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1. FC Magdeburg: A Rising In The East

Once the fleeting jewel in the crown of East German football, political change and the reorganisation of German football left this once triumphant club languishing in the depths of German football. Now they are on their way back!

Started on 23 October 2017 by mgriffin2012
Latest Reply on 13 February 2018 by Plumps

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mgriffin2012

7 years • Edited

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Felix Lohkemper Becomes Steegmann’s First Signing

30 June 2017

- 22 year old forward completes move to MDCC Arena
- Former Mainz, Hoffenheim & Stuttgart forward joins on 2 year deal
- Forward scored 4 goals in 18 3. Liga games last season

FC Magdeburg have today unveiled 22 year old forward Felix Lohkemper as their first signing under new manager Christopher Steegmann. The forward, joins on a free transfer from FSV Mainz, having spent the 2016/17 season with the Bundesliga club’s B team in the 3. Liga, competing against Magdeburg. Lohkemper brings a wealth of experience in the lower levels of German football with him, having spent the last 3 league seasons playing regular football in the third tier or below and it is no doubt hoped by Steegmann and his coaching team at the MDCC Arena, that Lohkemper can score the goals that help fire Magdeburg to their targets in the coming campaign.

Lohkemper is a product of the academy at 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruhe and having impressed in their youth set up, Lohkemper was scouted by Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart and was subsequently signed by the 5 times German Champions. Lohkemper spent three seasons playing for Stuttgart’s B team, scoring just 3 goals in 30 appearances across the 3 campaigns. A free transfer, this time to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim followed with the forward scoring 18 goals in 33 appearances in the Regionalliga, before Mainz took a chance on the forward. Lohkemper was ultimately demoted to the second team at Mainz and scored 4 goals in 18 3. Liga appearances last season. When Lohkemper was asked about his goals to games ratio and whether he thought he could improve it after signing for Stuttgart, Lohkemper said;

30.06.17, 13:00, Felix Lohkemper: “This is a move that I am very excited about and having had lengthy conversations with Christopher [Steegmann] and his coaching staff I am really confident that the playing style that they’re talking about and the style of play he wants to implement at Magdeburg will benefit my career and I will be able to start racking up the goals and helping fire this club moving forward in the right direction.”

Lohkemper’s desire to work for the team and help his sides cause, may not have been reflected in his goals to game ratio, but will be a welcome addition to the team as Christopher Steegmann and his Magdeburg side look to push on for promotion having only just missed out over the last two seasons. His new manager at the MDCC Arena said he was confident that Lohkemper’s pace and desire to work for the team would help Magdeburg pick up the type of results needed to secure promotion this season;

30.06.17, 13:15, Christopher Steegmann: “He is quick and he always works and puts in 110% for the team and he is going to be a big acquisition for this team. To sign him on a free shows that there is good players available at this level and players that can really push this club forward and help it to achieve it’s goals and Felix is as excited to be here as we are to have him here.”

Comments

DinkyDugFM: Thanks man, glad to have you on board!

ScottT: Hopefully he’ll be able to take this club back to its glory days!

OMGItsToddzy: Thanks man, glad it’s appreciated, loving writing it!

Last Update: #3 Christopher Steegmann Signs As Manager
Next Update: #5 Andreas Ludwig Completes MDCC Arena Transfer

ScottT

7 years

Seems a good veteran option to bring in, hopefully his experience will help some of the other players in the squad - as well as create good things on the pitch.

OMGItsToddzy

7 years

Hopefully this guys experience will get you some results

ninjaskill

7 years

Looks like a pretty good player, would expect more than 4 goals from him if he plays consistently

mgriffin2012

7 years • Edited

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Andreas Ludwig Completes MDCC Arena Transfer

10 July 2017

- Magdeburg complete signing of attacking playmaker
- Becomes Christopher Steegmann’s second signing joining from FC Utrecht on a free
- Midfielder signs two year contract until 2019

FC Magdeburg have today completed their second signing of the summer and in doing so addressed one of the criticisms being thrown at them during Christopher Steegmann’s first pre-season in charge. With a lack of goals being scored by Magdeburg in the club’s first two friendlies against Energie Cottbus and Hessen Kassel, a lack of creativity behind the main forward was a criticism thrown at the club, and Steegmann will be confident that with the signing of Ludwig, Magdeburg will have signed a player capable of unlocking the opposition defences in the matches to come.

