The Rhine-Derby: A German Affair Steeped in History

German football was obviously fixated on Der Klassiker this weekend between FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund but in the land of a thousand derbies, the next local clash is set to take place this afternoon.

It isn’t the Berlin Stadtderby between Union & Hertha, nor one of the many local affairs in the famous Ruhrgebiet between Schalke 04, VfL Bochum, and Borussia Dortmund.

Instead, we must move further West for the marquee local affair taking place this matchday. Borussia Mönchengladbach v 1. FC Köln. It is a fixture steeped in history and moments of madness. The 120th edition of The Rhine Derby is set to be a classic for the ages.

Since the first encounter in 1955 Köln v Gladbach has always been a fiery affair, however, Gladbach’s lack of prominence in the former Oberliga West meant fixtures against Dortmund and Schalke were those earmarked on Köln’s calendar.

That all changed in 1964 when Borussia Mönchengladbach enjoyed a meteoric rise to become a powerhouse of Europe beginning in the hands of a former Köln icon.

Hennes Weisweiler - a player in 1. FC Köln’s first-ever lineup in 1948 and former manager in the late 50s - made the switch to manage Gladbach in 1964.

That season, Köln had just won the inaugural Bundesliga title, however, Gladbach would quickly cement itself as an emerging force in the region. With the youthful prodigies Günter Netzer and Jupp Heynckes, Gladbach won promotion in 1965, and by the end of the decade, Weisweiler’s attacking style was now the major force against Bayern.

As Köln gradually slipped away from becoming the league's all-conquering outfit, Gladbach shifted into the ascendancy. After more than 11 years at the Bökelbergstadion, Hennes had taken a plucky Zweit Liga outfit to 3 Bundesliga titles, one DFB Pokal, and the UEFA Cup.

Whilst the cities of Gladbach and Cologne are by no means direct neighbors, the fact that Weisweiler continued to live in Cologne meant tensions were always rife regardless of the disparity in league position.

Weisweiler would amp his players up for the occasion, and in no match did it elicit a better result than in the 1973 DFB Pokal Final.

In front of 70,000 fans Gladbach took home its first-ever national Pokal, shattering the hearts of Köln supporters with an extra-time winner in Günter Netzer's final match for the club.

It was only when Weisweiler returned to 1. FC Köln in 1976 that The Billy Goats rediscovered their promise of the 60s. In just 4 seasons, Hennes would win 2 DFB Pokals and the 1978 Bundesliga - beating Mönchengladbach to the title by virtue of goal difference.

In the ensuing 41 years since Weisweiler last managed either side, Köln and Gladbach have linked up for just two titles, yet the tension and magnitude of the fixture remains one of Europe’s most all-encompassing derbies.

Gladbach’s vice-president has called it a bigger Derby than Schalke v Dortmund, whilst Köln’s captain Jonas Hector puts it bluntly by saying “For our fans, this is the match of the year”.

So, whilst Hennes Weisweiler may have passed away more than 38 years ago, the manager’s legacy lives on.

At 1. FC Köln the iconic goat mascot carries his name, at Gladbach the 60,000 seater Borussia-Park is situated on the Hennes-Weisweiler Allee, and in wider Germany, he is still heralded as one of the greatest managers the country has ever produced.