Bundesliga founding members
In 1963, VfB Stuttgart became one of the founding members of the Bundesliga, just squeezing out Bayern Munich (who did not join the Bundesliga until 1965). During the first ten years of the Bundesliga, Stuttgart was never one of the 'big' clubs. The best they managed was a couple of fifth places, and in 1975 they were ultimately relegated.
Bundesliga champions
In 1977, Stuttgart were promoted again and finished fourth in their first season back in the top flight, attracting what were then record average attendances of 54,000 (not beaten until the mid-1990s, by Dortmund). Three thirds and a second place in this era marked the club's arrival as a major new force in German football, crowned in 1984 with their third German Championship.
The Daum and Löw years
In 1992, managed by Christoph Daum, the club won the Bundesliga title again, clinching it with an 86th minute goal on the very last day of the season. In 1997, managed by Joachim Löw (now assistant national team coach alongside another former Stuttgart employee, Jürgen Klinsmann), the club won the German Cup, and a year later reached the final of the European Cup Winners Cup, losing narrowly to Chelsea 1-0.
Champions League
With relegation threatening, Felix Magath became the new manager in 2001. He kept the club up and, with no cash to spend, relied heavily on a new generation of young players such as Kevin Kuryani, Timo Hildebrand and Alexander Hleb.
 |
| Trapattoni exits stage left |
In 2003, Magath's youngsters surprisingly came runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, qualifying for the Champions League, where they even beat Manchester United 2-1.
Sammer out - Trapattoni out
In 2004, Felix Magath moved to Bayern Munich and former player Matthias Sammer took over. However, at the end of 2004/05 season Sammer left and the colourful Giovanni Trapattoni took over...only in turn to be released in February 2006.
|
