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Michael Tarnat sees great potential in third-division soccer club Erzgebirge Aue. When it became clear that the ex-national team player would be the new sporting director, there were a few calls.
Relegation-threatened SSV Ulm bring Abu-Bekir Ömer El-Zein back to the 3rd division. He will soon be meeting his former colleagues at a training camp with his new club.
Champions League winner in the 3rd division: Michael Tarnat takes over as sporting director at Aue. Can he get the traditional club out of the relegation battle?
Jens Härtel has been coach of Erzgebirge Aue for a year. The coach hopes to escape the relegation places in the second half of the season.
FC Hansa Rostock turns 60 on December 28. CEO and former player Ronald Maul talks about the club's significance, past and goals.
Erzgebirge Aue receive two early Christmas presents from Schweinfurt in the basement duel of the 3rd division. What does the win mean for the situation in the basement?
The second division club defies the internal squabbles surrounding the dismissal of sporting director Heidrich. Erzgebirge fight for a point in Duisburg.
Aue has found a temporary solution following the departure of managing director Heidrich. A former professional is returning to the Erzgebirge.
After four games without a win, Aue draw the line: sporting director Heidrich leaves, Härtel remains coach. It remains to be seen who will take over as sporting director.
Aue coach Härtel demanded a win for the match against Ingolstadt. He failed to do so, and with one man more. What are the consequences for the coach?
FC Erzgebirge cannot get out of the basement of the table. Points are needed against Ingolstadt, otherwise there will probably be personnel consequences.
Aue take the lead in Wiesbaden, but fail to extend it. Two wild cards put a spanner in the works for Aue.
FC Hansa held on to coach Daniel Brinkmann and sporting director Amir Shapourzadeh when things were not going well in the 3rd division. The club management feels vindicated and makes important decisions.
It wasn't necessarily pretty this time, but Rostock are now winning games like this too. FC Erzgebirge can and must once again thank its captain.
FC Erzgebirge are superior for 25 minutes in the match against VfB Stuttgart's second team. Otherwise, the visitors dominated. Aue keeper Männel saves a penalty.
Both clubs want to put the finishing touches to the rest of the season in the Erzgebirge. It will be a special match for Union coach Steffen Baumgart.
FC Erzgebirge Aue has a new supervisory board and a new executive committee. The financial situation is balanced.
The Saxons are lucky for a long time. The team showed comeback qualities in the second half against the top team in Verl.
Erzgebirge Aue pick up three vital points in the third division basement. Regensburg turned the game around after Aue took the lead, but substitute Weinhauer redeemed his team in stoppage time.
After three games without defeat, Aue suffered another setback. Mannheim are much more efficient and also more creative in their play.
TSV Havelse has added to its squad once again in order to survive the relegation battle in the 3rd Football League.
Aue will be without two defenders for the next few weeks. Both players suffered the same injury in the Essen game.
Aue appear to be on course for their third win in a row. However, after a dominant first half, the visitors got into their stride.
After Aue's game in Aachen, Erzgebirge fans were attacked in their vehicles. Two cars were totaled, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.
After beating 1860 Munich, FC Erzgebirge followed up with a win in Aachen. It's a work victory, nothing more. But valuable.
The future of the coach has already been discussed at FC Erzgebirge. The board gave him their vote of confidence, the team impressed and secured their second win of the season.
Things are not going well at FC Erzgebirge. And there is a lack of experienced people. The club has now reacted to this.
The sending-off in Osnabrück only results in a short suspension for the defender.
Four defeats in a row have really increased the pressure on Jens Härtel. The results were lacking, but the performances were not that bad. That's why Erzgebirge Aue are sticking with their coach.
No points again for FC Erzgebirge Aue. This time the team loses in Osnabrück. An uncomfortable situation for the coach.
The return journey for Aue fans ends in shock at a highway parking lot: hooded men attack, fan paraphernalia disappears. The police are looking for witnesses.
In the East derby at Energie Cottbus, Erzgebirge Aue misses great chances and remains in a relegation place. Their record so far this season is disastrous. Will this have consequences for the coach?
Some Dynamo Dresden supporters set fire to and destroyed property in Rostock. The club now has to pay for the violent behavior.
Erzgebirge Aue dominate the game against Viktoria Köln in the first half. The visitors score the goals and celebrate a premiere at the Erzgebirgstadion.
