The SSV Ulm 1846 Journal

The third-division footballers of SSV Ulm 1846 have already completed their first visit to the Ostalb, with four more games to come. The next one is right at the start of the league after the winter break. On January 21, the Spatzen will welcome SpVgg Unterhaching to their temporary home in Aalen. The move to the Centus-Arena, some 70 kilometres away, would have been avoided. However, it was clear shortly after the team's promotion to the third division that this might be the case. Due to the lack of pitch heating in the Danube Stadium, the German Football Association (DFB) demanded an alternative venue. Otherwise, the Spatzen could have done without TV money. That would have meant a 25 per cent reduction in revenue. But that was out of the question in Ulm.

Relocation to Aalen: extra work and high additional costs
And so, in December, those responsible and club employees managed the move, which involved a great deal of extra work. Advertising banners, security fences, merchandise: everything was packed up, set up in Aalen and then temporarily stored there. The first match against Borussia Dortmund II went largely without a hitch.

And was also satisfactory for SSV managing director Markus Thiele. In sporting terms, there was a point in the 1:1 draw. 4600 spectators came. Far fewer than had been hoped for. The manager had hoped for over 5000. The atmosphere, which despite this was good in a pure soccer stadium, was satisfactory.

In addition to the additional organizational effort, however, the move to Aalen also entailed significant additional costs. In November, Thiele had calculated a loss of around 60,000 to 70,000 euros per match. The biggest item was the lack of spectators, he explained. Up until the winter break, the Spatzen had an average of 9819, and therefore significantly more tickets sold, for their home games. The stadium rent charged by the city of Aalen, on the other hand, is manageable. Thiele speaks of "a fair price".


An inquiry by the Schwäbische Post now shows that the third-division club pays around three times as much in Aalen as the home club, VfR. SSV Ulm is being asked to pay a flat rate of 5950 euros per match in Aalen, including VAT. According to the city, this includes the energy costs, LED board and pitch heating. For comparison: VfR Aalen, who play in the fourth tier of the Regionalliga Südwest, pay €2006.60 per home game as their home club. This also includes a flat-rate energy fee and a spectator surcharge. VfR will pay an additional €0.55 per spectator from the 401st spectator. This was decided by the Aalen Municipal Council when the rental costs were set in July 2019.

SSV Ulm also incurs additional costs for the use of the kiosks in Aalen. Like VfR, the guests pay 119 euros per catering stand used. Three out of four were in use against Dortmund II. This means that SSV transferred 6307 euros to the city of Aalen for the first match in the Centus Arena. Five games are scheduled on the Ostalb - the last one on February 24th against FC Ingolstadt. This makes a total cost of a good 32,000 euros.
Settlement: SSV Ulm and VfR Aalen in comparison

SSV Ulm plays in the Census-Arena in Aalen: 5950 € plus costs for kiosks (119 € per kiosk), making a maximum total rent of 6426 €
VfR Aalen plays in the Centus-Arena in Aalen (with 1345 spectators on average): 2006 € per game.
SSV Ulm plays in the Donaustadion: €1190 plus cleaning and other costs, making a total rent of around €1800 to €2000
All fees mentioned are inclusive of VAT

In Ulm, the Spatzen have to dig much deeper into their pockets: In the Danube Stadium, it would be two-thirds less over the same period. SSV would have had to pay just €10,000 for the five home games. This is mainly because the city of Ulm charges significantly less rent. This amounts to 1190 euros gross per match. Added to this are the costs for cleaning - which are sometimes higher, sometimes lower - but are in the three-digit range. There are also around 300 euros for other items such as the use of floodlights, changing rooms and kiosks.

Despite being promoted to the third division in May 2023, the city of Ulm had initially decided not to adjust the rent, explains Gerhard Semler, Head of the Education and Sport Department. The background to this is the extensive renovation and conversion work at the stadium. For example, the footballers' changing rooms, which could not be used for almost half a year, are currently being given the finishing touches. Semler describes parts of the stadium's infrastructure, such as the kiosk and ticket booths, as "ancient Asbach". As a result, the footballers have been accommodated - for the time being. The plan is for the local council to review and balance the rent shortly. However, Semler also says: "It is also important to us that we have a soccer club in the stadium."

