In the 1976/1977 season, VfB won promotion back to the Bundesliga. Together with the protagonists from back then, we are recalling the events of 40 years ago and presenting the players from the promotion winning side. Between Christmas and New Year, on www.vfb.de, we will be publishing the stories which have been appearing in the match-day programme throughout the current campaign.

Karlheinz Förster won a number of titles throughout his long football career. A European Champions, twice World Cup runner-up, a German championship title – to name but a few. But it’s another title, which is probably somewhat less renowned, which remains most emotional – even 40 years later: the championship win in the '2. Bundesliga Süd' 1976/1977. "That promotion was my first big success," recalled Karlheinz Förster, "that’s something which remains with you for your whole life."

Great significance placed in team-spirit The atmosphere in and around Stuttgart in the summer of 1976 was anything other than positive, with the team having finished the previous season in eleventh position and thus missing out on an immediate return to top-flight football. But then things changed under coach Jürgen Sundermann. "He placed great significance in team-spirit and having fun whilst playing football, although he was also extremely strict," remembered Karlheinz Förster. There was also a further basis for the promotion success: The 0-0 on the opening day in front of 30,000 spectators in the Neckarstadion against Stuttgarter Kickers was followed by further score-less draws early in the campaign. "Because we looked to press forward in every game and put the opponents under pressure high up the park, the fans were satisfied and got behind us," commented Karlheinz Förster. The atmosphere improved – as did the team.