The 13,000-inhabitant village of Spiesen-Elversberg in Saarland could be the smallest Bundesliga place ever. If the SV Elversberg succeeds in the upper house on the last second division weekend in the season, it would be the third promotion in four years. The (back) reasons of this success story are complex.
Is it actually “the” or “the” SV Elversberg? After almost two seasons in the second Bundesliga, it still doesn’t seem to be so clear to every football fan in Germany. And that says a lot about the Elversberg sports association. The “Elv” from Saarland still flies under the radar for many. Despite marching from the Regionalliga Südwest to the second division – and maybe now even to the Bundesliga.
But what are the reasons for the success “made in Elversberg”?
The decision -makers behind the scenes
Similar to Hoffenheim, Heidenheim and Co., there is also a (financial) strong man behind SV Elversberg. Frank Holzer, former Bundesliga professional (113 first and second division games for 1.FC Saarbrücken and Eintracht Braunschweig) and now a million-dollar pharmaceutical entrepreneur, is the main sponsor and chairman of the supervisory board of the SVE. His son Dominik (43) still played for SV Elversberg during Oberliga times and took over the office of club president from his father in 2011.
The Holzer family heads the SVE fortunes and is responsible for both the stadium expansion and the sporting development of the association with the pharmaceutical millions. However, the two Saarlanders rely on natural development. Investing in expensive players, as RB Leipzig or Hoffenheim once did, are not an issue in Elversberg.
The clocks
The Elversberg success of the past few years has its origin on October 28, 2018. Since that day, the sporting leadership has consisted of head coach Horst Steffen and the sporting director Nils-Ole Book. Together they led the SV Elversberg from the fight for relegation in the regional league Südwest to the promotion battle of the 2nd Bundesliga.
Book and Steffen mainly rely on talents with great potential, which may not be able to assert themselves entirely in larger clubs or who are to gain experience in Elversberg and have the next step. Books Scouting network and eye paired with Steffen’s ability to develop these players works.
Examples are available: Carlo Sickinger, Robin Fellhauer, Semih Sahin, Maurice Neubauer, Manuel Feil or Luca Schnellbacher. They were all taken by Book for the regional league and made their way to the second Bundesliga. There they are still supporting and personalities for coach Horst Steffen.
Sportschau, 10.05.2025 4:01 p.m.
Borrowing business
There are also stroke of luck with rental players. Nick Woltemade, Paul Wanner in recent years or now Elias Baum, Fisnik Asllani and Mo Damar – everyone went through the Steffen School. Far away from unrest and pressure, these players develop splendidly and always fit the existing team.
Asllani is one of the top scorers of the league with 18 goals and 8 templates and was already being courted by Bundesliga clubs in winter. Like his congenial offensive partner Damar from Hoffenheim, he is loaned. Elias Baum, a regular player on the right defense from the start from the start, returns to Eintracht Frankfurt after the season.
For Elversberg, the rental business became a model for success, a win-win-win situation for the clubs and the player. Nevertheless, Book and Steffen are trying to gradually strengthen their own tribe, albeit (still) without spending huge amounts. The current record transfers are Tom Zimmerschied, who came from Dresden last summer for around 400,000 euros and Lukas Petkov, who changed from FC Augsburg for around 350,000 euros.
The Elversberger Plan
The SVE relies on continuity. What counts at Horst Steffen are joy of playing, creativity and intensity. “He brought me the fun of football“, For example, says Carlo Sickinger about his trainer.
Steffen football is based on clear guidelines and obligations, but also leaves the players freedom. Preparing for the opponents is also one of the strengths of the coaching team. “I have never experienced that a team was tactically prepared for us so well“, Alexander Zorniger, last season, the SpVgg Greuther Fürth, the Saarländer. Above all, Horst Steffen wants to let attractive football play – and is happy about a 5: 4 more than a brittle 1: 0.
Elversberger unit
The former regional league axis around Sickinger, Fellhauer and Co. has anchored Steffen’s game idea in her DNA. This makes it easy to internalize it. The majority of the squad stayed together after the two ascents in 2022 and 2023. It is only increasing year after year-goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof or Lukas Pinckert, for example, came to the third division season. Paul Stock from FV Dudenhofen or Frederik Schmahl from the second team of TSG Hoffenheim received a second division contract.
Potential and the right attitude are made by the player acquisition. There are top performers, but no stars. In Elversberg, a solid unit has formed that works, thinks and works together – and has already climbed twice.
Elversberg is sexy
Everything goes rapidly in Elversberg. The stadium expansion, fan development and above all the sporting success. Sometimes so quickly that not all trades can be afterwards. For example, the infrastructure around training grounds and home venues. Nevertheless, the development of this association is remarkable. For many years, Elversberg did not even play a real role in football fans and media in Saarland.
The SVE stood in the shadow of the 1st FC Saarbrücken, FC 08 Homburg and Borussia Neunkirchen, all clubs with a glorious first and second division past. Now 9,000 fans flock to the Kaiserlinde stadium every weekend. This is currently being rebuilt and is said to have 2026 place for 15,000 visitors in summer – more than the community has inhabitants.
Season finale on Schalke
Before the last matchday, SV Elversberg is on the relegation place. Has the relegation almost safe with a victory at Schalke and could even climb directly to the Bundesliga at a mistake in 1.FC Köln. It could be the third promotion in four years. At the latest then every fan should also know whether it is called “the” or “the” SV Elversberg.