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Benedikt Höwedes wants to be on the plane to Gdansk

A calf injury prevented Benedikt Höwedes from taking part in full training for the first three days of Germany’s training camp on Sardinia. But the 24-year-old was back on the training ground on Tuesday (15 May). At last, as Benedikt said. Read more

Marco Höger: Cologne was great, but the highlight of the season was New York

Marco Höger can look back very positively on his first season in Schalke colours. "The year has been amazing", said the 22-year-old. The right-footed player moved to the Ruhr from Alemannia Aachen in the summer with the aim of playing as much as possible. Read more

Lewis Holtby and Christoph Moritz to join up with Germany U-21s

The season is not over for Lewis Holtby and Christoph Moritz. The two Schalke midfielders will take part in a Germany Under 21s training camp from Wednesday 16th May to Sunday 20th May Read more

AC Milan to guest at the VELTINS Arena

Seven-time European champions AC Milan will provide top-quality opposition for the Royal Blues as part of their preparations for the 2012/2013 season. Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co. will visit the VELTINS Arena for a pre-season friendly on 24 July. Ticket arrangements and the kick-off time will be announced in the next few days.

S04's second training camp of the summer will take place in Carinthia, Austria

With a running camp scheduled in Donaueschingen from 13th – 19th July the destination for part two of Schalke's pre-season preparations has now been confirmed. The Royal Blues will spend the week from Saturday 4th to Saturday 11th August at a training camp in Carinthia. Read more

Jet lag and a late goal: S04 beaten in Philadelphia

At 1.30 in the morning German time, the Schalke players are normally tucked up in bed. On Thursday, however, things were different. As part of their trip to the USA, the S04 pros were turning out in a friendly at Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS). The match, which kicked off at 7.30pm local time, ended in unfortunate defeat by the narrowest of margins, with visitors going down 2-1. Read more

Schalke 04 seek to impress in Philadelphia

The Royal Blues landed safe and sound in the USA. Head coach Huub Stevens and Jermaine Jones arrived in the United States ahead of the rest of the squad. Both took part in a press conference at the PPL Park stadium of the MLS team Philadelphia Union ahead of Wednesday’s friendly (9 May, 1930 local time / 10 May, 0130 CET). Read more

Timo Hildebrand signs new two-year deal to 2014

Schalke 04 have sealed another important deal: The Royal Blues’ keeper Timo Hildebrand has extended his current contract by two years to 30 June 2014. Read more

Höwedes and Draxler in provisional Germany squad

Joachim Löw announced his provisional 27-man squad for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine on Monday lunchtime. The Germany coach has called up two Schalke players: Benedikt Höwedes and the previously uncapped Julian Draxler. Read more

Horst Heldt: A positive end to an intense season

As the Royal Blues had automatic qualification to the Champions League wrapped up after 34 games there was all the more reason to praise the side's impressive and focussed performance at Bremen. Horst Heldt complimented the players on their performance and cast one eye towards next season when he spoke to schalke04.com. Read more

3-2 away to Bremen – The Hunter is the Bundesliga’s top scorer whilst Schalke take all three points

It was a perfect afternoon all-round for FC Schalke 04 and their top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The Royal Blues rounded off the 2011/12 season on Saturday 5th May with a well-deserved 3-2 victory away to Werder Bremen. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored two goals to take his tally for the season to 29, 3 more than his nearest rival for the goal-scoring crown, Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez. Julian Draxler claimed Schalke’s third goal at the Weserstadion. Read match report

S04 to field a full strength team against Bremen

The pressure is now off, with automatic qualification for the Champions League already secured. Schalke can now go into the last match of the 2011/12 season against Werder Bremen on Saturday (5th May, 1530 CET) with their place in Europe assured. Read match preview

Jermaine Jones on bratwurst, ball blasters and babies

The Royal Blues were watched by a sizeable crowd on Wednesday morning when they trained for the first time since the 4-0 win over Hertha BSC that sealed an automatic place in the Champions League next season. After the session Jermaine Jones revealed why he is in a particularly good mood. Read more

Julian Draxler: Team spirit and determination made us strong

Third place is safe and the 2011/12 season will be history after this Saturday's match against Werder Bremen. Time for a first assessment. “We can be happy with what we've achieved,” declared Julian Draxler. Read more

Horst Heldt: Schalke impressive in all aspects

Following the 4-0 victory over Hertha Berlin and qualification for the group stage of the Champions League, Schalke general manager Horst Heldt talked about the successful finale at home, the farewell to four players and Jefferson Farfan’s contract extension. Read more

Raul: I have no words to express my gratitude

It was a perfect stage to say adios. Victory over Hertha BSC, another goal for the record books, and three points that sealed Schalke's place in the Champions League. Raul's final home appearance in a blue-and-white shirt was a very special one indeed. Read more

Farfan signs four-year deal

The VELTINS Arena played host to a huge party after Saturday's game. The stands were still packed some 45 minutes after the final whistle, and when director of sport Horst Heldt announced that Jefferson Farfan had signed a new contract, the roar was deafening. Read more

Schalke beat Hertha 4-0 to seal third spot

A brace from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar plus a goal apiece from Lewis Holtby and Raul provided a deserved 4-0 victory for the Royal Blues in Saturday’s home game against Hertha Berlin. The win against the side from the capital ensures Schalke will be playing teams from the great footballing centres of Milan, Madrid and Manchester in the 2012/13 campaign. Read match report

New Schalke home shirt on sale now

The Royal Blues will wear their new home shirt for the first time on Saturday when they entertain Hertha BSC in the final game at the VELTINS Arena this season. Fans will be able to don the new shirt even before the players do, however, as the new collection goes on sale in all outlets of the Schalke shop and online on Thursday. Read more

Matip: We're up for the run-in

The Royal Blues face relegation-threatened Hertha BSC in the final home game of the season on Saturday (1530 CET). In this interview with schalke04.com Joel Matip talks about the chances of defending third place, the visitors from Berlin and the situation in central defence. Read more

Metzelder out for rest of season

Sunday's game at Augsburg was over before half-time for Christoph Metzelder. The Schalke centre-back had to go off with an injury that has since been diagnosed as a partial tear of the long plantar ligament in his right foot. Read more

"Gracias Raul" T-shirt back on sale

Señor Raul is saying adios at the end of the season and in his honour Schalke 04 have launched a T-shirt bearing the words "Gracias Raul". All 7,000 of the limited edit ion shirts were snapped within hours of them being made available in the club's online shop. Read more

Schalke granted licence with no provisos or conditions

The German Football League (DFL) informed the professional clubs in the top two divisions of its decisions in the licensing process for the 2012/13 season on Thursday. Read more

Raul: Schalke will always be a part of my life

After almost two eventful years in a Schalke shirt Raul has decided not to extend his contract with the Royal Blues. At a press conference on Thursday the player issued a detailed statement on the reasons for his decision in which he looked back at his time with the club, talked about his favourite moments and revealed his plans for the future. Read more

Raul to leave Schalke at the end of the season

A decision of significant importance not only for the Royal Blues but also for the Bundesliga as a whole has been taken. Raul, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, is leaving FC Schalke 04. The 34-year-old forward and three-time Champions League winner will explain his reasoning, his future plans and his hopes for the final three games of the season in due course. Read more

Schalke 04 group accounts show consolidation process continues

On Monday 16 April FC Gelsenkirchen Schalke 04 e.V. submitted their group accounts, in compliance with German Commercial Law, for the period of 1 January to 31 December 2011 to the German Football League (DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH) in Frankfurt before the closing date. Read more