Holstein Kiel: Coach Rapp starts optimistically with a new squad!

Holstein Kiel: Coach Rapp starts optimistically with a new squad!

Holstein Kiel started preparing for the new second division season in Gettorf on June 23, 2025. At 3 p.m., coach Marcel Rapp and his team said “Off to the new challenge!” The coach approaches his sixth season as head coach with an optimistic outlook, even if the omens after relegation from the Bundesliga are not easy. Rapp is satisfied with the current squad, but leaves it open that further reinforcements are welcome. The preparation will last almost six weeks until the first weekend in August.

As far as departures are concerned, Holstein Kiel is cleaning up a lot. Nine players have left the club, with the most prominent of the departures being captain Timo Becker, who is moving to Schalke 04, and Lewis Holtby, whose destination remains unclear. Other departures include Dominik Javorcek, Marvin Schulz and Colin Kleine-Bekel. While Javorcek is not permanently signed, Schulz was unable to play a single Bundesliga game due to injuries.

A breath of fresh air in the squad

However, the team is not only characterized by departures. So far, Holstein Kiel has signed twelve new players, including Danish goalkeeper Kasper Davidsen from Aalborg BK and the experienced Stefan Schwab from PAOK Saloniki. Another newcomer who comes fresh from the 3rd league is Mladen Cvjetinovic from FC Ingolstadt. The 21-year-old central defender has already passed the medical check and has a contract until 2029. He was a regular player last season and can look back on 31 appearances and seven U21 international games for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Liga-Zwei reports that this is the club's second new signing.

The sporting management, consisting of managing director Olaf Rebbe and coach Rapp, has the mission of putting together a powerful and competitive team. Despite the new additions, Rapp cautions that viewers should be patient with the newly formed team, as there are many young players in the squad. “The goal is not direct promotion,” said Rapp. Nevertheless, everyone agrees that they want to play a good role in the new season.

Start of the season with excitement

The Kiel team's first opponent, announced by the German Football League (DFL) on Friday, will further increase anticipation. Until then, it remains to be seen how the team will perform in preparation. Rapp appeals to fans not to exceed their expectations and hopes for loyal support throughout the season.

It will definitely be exciting for the Holstein fans to see how their team performs in the coming season. Stay tuned for further updates about KSV Holstein and developments on the transfer market, which you can follow at Kicker.