MSV Duisburg has been relegated. Since Sunday (May 5), the Zebras have been certain: MSV will be relegated to the 4th division for the first time in the 2024/2025 season.
May 5, 2024 will remain a dark day for MSV Duisburg. One for history. Because since that day, it has been clear that the founding member of the Bundesliga will be competing in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West for the first time in the club’s history in the 2024/2025 season.
Bernard, known as “Ennatz”, Dietz, is suffering these days. The 76-year-old, who played for Duisburg from 1970 to 1982 and made 394 appearances for MSV in the Bundesliga, is THE club legend of the Zebras. And now he has to witness the club’s downfall into the fourth division. The 1980 European champion, who was captain of the German national team, is deeply saddened by all of this.
“I was watching Magenta Mannheim on Sunday. When the whistle blew at 1:1, I knew it was final. My MSV is going to the 4th division. Even if you could somehow prepare for it, I currently feel an emptiness in my body. Emptiness and sadness. And I’m asking myself so many questions about why,” Dietz explains to Forecasting.
Dietz, who now lives in Walstedde, 110 kilometers from Duisburg, with his wife, seems to already have some answers. He explains: “Over the last three or four years, things have gone from bad to worse. The season was over and the people in charge didn’t understand anything. Instead of planning sensibly and putting together a good team, they were already talking about the Bundesliga 2 by 2025 without knowing the squad. How stupid can you be? “
If Preetz continues at all, he’s in for a horrendous task. I’m curious to see who will bring in the players, who will bring in the coach. We need people who know the league. At MSV, everyone was thinking about the 2nd Bundesliga and nobody was thinking about the Regionalliga. I don’t see a man, an expert for the regional league.
Bernard Dietz
Dietz continues: “I always ask myself: Who brings in the players? Guys like Pascal Köpke, Alexander Esswein or Daniel Ginczek have to earn a lot of money. Only for what? Yes, they used to be good, but they’re not any more. Are they favors for someone for signing them? It can’t be that season after season you reach into the pile like this with transfers.”
The MSV legend does not yet know how things are supposed to improve. But he does know that managing director Michael Preetz and his colleagues are facing difficult times. “If Preetz continues at all, then he has a horrendous task ahead of him. I’m curious to see who will bring in the players, who will bring in the coach. We need people who know the league. At MSV, everyone was thinking about the 2nd Bundesliga and nobody was thinking about the Regionalliga. I don’t see a man, an expert for the regional league. Everyone has to look in the mirror and realize where they’ve ended up. Maybe the big name or the stadium is still deceptive. But, no: MSV is now playing against Wegberg-Beeck!”
Dietz is not quite right. Because FC Wegberg-Beeck will be relegated to the Mittelrheinliga. But Eintracht Hohkeppel will be promoted from it. Like MSV, Eintracht will be playing in the Regionalliga West for the first time. “With all due respect, I don’t know this club. It all just hurts a lot”. MSV fans will also have to get used to the new league and some club names.
Dietz is now 76 years old. Forecasting asked whether he has any wishes for MSV in the future. Dietz’s answer: “No. Because when I said on my 70th birthday that I would love to see MSV back in the Bundesliga, we were relegated. I’d rather not make any wishes now. “