Bundesliga 2 Records: Goals, Promotion, and Relegation for Players and Clubs
Eleven years after the Bundesliga's creation, the second division, Bundesliga 2, was established in 1974. Since then, teams, players, and coaches have competed fiercely for a spot in the top flight. As the league enters its 52nd season in 2025/26, numerous records have been set.
Most Promotions
Nuremberg leads with the highest number of promotions from Bundesliga 2, achieving this feat eight times. Arminia Bielefeld has also been promoted to the Bundesliga eight times, though one of these was from the former Regionalliga, which preceded Bundesliga 2.
Most Relegations
Nuremberg holds the record for the most relegations from the Bundesliga, having been demoted nine times. They have demonstrated resilience by immediately returning to the top tier on four occasions.
Back-to-Back Promotions
Paderborn became the eighth team to secure promotion to Bundesliga 2 and then climb to the Bundesliga in the very next season during 2018/19. Previous teams to achieve this were:
- Darmstadt (2014/15)
- Hoffenheim (2007/08)
- Ulm (1998/99)
- Nuremberg (1997/98)
- Arminia Bielefeld (1995/96)
- Fortuna Düsseldorf (1994/95)
- 1860 Munich (1993/94)
Most Immediate Returns
Bochum stands out with five instances of immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga following relegation.
Promotion Coaches
Friedhelm Funkel holds the record for most promotions earned as a coach in Bundesliga 2, achieving this seven times. His successes span multiple clubs:
- Uerdingen (1992, 1994)
- Duisburg (1996)
- Cologne (2003, 2025)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (2005)
- Fortuna Düsseldorf (2018)
All stats are correct as of 3 November 2025.
The Bundesliga 2 history highlights the competitive spirit and resilience of clubs and coaches striving for top-tier football success.