125 years Eintracht Frankfurt

From the Eintracht family for the Eintracht family: Eintracht Frankfurt will be 125 years old on 8 March 2024! We look back on eventful years of our club, the eras of which each and every one of you has experienced in your own special way: whether the numerous DFB Cup victories, winning the UEFA Cup twice in 1980 and 2022 and, of course, the German Championship in 1959 - countless milestones remain unforgotten for all of us and shine for eternity. Let's relive old times and outstanding, unforgettable moments.

The history of Eintracht Frankfurt

When 15 football enthusiasts from Frankfurt got together in a pub near the main railway station on the evening of 8 March 1899 and founded the Victoria football club, they probably had no idea that they were writing sporting history at that very moment. Initially, football was played in Frankfurt on the Hundswiese, a suburban meadow near Miquelallee. The goals still had to be built by the players themselves and the German Football Association did not even exist yet.

In 1911, Victoria merged with the Frankfurter Kickers to form the Frankfurter Fußballverein (FFV), and the club built its own sports facility on Eschersheimer Landstraße. The name Eintracht came about in 1920 when the FFV merged with the Turngemeinde von 1861, which resided in Oeder Weg.

The Riederwald became the new home, which was opened with a stadium, tennis courts and much more in 1920, the year of the merger, not far from the Ostpark. The club had 2,200 members at the time and included numerous departments such as athletics, fencing, swimming, handball and hockey.

Initially, however, the "Schlappekicker" - as they were nicknamed, as most of the footballers were employed at the Schneider shoe factory - had to break FSV's dominance in Frankfurt. They succeeded in the early 1930s, with Eintracht only losing to FC Bayern Munich in the 1932 German Championship final.

The darkest period of German history did not stop at Eintracht, the club was brought into line in 1933. The Riederwald Stadium was destroyed in the bombing raids during the Second World War. It was not until 1952 that the "New Riederwald" was opened at the Pestalozzi School in today's Seckbach district.

The club's great years began in its new home. In 1959, Eintracht celebrated the German championship by beating Kickers Offenbach 5:3 in the final and became the first German team to reach the final of the national championship cup the following year. Their opponents in Glasgow were Real Madrid. To this day, this final is regarded as one of the best club team matches of all time. Eintracht lost 3:7 in front of over 127,000 spectators at Hampden Park.

When a new football era began in August 1963 with the introduction of the Bundesliga in Germany, Eintracht was there and established itself in the top flight in the following years. Eintracht won the DFB Cup in 1974, 1975, 1981 and 1988, and even the UEFA Cup in 1980. Key players from this period, such as 1974 World Cup winners Jürgen Grabowski and Bernd Hölzenbein, "Dr Hammer" Bernd Nickel and record Bundesliga player Karl-Heinz Körbel, are now club legends.

However, the memories of 16 May 1992, when the team coached by Dragoslav Stepanovic travelled as league leaders to Hansa Rostock, who had been relegated, are traumatic for every Eintracht player. A 2:1 defeat on the Baltic coast meant that they did not win their second German championship in the club's history. A gradual decline began in the years that followed, culminating in relegation from the Bundesliga in 1996.

This was followed by a 20-year rollercoaster ride with three further detours via the second division, four promotions, dramatic final matchdays (5:1 against Kaiserslautern in 1999, 6:3 against Reutlingen in 2003), the near-insolvency in 2002, the surprising entry into the DFB Cup final in 2006 under record coach Friedhelm Funkel and the European competition in 2013 as well as the relegation in 2016, which also marked the end of the term of office of Heribert Bruchhagen, who had been CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG since the end of 2003.

This was the starting point of a run of form that continued into the 125th anniversary year and satisfied the team's longing after 30 years without a title win in 2018. After losing the DFB Cup final the year before, Eintracht beat the heavy favourites FC Bayern Munich 3:1 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. In the 2019 UEFA Europa League, the eagle bearers only lost on penalties to Chelsea FC in the semi-finals. Three years later, the Eagles also brought the European Cup back to Frankfurt. On 18 May 2022, Eintracht defeated Rangers FC from Glasgow on penalties in Seville and celebrated its second international title, which led to its debut in the UEFA Champions League the following season.

