Milestones

1904: The club is founded under the name Westfalia Schalke.

1912: The club gains entry to the league.

1924: The club changes its name to FC Schalke 04.

1926: Schalke are promoted to the highest regional league, the Gauliga Ruhr.

1928: The club builds its first stadium, the Glückauf-Kampfbahn.

1933: Schalke reach the German championship final for the first time but lose 3-0 to Fortuna Düsseldorf.

1934: One year later, Schalke claim their first German Championship with a 2-1 win over FC Nürnberg.

1937: The cup final win against Fortuna Düsseldorf completes the first championship and cup double in German football history.

1939: The 9-0 defeat of Admira Vienna is the highest win ever recorded in a German championship final.

1942: The 2-0 win over Vienna Wien gives the famous Kreisel (’spinning top‘) team their sixth and final German championship.

1958: Over a decade later a 3-0 win over Hamburg SV secures the club’s seventh and hitherto last championship.

1963: Schalke are one of 16 founder members of the German Bundesliga.

1965: Despite finishing in a relegation spot Schalke get a reprieve when the league is extended from 16 to 18 clubs.

1972: FC Schalke 04 lift the DFB Cup for the second time, thrashing FC Kaiserslautern 5-0, the highest win ever in a German cup final at the time.

1973: The club moves to a new stadium. Built for the 1974 World Cup, the Park Stadium has a capacity of 70,900.

1981: For the first time in 55 years the club is relegated to the Second Division.

1984: A DFB Cup semi-final for the history books: second division Schalke draw 6-6 after extra-time against Bayern Munich. The 18-year-old Olaf Thon scores the equaliser in the 123rd minute. The Royal Blues lose
the replay 3-2.

1991: After being relegated three times in the 1980s (1981, 1983 and 1988) Schalke are promoted to the Bundesliga, where they have remained ever since.

1994: FC Schalke 04 become the first club in Germany to introduce a new club structure. The chairman is no longer elected by the club members but selected by a supervisory board.

1996: FC Schalke 04 qualify for Europe for the first time in 19 years.

1997: FC Schalke 04 win the UEFA Cup, beating Inter Milan at the San Siro after a second-leg penalty shootout.

2001: The club’s third stadium is completed. With its removable pitch and retractable roof, the VELTINS Arena is the most modern football stadum in Europe. Earlier that year Schalke finish runners-up to Bayern Munich to reach the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

2002: Schalke win back-to-back DFB Cups, coming from behind to beat UEFA Champions League finalists Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 12 months after defeating Union Berlin 2-0.

2004: The club celebrates its centenary year, with over one million people attending parties and events all over Germany.

2005: Schalke finish runners-up in the Bundesliga to qualify for the Champions League for the second time. They also reach the DFB Cup final again, only to lose 2-1 to Bayern Munich.

2007: Schalke qualify for the Champions League for a third time, a feat they repeat in
2010: when they again finish the league campaign in second place.

2011: The Royal Blues reach the last four of the Champions League before bowing out to Manchester United. They do lift a trophy, however, beating neighbours MSV Duisburg of the second division 5-0 in the final of the DFB Cup.

2012: By finishing third in the Bundesliga, Schalke qualify for the Champions League for the fifth time in the club’s history. In the UEFA Europa League the Royal Blues go out to eventual finalists Athletic Bilbao.