DFB-Pokal Winner 1974

Lore & Background

The competition was founded in 1935 as the Tschammer-Pokal. The first titleholders were 1. FC Nürnberg. In 1937, Schalke 04 were the first team to win the double. The Tschammer-Pokal was suspended in 1944 due to World War II and disbanded after the demise of Nazi Germany. In 1952–53, the cup was reinstated in West Germany as the DFB-Pokal and was won by Rot-Weiss Essen. Bayern Munich have won a record 21 titles and are the current holders, having beaten VfB Stuttgart 3–0 in the 2026 final. Fortuna Düsseldorf hold the record for most consecutive tournament game wins (18) between 1978 and 1981, winning the cup in 1979 and 1980.

Reader's Guide

The DFB-Pokal begins with a round of 64 teams. The 36 teams of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, along with the top four finishers of the 3. Liga, are automatically qualified.

Of the remaining slots, 21 are given to the cup winners of the regional football associations, and three slots are given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams. Reserve teams are ineligible. For the first round, teams are split into two pots: one contains the 18 teams from the previous Bundesliga season and the top 14 from the previous 2. Bundesliga; the other contains the bottom 4 from the previous 2.

Bundesliga, the top 4 from the previous 3. Liga, and 24 amateur teams. Since 1982, amateur teams play at home in the first round. For the second round, teams are again divided into two pots.

For remaining rounds other than the final, teams are drawn from one pot. Since 1985, the final has been held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Extra time is played if scores are level after 90 minutes, with a penalty shootout if needed.

Did You Know?

• The original trophy, the Goldfasanen-Pokal, was replaced in 1965 because it reminded DFB president Peco Bauwens of the Nazi era.
• In 1974, Hamburger SV's second round loss to VfB Eppingen was often called the 'mother of all cup upsets', the first instance of an amateur side knocking out a Bundesliga club.

The 80th Edition Context

The 2023 DFB-Pokal final marked a historic milestone as the culmination of the competition's 80th season, continuing a tradition that began in the Tschammerpokal era before transitioning to the modern DFB-Pokal format in 1953. Held on June 3, 2023, at Berlin's iconic Olympiastadion, this match served as the decisive conclusion to a single-elimination tournament involving 64 teams. The structure required competitors to navigate five grueling rounds, where advancement was determined by results after 90 minutes, with extra time and penalty shootouts serving as tiebreakers if necessary. This specific final featured a clash between the defending champions, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter that would determine the new cup holder.

Match Outcome and Championship

In a dominant display at the Olympiastadion, RB Leipzig secured their second DFB-Pokal title by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt with a final score of 2–0. As the defending champions entering the match, Leipzig successfully defended their crown against a determined Frankfurt side. The victory was decisive enough to require no extra time or penalties, showcasing the team's control throughout the regulation period. This triumph not only added another major trophy to their collection but also solidified their status as one of Germany's premier clubs in recent years. The 2–0 margin highlighted Leipzig's efficiency and tactical discipline on the day, ensuring they left Berlin with the cup while Frankfurt had to settle for runners-up honors.

European Qualification Implications

Winning the DFB-Pokal typically grants automatic entry into the group stage of the following season's UEFA Europa League. However, RB Leipzig's domestic league performance created a unique scenario regarding European qualification. Since Leipzig had already secured a spot in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League through their Bundesliga standing, their cup-derived Europa League place became redundant for them. Consequently, this slot was reallocated to Bayer Leverkusen, who finished sixth in the league. Furthermore, the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round spot shifted down the table to Eintracht Frankfurt, the team that placed seventh. This redistribution ensured that European competition slots were filled based on the combined results of the cup and league campaigns.

Post-Final Opportunities

The victory earned RB Leipzig an immediate invitation to compete in the 2023 DFL-Supercup at the start of the subsequent season. In this prestigious match, they faced Bayern Munich, who had claimed the title as champions of the 2022–23 Bundesliga edition. This Supercup appearance represented a direct reward for their cup success, pitting the two most successful German clubs of that year against one another. While Frankfurt missed out on the Supercup due to finishing second in the final, their seventh-place league finish secured them a pathway into European football via the Conference League play-offs. The 2023 final thus dictated not just immediate glory for Leipzig but also shaped the competitive landscape for both teams in the upcoming international and domestic fixtures.