SC Freiburg
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| Full name | Sport-Club Freiburg e.V. | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Die Breisgauer, Die Falken | ||
| Founded | 1904 | ||
| Ground | Dreisamstadion | ||
| Capacity | 25,000 | ||
| Chairman | Achim Stocker | ||
| Manager | Volker Finke | ||
| League | 2.Bundesliga | ||
| 2004-05 | Bundesliga, 18th | ||
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SC Freiburg is a German football club, based in the Breisgau district of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. The club traces its origins to a pair of clubs founded in 1904: Freiburger Fußballverein 04 was organized in March of that year; FC Schwalbe Freiburg just two months later, in May. Both clubs underwent name changes, with Schwalbe becoming FC Mars in 1905, Mars becoming Eintracht Freiburg in 1906, and FV 04 Freiburg becoming Sportverein Freiburg 04 in 1910. Two years later, SV and Eintract formed Sport Club Freiburg, at the same time incorporating the falcon head seen in their crest from a mintmark used by the city.
In 1918, after the devastation of World War I, SC Freiburg entered a temporary arrangement with Freiburger FC to be able to field a full side called Kriegsmannschaft KSG Freiburg. The next year, SC Freiburg associated themselves with FT 1844 Freiburg as that club's football department, until 1928 when they left to enter into a stadium-sharing arrangement with PSV (Polizeisportvereins) Freiburg 1924 that lasted until 1930 and the failure of PSV. SC Freiburg then picked up again with FT 1844 Freiburg in 1938.
At the end of World War II, Allied occupation authorities disbanded most existing organizations in Germany, including football and sports clubs. The clubs were permitted to reconstitute themselves after about a year, but were required to take on new names in an attempt to disassociate them from the so-recent Nazi past. SC Freiburg was therefore briefly known as VfL Freiburg. By 1950, French-occupation authorities had let up enough to allow the clubs to reclaim their old identities. Finally, in 1952, SC Freiburg left FT Freiburg behind again.
To this point, the history of the club had been characterized by only modest success. Through the 30s, SCF played in the Berzirkliga (II), with the occasional turn in the Gauliga Baden (I), and captured a handful of local titles. After World War II, they picked up where they left off, playing in the Amateurliga Sudbaden (III).
While only a small club, SCF became known for the fight and team spirit in their play. This led them to the 2.Bundesliga in 1978-79 where they played for a decade-and-a-half before making the breakthrough to the Bundesliga in 1993-94. They made an exciting run in their second season at the top level, finishing third, just three points behind champions Borussia Dortmund. The club's greatest success was reaching the UEFA Cup in 1995 and 2001. While they have been relegated a couple of times since first making the Bundesliga, they have always managed to win immediate promotion back to the top league. Die Falken continue to field a competitive side and currently play in the 2.Bundesliga.
Their manager, Volker Finke, is the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany, managing Freiburg since 1991.