Aue were beaten within 84 seconds. Saarbrücken took the lead after a slip-up and increased it to 2:0 seconds later. Aue got back into the game before another double blow was struck.
An early goal conceded does not rattle Aue. The team from the Erzgebirge dominated the game and were able to celebrate late on.
In Ulm, the goalkeeper was in the starting eleven, but was out after less than half an hour. The diagnosis is frustrating.
After only five away wins in the previous season, Erzgebirge Aue want to be more dangerous away from home this season. The plan goes awry in Ulm. The Saxons are playing with their third keeper.
Even after 14 years, FC Erzgebirge still fail to win at home against FC Hansa. Goalkeeper Uphoff is Rostock's hero.
Two days before the start of the season, Energie sign a defender from Dresden. The Lusatians are expecting a complicated season.
One week before the start of the new season, Erzgebirge Aue proved to be very effective. They scored an early and a late goal against league rivals Cottbus.
Erzgebirge Aue have already reached the peak of their preparations. However, the Veilchen were far from winning against Gladbach in their first test match.
An energy service provider secures the rights to the third division club's stadium name. However, the original name will also be retained.
The attack was FC Erzgebirge's weak point last season. Another striker should provide more goal threat.
Erzgebirge Aue keeps its clean sheet. However, Härtel's team conceded the first goals of the pre-season preparations. Meanwhile, keeper Martin Männel remains in an important position.
FC Glenavon and SC Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt should have met 65 years ago. Now the match will be replayed as part of Erzgebirge Aue's pre-season preparations.
It gets off to an exciting start. The season kicks off with exciting matches for the trio of East German 3rd division teams. Aue and Rostock play each other. Cottbus will be visited by a rival from the previous season.
Erzgebirge Aue start the new season with eight new signings and one trialist. Coach Härtel starts the season with a double shift.
The Cottbus Arena urgently needs to be renovated. The double budget of the state of Brandenburg has earmarked 2 million euros for this.
The DFB has granted all 20 third division clubs a license for the coming season. The eastern trio also passed the performance audit.
Energie Cottbus are hoping that a tall striker will give them more options in attack. The third division club has found what it is looking for in Jena and has brought in a young player with plenty of experience.
Aue coach Jens Härtel has now made his eighth new signing. Another attacking player arrives in the Erzgebirge from Bremen.
The match between Hansa Rostock and Dynamo Dresden was overshadowed by rioting. The Rostock team will now receive their punishment, the Saxons will have to wait a little longer.
Aue's all-round renewal of its squad also includes players that the club has trained itself.
Champions, but not promoted. Lok Leipzig miss out on a return to professional soccer after more than 25 years against Havelse. In the end, the team is sent off.
An entire season is decided in two games. Havelse celebrates promotion to the 3rd division after winning the second leg of the relegation play-off against Lok Leipzig.
The first leg ended 1:1, so everything is still possible for Lok Leipzig. At TSV Havelse, promotion to the 3rd division is at stake.
Jonah Fabisch made his breakthrough under coach Jens Härtel. This did not go unnoticed by those responsible in Zimbabwe.
In the first leg of the third division promotion play-off, the north-east champions salvaged a 1-1 draw in stoppage time against the title winners from the north. The club has not written off the leap into the 3rd division.
The upheaval at third division club Aue continues. The next new signing is a defensive midfielder.
After an unsatisfactory end to the season, the Erzgebirge are undergoing a major personnel shake-up. An experienced defender is the first newcomer.
The summer schedule for third-division club Aue has been finalized. Jens Härtel's team will travel to Northern Ireland and have a first division team at home as their final test match opponent.
Dynamo finalize their summer schedule. The training camp is in Austria. The first test matches are also fixed.
Energie and Hansa missed the chance to secure a relegation place. Dynamo celebrated second place, while Aue bowed out of the season with a draw.
Kilian Jakob turned professional at TSV 1860 Munich before leaving the club. Now the defender is returning. Before that, however, he played once again for FC Erzgebirge and played a decisive role.
Dresden were denied the third division championship. The 3:0 victory over Unterhaching is nevertheless a worthy end to the season, crowned with promotion.
After being promoted to the second division, Dynamo are also still in contention for the third division championship. For this to happen, however, they must beat leaders Bielefeld.
