Rivalry With Turbine Potsdam
A rivalry developed between Frankfurt and former East German women's champions 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam early in the 2000s as that club began its own ascent to the Bundesliga. That rivalry spilled over into the DFB Pokal and the European Cup when Potsdam qualified by taking the national title from Frankfurt and succeeded them as European champions.
Aside from the sporting and east-west rivalry, the two clubs have different team-building philosophies. Frankfurt, in a Western "capitalist" fashion, prefers buy up local and foreign players, while Potsdam, in the Eastern socialist tradition focuses on the development of young players within its own club-system. The defection of Petra Wimbersky and Karolin Thomas from Potsdam to Frankfurt inflamed the rivalry, as the two clubs had abided by an unwritten agreement not to poach each other's players without first consulting the German Football Association.
Due to the lack of hooliganism in the women's game, this rivalry has developed healthy competition within the Bundesliga and has strongly contributed to the success of the women's national team. There is a potential Old Firm-style problem, however, as these two clubs are currently the wealthiest in the women's game and there is a fear that this may hinder the league's competitiveness if they become too dominant.
Read more about this topic: 1. FFC Frankfurt
Famous quotes containing the word rivalry:
“Sisters define their rivalry in terms of competition for the gold cup of parental love. It is never perceived as a cup which runneth over, rather a finite vessel from which the more one sister drinks, the less is left for the others.”
—Elizabeth Fishel (20th century)