The history of Schalke 04
Milestones and background from the club's history, in chronological order.
More milestones and background for each event.
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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.
Through subsequent combinations and separations, this club provides the footballing roots of today’s FC Schalke 04.
Joining the gymnastics club
Westfalia joins Schalker Turnverein 1877.
This gives the footballers access to organised association competitions.
Westfalia becomes independent again
The footballers establish another independent club named Westfalia Schalke.
During the war they also field a joint team with the gymnastics club.
Formation of TuS Schalke 1877
Westfalia and the gymnastics club combine as Turn- und Sportverein Schalke 1877.
The football section remains part of this organisation until the separation in 1924.
An independent FC Schalke 04
The footballers separate from the gymnastics club as part of the institutional split between the two sports.
Their independent club takes the name FC Schalke 04.
Gelsenkirchen enters the club name
In gratitude for municipal support for the new ground, Schalke adds the city’s name.
The club becomes FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04.
Opening the Glückauf-Kampfbahn
Schalke beat Tennis Borussia Berlin 3-2 at the ceremonial conclusion of the opening week.
The new Glückauf-Kampfbahn becomes the home of the celebrated Schalker Kreisel passing game.
Kreisel, championships and European football
Suspension over amateur-status rules
The association suspends Schalke players and officials over prohibited payments.
The crisis interrupts the team’s rise before its reinstatement in 1931.
Schalke under Nazi rule
Nazi rule also transforms the club.
Jewish members are excluded and the team’s success is used in the regime’s propaganda.
First German championship final
Schalke reach the German championship final for the first time.
Fortuna Düsseldorf win 3-0 in Cologne.
First German championship
Late goals from Fritz Szepan and Ernst Kuzorra turn the final against Nürnberg around.
Schalke win the Viktoria trophy for the first time.
Retaining the championship
Schalke retain the German championship with a 6-4 victory over Stuttgart.
The high-scoring final takes place at the Müngersdorfer Stadion.
A third German championship
A 2-0 victory over Nürnberg brings Schalke a third German championship.
It is their first title-winning final at the Olympiastadion.
The first double in German football
Schalke beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-1 in the delayed 1937 cup final.
Combined with the 1937 championship, this completes the first German league-and-cup double.
Record victory in the championship final
The 9-0 win over SK Admira Wien is the biggest victory in a German championship final.
Ernst Kalwitzki scores five times.
German champions for a fifth time
A 1-0 victory over Dresdner SC settles the championship final.
Ernst Kalwitzki scores the only goal.
A sixth championship
Schalke beat First Vienna 2-0 in the final.
It is the last German championship won by the great Kreisel team.
The seventh German championship
A 3-0 victory over Hamburger SV brings Schalke their seventh German championship.
Bernhard Klodt scores twice and Manfred Kreuz once.
The first European match
Schalke make their European debut away to Kjøbenhavns Boldklub.
The preliminary-round first leg of the European Cup ends in a 3-0 defeat at Copenhagen’s Idrætsparken.
Reaching a European quarter-final
After drawing 2-2 in Wolverhampton, Schalke win the return against Wanderers 2-1.
They reach the quarter-finals in their first European campaign.
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.
Remaining in the Bundesliga despite finishing last
Schalke remain in the top flight after finishing 16th in 1964/65.
Expansion of the Bundesliga from 16 to 18 clubs prevents relegation.
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.
Winning the cup after 34 years
Schalke beat Kaiserslautern 5-0 in the DFB-Pokal final.
Their second national cup triumph follows a runners-up finish in the league.
Moving into the Parkstadion
The Parkstadion opens with a 2-1 defeat by Feijenoord.
It replaces the Glückauf-Kampfbahn as the first team’s home.
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.
Immediate promotion is confirmed
A goalless draw at Kickers Offenbach mathematically guarantees Schalke an automatic promotion place.
A week earlier, promotion had only been practically assured by the goal-difference advantage.
First Bundesliga 2 championship
A 3-3 draw against Fürth secures the second-division title with 51 points.
Hertha BSC had still been able to draw level before the final matchday.
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.
