View source for Rot-Weiss Essen

{{short description|German football club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Rot-Weiss Essen
| image = Rot-Weiss Essen logo.svg
| upright  = 0.8
| alt = Logo
| fullname = Rot-Weiss Essen e. V.
| nickname = RWE{{cn|date=January 2024}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1907|2|1}}
| ground = [[Stadion an der Hafenstraße]]
| capacity = 20,650
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = Marc-Nicolai Pfeifer
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Uwe Koschinat]]
| league = {{German football updater|Essen}}
| season = {{German football updater|Essen2}}
| position = {{German football updater|Essen3}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.rot-weiss-essen.de/}}
| pattern_la1 = _rwev2223h
| pattern_b1 = _rwev2223h
| pattern_ra1 = _rwev2223h
| pattern_sh1 = 
| pattern_so1 = 
| leftarm1 = f1ebdb
| body1 = f1ebdb
| rightarm1 = f1ebdb
| shorts1 = D80000
| socks1 = f1ebdb
| pattern_la2 = _jakostrike1920rw
| pattern_b2 = _rwev2122h
| pattern_ra2 = _jakostrike1920rw
| pattern_sh2 = _jakostrike2122w
| pattern_so2 = 
| leftarm2 = FF0000
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| current = 2024–25 Rot-Weiss Essen season
}}
'''Rot-Weiss Essen''' is a [[Football in Germany|German association football club]] based in [[Essen]], North Rhine-Westphalia. The club plays in the 3. Liga, at the [[Stadion an der Hafenstraße]].

The team won the [[DFB-Pokal]] in 1953, and the [[List of German football champions|German championship]] in 1955. The latter success qualified them to the first season of the [[European Cup]].

==History==
===Early years===
The club was formed as ''SV Vogelheim'' on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: ''SC Preussen'' and ''Deutsche Eiche''.{{cn|date=January 2024}} In 1910, ''Vogelheim'' came to an arrangement with ''Turnerbund Bergeborbeck'' that allowed the two clubs to field a football side.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The footballers left in 1913 to set up their own club, ''Spiel- und Sportverein Emscher-Vogelheim'', which changed its name to  ''Spiel und Sport 1912'' after World War I. Finally, in 1923, this side turned again to ''Turnerbund Bergeborbeck'' to create ''Rot-Weiss Essen''.

===Breakthrough to the Gauliga===
In 1938, ''RWE'' broke into top-flight football in the [[Gauliga Niederrhein]], one of sixteen premier divisions formed in the 1933 re-organization of German football under the [[Third Reich]], and came within a point of taking the division title in 1941. In 1943, they played with ''BV Altenessen'' as the combined wartime side ''KSG SC Rot-Weiß Essen/BV 06 Altenessen''.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The next season this club was in turn joined by ''BVB Essen'', but played only a single match in a stillborn season as World War II overtook the country.

===Rise and golden years===
[[File:RW Essen Performance Chart.png|260px|thumb|Historical chart of Rot-Weiss Essen league performance]]
The club returned to first division football in the [[Oberliga West]] in 1948, where a series of strong seasons saw them win divisional championships in 1952 and 1955, as well as finishing runners-up in 1949 and 1954 and third in 1950 and 1953. The pinnacle of the club's success came with a 2–1 win over [[Alemannia Aachen]] in the 1953 [[DFB-Pokal]] final, followed by a national championship in 1955 when it beat [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] 4–3. The following season, Rot-Weiss became the first German side to qualify for the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]].

The club remained competitive for the remainder of the 1950s, continuing to finish in the division's top half, but 1961 saw a sharp decline leading to relegation from the Oberliga West at the end of the season. The club then played most of the 1960s as a second division side, though it did make a first appearance in the top-flight [[Bundesliga]] in [[1966–67 Bundesliga|1966–67]]. It returned to the Bundesliga for two seasons in [[1969–70 Bundesliga|1969–70]], and again, for four seasons beginning in [[1973–74 Bundesliga|1973–74]].

