Relegation | 1 FC Lokomotive Leipzig: Two games for a better future

As Toni Wachsmuth glances into the empty Bruno Plache Stadium the day before the big game, fire protection panels are being installed on the old wooden stands – a requirement of the German Football Association (DFB) before the first leg of the relegation play-off for promotion to the 3. Liga. This Wednesday , 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig will host the champions of the Regionalliga Nord, TSV Havelse, in Probstheida. On Sunday, after the return match, it will be clear who will be playing professional football next season.

Traditional club with charisma

Since the relegation of Lok's predecessor, VfB Leipzig, from the Oberliga in 2000, the "Loksche" has undergone a quarter of a century of development work, including a re-establishment in the 3. Kreisklasse. "The first German champions would return to professional football – it couldn't be more historic for the club, for the entire city," says sporting director Wachsmuth. "That would of course be an absolute milestone, and we have a huge opportunity to pursue this path." He himself is one of the key figures in the Blue-Yellows' upswing . The Thuringian native, who played football in Jena , Cottbus , Chemnitz, and Zwickau before becoming manager in 2019, has lived in Leipzig for ten years. At Lok, he was only a sporadic presence at first, but when he spoke to former president Torsten Kracht in the fall of 2023, Wachsmuth was attracted by the aura of the traditional club – "this fan base, this charisma that this club simply has."

In spring 2024, Wachsmuth began his career as a sporting advisor. Lok finished tenth in the Regionalliga Nordost , having had a disappointing season but setting a new attendance record. A sign to the now 38-year-old that the club was alive and simply needed a new sporting direction. In July, Wachsmuth officially became sporting director. He had already completed his most important task: the early appointment of coach Jochen Seitz in April 2024.

Trainer as an insider tip

Former Bundesliga pro Seitz was an insider tip as coach of Bavarian regional league side Viktoria Aschaffenburg. "It was very important to me to have a team with strong character and to create a team spirit. To achieve this, we needed a coach who would truly exemplify this and constantly demand it," explains Wachsmuth, "someone who lives Lok Leipzig and fits into the league, who provides a clear plan and a clear structure." With the help of his network, Wachsmuth found exactly the right type of coach in Seitz, who is ten years his senior, and with whom he then initiated the overhaul of the team with 13 new players.

The successful duo focused intensively on character development – ​​and found players who now support each other in Leipzig. "Especially in key positions, we placed great emphasis on bringing in not only athletic quality but also strength of character." A stable team grew around a functioning axis that conceded the fewest goals in the league.

Before the season, Lok, with a budget of around three million euros, was considered a candidate for sixth to eighth place, with clubs like relegated Hallescher FC, Chemnitzer FC, Greifswalder FC, and Carl Zeiss Jena all in the running for favorites. "We were the negative surprise last season, and now we've set out to be the positive one," says Wachsmuth with a smile. "We've succeeded, and we can put that behind us."

Relegation despite championship

But despite the championship and the state cup victory last Saturday against third-division Erzgebirge Aue in front of a record crowd of more than 12,000 fans, Lok still has to overcome the relegation play-offs to finally reach the third division. The necessary conditions have been worked on intensively for months. In June, the venerable lawn at the "Bruno" stadium will be removed and auctioned off. For approximately €1.5 million, undersoil heating will be installed, as required in the third division, and more seating and press areas will be created – even if promotion doesn't happen.

Wachsmuth will also secure a patch of lawn for his own garden. Just like the many loyal fans, most of whom come from the east of the city and the surrounding area, including many young people. "We don't just have a specific fan base; it's a cross-section of society, reflecting all the positive and negative issues facing our society," says Martin Mieth. The managing director, who has been with the club since 2013, played a key role in banning right-wing extremist groups from the stadium at the time – board members were under police protection.

Hard work at Lok

Today, a banner in the stadium reads: "Really no desire for racism." No one on the six-person administrative team can guarantee that there won't be any more unpleasant incidents in the future. But what is crucial is that the club's management has taken a clear stance against racism for years and is helping to organize important educational work. For example, U15 players have been laying stumbling blocks for years, and last year, club officials participated in workshops on dealing with racism and discrimination. "You need perseverance and clear values, which we established in 2015," says Mieth about the changes in the fan scene. With a lot of hard work, Lok is on the right track – and not just on the pitch.