After over 20 years in professional football
Traditional club is relegated to the regional league
April 25, 2026 – 3:55 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
After more than 20 years, Erzgebirge Aue’s time in German professional football is coming to an end. The club was relegated to the Regionalliga Nordost. The development is not surprising.
A bitter afternoon for Erzgebirge Aue: The traditional club was officially relegated from the 3rd league after a 2-2 draw against Wehen Wiesbaden. Aue is in second-to-last place in the table and is eleven points behind the saving bank with three games still to play.
Moritz Flotho (23rd) put Wiesbaden in the lead, Tristan Zobel (27th) equalized for Aue. After Niklas May was sent off with a yellow-red card (69th), Wehen Wiesbaden still took the lead with ten men through Tarik Gözüsirinzu (78th). Aue’s Moritz Seiffert then only managed to equalize (85′). In the end too little.
Even several changes of coach could not prevent the total sporting loss this season. The club started the season with Jens Härtel, but he had to leave in February 2026 after three defeats in a row. Former Bundesliga professional Christoph Dabrowski took over for him. “It was important to me to hire a coach who I knew how he worked,” said Aue’s sports director Michael Tarnat at the time.
But things didn’t get better under Dabrowski. In nine games he only got two points. He was released after around two months. In addition, Michael Tarnat resigned from his position as sports director due to “different opinions on the sporting orientation”. “I very much regret leaving the Erzgebirge with this disappointing result of my work and wish the buddy club all the best.” Tarnat only began his task in January 2026.
As the new coaching duo, young leaders Khvicha Shubitidze and Enrico Kern were also unable to bring about a sporting turnaround. In 2026, the Saxons have not yet won a league game. The last success came on December 20th with a 4-0 home win over FC Schweinfurt. The relegation adds to the devastating picture that the club presented over the entire season.
Aue has been represented in German professional football in the first three leagues since the 2003/2004 season. Now they have to make the bitter journey to the Regionalliga Nordost.
