Myth, mud, millions
Like a St. Pauli cup fairy tale, saved from ruin
16.08.2025 – 11:14 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
FC St. Pauli was only the third force in Hamburg 20 years ago. Economically, the association was in front of ruin. Then the neighborhood club suddenly dreamed of a title.
In the summer of 2005, only the fans kept the position at FC St. Pauli. The former “privateers” from the Bundesliga have now played in the third -class regional league north – and even ended the 2004/05 season behind the U23 of the HSV. The “Freudenhaus” Millerntor had become dilapidated and a highly dilapidated break.
Economically, the association stood on the abyss after two descents and two fast insolvencies. “The bailiff was always at the office, but there was nothing left to get,” recalled the then managing director Frank Fechner in the NDR. After all, as a Hamburg cup winner, the team of coach Andreas Bergmann was qualified for the DFB Cup-and hoped for urgently needed income.
So on August 20, 2005 Wacker Burghausen came to Millerntor. St. Pauli took the lead 2-0, but shortly before the end of the second division team equalized. In the 113rd minute, Felix Luz headed the ball into the net for 3-2 final score. “Now we want a topless one, we would like to be a Bundesliga club at the Millerntor,” said coach Bergmann.
At least Bundesliga relegated VfL Bochum came in round two. On October 25, an autumnal Tuesday evening, St. Pauli overrun the Ruhrpott Club 4: 0. Michel Mazingu-Dinzey (9th), Felix Luz (39th), Florian Lechner (56.) and Khvicha Shubitidze (77.) made the Millerntor shake. 13,230 fans cheered.
The round of 16 was three days before Christmas 2005. Opponent: Hertha BSC-the next “B” team. The Berliners came with stars like Arne Friedrich, Niko Kovač and Marcelinho. As expected, Hertha took the lead 2-0. But shortly before the break, Mazingu-Dinzey scored 1-2-new hope. Rightly rightly: Felix Luz equalized in the 86th minute, in the extension Florian Lechner and Robert Palikuca (105./109.) Decided the game. President Corny Littmann cheered: “Now we are better at the tax office.”
FC St. Pauli played into the quarter -finals with passion and fighting spirit. On January 25, 2006, the regional league received the Champions League participant Werder Bremen. Because of the snow masses, the game was short of the cancellation. Werder pushed for a laying: “If we want a fun event, then we can do mud catches or smooth eggs,” said Managing Director Klaus Allofs.
But the game took place. The home side apparently knew that the space could help them. St. Pauli won a sensational 3-1 against Werder on snow and ice. For the first time, the club stood in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and suddenly dreamed of the big coup.