Season story
The 2000/01 season is one of the most tragic chapters in Bundesliga history. FC Schalke 04 stood as German champions for four minutes on the final matchday — then Patrick Andersson scored a stoppage-time equalizer for FC Bayern Munich against Hamburger SV, and the title moved back to Munich. For Schalke fans, 19 May 2001 remains a date that still hurts.
The team under Huub Stevens was typical of the era: combative, disciplined and with a strong team mentality. Ebbe Sand and Gerald Asamoah provided goals, Jörg Böhme and Andreas Müller controlled midfield, and the defense around Tomasz Wałdoch and Nico van Kerckhoven was experienced. Stevens' 3-5-2 system was hard to play against because every player knew his defensive duties.
The day after missing the title, the team was received in the stadium like heroes. That says a lot about the emotional bond between club and fans. Schalke had no individual superiority, but a collective that pushed to its limits. The near-title was the reward for a season full of heart.
Four minutes separated Schalke 2000/01 from their first championship since 1958. That the title ultimately went to Munich anyway turned this season into the "championship of hearts" — a phrase the fans still carry with pride. The team was celebrated like winners after 19 May, and the memory of that day is firmly part of Schalke's identity. In 34-0-0 there is a lesson in it: a game is not over until the referee blows the whistle — the final minutes can change everything. What remains is a season that shows how thin the line between triumph and tragedy in football is — and how much this club lives with its fans. For your 34-0-0 chase, Schalke 2000/01 is therefore a warning: against a team with that mentality, only maximum concentration over all 90 minutes helps.
In 34-0-0, Schalke 2000/01 are a mid-table Gegenpressing team (Strength 80). They are stubborn but not overly creative. If you play possession and survive their pressing runs, you can find gaps.
Tactical DNA
Style: Gegenpressing · Strength: 80 · Mid-table
Counter in the game: Counter. They press — sting them on the counter.
Key players & ratings
| Player | Pos | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln (Playmaker with the velvet left foot) | CAM | 86 |
| Kevin Kurányi (Schalke's goal poacher of the 2000s) | ST | 85 |
| Gerald Asamoah (The workhorse everyone loved) | ST | 84 |
| Rafinha | RB | 83 |
| Marcelo Bordon | CB | 83 |
| Frank Rost | GK | 82 |
Best XI
| Pos | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Frank Rost | 82 |
| LB | Rafinha | 83 |
| CB | Marcelo Bordon | 83 |
| CB | Mladen Krstajić | 82 |
| RB | Tomasz Hajto | 81 |
| CDM | Christian Poulsen | 82 |
| CM | Fabian Ernst | 81 |
| CM | Lincoln | 86 |
| LW | Kevin Kurányi | 85 |
| ST | Gerald Asamoah | 84 |
| RW | Hamit Altıntop | 81 |
Beating this team in 34-0-0
Schalke 2000/01 play Gegenpressing — your counter is possession. Stevens' system lives on order, not genius. Pass precisely through their pressing lines, use quick one-twos and get your attacking quality into the final third. Away from home, do not fight them for every yard; instead control the tempo and wait for counters when they push forward.
FAQ
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Last updated: 2026-08-03