The history of Arminia Bielefeld

Milestones and background from the club's history, in chronological order.

More milestones and background for each event.

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Competitions

Nicknames through the years Three names tell a story of near misses, late goals and an unbeaten season. Read the storiesClose the stories
1970–1989

Bundesliga, scandal and dramatic swings

  1. Bundesliga football for the first time

    Tennis Borussia Berlin
    0:2
    Arminia Bielefeld
    Bundesliga promotion round
    Location: Berlin Stadium: Mommsenstadion

    A 2–0 win away to Tennis Borussia Berlin settled the promotion group in Arminia’s favour.

    After years in the Regionalliga, the club had reached the Bundesliga for the first time.

1995–2014

Returns and setbacks

  1. Back in professional football

    Borussia Neunkirchen
    0:4
    Arminia Bielefeld
    Regionalliga West/Südwest
    Location: Neunkirchen Stadium: Ellenfeld-Stadion

    A 4–0 win at Borussia Neunkirchen secured Arminia’s return to the 2. Bundesliga.

    Ernst Middendorp’s team ended seven years outside the top two divisions.

  2. Back-to-back promotions completed

    VfL Bochum
    2:0
    Arminia Bielefeld
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 1 · June 2, 1996 · Location: Bochum Stadium: Ruhrstadion
    VfB Leipzig
    3:2
    SpVgg Unterhaching
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 2 · June 2, 1996 · Location: Leipzig Stadium: Bruno-Plache-Stadion
    FSV Zwickau
    0:1
    VfL Wolfsburg
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 3 · June 2, 1996 · Location: Zwickau Stadium: Westsachsenstadion

    Despite losing 0–2 in Bochum, Arminia secured a second consecutive promotion.

    Unterhaching’s 2–3 defeat in Leipzig and Zwickau’s 0–1 loss to Wolfsburg were also decisive: neither challenger could catch Arminia with one match remaining.

  3. A seventh Bundesliga promotion

    VfL Osnabrück
    0:0
    Arminia Bielefeld
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 1 · May 16, 2004 · Location: Osnabrück Stadium: osnatel ARENA
    Jahn Regensburg
    0:0
    Mainz 05
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 2 · May 16, 2004 · Location: Regensburg Stadium: Jahnstadion
    SpVgg Unterhaching
    2:0
    Energie Cottbus
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 3 · May 16, 2004 · Location: Unterhaching Stadium: Sportpark Unterhaching

    A goalless draw in Osnabrück secured immediate promotion.

    Mainz also drew 0–0 in Regensburg, while Cottbus lost 0–2 in Unterhaching. Neither could catch Arminia with one match remaining.

  4. Hille’s header delivers promotion

    Arminia Bielefeld
    1:0
    VfL Osnabrück
    3. Liga
    Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArena

    Sebastian Hille scored the only goal against Osnabrück.

    The 1–0 win with one match remaining secured promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga under Stefan Krämer.

2015–2023

Cup surprises and new beginnings

  1. Promotion one year after the heartbreak

    Arminia Bielefeld
    2:2
    Jahn Regensburg
    3. Liga
    Match 1 · May 16, 2015 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArena
    MSV Duisburg
    3:1
    Holstein Kiel
    3. Liga
    Match 2 · May 16, 2015 · Location: Duisburg Stadium: Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena

    A 2–2 draw against Jahn Regensburg, together with Duisburg’s 3–1 win over Holstein Kiel, confirmed immediate promotion.

    Pascal Testroet’s late equaliser earned Arminia the decisive point.

  2. An eighth Bundesliga promotion, watching from home

    Arminia Bielefeld
    4:0
    Dynamo Dresden
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 1 · June 15, 2020 · Location: Bielefeld Stadium: SchücoArena
    Hamburger SV
    1:1
    VfL Osnabrück
    2. Bundesliga
    Match 2 · June 16, 2020 · Location: Hamburg Stadium: Volksparkstadion

    Hamburg’s 1–1 draw against Osnabrück confirmed Arminia’s eighth Bundesliga promotion.

    The team had beaten Dresden 4–0 the previous day. The pandemic prevented the usual celebration together with supporters inside the stadium.

Since 2024

The road to Berlin and a hundred years of the Alm

  1. Promotion confirmed by the challengers’ results

    Alemannia Aachen
    4:2
    1. FC Saarbrücken
    3. Liga
    Match 1 · May 10, 2025 · Location: Aachen Stadium: Tivoli
    F.C. Hansa Rostock
    1:3
    Energie Cottbus
    3. Liga
    Match 2 · May 10, 2025 · Location: Rostock Stadium: Ostseestadion

    Saarbrücken’s 2–4 defeat in Aachen and Rostock’s 1–3 loss to Cottbus confirmed Arminia’s return to the 2. Bundesliga.

    Promotion was settled on Saturday, before Bielefeld played in Unterhaching on Sunday.