Altona 93 carries a rich history spanning over 130 years

In the heart of Hamburg, Germany, football club Altona 93 has left an indelible mark on the sport's history. Founded in June 1893 as the Altonaer Cricket Club, the club transitioned to football just a few years later and quickly rose to prominence.

One of the initiators of the German Football Association (DFB), Altona 93 was founded by Franz Behr. The club's early years were marked by success, with Karl Hanssen and Adolf Jäger becoming national players for the team. The "Kampfbahn" on Griegstraße, still used by the AFC (Altona 93), was inaugurated around this time and has borne Jäger's name since 1944.

In 1903, Altona 93 reached the semi-final of the first final round of the German Championship. The team, under the guidance of coach Kurt Krause, had a 3-0 half-time lead in the semi-final against VfB Leipzig. However, a dramatic turn of events saw Altona 93 squandering their lead and losing 3-6. Despite this setback, the club continued to dominate football in Northern Germany, alongside Holstein Kiel and Eintracht Braunschweig.

In 1909, Altona 93 secured the Northern German Championship with a 6-3 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig. The following year, the club reached the semi-finals of the German Championship again but lost to Viktoria 89. The 1903 final of the German Championship was won by VfB Leipzig against DFC Prague.

The club's progress towards a possible German championship title was halted by World War I. However, after World War II, Altona 93 was part of the first-class Oberliga Nord, like VfB.

In 1955, Altona 93 reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal but lost to Karlsruher SC in a replay. The club's last major highlight came in the 1963/64 season, with a semi-final appearance in the DFB-Pokal. The coach who was successful with Altona 93 in this season and later also achieved success with VfB Lübeck is not explicitly named in the provided search results.

Despite the passage of time, Altona 93 continues to attract numerous spectators. With 5,000 or more being the norm, the club's matches remain a significant event in the local football calendar. In a friendly match, Altona 93 even beat the German champions SpVgg Fürth 9-2, demonstrating their enduring prowess on the pitch.

As the club looks towards the future, it continues to honour its rich history and the contributions of players like Karl Hanssen, Adolf Jäger, and many others who have worn the Altona 93 jersey with pride.