1. FSV Mainz 05
1. FSV Mainz 05 are one of German football’s best-known modern success stories. The red-and-white club rose from years in the second tier to reach the Bundesliga under Jürgen Klopp, establish itself in the top flight and qualify for European competition.
From Mainz to the Bundesliga
Mainz trace their history to 1905, a year preserved in both the club’s name and the nickname Die Nullfünfer — the 05ers. For much of the club’s modern history, Mainz competed outside Germany’s top division and developed a reputation for persistence after narrowly missing promotion more than once.
The breakthrough arrived in 2004, when Jürgen Klopp led Mainz into the Bundesliga for the first time. The club spent three seasons in the top flight, returned to the second tier in 2007 and won promotion again in 2009. Mainz have remained an established Bundesliga club since that return.
The 05ers in Europe
Mainz first appeared in the UEFA Cup in 2005/06 after qualifying through UEFA’s Fair Play route. Their strongest Bundesliga season followed in 2010/11, when Thomas Tuchel guided the team to fifth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League.
Further European qualification came after the 2015/16 and 2024/25 Bundesliga seasons. These campaigns underline how far Mainz progressed from their earlier years as a modest second-division club.
Jürgen Klopp
From the Bruchweg to the MEWA ARENA
The Bruchwegstadion served as Mainz’s home for 74 years and remains closely tied to the club’s identity. Its compact stands and atmosphere formed the backdrop to the promotion years that transformed the 05ers.
Mainz moved into their new stadium in 2011. Now known as the MEWA ARENA, it holds 33,305 spectators and was designed to carry the close, traditional football atmosphere of the Bruchweg into a modern Bundesliga ground.
Red and White
Red and white are the colours most strongly associated with Mainz 05. Across different seasons, the home shirt has appeared in solid red, red-and-white blocks and other patterns built around the same traditional palette.
The club’s 120th-anniversary shirt in 2025 looked further back into its identity. Its off-white base and diagonal red stripe drew inspiration from an early Mainz kit, while the Wheel of Mainz from the city’s coat of arms replaced the modern crest for the commemorative design.
This FanFile covers the club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your shirt to identify its exact season and edition.
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Club Links
Sources & Further Reading
- Mainz 05: official club facts and history
- Mainz 05: stadium history
- Mainz 05: 120th-anniversary shirt
- Bundesliga: Mainz 05 historical guide
Facts checked: 16 October 2026.