Borussia Dortmund Crest History
In the club’s earliest years, between 1909 and the First World War, Borussia Dortmund did not have an official badge as modern football clubs do today. Instead, a simple black letter "B" was occasionally used on club documents and promotional material as a basic identifier for Ballspielverein Borussia.
During the late 1910s and through much of the interwar period, the club introduced its first true emblem featuring the initials "BVB". This circular monogram became Borussia Dortmund’s first recognisable crest and established the abbreviation that remains synonymous with the club today. Although the design underwent minor refinements over the following decades, the emphasis remained on the initials rather than elaborate symbolism.
Following the Second World War, Borussia Dortmund modernised its identity while preserving its traditional colours. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the crest became cleaner and more geometric, with the familiar yellow circular background and bold black lettering becoming increasingly standardised. During this period the number "09", representing the club’s foundation year of 1909, was permanently incorporated into the design and has remained part of every official crest since.
Between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s, Borussia Dortmund experimented with several variations of the badge. Some versions featured the word "Dortmund" or "Borussia Dortmund" surrounding the central emblem, while another short-lived design incorporated a lion within the crest. These alternatives were only used for limited periods before the club returned to a simpler identity centred on the iconic BVB 09 roundel.
In 1976, Borussia Dortmund introduced one of the most distinctive crests in the club's history. The traditional BVB monogram was replaced by a stylised lion's head surrounded by the inscription "BV Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund." While unique, the badge was only used for a short period before the club returned to a simpler design
From 1978, Borussia Dortmund introduced a refined circular badge that simplified the typography and proportions while maintaining the traditional yellow-and-black colour scheme. The redesign improved consistency across club merchandise and official publications and strengthened the recognisability of the crest during the club’s return to the Bundesliga.
The modern Borussia Dortmund crest was introduced in 1993. The redesign retained the classic circular format, bold BVB lettering and 09, while refining the line weights, typography and proportions to create a cleaner and more balanced appearance. The result was a timeless logo that has become one of the most recognisable football crests in the world.
Borussia Dortmund Club History
Borussia Dortmund was founded on 19 December 1909 by a group of eighteen young men who broke away from the Catholic youth organisation of Trinity Parish in Dortmund. Inspired by the nearby Borussia brewery, they named the club Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund. From humble beginnings in local football, Borussia Dortmund developed into one of Germany's most successful and widely supported clubs, playing its home matches at the Westfalenstadion, known today as Signal Iduna Park, since 1974. With a capacity exceeding 81,000, it is Germany's largest football stadium and famous for its passionate atmosphere, particularly the iconic Yellow Wall.
The club enjoyed its first major successes during the 1950s under manager Helmut Schneider. Borussia Dortmund won back-to-back German championships in 1956 and 1957, establishing itself as one of the country's leading clubs. Success continued in the following decade when Dortmund lifted the DFB-Pokal in 1965 before becoming the first German club to win a European trophy by defeating Liverpool 2–1 after extra time in the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup Final.
Despite these early achievements, Borussia Dortmund experienced a period of decline during the 1970s. Financial difficulties and inconsistent performances culminated in relegation from the Bundesliga in 1972. After two seasons in the second division, the club secured promotion in 1976, returning to the Bundesliga alongside the opening of the Westfalenstadion, which would become one of European football's most iconic venues.
Borussia Dortmund returned to the summit of German football during the 1990s under manager Ottmar Hitzfeld. The club won consecutive Bundesliga titles in 1994–95 and 1995–96, before achieving the greatest success in its history by winning the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League. In the final at Munich's Olympiastadion, Dortmund defeated defending champions Juventus 3–1 through goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle and Lars Ricken. Later that year, the club added the Intercontinental Cup by defeating Brazilian side Cruzeiro in Tokyo, becoming world champions.
Following financial difficulties in the early 2000s, Borussia Dortmund rebuilt both on and off the pitch. A new era of success arrived under Jürgen Klopp, who transformed the club with an exciting, high-intensity style of football. Dortmund won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010–11 and 2011–12, while also securing the domestic double in 2012 by defeating Bayern Munich 5–2 in the DFB-Pokal Final. Klopp's side also reached the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final, where they narrowly lost to Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.
In recent years, Borussia Dortmund has remained one of Germany's strongest clubs, regularly competing in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League. The club has continued to develop some of world football's brightest talents, including Mario Götze, Marco Reus, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, reinforcing its reputation as one of Europe's leading clubs for player development.
Borussia Dortmund supporters are among the most passionate in world football. The club is renowned for the Südtribüne, better known as the Yellow Wall, the largest standing terrace in European football, where more than 24,000 supporters create one of the sport's most famous atmospheres. Dortmund consistently records the highest average attendances in Germany and ranks among the best-supported clubs worldwide.
The club's fiercest rivalry is with local neighbours Schalke 04, a fixture known as the Revierderby, one of the oldest and most intense rivalries in European football. Borussia Dortmund also shares a modern rivalry with Bayern Munich, known as Der Klassiker, reflecting the clubs' frequent battles for Bundesliga titles, domestic cups and European honours throughout the twenty-first century.
