1. FC Kaiserslautern: Could one of Germany's most iconic clubs return to the Bundesliga?

1. FC Kaiserslautern are one of the most historic and iconic clubs in Germany. In a promotion battle in the 2. Bundesliga, the Red Devils are currently fighting for a return to the Bundesliga.

From the third division to the Bundesliga in just two seasons? Kaiserslautern could become just the ninth team in history to manage back-to-back promotions from the 3. Liga to the Bundesliga. 1860 Munich was the first team to manage this feat. The Lions were promoted in 1993 to the 2. Bundesliga and then just one year later to the first division. 

Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1995 and Arminia Bielefeld in 1996 were the next two to manage back-to-back promotions. Then in 1998, 1. FC Nürnberg under Felix Magath and then SSV Ulm 1846—where a certain Ralf Rangnick was partly responsible for the club’s success—became the next two clubs to manage the direct path from the third to the first division. 

Rangnick was also involved in the next double promotion, guiding Hoffenheim from the third division to the Bundesliga in 2008. Darmstadt in 2014/15 and Paderborn in 2018/19 were the latest two clubs to manage the Durchmarsch (march through) from the third division to the Bundesliga. 

Paderborn’s story, in particular, is astonishing as the club was previously relegated three times in a row from the Bundesliga to the fourth division. It was only thanks to 1860 Munich’s financial issues that Paderborn were saved from relegation to the Regionalliga, opening the door for the club to return to the Bundesliga within just two seasons.  

Either way, the history of the Durchmarsch could soon also feature one of Germany’s most historic clubs in 1. FC Kaiserslautern. It would be just the latest chapter in what is already one of the most colorful histories of any club in Germany. In 1954 Kaiserslautern formed the backbone of the German national team that won the World Cup.