'Humble but ambitious' - the return of fallen giants Schalke

What the report says

Schalke’s return to the Bundesliga has revived attention on one of German football’s best-known clubs, after several difficult years marked by financial strain, relegation and instability. BBC Sport Football reports that the Gelsenkirchen side, backed by a fiercely loyal fanbase, are trying to rebuild after two promotions and two relegations in the past six years.

The club’s problems date back to their fall into Bundesliga 2, when heavy spending, lost European income and the effects of the Covid-19 period raised serious concerns about insolvency. Schalke briefly bounced back to the top flight in 2022, but quickly dropped again and spent the next three seasons in the second tier. After finishing 14th, the club changed direction, bringing in new leadership figures and appointing former Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic, whose energetic pressing style has been credited with helping drive promotion.

BBC Sport also highlights the role of Frank Baumann, who joined Schalke in June 2025, and new signings such as Edin Dzeko, whose experience has added goals and leadership. Another player cited as important to the new mood is goalkeeper Loris Karius, who has rebuilt his career at the club. The report says Schalke are approaching the new Bundesliga season with caution, with the main aim being to stay up.

The broader context is Schalke’s status as a traditional support-heavy club in a football-mad city where fans see the team as central to local identity. That makes their return significant not only for results, but for what the club represents in German football.