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Kaiserslautern is a football city. Its team, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, has made
the city famous throughout Europe - and not just in recent years with its
successes under coach Otto Rehhagel who brought the "Red Devils" back into
the Bundesliga just after they had been relegated in 1996 and led them to
victory as German Champions in 1998. The team from the Betzenbergstadion had
already won the championship in 1991, and were German Cup winners in 1990
and 1996.
And then there are the unforgettable achievements of the 1950's with
Fritz and Ottmar Walter, when the Kaiserslautern team formed the backbone of
Germany's 1954 World Cup winning team with five players. The club was German
Champion in 1951 and 1953. 30,000 registered members in more than 100 sports
clubs are a clear indication that sport is very much alive here. There are
40 club-owned sports facilities with 70 pitches and 56 sports, gymnastics
and multi-purpose centres. The centre of sporting life is the ultra-modern
Fritz-Walter-Stadion, formerly the Betzenbergstadion.
 The
Fritz-Walter-Stadion first opened its doors in 1920. Built on the Betzenberg
mountain, the ground takes its name from the German 1954 FIFA World Cup
captain, and is home to FC Kaiserslautern. |
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Germany - 2006 FIFA World Cup