Germany’s premier domestic cup competition, the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), organised by the German Football Association (DFB), was first held in 1935 as the Tschammerpokal. Each season, 64 teams from the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and lower divisions compete in a knockout format, with the final traditionally marking the end of the German football season. However, in exceptional years—such as 1970 and 1974—the final was rescheduled to the start of the following season due to the FIFA World Cup.
Since 1985, the Olympiastadion in Berlin has been the iconic venue for every final, becoming synonymous with the prestige and excitement of the competition. Clubs like Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, and Borussia Dortmund have historically dominated the tournament, etching their names in German football history.
Winning the DFB-Pokal not only brings silverware but also secures qualification for the UEFA Europa League, giving the cup significant continental importance alongside domestic glory. This article presents a comprehensive list of all DFB-Pokal winners from 1935 to 2024, highlights the most successful clubs, and shares intriguing facts about the tournament’s rich legacy.
List of DFB-Pokal winners year by year
| Season | Winner | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–0 | Schalke 04 |
| 1936 | VfB Leipzig | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
| 1937 | Schalke 04 | 2–1 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 1938 | Rapid Wien | 3–1 | FSV Frankfurt |
| 1939 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–0 | Waldhof Mannheim |
| 1940 | Dresdner SC | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Nürnberg |
| 1941 | Dresdner SC | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
| 1942 | 1860 Munich | 2–0 | Schalke 04 |
| 1943 | First Vienna | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | LSV Hamburg |
| 1952–53 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 2–1 | Alemannia Aachen |
| 1953–54 | VfB Stuttgart | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
| 1954–55 | Karlsruher SC | 3–2 | Schalke 04 |
| 1955–56 | Karlsruher SC | 3–1 | Hamburger SV |
| 1956–57 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 1957–58 | VfB Stuttgart | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 1958–59 | Schwarz-Weiß Essen (II) | 5–2 | Borussia Neunkirchen |
| 1959–60 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 3–2 | Karlsruher SC |
| 1960–61 | Werder Bremen | 2–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 1961–62 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 1962–63 | Hamburger SV | 3–0 | Borussia Dortmund |
| 1963–64 | 1860 Munich | 2–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 1964–65 | Borussia Dortmund | 2–0 | Alemannia Aachen (II) |
| 1965–66 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | Meidericher SV |
| 1966–67 | Bayern Munich | 4–0 | Hamburger SV |
| 1967–68 | 1. FC Köln | 4–1 | VfL Bochum (II) |
| 1968–69 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
| 1969–70 | Kickers Offenbach (II) | 2–1 | 1. FC Köln |
| 1970–71 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
| 1971–72 | Schalke 04 | 5–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 1972–73 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1. FC Köln |
| 1973–74 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Hamburger SV |
| 1974–75 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 1–0 | MSV Duisburg |
| 1975–76 | Hamburger SV | 2–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 1976–77 | 1. FC Köln | 1–1 (a.e.t.), 1–0 (replay) | Hertha BSC |
| 1977–78 | 1. FC Köln | 2–0 | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 1978–79 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Hertha BSC |
| 1979–80 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 2–1 | 1. FC Köln |
| 1980–81 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 1981–82 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | 1. FC Nürnberg |
| 1982–83 | 1. FC Köln | 1–0 | Fortuna Köln (II) |
| 1983–84 | Bayern Munich | 1–1 (a.e.t.), 7–6 (p) | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| 1984–85 | Bayer Uerdingen | 2–1 | Bayern Munich |
| 1985–86 | Bayern Munich | 5–2 | VfB Stuttgart |
| 1986–87 | Hamburger SV | 3–1 | Stuttgarter Kickers (II) |
| 1987–88 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 1–0 | VfL Bochum |
| 1988–89 | Borussia Dortmund | 4–1 | Werder Bremen |
| 1989–90 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 3–2 | Werder Bremen |
| 1990–91 | Werder Bremen | 1–1 (a.e.t.), 4–3 (p) | 1. FC Köln |
| 1991–92 | Hannover 96 (II) | 0–0 (a.e.t.), 4–3 (p) | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| 1992–93 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–0 | Hertha BSC Amateure (III) |
| 1993–94 | Werder Bremen | 3–1 | Rot-Weiss Essen (II) |
| 1994–95 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 3–0 | VfL Wolfsburg (II) |
| 1995–96 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 1–0 | Karlsruher SC |
| 1996–97 | VfB Stuttgart | 2–0 | Energie Cottbus (III) |
| 1997–98 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | MSV Duisburg |
| 1998–99 | Werder Bremen | 1–1 (a.e.t.), 5–4 (p) | Bayern Munich |
| 1999–2000 | Bayern Munich | 3–0 | Werder Bremen |
| 2000–01 | Schalke 04 | 2–0 | Union Berlin (III) |
| 2001–02 | Schalke 04 | 4–2 | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 2002–03 | Bayern Munich | 3–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 2003–04 | Werder Bremen | 3–2 | Alemannia Aachen (II) |
| 2004–05 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 | Schalke 04 |
| 2005–06 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 2006–07 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | VfB Stuttgart |
| 2007–08 | Bayern Munich | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund |
| 2008–09 | Werder Bremen | 1–0 | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 2009–10 | Bayern Munich | 4–0 | Werder Bremen |
| 2010–11 | Schalke 04 | 5–0 | MSV Duisburg (II) |
| 2011–12 | Borussia Dortmund | 5–2 | Bayern Munich |
| 2012–13 | Bayern Munich | 3–2 | VfB Stuttgart |
| 2013–14 | Bayern Munich | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Borussia Dortmund |
| 2014–15 | VfL Wolfsburg | 3–1 | Borussia Dortmund |
| 2015–16 | Bayern Munich | 0–0 (a.e.t.), 4–3 (p) | Borussia Dortmund |
| 2016–17 | Borussia Dortmund | 2–1 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 2017–18 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 3–1 | Bayern Munich |
| 2018–19 | Bayern Munich | 3–0 | RB Leipzig |
| 2019–20 | Bayern Munich | 4–2 | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 2020–21 | Borussia Dortmund | 4–1 | RB Leipzig |
| 2021–22 | RB Leipzig | 1–1 (a.e.t.), 4–2 (p) | SC Freiburg |
| 2022–23 | RB Leipzig | 2–0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 2023–24 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern (II) |
| 2024–25 | TBD | TBD |
Notes:
- (II) or (III) denotes the team’s division (second or third tier) at the time of the final.
- a.e.t.: After extra time.
- p: Penalty shootout.
Most Successful Clubs in DFB-Pokal History
| Club | Titles Won | Runner-Up Finishes |
|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | 20 | 4 |
| Werder Bremen | 6 | 4 |
| Schalke 04 | 5 | 7 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 5 | 3 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 5 | 5 |
| 1. FC Köln | 4 | 6 |
| Hamburger SV | 3 | 4 |
Interesting Facts About the DFB-Pokal
- Record Holders: Bayern Munich holds the record with 20 DFB-Pokal titles.
- Historic Upsets: In 1994, third-division side Rot-Weiss Essen reached the semi-finals.
- Youngest Winner: Jamal Musiala became the youngest Bayern player to score in a final at age 18 (2020).
- Venue: Since 1985, the final has been played at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
