 1927, 1928, 1930{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Gauliga Niedersachsen]]'''
** Champions: 1935, 1938{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Oberliga Nord (1947–63)|Oberliga Nord]]'''
** Champions: [[1953–54 Oberliga|1954]]
* '''[[Regionalliga Nord]] (Tier 3)'''
** Champions: 1997, 1998{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Lower Saxony Cup]] (Tiers 3–5)'''
** Winners: 1982,1998, 1999{{cn|date=January 2024}}

===Youth===
* '''[[Under 17 Fußball-Bundesliga|German Under 17 Championship]]'''
** Runners-up: 1994,{{cn|date=January 2024}} 1995{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Under 19 Fußball-Bundesliga|Under 19 Bundesliga North/Northeast]]'''
** Champions: 2004{{cn|date=January 2024}}

==Records==
*[[Hannover 96 records|Miscellaneous Records]]

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|1 January 2026|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hannover96.de/profis/unser-team|title=Unser Team|trans-title=Our Team|access-date=25 July 2024|language=de|website=hannover96.de|publisher=Hannover 96}}</ref>}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1 |nat=GER |pos=GK |name=[[Nahuel Noll]]|other=on loan from [[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim|TSG Hoffenheim]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 3 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Boris Tomiak]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 4 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Hendry Blank]]|other=on loan from [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5 |nat=ROU |pos=DF |name=[[Virgil Ghiță]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6 |nat=POL |pos=DF |name=[[Maik Nawrocki]]|other=on loan from [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7 |nat=SLE |pos=FW |name=[[Mustapha Bundu]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 8 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Enzo Leopold]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9 |nat=FIN |pos=FW |name=[[Benjamin Källman]]}}
{{fs player|no=10 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Jannik Rochelt]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11 |nat=AUT |pos=FW |name=[[Benedikt Pichler]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Franz Roggow]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14 |nat=LBN |pos=FW |name=[[Husseyn Chakroun]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Noël Aséko Nkili]]|other=on loan from [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16 |nat=NOR |pos=FW |name=[[Håvard Nielsen]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Bastian Allgeier]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18 |nat=JPN |pos=MF |name=[[Daisuke Yokota]]|other=on loan from [[KAA Gent|Gent]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19 |nat=FRA |pos=DF |name=[[William Kokolo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20 |nat=RSA |pos=DF |name=[[Ime Okon]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21 |nat=MWI |pos=MF |name=Mwisho Mhango}}
{{Fs player|no=22 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=Noah Engelbreth}}
{{Fs player|no=26 |nat=FRA |pos=MF |name=[[Waniss Taïbi]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27 |nat=JPN |pos=DF |name=[[Hayate Matsuda]]}}
{{Fs player|no=29 |nat=SWE |pos=MF |name=[[Kolja Oudenne]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30 |nat=GER |pos=GK |name=[[Leo Weinkauf]]}}
{{Fs player|no=32 |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Jonas Sterner]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Maurice Neubauer]]}}
{{Fs player|no=34 |nat=GER |pos=FW |name=Denis Husser}}
{{Fs player|no=37 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Brooklyn Ezeh]]}}
{{Fs player|no=39 |nat=TUR |pos=FW |name=Taycan Kurt}}
{{Fs player|no=40 |nat=GER |pos=GK |name=Jonas Schwanke}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GER |pos=GK |name=[[Leon-Oumar Wechsel]]|other=to [[GKS Tychy]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GER |pos=MF |name=[[Lars Gindorf]]|other=to [[Alemannia Aachen]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs end}}

