Rivalries, Friendships and Cooperations
The longest rivalry of VfB is the city rivalry with Stuttgarter Kickers (Die Roten/Reds against Die Blauen/Blues). However, the respective first teams of the two clubs haven't played each other since Kickers were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga in 1992. Thus, this derby has increasingly been overtaken in importance by the Baden-Württemberg-Derby between VfB and Karlsruher SC, KSC, for short. In this derby, old Badenian-Württembergian animosities are played out. The rivalry with Bavarian side FC Bayern Munich (Süd-/South Derby) is mainly one-sided, as VfB fans are angry at Bayern for buying some of Stuttgart's best players and coaches in recent years, such as Giovane Elber, Felix Magath and Mario Gómez.
Regional friendships exist between VfB and the South Württemberg side SSV Reutlingen (little brother of VfB) as well as with North Württembergers SpVgg Ludwigsburg. On a national level, supporters groups of VfB used to be closely connected with those of FC Energie Cottbus, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt. All of these supporter group friendships have been discontinued by today or are only maintained by few supporter groups. Current ultras friendships are with the ultras of SSV Reutlingen and AC Cesena.
In 2005, a cooperation treaty between VfB and Swiss Super League side FC St. Gallen was signed, especially with regard to the youth sectors of both clubs.
Read more about this topic: VfB Stuttgart
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“There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.”
—Titus Livius (Livy)