Conspiracies and babies in nightclubs – Arminia chase history

Residents of Bielefeld are fed up with the city’s current online joke.

Nobody knows anyone from or has been to North-Rhine-Westphalia, so the Bielefeld Conspiracy makes the claim that the city isn’t actually there. Everyone from politicians to social media influencers refer to it.

The same can no longer be said of the city’s football club, Arminia Bielefeld.

The third division team will face top-flight VfB Stuttgart in the showpiece match at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on May 24 after defeating four Bundesliga clubs in the first DFB Pokal final in their history.

“I’ve gone through every ups and downs at this club, but this up is the most memorable.” For me, it’s very emotional.

That’s Ulrich Swetz – a lifelong Arminia fan and football commentator at Radio Bielefeld who has covered the club since 1994.

Eight Bundesliga promotions, eight relegations, and four distinct third-tier spells were among those ups and downs.

15 years ago, the club’s financial situation was terrible.

Arminia have only featured in 19 of the Bundesliga’s 62 seasons, never finishing higher than eighth, and last played in the top flight in 2021-22, before suffering back-to-back relegations and narrowly avoiding a first drop to the fourth tier.

After being promoted a week earlier, they won the third division title last Saturday, but nothing could possibly stop them from doing so.

Given where we came from and the relatively new team, no one really believed this was possible, according to Eva-Lotta Bohle, a season ticket holder for Arminia.

Last summer, sporting director Michael Mutzel oversaw a squad overhaul that gave manager Michel Kniat, who has never managed above the 3. 13 new arrivals in Liga.

Arminia’s league form didn’t really come until February, but their cup campaign started last August with a 2-0 defeat of second-place Hanover 96.

Fans gathered close to the pitch create a vociferous and intimidating atmosphere at Arminia’s 99-year-old home, which is an old-school, English-style ground.

Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso even compared it to Liverpool’s Anfield, such was the noise generated during the semi-final.

After 17 minutes, Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah bundled home from Arminia for the first time in their cup run, but the underdogs continued to win.

By half-time, the hosts had turned the ball around through Maximilian Grosser, typifying their intensity and perseverance. Marius Worl grabbed a loose ball and curled a shot into the bottom corner.

Arminia rode their luck at times after the break – Patrick Schick hit the post with a header, prompting goalkeeper Jonas Kersken to kiss the woodwork in gratitude – but the holders could not find a way through.

I felt like I was going to break down when the game came to an end and we had defeated them,” says Ulrich.

This was not the Arminia that young fans were familiar with, according to Eva.

At the full-time whistle, substitutes, coaches and fans streamed onto the pitch to get the party started.

According to Arminia captain Mael Corboz, “One player was in the nightclub with his five-month-old baby because they had no one to watch over the child at home.”

After the game, I forgot to eat, so I quickly became intoxicated. That wasn’t the smartest decision. The stadium was where we had a great night’s sleep. The city was on fire, and it was a good time.

Defeat Stuttgart at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, and Arminia will become the first third division side to win the Pokal.

It never will sink in, Corboz said, “perhaps it will only do so when we’re on the field in Berlin.”

We’ll look back and say, “I can’t believe we actually did that in five, ten, twenty years.”

Arminia became the first third-division club to eliminate four Bundesliga sides in a single Pokal campaign after finishing just six points above the relegation zone last year.

” Every round after the Hannover game, we felt that we didn’t have anything to fear, “Mutzel told BBC Sport.

“Sometimes the league games were more challenging than the cup games. We played better teams every game.

While Arminia are arguably the fittest team in the third tier and have several exciting young talents – they began the season as the third-youngest side in the division – a sense of unity and belief has helped them against the elite.

When you play against these teams, you physically and technically exceed your limits, Corboz said.

Head coach Kniat has made a significant impact since joining Mutzel in 2023.

Before each cup game, Mosesel said, “He was so confident in winning,” and he later shared that with the team.

” He believes we can beat anyone. We normally wouldn’t have a chance, but we are certain we can defeat Stuttgart.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who provided commentary on the semi-final for broadcaster ARD, best summed up Arminia’s ability to improve their performance against the best teams.

” I didn’t see a two-league difference between the teams today, “he said”. I didn’t even notice a single league difference, really.

For a third division club, Arminia’s total revenue from the competition this season would be estimated at £10 million.

Victory in Berlin would secure the club a place in next season’s Europa League which, according to football finance publication the Swiss Ramble, would earn Arminia a further £10m approximately.

Mutzel’s main concern is keeping a talented squad together for the upcoming season, but these sums are eye-watering amounts.

Everyone in Germany has watched the cup matches, and of course the players — some of whom are still young and talented.

For Corboz – a Lyon fan born in the United States to French parents – playing in the Europa League is a dream he never thought might become reality.

He said, “It would be unbelievable to play against teams I used to watch as a fan.” It would represent my career’s pinnacle.

The biggest sporting and cultural moment in Bielefeld’s history is here.

Arminia’s club shop has completely sold out of home shirts, while giant screens have been erected in Bielefeld’s Jahnplatz.

At least 20, 000 fans who purchased tickets are anticipated to travel to Berlin anyway, using any means available. Some people have walked and cycled to raise money for charities.

“We have this one-in-a-lifetime chance of winning the cup, winning a lot of money and going to Europa League which would be incredible for the club and the city”, said Ulrich.

Regardless of the outcome, this is my career’s highlight.

Arminia fans have been raving about this final for a long time.

“One day, the German Sport Club (DSC) will play in the final, the final in Berlin.

Generations have passed away without playing this game.

Our children will sing this song about thousands of Arminia fans in the capital to celebrate this incredible victory if we pass away one day.

In recent weeks the words ‘ one day is now ‘ has been spotted graffitied across the city.