FC Ingolstadt 04

Football club infobox
clubname = FC Ingolstadt


fullname = Fußball-Club 2004 Ingolstadt e.V.
nickname = Die Schanzer
founded = 2004
ground = ESV-Stadion
capacity = 16,500 seats
chairman =
manager = Thorsten Fink
league = 2nd Bundesliga
season = 2007-08
position = Regionalliga Süd (III), 2nd
pattern_la1=_redborder
pattern_b1=_whitecollar
pattern_ra1=_redborder
leftarm1=ffffff
body1=DC0000
rightarm1=ffffff
shorts1=ffffff
socks1=ffffff
pattern_la2=
pattern_b2=
pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=ffffff
body2=ffffff
rightarm2=ffffff
shorts2=ffffff
socks2=ffffff|

FC Ingolstadt is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: "ESV Ingolstadt" and "MTV Ingolstadt".

History

ESV Ingolstadt

when "E" came to stand for "Eisenbahner" to reflect its affiliation with the railway.

"ESV Ingolstadt" joined the Regionalliga Süd (II) in 1963 when the Bundesliga – Germany's professional football league – was formed. After bouncing between tiers II and III, capped with two seasons spent in 2nd Bundesliga Süd from 1979-81, the club began a descent through tier III to Landesliga Bayern-Süd (IV), last playing in 1993-94. The sports club itself carried on until it went bankrupt in the summer of 2004 and those football players there were left to join "FC Ingolstadt 04". "ESV" continues to operate today offering a number of other sports activities while acknowledging "FC 04" on its website.

MTV Ingolstadt

.

"MTV" spent two seasons in 2.Bundesliga Sud after Amateurliga Bayern champion "1. FC Hassfurt" declined promotion in 1978. When "ESV" faced bankruptcy in 2004, "MTV" allowed its footballers to leave to help form "FC Ingolstadt".

Current

In 2004-05, newly formed "FC Ingolstadt" began play in the Oberliga Bayern (IV) and managed a credible second-place finish in their first season. Their success continued in 2005-06 when they easily captured the divisional title and won promotion. They finished their debut Regionalliga Süd (III) campaign 2006-07 in 5th place, earning promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga the season after, when they finished second in their league.

Reserve team

The "FC Ingolstadt II" spent the 2006-07 and 2007-08 season in the Landesliga where it finished sixth and second. This last finish meant promotion to the Oberliga vor "FCI's" second team.

Club culture

Attendance at the club's matches averaged 1400 in their first Regionalliga season. This season they have been able to attract an average of over 5500 spectators to date. Until recently, Ingolstadters tended to show more interest in longtime Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich and local ice hockey team ERC Ingolstadt. Promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga and the current dismal performance of the ice hockey team have helped raise crowds at the Tuja-Stadion. FC Ingolstadt also attracts a small but vocal Scottish fan base.

Nickname

* The club nickname, "Die Schanzer", is taken from the town and has a military sense meaning trenchmen or rampartmen.

Famous Players

*Heiko Gerber
*Andreas Neuendorf

Current squad

"For recent transfers, see List of German football transfers summer 2008."

Recent seasons

FC Ingolstadt 04

ESV Ingolstadt

Honours

FC Ingolstadt 04
*Regionalliga Süd (3rd. level) runners-up: 2008
*Oberliga Bayern (4th. level) champions: 2006
*Oberliga Bayern (4th. level) runners-up: 2005

MTV Ingolstadt
*Oberliga Bayern champions: 1981
*Landesliga Bayern-Süd champions: 1966, 1969, 1977

ESV Ingolstadt
*German amateur champions: 1979
*Oberliga Bayern champions: 1962, 1968, 1979
*Landesliga Bayern-Süd champions: 1984
*Bezirksoberliga Oberbayern champions: 1991

External links

* [http://www.fcingolstadt.de/ Official team site (FC Ingolstadt 04)]
* [http://www.esv-ingolstadt.de/ Official team site (ESV Ingolstadt)]
* [http://www.mtv-in.de Official team site (MTV Ingolstadt)]
* [http://www.schanzernews.de Fan site (FC Ingolstadt 04)]
* [http://www.abseits-soccer.com/clubs/ingol-fc.html The Abseits Guide to German Soccer]