Never longer than three: since the second relegation of 1987, Fortuna have never stayed in the Bundesliga for more than three seasons in a row. From 2002 to 2004, they even had to play in what was then the fourth-tier Oberliga. In 2008 they qualified for the newly founded 3. Liga.
In 2009 they returned to the second division. In 2012 they went up to the Bundesliga through the playoffs. The following season, however, they came straight back down again in dramatic fashion.