For the Lovers — Fortuna Düsseldorf

The greatest achievements in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s history remain the German championship in 1933, reaching the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup ...

For the Lovers

The greatest achievements in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s history remain the German championship in 1933, reaching the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup ...

The greatest achievements in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s history re...

The greatest achievements in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s history remain the German championship in 1933, reaching the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup ...

The greatest achievements in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s history remain the German championship in 1933, reaching the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1979, and the DFB-Pokal double of 1979 and 1980.

Cup Winners’ Cup final: in 1979, Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer’s

Cup Winners’ Cup final: in 1979, Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer’s side – featuring Klaus and Thomas Allofs, Dieter Brei, Rudi Bommer, Egon Köhnen and Gerd Zewe – reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup as runners-up in the domestic cup.

Cup Winners’ Cup final: in 1979, Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer’s side – featuring Klaus and Thomas Allofs, Dieter Brei, Rudi Bommer, Egon Köhnen and Gerd Zewe – reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup as runners-up in the domestic cup. In the 1978 DFB-Pokal final they had lost to champions 1. FC Köln. In a dramatic final in Basel, the club lost 4–3 (2–2; 2–2) after extra time to FC Barcelona. Sánchez scored for the Spanish side in the 5th minute. Three minutes later the Allofs brothers levelled – to this day it is unclear which of them got the final touch, officially it is credited to Thomas. Goalkeeper Jörg Daniel saved a penalty in the 12th minute. Asensi restored Barcelona’s lead, but Wolfgang Seel equalised before the break. Fortuna dominated the second half but failed to score. In extra time Rexach made it 3–2 for Barça. Düsseldorf pushed for another equaliser and were punished by Hans Krankl for 4–2. Wolfgang Seel pulled one back. More was not possible.

The 7–1 against Bayern: Fortuna never got closer

The 7–1 against Bayern: Fortuna never got closer to the Bundesliga title than their third-place finishes in 1972/73 and 1973/74.

The 7–1 against Bayern: Fortuna never got closer to the Bundesliga title than their third-place finishes in 1972/73 and 1973/74. But on 9 December 1978 the old bowl of the Rheinstadion witnessed a champion-level performance. Fortuna Düsseldorf blew mighty Bayern Munich away 7–1, still Bayern’s heaviest away defeat in Bundesliga history. Klaus Allofs scored twice, Wolfgang Seel twice, Emanuel Günther twice, with Gerd Zimmermann adding the other goal. To this day, a photo of the scoreboard from that match appears on T-shirts worn by Fortuna supporters.

In the end, yes: Fortuna Düsseldorf humiliate Hertha

In the end, yes: Fortuna Düsseldorf humiliate Hertha BSC in the relegation playoff.

In the end, yes: Fortuna Düsseldorf humiliate Hertha BSC in the relegation playoff. Top-class relegation chaos unfolded in May 2012. Düsseldorf, the third-placed second-division side, had stormed Berlin’s Olympiastadion with a 2–1 win and handed then-top-flight Hertha BSC a painful defeat. The Berliners could not undo it in the cauldron of the Düsseldorf arena on 15 May 2012 – 2–2. A pitch invasion by Fortuna fans nearly brought everything down. Hertha protested after the interruption and tied themselves in knots with questionable statements in court. The DFB rejected Hertha’s request for a replay. Düsseldorf went up anyway, despite the chaos shortly before the end.

DFB-Pokal winners twice in a row: in 1979

DFB-Pokal winners twice in a row: in 1979 and 1980 Fortuna Düsseldorf repeated what their Rhineland rivals 1.

DFB-Pokal winners twice in a row: in 1979 and 1980 Fortuna Düsseldorf repeated what their Rhineland rivals 1. FC Köln had done in 1977 and 1978 – they defended the cup. After the 1–0 after extra time against Hertha BSC in the 1979 final in Hanover, courtesy of a Wolfgang Seel goal, came perhaps the more prestigious triumph: in Gelsenkirchen’s Parkstadion – the final moved around different venues every year until 1985 – F95 beat 1. FC Köln 2–1. Rüdiger Wenzel (59) and Thomas Allofs (65) overturned Köln’s 1–0 halftime lead, scored by World Cup winner Bernd Cullmann (26), within six minutes and triggered scenes of total jubilation. Fortuna coach Otto Rehhagel celebrated by playing the trumpet. It was not until January 1981 that Fortuna lost another cup match, and to this day the club still boasts the record streak of 18 consecutive DFB-Pokal wins as of December 2019.

The biggest Bundesliga win: unsurprisingly, Fortuna’s bigges...

The biggest Bundesliga win: unsurprisingly, Fortuna’s biggest Bundesliga victory came under “King” Aleksandar Ristić.

The biggest Bundesliga win: unsurprisingly, Fortuna’s biggest Bundesliga victory came under “King” Aleksandar Ristić. On the final matchday of the 1989/90 season, Fortuna thrashed FC St. Pauli 7–0 at the Rheinstadion. The same scoreline had already been recorded in 1983/84 under Willibert Kremer against Borussia Dortmund, though sadly hardly anyone was there to see it: 11,000 against Dortmund and 13,500 against St. Pauli celebrated what, as of December 2019, remain the club’s biggest wins in the top flight.

Biggest away win: F95 achieved their highest away

Biggest away win: F95 achieved their highest away win in the first and second Bundesliga on three occasions.

Biggest away win: F95 achieved their highest away win in the first and second Bundesliga on three occasions. On matchday 6 of 1978/79, they beat Darmstadt 6–1 in Darmstadt. In 1988/89, on matchday 38, they won 7–2 away at Blau-Weiß Berlin. And on matchday 24 of 2011/12 they won 5–0 at Karlsruher SC.

Most wins: Fortuna Düsseldorf recorded 20 victories in

Most wins: Fortuna Düsseldorf recorded 20 victories in the 1987/88 second-division season....

Most wins: Fortuna Düsseldorf recorded 20 victories in the 1987/88 second-division season.

Longest winning streak: F95 won six games in

Longest winning streak: F95 won six games in a row from matchday 33 to 38 of the 1988/89 second-division season....

Longest winning streak: F95 won six games in a row from matchday 33 to 38 of the 1988/89 second-division season.

Longest unbeaten run: Fortuna went 25 matches unbeaten

Longest unbeaten run: Fortuna went 25 matches unbeaten from matchday 28 to 34 of the 2010/11 season and from matchday 1 to 18 of the following season....

Longest unbeaten run: Fortuna went 25 matches unbeaten from matchday 28 to 34 of the 2010/11 season and from matchday 1 to 18 of the following season.