Because 1. FC Heidenheim and SV Darmstadt 98 are well on the way to snatching promotion from HSV again, we asked ChatGPT about the most surprising climbers to the Bundesliga and what can we say? We go along with most of the decisions made by the AI, but two clubs are more than controversial.
One of them is RB Leipzig, so much can be revealed: But to be honest, we don’t want to think about whether we should laugh or cry about the reason for the alleged surprise promotion of the Saxons. You probably shouldn’t have feelings or be a member of RB Leipzig to come up with an answer like that.
But we asked ChatGPT. That’s why we map the teams and the reasons as they were given by the AI. Without corrections.
1. FC Nuremberg in the 2000/01 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
6th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Klaus Augenthaler
Known players: Marek Mintal, Tomáš Galásek
Reason: FC Nürnberg had a difficult start in the 2000/01 season, but managed to improve over the course of the season and ended up sixth. Promotion to the Bundesliga came as a surprise to many as the team had previously narrowly avoided relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Mainz 05 in the 2003/04 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
11th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Jürgen Klopp
Known players: Dimo Wache, Michael Thurk
Reason: 1. FSV Mainz 05 managed to stay up in the 2003/04 season as a promoted club. Coach Jürgen Klopp’s team convinced with their fighting and aggressive game and was able to score points in many games. Promotion to the Bundesliga was a sensation for Mainz 05, as the team had never played in the top German division before.
TSG Hoffenheim in the 2008/09 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
7th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Ralph Rangnick
Known players: Vedad Ibišević, Carlos Eduardo
Reason: In the 2008/09 season, 1899 Hoffenheim made the move from the 2nd division to the Bundesliga as a promoted team. The team coached by Ralf Rangnick played offensive and attractive football and was able to inspire with numerous goals. The promotion came as a surprise as the team had never played in the Bundesliga before and had only been promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga from the Regionalliga the year before.
Whether Rangnick and patron Dietmar Hopp found the promotion surprising can at least be doubted.
FC Augsburg in the 2011/12 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
14th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Jos Luhukay
Known players: Sascha Mölders, Torsten Oehrl
Reason: FC Augsburg managed to stay up in the 2011/12 season as a promoted team. Coach Jos Luhukay’s team impressed with their fighting spirit and defensive stability. Promotion to the Bundesliga came as a surprise for FC Augsburg, as the team had previously narrowly avoided relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga.
SC Paderborn in the 2014/15 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
18th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: André Breitenreiter
Known players: Moritz Stoppelkamp, Elias Kachunga
Reason: SC Paderborn 07 did not manage to stay up in the 2014/15 season as a promoted team and were relegated straight away. Coach André Breitenreiter’s team showed surprisingly good performances in the first half of the season and was even second in the table at times. But in the second half of the season, the team could no longer build on the successes and ended up being relegated to bottom of the table. Promotion to the Bundesliga was still a sensation for Paderborn 07, as the team had never played in the top German division before.
RB Leipzig in the 2016/17 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
2nd place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Ralph Hasenhuttl
Known Players: Timo Werner, Emil Forsberg
Reason: RB Leipzig managed an impressive second place in the Bundesliga as a promoted team in the 2016/17 season and thus qualified directly for the Champions League. The team coached by Ralph Hasenhüttl played fast and direct football and was able to convince with numerous young talents. The promotion to the Bundesliga came as a surprise for RB Leipzig, as the club was only founded in 2009 and thus has a comparatively short club history.
Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 2017/18 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
10th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Friedhelm Funkel
Known players: Dodi Lukebakio, Benito Raman
Reason: Fortuna Düsseldorf managed to stay up in the 2017/18 season as a promoted team and finally finished tenth in the Bundesliga. Coach Friedhelm Funkel’s team convinced with their fighting attitude and was able to score points, especially in home games. Promotion to the Bundesliga came as a surprise for Fortuna Düsseldorf, as the team had previously just missed promotion to relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Union Berlin in the 2018/19 season
Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga
11th place in the Bundesliga
Trainer: Urs Fischer
Known players: Sebastian Andersson, Christopher Trimmel
Reason: 1. FC Union Berlin managed to stay up in the 2018/19 season as a promoted team and ended up eleventh in the Bundesliga. Coach Urs Fischer’s team impressed with their fighting spirit and scored points, especially in home games. Promotion to the Bundesliga came as a surprise for 1. FC Union Berlin, as the team had just missed out on promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga and had started the season as underdogs.
