After three long seasons away from Germany's top flight, Schalke 04 are finally back where they belong. The Royal Blues secured their return to the Bundesliga on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf at a jubilant Veltins-Arena.
The decisive moment came early, in the 15th minute, when top scorer Kenan Karaman found the back of the net. It was his 14th goal of the season—a tally that has been instrumental in powering Schalke's promotion charge. "I can't find the right words right now," an emotional Karaman told broadcaster Nitro after the match. "We've waited a while for this moment. We had two difficult years. I'm incredibly grateful and incredibly proud. I truly wear this jersey with passion and pride."
Karaman wasn't the only hero in this story. The January signing of veteran Bosnian striker Edin Džeko injected fresh energy and experience into the squad for the crucial run-in. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Loris Karius has finally found consistency—a remarkable comeback for a player who endured years of scrutiny following his infamous Champions League final performance in 2018.
"(It feels) Good. Not bad! We wanted this win, we wanted to celebrate with the fans," Džeko told broadcaster Sky. When asked if he'll be sticking around for the much-anticipated Revierderby against Borussia Dortmund next season, the 38-year-old smiled: "Let's see. First of all, we celebrate. I'm very happy to have decided in January to play here."
Even rivals Dortmund couldn't resist acknowledging Schalke's return. On social media, they posted a picture of an aircraft towing a banner with the message: "We've almost missed you."
The architect of this revival? Miron Muslić—a surprise appointment as head coach given his previous stints at Cercle Brugge and Plymouth Argyle. But the 42-year-old has masterminded promotion in his very first season, proving that sometimes the boldest choices yield the biggest rewards.
This achievement is especially sweet given Schalke's recent struggles. They finished 10th and 14th in their previous two second-tier campaigns, with last season marking their lowest ever finish since the current German league structure was adopted in 1963. Fans, however, will be cautiously optimistic. The club's last promotion in 2022 was followed by just one season in the Bundesliga before another painful relegation.
Yet there's reason to believe this time might be different. As recently as 2018, Schalke finished second in the Bundesliga—the seventh time they've been runners-up. While the Royal Blues have never won the Bundesliga title (their German championships came before the league's formation in 1963), their passionate fanbase and rich history suggest they belong on the biggest stage.
For now, though, it's time to celebrate. The blue and white faithful have their club back in the top flight, and with Paderborn also looking likely to join them, the 2025-26 Bundesliga season just got a whole lot more interesting.