Hoffenheim 2012/2013 Home Shirt

TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899 – HOME SHIRT 2012/2013

TSG Hoffenheim are a German professional football club based in Sinsheim. The village of Hoffenheim itself has a population of just over 3,000, making the club’s rise through German football all the more remarkable. Since 2009, they have played their home matches at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, known as the PreZero Arena for sponsorship reasons.

Founded in 1899, originally as a gymnastics club, Hoffenheim took on their modern identity in 1945. As recently as 2000, they were competing in Germany’s fifth tier, but with the significant backing of Hoffenheim born software entrepreneur Dietmar Hopp, the club surged up the divisions and achieved promotion to the Bundesliga in 2008.

Although Hoffenheim have yet to win a major trophy, they have enjoyed notable success. Their best Bundesliga finish came in 2017/2018, when they placed third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time.

The season in which this smart home shirt was worn, however, was far less memorable. The campaign began with a shock exit from the DFB-Pokal, losing 4–0 to fourth-division Berliner AK 07 - the largest-ever cup victory by a fourth-tier side over a Bundesliga club.

Their league form wasn’t any better. With the team sitting 16th, manager Markus Babbel was dismissed on 3 December 2012. His successor, Frank Kramer, managed a slight improvement, but Hoffenheim still finished the season in the relegation play-off spot. There, they faced 1. FC Kaiserslautern over two legs and won both comfortably, securing their Bundesliga status for another year.

Kevin Volland finished the season as Hoffenheim’s top scorer with just six goals, in a squad that also featured a young Roberto Firmino.

Follow them on X: @tsghoffenheim