1. FSV Mainz 05 is a professional German football club based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Widely known as "Die Nullfünfer" (The 05ers) or "Der Karnevalsverein" (The Carnival Club) for its deep ties to the city's famous Fastnacht carnival traditions, the team competes in the Bundesliga and plays its home matches at the MEWA Arena.
Founded in 1905 as 1. Mainzer Fussballclub Hassia 05, the club traditionally plays in red and white kits. For much of its history, Mainz operated in the lower tiers of German football before achieving historic first-time promotion to the Bundesliga in 2004 under legendary manager Jürgen Klopp, who spent nearly two decades at the club as both a player and iconic head coach.
Mainz 05 has earned a global reputation as an elite incubator for world-class managerial talent—serving as the launching pad for iconic coaches such as Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. Despite maintaining a modest budget, the 05ers have established themselves as an enduring Bundesliga staple, famously qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in 2011 and 2016 through high-intensity, innovative tactical play.
Mainz maintains a fierce regional rivalry across the Rhine-Main area with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Rhine-Main Derby, alongside intense regional encounters with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SV Darmstadt 98.
