The 90s are dead; long live the 90s.

”Bakero! Of all things, this little fucker had to score this header.“

This sentence has burned into my head like no other when it comes to talking about football with my dad.

Kaiserslautern, Fritz-Walter-Stadion, November 6th, 1991.

It’s one of those magical nights under the floodlights. Kaiserslautern, the sensational German champions of 1991, welcome the famous FC Barcelona. After a shocking 2:0 first-leg win at Camp Nou, the underdogs put up a monumental fight against the star-studded team which included Andoni Zubizarreta, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup and Hristo Stoichkov.

On this night, the myth of the Westkurve is ultimately born. Kaiserslautern’s most famous stand is lit up in countless flares before the whistle is even blown – the fans pushing their team forward tirelessly: frenetic, chaotic, electrifying.

The hosts deliver another incredible fight, holding Barça to a 2:1 lead until deep into stoppage time. Then the inevitable happens – and of all people, Bakero, the smallest player on the pitch, scores that infamous header. My dad often has that glance in his eyes when he talks about this moment: “You could have heard a pin drop“, he always says when we get to this part of the story. The match-winner himself visited Fritz-Walter-Stadion years later and remembered an atmosphere that felt “extraordinary and unique” to him – and it is this atmosphere people in Kaiserslautern still talk about to this day.

This match, the fiery crowd, the heroic fight against one of Europe’s giants – it is symbolic of Kaiserslautern’s glorious 90s.

The club filled its’ cabinet with two DFB-Pokal Cups, one DFB Supercup and two Bundesliga trophies, culminating in that fabulous 1998 title. Winning the Bundesliga as a freshly promoted side was nothing short of a miracle. To this day it has never been repeated in German football.

Back then, the club had an underdog mentality deeply rooted in its identity. Fearlessly taking on Europe’s most famous names – Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid. The team’s fighting spirit, always prioritised over style, became feared across Germany and beyond.

These days are long gone. After a utopian stadium renovation, tax scandals and various dubious managers, Kaiserslautern slipped into insignificance for years, ended up in the third German league and even had to file for bankruptcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While my dad remembers trophies and European nights, my early memories are filled with grey away games against clubs I have long forgotten. Rainy Saturdays, forgettable players – and that deep sense of irrelevance no supporter wants to feel.

And still, even after the success was gone, the fans kept FCK alive and breathing.

This deep bond, which goes far beyond such trivial things as trophies and cups, has never left us. The football club is deeply rooted in the city and in the mentality of the people who live in the region around. The great years may be gone, but their spirit lives in the clubs’ supporters.

In 2022, Kaiserslautern fought its way back to the 2. Bundesliga. Slowly, belief returned.

With promotion, faith came back to Fritz-Walter-Stadion, and we are finally selling out its 50.000 seats regularly again. FCK revived its 90s underdog mentality, reaching the German cup final in 2024 – by far the biggest success in 25 years. I cannot even imagine the feeling my father and his friends had back in their days, travelling to matches where championships were sealed, but this sunny day in Berlin must have come damn close. Thousands and thousands Betze-Fans flooded the city in red and white. Following this club felt as limitless as it ever did before.

Today, supporters dream of more. After a wild 2024/25 season, five clubs are still in the promotion race heading into the final matchday. Solely, Hamburger SV have secured a spot in the Bundesliga for the upcoming season. FCK, rationally with the lowest chances, will try once more to defy the odds.

Ironically, the final game will kick off in Cologne – the place where Kaiserslautern sealed the title in 1991 and began our legendary run.