== Club staff ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Position
!Name
|-
|Head coach
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Christian Titz]]
|-
|Goalkeeper coach
|{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Michael Ratajczak]]
|-
|Athletic coach
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Felix Sunkel <br/> {{Flagicon|GER}} Markus Böker
|-
|Match analyst
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Vincent Leifholz
|-
|Sporting director
|{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Marcus Mann (footballer)|Marcus Mann]]
|-
|Head of soccer school
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Arne Kübek
|-
|Head of scouting
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Maximilian Lüftl
|-
|Scout
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Rainer Graf <br/> {{Flagicon|GER}} Ole Strübig  <br/> {{Flagicon|ENG}} Peter Braund
|-
|Head of youth scouting
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Patrick Schrade
|-
|Youth Scout
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Dieter Schatzschneider
|-
|Head of medical
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Dominik Suslik
|-
|Doctor
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Dr. Wego Kregehr <br/> {{Flagicon|GER}} Prof. Dr. Hauke Mommsen
|-
|Physiotherapist
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Thorsten Klopp <br/> {{Flagicon|GER}}  Rick Schaller <br/> {{Flagicon|GER}} Markus Witkop
|-
|Kit manager
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Raymond Saka
|-
|Team manager
|{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Fabio Morena]]
|-
|Goalkeeping co-ordinator
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Michael Ratajczak
|-
|Academy manager
|{{Flagicon|GER}} Julian Battmer
|}

==Coach history==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*{{flagicon|Germany}} {{ill|Robert Fuchs (football coach)|lt=Robert Fuchs|de|Robert Fuchs (Fußballtrainer)}} (1 July 1931 – 30 June 1946)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Fritz Pölsterl (October 1946–47)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} {{ill|Otto Höxtermann|de}} (August 1947 – September 1947)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} {{ill|Robert Fuchs (football coach)|lt=Robert Fuchs|de|Robert Fuchs (Fußballtrainer)}} (1 July 1947 – 30 June 1950)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Christian Bieritz ''(int.)'' (December 1950)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Paul Slopianka-Hoppe (January 1951–51)
*{{flagicon|Hungary}} {{ill|Emil Izsó|de}} (1951–52)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Helmut Kronsbein]] (1 July 1952 – 30 June 1957)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Kuno Klötzer]] (1957–58)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Fritz Silken (1958–59)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Günter Grothkopp (1959 – Dec 61)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Kirk]] (31 December 1961 – 31 March 1962)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Heinz Lucas]] (1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Helmut Kronsbein]] (1 July 1963 – 29 April 1966)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Kirk]] ''(int.)'' (29 April 1966 – 29 May 1966)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Horst Buhtz]] (1 July 1966 – 12 August 1968)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} {{ill|Karl-Heinz Mülhausen|de}} ''(int.)'' (13 February 1968 – 30 June 1968)
*{{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} [[Zlatko Čajkovski]] (1 July 1968 – 8 December 1969)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rolf Paetz]] ''(int.)'' (December 1969)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Hans Pilz (2 January 1970 – 30 June 1970)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Helmuth Johannsen]] (1 July 1970 – 13 November 1971)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hans Hipp]] (18 November 1971 – 1 March 1973)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Baldauf]] (5 March 1973 – 12 March 1974)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Helmut Kronsbein]] (13 March 1974 – 14 January 1976)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Baldauf]] (15 January 1976 – 13 December 1976)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Helmut Kronsbein]] (1 January 1977 – 30 June 1978)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Anton Burghardt]] (1 July 1978 – 30 June 1979)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Diethelm Ferner]] (1 July 1979 – 14 December 1982)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Gerd Bohnsack]] (10 December 1982 – 24 October 1983)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Werner Biskup]] (25 October 1983 – 21 November 1985)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jürgen Rynio]] ''(int.)'' (22 November 1985 – 12 January 1986)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jörg Berger]] (13 January 1986 – 17 March 1986)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} {{ill|Helmut Kalthoff|de}} (18 March 1986 – 30 June 1986)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jürgen Wähling]] (1 July 1986 – 19 September 1988)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hans Siemensmeyer]] (19 September 1988 – 21 March 1989)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Reinhard Saftig]] (22 March 1989 – 30 June 1989)
*{{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} [[Slobodan Čendić]] (1 July 1989 – 31 August 1989)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Krüger (footballer)|Michael Krüger]] (13 September 1989 – 30 September 1990)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hans-Dieter Schmidt]] ''(int.)'' (1990)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Lorkowski]] (17 October 1990 – 30 June 1992)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Eberhard Vogel|E. Vogel]] & {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Baldauf|H. Baldauf]] (1 July 1992 – 8 November 1993)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rolf Schafstall]] (9 November 1993 – 30 October 1994)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Stefan Mertesacker ''(int.)'' (31 October 1994 – 6 November 1994)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Peter Neururer]] (7 November 1994 – 30 May 1995)
*{{flagicon|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}} [[Miloš Đelmaš]] ''(int.)'' (31 May 1995 – 18 June 1995)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Egon Coordes]] (1 July 1995 – 25 March 1996)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jürgen Stoffregen]] (26 March 1996 – 30 June 1996)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Reinhold Fanz]] (1 July 1996 – 21 December 1998)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Franz Gerber]] (1 January 1999 – 30 June 1999)
*{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Branko Ivanković]] (1 July 1999 – 20 February 2000)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Horst Ehrmantraut]] (21 February 2000 – 23 April 2001)
*{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Stanislav Levý]] ''(int.)'' (24 April 2001 – 30 June 2001)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Ralf Rangnick|R. Rangnick]] & {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Mirko Slomka|M. Slomka]] (1 July 2001 – 7 March 2004)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Ewald Lienen|E. Lienen]] & {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Frontzeck|M. Frontzeck]] (9 March 2004 – 9 November 2005)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Peter Neururer]] (9 November 2005 – 30 August 2006)
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Michael Schjønberg]] ''(int.)'' (1 September 2006 – 7 September 2006)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Dieter Hecking]] (8 September 2006 – 19 August 2009)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Andreas Bergmann]] (20 August 2009 – 19 January 2010)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Mirko Slomka]] (19 January 2010 – 27 December 2013)
*{{flagicon|Turkey}}  [[Tayfun Korkut]] (31 December 2013 – 20 April 2015)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Frontzeck]] (20 April 2015 – 21 December 2015)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Thomas Schaaf]] (4 January 2016 – 3 April 2016)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Daniel Stendel]] (3 April 2016 – 20 March 2017)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[André Breitenreiter]] (20 March 2017 – 27 January 2019)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Thomas Doll]] (27 January 2019 – 30 June 2019)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Mirko Slomka]] (1 July 2019 – 3 November 2019)
*{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Asif Šarić]] ''(int.)'' (4 November 2019 – 14 November 2019)
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Kenan Koçak]] (14 November 2019 – 30 June 2021)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jan Zimmermann (footballer, born 1979)|Jan Zimmermann]] (1 July 2021 – 29 November 2021)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Christoph Dabrowski]] (1 December 2021 – 30 June 2022)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Stefan Leitl]] (1 July 2022 – 29 December 2024)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[André Breitenreiter]] (29 December 2024 – 23 April 2025)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Lars Barlemann|L. Barlemann]], {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Dirk Lottner|D. Lottner]] & {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Christian Schulz|C. Schulz]] ''(int.)'' (23 April 2025 – 30 June 2025)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Christian Titz]] (1 July 2025 – )
{{div col end}}

