In a certain aspect, Hansa Rostock is the ultimate example of effectivity. Just one in the clubs history did they ever manage to win a national championship. In 1991 they became the last East German ‘Oberliga’ championship.
In a certain aspect, Hansa Rostock is the ultimate example of effectivity. Just one in the clubs history did they ever manage to win a national championship. In 1991 they became the last East German ‘Oberliga’ championship.
In a certain aspect, Hansa Rostock is the ultimate example of effectivity. Just one in the clubs history did they ever manage to win a national championship. In 1991 they became the last East German ‘Oberliga’ championship. The East German champions and runner-up automatically qualified for the new federal German Bundesliga, and Hansa were there. Never in the 23 years before did the club from the Hansiatic city manage to secure a top two spot. In fact, in 34 years of Oberliga football, the Blue-Whites only came in runners-up on five occasions. Their first season in the top flight was a brief stay but three years later they again won promotion to the ‘Big’ league and rode the waves of top flight football, twice finishing in a respectable sixth place. In 2005 they suffered the drop again but they are back and willing to battle.
Werder aware of Hansa’s away strength
Who knows where Hansa would be now, had they not achieved their 1990/1991 coup. The twelve other clubs who failed to make the cut found themselves delve into the doldrums of non-league no man’s land. Today Hansa are a beacon for East German football and they will again fly the flag when they visit Bremen on Saturday, 03.11.2007. The home side will be all too aware that Rostock have had their share of success at the Weser Stadium From eleven meetings, the Green-Whites have won six but between 1995 and 1999, Hansa went four games without defeat in Bremen, twice snagging all three points. The last game played between the two took place on 30.01.2005 and finished in a 3:2 win for Werder thanks to goals from Klasnic (2) and Klose.
Hansa would of course very much like to avoid defeat again in Bremen and they know all about effectivity away from home. Last season Hansa had just one away experience that brought nothing (0:3 in Aue). Their away form was ultimately the key to their promotion success but they’ve not proven so strong away from home since returning to the top flight. One win in Berlin is balanced again defeats in Munich, Frankfurt, Bielefeld and Wolfsburg. The visitors will also be wary of the Green-Whites home record. 17: 5 goal difference and a 4:0 cup drubbing of MSV Duisburg is impressive. Coach Thomas Schaaf can see parallels between the last and the next opponents: “That will be a similar task to the cup game against Duisburg. Rostock will stay compact at the back and use just one lone striker up front. They often use six determined and reliable men across the back.”
The return of Enrico Kern
Who will fill the role up front is as yet unclear. Enrico Kern didn’t do his chances any damage by scoring two in Hansa’s 6:0 cup dismissal of Offenbach whilst new man Victor Agali is yet to score for his new employers. Enrico Kern is looking forward to a special game in Bremen having spent two season between 2000 and 2002 alongside the likes of Tim Borowski: “It’s good to see him back settled in the first division. Just before he came to Bremen he tore a cruciate ligament. We built him back up but at the time he wasn’t ready to make the leap into the first team. He has done well since going to Rostock”, acknowledged Thomas Schaaf. All together, Kern boosts twelve goals and four assists to his credit.
Hansa are not exactly prolific up front, with just eleven goals to their credit since being promoted, two of which from Kern. Still after a dreadful start with five straight defeats, Hansa have picked up eleven points from their last six games. Hansa and Schalke failed to overcome Rostock, can Werder brake their resistance?
