Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize of sports equipment to set them on their way. They took their name from the seldom used regional German word for “river peninsula”, describing the riverside field they first played football on.Werder Bremen supporters have a long-running friendship with Rot-Weiss Essen, who currently play in the Regionalliga West (4th tier). They hold a long-term enmity with the supporters of local rival Hamburger SV as well as with those of Bayern Munich, and have developed a recent, but intense, feud with FC Schalke 04, whose title-hungry ex-manager Rudi Assauer, has lured away several of Werder's top players (including Ailton, Mladen Krstajic, Frank Rost, Oliver Reck (goalkeeping coach), and Fabian Ernst) with lucrative contracts.
The side prides itself on being one of the few port cities in the Bundesliga – currently the only others are Hamburger SV and Hansa Rostock: the toot of a ship's whistle celebrates every Werder goal. This regional pride has its drawbacks, though, as opposing fans regularly taunt Werder Bremen fans as Fischköppe (fishheads), alluding to offensive smell and limited intelligence.
Finally, Werder Bremen is also known for its level-headed environment. In contrast to many other cities, where the local sides are often subject to intense media attention, players and trainers here are usually left in relative peace. Bremen's reputation is that of sensible, respected and financially healthy club.
Comments