Opposition Check: FC Schalke 04

The jersey is a reminder of a time when football in the Ruhr region was even rougher. The fabric was robust, almost heavy, and felt like Schalke played back then – honest, combative, and courageous. Compared to today’s ultra-modern jerseys, the jersey lacked technical sophistication, but it had character.

From a sporting perspective, the 1992/93 season wasn’t a golden moment, but it did represent a solid phase in the club’s Bundesliga history. Schalke finished the season in 10th place. Back then, the team lacked any major stars – but with a clear commitment to playing the „hard-working“ football beloved in the Ruhr region.

More than three decades later, the Royal Blues have revived the jersey from the 1992/93 season in 2025. The home jersey, with its abstract all-over pattern, is intended to commemorate Schalke’s eventful club history. It speaks of days spent at the Parkstadion, beer in hand, and old floodlight masts. The stadium is now a state-of-the-art one. And the club from the Ruhr region faces different challenges today. After difficult years, relegations and promotions, and the harsh reality of the second division, FC Schalke 04 is currently in second place in the 2. Bundesliga. The Royal Blues will face SV Darmstadt 98 twice within a few days – first on Friday evening (October 24th, 6:30pm) at Schalke in the league, then on Wednesday evening (October 29th, 8:45pm) in the DFB Cup at Böllenfalltor.

We took a closer look at the opponents for the weekend and for the DFB Cup match in our opponent check.

FC Schalke 04 is a real fireball in terms of running ability and intensity. The Royal Blues are particularly committed to sprinting and are among the league leaders in this category. With a total of 1,526 sprints, Schalke ranks a strong third in this statistic. Only Hannover 96 (1,536) and Arminia Bielefeld (1,546) sprint more often. This shows that the team from Gelsenkirchen’s Schalker Meile certainly doesn’t lack commitment and willpower. The players invest enormously, are constantly on the move, and try to put their opponents under pressure with high speed. The reward: second place in the 2. Bundesliga, without dropping a point in four games, and the best defence in the competition, having conceded just five goals.

The air smells of wood, varnish, and old sheet music. Ron Schallenberg sits among guitars, keyboards, and drums in his family’s music store in Paderborn, tapping the keys of an electric piano and grinning. „When I get started myself, I really like the piano, but the guitar just sounds the coolest. And as for musical styles, I’m totally open,“ he tells the „Schalker Kreisel“ radio station. The business has been around for three generations – his great-grandfather started with radios, and later the family converted it into a music store. Today, Schallenberg’s father runs the business – and in this environment, Ron learned early on to take responsibility, try things out, and learn from mistakes.

These same lessons also accompanied him on the football pitch. Born in Paderborn, Schallenberg began his football journey at SV Marienloh, his hometown club. Even at a young age, he demonstrated not only technical talent but also exceptional game intelligence, which brought him to SC Paderborn. Over the years, he worked his way up through SC Paderborn’s youth teams, experienced the club’s highs and lows, and knew early on that hard work and patience would be crucial.

His career took him on loan to SC Verl in 2018, where he was able to further develop his defensive versatility and leadership skills before returning to Paderborn. In Paderborn, Schallenberg became an integral part of the first team. On September 28, 2020, the young player made his debut against HSV, quickly becoming a regular starter and even being named captain for the 2021/22 season.

From Paderborn to Gelsenkirchen

A year later – in the summer of 2023 – the Paderborn native moved to the Ruhr region to join FC Schalke 04. Schallenberg’s passion for Schalke began as a child: „I really started following the games at the beginning of the millennium, when I was about four or five years old. In 2004, my father took me to the stadium for the first time against Vardar Skopje. That’s when the spark ignited; even a streaker during the game couldn’t deter me for long,“ Schallenberg fondly recalls in an interview with „Schalker Kreisel.“ What’s particularly remarkable about the Ruhr region football club? „First and foremost, the mentality that everyone in and around the club embraces,“ says the Royal Blues‘ defender.

In the current Schalke team, Schallenberg is considered a solid defensive midfielder, someone who can read the game, open up space, and guide young teammates. Ron Schallenberg is a player who has learned that success requires not only talent, but also patience, consistency, and a sense of timing. The calm demeanor that accompanied him while practicing drums or piano in his family’s music room is also reflected in his play on the football field: thoughtful, structured, calm—yet with a clear impact.