Football Season Guide

Arminia Bielefeld were the only side from the two promoted to the league last season who managed to survive. They did so with a strategy of losing very few matches by playing defensive football, especially away from home where they drew well over half their games. But the plan worked as they finished 10 points clear of the bottom three and were never really heavily involved in the relegation fight. Over the summer head coach Norbert Meier has left to take over at Bundesliga side Darmstadt and his presence will certainly be missed after bringing the team up from the third division and inspiring the incredible cup run in 2014/15 which saw them reach the semi final as a third division team. In his place the club has put their faith in a young coach with the arrival of Rüdiger Rehm from Großaspach who he guided to a solid finish in the third division despite their relatively recent arrival in that league. Bielefeld have been one of the few sides in the league that have seen very few incomings and outgoings. Those that have left were more squad options and loan deals which have expired so the core squad from last term remains very much intact. The only real additions to the team have been at defensive midfield where both Tomasz Holota and Manuel Prietl arrive to give some depth at that position. The signing of Florian Hartherz from recently relegated Paderborn also gives Rehm two good options at left back. The formula then should not change too much this season as Arminia look to slowly build their way into a solid league position. The target will once again be to avoid the relegation fight at the bottom of the table but most teams find their second season in a league much tougher. Rehm’s challenge will be to advance his new side’s tactics while also getting used to a new challenge himself at the head of his first major club.