Holstein Kiel breaks membership record despite Bundesliga relegation!

Holstein Kiel breaks membership record despite Bundesliga relegation!

The football club KSV Holstein from Kiel is experiencing a significant increase in its membership numbers despite being relegated from the Bundesliga. This is reflected in the club's latest balance sheet, which shows more than 11,500 members at the end of the 2024/2025 season, which is an impressive record. As the KN makes clear, Holstein Kiel is benefiting from increased popularity and the fans' hope of getting better tickets for the coveted games in the Holstein Stadium in the future. In recent years, the number of members has increased alongside the club's sporting successes, which certainly speaks for its solid roots in the region.

Particularly pleasing for the club's management: After relegation from the highest German league, there was no significant exodus of members. In the period up to June 30, 2025, around 507 people left, while at the same time an average of 85 new members joined the association every month. This development is a sign of loyalty and shows that the club actively involves fans with its offers and culture of participation. KSV President Steffen Schneekloth is pleased about the loyalty of the members and emphasizes how firmly anchored the club is in the Kiel region.

Records and developments

The numbers prove the dynamic of the association: between 2022 and 2023 there were 812 new members, and as of March 2023, Holstein Kiel already had 4,181 members. Promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024 had increased the number to 6,865, but the current number of 11,565 members is a new dimension. This means that KSV Holstein has overtaken the previous leader, the club for leisure and health sports at the University of Kiel, and is in 64th place among sports clubs in Germany. For comparison: The largest sports clubs in Germany are FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 with membership numbers in the region of 410,000, 218,500 and 194,000.

The association's fortunes are directed under the leadership of President Steffen Schneekloth and the managing directors Wolfgang Schwenke and Olaf Rebbe. In terms of sport, the first team of KSV Holstein under head coach Marcel Rapp is currently active in the 2nd Bundesliga after suffering relegation from the Bundesliga last season. Historically, the club has deep roots in Germany's football landscape, with a founding dating back to 1900. The various mergers and developments have made Holstein Kiel one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Schleswig-Holstein.

A look at the future

An exciting challenge lies ahead for the coming season as the club looks to further improve its infrastructure. After promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024, renovation work is planned at the Holstein Stadium, which will serve the further development of the club. The association has consciously decided on a concept that actively involves the club members in the developments. Youth work at Holstein Kiel is very important; potential future talents will find an excellent development platform here.

The proceeds from membership fees are an important factor for the financial stability of the association. A strong, committed member network is the basis for successful club work, especially in economically challenging times. Holstein Kiel has shown a good knack for laying a strong foundation for future challenges and promises to continue its success story in the 2nd Bundesliga.

With the mascot “Stolle” on the side, a stork that represents the region, the club remains firmly anchored in the hearts of its supporters. Holstein Kiel, known for its lively fan culture and its historic rivalries, such as against VfB Lübeck, Hamburger SV and FC St. Pauli, impressively shows that the solidarity among the fans remains strong even after relegation.

Further information about Holstein Kiel can be found on the official website and in the reports from Wikipedia as well as the analyzes on Academia.