GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — Edin Dzeko was back just in time to join the celebrations as seven-time German champions Schalke secured their place in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
“Back where you belong,” former Schalke legend Raúl expressed on Instagram.
Kenan Karaman’s goal in the 15th minute was enough to give Schalke a commanding 10-point lead over third-place Hannover in Germany’s second division. With three games left for Hannover and two for Schalke, the top two teams earn automatic promotion to the Bundesliga.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” said Karaman, the team captain, who scored his 14th goal of the season by finding the net inside the far post. “We waited a long time for this moment, as a club, as a city, for all the people involved. I’m thrilled we could achieve this milestone at home, as our fans truly deserve it.”
Although supporters were advised against rushing the field, hundreds of stewards were present to ensure safety, allowing fans to revel in the stands with flares, drinks, and songs.
“The pressure was immense,” Karaman reflected, acknowledging the challenging past few years. “Three consecutive seasons in the second division, with two almost resulting in relegation to the third division, was no easy feat.”
The transformation started last summer when sporting director Frank Baumann appointed Miron Muslić as head coach. The 43-year-old Muslić turned the struggling team into strong contenders for promotion, positioning Schalke favorably to clinch the second division title ahead of Paderborn.
This season’s promotion bid was bolstered by the unexpected signing of Dzeko in January. The now 40-year-old forward contributed six goals in nine league appearances for Schalke before suffering a shoulder injury during Bosnia’s World Cup playoff win against Italy on March 31.
During Dzeko’s absence, other players stepped up, notably Mali forward Moussa Sylla, who netted three of his seven goals this season in the final six games.
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Dzeko returned to the pitch in the 69th minute on Saturday as a substitute. Although he didn’t score, the 61,587 fans in the sold-out stadium had no complaints.
“We aimed for this win and to celebrate with our fans today,” said Dzeko, who preferred not to speculate about the future. “For now, we celebrate, but I’m very grateful for the decision to come here in January.”
This marks Schalke’s second promotion from the second division in five years after they were first relegated from the Bundesliga in 2021. They returned as second-division champions the following season, only to face relegation again in 2023 after just one season in the top tier.
“Restoring this club to its rightful place is the highest priority,” asserted Schalke defender Timo Becker.