Forgotten European giants with stadium bigger than the Emirates at risk of extinction with crippling debts

GERMAN giants Schalke are in danger of going extinct if they suffer another relegation.

The seven-time Bundesliga champions spent 29 years in the top tier prior to their relegation in 2021.

ReutersSchalke are one of the biggest clubs in Germany but face potential extinction[/caption]

The team are desperately struggling in the second tier2024 Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto

They secured immediate promotion after winning the second division, but were then relegated again at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

And they are now in a desperate situation towards the bottom of the 2. Bundesliga.

Schalke sit 15th out of 18 teams and are only above the two automatic relegation spots by virtue of goal difference.

Back-to-back defeats to Hamburger and Kaiserslautern gave compounded their recent turmoil.

But things could yet get a whole lot worse for the side that play in front of more than 62,000 people at the Veltins-Arena.

According to Sky Germany, relegation to the third tier could mean the club ceases to exist.

That is because a licence for the division would be “basically impossible”.

And it is understood that would leave the club “dead”.

It means their crunch relegation six-pointer against 16th place Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday could prove crucial in determining their future.

It is a remarkable thought that Schalke could go out of business given the size of the club.

They own the fifth-biggest stadium in Germany – behind only Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Hertha Berlin and Turkgucu Munich.

They lifted six league titles between 1934 and 1942 – and added another to their trophy cabinet in 1958.

Schalke’s biggest achievement of the last 30 years came in 1997 when they won the Uefa Cup, beating Inter Milan on penalties in a two-legged final.