1993-2009

5 December 1994

The club constitution is changed. A supervisory board, whose members appoint the managing board, is installed. In doing so Schalke lead the way for the rest of the Bundesliga. The new constitution brings to an end the process of restructuring the club, in which debts approaching 20 million marks are paid off.

18 May 1996

After finishing third in the Bundesliga Schalke qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time in 19 years.

21 May 1997

In a match that could not have been more dramatic, Schalke defeat Inter Milan to win the UEFA Cup for the first time. The first leg, which took place on 7th May at the Park Stadium, ended with a 1-0 victory after a goal from Marc Wilmots. In the second leg Inter make it into extra-time thanks to Ivan Zamorano's goal just before the end. But Schalke emerge from the penalty shoot-out as clear 4-1 victors. Ingo Anderbrügge, Martin Max, Olaf Thon and Marc Wilmots keep their nerve in front of the 25,000 travelling Schalke fans among the 81,675 capacity crowd in the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

17 March 1998

Having lost the first leg 1-0, a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final second leg against Inter Milan is not enough to take Schalke into the UEFA Cup semi-final, despite a fantastic performance and an equally fantastic goal by Michael Goossens.

9 May 1998

A 2-1 win against Arminia Bielefeld secures a UEFA Cup spot for the third time in succession.

29 September 1998

Marco van Hoogdalem, whose two goals against Bielefeld had paved the way into the UEFA Cup, misses the final spot kick in the penalty shoot-out at Slavia Prague (both games had ended 1-0 for the home side). Schalke's international tour comes to temporary halt.

29 May 1999

On the final day of the 1998/99 season the Royal Blues win a strange game 5-4 at 1860 Munich. The victory is meaningless, however, as Schalke finish in tenth position in the Bundesliga table, 14 points adrift of the sixth place that would have brought them European football.

20 May 2000

A 2-0 home defeat against Hansa Rostock brings the second half of the season to a disappointing end after just four victories in seventeen games and seven defeats. The team finish in 13th place on just 39 points.

19 May 2001

In the final match of an outstanding season in which the Royal Blues score the highest number of goals in the Bundesliga whilst conceding the fewest, Schalke stand on the verge of achieving an elusive dream, that of their eighth German championship title. After twice coming from behind they defeat Unterhaching by five goals to three at the Park Stadium. And when SV Hamburg go 1-0 up against Bayern Munich in the 90th minute Schalke look like clinching the title. But a hotly disputed backpass decision by referee Markus Merk in the 94th minute gives Bayern a free-kick and the goal that shatters Schalke's dreams. The Royal Blues can at least lay claim to the title of "people's champions" and qualify for the Champions League for the first time as league runners-up.

26 May 2001

A week after suffering championship heartbreak Schalke play in their first cup final since 1972. Two goals from Jörg Böhme are enough to defeat third division side Union Berlin and give the Royal Blues their first domestic trophy in 29 years, as well as drying a few tears in the process.

11 May 2002

Schalke are in the cup final again, this time against Bayer Leverkusen. In a thrilling match they come from behind to beat the works team 4-2 and claim the DFB Cup for the second year in succession.

3-10 May 2004

Schalke's centenary celebrations reach their peak. The town hall tower in Buer is wrapped with images from the club's history. More than 40,000 fans celebrate the club's birthday on the club complex on 4 May, some 65,000 attend the birthday party at the Arena on 8 May, and the premiere of the much-vaunted Schalke musical nullvier takes place on 10 May.

21 May 2005

The Royal Blues secure the runners-up spot with a 3-2 win at SC Freiburg and thus qualify for the Champions League for the second time in the club's history. A week later they go down 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final.

6 December 2005

A narrow 3-2 defeat at AC Milan ends Schalke's bid to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League. The Royal Blues continue their European campaign in the UEFA Cup.

2005 /2006

Schalke 04 finished runners-up in the Bundesliga in 2005 to qualify for the Champions League for the second time. Head coach Ralf Rangnick's side also reached the DFB Cup final, where they were unfortunate to lose by the odd goal in three to Bayern Munich. In 2005/06 Schalke finished third in the group stage of the Champions League before going on to reach the semi-final of the UEFA Cup. The Royal Blues went out to the eventual winners of the competition, Sevilla, after suffering defeat in extra-time of the second leg. Schalke qualified for the Champions League for a third time in the club's history in 2007 after finishing second in the Bundesliga, a success they repeated in 2010 when again finishing the league campaign as runners-up. 

27 April 2006

Schalke exit the UEFA Cup at the semi-final stage after a 1-0 extra-time defeat at FC Sevilla.

17 May 2006

The end of an era. After a total of 19 years in the position Rudi Assauer resigns as general manager. He is succeeded by Andreas Müller.

19 May 2007

A 2-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld sees the Royal Blues finish Bundesliga runners-up for the fifth time. The club's second-best league record (behind only 1971/72) is scant consolation for losing out in the championship race, however. Schalke had topped the table until matchday 33. Second place does equate to a Champions League berth, however, as the Royal Blues qualify for Europe for the seventh season in a row.

18 June 2007

Josef Schnusenberg is elected Schalke chairman. He succeeds Gerhard Rehberg, who takes on the role of honorary chairman.

11 December 2007

Schalke proceed to the first knockout round of the Champions League for the first time thanks to a 3-1 home win over Norwegian side Rosenborg in the final group match.

5 March 2008

Royal Blues in the quarter-finals. Schalke beat FC Porto 4-1 on penalties in Portugal to reach the last eight of European football's flagship competition. Two 1-0 defeats to Barcelona eventually see them bow out of the competition.

 

13 April 2008

Mirko Slomka is sacked as head coach. Mike Büskens and Youri Mulder, members of the 1997 UEFA Cup winning side, take charge until the end of the season and guide the team to third place. Dutchman Fred Rutten is appointed new Schalke boss on 1 July 2008.

14 March 2009

Andreas Müller is relieved of his duties as general manager.

26 March 2009

The Royal Blues part company with Fred Rutten. Mike Büskens and Youri Mulder take temporary charge once again, this time along with Oliver Reck.

6 May 2009

Felix Magath is handed a four-year contract as head coach and general manager with effect from 1 July 2009.