The history of Schalke 04
Key milestones in the club's history, in chronological order.
The key milestones at a glance.
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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
From Westfalia to FC Schalke 04
The roots: Westfalia Schalke
Young men from Schalke establish Westfalia Schalke.
An independent FC Schalke 04
The footballers separate from the gymnastics club as part of the institutional split between the two sports.
Opening the Glückauf-Kampfbahn
Schalke beat Tennis Borussia Berlin 3-2 at the ceremonial conclusion of the opening week.
Kreisel, championships and European football
Suspension over amateur-status rules
The association suspends Schalke players and officials over prohibited payments.
Schalke under Nazi rule
Nazi rule also transforms the club.
First German championship final
Schalke reach the German championship final for the first time.
First German championship
Late goals from Fritz Szepan and Ernst Kuzorra turn the final against Nürnberg around.
Retaining the championship
Schalke retain the German championship with a 6-4 victory over Stuttgart.
A third German championship
A 2-0 victory over Nürnberg brings Schalke a third German championship.
The first double in German football
Schalke beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-1 in the delayed 1937 cup final.
Record victory in the championship final
The 9-0 win over SK Admira Wien is the biggest victory in a German championship final.
German champions for a fifth time
A 1-0 victory over Dresdner SC settles the championship final.
The seventh German championship
A 3-0 victory over Hamburger SV brings Schalke their seventh German championship.
The first European match
Schalke make their European debut away to Kjøbenhavns Boldklub.
Reaching a European quarter-final
After drawing 2-2 in Wolverhampton, Schalke win the return against Wanderers 2-1.
Bundesliga, cup triumph and the Parkstadion
A founding Bundesliga member
Schalke begin life in the newly founded Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Stuttgart.
Remaining in the Bundesliga despite finishing last
Schalke remain in the top flight after finishing 16th in 1964/65.
The fixed match against Bielefeld
The 1-0 home defeat by Arminia Bielefeld is among the fixed matches in the Bundesliga scandal.
Winning the cup after 34 years
Schalke beat Kaiserslautern 5-0 in the DFB-Pokal final.
Moving into the Parkstadion
The Parkstadion opens with a 2-1 defeat by Feijenoord.
Seven goals away to Bayern
Schalke win 7-0 away to Bayern Munich.
Relegations and promotions
First Bundesliga relegation
The 2-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern leaves Schalke unable to reach safety.
Immediate promotion is confirmed
A goalless draw at Kickers Offenbach mathematically guarantees Schalke an automatic promotion place.
First Bundesliga 2 championship
A 3-3 draw against Fürth secures the second-division title with 51 points.
Relegation through the play-off
Following a 3-1 first-leg defeat, a 1-1 draw against Bayer Uerdingen is insufficient.
The legendary 6-6 against Bayern
Second-division Schalke draw 6-6 after extra time against Bayern Munich in the cup semi-final.
Back in the Bundesliga again
A 2-0 victory at Fortuna Köln secures immediate promotion.
Third relegation and eventual lowest finish
The 3-1 defeat in Cologne confirms Schalke’s third Bundesliga relegation.
Promotion confirmed by the result in Stuttgart
Stuttgarter Kickers’ 1-1 draw against Mainz mathematically confirms Schalke’s promotion.
Second Bundesliga 2 championship
A 2-1 win over Fortuna Köln also secures the second-division championship.
Eurofighters, heartbreak and a new arena
The first European final
Schalke beat Inter 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup final.
The Eurofighters win the UEFA Cup
A 1-0 defeat in the return leaves the aggregate score level even after extra time.
Jens Lehmann heads Schalke level in the derby
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann rescues a 2–2 draw for Schalke at Borussia Dortmund with a stoppage-time header on December 19, 1997.
Champions of hearts
Schalke 045:3
SpVgg UnterhachingMatch 2 · May 19, 2001 · Location: Gelsenkirchen Stadium: ParkstadionSchalke win the final Bundesliga match at the Parkstadion 5-3 against Unterhaching.
Cup victory over 1. FC Union Berlin
A week after the dramatic loss of the league title, Schalke win the cup final 2-0.
Bundesliga debut at the new arena
Five days after the opening ceremony, Schalke play their first competitive match at Arena AufSchalke.
The first Champions League match
The attacks in the United States overshadow Schalke’s Champions League debut.
Retaining the DFB-Pokal
Schalke beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in the final.
First UEFA Intertoto Cup success
Following a 2-0 win in Pasching, a goalless return is enough for Schalke.
Another Intertoto success
Aílton’s goal in a 1-0 win at Liberec seals a second consecutive Intertoto success.
Winning the League Cup
Schalke beat Stuttgart 1-0 in the League Cup final in Leipzig.
European highlights and Ruhr derbies
First qualification for the Champions League round of 16
A 3-1 win over Rosenborg takes Schalke into the Champions League round of 16 for the first time.
The first Champions League round-of-16 match
Schalke win their first Champions League round-of-16 match 1-0 against Porto.
Neuer takes Schalke into the quarter-finals
After a 1-0 defeat in Porto, the tie goes to penalties.
Five goals away to holders Inter
Schalke recover from an early setback to beat holders Inter 5-2 away.
Reaching the Champions League semi-finals
A 2-1 return-leg win over Inter confirms Schalke’s first Champions League semi-final appearance.
A fifth DFB-Pokal triumph
A 5-0 victory over MSV Duisburg brings Schalke their fifth DFB-Pokal.
Super Cup winners in the derby
Following a goalless derby, Schalke beat Dortmund 4-3 on penalties.
A 4-3 win at Real Madrid
Schalke win the round-of-16 return 4-3 away to holders Real Madrid.
The derby of the century
Trailing 4-0 at half-time in Dortmund, Schalke fight back to draw 4-4.
Crisis and recovery
Relegation after 30 Bundesliga seasons
A 1-0 defeat in Bielefeld confirms relegation on matchday 30.
Immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga
Schalke turn a 2-0 deficit against St. Pauli into a 3-2 victory.
Third Bundesliga 2 championship
A 2-1 victory in Nürnberg secures the Bundesliga 2 championship.
Relegated again on the final day
A 4-2 defeat in Leipzig confirms another relegation.
Back in the top flight after three years
Kenan Karaman scores in a 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Fourth Bundesliga 2 championship
SV Elversberg5:1
SC PaderbornLocation: Spiesen-Elversberg Stadium: Ursapharm-Arena an der KaiserlindeElversberg’s 5-1 win over Paderborn makes Schalke second-division champions a day after promotion.
