Opposition Check: SC Freiburg

In the 1920s, SC Freiburg was not yet an independent force within Freiburg’s sporting landscape. As the football division of the Turnerschaft (gymnastics club), the players used its pitches and infrastructure – yet a distinct identity was already beginning to develop. In 1921, the club even acquired its own office, an organisational step that underscored the young club’s ambitions.

A milestone followed in 1928. SC Freiburg was finally able to move into a proper football stadium – the Winterer Stadium in the west of the city. With space for significantly more spectators and a modern facility for the time, it became the club’s new home. The team promptly repaid the club’s faith in them with a spectacular 2-1 victory against the reigning German champions, 1. FC Nürnberg, at the inauguration. For many Freiburgers, this match marked the moment when SC Freiburg truly stood „on the big stage“ for the first time.

But the club’s development wasn’t straightforward. After the end of World War II, the stadium was taken from them – SC Freiburg was once again without its own home ground. Forced by circumstances, the players returned to the facilities of the Turnerschaft (gymnastics club); a temporary situation that nevertheless strengthened team spirit. The next major turning point came in 1954: the inauguration of a new sports field, which would later become the club’s permanent home. With this ground, the club began its gradual transformation into the professional football club that, over the decades, gained nationwide renown. Today, SC Freiburg occupies a mid-table position in the Bundesliga and will face Darmstadt 98 in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup. We’ve taken a closer look at Darmstadt’s opponent for next Wednesday (December 3rd, 6pm).

SC Freiburg has shown a diverse range of performances in this cup campaign. In the first round, Julian Schuster’s team prevailed 2-0 against Sportfreunde Lotte, followed by a comfortable 3-1 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the second round. Remarkably, Freiburg’s five goals were scored by five different players: Dinkci, Höler, Matanovic, Grifo, and Scherhant each found the back of the net. The assists were equally varied, with five different players involved: Lienhart, Günter, Manzambi, Matanovic, and Suzuki all provided the necessary assists.

Vincenzo Grifo was born in Pforzheim in 1993 to Italian parents. From an early age, he grew up in an environment that shaped him both athletically and personally. His family instilled values ​​such as solidarity, discipline, and respect – qualities that Grifo would later embody on the football pitch. He took his first steps in organised football with local clubs in the Pforzheim region. VfR Pforzheim became his home club, later he joined Germania Brötzingen, before returning to VfR and finally being accepted into the youth academy of Karlsruher SC.

Grifo quickly attracted attention – primarily through his technique, vision, and instinct for crucial moments. In 2012, he began his professional career at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, initially in the reserve team, but soon gained experience with the Bundesliga squad. Loan spells at Dynamo Dresden and FSV Frankfurt followed in 2014.

For the 2015/16 season, Grifo permanently joined SC Freiburg, where he immediately impressed as a creative playmaker. In 2017, he made the move to Borussia Mönchengladbach, later returning to Hoffenheim – neither of which brought him the hoped-for breakthrough.

In 2019, a loan spell brought him back to Freiburg, where he immediately picked up where he left off. Since then, he has been a permanent member of the club. Grifo has now made 307 competitive appearances for Freiburg, scoring 94 goals and providing just as many assists – figures that underscore his central importance to the club. In 2025, SC Freiburg extended his contract early, a clear sign of their appreciation for his performance and his personality.

At SC Freiburg, he finally achieved his breakthrough in professional football. Here, he established himself not only as a technically gifted playmaker but also as a leader who takes responsibility. Despite public criticism online, Grifo remains focused – supported by his family, who provide him with unwavering support in the often hectic world of professional sports.