Borussia Dortmund: Dominating the Field

Borussia Dortmund was founded on December 19, 1909, as a soccer club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The team's formation was driven by a group of young men dissatisfied with the Catholic Church-sponsored Trinity Youth club they were part of. These 18 young rebels decided to create their own soccer team that would later become Borussia Dortmund (source). The name "Borussia" is derived from the Latin word for Prussian (Preußen), while "Dortmund" refers to the city where it's situated.

In its early years, Borussia Dortmund struggled to make an impact on the soccer scene. Their first major accomplishment came in 1913 when they won their local league championship. However, due to World War I interrupting sports competitions throughout Europe, further progress was stalled.

It wasn't until after World War II that Borussia Dortmund started making waves on a national level. In the 1946-47 season, BVB secured the Oberliga West title - their first regional championship since before WWII (source).

Notable players during this period include August Lenz and Alfred Preissler. Lenz played for BVB from 1924 until his retirement in 1937 and helped guide them through difficult times during Nazi regime control over German football (source). Meanwhile, Preissler represented both BVB and Germany at international level; he scored more than 100 goals for Dortmund between 1946 to1958 and earned the nickname 'der Bomber' (source).

Borussia Dortmund has experienced several golden eras, with trophy-laden seasons and unforgettable moments that have left indelible marks on soccer history. We'll discuss three major periods of success for the team below:

1950s - Early Successes

The 1950s saw Borussia Dortmund become a force to be reckoned with in Germany. Led by iconic manager Helmut Schneider, they claimed their first German championship in 1956 followed by another one just two years later (source). In addition to their domestic success, BVB also won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) for the first time in their history during this period.

During this era, players such as Alfred Preissler and Franz Brungs made significant impacts on Borussia Dortmund's successes. In particular, Preissler was instrumental during both league championships; he scored an impressive double hat-trick against Werder Bremen in a match which ended 7-3 (source).

1990s - The Ottmar Hitzfeld Era

One of the most successful spells in Borussia Dortmund's history came under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's leadership between 1991-1997. During his tenure at BVB, Hitzfeld guided them to two Bundesliga titles (in 1994-95 and 1995-96), a DFB-Pokal win (in 1989), and perhaps most notably led them to UEFA Champions League glory in the memorable campaign of 1996-97.

Players like Matthias Sammer, Andreas Möller, and Stéphane Chapuisat became household names during this golden era. In the 1996-97 Champions League final against Juventus in Munich, it was Lars Ricken who scored a legendary goal just moments after coming on as a substitute to seal their victory (source).

2010s - The Jürgen Klopp Era

Another period of success for Borussia Dortmund came under the tutelage of Jürgen Klopp between 2008-2015. During his time at BVB, Klopp led them to back-to-back Bundesliga titles (in 2010-11 and 2011-12), one DFB-Pokal win (in 2012), and an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final (in 2013), where they narrowly lost to rivals Bayern Munich.

This era saw players like Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels, Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa, and İlkay Gündoğan shine. The memorable match against Malaga in April 2013 showcased Dortmund's resilience when they scored two last-minute goals to secure their spot in the Champions League semifinals (source).

Borussia Dortmund's most notable rival is undoubtedly FC Schalke 04 from neighboring Gelsenkirchen. Matches between these two teams are known as "Revierderby" or "Ruhr Derby," which stems from both clubs being situated within Germany's Ruhr region – a traditional coal-mining area with deep-rooted working-class culture. The rivalry dates back to 1925 when the two teams first faced off, with Schalke emerging victorious (source).

Derby matches between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke are always fiercely contested affairs marked by passionate displays of support from both sets of fans. Encounters often have a significant impact on league standings and local bragging rights, making them an essential part of each club's identity.

Other rivalries include clashes with Bayern Munich – known as "Der Klassiker" (The Classic) – which has grown in intensity over recent years due to title challenges and high-profile transfers among players like Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski, and Mats Hummels (source).

Borussia Dortmund plays its home matches at Signal Iduna Park (previously known as Westfalenstadion), inaugurated in 1974. With a seating capacity of 81,365 spectators for domestic league games (and reduced to 66,099 for international matches), it is Germany's largest stadium - offering an unparalleled atmosphere during matchdays.

One unique feature about Signal Iduna Park is the Südtribüne or South Stand – also known as the Yellow Wall - which houses around 25,000 standing supporters who create an electrifying environment that can intimidate opposing teams. The stadium is renowned across Europe for its fanatical support; many consider it one of the best atmospheres in soccer (source).

This intimidating nature undoubtedly contributes to Borussia Dortmund’s impressive home record. Notably, during the 2011-12 Bundesliga season, BVB secured an unbeaten record in league matches at Signal Iduna Park (source).

Borussia Dortmund is well-known for its passionate fan base, which spreads across Germany and beyond. It boasts one of Europe's highest average attendances with regularly sold-out home games. The fans are known for their unwavering support, even when the team faces difficult times.

Notable fan groups include "The Unity," founded in 2000 as a means to unite all BVB supporters under one umbrella organization (source). They coordinate large-scale tifos (displays using banners or flags) before matches and organize away-game travel arrangements to ensure strong support on the road.

On matchdays, fans engage in various chants and songs dedicated to Borussia Dortmund – including their famous rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," borrowed from English club Liverpool FC but passionately adopted by BVB supporters as a symbol of unity (source).

Traditions also extend off-field; pre-match gatherings often take place at Strobels tavern near Signal Iduna Park where fans can eat Currywurst - a local delicacy - while soaking up the atmosphere before heading over to experience intense soccer action.

1. Winning their first German Championship in 1956.
2. Securing back-to-back championships in 1957.
3. Winning the DFB-Pokal for the first time in 1965.
4. Lifting their first-ever UEFA Cup Winners' Cup trophy in 1966.
5. Clinching their third German Championship under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld in 1994-95 (source).
6. Retaining the Bundesliga title with a memorable campaign in 1995-96 (including victory over Bayern Munich) (source).
7. Defeating Juventus to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever during the historic 1996-97 season (source).
8. Sealing back-to-back Bundesliga titles under Jürgen Klopp's management between 2010 and 2012.
9. Their thrilling last-minute comeback against Malaga to reach UCL semifinals during Klopp's tenure in April 2013(source)
10. The emotional farewell match of legendary goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, marking an end of his remarkable career at BVB, which spanned from 2002 until his retirement in May 2018.