At 26 years old, Magdeburg and Steegmann will hope that they have signed a player about to hit his peak and a player that can become a regular in an attacking midfield position for the foreseeable future. Ludwig also acquired experience playing in both the Bundesliga, for TSG Hoffenheim and the 2. Bundesliga with VFR Aalen and 1860 Munich, and Ludwig will no doubt be a big addition to the Magdeburg line up going into the 2017/2018 3. Liga season. Having joined FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie in the 2015/2016 season, Ludwig went on to play 43 times for the Dutch club, scoring three times, but in the 26 year old Magdeburg have acquired a player from a club at the top level in their respective country, which will no doubt act as a big boost to the existing playing squad.

10.07.17, 14:00, Christopher Steegmann: We haven’t scored enough goals or created enough chances against the sides we’ve played against so far this pre-season so in signing Andreas we have signed a creative midfielder that should give us a monumental boost. He is very hard working going forward and coming back too which will help with the defensive work we take part in so I am confident that this will be a very big signing for this club moving forward in this pre-season and going into the opening set of fixtures in the 3. Liga in a few weeks.

Possessing excellent vision and technique, Ludwig could prove to be a very astute piece of business for the promotion hopefuls as the countdown to the upcoming 3. Liga campaign begins to reach its end and it is likely that the 26 year old will be given his debut in his new colours when Magdeburg meet Bremen II on Wednesday. Speaking to fc-magdeburg.de Ludwig went on to say:

10.07.17, 15:00 Andreas Ludwig: I am delighted to be back here and back in Germany. Obviously in the past it has been playing at a very high level and hasn’t perhaps been at that level for a while now, but there is a very exciting project underway here and the manager spoke to me at length about what he wants to achieve here. He is trying to get this team playing good football and that is exciting for any player to be a part of and it is one that I am looking forward to getting started.”

Comments

ScottT: Is still only young despite his experience so hopefully he can continue to grow and can become a good striker for us at our level!

OMGItsToddzy: That’s the plan, goals galore would be nice!

Ninjaskill: Hopefully with the service he’s going to get here he’ll be able to find the back of the net a bit more consistently!

Latest Update: #4 Felix Lohkemper Becomes Steegmann’s First Signing
Next Update: #6 Christopher Steegmann: "We're Going To Show Ourselves Off"

TheN1886

7 years

Interesting signing!
Auf geht's Magdeburger Jungs!

MJK46

7 years

Great start my man

ScottT

7 years

He looks a very capable player, hopefully he lives up to be a tidy little signing. Definitely getting the pieces to the puzzle together now.

joshleedsfan

7 years

Some very nifty first signings. Not really heard of them, although that was always going to be the case in the German equivalent of League One. Looking forward to see this team grow and become household names in the FMScout community!

mgriffin2012

7 years • Edited

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Christopher Steegmann: “We’re Going To Show Ourselves Off”

14 July 2017

- Manager confident that side can achieve it’s objectives this season
- Claims confidence after beating title rivals Bremen II in pre-season friendly
- Magdeburg set to play Eintracht Braunschweig in final pre-season friendly

Christopher Steegmann has today told fc-magdeburg.de that he was confident that his side could achieve their expectations in the upcoming 3. Liga season and that they were there to show themselves off this season. So far, Magdeburg have gone unbeaten in their four pre-season games, which includes a 3-0 win against Magdeburg B in a behind closed doors friendly, and the 3-0 victory over Bremen II two days ago, in which Steegmann claimed;

12.07.17, 22:15 Christopher Steegmann: “This was our best game by far this pre-season. We moved the ball around extremely well, especially in the second half and we were a real threat going forward. We’ve scored goals now and hopefully that is a real confidence booster for this team.”

Goals from new signing Felix Lohkemper, Bjorn Rother and Christian Beck ensured that Magdeburg secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against Werder Bremen’s B side which featured regulars for the Weserstadion side in Ulisses Garcia and Ousman Manneh. Steegmann’s side moved the ball around well and were clinical in front of goal in a convincing display and it was a result that has given Steegmann hope that they can get a result against Eintracht Braunschweig in a few days time.

14.07.17, 11:00 Steegmann: “Braunschweig will be a game of a different level of difficulty from what we have competed against so far in pre-season but I know the lads will be up for it. It’s at the MDCC Arena which will give us a huge boost and it’s a big chance for the fans to give us one big send off in our final warm up before the 3. Liga campaign.”

When Steegmann was asked how confident and what his expectations were of his side going into the new league season, Steegmann made it clear that he expected no less than another challenge for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. Promotion would create a new record for Magdeburg who have never played in the second tier of the Bundesliga system and would bring the club that one step closer to their ultimate end goal of reaching the Bundesliga.

