2. Bundesliga
Kiel promoted to the Bundesliga for first time!
Holstein Kiel will play Bundesliga football for the very first time next season, after securing promotion with 1-1 draw against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
Kiel made history by beating drawing 1-1 with third-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf on Matchday 33, putting them out of reach of Fortuna in the promotion play-off spot with one game to go.
In sealing promotion, Kiel will become the 58th team to play Bundesliga football since the league's inaugural 1963/64 campaign when they take to the top-flight for the 2024/25 edition.
Marcel Rapp's side have largely had their away form to thank for propelling them into the promised land. While on home soil they have collected nine wins from 17 (only the ninth best in the division), their travels have earned Kiel 11 victories out of 16 and 55 percent of their total points this term.
Watch: Kiel's draw with Düsseldorf and subsequent promotion celebrations
Kiel can go on to secure the Bundesliga 2 title at Hannover on the final day of the season.
Having twice finished third in the second tier previously, Kiel came up short in the top-flight relegation/promotion playoffs in 2017/18 and 2020/21. The former was their first campaign in Germany's second division, and it has taken them just seven seasons to now reach the top of the pyramid.
Watch: Who are Holstein Kiel?
St. Pauli will follow them up automatically, with third-in-the-table Fortuna Düsseldorf set to face the 16th-placed Bundesliga team in this year's two-legged playoff to determine who else gets to feature in the top flight next season.