The history of 1. FC Kaiserslautern
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
The Walter era
First German championship final
The team led by Fritz Walter reaches its first German championship final.
Kaiserslautern lose 2-1 to 1. FC Nürnberg at Cologne’s Müngersdorfer Stadion and finish as runners-up.
Back in the championship final as holders
The defending champions lose the final 5-1 to Hannoverscher SV 96 at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion.
Kaiserslautern miss out on a third German championship.
A fifth championship final
Kaiserslautern reach a fifth German championship final but lose 4-3 to Rot-Weiss Essen in Hanover.
It is the last championship final of the great Fritz Walter era.
First DFB-Pokal final
FCK reach the DFB-Pokal final for the first time.
SV Werder Bremen win the final in Gelsenkirchen 2-0, leaving Kaiserslautern still waiting for their first cup triumph.
Bundesliga and Europe
Second DFB-Pokal final
FCK lose the final in Hanover 5-0 to Schalke 04.
Despite the defeat, Kaiserslautern qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time because league runners-up Schalke have already qualified through the league.
Third DFB-Pokal final
The third attempt to win the cup also ends without a trophy.
Kaiserslautern lose the final 2-0 to Hamburger SV at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion.
A fourth cup final without a trophy
Eintracht Frankfurt win the final at Stuttgart’s Neckarstadion 3-1.
Kaiserslautern suffer their fourth defeat in four DFB-Pokal finals.
Cup triumphs and championships
Beating Barcelona but narrowly missing out
1. FC Kaiserslautern3:1
FC BarcelonaSecond leg · November 6, 1991 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-StadionFollowing a 2-0 defeat at Camp Nou, Kaiserslautern lead Barcelona 3-0 in the return leg.
José Bakero scores late to make it 3-1; with the aggregate score level at 3-3, FCK go out on away goals.
European nights and setbacks
The European run ends against Alavés
1. FC Kaiserslautern1:4
Deportivo AlavésSecond leg · April 19, 2001 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-StadionAfter losing 5-1 in Spain, Kaiserslautern also lose the semi-final return leg against Deportivo Alavés 4-1.
Their second UEFA Cup semi-final appearance ends without a place in the final.
Seventh DFB-Pokal final
Kaiserslautern reach their seventh DFB-Pokal final.
FCK lose 3-1 to Bayern Munich at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Lowest Bundesliga finish: 18th place
After a 5-2 defeat by Dortmund, Kaiserslautern can no longer reach even the penultimate position.
Eighteenth place is thus confirmed as the club’s lowest Bundesliga finish. The season ultimately ends with 23 points.
Beaten by Hoffenheim in the play-offs
1. FC Kaiserslautern1:2
TSG 1899 HoffenheimSecond leg · May 27, 2013 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-StadionFollowing a 3-1 first-leg defeat, Kaiserslautern also lose 2-1 to Hoffenheim on the Betzenberg.
The third-placed second-division side misses out on an immediate return to the top flight.
Third division and comeback
Eighth DFB-Pokal final
In their eighth DFB-Pokal final, second-division Kaiserslautern lose 1-0 to German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Granit Xhaka scores the deciding goal in Berlin.