Today, many of the more than 50 sports are nationally or even internationally successful with their athletes. However, medals and success in (top-level) sport are only possible with a broad base and appropriate promotion of sport in general. That is why, true to the motto "From the grass roots to the top", the association is also proud of the number of over 14,000 amateur athletes who are members of the sports departments. Peter Fischer, club president since 2000, is one of the fathers of membership development.

The infrastructure for grassroots and elite sport has also been improved in recent years. The heart of the club beats at Riederwald, and the facilities at the West site in Nied have also enabled the sports programme to be expanded in recent years. The stadium at Deutsche Bank Park now has 58,000 seats and is sold out for all men's matches. The ProfiCamp at Deutsche Bank Park, which was completed at the end of 2021 and combines the offices of Fußball AG and the state-of-the-art professional players' area, is located at the most beautiful postal address in Frankfurt: "In the heart of Europe 1". Next door is the Deutsche Bank Esports Academy, a talent factory for the region's esports scene.

Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates its 125th birthday on 8 March 2024. But the story is far from over; new chapters are already being added this season. Eintracht's women's team is competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time, once again providing the club with magical moments. There have already been many of them in 125 years - and there will be many more in the entire Eintracht family.

From the Eintracht family for the Eintracht family

Jersey 125 years

All-over design with foundation certificate
Player and legend flocking selectable
With elegant anniversary box
Dri-FIT technology

The special jersey for the 125th anniversary was kept entirely in the historic design and features a large section of the founding document on the front, enhanced by the centred anniversary motif in gold. To emphasise the club's reflection on its roots, the club crest on the chest is reminiscent of one of Eintracht's first coats of arms and is also coloured gold. This design thread runs through all elements of the all-over print. Whether it's the Swoosh from outfitter Nike in a 3D look or the message "Founding of the club on 8 March 1899" embedded in the back of the collar: everything stands out in the anniversary colours and resembles the handwritten founding document thanks to the ornate letters. Further highlights include the black tone-on-tone Bundesliga logo on the right sleeve and the golden Eintracht Frankfurt Museum lettering on the left sleeve.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our main sponsor Indeed, who has decided to forego its presence on the chest of the jersey to mark this historic occasion and congratulate us on our 125th anniversary with a neck print on the inside of the jersey. Sleeve partner ELOTRANS reload is also foregoing a placement and leaving the left sleeve to the Eintracht Frankfurt Museum. In keeping with the occasion, Indeed and Eintracht Frankfurt will donate five euros per jersey sold to the Eintracht Frankfurt Museum to help preserve the club's tradition.

Material: 100% polyester (recycled polyester from plastic bottles)

Manufacturer: Nike

Made in Georgia

Available in our official fan shops and in the online shop:

Important notes for jersey flocking:

The font colour of the back flocking is gold and the font is curved. The following flockings can be selected: Women's team players, men's team players, the most famous Eintracht legends (+€15.00) and, as usual, a personalised name (+€17.50).

Golden back flocking on black jersey. The name is placed at the bottom of the jerseys and the FRANKFURT lettering at the top.
We ask for your understanding that jerseys that are to be individually flocked are excluded from the right of cancellation. The same applies to player, name and number changes.
Please note that it is no longer possible to cancel or change your jersey order with your own name after receipt of the order confirmation.
For flocking with player names, please allow an additional 2-3 working days for delivery.
Furthermore, the delivery time for customised flocked jerseys will be extended by approx. 3-4 working days in addition to the stated delivery time.
Jerseys ordered in the online shop can be flocked in all official fanshops. However, only with flocks purchased there. The flocking costs are identical to those in the online shop.
The display of the back flock in the jersey configurator may differ from the original.
The flock size is based on the smallest jersey size and cannot be variably adapted to other sizes.

125-years-collection

WE ARE ALSO PLEASED ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF THE FOLLOWING LICENCE PARTNERS IN THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

What anniversary items are available?

The "125 years of Eintracht Frankfurt" eagle ring is strictly limited to 125 pieces and available in sterling silver (and in 14 or 18-carat yellow gold on request)