Mitch Langerak's Vfb Stuttgart will return to the Bundesliga as second-tier champions after defeating Wurzburger Kickers to secure their top-flight status for 2017-18.
The Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper played 90 minutes for Stuttgart as they lifted the 2. Bundesliga trophy on Sunday with a thumping 4-1 win.
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THRILLING FINAL DAY
Stuttgart entered the final day of the campaign ahead of Hannover on goal difference and knowing if they could just match their rivals' result they would win the title.
Matthias Zimmermann's thunderous drive just past the half-hour mark steadied the nerves for Hannes Wolf's side, while a second-half brace from Simon Terodde and Daniel Ginczek's late strike secured victory for Stuttgart.
Having never previously been relegated from the Bundesliga, Stuttgart have returned to Germany's first division at the first time of asking.
Wolf's men finished the season on 69 points, two ahead of Hannover - who drew 1-1 at Sandhausen on the final day - while Eintracht Braunschweig (66) will enter a promotion-relegation play-off against Wolfsburg for a spot in the Bundesliga.
Stuttgart had effectively earned promotion last week due to their impressive goal difference when third-placed Braunschweig lost but Langerak and Co. needed a point against Wurzburger to be mathematically certain.
LANGERAK'S BIG SEASON
Langerak, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, played every minute of Stuttgart's league season, keeping nine clean sheets from 34 matches.
The 28-year-old Australian has never played so many games in a season before, with the last time he made over 10 league appearances in a campaign coming in 2009/10 with Melbourne Victory.
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