The history of 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Key milestones in the club's history, in chronological order.

The key milestones at a glance.

All eventsRecords & firsts

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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
1946–1962

The Walter era

  1. First German championship final

    1. FC Nürnberg
    2:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    German championship
    Location: Köln Stadium: Müngersdorfer Stadion Neutral venue

    The team led by Fritz Walter reaches its first German championship final.

  2. First DFB-Pokal final

    SV Werder Bremen
    2:0
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    DFB-Pokal
    Location: Gelsenkirchen Stadium: Glückauf-Kampfbahn Neutral venue

    FCK reach the DFB-Pokal final for the first time.

1963–1989

Bundesliga and Europe

  1. A founding member of the Bundesliga

    Eintracht Frankfurt
    1:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    Bundesliga
    Location: Frankfurt am Main Stadium: Waldstadion

    One of the Bundesliga’s 16 founding members, Kaiserslautern begin with a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.

  2. The first European match

    Stoke City
    3:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    UEFA Cup
    Location: Stoke-on-Trent Stadium: Victoria Ground

    FCK play their first European match away to English League Cup winners Stoke City.

  3. 5-0 against Real Madrid: a first European semi-final

    Real Madrid
    3:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    UEFA Cup
    First leg · March 3, 1982 · Location: Madrid Stadium: Betzenberg-Stadion
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    5:0
    Real Madrid
    UEFA Cup
    Second leg · March 17, 1982 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Betzenberg-Stadion

    After losing 3-1 in Madrid, FCK beat Real 5-0 in the return leg.

  4. First European semi-final match

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    1:1
    IFK Göteborg
    UEFA Cup
    Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Betzenberg-Stadion

    Kaiserslautern draw 1-1 with IFK Göteborg on the Betzenberg in the club’s first European semi-final match.

  5. Biggest Bundesliga victory

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    7:0
    Karlsruher SC
    Bundesliga
    Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Betzenberg-Stadion

    Kaiserslautern beat Karlsruher SC 7-0.

1990–1999

Cup triumphs and championships

  1. European Cup debut

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    2:0
    Etar Veliko Tarnovo
    European Cup
    Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion

    Kaiserslautern make their European Cup debut against Bulgarian champions Etar Veliko Tarnovo.

  2. German champions as a promoted club

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    4:0
    VfL Wolfsburg
    Bundesliga
    Match 1 · May 2, 1998 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion
    MSV Duisburg
    0:0
    Bayern Munich
    Bundesliga
    Match 2 · May 2, 1998 · Location: Duisburg Stadium: Wedaustadion

    Kaiserslautern beat Wolfsburg 4-0 while Bayern Munich draw 0-0 in Duisburg.

  3. First Champions League match

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    1:0
    Benfica
    Champions League
    Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion

    Kaiserslautern beat Benfica 1-0 on their Champions League debut.

  4. Reaching the Champions League quarter-finals

    Benfica
    2:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    Champions League
    Match 1 · November 25, 1998 · Location: Lisbon Stadium: Estádio da Luz
    HJK Helsinki
    1:3
    PSV Eindhoven
    Champions League
    Match 2 · November 25, 1998 · Location: Helsinki Stadium: Olympiastadion Helsinki

    Jürgen Rische’s late goal in the 2-1 defeat at Benfica secures the decisive head-to-head advantage: following the 1-0 home win, the away goal counts.

  5. First Champions League quarter-final match

    Bayern Munich
    2:0
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    Champions League
    Location: Munich Stadium: Olympiastadion München

    In their first Champions League quarter-final match, Kaiserslautern lose 2-0 to Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion.

2000–2017

European nights and setbacks

  1. Lowest Bundesliga finish: 18th place

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    2:5
    Borussia Dortmund
    Bundesliga
    Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion

    After a 5-2 defeat by Dortmund, Kaiserslautern can no longer reach even the penultimate position.