14.07.17, 11:00 Steegmann: “We’ve come close to the Play Offs in the last two seasons and now, with the signings that we have made, we need to be taking that extra step and really challenging for at least the Play Offs or automatic promotion. Obviously the club’s not been at this level for a while and promotion would be another huge step up but we’re ready to and we are going to show ourselves off to the 3. Liga and the rest of Germany this year. This is going to be a good year for Magdeburg.”

Comments

TheN1886: Interesting indeed, komm schon Magdeburg

MJK46: Thanks man, cool to have you back on board!

ScottT: He looks a very nifty signing if I don’t say so myself and hopefully should just sew us together a little bit!

Joshleedsfan: Yeah the names are pretty obscure but like you said this is a lower level probably than League One! Hopefully though these names go on to be legends around these parts!

Last Update: #5 Andreas Ludwig Completes MDCC Arena Transfer
Next Update: #7 Magdeburg Unveil Philip Turpitz At MDCC Arena

Aaron

7 years

Time to prove why you're in the job

I know you can smash it this season

MJK46

7 years

Should be a great season and you picked a qulity team

mgriffin2012

7 years • Edited

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Magdeburg Unveil Philip Turpitz At MDCC Arena

14 July 2017

- Magdeburg complete signing of 25 year old winger
- Joins from 3. Liga rivals Chemnitzer on free transfer
- Can play on either flank but favours his right foot

FC Magdeburg have today completed their third signing of the summer as Philip Turpitz completed his transfer to the MDCC Arena from 3. Liga rivals Chemnitzer. The signing of Turpitz again addresses another area of potential weakness in Steegmann’s squad with the 25 year old capable of playing on either the right or left flank although Turpitz favours playing on the right utilising his stronger foot. Boasting a lot of acceleration, Turpitz has the ability to burst away from his man although Steemgann will be hoping that the winger can improve on his crossing at Magdeburg and under his guidance.

Turpitz made his name in the Regionalliga with Stuttgarter Kickers, making 71 appearances for the fourth tier side between 2009 and 2012, before moving on to Schalke’s B team. A free transfer to Lotte, before another free transfer to Chemnitzer soon followed and for the latter, Turpitz went on to make 99 appearances for the club in the three seasons he spent there and the 25 year old who was born in Laupheim in August 1991, looked back very fondly on his time at Magdeburg’s 3. Liga rivals.

14.07.17, 12:45 Philip Turpitz: “Chemnitzer gave me another chance to prove myself at this level and I’d like to think that I learnt a lot there and they really helped me to develop my game. Obviously I have done something right because Magdeburg have seen fit to take a chance on me and I am confident that I will repay that faith. I had a great time at Chemntizer but the time had come for a new challenge and to try and test myself at a higher level, and now I am confident I can become an important player for Magdeburg.”

Having missed the biggest part of Magdeburg’s pre-season campaign so far, Turpitz seems unlikely to come straight into the first team, although Steegmann told fc-magdeburg.de that he would give the new signing a chance in the team’s final pre-season friendly against Eintracht Braunschweig. The manager also went on to add that he was confident that Turpitz would become a key player for Magdeburg within no time at all and that he was excited by how “complete” he felt his team was now with just over a week to go until the opening 3. Liga fixture of the season.

14.07.17, 13:30 Christopher Steegmann: He will only have had about a week working with us by the time the first league game comes around so it may be too soon for Philip to start but he will get the chance to show us what he can do against Braunschweig at the weekend. We need our best players on the pitch against a team from a higher division and that means that Philip will need to show us what he can do. Obviously, having spoken to Philip the plan is for him to become a key component in our attacking play and I am confident he can do that in the coming weeks.”

Comments

Aaron: Pressures on! Hopefully there is a place in the 2. Bundesliga with our name on it next season!

MJK46: Based on the pre-season we’ve had things are looking good and now I’m raring to tear into the 3. Liga this season!

Last Update: #7 Christopher Steegmann: “We’re Going To Show Ourselves Off”
Next Update: #9 Pre-Season Catch Up

TheN1886

7 years

Let's get the season started!

mgriffin2012

7 years • Edited

Magdeburg began life under Christopher Steegmann with the expected hard work on the training ground but also with a behind closed doors friendly against Magdeburg II, running out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Florian Pick, Felix Lohkemper and Christian Beck. With the club having organised a pre-season training camp in Germany, a 1-0 win over Regionalliga side Energie Cottbus followed before a disappointing 0-0 draw against another Regionalliga side in Hessen Kassel. The signing of Andreas Ludwig though made a big difference as he slotted nicely in the number 10 role helping Magdeburg to a 3-0 victory over Bremen II, a supposed rival for the 3. Liga title this season, before a solid defensive display and counter attacking football earnt Magdeburg a tight 1-0 victory over 2. Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig.