MSV Duisburg Aiming High After Promotion: Willing to Leave 3rd League Behind
"In truth, the promotion to a league that we despised is the subject of our apparent celebration"
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The euphoria lingers at MSV Duisburg, a week after clinching the Regionalliga West title. The champagne glasses from the post-game celebrations still remain under the substitute bench at their stadium. On Saturday, the team party ended with a title celebration in front of the city hall, attended by thousands of fans.
Just a year earlier, fans had torn up their season tickets in anger. But now, they're back, cheering for their team in the 3rd league. Over 20,000 spectators saw MSV repair what was one of the biggest sporting accidents in the club's history on their journey back to professional football, one season after the devastating relegation from League Three. No other team has ever achieved this feat.
Michael Preetz, MSV's sole managing director, is feeling quite elated on this Monday afternoon. Yet, he's taken aback by the absurdity of the situation. "It's a joke that we're celebrating promotion to a league we never wanted," he remarks in an interview with ntv.de, gazing out at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, a stadium that yearns for the 2. Bundesliga.
Football: Fighting for Survival Complexities
Football in leagues below the top two has been a costly struggle for MSV in the past. The team fights for survival every season, dealing with hefty structural deficits in the low seven-digit range. Stadium rent, office rent, youth performance center, and personnel costs are constant financial burdens.
Last season, MSV accomplished something remarkable in the Regionalliga West, a challenging path to professional football. Despite all adversity, they took on this task on new terrain. "We played an incredible confident season," says Preetz, praising the footballers and coach Dietmar Hirsch for the remarkable achievement. The team will stay together and form the foundation in the 3rd league.
No "Satisfaction" for Preetz
The fans played a significant role in MSV's incredible story. Many of them had given up on the team just a year ago, vowing never to return. Meanwhile, they've come back in droves, with an average attendance of 17,000 over the season. Despite competing against teams like Eintracht Hohkeppel, 1. FC Düren, and 1. FC Bocholt, the passion and pride of MSV were evident.
Preetz Weighs His Decision
Almost three years passed before Preetz seriously considered joining MSV, as he first wanted to leave his tumultuous past at Hertha BSC behind. Not until he found the "right offer" did he decide to join, as he believes in the power that MSV still radiates, even in this structurally weak region filled with powerful competitors like Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04, VfL Bochum, Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Rot-Weiss Essen. It's a big competition, a significant challenge.
Preetz's passion burns when he speaks of MSV, and he addresses the hard work needed to grow the club in all areas to ensure economic viability. For him, financial stability and competitive performance are equally crucial.
The Future: Aiming for Higher Ground
Though MSV doesn't want to look too far into the future, Preetz acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead in the 3rd league. "League Three is unpredictable. Either you're fighting against relegation or you're up there," he admits. He hopes to maintain the team's momentum and euphoria, with an eye towards promotions to higher leagues.
With MSV's rich history and dedicated fan base, the long-term goal is bound to involve progressing through the divisions and returning to their historic status in the Bundesliga. The club aims to improve player development and strike lucrative transfer deals to secure financial stability and sustain their ascension.
As Preetz says, "We want to achieve something that's never been done before."
- Michael Preetz, the sole managing director of MSV Duisburg, expressed an unexpected sentiment about their promotion, stating, "It's a joke that we're celebrating promotion to a league we never wanted."
- Contrasting the euphoria of their recent promotion, last year MSV Duisburg grappled with challenges in the lower leagues, facing significant financial burdens such as stadium and personnel costs.
- Despite the unpredictable nature of League Three, MSV Duisburg aspires to build upon their momentum and maintain their euphoria, with a long-term goal of progressing through the divisions and returning to their historic status in the Bundesliga.
- In an interview, Preetz discussed the ambitious plan for MSV Duisburg, expressing, "We want to achieve something that's never been done before." As they aim towards higher ground, their focus remains on both financial stability and competitive performance.
