Historical Crests Eintracht Frankfurt

Name: ​ Eintracht Frankfurt

Nickname(s): Die Adler (The Eagles)

Founded: 1899

Stadium: Deutsche Bank Park (formerly Waldstadion and Commerzbank-Arena)

Capacity: ​ 58,000

Eintracht Frankfurt Crest History

Founded in 1899, Eintracht Frankfurt adopted the red eagle as its defining emblem following the merger of the city's football clubs into Frankfurter Fußball-Verein (Kickers-Viktoria) Eintracht in 1920. Inspired by the Imperial Eagle and the historic coat of arms of the Free City of Frankfurt, the eagle symbolised strength, independence and civic pride. Although earlier club emblems existed before the Second World War, the post-war eagle became the foundation of the club's modern visual identity.

Following the Second World War, Eintracht introduced a stylised red eagle crest in 1945, featuring the bird with outstretched wings and a small shield bearing the letter "E" on its chest. In 1951, the design was refined with cleaner lines and a more defined eagle's head and crown, while preserving the traditional red-and-white colours that had become synonymous with the club.

In 1957, the eagle was enclosed within a simple white circular badge, creating a more balanced and recognisable emblem. The redesign accompanied one of the club's most successful periods, including the 1959 German Championship and the historic run to the 1960 European Cup Final against Real Madrid.

A more heraldic interpretation arrived in 1965, when Eintracht adopted a gold-and-red eagle enclosed within a black circular border. The crest drew more directly from Frankfurt's historic coat of arms and gave the club a stronger civic identity while maintaining the distinctive eagle as its central symbol.

The badge was modernised once again in 1970, introducing a black circular ring displaying the words "Eintracht Frankfurt" around a simplified red eagle. This cleaner and more contemporary design reflected changing graphic trends while preserving the club's traditional colours and heraldic identity.

A significant departure came in 1977, when Eintracht replaced the traditional red eagle with a bold black-and-white eagle inside a black circular badge. The modernist design abandoned many heraldic details in favour of a cleaner graphic appearance and remained the club's emblem throughout one of its most successful eras, including UEFA Cup victories in 1980 and 1988 and several DFB-Pokal triumphs.

In 1998, Eintracht Frankfurt returned to its traditional heraldic roots by unveiling a refined circular crest featuring the classic red Frankfurt Eagle inside a white field surrounded by a double red border. Combining modern simplicity with the city's historic coat of arms, the redesign restored the traditional colours that supporters most closely associated with the club's identity.

The current crest represents a careful refinement of Frankfurt's historic symbolism. Featuring the iconic red eagle, the traditional red-and-white colour scheme and a clean circular design, it successfully combines more than a century of civic heraldry with contemporary branding. 

Eintracht Frankfurt Club History

Founded on 8 March 1899, Eintracht Frankfurt traces its origins to the merger of Frankfurter Fußball-Club Victoria 1899 and Frankfurter Fußball-Club Kickers 1899, two of the city's earliest football clubs. Following a further merger with Frankfurter Turngemeinde in 1920, the club adopted the name Eintracht Frankfurt, with Eintracht meaning "unity" or "harmony." From its earliest years, the club established itself as one of Germany's traditional football institutions and became closely associated with the city of Frankfurt through its iconic eagle emblem.

Eintracht enjoyed its first major successes during the 1950s, reaching the German Championship Final in 1953 before capturing its first national title in 1959, defeating local rivals Kickers Offenbach 5–3 after extra time. The following season, Frankfurt represented West Germany in the 1960 European Cup, reaching the final after eliminating Rangers. Although Eintracht lost 7–3 to Real Madrid at Hampden Park, the match remains one of the greatest and most celebrated finals in European football history.

The club became one of the 16 founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and established itself as a competitive force throughout the following decades. While league titles proved elusive, Eintracht enjoyed considerable success in cup competitions, winning the DFB-Pokal in 1974, 1975, 1981, 1988 and later years. On the European stage, Frankfurt lifted the UEFA Cup in 1980, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach over two legs to claim the club's first continental trophy.

The late 1990s and early 2000s brought a period of instability, with Eintracht alternating between the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. Despite financial difficulties and several relegations, the club remained one of Germany's best-supported teams, consistently attracting large crowds to the Waldstadion (now Deutsche Bank Park) and maintaining a reputation for passionate supporters.

A new era of sustained success began during the 2010s. Under managers including Niko Kovač, Adi Hütter and Oliver Glasner, Eintracht returned to the upper reaches of German football. The club won the DFB-Pokal in 2018, defeating Bayern Munich in the final, before enjoying one of the greatest achievements in its history by winning the UEFA Europa League in 2022. Remaining unbeaten throughout the competition, Frankfurt defeated Rangers on penalties in the final to secure its second European trophy and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Eintracht's fiercest rivalry is with Kickers Offenbach in the historic Main Derby, while matches against SV Darmstadt 98, Mainz 05 and regional rivals from Hesse also carry considerable significance. In recent years, encounters with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have become major fixtures as Eintracht has re-established itself among Germany's leading clubs.

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