==Hannover 96 Amateure (II)==
{{main|Hannover 96 II}}

Hannover fields a successful amateur side that has three German amateur championships to its credit (1960, 1964, 1965) as well as losing appearances in the 1966 and 1967 finals. The second team has also taken part in the German Cup tournament and currently plays in the 3. Liga.

===Honours===
The team's honours:
* '''[[Amateurliga Niedersachsen-West]]'''
** Champions: 1960{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Amateurliga Niedersachsen-Ost]]'''
** Champions: 1964{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Amateurliga Niedersachsen]]'''
** Champions: 1965, 1966, 1967{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[German amateur championship]]'''
** Champions: 1960, 1964, 1965{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Lower Saxony Cup]]'''
** Winners: 1982{{cn|date=January 2024}}

==See also==
*[[List of Hannover 96 seasons]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.awd-arena.de/relaunch/awd_arena/de/index.html AWD Arena]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324191149/http://www.awd-arena.de/relaunch/awd_arena/de/index.html |date=24 March 2006 }}.

{{Hannover 96}}
{{2. Bundesliga}}
{{Bundesliga}}
{{U19 Bundesliga North Northeast}}
{{U17 Bundesliga North Northeast}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hannover 96| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1896]]
[[Category:Multi-sport clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Sport in Hanover]]
[[Category:Bundesliga clubs]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga clubs]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Hanover]]