Whether in Aalen or Ulm, both VfR and SSV receive significantly reduced rents in their stadiums. And despite the hefty additional costs, the Spatzen are happy that they have a stadium with pitch heating available during the winter months and thus fulfil the DFB's requirements. The issue should be resolved by the summer at the latest. The installation of a pitch heating system in the Donaustadion has been announced for the end of May.

And Ulm won it's next home match of the season against Unterhaching!

It was fantastic

Today they will play Arminia Bielefeld

And wooo, Ulm won against Arminia with 0:2 as well!

I really need to get back again lol
New articles coming!

SSV Ulm 1846 Fußball is not letting anyone take the butter off its bread in its winter domicile. The Spatzen remained unbeaten in their fifth and final home game in Aalen. 0:0 was the score against FC Ingolstadt on Saturday after an intense encounter in front of 4,796 spectators in the Centus Arena. This means Ulm remains in the promotion race in the third division after the 27th matchday. Coach Thomas Wörle's team are still third in the table and now have 48 points. So anything is still possible for the promoted team.

With a home win against Schanzer, Ulm could have drawn level with second-placed Dynamo Dresden (50 points). The Saxons were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Rot-Weiss Essen. Dresden's lead over the Spatzen is two points. Ambitious FC Ingolstadt, on the other hand, are running behind the music and, in ninth place, are eight points behind SSV 46 Fußball. Leaders Jahn Regensburg (53 points, only 0:0 at home against Erzgebirge Aue) are also weakening and have been waiting for a three-pointer for three matchdays.

Spatzen head coach Wörle had made one change to his team compared to the strong 2-0 win in the top match at Rot-Weiss Essen. Philipp Maier was missing due to a yellow card suspension. As expected, veteran Andreas Ludwig replaced the central midfielder in the starting line-up.

The match in the Centus Arena got off to a rough start. Both teams fought doggedly for every ball, and the game had little flow. The visitors had the first opportunity with a free-kick from Maximilian Dittgen, which Spatzen goalkeeper Christian Ortag defused (16'). FC Ingolstadt then clearly took command, won the important duels in midfield and had their next opportunity through the omnipresent Benjamin Kanuric, who outpaced three Spatzen players and shot. The confident Ortag was on hand again (20').

The Schanzers attacked Ulm consistently, combined quickly and skillfully, they were now the better team, Ulm did not get into the game at first and was forced back by the power of the Schanzers. There was not much going forward for the hosts, who stood quite deep. Wörle's team barely made any headway in the first half hour.

Max Brandt hits the crossbar from 45 meters​

It was only towards the end of the first half that the newly promoted side began to find their feet. Forward Felix, who worked hard but was often up against several opponents, missed the home side's only chance with a header (41'). The teams went into the break goalless.

The second half began promisingly. Lo and behold, Ulm were suddenly there and Felix Higl was free through. However, his shot with his weaker right foot from ten meters was too weak. That could have been Ulm's lead (50'). The third-placed team were now in control, had access to their opponents and the action and dominated the game. Dribble king Leo Scienza also missed. His shot landed in the arms of FCI keeper Marius Funk (69').
Max Brandt then created the scene of the match. He won the ball on the halfway line, saw that Ingolstadt's goalkeeper was standing far in front of his goal and shot from 45 meters out. Funk sprinted back into the goal, desperately chasing after the ball. The ball smacked against the crossbar (77'). What a great move, what bad luck for Brandt and the Spatzen, who were now very close to making it 1:0!

Critical situations survived​

Ulm coach Thomas Wörle made a change in the final phase, bringing on two fresh attackers in Thomas Kastanaras and Lucas Röser, but they were unable to score because Ingolstadt put up a determined fight. In the end, it was a deserved draw against a strong opponent that Ulm could live with. "Ingolstadt has a very strong squad. We survived the critical situations in this game well and could have won with a bit of luck," said the Spatzen captain with satisfaction. Coach Wörle admitted that the opponents were the better team at first. "We found it difficult." After the break, his team did much better: "We put up a good fight and took the game completely in our stride. If you look at the quality of the chances, then we certainly had the better ones."

