Schalke was founded on May 4th 1904 by a group of high school kids, and became a professional organization in 1924. They changed their name to FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke as a tribute to the city which helped them build their first stadium. From the mid 1930s till the start of the World War Two club legends Ernst Kuzorra and Fritz Szepan earned Schalke many prestigious championships. Following the war, the team proceeded to triumph in Germany. Schalke became one of the founders of the Bundesliga, the German Premier League, in 1963. The Bundesliga scandal during the early seventies brought hardships to the team, as players were accused of taking bribes. During the 1980s Schalke went through a series of relegations, and was only able secure a steady spot in the Premier League in 1991. During the new millennium the team made changes to its overall operations and as a result won its first UEFA Cup, and moved to a more modern stadium. Currently the team is doing well and is pursuing a UEFA Champions League title.

Football not Schalke's only Sport

In addition to football, the Schalke organization also has professional athletes in the sports of basketball, table tennis, handball, and track and field. Even though they are most successful in football, they have also received awards in handball, table tennis and track. Schalke's most notable track athlete is Frank Busemann, who picked up a silver medal in the decathlon at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.