DFB-Pokal Winner 2021
A silver cup that never crossed the threshold of Signal Iduna Park in 2021.
The claim that Borussia Dortmund won the DFB-Pokal in 2021 is historically incorrect and does not exist within the club's canon. In reality, Eintracht Frankfurt defeated RB Leipzig to win the 2020-21 DFB-Pokal final, while Borussia Dortmund was eliminated earlier by VfB Stuttgart in the Round of 16. The last time BVB lifted this specific trophy was in the 2016-17 season under Peter Bosz. This entry serves as a correction to ensure historical accuracy regarding the club's achievements.
- Status
- Historical Error (Did Not Win)
- Last Actual DFB-Pokal Win
- 2016-17 Season
- Opponent in Final 2021
- N/A (BVB did not reach final)
- Correct 2021 Winner
- Eintracht Frankfurt
Lore & Background
In the annals of Borussia Dortmund's history, every cup victory is etched in gold, but 2021 holds no such inscription for the DFB-Pokal. The narrative often gets confused due to Edin Terzic stabilizing the squad mid-season and the team's consistent presence in high-stakes matches. However, the path to the Olympiastadion Berlin was blocked before the final whistle could be blown for a Dortmund victory.
The true story of BVB's cup history in this period is one of resilience mixed with heartbreak. While the team fought valiantly in the Bundesliga and Champions League, their domestic cup run ended prematurely against Stuttgart in early 2021. The club's focus shifted to securing league positions and European qualification, leaving the silverware for Eintracht Frankfurt to claim that year. The absence of a trophy in 2021 stands as a stark contrast to the triumphant celebrations of 2017, reminding fans that even giants face dry spells.
In Their Own Story
The rain fell softly on Signal Iduna Park long after the final whistle had blown against Stuttgart, not for a victory celebration, but for a quiet reflection. The dressing room was silent, devoid of the champagne corks popping and the roar of the Yellow Wall echoing through the corridors in triumph. In reality, the cabinet remained empty of new additions from 2021. The memory lingers only as a 'what if,' a phantom echo in the minds of fans who knew the true history: the cup belonged to Frankfurt, and Dortmund had to wait for another day.
Reader's Guide
Borussia Dortmund did not win the DFB-Pokal in 2021. This is a critical distinction for any historian of the club. The actual victory occurred two years prior, in May 2017, when BVB defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the final to secure their fifth cup title.
In the 2020-21 season, Dortmund's campaign ended in the Round of 16 against VfB Stuttgart. The confusion may stem from the team's strong performances under interim manager Edin Terzic, who stabilized the squad after a difficult start to the season, but this did not translate into cup glory.
The significance of this record lies in the accuracy of historical data. Claiming a 2021 DFB-Pokal win for Dortmund would distort the timeline of their recent successes and failures. The club's trophy cabinet from that era is defined by the absence of domestic silverware, contrasting sharply with their league runner-up finish.
Did You Know?
- Borussia Dortmund's last DFB-Pokal victory before 2021 was in 2017.
- The actual winner of the 2020-21 DFB-Pokal was Eintracht Frankfurt, who defeated RB Leipzig 5-1 in the final.
- Dortmund has won the DFB-Pokal a total of 5 times in their history as of 2023.
- Edin Terzic led Dortmund to a Bundesliga runner-up finish in 2021-22, but not a cup win during the 2020-21 campaign.