Note: Some of the Headlines have german names

Astoria Walldorf – U19 2:4
Our U19s faced a well-prepared opponent in their first competitive match of 2024, eighth-placed Astoria from Walldorf, against whom they were already two goals down within the first ten minutes. However, with great morale and attacking quality, they fought their way back into the game and reduced the deficit to 2:4 before half-time with goals from Brandner (21′, 37′), Ströbele (32′) and Renz (42′). Disciplined defending in the second half enabled the team to hold on to the half-time score over the second 45 minutes and therefore deserved to win against a very good team from Walldorf.

"We're proud of our boys for keeping their cool and turning the game around in the first half and then defending tactically well," said head coach of the U19-Spatzen Kyle Berger.

U17 – SV EBERSBACH/FILS U19 6:1
In the last preparation match, our U17s faced the U19s of SV Ebersbach/Fils. They achieved a clear 6:1 win against their older opponents. All of Ulm's goals came in the first half. Atakan Angün scored a hat-trick, and Samuel Wetter, Enes Altay and Linus Mahle each scored once. The opponents managed to score a consolation goal in the second half. Coach Ismail Gülec's team will host league leaders TSG Hoffenheim U16 in the second half of the season. Kick-off is next Saturday at 17:00.

U16 – 1.FC NORMANNIA GMÜND 2:2
Our U16s also played their last test match last Saturday before the start of the association season. In the duel with Normannia from Gmünd, they drew 2:2 after playing the full-time and taking the lead twice.

FC HEIDENHEIM – U15 3:0
The young Spatzen travelled to the unbeaten league leaders in Heidenheim. The game began with a quick goal from Heidenheim in the 22nd minute. Despite their best efforts, the Spatzen were unable to hold out and conceded two more goals in the 42nd and 47th minutes. Heidenheim was superior in all respects, which was also reflected in the clear 3:0 final score.

U14 – SSV REUTLINGEN 1905 2:2
In the last test match before the resumption of the regional league, our U14 Spatzen and SSV Reutlingen 1905 drew 2-2.

U11 plays comparison against STUTTGART
Last Sunday, our U11 boys travelled to Vaihingen. The 30-minute match was played one-on-one against the hosts from Vaihingen, Germania Degerloch and the Stuttgarter Kickers. In the first two games of the day, the Ulm team were defeated by Degerloch (2:4) and Stuttgarter Kickers (1:3). At the end, the Spatzen rewarded themselves with a clear win against Vaihingen and took third place in the final ranking.

"Unfortunately, we made the wrong decisions with the ball too often and invited our opponents to score goals through individual mistakes," summarized head coach Hannes Oetzel.

U10 with quick tournament
At the blitz tournament in front of a home crowd, the protégés of coach Fabian Stumm achieved first place. The tournament was divided into first and second legs, each lasting 25 min. They were playing time divided. The Ulm boys won the matches against 1. FC Heidenheim 5:0 and 6:0. Against SV Böblingen they prevailed with 7:1 and 4:0. Congratulations to our youngest Spatzen on this clear success.

Ulm's home games in Aalen are history. Last weekend's goalless draw against FC Ingolstadt was the last third-division match the Spatzen played on the Ostalb this season. The result is good from a sporting perspective. After all, SSV Ulm 1846 Fußball has remained unbeaten in its five matches. Two wins and three draws have been recorded in the Centus Arena. Before the 0-0 draw against Ingolstadt, there was a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund II, a 2-0 draw against SpVgg Unterhaching, a 2-2 draw against MSV Duisburg and a 3-1 win against Waldhof Mannheim.

Coach Thomas Wörle is satisfied with the result. "Overall, it was very unusual for all of us to have to go to Aalen," says the 42-year-old. "But we got used to it quickly and are grateful we could play there." Wörle praised the "great atmosphere and fantastic support" at the alternative venue. Captain Jo Reichert thanked the fans: "It's not a matter of course for spectators to make the trip to Aalen to support us there."
Financially, the move to the winter home on the eastern Swabian Alb was not very lucrative due to the lack of pitch heating at home. Ulm had to dig deep into their pockets, paying around three times the stadium rent for matches at the Centus Arena in Aalen compared to home matches on the Danube. In addition, the overall attendance was significantly lower than for home matches at the Donaustadion.
 
