The history of Arminia Bielefeld
Key milestones in the club's history, in chronological order.
The key milestones at a glance.
Categories
Competitions
Nicknames through the years Three names tell a story of near misses, late goals and an unbeaten season. Read the storiesClose the stories
Foundation, predecessors and responsibility
The foundation in 1905
Football enthusiasts founded the original Bielefelder Fußballclub Arminia on May 3, 1905.
An independent football club again
After the combined gymnastics club dissolved, BFC Arminia was reconstituted under its former name on November 6, 1922.
Western champions after a dramatic comeback
Arminia overturned a 1–3 deficit to beat TuRU Düsseldorf 4–3 after extra time in the decisive final.
The Alm becomes home
A friendly against Victoria Hamburg inaugurated the new ground on Melanchthonstraße.
Exclusion and responsibility
Arminia participated in the Nazi exclusion of Jewish members.
Bundesliga, scandal and dramatic swings
Bundesliga football for the first time
A 2–0 win away to Tennis Borussia Berlin settled the promotion group in Arminia’s favour.
A bought victory at Schalke
The 1–0 win at the Glückauf-Kampfbahn was one of the fixed matches in the Bundesliga scandal.
Compulsory relegation is confirmed
The DFB federal tribunal confirmed Arminia’s compulsory relegation following the bribery scandal.
Three matches, no promotion
Arminia Bielefeld4:0
TSV 1860 MünchenMatch 1 · May 29, 1977 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: Bielefelder AlmTSV 1860 München4:0Arminia BielefeldMatch 2 · June 4, 1977 · Location: Munich Stadium: Olympiastadion MünchenAfter winning 4–0 at the Alm, Arminia lost the return leg at 1860 Munich by the same score.
Four goals away to Bayern
Arminia beat Bayern 4–0 at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
11–0: a second-division record
An 11–0 victory over Arminia Hannover at the Alm set the second division’s record winning margin.
Returns and setbacks
Back in professional football
A 4–0 win at Borussia Neunkirchen secured Arminia’s return to the 2. Bundesliga.
Back-to-back promotions completed
VfB Leipzig3:2
SpVgg UnterhachingMatch 2 · June 2, 1996 · Location: Leipzig Stadium: Bruno-Plache-StadionDespite losing 0–2 in Bochum, Arminia secured a second consecutive promotion.
A seventh Bundesliga promotion
VfL Osnabrück0:0
Arminia BielefeldMatch 1 · May 16, 2004 · Location: Osnabrück Stadium: osnatel ARENASpVgg Unterhaching2:0
Energie CottbusMatch 3 · May 16, 2004 · Location: Unterhaching Stadium: Sportpark UnterhachingA goalless draw in Osnabrück secured immediate promotion.
Bayern ends the first cup semi-final campaign
Arminia played in a DFB-Pokal semi-final for the first time.
Hille’s header delivers promotion
Sebastian Hille scored the only goal against Osnabrück.
The shock against Darmstadt
Darmstadt 981:3Arminia BielefeldFirst leg · May 16, 2014 · Location: Darmstadt Stadium: Stadion am BöllenfalltorArminia Bielefeld2:4a.e.t.Darmstadt 98Second leg · May 19, 2014 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArenaThe 3–1 away win in the first leg was not enough: Arminia lost the return match 2–4 after extra time.
Cup surprises and new beginnings
Schwolow saves the semi-final dream
Arminia Bielefeld1:1a.e.t. · 5:4 on pens
Borussia MönchengladbachLocation: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArenaAfter 120 minutes ended 1–1, the third-division side beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 5–4 on penalties.
Promotion one year after the heartbreak
Arminia Bielefeld2:2
Jahn RegensburgMatch 1 · May 16, 2015 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArena
MSV Duisburg3:1
Holstein KielMatch 2 · May 16, 2015 · Location: Duisburg Stadium: Schauinsland-Reisen-ArenaA 2–2 draw against Jahn Regensburg, together with Duisburg’s 3–1 win over Holstein Kiel, confirmed immediate promotion.
The championship follows in Großaspach
One week after securing promotion, Arminia won 1–0 away to Sonnenhof Großaspach.
Six goals against a promotion contender
Fighting relegation, Arminia stunned promotion contenders Eintracht Braunschweig with a 6–0 win.
Safety is secured
1. FC Heidenheim2:1TSV 1860 MünchenMatch 2 · May 21, 2017 · Location: Heidenheim an der Brenz Stadium: Voith-ArenaA 1–1 draw in Dresden, combined with 1860 Munich’s defeat in 1. FC Heidenheim, secured direct survival.
An eighth Bundesliga promotion, watching from home
Arminia Bielefeld4:0
Dynamo DresdenMatch 1 · June 15, 2020 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArenaHamburg’s 1–1 draw against Osnabrück confirmed Arminia’s eighth Bundesliga promotion.
The second-division title is secured too
A 1–0 victory over Darmstadt secured the championship with two matches remaining.
Bielefeld stays in the Bundesliga
A 2–0 victory at VfB Stuttgart secured direct survival on the final day.
Back to the second division
The final-day 1–1 draw against RB Leipzig confirmed relegation.
A second consecutive relegation
SV Wehen Wiesbaden4:0
Arminia BielefeldFirst leg · June 2, 2023 · Location: Wiesbaden Stadium: BRITA-ArenaArminia Bielefeld1:2SV Wehen WiesbadenSecond leg · June 6, 2023 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArenaAfter losing 0–4 in Wiesbaden, Arminia also lost the return play-off match 1–2.
The road to Berlin and a hundred years of the Alm
Fabian Klos bows out with a cup
Arminia won the Westphalia Cup final against Verl 3–1.
A first DFB-Pokal final
Arminia came from behind to beat holders Bayer Leverkusen 2–1.
Promotion confirmed by the challengers’ results
F.C. Hansa Rostock1:3
Energie CottbusMatch 2 · May 10, 2025 · Location: Rostock Stadium: OstseestadionSaarbrücken’s 2–4 defeat in Aachen and Rostock’s 1–3 loss to Cottbus confirmed Arminia’s return to the 2. Bundesliga.
3. Liga champions for the second time
A 1–0 win over Waldhof Mannheim secured the championship ahead of Dynamo Dresden on the final day.
The big final in Berlin
Arminia lost its first DFB-Pokal final 2–4 to Stuttgart.
