2
Captain Robert Schlienz led VfB to their first domestic cup success in the 50s. Both in the 1-0 win over 1. FC Köln in 1954, as well as the 4-3 (3-3 after 90 minutes) win over Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1958, coach Georg Wurzer’s side came out on top. Erwin Waldner weighed in with a goal in each final, whilst Rolf Blessing was also with the Wasenelf on both occasions.
3
VfB’s third, and most recent, DFB Cup success dates back 21 years. With Joachim Löw as coach, and the team spearheaded by the 'Magical-Trio' of Krassimir Balakov, Giovane Elber and Fredi Bobic, the side in the shirts with the infamous hoop secured a 2-0 victory over FC Energie Cottbus on June 14th, 1997.
6
VfB reached the DFB Cup final on a total of six previous occasions: Aside from the victories in 1954, 1958 and 1997, VfB also suffered 2-3 cup finals defeats to Bayern Munich (2013) and 1. FC Nürnberg (2007). In the 1986 final, the Cannstatt Boys were beaten 2-5 by FC Bayern.
22
Karl Allgöwer scored a total of 22 DFB Cup goals for VfB and is thus the club’s top-scorer in the domestic cup competition. Alone during the 1985/1986 campaign, the midfielder netted eight times in guiding the side in the shirts with the infamous hoop through to the final.
25
Amongst the currently active VfB pros, captain Christian Gentner boasts the most domestic cup appearances in the shirt with the infamous hoop. Between 2005 and 2007, as well as from 2010 to date, the 33-year-old has made 25 DFB-Cup appearances for VfB – including cup final participation five years ago.
27
With a total of 27 spot-kicks, VfB and SV Sandhausen wrote a new chapter in cup history at the end of their first-round clash on August 27th, 1995: Never before were so many penalties required to decide a DFB Cup tie. The first penalty was blasted against the post by Sandhausen‘s Knut Hahn during the initial ninety minutes. With the game ending 2-2 and no further goals being scored in extra-time, the game moved on to what would prove an unforgettable penalty shoot-out: This time around, Knut Hahn opened the scoring – ultimately also netting a second time! Both sides proved extremely solid from the spot, with a total of 25 consecutive penalties being converted, before VfB’s new signing Hendrik Herzog hit the post with his second effort. Sandhausen subsequently won the shoot-out 13-12. Neither goalkeeper saved a penalty on the day. VfB’s campaign the following season was far more successful, as they made their way through to the final.
34
With a total of 34 appearances each, Günther Schäfer (from 1980 to 1992) and Guido Buchwald (from 1983 to 1993) share third spot in the rankings of most cup games for VfB. Guido Buchwald scored an impressive 13 cup goals for the Cannstatt Boys.
36
In the 1970s and 1980s, Helmut Roleder was exclusively VfB’s keeper – thus accumulating the second most cup appearances for the club. Helmut Roleder played in 36 cup games for the Cannstatt Boys.
40
The top goal-scorer is simultaneously VfB’s most frequent appearance maker in the DFB-Cup: Between 1980 and 1991, Karl Allgöwer played in 40 domestic cup games for the Wasenelf, twice reaching the semi-finals (1983 and 1989) and once the final 1986.