Tragic

Wolfgang Frank — The football visionary: Before the Regionalliga match at Offenbach's Bieberer Berg, a minute's silence is held in honour of the recently deceased ex-Bundesliga player and coach Wolfgang Frank, who died of a brain tumour. Frank coached FSV Mainz from 1995 to 1997 and 1998 to 2000 and Offenbacher Kickers from 2006 to 2007, each time in the second division. "There is no coincidence." Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and many other modern coaches cite Frank as the man who introduced the back four to German football. A visionary who died far too young in 2013, aged just 62.

Dirk Karkuth — The early death: Dirk Karkuth was born on January 9, 1962 in Gelsenkirchen, where he also died on January 14, 2003. Karkuth was active as a footballer at STV Horst-Emscher and 1. FSV Mainz 05 among others. From 1990, he worked as a coach at BSV Stahl Brandenburg and then as manager and sporting director at Rot-Weiss Essen. From 1996 to 1997, he coached Scottish club FC St. Johnstone. He then returned from the island and coached 1. FSV Mainz 05 from 1997 to 1998. Karkuth died at the age of 41.