In Brief: Key Takeaways
- Protagonist: Heiko Weber (former head coach).
- Event: Promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in 2006.
- Special Feature: The second consecutive promotion (march-through).
- Source: Historical video material from MDR (Ingo Hahne).
Jena (14.02.2026) – These are images that likely still give many fans of FC Carl Zeiss Jena goosebumps. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) released a special treasure from its archives this Saturday. The focus is on one of the most successful phases in recent club history: the march-through under coach Heiko Weber in 2006.
The Miracle of 2006
The released material looks back to the early summer of 2006. Back then, FC Carl Zeiss Jena achieved something rare in modern football: a direct march-through from the Oberliga via the Regionalliga to the 2. Bundesliga. After promoting from the fourth division, the team immediately made the next leap under the leadership of Heiko Weber and returned to professional football.
The MDR report by Ingo Hahne shows the coach at the hour of triumph. Weber, who maintains a deep connection to the club and the city of Jena as both a player and coach, serves as a prime example in this historical document of the fighting spirit and cohesion that characterized the team that season.
Context: Significance for the Club
The retrospective comes at a time when historical successes often serve as motivation for the present. The 2005/2006 season is considered a milestone in the history of the club from the Paradies. The squad and coaching staff led by Heiko Weber achieved immortality with this success. For many supporters in the Südkurve, this era remains the benchmark for passion and identification with the club.
The newly available video offers more than just tactical insights or match highlights; it primarily captures the emotions surrounding the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. It documents a phase when Jena made headlines nationwide and firmly re-established itself on the map of German professional football.
Availability of Material
The archive material is available via MDR’s digital channels. For sports fans interested in history and supporters of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the nearly four-minute report offers a welcome opportunity to relive the atmosphere of 20 years ago.
Such retrospectives are more than just nostalgia; they serve as a reminder of the potential inherent in Jena as a football location when the team, coach, and fans form a single unit.