Club Name: FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e.V.
Nicknames: Die Königsblauen (The Royal Blues), Die Knappen (The Miners), S04
Ground: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Capacity: 61,482
May 4, 1904
Coach: Mirko Slomka
President: Josef Schnusenberg
1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1958
1937, 1972, 2001, 2002
1997
2003, 2004
Founded in 1904 and originally known as Westfalia Schalke, FC Schalke have grown into one of the most popular football clubs in Germany. During FC Schalke’s early years the club struggled to gain entry into the official German League and this hurdle was only overcome in 1912 after merging with another club. However, Schalke became an independent team in their own right in 1924 and from the date the club has been officially known as FC Schalke 04.
During the 1920’s FC Schalke concentrated on strengthening the structures at the club thereby improving their fortunes and attracting more fans. In 1929 Schalke lifted the West German Championship only to have the title taken away from them for breaking League regulations regarding player’s wage caps. The 1930’s saw Schalke emerge as one of Germany’s strongest clubs due in no short measure to the Nazi reorganisation of the leagues after their rise to power in 1933.
Schalke lifted their first National German League trophy in 1934 and were able to lift it for a second consecutive season the following year. During those years Schalke stamped their authority as serious contenders lifting the Championship title in 1937, 1939, 1940 and 1942. Schalke’s dominance during these years propelled them into the public eye and the Nazi’s took full advantage of their popularity to promote them as a product of the new and strong Nazi Germany.
During the post-war years Schalke struggled to maintain the form they had enjoyed in the 1930’s and early 1940’s and it wasn’t until the late 1950’s that the club recovered enough to secure the 1958 League Championship. Interestingly, to this date this is the last ever Championship that Schalke have won and since the inception of the Bundesliga in 1963 Schalke have struggled to overthrow the dominance of clubs such as Bayern Munich.
The 1980’s saw Schalke relegated to the lower division on numerous occasions. However, form improved and since the 1991-92 season Schalke have remained a Bundesliga side never suffering relegation. During the 1990’s FC Schalke competed strongly in Europe securing the 1997 UEFA Cup beating Inter Milan in the final. Recently Schalke have progressed to become one of the strongest and most popular clubs in Germany who challenge for the League title season in and season out.
