The history of Schalke 04
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
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.
Willi Koslowski and Waldemar Gerhardt score the goals.
The fixed match against Bielefeld
The 1-0 home defeat by Arminia Bielefeld is among the fixed matches in the Bundesliga scandal.
Numerous Schalke players are punished after the affair is uncovered.
Seven goals away to Bayern
Schalke win 7-0 away to Bayern Munich.
Klaus Fischer scores four times in one of the club’s most famous away victories.
Relegations and promotions
First Bundesliga relegation
The 2-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern leaves Schalke unable to reach safety.
The club is relegated for the first time since the Bundesliga was founded and finishes the season in 17th place.
Relegation through the play-off
Following a 3-1 first-leg defeat, a 1-1 draw against Bayer Uerdingen is insufficient.
Schalke go down after just one season back in the Bundesliga.
Third relegation and eventual lowest finish
The 3-1 defeat in Cologne confirms Schalke’s third Bundesliga relegation.
The club ultimately finishes 18th for the first time, its lowest Bundesliga placing.
Eurofighters, heartbreak and a new arena
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.
He becomes the first Bundesliga goalkeeper to score from open play. Thomas Linke flicks on Olaf Thon’s corner and Lehmann heads the equaliser at the Westfalenstadion. The goal is voted Germany’s Goal of the Month for December 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.
Bayern’s late equaliser in Hamburg ultimately denies Schalke the championship.
Bundesliga debut at the new arena
Five days after the opening ceremony, Schalke play their first competitive match at Arena AufSchalke.
The game against Bayer Leverkusen ends 3-3.
European highlights and Ruhr derbies
The derby of the century
Trailing 4-0 at half-time in Dortmund, Schalke fight back to draw 4-4.
Naldo scores the equaliser in stoppage time.
Crisis and recovery
The heaviest Bundesliga defeat
Schalke lose 8-0 at Bayern Munich on the opening day.
It is the club’s heaviest Bundesliga defeat.
Ending the winless run
A 4-0 win over Hoffenheim ends Schalke’s run of 30 Bundesliga games without a victory.
Matthew Hoppe scores a hat-trick.
Relegation after 30 Bundesliga seasons
A 1-0 defeat in Bielefeld confirms relegation on matchday 30.
Schalke eventually finish with 16 points in 18th place, equalling their lowest Bundesliga placing.
Relegated again on the final day
A 4-2 defeat in Leipzig confirms another relegation.
Schalke finish the season in 17th place with 31 points.
