DFB Cup final: The biggest surprises and outsider victories in history

Arminia Bielefeld 2025 is the first Fifth third division team In general in the final – and could become the first subclass cup winner since Hannover 96 (1992).

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🏆 The biggest surprise winners in the DFB Cup

Short response: Only three times a club was managed to win the DFB Cup below the Bundesliga-most recently Hannover 96 in 1992.

🏆 Kickers Offenbach (1970)

Kickers Offenbach In 1969/70 left the Bundesliga-but in the same year as a regional league, the trophy was sensationally won with a 2-1 win against 1. FC Köln. Just a few weeks after relegation, Offenbach won the first big title in the club’s history.

🏆 Black and white Essen (1959)

Eating black and white Defeated Borussia Neunkirchen 5-2 in the final. The club played in the 2nd league West at the time and is still one of the few second division clubs who could ever win the trophy.

🏆 Hannover 96 (1992)

In the final in 1992 it sat down Hannover 96 as a second division club with 4: 3 in a penalty shootout against Borussia Mönchengladbach. To date, Hanover is the only club from the 2nd Bundesliga to win the DFB Cup in the professional age.

👀 Further final participation without title

Other underdogs such as Union Berlin (2001) or Energie Cottbus (1997) reached the final, but lost the favorite – more on that later in the next section.

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😓 Outsider in the final – just failed

Short response: Underclass teams were shortly before the cup victory – but in the end it was not enough against established Bundesliga clubs.

⚽ 1. FC Union Berlin (2001)

The then third division team 1. FC Union Berlin wrote story: As a regional league team, the club moved in to the final-but failed there with 0: 2 at FC Schalke 04. The reward: a starting place in the UEFA Cup.

⚽ Energie Cottbus (1997)

Energy Cottbus From the Regionalliga Nordost, VfL Bochum and Karlsruher SC defeated on the way to the final. In the final, however, VfB Stuttgart prevailed 2-0.

⚽ Alemannia Aachen (2004)

As a second division team provided Alemannia Aachen With victories against Bayern Munich (2-1) and Borussia Mönchengladbach for a sensation – but had to be in the final Werder Bremen Give 2: 3.

⚽ MSV Duisburg (2011)

MSV Duisburg From the 2nd Bundesliga after strong appearances in the final, but lost 0: 5 against Schalke 04 – until today the most top cup final without conceding a goal.

⚽ Hertha BSC Amateurs (1993)

The only third division team and the only second team made it Hertha BSC Amateurs In the final – lost 0-1 against Bayer Leverkusen. Second representatives have been excluded from the trophy since 2008.

⚽ 1. FC Kaiserslautern (2024)

As a second division, the 1. FC Kaiserslautern In the previous year the final, but there was 0-1 there to the high favorite Bayer Leverkusen – the finals are still a success.

⚽ Arminia Bielefeld (2025)

Whether Arminia Bielefeld In this list or writes history, decides against the VfB Stuttgart. As a third division team, a victory would be a historical event.

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🤯 Curiosities & Records of Underdogs

Short response: The DFB Cup wrote many weird history-especially when it comes to outsiders. Some records are still unique to this day.

👕 Hertha BSC Amateurs (1993): A final without professionals

Hertha BSC Amateurs To date, is the only team of a second representative that has ever reached a DFB Cup final. Since second teams are now excluded, this case remains unique in the history of the competition.

🎯 Kickers Offenbach (1970): Cup victory after descent

The Kickers Offenbach Standed off the Bundesliga at the end of the 1969/70 season-but a few weeks later got the DFB Cup against 1. FC Köln. An up and down of the feelings that only the trophy offers.

🥶 highest final defeat of an outsider

The MSV Duisburg Salved 0: 5 against Schalke 04 in 2011 – it was the clearest defeat of a subclass team in the final. Nevertheless, the finals were celebrated by the audience.

📺 Live in the European Cup – as a third division club

Thanks to the 2001 final entry Union Berlin As a third division club in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup season-and came to the round of 16. This was made possible by a special case, since Schalke 04 was already qualified for the Champions League.

⚠️ RWE missed the final – despite leadership

2005 led Rot-white food In the semifinals against Alemannia Aachen 2-0 – but still lost 2: 3. It would have been the first final participation since 1994. Such semi -finals show how close surprise and failure are together.

📉 Ascent to Cup final? False

Several finalists from League 2 or 3 were unable to save the cup performance into everyday league life. Examples:

• MSV Duisburg (2011): Blamable second half of the season, no climb
• Union Berlin (2001): No direct march despite the UEFA Cup participation
• Fortuna Cologne (1983): Remained second division – despite the final hero status

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🔭 What does that mean for Arminia Bielefeld?

Short response: Arminia Bielefeld is faced with a historical opportunity in 2025 – a trophy victory would be a novelty in modern football and an emotional exclamation mark.

📜 historical parallels

The Arminia lantages into a number of surprise teams such as Union Berlin (2001), Energie Cottbus (1997) or Hertha BSC Amateurs (1993). However, in contrast to them, the team from 2025 has the potential to be more than “only” outsiders.

⚽ sporty: barely realistic – but not impossible

• Stuttgart goes to the final as a clear favorite
• Arminia can play freely – “to win everything, nothing to lose”
• An early goal, a good goalkeeper, a little bit of luck-the cup miracle is theoretically possible

💶 financially: a jackpot for the Arminia

• Final entry: over 3 million euros bonus
• Strong thrust for sponsors, merchandising and ticket sales
• A title and participation in the Europa League would be a liberation for a stricken traditional club

🫶 emotional value

For the fans in East Westphalia, the final already means everything – the club is back in the headlines, is celebrated nationwide, and has established itself as a “winner of the heart” regardless of the outcome.

🎯 What if …?

Should the Arminia the final against the VfB Stuttgart In fact, it would be the first third division club to get the trophy – and would start in the Europa League 2025/26. A scenario that drives tears of football in the eye.

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✅ Conclusion: The trophy has its own laws

Short response: Outsiders in the DFB Cup final are rare-but when they appear, they provide the best stories.

From Kickers Offenbach above Hannover 96 up to Union Berlin or Kaiserslautern -The DFB Cup lives from surprises, outsiders and football romance. Most of them lose the final. Few win. And some even write history.

With Arminia Bielefeld In 2025 there is a team in the final that has no chance on paper – and that’s exactly why the heart is favorite. No matter how the final ends: the cup has once again shown that football is more than calculus.

And who knows – maybe we’ll see another little miracle on Saturday.

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