Frankfurt's fast lane to glory

Bundesliga formed
The women's Bundesliga, which included teams from all over Germany divided into two divisions of north and south, was formed in 1997/98 and the following season Frankfurt were champions, Staab's side clinching the crown on 23 May with a 2-2 home draw against FCR Duisburg. Soon after, Frankfurt completed a memorable double, adding the German Cup to an honours list which had previously only boasted the DFB Indoor Championship.

Brentanobad fortress
The Stadion am Brentanobad, shared with SG Rot Weiss Frankfurt and ESV Blau/Gold Frankfurt, was soon established as a fortress, and although Duisburg wrested the title from Frankfurt in 2000, Staab's team again triumphed in the DFB-Pokal. That cup triumph set the tone for more glory in 2001, when Frankfurt won a second double, and a momentous campaign the following term which culminated in their first European trophy.

Huge crowd
In addition to winning the two major domestic trophies in 2002, Frankfurt triumphed in the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup. Germany's finest eliminated Odense BK of Denmark in the quarter-finals, French challengers Toulouse FC in the last four and Umeå IK 2-0 in a final watched by 12,000 spectators at the Waldstadion, home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dramatic success
Although Swedish side Umeå exacted revenge in the semi-finals of the Women's Cup in 2003, Frankfurt could console themselves with another cup success and championship triumph - the title secured in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season against 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, their main rivals.

World glory
On 12 October 2003 six Frankfurt players - Nia Künzer, Sandra Minnert, Steffi Jones, Renate Lingor, Pia Wunderlich and Birgit Prinz - were part of the Germany squad which won the FIFA Women's World Cup in Carson, Cailfornia. They beat Sweden 2-1 thanks to Künzer's golden goal, and Prinz was later named the player of the tournament and the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year - an honour she would retain in 2004 and 2005.

Setbacks
In 2004, Frankfurt experienced three painful setbacks by losing the Bundesliga and German Cup to Potsdam, and after reaching the UEFA Women's Cup final were crushed 8-0 on aggregate by Umeå. As a consequence, Staab stepped down as coach in July to focus on her work 'upstairs', and Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks stepped in.

Glory again
With Frankfurt not involved in European competition, they competed fiercely in the Bundesliga and deservedly wrested it back from Potsdam. Four months later they had also won a place in the 2006 UEFA Women's Cup final, where German bragging rights will be at stake against Potsdam.

Club badge
Despite years of success, Frankfurt continue to build from the bottom and the club now have almost 300 players on their books. Teams compete in various regional leagues, all sporting the red-and-white strip emblazoned with the club's badge - a woman playing football in front of Frankfurt's famous skyline.