The history of Borussia Dortmund
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
1940–1949
First Oberliga West title
BVB win the 1947/48 Oberliga West title for the first time.
Further West German titles follow in 1948/49 and 1949/50. This regional run precedes the club's national championships.
1950–1959
First German championship
Borussia beat Karlsruher SC 4–2 to win their first German championship.
BVB prevail in the final at Berlin's Olympiastadion. The national title follows their 1955/56 Oberliga West victory.
German title retained
Borussia beat Hamburger SV 4–1 and retain the German championship.
The final takes place at the Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover. Consecutive West German titles lead to a second national triumph.
1960–1969
Third German championship
A 3–1 win over 1. FC Köln makes Borussia the last German champion before the Bundesliga begins.
The final is played at Stuttgart's Neckarstadion. BVB enter the new Bundesliga as reigning champions.
First DFB-Pokal triumph
Borussia beat Alemannia Aachen 2–0 in the cup final.
At Hanover's Niedersachsenstadion, BVB win their first DFB-Pokal and qualify for the Cup Winners' Cup.
Cup Winners' Cup victory
BVB beat Liverpool 2–1 after extra time to win their first European trophy.
Reinhard Libuda scores the winner at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Borussia become the first German club to win a UEFA European club competition.
1980–1989
DFB-Pokal triumph in Berlin
Borussia beat SV Werder Bremen 4–1 in the cup final.
At Berlin's Olympiastadion, BVB lift their second DFB-Pokal. The victory begins a new period of sporting success.
1990–1999
First Bundesliga championship
A 2–0 win over Hamburger SV gives Borussia their first Bundesliga title.
On the final matchday BVB hold off Werder Bremen. This is the club's fourth German championship after three titles before 1963.
Bundesliga title retained
A 2–2 draw away to TSV 1860 München secures BVB's second consecutive Bundesliga title.
The chasing clubs can no longer catch Borussia before the final matchday. The club's fifth German championship is settled early.
Champions League victory
Borussia defeat Juventus 3–1 in the final.
Karl-Heinz Riedle scores twice and Lars Ricken adds a goal shortly after coming on. At Munich's Olympiastadion, BVB win their first Champions League title.
Intercontinental Cup victory
BVB beat Cruzeiro 2–0 in Tokyo.
Michael Zorc and Heiko Herrlich score at the National Stadium. As Champions League holders, Borussia win the Intercontinental Cup against the South American champions.
2000–2009
German champions in 2002
Borussia win the Bundesliga with a 2–1 victory over SV Werder Bremen.
BVB turn the game around at the Westfalenstadion and secure their sixth German championship on the final matchday. They also reach the UEFA Cup final that season.
2010–2019
Young side wins the title
A 2–0 win over 1. FC Nürnberg makes Borussia German champions before the final matchday.
BVB secure their first Bundesliga title since 2002. Jürgen Klopp's young side combines high tempo with a strong season record.
Bundesliga title retained
A 2–0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach secures the eighth German championship.
BVB win a second consecutive Bundesliga season. They finish with 81 points and add the cup weeks later.
First league and cup double
Borussia beat Bayern Munich 5–2 in the DFB-Pokal final.
At Berlin's Olympiastadion, BVB follow their league title with the first Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in club history.
DFB-Pokal 2017
Borussia beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1 to win the DFB-Pokal again.
At Berlin's Olympiastadion, BVB lift their fourth cup. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores the winner from the penalty spot.
2020–2029
Fifth DFB-Pokal title
Borussia beat RB Leipzig 4–1 in the cup final.
Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland each score twice at Berlin's Olympiastadion. The fifth cup title follows a strong finish to the season.
2025/26 Bundesliga runners-up
A 2–0 win away to SV Werder Bremen completes Borussia's season in second place.
BVB collect 73 points and concede 34 goals, the best defensive record in that Bundesliga season. The team finish as runners-up.
