Season story
The 2001/02 season was a sporting disaster for FC St. Pauli: the club were relegated from the Bundesliga. Yet this team is remembered because it made history on a single day. On matchday 20, the Kiezkicker beat FC Bayern Munich 1-2 at the Allianz Arena and became the "Weltpokalsiegerbesieger" — world champions' conquerors — an ironic title that remains cult status to this day.
The reason for the nickname: Bayern Munich had recently become world club champions, and St. Pauli, the relegation candidate, beat that very team away from home. Marcel Rath scored the decisive goal. For fans it was the perfect St. Pauli moment: underdog, against all odds, with heart and a little chaos.
Sportingly, it was still not enough. The quality was missing over 34 matchdays, the defense too leaky, the attack too inconsistent. Relegation was the logical consequence. But in the mythology of the club, this victory counts more than many successes of other clubs — it stands for what makes St. Pauli special.
FC St. Pauli is more than a club — it is a way of life still lived at the Millerntor today. The 2001/02 season offered little sportingly, but it gave the fans a moment that outshines every crisis. Whoever plays against St. Pauli in 34-0-0 should remember: even a relegation candidate can make history on a good day. That is why against the Kiezkicker the rule is: no carelessness, no experiments — first the win, then the party. The win over Bayern is therefore still told wherever the question arises of why football is more than the result on paper. It is the best proof that motivation and passion can blow up any statistic on a single evening.
In 34-0-0, St. Pauli 2001/02 are a lower-half Gegenpressing team (Strength 71). They are committed but limited. If you keep a cool head, you should take the points.
Tactical DNA
Style: Gegenpressing · Strength: 71 · Relegation tier
Counter in the game: Counter. They press — sting them on the counter.
Key players & ratings
| Player | Pos | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Meggle (World-champion-beater at the Millerntor) | CAM | 75 |
| Marcel Rath (Kiez striker with heart and grit) | ST | 73 |
| Christian Rahn | LM | 72 |
| Holger Stanislawski | CB | 71 |
| Dema Kovalenko | CDM | 71 |
| Nico Patschinski (His goal sank FC Bayern) | ST | 71 |
Best XI
| Pos | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Heinz Henzler | 70 |
| LB | Christian Rahn | 72 |
| CB | Holger Stanislawski | 71 |
| CB | Cory Gibbs | 70 |
| RB | Jochen Kientz | 69 |
| CDM | Dema Kovalenko | 71 |
| CM | Zlatan Bajramović | 70 |
| CM | Thomas Meggle | 75 |
| LW | Marcel Rath | 73 |
| ST | Nico Patschinski | 71 |
| RW | Deniz Barış | 70 |
Beating this team in 34-0-0
St. Pauli 2001/02 play Gegenpressing — your counter is possession. At Strength 71 and Defense 69 they are a side you should play against with control. Keep the ball, exploit their aggressive compactness and play the spaces behind their pressing line. Away from home caution is needed, because their fans can briefly lift a game; an early goal settles things.
FAQ
What does “Weltpokalsiegerbesieger” mean?
Were St. Pauli relegated afterwards?
How do I beat St. Pauli 01/02 in the game?
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Last updated: 2026-08-03