===Financial problems and slow decline===
Between 1978 and the end of the century Rot-Weiss was a second- or third-tier club, with just one season spent in the regional [[Oberliga Nordrhein]] (IV) in 1998–99. During this period, the club was plagued by financial problems that saw it denied a licence in 1984, 1991, and 1994, leading to relegation from the 2. Bundesliga each time as a result. Bright spots during this period included winning the [[German amateur championship]] in 1992 and an appearance in the [[1993–94 DFB-Pokal|1994 DFB-Pokal]] final, which they lost 1–3 to [[SV Werder Bremen]].

''RWE'' returned to the [[Regionalliga Nord]] (III) in 1999, but dropped to the Oberliga (IV) the next season. In 2004, they won promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga, but stumbled to a 17th-place finish and were relegated once again.

In November 2005, [[Pelé]] became an honorary club member (membership number 23101940).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fussball.com/news-view-10565/rw-essen-ernennt-pele-zum-ehrenmitglied.html |title=RW Essen ernennt Pelé zum Ehrenmitglied |language=de |publisher=fussball.com |access-date=18 October 2011 |date=28 October 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001034416/http://www.fussball.com/news-view-10565/rw-essen-ernennt-pele-zum-ehrenmitglied.html |archive-date=1 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/sport/article329866/Fussball_Nachrichten.html |title= Pelé Ehrenmitglied bei RWE |publisher=Morgenpost.de |date=29 October 2005 |language=de |access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref>

The team reappeared in the 2. Bundesliga after winning the Regionalliga Nord in [[2005–06 Regionalliga|2006]], but narrowly missed staying up when they lost the critical final match of the [[2006–07 2. Bundesliga|2006–07 season]] 3–0 to [[MSV Duisburg]]. Rot-Weiss then became a fourth division side following the introduction of the [[3. Liga]] in 2008.

RWE filed for insolvency in June 2010 and were therefore not granted a license to continue playing in the [[Regionalliga West]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rot-Weiss Essen meldet Insolvenz an {{!}} SPOX |url=https://www.spox.com/fussball/news/rot-weiss-essen-insolvenz-nordrhein-westfalen-lizenz-entzug-zwangsabsteiger-dfb-rwe-horst-hrubesch/576899 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.spox.com |language=de}}</ref> but the club were granted a license to play in the fifth-tier [[NRW-Liga]] for the 2010–11 season whilst administrators restructured the club's finances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2010 |title=RW Essen startet Neubeginn in der NRW-Liga |url=http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/rwe/rw-essen-startet-neubeginn-in-der-nrw-liga-id3387058.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211012637/http://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/rwe/rw-essen-startet-neubeginn-in-der-nrw-liga-id3387058.html |archive-date=2014-12-11 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=WAZ.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fussball: Rot-Weiss Essen sucht nach seiner Chance - WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article8671338/Rot-Weiss-Essen-sucht-nach-seiner-Chance.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Erste Gespräche mit dem vorläufigen Insolvenzverwalter |url=https://www.jawattdenn.de/news/allgemeines.html?wp_start=82 |access-date=2020-04-08 |language=de}}</ref> They won the fifth level NRW-Liga in 2010–11 and returned to Regionalliga West for the [[2011–12 Regionalliga|2011–12 season]].

In March 2014, [[Marc Fascher]] was appointed as head coach on a contract until 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2014 |title=Marc Fascher ist neuer Trainer bei Regionalligist Rot-Weiss Essen |url=https://www.wn.de/sport/lokalsport/preussen-muenster/marc-fascher-ist-neuer-trainer-bei-regionalligist-rot-weiss-essen-1926950 |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Westfälische Nachrichten |language=de}}</ref> He was sacked on 31 March 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2015 |title=RWE entlässt auch Trainer Fascher |url=https://www.kicker.de/rwe-entlaesst-auch-trainer-fascher-624206/artikel |access-date=24 March 2025 |website=kicker |language=de-DE}}</ref>

