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Jupp Heynckes (c.) was part of the most successful era in Borussia Mönchengladbach's history in the 1970s. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
Jupp Heynckes (c.) was part of the most successful era in Borussia Mönchengladbach's history in the 1970s. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA

Borussia Mönchengladbach: 10 things on the Foals from the Rhineland

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Together with Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach had to wait patiently for their arrival in the Bundesliga, but they made up for lost time to become one of the most successful clubs in German top-flight history.

1) Founded over a pint

Their last title win may be over 40 years ago, but not many clubs can boast a tradition as rich as Gladbach's - one which has made them one of the most renowned clubs in world football. bundesliga.com takes a closer look...

It may be a familiar story – at least in Germany – but Borussia Mönchengladbach were founded in a pub. Not literally, but that is where a group of keen footballers met to lay the foundations for the club by creating FC Borussia on 17 November 1899. A year later, the group decided to sign up in an official league under the name Borussia 1900, although it was not for a further ten years that they officially became the 30th club in the Westphalian city, under the name Borussia 1900 M.Gladbach.

WATCH: All you need to know about Gladbach

2) From Monks, to Munich, to Mönchengladbach

Borussia and Bayern Munich have been two of German football's biggest rivals, but did you know that their cities shared the same name until 1950? Indeed, Mönchengladbach used to be known as München Gladbach, often shortened to M. Gladbach. Since people were constantly confusing the two cities, it was decided on 20 December 1950 to alter the city's name to Mönchen Gladbach, which recognised the monks (German: Mönchen) who had settled there in 974.

3) Phoenix from the… gravel

Gladbach's first home grew from a gravel pit – literally. In March 1914, they bought an area of land named 'De Kull' in local dialect, in reference to the gravel. Work on building their first stadium was interrupted by the First World War, but the 'Westdeutsches Stadion' was finally completed in 1919. This grew and grew into the renowned Bökelbergstadion, a name given to it by a local journalist who created the neologism out of the venue's address – Bökelstraße – and the German word for stadium. It remained the Foals' stable until they moved to Borussia-Park in 2005.

9) They'll never walk alone

During their 1970s' heyday, it was not rare for Gladbach to meet Liverpool in European club competitions, since the English club were enjoying similar success across The Channel. Rather than getting sick of the sight of each other, though, the two teams forged a sporting friendship which extended off the field. In 2010, for Gladbach's 110-year anniversary, the Reds paid the Borussia-Park a visit for a friendly match, while the Anfield Road club's famous anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is now also on the playlist ahead of Gladbach's home games.

Former Italy number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was one very relieved prominent fan of the Bundesliga club, and he was delighted to pick up a new scarf as he finally got his tongue around the German Team's name.

Click here for more news, views and features on Gladbach!