FC Augsburg is probably not a club you would travel 1000 miles for, but why not visit it if you're already in the south of Germany when you are going or coming back from your winter holiday.
FC Augsburg used to play a quite modest role in football, switching between the second and third tier of Germany. In 2011, the Bavarian club was promoted to the top flight for the first time, and they haven't left since. In 2015, the club even finished 5th and qualified for the Europa League.
The WWK Arena opened in 2009 in the south of the city. It's surrounded by open agricultural fields and car parks. Although it seems a little small and boring from the outside, the stadium has a capacity of more than 30,000. It has some similarities with the Mewa Arena of Mainz if you compare the design and club colours. However, it is very basic and uninspiring.
Closer to the centre of Augsburg you'll find the Rosenaustadion on the Stadionstraße, where FC Augsburg used to play from 1951 until 2009. Although it has a running track, we actually like it more than the new one. Perhaps because it reminds us of the Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen, with its uncovered grey stands and yellow stairs. The Rosenaustadion is declared monumental and therefore will not be demolished. It's still used by FC Augsburg's second team, who plays in the Regionalliga Bayern, the fourth tier of German football.
The most legendary player in the club's history is Helmut Haller, who was born in Augsburg and later became a German international. He caused uproar after the lost World Cup Final in 1966 by taking the only match ball back home. According to Haller, it is a German tradition that the losing finalist is allowed to keep the ball, but the English protested that it belonged to hattrick hero Geoff Hurst. Almost 30 years later, the ball finally went back to London.
In Augsburg, Haller is undisputed and they even made a statue of him at the WWK ARENA, which can be found near the entrance of block J.
The club has a fan bar in the WWK ARENA. A good spot to have a beer before, during and after the home games of Augsburg. Besides that, there are cabinets dedicated to the history of the club. Not a giant collection, but you can still take a little dive into the history of FC Augsburg.
It seemed unimaginable that Augsburg would one day fill its main square full of celebrating fans. This was only something that happened in the nearby cities of Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. However, in 2011 it was finally the turn of the small Augsburg when they could celebrate promotion to the Bundesliga. Jos Luhukay, the manager of Augsburg at the time, appeared on the balcony of the Rathaus whilst the Rathausplatz was full of blissful fans.
Tickets for FC Augsburg can be bought on the club's official website. You can either print them yourself or pick them up at the stadium's ticket office.
Augsburg lies along the A8 motorway between Stuttgart and Munich. At junction Augsburg-West, take the B17 around the city until the WWK Arena appears in sight. There's a lot of space for parking available.
From Augsburg Hauptbahnhof, tram 8 goes directly to the stadium. If you have your match ticket with you, then you can take the tram for free.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
