How Schalke Went from Raul to Relegation

With seven German championships, five DFB-Pokals, and one UEFA Cup, Schalke have emerged as one of the most successful clubs in German football since their founding in 1904, but they currently sit one point above last place after drawing 2-2 to Borussia Dortmund. After earning promotion last season, Schalke could be set to drop back down to the second tier.

Schalke’s heyday in the 30s and 40s prompted them to be considered for the initial season of the Bundesliga, in 1963. After a tumultuous period during the late 70s and 80s, where a match-fixing scandal rocked the club and relegations and promotions succeeded one another in quick succession, Schalke entered the 1990s revitalized and would grab their first European trophy in 1997.

The team nicknamed the "Euro Fighters" beat Inter Milan on penalties to win the UEFA Cup. In the early part of the new millennium, Schalke added DFB Pokal wins, strong top-three finishes and forays into the latter stages of European competition to their repertoire, with prolific marksman Kevin Kurányi up front.

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