World Football Club Crests

Schalke 04 is one of Germany’s most popular football teams. Formed in 1904 as a result of the coming together of a number of sports clubs, the club drew many players and supporters from the coalmine workers of Gelsenkirchen, hence their nickname The Miners. Their greatest successes came in the 1930s and 1940s, but nearly 70 years later they were on the cusp of a momentous triumph.

On 19 May, 2001, the Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen erupted. Ebbe Sand had just slid in his 22nd goal of the season, deciding the home fixture against the League’s bottom team Unterhaching in the 89th minute. The league title was now almost theirs, the first since 1958. Schalke 04 just needed Hamburg to triumph over Bayern Munich, and with the northern Germany club leading 1-0 in the 90th minute, Schalke’s players and some of the officials began to celebrate while several fans ran on to the pitch. But the match in Hamburg wasn’t quite finished and just as those in the Parkstadion were celebrating Schalke’s first title for 43 years, Bayern Munich were awarded an indirect free kick 8 metres (26 feet) from goal. Patrik Andersson scored with the last kick of the game. The score was 1-1 in Hamburg, and the Bundesliga shield ended up with Bayern Munich instead. The joy of the Schalke fans dissolved into sadness and tears. Their much longed-for League triumph had been cruelly snatched from them.

The hunt for a league title has continued and since 2001 Schalke have four times finished runners-up in the Bundesliga. In recent years, the club has become known for its youth academy, which has produced world class talents like Manuel Neuer, Mesut Özil, Benedikt Höwedes and Julian Draxler. Such a production line of talent would suggest that the long-sought league title may well be achieved one day.

CLUB: FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04

NICKNAMES: Die Königsblauen (the Royal Blues) and Die Knappen (the Miners)

FOUNDED: 1904

STADIUM: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen (62,271 capacity)

HISTORIC PLAYERS: Klaus Fichtel, Norbert Nigbur, Klaus Fischer, Gerald Asamoah and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

1924–1929. Schalke 04 was formed in 1904 through a merger of Schalke Turnverein 1877 and Westfalia Schalke, but it was not until 1924 that football got its own section within the club. To mark the event, this emblem was created, which simply features the letter S and the numbers 04.

1929–1945. Only a couple of years before Hitler came to power, Schalke unveiled this emblem. It was also during the Hitler years that Schalke 04 came to achieve their greatest successes. Six league titles and one cup triumph are just some of the trophies won by the club in this period, successes which led to the belief that Hitler was a Schalke fan – a suggestion that has been investigated and rejected by the club.

1945–1958. Like many German clubs, Schalke was affected by the war even if the Gelsenkirchen team didn’t have to change their name. The emblem was changed to revert to the club’s classic blue and white colours, and a G for Gelsenkirchen was introduced into the crest.

1995–present. In 1958 Schalke unveiled an emblem that celebrated Gelsenkirchen’s coalmines and the miners who worked them. Hence the blue mining hammer, which serves as the background to the club’s initials. This emblem has been updated three times. Today’s logo was first used in 1995.

Ilyas Tüfekçi action for Die Knappen (the miners) in 1982/83. The blue mining hammer design is the same as today’s crest but note that the badge carries an extra blue outline.