On 14 October 2017, [[Argirios Giannikis]] was appointed as manager of the club on a contract until the end of the season.<ref name="RWE: Die Chronik des Giannikis-Abgangs">{{Cite news |last=Loyda |first=Stefan |date=20 January 2018 |title=RWE: Die Chronik des Giannikis-Abgangs |url=https://www.reviersport.de/fussball/regionalliga/a365349---rwe-chronik-giannikis-abgangs.html |access-date=23 March 2025 |work=RevierSport |language=de}}</ref> He led Essen to pick up 13 points from the six games between his appointment and the winter break.<ref name="RWE: Die Chronik des Giannikis-Abgangs" /> On 20 January 2018, Giannikis announced that he would not renew his contract at Essen beyond the end of the season,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wozniak |first=Krystian |date=20 January 2018 |title=RWE-Schock: Fix! Giannikis verlässt Rot-Weiss Essen |url=https://www.reviersport.de/fussball/regionalliga/a365342---rwe-schock-fix-giannikis-verlaesst-rot-weiss-essen.html |access-date=23 March 2025 |website=Revier Sport |language=de}}</ref> as it was later announced that he was to become [[VfR Aalen]] manager for the following season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2018 |title=Argirios Giannikis übernimmt im Sommer in Aalen |url=https://www.kicker.de/argirios-giannikis-uebernimmt-im-sommer-in-aalen-715434/artikel |access-date=23 March 2025 |website=kicker |language=de-DE}}</ref> Having suffered hostility from Essen supporters for this decision, he left the club on 7 April 2018 and was immediately succeeded by [[Karsten Neitzel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wozniak |first=Krystian |date=8 April 2018 |title=RWE: Giannikis weg, Nachfolger übernimmt sofort |url=https://www.reviersport.de/fussball/regionalliga/a369858---rwe-giannikis-weg-nachfolger-uebernimmt-sofort.html |access-date=23 March 2025 |website=Revier Sport |language=de}}</ref>

Rot-Weiss were promoted to the 3. Liga for the 2022–23 season as champions of the [[2021–22 Regionalliga|2021–22 Regionalliga West]], returning to the third tier of German football for the first time in 14 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartmann |first=Ulrich |date=2022-05-15 |title=Aufstieg von Rot-Weiss Essen: Das Fußballglück kehrt zurück |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/rot-weiss-essen-aufstieg-dritte-liga-hafenstrasse-1.5584974 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}}</ref>

==Stadium==
Until 2012 Rot-Weiss played in the [[Georg-Melches-Stadion]] (capacity 15,000), named in honour of a former club president. In 1956, the team's home field became the first stadium in West Germany to have floodlights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rot-weiss-essen.de/verein/daten-im-ueberblick/vereinsgeschichte.html |title=Vereinsgeschichte | language = de  |publisher=Rot-weiss-essen.de |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref>

Since August 2012, RWE has played in the new [[Stadion Essen]] (capacity 20,000). The naming rights to the stadium include [[RWE|RWE AG]].

==Supporters==
[[File:Rot-Weiss Essen Fans, May 2008.jpg|thumb|Rot-Weiss Essen visiting Magdeburg in May 2008]]

===Rivalries===
[[Fortuna Düsseldorf]], [[Rot-Weiß Oberhausen]] and [[Wuppertaler SV]] are local rivals when they are playing in the same league (as took place in the [[2007–08 Regionalliga|2007–08 season]]). The club's fiercest rivalry is with [[MSV Duisburg]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spletter |first=Martin |date=2024-04-06 |title=Rot-Weiss Essen gegen den MSV: Hochspannung vor dem Derby |url=https://www.waz.de/staedte/essen/article242024138/Polizei-begleitet-mit-starken-Kraeften-das-Derby-RWE-MSV.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.waz.de |language=de}}</ref>

The club also has a big rivalry with [[FC Schalke 04]], from nearby [[Gelsenkirchen]], with whom they contest the [[List of association football rivalries in Europe#Germany|Ruhrderby]]; whilst historically the two clubs maintained a good relationship, Schalke's involvement in the [[1971 Bundesliga scandal]], which contributed to Essen's relegation from the Bundesliga in the 1970–71 season, angered Essen fans and allowed a rivalry to develop between the two clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Schalke/Rot-Weiss Essen: "Unsa Oppa" |url=https://www.reviersport.de/fankurve/a/a111773---schalke-rot-weiss-essen-unsa-oppa.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=RevierSport online |language=de}}</ref>

