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Jena celebrates return to the Bundesliga: a new wind for women's footballers!
Find out everything about FC Carl Zeiss Jena: history, notable games and current developments in the Bundesliga.
Jena celebrates return to the Bundesliga: a new wind for women's footballers!
On September 22, 2025, the signs are good for FC Carl Zeiss Jena in women's football. After a chaotic period of reorientation and restructuring, the team has gained momentum under the direction of head coach Florian Kästner, the youngest coach in the Bundesliga at just 26 years old. Last season they were able to stay in the league, which brought great relief to the club. Jena is behind a season characterized by promotion and retention of Bundesliga status from 2017 to 2021, followed by direct relegation in 2022, where the club took last place with just five points. The balancing act between new beginnings and tradition is the key to success here.
A lot has already happened this season, which started with high expectations. Several newcomers such as Hannah Etzold), who is considered a reliable goalkeeper, and players such as Steffi Schmied from RasenBallsport Leipzig II as well as Rieke Tietz, Isabella Jaron and Suya Haering were invited to bring a breath of fresh air into the team. All of the new players showed their skills in the first three games of the season. These reinforcements became necessary after Luca Birkholz, the top scorer last season with two goals this season, left the club.
The path from the founding to the Bundesliga
But where does FC Carl Zeiss Jena actually come from? The roots of women's football in Jena go back to the GDR era. The then club HSG Uni Jena experienced promotion to the women's Bundesliga in 1991, but could not last long. After several restructurings in the club, the women's football department of FC Carl Zeiss Jena was founded in 2017, and in July 2020 the club took over the licensing rights from FF USV Jena. This was a crucial step as the previous club had played a major role in women's football for many years.
In 2020, FF USV Jena formally merged with FC Carl Zeiss and brought all teams and playing rights to the new club. This decision came after several years in the Bundesliga, in which Jena experienced both ups and downs. The women's team's fans showed unwavering support, particularly during financial difficulties that occurred in 2018, leading to impressive fundraising efforts to keep the game running. Such challenges have shaped the character of the club and brought the community together.
The look into the future
Now that the team is playing in the Bundesliga again and is causing a stir once again, expectations are high. The newly formed team has made a solid new start, and coach Kästner has already proven that he has a good hand for the development of the players. The club used the league increase to 14 teams last season to stay in the Bundesliga. The goal is clear: With enough determination and team spirit, Jena wants to remain competitive among the best teams in the league this season.
In this respect, the FC Carl Zeiss Jena women's team has not only witnessed ups and downs in recent years, but has also found a way to redefine itself, both in the community and on the field. The club remains lively and combative - and that is exactly what is driving women's football forward in Jena.