22,977 spectators, an average of 4,595 fans, watched Ulm's five third-division matches in the 14,500-capacity Centus Arena in Aalen.
Previously, a total of 83,741 spectators attended the eight home games in Ulm to date, an average of around 10,467. The Donaustadion has been sold out twice so far with 17,000 spectators each time: against 1860 Munich and Dynamo Dresden.
On Sunday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m., the Spatzen return to their living room. SV Sandhausen will then visit the Donaustadion for a third league home match. Coach Wörle can hardly wait: "We are all incredibly looking forward to playing in front of many people in our Danube Stadium again. And then to feel that power again that we've felt so often."

I really need to keep this updated
On my list

real

Because Ulm is first place in the Third Division which could mean:

ANOTHER PROMOTION, woo!
Last year from Fourth Division to Third, and now perhaps into the second division.

And the second german Division (2. Bundesliga) is giant! We have teams like Schalke, HSV, Hertha, Düsseldorf, Nürnberg, etc.

Alrighty, on Saturday the SSV Ulm will play against Aue and hopefully defend the first spot in table. That would be amazing!

But here is a fan chant

• Wir halten fest zusammen,
  und gehen unseren Weg,
  wir werden das Ziel erreichen,
  wenn jeder sein Bestes gibt!
  Das Ziel, das ist eine Kurve,
  die 90 Minuten lang bebt, die 90 Minuten lang Gas gibt,
  und die den Fußball lebt!
  
  
  
• We stick together,
  and go our way,
  we will reach our target,
  if everyone does their best!
  The target is a curve,
  that shakes for 90 minutes, that gives it 90 minutes,
  and that lives football!

Today is a very important matchday, which can determine the race for promotion in the Third Division. My SSV Ulm is playing the second SSV Jahn Regensburg. At the same time, it's also the Danube Duel with them. Mainly, because Regensburg has a friendship with our derby rivals Stuttgarter Kickers. So not only important on the field but also off the field.

"After promotion is before promotion". Thomas Oelmayer introduced the general meeting of SSV Ulm 1846 soccer with these words - and earned appreciative applause. In a new location and relaxed atmosphere, the club invited its members to exchange ideas in the VIP tent at the Jahnhalle. In addition to the obligatory points such as the discharge of the Executive Board and the presentation of the financial report, three amendments to the articles of association and an additional election of the Supervisory Board were discussed. In summary, the evening was largely unspectacular and extremely harmonious.

Association management, Supervisory Board and managing directors demonstrate unity
What became clear: The anticipation over the success of the third division team and the approaching challenge of the second division is great, very great. There was therefore plenty of appreciative praise. For the outstanding team in sporting terms and the team behind the scenes. The Unity is the recipe for success on and off the pitch, emphasized not only by lawyer Thomas Oelmayer, who is celebrating his tenth anniversary as SSV chairman this year. And the euphoria among the members is also great. With 162 people entitled to vote, almost twice as many were represented as in previous years.

The interest in the Ulm soccer club is also reflected in the membership figures, which have grown to 1547. An increase of almost 50 per cent within a third league year. "The most important thing is that the base is growing," said Oelmayer. Heribert Fritz, chairman of the supervisory board and chairman of the meeting, caused a laugh with his interjection: "We are well on the way to catching up with the main club." Of course, there is still a long way to go. SSV Ulm 1846, whose President Willy Götz (also a member of the Supervisory Board of SSV Ulm 1846 Fußball e.V.) sat in the front row, now has over 11,000 members.

Sporting development, sponsorship and market value. Managing Director Markus Thiele talked about all of this and threw the appropriate charts on the wall. The figures were nothing new to the soccer fans. One day after the 1:0 win against Jahn Regensburg, they made it clear once again: what the Ulm footballers are currently achieving is a respectable success. Starting with the lowest squad value, it has now grown from 3.05 million euros to 4.93 million euros. The sponsorship volume amounts to over four million euros.