In the past, the local derbies versus [[Schwarz-Weiß Essen]] were big events, sometimes followed by more than 30,000 fans, however since their rivals decline the rivalry has waned in importance. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11freunde.de/artikel/vor-dem-essen-derby-die-goldenen-jahre-von-rwe-und-etb|title=Vor dem Essen-Derby: Die goldenen Jahre von RWE und ETB: Barfuß und Lackschuh|work=11freunde.de|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turus.net/sport/5579-etb-gegen-rwe-schwarz-weiss-essen-gewinnt-derby-und-pokal.html|title=ETB gegen RWE: Schwarz Weiss Essen gewinnt Derby und Pokalfinale|first=Ralf|last=Schmahld|work=turus.net|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref> Although often described in political terms, with the "reds" allegedly being [[left-wing]] and the "blacks" [[right-wing]], in reality there was no substantive distinction. The rivalry was more based on the geography of the city, a north (RWE) versus south (SWE) city divide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abseits-soccer.com/clubs/swe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224002905/http://abseits-soccer.com/clubs/swe.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 December 2005|title=Schwarz-Weiss Essen|work=abseits-soccer.com|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref> and with northern Essen being predominantly working class historically and the south of the city being generally regarded as a wealthier area, inhabited by the upper-middle class.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/wirtschaftspolitik/armut-und-reichtum/armut-und-reichtum-essen-die-gespaltene-stadt-12015532.html|title=Armut und Reichtum: Essen: Die gespaltene Stadt|first=Bettina|last=Weiguny|date=14 January 2013|access-date=7 March 2017|newspaper=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung}}</ref>

===Friendships===
The RWE followers have a strong fan friendship with [[SV Werder Bremen]]. There is also a friendship with [[Borussia Dortmund]], although some disagreements have taken place since 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herten |first=David |date=2022-05-15 |title=Borussia Dortmund: Ultras zeigen überraschendes Spruchband – das steckt dahinter |url=https://www.derwesten.de/sport/fussball/bvb/borussia-dortmund-bvb-ultras-rwe-rot-weiss-essen-id235348119.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=DerWesten.de |language=de-DE}}</ref>

==Honours==
The club's honours:

===League===
* '''[[List of German football champions|German championship]]'''
** Champions: 1955
* '''[[German amateur championship]]'''
** Champions: 1992
* '''[[Oberliga West (1947–63)|Oberliga West]]'''
** Champions: [[1951–52 Oberliga|1952]], [[1954–55 Oberliga|1955]]
* '''[[Regionalliga West (1963–74)|Regionalliga West]] (II)'''
** Champions: [[1972–73 Regionalliga|1973]]
* '''[[Regionalliga Nord]] (III)'''
** Champions: 2004, 2006
* '''[[Oberliga Nordrhein]] (IV)'''
** Champions: 1985, 1986, 1993, 1999
* '''[[Regionalliga West]] (IV)'''
** Champions: [[2021–22 Regionalliga|2022]]
* '''[[NRW-Liga]] (V)'''
** Champions: 2011

===Cup===
* '''[[DFB-Pokal]]'''
** Winners: [[1952–53 DFB-Pokal|1952–53]]{{cn|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Lower Rhine Cup]] (Tiers III–V)'''
** Winners: (12) 1995, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, [[2015–16 Verbandspokal|2016]], [[2019–20 Verbandspokal|2020]], [[2022–23 Verbandspokal|2023]], [[2023–24 Verbandspokal|2024]], [[2024–25 Verbandspokal|2025]]

==Current squad==
{{updated|4 February 2025|<ref>{{cite web |title=Team |date=16 June 2021 |language=de |url=https://www.rot-weiss-essen.de/teams/1-mannschaft/mannschaft/ |publisher=Rot-Weiss Essen |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref>}}