The legendary 6-6 against Bayern
Second-division Schalke draw 6-6 after extra time against Bayern Munich in the cup semi-final.
Eighteen-year-old Olaf Thon scores three goals; Bayern eventually win the replay.
Back in the Bundesliga again
A 2-0 victory at Fortuna Köln secures immediate promotion.
Schalke return as runners-up in the second division.
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.
Promotion confirmed by the result in Stuttgart
Stuttgarter Kickers’ 1-1 draw against Mainz mathematically confirms Schalke’s promotion.
The Kickers can reach at most 51 points, while Schalke already have 52.
Second Bundesliga 2 championship
A 2-1 win over Fortuna Köln also secures the second-division championship.
Schalke’s 54 points leave Duisburg unable to catch them with two games remaining.
Eurofighters, heartbreak and a new arena
The first European final
Schalke beat Inter 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup final.
Marc Wilmots scores the decisive goal at the Parkstadion.
The Eurofighters win the UEFA Cup
A 1-0 defeat in the return leaves the aggregate score level even after extra time.
Schalke win the shoot-out 4-1 in Milan to claim their first European trophy.
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.
Cup victory over 1. FC Union Berlin
A week after the dramatic loss of the league title, Schalke win the cup final 2-0.
Jörg Böhme scores both goals against 1. FC Union Berlin.
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.
The first Champions League match
The attacks in the United States overshadow Schalke’s Champions League debut.
The match against Panathinaikos nevertheless goes ahead and ends in a 2-0 defeat.
Retaining the DFB-Pokal
Schalke beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in the final.
The club retain the national cup for the first time.
First UEFA Intertoto Cup success
Following a 2-0 win in Pasching, a goalless return is enough for Schalke.
As one of three Intertoto winners, the club qualifies for the UEFA Cup.
Another Intertoto success
Aílton’s goal in a 1-0 win at Liberec seals a second consecutive Intertoto success.
Schalke win the final 3-1 on aggregate.
Winning the League Cup
Schalke beat Stuttgart 1-0 in the League Cup final in Leipzig.
Kevin Kurányi scores the winner against his former club.
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.
They finish second in the group behind Chelsea.
The first Champions League round-of-16 match
Schalke win their first Champions League round-of-16 match 1-0 against Porto.
Kevin Kurányi scores early in the first leg.
Neuer takes Schalke into the quarter-finals
After a 1-0 defeat in Porto, the tie goes to penalties.
Manuel Neuer makes two saves as Schalke win the shoot-out 4-1 to reach their first modern Champions League quarter-final.
Five goals away to holders Inter
Schalke recover from an early setback to beat holders Inter 5-2 away.
It becomes one of the club’s greatest European nights.
Reaching the Champions League semi-finals
A 2-1 return-leg win over Inter confirms Schalke’s first Champions League semi-final appearance.
They win the quarter-final 7-3 on aggregate.
The first Champions League semi-final match
Schalke play their first Champions League semi-final match against Manchester United.
Despite numerous saves by Manuel Neuer, the first leg ends in a 2-0 defeat.
A fifth DFB-Pokal triumph
A 5-0 victory over MSV Duisburg brings Schalke their fifth DFB-Pokal.
Julian Draxler opens the scoring at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Super Cup winners in the derby
Following a goalless derby, Schalke beat Dortmund 4-3 on penalties.
Ralf Fährmann saves two spot-kicks; no extra time is played.
A 4-3 win at Real Madrid
Schalke win the round-of-16 return 4-3 away to holders Real Madrid.
Following a 2-0 first-leg defeat, they nevertheless fall one goal short of progressing.
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.
Immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga
Schalke turn a 2-0 deficit against St. Pauli into a 3-2 victory.
The win secures an immediate Bundesliga return before the final matchday.
Third Bundesliga 2 championship
A 2-1 victory in Nürnberg secures the Bundesliga 2 championship.
Simon Terodde finishes the season as leading scorer.
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.
Back in the top flight after three years
Kenan Karaman scores in a 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Schalke’s Bundesliga return is confirmed with two matchdays remaining.
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.
Their last mathematically possible challenger can no longer catch them.
