"East Klopp" resurrects Energie Cottbus
The Lusatian football club, Energie Cottbus, has cemented its place in the third division after winning the 2023 season of the Regionalliga Nordost. Marking the team's return to professional football following a five-year stint in lower divisions, the recent victory has been a cause for celebration for fans.
The Lusatians experienced a rollercoaster journey through the different leagues, plummeting from the Bundesliga to the fourth division and then back up to the third. Throughout their time in the lower divisions, their supporters remained loyal to the team. "Love knows no league," properly characterizes the ardent commitment of Energie Cottbus fans who witnessed their team play in various levels, from Bundesliga to third division.
On Whitsunday, just before their much-anticipated third division promotion, Energie Cottbus triumphed over Hertha BSC's second team in Berlin. However, the preceding week posed challenges for the team as their coach, "Pele" Wollitz, received a yellow card for a misconduct, making him ineligible to attend the match. Energie's top scorer, Timmy Thiele, was also ruled out due to suspension. Nevertheless, the Cottbus fans showed up en masse, filling Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Prenzlauer Berg with 8,000 supporters cheering their team on.
Although the 2:0 win may suggest an easy game, the tournament's outcome was anything but certain. Energie Cottbus began the match apprehensively and almost missed a penalty in the ninth minute for a clear foul against Maximilian Pronichev. The team regained composure after sweating it out for a while, with Joshua Putze scoring the first goal through a corner kick. Pronichev increased the lead by scoring a second goal in a span of ten minutes, and with that, the Cottbus crowd burst into excitement.
With Wollitz banned from interacting with his team for half an hour before and after the final whistle, Cottbus fans used their numbers to their advantage. They chanted "Release him" and ultimately got their way, as the North-East German Football Association (NOFV) granted the coach early access after 20 minutes.
The team's triumph ends a five-year nightmare for Energie Cottbus, which had fallen into the fourth division in 2016, and was then promoted back to the third two years later but was relegated in 2019. During these four years, the team fought against formidable opponents such as Eilenburg, Rathenow, Bischofswerda, and Auerbach. The Greifswalder's FC performance seemed to be the final hurdle, however, their 1:4 defeat at the Baltic Sea paved the way for Cottbus to ascend.
Following last year's heartbreaking defeat in the promotion play-offs against SpVgg Unterhaching from the Regionalliga Bayern, the team and supporters endured great disappointment. The DFB's decision to allow only four promotion places for the champions of the five regional leagues fueled frustration, with Wollitz dismissing the system as "absurd" and "bottomless."
Yet this time around, the committed team of Cottbus has emerged victorious, hitting a high note in football.
This season, fortunately, Wollitz didn't have to face struggles with the DFB as the north-eastern champions were directly promoted this time around. It was evident after matchday 29 that Cottbus would defend their title when Energie won the major clash against Greifswald and took over the lead in the table. After three sometimes intense (derby in Babelsberg), gripping (last-second triumph against Lok Leipzig), and tumultuous (at BFC Dynamo) victories, Cottbus could've been promoted on matchday 40. However, their opponents Greifswald fell short and a win against bottom dwellers Luckenwalde would've been enough. Nonetheless, Energie managed to secure a point at home in the Stadion der Freundschaft, having trailed 3-0.
During the week preceding the pivotal match in Berlin, recollections of past mistakes were revisited. Cottbus had exhausted themselves in various deciders over the years. In 2016, the Lusatians were demoted to the Regionalliga following a loss at home to Mainz II, while in 2019, a draw against Eintracht Braunschweig on the final matchday led to relegation to the fourth tier once more. Less than a year ago, Cottbus succumbed to doubts in the crucial encounter against Unterhaching.
However, they turned the tables around and were promoted. With Cottbus taking the lead, they became champions. Champions must ascend. So, "Pele" Wollitz no longer had to grapple with the contentious promotion rules.
Legendary coach
Wollitz is the linchpin of Cottbus' success. From 2009 to 2011, "Pele", aged 58, managed Cottbus in the 2. Bundesliga. He came back in 2016 and his second stint terminated in 2019. Two years later, Wollitz returned to Lusatia once more. His heroic status is firmly rooted, and fans adore him like Klopp in Liverpool, Streich in Freiburg, or Schmidt in Heidenheim.
Wollitz is also a cultural icon beyond Cottbus' borders. The occasional emotional outburst during, following, or prior to matches could have elevated his renown. A recently released rbb documentary may have further bolstered his reputation. Wollitz is widely admired as an outstanding motivator who has turned around a team that had been stagnating for years after years of setbacks. Similar to another well-known coach in England who achieved a similar feat. In a sense, "Pele" Wollitz can be considered the Klopp of the East.
Wollitz is set to coach for one more year before stepping into the role of sports director at Energie Cottbus. Despite the league, passionate commitments prevail. As everyone knows, love transcends leagues.
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Energie Cottbus's triumph in the Regionalliga Nordost promotion match against Hertha BSC II secured their return to the 3rd league after a five-year absence. This achievement is significant for the Lusatian soccer club, marking their comeback to professional football.
Being in the 3rd league once again, Energie Cottbus will have the opportunity to compete against teams such as Energy Cottbus, proving their mettle and striving for success in the higher leagues.
Source: www.ntv.de
