The 2000-01 campaign delivered a devastating end for VfL Bochum as Die Unabsteigbaren, ironically nicknamed for their resilience, slumped to a crushing 18th-place finish and were relegated from the Bundesliga. The turbulent season, which included the mid-season sacking of manager Ralf Zumdick, saw the side rely on striker Marijo Marić, whose 8 league goals topped the scoring charts. Despite the domestic struggle, the team enjoyed a respectable run to the DFB-Pokal Quarter-finals. It was a painful year that marked the end of a top-flight spell and remains a somber but defining chapter in the club's modern history.