Dresden are celebrating after their defeat in Mannheim. Energie have relegation back in their own hands after victory in Rostock. Aue make a fool of themselves against Sandhausen.
Dynamo Dresden have done it: after three years in the third division, promotion is in the bag. They are also celebrating at the public viewing.
Sandhausen have lost nine games in a row. But the players from Erzgebirge Aue are proving to be good hosts.
Dynamo Dresden have done it: after three years in the third division, promotion is in the bag. They were also able to cope with a defeat in Mannheim.
After the last-minute defeat in Bielefeld, Dynamo Dresden will now make another attempt at early promotion to the second division away from home. Coach Stamm is not changing his approach.
The trembling is over. Aue remain in the third division after a win against Ingolstadt.
Dynamo are two minutes short of the 2nd division, Rostock send hapless Sandhausen to the regional league. Cottbus no longer have promotion in their own hands.
Dynamo lead deep into injury time in the top match at Arminia Bielefeld and almost feel like a second division team. But then they were dealt a low blow by an own goal.
Striker Maximilian Schmid moved from Cologne to Aue in the winter. Despite an injury, the 22-year-old is allowed to stay.
Hansa fans surround a cab before a home game against Dresden. Three Dresden fans are sitting in it. It gets uncomfortable. The police have photos of the alleged perpetrators.
Dynamo Dresden can already secure promotion to the second division this Saturday. But their opponents are something like the team of the moment. Dynamo coach Stamm sees a "game at eye level".
Dresden's door to the 2nd division is wide open, but it could slam shut for Energie. Hansa have their sights set on the relegation places. Aue had a day to forget.
Erzgebirge Aue must continue to worry about staying in the league. A very weak first half is the reason.
After a strong opening phase, Dresden lose the thread. Nevertheless, it was enough to secure victory against relegation candidates SV Sandhausen.
Now it just has to work out in sporting terms. Dynamo will receive the license for the second division - there are only minor conditions.
Ricky Bornschein will miss Erzgebirge Aue for the time being. The reason is a cancer diagnosis.
Erzgebirge Aue secure a valuable victory in the battle to stay in the league. A dream goal against Dortmund's second team helped them regain the lead.
Dynamo lead 2-0 after just eleven minutes in the top-of-the-table match at Saarbrücken, only to suffer a collapse. But in the second half, Dynamo underlines its ambitions for promotion.
Paul Lehmann has only rarely been able to showcase his great talent this season due to injury. However, the club is convinced of his worth.
Aue are struggling in attack. There should be more options with the experienced Saarbrücken player. However, a trio will leave the Saxons.
Aue is in mid-table in the 3rd soccer league. But appearances are deceptive. The cushion to the relegation zone is melting.
Andi Hoti joins Dynamo Dresden on loan in the winter. The central defender quickly became a regular. Now there is a bitter diagnosis.
The league leaders remain unbeaten, but let their rivals close in again after a draw.
Erzgebirge Aue must continue to worry about staying in the league. FC Saarbrücken were too strong for the Saxons.
FC Erzgebirge Aue celebrate a flattering win against the VfB Stuttgart reserve team. The winning goal was scored in the closing stages.
Third division side Dynamo consolidate their lead at the top of the table. Whenever Dresden seemed to have the game under control, Hannover II piled on the pressure. In the end, the Saxons' cleverness proved decisive.
After Martin Männel, Marvin Stefaniak is also staying in Aue. The third division club is pressing ahead with its plans for the future.
Dynamo Dresden is now the owner of its own training center. The purchase of the academy will save the club millions.
After two recent draws, Dynamo Dresden won against Wiesbaden and, together with Cottbus, pulled away from the chasing pack.
A converted penalty in the 89th minute turns the stadium in Cottbus into a madhouse in the 1:0 win against Aue. Before that, the visitors had the better chances.
The Veilchen have already extended the contracts of captain Martin Männel and striker Marcel Bär. Now the current top scorer in the Regionalliga Nordost is coming to the Lößnitz Valley.
Five leagues, only four promoted teams: the promotion rules for the 3rd division are causing a stir. The clubs in the east are increasing the pressure verbally.
Martin Männel will remain with Aue. The goalkeeper will enter his 18th season with the Erzgebirge club next season.