Fußballclub Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e. V., commonly known as Schalke 04, and abbreviated as S04, is a professional sports club from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is best known for its football team, which plays in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of the German football league system, following relegation from the Bundesliga in 2022–23. Other activities offered by the club include athletics, basketball, handball, table tennis, winter sports and eSports.
Kevin Dennis Kurányi Rodríguez is a former professional footballer. He played as a striker and possessed great aerial ability and finishing skills. From 2003 to 2008, Kurányi was part of the Germany national team, for which he scored 19 goals in 52 games. He participated in two UEFA European Championships and one FIFA Confederations Cup.
Gerald Asamoah is a German football executive and former professional player who works as the first-team manager of Schalke 04.
Victor Okechukwu Agali is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Dirk Jan Klaas Huntelaar, known professionally as Klaas-JanHuntelaar, is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Sven Vermant is a Belgian former professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is best known for his spells at Club Brugge and FC Schalke 04.
Jörg Böhme is a German former footballer who played as midfielder, and who most recently was the manager of Energie Cottbus.
Levan Kobiashvili is a Georgian former professional footballer and the current president of the Georgian Football Federation and a member of Parliament of Georgia.
Marcelo José Bordon is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He is mostly known for his time in Germany, playing for Bundesliga teams VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04, winning three UEFA Intertoto Cup. He was part of the Brazil squad that won the 2004 Copa América.
Gustavo Antonio Varela Rodríguez is a Uruguayan former footballer. He was a versatile right sided player who also could "be played as a lone striker, behind the front two" or at the heart of midfield.
Octavio Darío Rodríguez Peña is a Uruguayan former footballer who played as a centre-back and left-back. He was recently the manager of Peñarol.
Alcides Eduardo Mendes de Araújo Alves, known simply as Alcides, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as either a right back or a central defender.
Filip Trojan is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He coaches Dynamo Dresden's U-14 side.
Frank Rost is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Michael Delura is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Benedikt Höwedes is a German former professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent the majority of his playing career for Schalke 04, which he captained for six seasons, and represented the Germany national football team from 2011 to 2017. At international level, Höwedes won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, and was one of only three players to play every single minute of the tournament. Höwedes described himself as a 'multi-functional player' in the defence, who can play in the centre or as both a left or right-sided full back.
Jochen Seitz is a German professional football manager and former player.
Thomas Kläsener is a German former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Tim Klaus Hoogland is a retired German footballer who last played as a defender or midfielder for Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory FC.
Julian Draxler is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al Ahli. He has also represented the Germany national team at international level.
