05/03/2026May 3, 2026Schalke returns to Bundesliga with home win over Fortuna Düsseldorf
German football club Schalke 04 has returned to the Bundesliga, the top tier of Germany’s league system, after three seasons in the second division.
Schalke, which has been German champion seven times, achieved the promotion with a 1-0 win in its home of Gelsenkirchen against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Tens of thousands of fans hailed the achievement by celebrating well into the night in the city center, with police saying their behavior stayed under control despite the exuberant mood.
However, the jubilation did cause traffic disruptions and a halt to tram services.
The happiness of the fans was compounded by the announcement that Miron Muslic, the coach behind the promotion. had extended his contract until 2028.
Captain Kenan Karaman, who scored the goal that clinched the promotion, said: “Schalke belong in the first division and we’re staying there now.”
Schalke is one of Europe’s best-supported teams, with 200,000 members, exceeded only by Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, with the latter team, also from the Ruhr area, a former mining hub, being one of its bitterest rivals.