The history of 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Milestones and background from the club's history, in chronological order.
More milestones and background for each event.
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
The Walter era
First German championship
Kaiserslautern beat Preußen Münster 2-1 in the Berlin final.
Two goals from Ottmar Walter overturn the deficit and secure the first German championship for Richard Schneider’s side.
Second German championship
A 4-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart in Berlin brings Kaiserslautern a second championship.
The team led by Fritz Walter confirms its prominent place in German post-war football.
Cup triumphs and championships
First DFB-Pokal triumph
The fifth final brings the first cup triumph as Kaiserslautern beat SV Werder Bremen 3-2.
Two goals from Bruno Labbadia and one from Stefan Kuntz establish an early 3-0 lead that Bremen can only reduce.
Third German championship
A 6-2 victory at 1. FC Köln secures Kaiserslautern’s third German championship and their first in the Bundesliga era.
A year after winning the cup, Karlheinz Feldkamp’s side completes another unexpected triumph.
Winning the DFB Supercup
As German champions, FCK beat cup holders SV Werder Bremen 3-1 in the Supercup final in Hanover.
It is the club’s first Supercup title.
Cup triumph one week after relegation
Just one week after relegation, Kaiserslautern win the DFB-Pokal in Berlin.
Martin Wagner scores the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Karlsruher SC to secure the club’s second cup triumph.
Winning the Indoor Masters
Playing in the second division, Kaiserslautern win the DFB Indoor Masters.
In the final at Munich’s Olympiahalle, FCK come from behind to beat Bayern Munich 3-1.
First second-division championship
Eintracht Frankfurt0:0
1. FC KaiserslauternMatch 1 · June 1, 1997 · Location: Frankfurt am Main Stadium: WaldstadionA goalless draw in Frankfurt makes Kaiserslautern mathematically certain of the second-division title.
FCK can no longer be caught on 65 points; challengers Hertha BSC also lose in Jena. Finishing level on points had still been possible after the previous matchday.
German champions as a promoted club
1. FC Kaiserslautern4:0
VfL WolfsburgMatch 1 · May 2, 1998 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-StadionKaiserslautern beat Wolfsburg 4-0 while Bayern Munich draw 0-0 in Duisburg.
The fourth championship is thereby secured with a game to spare. For the first time, a newly promoted club wins the Bundesliga title in its first season back.
European nights and setbacks
Second 2. Bundesliga title
1. FC Kaiserslautern1:1
FC AugsburgMatch 1 · May 9, 2010 · Location: Kaiserslautern Stadium: Fritz-Walter-StadionKaiserslautern end the season as second-division champions following a 1-1 draw with Augsburg.
St. Pauli simultaneously lose 2-1 to Paderborn. Already promoted, FCK crown the season with the championship shield.
Third division and comeback
First Southwest Cup triumph
Kaiserslautern come from behind to beat Wormatia Worms 2-1 in the final in Pirmasens.
Christian Kühlwetter scores both goals, including the winning penalty in the final minute.
Retaining the Southwest Cup
After 120 goalless minutes, Kaiserslautern beat Alemannia Waldalgesheim 5-3 on penalties in the final.
All five FCK takers score to retain the trophy in Pirmasens.
Reaching the DFB-Pokal final from the second division
A 2-0 victory at 1. FC Saarbrücken takes Kaiserslautern back to the DFB-Pokal final after 21 years.
Marlon Ritter and Almamy Touré score at the Ludwigspark.
