The history of 1. FC Kaiserslautern

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

The key milestones at a glance.

All eventsSetbacks

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
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. Second DFB-Pokal final

    Schalke 04
    5:0
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    DFB-Pokal
    Location: Hannover Stadium: Niedersachsenstadion Neutral venue

    FCK lose the final in Hanover 5-0 to Schalke 04.

1990–1999

Cup triumphs and championships

  1. Beating Barcelona but narrowly missing out

    FC Barcelona
    2:0
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    European Cup
    First leg · October 23, 1991 · Location: Barcelona
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    3:1
    FC Barcelona
    European Cup
    Second leg · November 6, 1991 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion

    Following a 2-0 defeat at Camp Nou, Kaiserslautern lead Barcelona 3-0 in the return leg.

2000–2017

European nights and setbacks

  1. Seventh DFB-Pokal final

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    1:3
    Bayern Munich
    DFB-Pokal
    Location: Berlin Stadium: Olympiastadion Berlin Neutral venue

    Kaiserslautern reach their seventh DFB-Pokal final.

  2. 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.

  3. Beaten by Hoffenheim in the play-offs

    TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
    3:1
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs
    First leg · May 23, 2013 · Location: Sinsheim
    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    1:2
    TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
    Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs
    Second leg · May 27, 2013 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-Stadion

    Following a 3-1 first-leg defeat, Kaiserslautern also lose 2-1 to Hoffenheim on the Betzenberg.

Since 2018

Third division and comeback

  1. Eighth DFB-Pokal final

    1. FC Kaiserslautern
    0:1
    Bayer Leverkusen
    DFB-Pokal
    Location: Berlin Stadium: Olympiastadion Berlin Neutral venue

    In their eighth DFB-Pokal final, second-division Kaiserslautern lose 1-0 to German champions Bayer Leverkusen.