Carl Zeiss Jena played regional women's football since 2016–17 but became more prominent, when it merged with FF USV Jena in 2020.
History
FF USV Jena
Former logo as FF USV Jena
The roots of women’s football in Jena date back to the days of East Germany, where USV Jena (then HSG Uni Jena) became the Regionalliga Nordost champion in 1991, earning promotion to the unified Frauen-Bundesliga in 1991–92. However, the team was immediately relegated. After several years in the lower tiers, the club resurged in the early 2000s.
In 2003, the women's football section split from USV Jena to form FF USV Jena.[1] That same year, the team won the Regionalliga Nordost but narrowly missed promotion. In 2004, they qualified for the newly created 2. Bundesliga and quickly established themselves as contenders. After finishing runners-up in 2006–07, they won the southern division title in 2007–08 and earned promotion to the Bundesliga.[2]
FF USV Jena squad for the 2017–18 season
FF USV Jena enjoyed its greatest success in 2010 when it reached the final of the DFB-Pokal, narrowly losing 1–0 to FCR 2001 Duisburg.[3] The club maintained its Bundesliga status for a decade before being relegated at the end of the 2017–18 season.
In the 2018–19 season, Jena finished fourth in the 2. Bundesliga, but with higher-ranked reserve teams ineligible for promotion, FF USV was promoted back to the top flight. Financial struggles followed, with reports indicating a budget shortfall in 2018, prompting fan-led fundraising efforts.[2] Amid ongoing financial difficulties and organizational shifts, the club announced in May 2020 that all women's teams and competition licenses would be transferred to FC Carl Zeiss Jena, effective July 1, 2020. This marked the end of FF USV Jena as an independent club.[4]
FC Carl Zeiss Jena
Carl Zeiss Jena had already entered women's football in 2017 by taking over USV Jena's third team, which competed in the Thüringenliga and won promotion in its third season.[5] Following financial challenges and relegation in 2018, FF USV Jena formally merged with FC Carl Zeiss Jena on 1 July 2020, transferring all teams and playing rights.[6]
In the 2020–21 season, Carl Zeiss Jena competed in the 2. Bundesliga Nord under coach Anne Pochert and achieved immediate promotion to the Frauen-Bundesliga.[7] However, the 2021–22 campaign ended with relegation after the team finished last. Following this, the club restructured its women's department, appointing Isabelle Knipp as sporting director and hiring former FF USV Jena manager Steffen Beck as head coach.[8] In 2023–24, the club finished runners-up in the second division, securing promotion back to the Bundesliga.[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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