In comparison: In the 2016/17 regional league season, this was just a quarter and amounted to just over one million euros. And the sporting development? Thiele couldn't avoid referring to the actual goal of the season, namely staying in the league, and said: "We're surprised ourselves that we're doing so well." He then went on to hand out compliments. To the coaching team and the team. This was met with great applause and appreciative approval from the audience.

When it came to the amendments to the Articles of Association, there was a greater need for discussion. Not when it came to the child protection paragraph, which was unanimously approved by the meeting. Psychologist Markus Gretz and pedagogue Peter Trefzger, who both work at the youth performance centre, had called for an extension in line with the child protection concept. Such a concept was developed together with the NLZ management, coaches and parents.

The meeting also agreed on a supplementary point concerning Markus Thiele's dual role. The 42-year-old has been chairman of the club and managing director of the spun-off professional division, the partnership limited by shares (KGaA), for a year. To avoid decisions that could be detrimental to the club, a clause was added that was already agreed in April 2023: For example, the approval of the association's Supervisory Board is required for chairmen acting in a personal capacity.
Four new members of the club's Supervisory Board

However, another point was criticized. Fans expressed concern about the expansion of the Supervisory Board. The proposed quartet, Uli Eitle, Christian Hock, Holger Uhl and Hubert Ketterer, are among the club's major financial backers. Hock from Aitrach and Uhl from Heubach acquired shares in the KGaA last summer and, like Eitle as a member of the "Ulmer Kreis", are also investors. All four entrepreneurs have also been active as members of the supervisory board of the professional division since the fall.

The fear that drives soccer fans not only in Ulm is that shareholders could put their interests above those of the club. Supervisory board member Gerhard Hirth firmly countered this: "Please don't think that this is a secret takeover of e.V. It is an improvement in cooperation." Informally, this was already working well, he said, and now they wanted to formally approve it. The general meeting did just that. Firstly, the number of Supervisory Board members was increased from 12 to (a maximum of) 15. In the second step, all four were elected by a majority - by the members. Which in turn also alleviates the concern that the decision-making power ultimately lies with them.

Other points at the general meeting
Young talent: There was a change at the NLZ in February: Robert Lechleiter took over from Myriam Krüger. SSV Ulm is represented by nine teams, with a total of 35 youth soccer staff and currently 160 players. The upcoming DFB reform is viewed positively: The Spatzen's U17s and U19s will compete with other NLZs in their league from the summer.
Finances: The balance sheet for the 2022/23 financial year is good. Income of 1.032 million euros (previous year: 1.437 million euros) is offset by expenditure of 1.007 million euros (previous year: 854,000 euros). This is due to the requirements of the NLZ, explains CFO Alexander Schöllhorn. With a plus of 25,000 euros, the club is on target: "The goal must be an unspectacular black result," says Schöllhorn. What is worrying, however, are the bank's liabilities and debts amounting to 1.7 million euros. "The level of debt has reached a limit that we cannot extend indefinitely." The focus is therefore already on the coming season and a balance via the (successful) professional sector.

And a few images from the meeting

The general meeting of SSV Ulm 1846 soccer took place on Monday evening. 162 members with voting rights were present and listened to the statements of the club's chairwoman.
Photo: Volkmar Könneke


The club management was able to invite members to the VIP tent for the first time: Supervisory Board Chairman Heribert Fritz (right) and Chairmen Thomas Oelmayer (2nd from right), Alexander Schöllhorn and Markus Thiele (left), also Managing Director.
Photo: Volkmar Könneke

Here is a ranking of professional soccer clubs from Württemburg by membership. Members are paying co-owners of the club (I, for example, am a member of SSV Ulm with 50 euros per year) who have voting rights and other civil rights. Professional soccer clubs are the Württemberg soccer clubs that play in the three highest leagues in Germany. The first and second Bundesliga were organized by the German Football League (DFL) and the third league was organized by the umbrella organization the German Football Association (DFB). This does not include the Württemberg soccer clubs in the fourth league (Regionalliga Südwest, organized by the Regionalliga) or other lower leagues organized by the Württemberg Football Association (WFV).

