Still in the Zweite Bundesliga, Schalke 04 remain one of the giants of German football. Not just in Germany, but worldwide. Seriously. By membership numbers, they’re the sixth-largest football club on the planet.They come from a city with a unique history. Gelsenkirchen experienced a rise and fall unlike anywhere else in Germany. Once home to more than 400,000 people — with booming industry and steady jobs — it’s now one of the poorest cities in the country, with a population of 260,000.Through all the hardship, one thing has stayed constant: the football club that plays its home matches in a spaceship — the Veltins-Arena.Schalke’s story is one of triumph, collapse, and an unbreakable commitment to staying true to your club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.