{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no= 1|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=Jakob Golz}}
{{fs player|no= 2|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Julian Eitschberger]]|other={{small|on loan from [[Hertha BSC]]}}}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=Matti Wagner|other={{small|on loan from [[SpVgg Greuther Fürth|Greuther Fürth]]}}}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Michael Schultz (footballer)|Michael Schultz]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|nat=ALB|pos=MF|name=[[Klaus Gjasula]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Ahmet Arslan (footballer)|Ahmet Arslan]]}}
{{fs player|no= 8|nat=DOM|pos=MF|name=[[Jimmy Kaparos]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Thomas Eisfeld]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=NED|pos=FW|name=Ramien Safi}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Lucas Brumme]]}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=Mustafa Kourouma}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Ekin Çelebi]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=Nils Kaiser}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Eric Voufack]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Joseph Boyamba]]}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=José-Enrique Ríos Alonso}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=[[Kaito Mizuta]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=[[Manuel Wintzheimer]]|other={{small|on loan from [[1. FC Nürnberg]]}}}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=[[Torben Müsel]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=CRO|pos=FW|name=[[Dominik Martinović]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=FRA|pos=MF|name=Tom Moustier}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=GUI|pos=FW|name=[[Moussa Doumbouya]]}}
{{fs player|no=30|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=Kelsey Meisel}}
{{fs player|no=31|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=Ole Springer}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Tobias Kraulich]]}}
{{fs player|no=35|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=Felix Wienand}}
{{fs player|no=39|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=Gianluca Swajkowski}}
{{fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{fs player|no=  |nat=KOS|pos=FW|name=[[Dion Berisha]]|other={{small|at [[SGV Freiberg]] until 30 June 2025}}}}
{{Fs end}}

==Notable players==
{{Main category|Rot-Weiss Essen players}}

==Former coaches==
* [[Elek Schwartz]] (1955–1957)
* [[Fritz Pliska]] (1965–1967)
* [[Erich Ribbeck]] (1967–1968)
* [[Herbert Burdenski]] (1969–1971)
* [[Janos Bedl]] (1971–1972)
* [[Horst Witzler]] (1973)
* [[Ivica Horvath]] (1975–1976)
* [[Diethelm Ferner]] (1978–1979)
* [[Rolf Schafstall]] (1979–1981)
* [[Rolf Bock]] (1982–1983)
* [[Janos Bedl]] (1983–1984)
* [[Siegfried Melzig]] (1984)
* [[Horst Hrubesch]] (1986–1987)
* [[Peter Neururer]] (1987)
* [[Horst Franz]] (1987–1988)
* [[Siegfried Melzig]] (1988)
* [[Hans-Werner Moors]] (1989–1991)
* [[Jürgen Röber]] (1991–1993)
* [[Wolfgang Frank]] (1994–1995)
* [[Rudi Gores]] (1995–1997)
* [[Klaus Berge]] (1998–1999)
* [[Fritz Fuchs]] (1999)
* [[Klaus Berge]] (1999–2001)
* Harry Pleß (2001–2003)
* [[Holger Fach]] (2003)
* [[Jürgen Gelsdorf]] (2003–2005)
* [[Uwe Neuhaus]] (2005–2006)
* [[Lorenz-Günther Köstner]] (2006–2007)
* [[Heiko Bonan]] (2007–2008)
* Michael Kulm (2008–2009)
* [[Ralf Aussem]] (2009)
* [[Ernst Middendorp]] (2009)
* [[Ralf Aussem]] (2009–2010)
* [[Uwe Erkenbrecher]] (2009–2010)
* Waldemar Wrobel (2010–2014)
* [[Marc Fascher]] (2014–2015)
* Jürgen Lucas (2015)
* [[Markus Reiter]] (2015)
* [[Jan Siewert]] (2015–2016)
* [[Sven Demandt]] (2016–2017)
* [[Argirios Giannikis]] (2017–2018)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}

{{Rot-Weiss Essen}}
{{3. Liga}}
{{Bundesliga}}
{{2. Bundesliga}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essen, Rot-Weiss}}
[[Category:Rot-Weiss Essen| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1907]]
[[Category:Bundesliga clubs]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga clubs]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:Football clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Sport in Essen]]