Thuringia derby


The Thuringia derby is a long-standing and intense football rivalry between the two major clubs from the German state of Thuringia - FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Rot-Weiß Erfurt. It is considered one of the most heated regional derbies in German football.

History

The derby dates back to the 1950s when both clubs were leading teams in East Germany's top division, the DDR-Oberliga. During this era, FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Rot-Weiß Erfurt were the dominant clubs in the Thuringia region, and their matches were highly anticipated and passionately contested.
After German reunification in 1990, the derby continued in the reunified Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga as the two clubs spent many seasons in the same division, ensuring the rivalry remained fierce. Matches between FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Rot-Weiß Erfurt are known for their intense atmospheres, with fans of both teams creating tense and hostile environments in the stadiums.

Notable matches

Some of the most memorable Thuringia derby matches include:
  • 1954 DDR-Oberliga: FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 Rot-Weiß Erfurt
  • 1964 DDR-Oberliga: Rot-Weiß Erfurt 1-0 FC Carl Zeiss Jena
  • 1998 2. Bundesliga: FC Carl Zeiss Jena 3-2 Rot-Weiß Erfurt
  • 2012 3. Liga: Rot-Weiß Erfurt 1-0 FC Carl Zeiss Jena
The 1998 match, in which FC Carl Zeiss Jena defeated Rot-Weiß Erfurt 3-2, represents the largest documented margin of victory in a Thuringia derby.

Current status

As of the 2024-25 season, both FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Rot-Weiß Erfurt play in the Regionalliga Nordost, Germany's . Their most recent meeting was a 3-1 win for Erfurt at home in April 2025. The Thuringia Derby remains an important fixture for the supporters of both clubs, who continue to passionately back their team in these regional clashes.

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