The biggest clubs are the VfB Stuttgart and Freiburg from the Bundesliga (first division of German football), while the only other member of the Bundesliga, the TSG Hoffenheim and Heidenheim are lower. Heidenheim is a club from the lower leagues (like Ulm), who worked his way up, while Hoffenheim is a bad investment club with only success through the money of Dietmar Hopp. A shame to German football, and they don't bring anything to the table. Looking at the members and the fans. The Karlsruher SC plays in the second Bundesliga and SV Wahldhof Mannheim, my club the SSV Ulm and the SV Sandhausen all play in the Third Division. But as it looks, Ulm might get promoted soon :p

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Up to 1,400 fans will accompany the Ulm team to Baden to watch the game. This is already an incredibly historic match for SSV, as promotion to the second division is theoretically included. The following constellations could see Ulm promoted:

SSV Ulm 1846 will be promoted if ...

• they win the away game in Freiburg and Münster loses in Cologne

SSV Ulm 1846 is certain of relegation (to the second division) if ...

• it wins in Freiburg
• it draws in Freiburg and Dynamo Dresden (at Regensburg), Rot-Weiss Essen (against Ingolstadt) and 1. FC Saarbrücken (against Halle) all fail to win
• it loses in Freiburg and Dynamo and Essen lose and Saarbrücken do not win

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According to information from Sky, 1. FC Heidenheim is reportedly prepared to trigger the exit clause of 500,000 euros in the Brazilian's contract. The Spatzen could then enjoy a record transfer in their club's history but would lose their best player simultaneously. Scienza moved to the Danube from 1. FC Magdeburg before the season, quickly became an absolute top performer and played a major part in the club's rise.

Market value more than doubled
His market value has more than doubled since the start of the season and now stands at 450,000 euros. Should the transfer go through, 1. FC Heidenheim would already have signed the second difference player from the 3rd division after Saarbrücken's Luca Kerber - and would have prevailed against numerous competitors such as Schalke 04 and Fortuna Düsseldorf.

A promoted team on the verge of a breakthrough, a top team that has almost stopped conceding goals! SSV Ulm is one of the best soccer teams of the season. In the top three divisions of Europe's top five nations, only two teams have conceded fewer goals this calendar year than the Spatzen, who are on a par with Arsenal FC.

SSV Ulm has conceded just six goals in the 2024 calendar year. It is the best figure of the 362 teams that play in the top three divisions in Germany, England, Spain, Italy and France. SSV Ulm is joined by Cesena, Saint-Étienne and Arsenal FC - who have also conceded six goals. Arsenal and Ulm have played 14 league games, while Saint-Étienne and Cesena have played more.

Cesena was promoted back in March
The Italian Serie C leaders, who with 93 points out of a possible 111 have long since overtaken their rivals in the "Girone B", have already played 18 games this calendar year. At the end of March, the promotion of the traditional Italian club was certain. The Seahorses have only suffered two defeats this season.

AS Saint-Étienne, on the other hand, has to tremble for promotion to France's top division. With four match days to go, AS are three points behind league leaders Auxerre and one behind second-placed Angers. Third place only entitles them to participate in the promotion play-offs to Ligue 1.



German champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen are the best Bundesliga team in 12th place. The Werkself have conceded eight goals in 14 Bundesliga matches to date. Alongside the Rhinelanders, Borussia Dortmund is also among the top 20 teams in Europe's top 5 nations. BVB have only conceded ten goals.

The best second-division team is Eintracht Braunschweig. The strong calendar year 2024 - they are currently the sixth-best team in Bundesliga 2 - is also thanks to their stable defense. The Lions have only conceded ten goals in 13 games.

Germany comparison
Behind Ulm, Leverkusen, Dortmund and Braunschweig, Holstein Kiel ranked among the German teams. The Bundesliga 2 leaders concede an average of 0.85 goals per game.
Third-division clubs 1860 Munich and 1. FC Saarbrücken also concede less than one goal per match on average in the 2024 calendar year.

https://diefalsche9.de/abwehrbollwe...tbeste-defensive-im-top-5-nationen-vergleich/from: