Holstein Kiel is a professional football club based in the city of Kiel, Germany, currently competing in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football. Their home matches are played at the Holstein-Stadion. Founded in 1900, the club's traditional colors are blue, red, and white. The club is owned by its members, with a board overseeing operations, and the current head coach is Marcel Rapp. The club's name, Holstein, refers to the historical region, and it was formed from a merger of predecessor clubs. For much of its history, Holstein Kiel was a stalwart of the regional leagues, famously winning the German championship in 1912. In recent decades, the club has become a fixture in the 2. Bundesliga, known for its attractive, attacking style of play. A key modern era came when they narrowly missed promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2020-21 season, finishing third. The current squad is built around experienced campaigners and promising talents, consistently challenging at the top end of the second division. The club enjoys strong local support, with passionate fans creating a vibrant atmosphere at the Holstein-Stadion. Holstein Kiel remains a proud and historic club with ambitions to return to Germany's top flight.